Shifter - Infinite Transformation-Chapter 82: Huntrice

A few Hunters turned to me. Some regarded me with the faintest inkling of interest, while others shook their heads at me. The others didn’t seem to notice my presence in the first place.

"The Eserian has been pronounced as a Taboo. If you were not aware of that before, you know now," the elven man said. "You are no longer allowed to return to the Eserian. Only if you accept a mission regarding the Eserian and its surroundings are you given permission to step closer."

I nodded slowly at the information, but it didn’t explain anything. "Why am I not allowed to enter the Eserian? I mean, I get that it’s dangerous and all, even more so now, after all that happened, but I think I can decide for myself whether I am willing to risk my life or not."

"After all that happened? Do you know something? If you do, the Huntrice is willing to pay a generous price for your information." The elven man narrowed his eyes at me. He shook his head after a moment. "No, let’s put that aside for a moment. You are not allowed in the Eserian. What you do with your life is on you, but the moment your actions endanger others, you will be punished. Severely, if need be."

That made sense. In a way. The Eserian was no longer an orderly structure. It was filled with chaos and promised death and destruction. That was all the more true if the Nature Dragon mother or some other Greater Being were to return.

The arrival of a Greater Being would inevitably change the entire ecosystem. Monsters would migrate en masse, and that may or may not result in a breakout. A breakout was certainly not something anyone would want, especially not the village clusters surrounding Cintre. They’d collapse during a monster breakout, taking away the livelihood of thousands. I didn’t even want to imagine how many innocent people would die to a monster breakout.

No." I shook my head. "I understand. Entering the Eserian in times like these can cause problems that would not only affect me."

The elf seemed somewhat satisfied with my response. He retrieved a slate and wiped its upper edge. Something flowed from his finger, but it was no blood or other liquid. It looked gaseous, yet it felt lifelike, like Lesser Wisps, as it moved across the slate, noting down letters in a language I did not know.

"Why are you not registered yet?" the elven man asked. "Were you born and raised in the Eserian Grove? I do not have any records regarding the grove, but halflings and humans are usually not deployed to the grove."

Now that was a little bit more complicated. I considered coming up with a believable lie, but that was too annoying. Telling the elven man a tale spun from lies or saying, ’Oh no, I have amnesia,’ was certainly feasible, yet–

"I am from the Zetrian Empire. A nobleman, I think Earl Nuer was his name, tried to kidnap me after the Choosing. I managed to flee, but ended up in the Eserian. I was found by a resident of the grove, and after some time of struggle, she helped me find peace in the grove." I stayed as close to the truth as possible. Some facts were better embellished, while others needed some modification, but considering the elven man’s grimace, I was confident I did a good job.

"The Zetrian Empire?" He frowned. "He rarely has refugees from the empire these days."

More Hunters were now paying attention to me standing at the wooden counter. I couldn’t see them, but their eyes burned right into the backside of my head. It was hard not to notice them.

"I understand. Fern, my mate, told me about that already. She also mentioned that I would have to prove myself to the Forea Alliance." I decided to stay straightforward. "I have no problem if you want to test me. Any kind of testing is totally fine. As long as you can rule me out as a spy of the Zetrian Empire, I am fine."

The elf’s eyes glowed faintly when I spoke, and he made a few more notes on the stone slate.

"We do know about an Earl Nuer of the Zetrian Empire. He is a nasty man. His aggression stirred a lot of trouble for the Eserian’s forces and parts of the Forea Alliance’s border. But for him to kidnap you means you possess a Power worth the effort."

"Yes, I have a powerful Power." I did not mention it being a Black Power, nor was I willing to ever tell them about the Cursed part. "I can shift into the monsters I’ve killed."

Saying so, I transformed into a Blue Slime and then back into my main form.

It was a quick demonstration, but it seemed to do its job. The Hunters that had been staring at me murmured a little, but the elf’s glare silenced them real quick.

"I see how that can be useful. Your scent and Essence changed completely." The elven receptionist’s attention returned to me. "A perfect camouflage, as long as you can transform into an avian beast native to the Forea Alliance. If you can copy their movement and behavior as perfectly as their scent and Essence, nobody would notice anything amiss. You would be the perfect Scout for a man like Earl Nuer."

An asset. That was what I would have become in the earl’s hands. But I would have become much more than an ordinary asset, and not only to the earl either. I’d become an asset to the entire Zetrian Empire–if they’d spared me for having a Black Power.

Then again, I did not doubt for a second that the Forea Alliance would use me as an asset as well. Elder Taria was certain the Forea Alliance would not be as strict as the Zetrian Empire when it came to Black Powers, but that there were some Houses that were simply too afraid of the rumours behind Cursed Powers. Not all, but some.

Either I’d become an asset to a nation, or they’d kill me. I wanted neither. I wanted freedom.