looking for help

Bobo's Perspective

"Don't worry, host, I'll save you! (≧∇≦)/"

I soared out of the cave, my senses instantly picking up a faint, pulsating life energy lingering at the entrance. But, thanks to the barrier I'd cast, I wasn't too concerned.

I'm 123, your Average System. And let me tell you, "average" doesn't quite capture my track record. Fired from 19 jobs, abandoned by every host after just one mission because they deemed me useless—my reputation earned me the charming moniker "The Repulsive System."

But then came Ed. I thought it would be another routine assignment, another short-lived partnership. But Ed was something special. He found my quirks endearing—he even called them cute! That's why everyone's been casting envious glances my way, marveling at how someone so incredible chose me. If the other systems found out I botched this vacation, they'd never let me live it down.

The forest was a tangled mess of shadows and strange life energies. The deeper I ventured, the stronger the sense of a looming threat. Thankfully, my barrier was holding firm, keeping my host safe.

10 meters... 30 meters... 60 meters... As I neared the road, I came to a sudden halt. Humans! A group of eight warriors was locked in a fierce battle with a monstrous bear—no, a behemoth of a bear, its colossal fists pounding the earth with each swing. The clash was thunderous, and I hovered, torn between calling for their help and waiting it out. Just as I was weighing my options, one of the men, the apparent captain, dispatched the beast with a single, effortless strike.

('0')/ Whoa, impressive.

Just then, a brilliant idea struck me. With humans nearby—strong, capable humans—perhaps I could enlist their help to protect my host. Especially the captain. His parameters screamed "super strong," and the aura around him radiated goodness. I couldn't have hoped for a better ally.

I felt a surge of self-congratulation. "I'm so clever," I thought, using proverbs like a seasoned strategist. "Imagine how proud my host will be of me for thinking of this!" The last thing I wanted was to lead the thief right to my host's doorstep. No way. I'd make sure to use every ounce of wit and wisdom I had.

But with my current form—a magical, floating, shimmering sphere—there was no way they'd even notice me. Asking for help? Impossible. Communicating with them? Out of the question. I was practically invisible. The thought of them leaving without me having a chance to ask for their assistance was maddening.

"What to do, what to do?" I fretted. "Damn this body of mine. Think, Bob, think!".

Just then, out of the corner of my detection field, a small fox darted out from behind a tree. Its curious eyes sparkled with a glint of mischief, and an idea began to take shape in my mind. Maybe this little creature could be the key to bridging the gap between my ethereal self and the capable humans.

Captain's Perspective

Fifteen days into this mission, and I'm aching for home. The tower detected unusual star movements last month, and it set everyone on edge. This is the edge of the Bayard Kingdom, normally a bastion of peace. So when we got the alert 20 days ago, it stirred up quite a fuss. The strange celestial disturbance was sudden and unsettling, prompting urgent messages from nobles wanting confidential updates.

We formed this team and set out to investigate, but so far, we've found nothing. The Forbidden Forest, as it's ominously named, lives up to its reputation. It's teeming with dangerous monsters, so even the bravest adventurers steer clear unless absolutely necessary. If it weren't so close to our village, nobody would dare enter.

Right now, the forest is eerily quiet. The usual cacophony of creatures has fallen silent, making the atmosphere even more unsettling. Everyone is on high alert.

After dispatching the bear-like monstrosity, Fill, still wiping his blade clean, muttered, "Don't you find this place creepy?"

"Not just creepy, man. Look at my goosebumps," Dean added, exhaustion evident in his voice. "I'm itching to get out of here."

Just as they were catching their breath, a rustling sound from the bushes startled them. Tired and on edge, they tensed, dreading the possibility of another monster appearing.

As the group braced themselves for another possible attack, the bushes rustled ominously, signaling the approach of something—or someone. With a measured calmness, the captain signaled his team to stay alert, their weapons at the ready.

Then, from the shifting foliage, a small, white head emerged. It was a tiny creature, resembling a fox but even smaller—perhaps a baby fox. Its fur was pure white, an unusual sight since white foxes typically hailed from the northern regions. The little fox's curious eyes darted around, seemingly unaware of the tension it had stirred among the seasoned warriors.

As the group relaxed their weapons, the tiny white fox emerged fully from the bushes. It pranced into view, its pristine fur gleaming in the dappled light. The fox paused for a moment, surveying the group with wide, inquisitive eyes.

Then, with an almost imperceptible shift, its gaze locked onto me. Our eyes met, and in that instant, a silent connection formed .

It stood still, its small, twitching nose and bright eyes reflecting a flicker of understanding.

"That scared the shit out of me," John muttered, his voice laced with a mix of shock and confusion. The tiny white fox continued to gaze intently at the group before turning away and moving a few steps further into the forest.

"What just happened?" Mac asked, his brows furrowing as he tried to make sense of the sudden appearance and the fox's behavior. The fox paused, looked back at me, and then continued its path, repeating the motion several times.

"It wants us to follow it," Mac concluded, his eyes narrowing in realization. The little creature's deliberate glances and purposeful strides seemed to convey a clear message. The fox appeared to be leading them somewhere, and despite the eerie encounter, the group's curiosity and sense of duty were piqued.

Hello readers!

I'm a small-time writer, writing just to pass the time. I'm not a professional, but I hope you enjoy this story as much as I enjoyed creating it. Thank you for joining me on this journey!