Avahni thought long and hard about whether or not to listen to Ru Luan Di and peek into Jon's pockets. Roland had said that the human known as Jon was hiding several fragments and Mana Cores mixed in with the rest of his belongings.

The not-so-subtle bulge at the bottom of his duffel bag an indication of his words.

Ru Luan Di said that out of all the different types of spiritual energy he could feel emanating from the bag, that at least two were more than suitable for Avahni to integrate. As the first companion she had ever obtained within the System Introduction, Avahni had learnt to trust Roland's words whenever the ginseng detected danger or an approaching source of powerful spiritual energy.

And as such, the lutin happily ignored them, instead gazing towards the fragments in Jon's bag, wondering just how the human managed to obtain so many fragments in such a short amount of time.

She had been present when Jon had slain the white hound-faced bear from over two weeks ago. The human had done so with nothing but a combination of his various physical enhancements and single offensive Spell capable of inflicting a near infinitely stacking wood-natured curse.

While Roland had told her that she had to be more worried about the piercing thorn branches themselves over the debuff that it inflicted, Avahni did not worry herself about being attacked by Jon.

The moment she locked eyes with the human she knew that he would not senselessly attack her. Despite the scent of burnt flesh with permeated through the air and the sound of painful screams which echoed throughout the riverbank.

She had seen it in his eyes; he was scared.

That same flight-or-fight response that was engrained into the very fibre of all living creatures. His elevated heart rate and dilated pupils immediately glancing left and right, trying to determine he should run away or stand and face the strange alien in front of him.

Despite the pain, and perhaps against his better judgement, curiosity and friendliness won over fear and concern. After trading her Wood Mana Core for the Fire Mana Core Jon had obtained, Avahni knew that Jon was not going to harm her.

She had seen that in the beginning the human was somewhat apprehensive about being around her. Avahni could understand that feeling, suddenly being taken from your home and then forced to participate in some grand design of some unknown entity or power. While Avahni was not completely certain, she was sure that Jon was the youngest of the three of them, something she found that Wilheim agreed with.

She did wonder just how long the average human could life for, compared to that of a lutin or floresiensis.

Despite this however, Jon was unmistakeably the strongest of their group. Ru Luan Di had told her that the human had integrated more fragments than herself, two of which were what the ginseng had referred to as "universal fragments".

Considering that Jon was willing to trade a Fragment Of Mind for a Fragment Of Hunt, Avahni knew of at least two fragments that Jon had integrated for certain.

"If you remember, I told you that the human has manifested an observational Spell. Fragment Of Eyes or a Fragment Of Sight are the most common methods of obtaining such an ability. You should practice more with [Mine Is The Rivers And Oceans, The Seas And Rain]. Eventually after obtaining a certain level of mastery, you should be able to resist such mental effects." Roland's voice echoed throughout her Mental Aquascape. While his tone was warm, the seriousness of his words could not be understated.

Glancing at Wilheim practicing with one of his new offensive Spells, the lutin just shrugged her shoulders, leaning against dead piece of driftwood Jon had rolled onto their campsite. Arching her back, Avahni groaned, hearing quite the loud crack emanating from her spine.

"I'll practice it when I feel like it. The thing that I am worried about the most is having to obtain additional copies of the fragments I have already integrated! While I have managed to summon you Roland, and technically Xochitl, the latter requires another Fragment Of Mouth as a catalyst to sprout and grow," the woman admitted, letting out a small sigh while leaning her head back against the deadwood.

She did not mention it, but Avahni also felt the need to give Jon something in return for sharing his stash of fragments with herself and Wilheim. Ru Luan Di had advised against such a thing, referring to Jon's handouts as an opportunity rather than the benevolent actions of friend.

"I know that you require additional fragments in order to summon the rest of your abilities. But you should not waste the system task reward you have been given on Jon. Choose another Fragment Of Mouth and you will be able to help him even more in the long run," Ru Luan Di chided, his tone reminiscent of Avahni's mother, sweetly scolding her after coming home one day drenched in mud and water.

Associated memories flashed through her Mental Aquascape, causing the woman to softly smile, letting the gentle breeze ripple over her face and ears, causing the latter to instinctively twitch.

Several stray strands of verdant-green hair fell over her mouth and eyes, causing Avahni to let out an uncharacteristic huff, trying to blow them back over her forehead. Smiling, Avahni felt Ru Luan Di move closer beside her, tucking the stray strands of hair behind her knife-like ears.

"You should take better care of your hair Avahni. When you told me that you had integrated a Fragment Of Mother, I was beyond shocked, considering that such a Fragment has never once existed in the past thirty-six universes. While rudimentary, the notion is conceptually heavy. [Hold Thy Hand Child, Green Is The Colour Of Our Lineage] might be one of the strongest mortal ranked abilities I have ever seen," the ginseng stated, causing Avahni to bring up its effect description.

[Fragment Of Mother] [Hold Thy Hand Child, Green Is The Colour Of Our Lineage] (Wood, Mother, Passive, Mutation, Ability, Spell, Aura, Enhancement, Buff)

Effect (Mortal): Transform the mortal nature of one's hair into that of Asherah-Shamrock Hair. The Asherah-Shamrock Hair is a pseudo-spiritual organ containing within it the conceptual understandings of wood, life, and motherhood.

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Dramatically increases maximum mana capacity and mana regeneration. Dramatically increases the effectiveness of all abilities with the Summon Trait. Moderately increases the effectiveness of all abilities with the Wood Trait. Slightly increases the effectiveness of all abilities with the Spell Trait.

The Asherah-Shamrock Hair releases the aura of a mothers embrace. Kind. Loving. Warm.

If Jon or Wilheim could see the effects of [Hold Thy Hand Child, Green Is The Colour Of Our Lineage], both of their mouths would drop to the floor in shock and bewilderment.

It was perhaps the strongest supportive ability that either of them had ever seen.

It was one of the strongest supportive abilities Ru Luan Di had ever seen.

Combined with the fact that Avahni possessed a natural disposition to abilities with the Summon Trait, caused her first ever ability to possess an unnatural amount of strength and utility behind it. Roland had informed her that the sheer number of effects that [Hold Thy Hand Child, Green Is The Colour Of Our Lineage] possessed was beyond extraordinary.

While he was unable to go into details regarding the "pseudo-spiritual organ" effect description, abilities possessing this trait were never a bad thing to have.

With this ability, alongside the seven abilities with the Summon Trait currently in her possession, Avahni would possess an extraordinary amount of potential for growth, even after leaving the System Introduction.

In fact, under Ru Luan Di's guidance, she might even break through the limits of Knighthood and obtain a Lordship while still within the System Introduction.

Glancing towards some of her other abilities, Avahni could not help but let out another exaggerated sigh, remembering the requirements needed to summon her other companions.

[Fragment Of Vine] [Totlechatl; Constricting Turquoise Jade Vine] (Summon, Wood, Vine, Buff, Debuff)

Effect (Mortal): Perform a ritual to summon Totlechatl; Constricting Turquoise Jade Vine. Totlechatl is a sapling jade vine born from the scattered Wonder Fragments from the Realm Of Silent Green. Totlechatl dwells within the veins and arteries after being summoned.

Totlechatl is capable of parasitizing other plants and conjoining the lifeforce between itself and the parasitized flora. Totlechatl can increase the natural recovery rate and mana regeneration speed of its target, by sharing its own lifeforce and mana with them. The target will receive a refreshing instance of [Gift Of Turquoise] and [Jade Poison] while being parasitized.

[Gift Of Turquoise]: Enemies that perform physical strikes against oneself will become inflicted with an instance of [Jade Poison].

[Jade Poison]: Inflicts a continuous wood-natured damage over time effect. Additional stacks have an additive effect.

[Fragment Of Clam] [Cadhla Medb; Crunching Shield Gigas] (Summon, Water, Clam, Shield, Buff)

Effect (Mortal): Perform a ritual to summon Cadhla Medb; Crunching Shield Gigas. Cadhla Medb is an immature gigas clam that once dwelled within the seas of the Inverse World. Cadhla Medb dwells within the bones after being summoned.

Cadhla Medb is capable of absorbing the water natured spiritual energy around itself growing larger in relation with how much spiritual energy it swallows. This stored water natured spiritual can then be used to shoot controlled bursts of high-pressure water beams. While outside of an available water source, Cadhla Medb can clamp down on the arm of a willing target, becoming a living shield and granting them a refreshing instance of [Clam Shield].

[Clam Shield]: Increase resistances towards physical strikes and blows.

[Fragment Of Fish] [Huo Liyu; Crimson Nine-Tailed Carp] (Summon, Fire, Fish, Ability, Debuff)

Effect (Mortal): Perform a ritual to summon Huo Liyu; Crimson Nine-Tailed Carp. Huo Liyu is an infant crimson carp born from the lineage of an immortal nine-tailed transcendent dragon. Huo Liyu dwells within the mind, or manifested mental constructs after being summoned.

Huo Liyu can perform minor amounts of fire manipulation with its nine crimson fish tails. Huo Liyu can swim through the air through the manipulation of spiritual energy around itself. Enemies struck by Huo Liyu with become inflicted with an instance of [Curse Of Carp] up to a maximum threshold.

[Curse Of Carp]: Reduces mana regeneration. Additional stacks have an additive effect.

The fact that Avahni could see these abilities in front of her and could not make use of them annoyed the lutin to the point where even Roland was almost unable to calm her down. Even with the happy-go-lucky nature of her personality, Avahni was almost at her wits end.

The lutin sent a glance towards Jon's slumbering figure and then towards the faint bulge at the bottom of his bag. The temptation was right in front of Avahni's eyes, but the green-haired young woman could merely let out another groan, dispelling the desire to peek into Jon's bag.

Knowing Jon's nature, he would eventually give some of the fragments in his possession away. The human was still integrating his fourth Mana Core, and even if Ru Luan Di only managed to catch a glimpse of the silverish-metallic spherical gemstone, his experience and wisdom allowed him to divine the nature of the Mana Core in question.

"The human Jon integrated either a Sword Mana Core or a Spear Mana Core. It seems unlikely that he would choose to integrate an Armament Mana Core, or something along the lines of a Knife Mana Core or Metal Mana Core, but considering he already possesses that verdant-green spear, it seems that he has already begun to form the image of a combat style within his mind," Roland said through the mental connection he and Avahni possessed.

"Does the creation of a methodology for combat influence the rewards someone can receive from the fourth mandatory mission?" Avahni muttered, questioning the fat-looking ginseng beside her.

Roland nodded.

"To a degree yes. Individuals like yourself will be measured using factors such as originality, number of mutations, instinctual knowledge born from abilities with the Technique Trait, and the fluidity of movement in relation to what to what the movements are for. The end result will vary, and a series of rewards will be-." Roland's words were suddenly cut off going silent as the focus of his attention moved towards the unconscious figure several feet away from him.

"Hmm? Series of rewards? Mother to Roland, are you there?" Avahni gently tapped the head of her ginseng summon, causing the infant ginseng king to lift his head, gazing towards his summoner with a blank expression on his face.

"If Jon managed to obtain a Mana Core from one of his task rewards, then depending on the task, he might have managed to obtain the Baron Ranked rewards… Hmm, I stand corrected, this human is quite interesting," Roland's expression did not change, but Avahni could have sworn she saw the faintest traces of a smile appear on his face.

The ginseng barely had any time to react, before Avahni swept him off his stubby, root-like feet, grinning as she swung him through the air.

"See! I knew you would eventually warm up to him! You and Jon are going to be the very greatest of friends Roland!" Ru Luan Di felt his vision spin around in a blur, as the sound of Avahni's laughter filled the riverbank.

He had quite the interesting summoner, if he was being completely honest.

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