I Nearly Died for Real
I nearly died for real. That was the first thought that hit me the moment I came to after my brutal showdown with Porori.
This wasn't whining—Porori had gotten ridiculously strong. Sure, I'd been dominating our recent track record, but I almost lost anyway. We'd always gone at each other like we meant to kill whenever our territories overlapped. Most fights ended in draws because we'd both pass out, but before I awakened my mana, Porori had the edge. Afterward, I crushed him every time. And just like he'd done to me, I never forgot to leave my "mark of victory."
Don't call it dirty. He started it. No regrets.
"……"
Today was different. I just stared down at Porori, his life force flickering out. Normally, I'd have branded my victory mark like always, no matter who was watching.
But Ellie was the one who'd snapped me out of it. Whatever she'd used had barely clung my consciousness back from the brink. I'd built resistances to poisons and drugs, but they weren't useless—not in a near-death state where even a little jolt packed a punch. Then "Regeneration" took care of the rest. It guzzled mana, but good meals fixed that.
Point is, my conscience was pricking me. I'd gotten outside help; Porori hadn't.
Hate turns to fondness, they say.
I couldn't just let it end like this. Better mutual destruction than this lame finish.
So I carefully scooped Porori up in both arms. Dog-sized, he was a hefty bastard. I brushed past Luna and headed to Ellie. I had a favor to ask.
Ellie blinked as I approached, then pointed at herself when I held Porori out.
"Me? You're giving him to me? Aren't you keeping him?"
Nothing like that, you idiot. I shook my head vigorously. No words, so actions it was.
First, to mime the liquid splashed on me, I pointed at my chest—still damp there.
Ellie tilted her head at my body language, then ventured, "Potion? You mean a potion?"
She rummaged in her bag and pulled out a glass vial sloshing with red liquid. Round body, long neck, corked top. Standard health potion from Soul World. Reason she was called the potion shuttle—she always carried them. Stock only grew as the story progressed.
Spot on, so I nodded.
Ellie glanced at death's-door Porori. "Weren't you trying to kill him? Why save him now?"
"Don't give it any. It'll just wake up and fight again."
Before Ellie could respond, Luna chimed in negatively. Fair point. Revived Porori would charge right back in—maybe fatally this time.
But he was a spirit beast. He'd know I'd shown mercy, so odds were he'd back off.
"But it's Sivar asking. They seem like friends—let's help."
"Friends don't bet their lives. Enemies, maybe."
Spot on. I'd never seen Porori as a friend. But hate turns to fondness, and I didn't want it ending like this. That's all.
I thrust Porori toward hesitant Ellie again.
She eyed him, then me, golden eyes clouded with worry. Luna's blue ones brimmed with concern as she watched.
How long passed? Ellie steeled herself and said, "If I save him, you two won't fight again? Just tell me that."
"……"
We'd fight next time too. Tough to answer.
Ellie stared through my silence, peering past my bangs like she could see my eyes. Curtain of hair made it impossible.
She sighed. "Fine. Pour potion on him like I did you?"
"Ellie."
"Don't worry so much. Sivar'll protect us anyway."
Pure Ellie optimism. And yeah, if Porori acted up, I'd jump in.
Decision made: save Porori. Time to act. I set him down—limbs and tail twisted unnaturally. Potion would fix it all. He had regen like me. Once a territory lord, his healing was top-notch.
Splash splash splash—red potion rained over him. Mouth too, but everywhere. Low-grade newbie stuff, but the healing magic mattered.
And sure enough—crack! Crunch!
Like me, Porori regenerated at insane speed. Broken limbs realigned, minor wounds vanished. Claw marks on his chest stayed as scars, though. Deep wounds don't fully heal. Most of my scars were from prey days.
"Keeeng……"
Body mended, Porori stirred. I backed off a couple steps—might freak if he saw me. Luna did too.
Leaving Ellie alone by him.
"Ellie, get away……"
"You okay? Feeling better?"
Luna barely warned before Ellie checked on him. Luna and I gawked.
Luna paled, whispering urgently. "What are you doing?! Back off now!"
"Looks like you're back. Anywhere hurt?"
Optimistic: sunny. Pessimistic: zero situational awareness. Ellie's verdict.
Memories flooded back unbidden. Reason she joined the death squad: that obliviousness. Like passive safety negligence. Says she's fine, then dies stupidly. Too often.
This seemed like one. I silently gathered mana, fingers twitching. Red power shimmered—then I blinked at the scene.
"Kyaaang……?"
"Up close, you're adorable. You the same squirrel from before?"
Ellie was petting Porori. Even poked his cheek fondly.
Porori looked baffled. But not hating it.
"Kiiing. Nng."
No—burrowing deeper. Acting like a real puppy. Where'd the nasty one go? Just a cuddly squirrel left. Head injury from the fight, probably.
Whatever. Ellie stroked his head, beaming.
Objectively cute, sure.
"Guess he sees me as his lifesaver?"
"……Yeah."
Luna was dumbfounded; so was I. This shithead who crapped on my face whenever? No way.
I quietly gathered mana. Porori's ears perked in Ellie's arms.
Instincts die hard. He whipped around—locked eyes with me.
"Kyaaaang!"
Crackle!
There was my rat bastard. Porori bolted from Ellie's hold, sparking warily.
Something off, though. Arms spread, guarding Ellie. Face resolute—he really saw her as lifesaver.
That rat?
Too absurd for words. Wanted to yell, "Quit bitching and come at me!"
Meanwhile, Ellie yelled at sparking Porori. "No fighting! You two just tried killing each other! Why again?!"
I didn't do shit. He started bitching.
Unfair, but her scolding worked. Porori eased up.
"No more fights. You can get along, right?"
"Shit?"
"Kyaaang?"
Me and Porori reacted in sync to her nonsense.
First time our minds aligned—wild. But her words were pure bullshit.
Wait—did Porori understand speech? Wide eyes said half-yes.
"Can't fight like this at the academy anyway. So truce and chill. Got it?"
"……Wait. Ellie. You're taking this squirrel too?"
"Yeah. Can't I?"
"You know what he is?"
"Cute lightning squirrel?"
"……"
Luna looked lost where to start. Porori was a spirit beast now. Word spreads, academy flips.
"Kyaaang."
"?"
As Luna explained to Ellie, Porori strutted up on hind legs, calling me. Wary, but not hostile. Not here to fight.
"Kyaaang. Kub."
Pointed at Ellie. Beast noises, but clear: You following her?
I glanced at Luna and Ellie.
"Spirit beast! One alone endangers you!"
"Say I found him in the forest? Academy allows pets. Fighters bring animals."
"Dog-sized squirrel? Where?"
"They got ogre-sized gorillas— not weird."
"Those are monsters! I mean……!"
Poor Luna. Mood said Porori was coming. I'd probably tag along. Ellie wanted it; home gone. Rebuilding sucks; forest's hell. Craved civilization.
"Kyaaang."
I nodded yes. He crossed arms sternly. Got it.
Arm-crossing rat? Soul inside?
"Kyaaang. Kang."
Pointed Ellie, then self. Not "She's mine"—more "I'll protect her; stay away."
Funny as hell. What could a rat protect? Nearly laughed.
Seemed he'd knighted himself for his lifesaver. Spirit beast turned guard dog.
"Kang."
He extended a paw. Truce offer. Heading to academy meant no more fights. Smart.
I knelt slightly, clasped it. Shaking with a squirrel—weird.
"Hah! Whatever. Your call. I'll help with Sivar—curious myself—but that squirrel's your responsibility. Got it?"
"Yep! Got it!"
"Sigh. Why'd I get dragged into this……"
Perfect timing—their debate ended. Ellie won, probably. Stubborn girl.
Truce sealed with Porori; now follow them out.
"Alright! Let's head out. But what's his name?"
"You're owner; you name him."
"Hmm…… Squirrel, so Squirrely? Squirrely?"
Ellie beamed calling him. Porori's face soured.
Reminder: male. Girl name on a dude? Instant rot.
"Huh? Hate it? What then?"
"Shouldn't we marvel he understands first?"
"Not Squirrely…… Ratty? Chu-Chu? Ratatouille?"
"Ratatouille what?"
Porori shook head at all, ignoring Luna's jab. Ellie pondered deeply.
I snickered, muttering low. "Shit."
Meant idiot. Could call him that forever.
"Kyaaaang!"
He got it—claws out, lunged. Offered truce first, now attacks? Absurd.
No real lightning; not serious. I countered anyway.
"Hey! Why fight again?! I said no!"
"Kyaaang."
Porori protested innocently. But he started. Fair.
Ellie wouldn't get it. Warned him. "Fight again, I call you Squirrely. Got it?"
"Kiiing……"
Serves you right. I smirked inwardly.
After the chaos, Porori's name became Ratatosk. Luna's pick.
Best fit, honestly. Shame. Porori was just gamer nickname. Real name: Ratatosk.
I'll stick to Porori.
But I just shit-shit-shit and get Sivar?
Discriminated. Uga-uga gets Ugar?
Silly thought as ready-to-go Ellie yelled, "Let's go! Academy's super fun—you'll love it!"
"Buy Sivar clothes first?"
"Oh yeah. And trim that hair neat."
Hair fine; beard stays. Grumbled internally.
Thus ended my long forest saga. Stepped into longed-for civilization.
Learn letters first.
Future bleak same as ever. But I knew enough—should be fine.
……Should be, right?
I believed so.