The next morning, we defeated Ifrit all over again without a hitch. Purrlease drop your mace today...! Practically praying, I ran over to where Ifrit had been a moment ago. “Purrlease...” I let out a cry when I saw it—a weapon on the ground! Isn’t this Ifrit’s Mace?! I snatched it up and turned to Meowster, who had come up behind me.
She was beaming! “Congratulations, Tarte!”
“So this really is Ifrit’s Mace?! Oh, I’m so happy...” I clutched the mace in my arms.
“It finally paid off! That’s gonna be a good boost to your equipment, Tarte!” Kent called.
“I’m happy for you, Tarte,” Cocoa said.
“That can help us find new food,” Lulu added.
I didn’t have any idea how a mace could help with food, but I appreciated all of their congratulations.
Ifrit’s Mace was a shorter weapon that fit nicely in my hands. Designs shaped like flames swirled around the end, which looked like it was spiked. A hit from this mace had to hurt. A portrait of Ifrit was painted on the handle, making me almost hesitant to use it. But I will, I promised myself. I’m going to make the most of my new weapon!
But I should have known we weren’t going to just sit around and celebrate. “Let’s go through Undersea Tunnel to Fishermen’s District. There’s plenty of places we haven’t been to in this country, but we’ve been cooped up in these sweltering dungeons for so long... It’s going to be a good change of scenery!” Meowster said. Normally, no one could travel to another country that easily—but that wasn’t the case with Meowster.
Fishermen’s District was a region to the north of Laureldite and Farblume where many fishermen lived and worked—that was what I’d read in a book, at least. As a Cait Sith with an endless appetite for fish, I was curious about going there.
“Raw, braised, grilled...” Lulu already sounded eager to cook the fish we might find there in all sorts of ways. Maybe this would unlock new potential as a Chef for her.
Besides, we might find new Furmulation tools, I remembered. Now I was excited too—and ready to leave right away. “Let’s go now, Meowster!” I exclaimed.
“Okay, I love it. Then let’s go find new items and equipment in Fishermen’s District!” Meowster said.
We all cheered in agreement.
“Yeah!”
“Let’s do it!”
“Purray!”
“And new food!”
✦ ✦ ✦
We decided to leave after resting for a few days.
“Of course, we still need to check on the Salamander Egg in Underground Volcano,” Kent said.
“Yes! Its heart has been beating louder—I think it’s growing up,” I said. I was the only one who could hear the heartbeat in the egg, so this was a job only I could do.
When we went to the Guild that morning, the receptionist told us good morning. We answered her greeting and headed downstairs. She wasn’t surprised by us going to Underground Volcano every morning anymore. What a purrfect receptionist!
We were steadily gaining levels through our daily grinding in the dungeon, even though we weren’t gaining them as fast as we had when our levels were lower. I couldn’t wait to challenge new dungeons so I could grow even stronger.
Kent led us to the second level through the quickest route, and I trotted over to the Salamander Egg. This area didn’t spawn other monsters, so it was the purrfect place to safely hatch an egg.
“How are you feelin’ today?” I laid my hand on the shell, and I heard an even stronger heartbeat than before. Trilling in surprise, I whipped back around toward the rest of the party.
“What’s wrong, Tarte?!” Meowster asked, startled by my overreaction.
“Is something wrong?!” Kent cried.
They both rushed to crouch by the egg, taken aback by how frazzled I appeared.
“I was surprised by its heartbeat—it’s much louder than before,” I explained.
Meowster looked relieved. “Oh. That means it’s growing, doesn’t it?”
“Yes. I’m sure of it.” I brushed the eggshell with my fingertips. “Grow up big and strong,” I whispered to it. I couldn’t wait to see its cute face peek through the shell.
Just then, it felt like the egg...moved. I looked at the egg again, but it wasn’t moving. Did I imagine it? Guess this is just another day of making sure the egg hasn’t been disturbed.
“Oh!” Kent shouted as I stood up to leave.
Just as I was going to ask what he’d noticed, I heard a faint crack. Another look at the egg showed that it had cracked open! I began trilling in excitement.
“Is it hatching?” Meowster asked.
I held my breath and waited. I hadn’t imagined the egg moving. The egg shook, and the crack widened, doing a full circle around the egg...and then a Salamander poked its head out of the egg!
I trilled more loudly, unable to form words.
“Whoa, it hatched!” Kent exclaimed.
“It’s small and cute,” Meowster said.
“Wow, I’ve never seen a baby Salamander before,” Cocoa breathed.
“Incredible,” Lulu said.
All of them stared at the baby Salamander happily, accepting our new friend right away. The baby Salamander was small enough to fit in my palm, and it looked like a tiny alligator with shining red scales and a fire burning at the tip of its tail. It looks too hot to pet...!
The baby let out the tiniest roar and breathed a puff of fire.
I was so surprised that all my fur stood on end! All of us had taken a step back in surprise, but there was no way that the baby Salamander we’d worked so hard to hatch would hurt us. Putting my trust in the little one, I slowly reached my hand out.