Turning, Undead watches the bird. Observing. Every hesitant breath, every tremble of the eyes, every subtle shift. Under his relentless gaze, the bird shifts back, wrapping her wings back around her body.
After a few seconds of thought, only then does his grating voice come out. "What do you have to offer?"
"What do I have to offer? Everything."
A deliberate, charming grin stretches across her face. "I am the world-renowned merchant of Wonderland, the rich bird goose!"
Immediently after those words leave her mouth, a brief moment of silence ensues. Sure, Undead doesn't have any memories, but he still has knowledge ingrained into his head from somewhere, probably from Alice.
A merchant? And a world renowned one at that — whatever that means, it sounds impressive. After a brief mental breakdown, he doesn't agree right away.
"Everything? Be more specific." Undead may not be the smartest, but he knows he has the upper hand in this deal. And he is going to make sure he uses it.
Goose's eyes flash towards Undead's dulled blade, rusted armour and bundle of arrows. "Seeing how you're a knight," Deliberately pausing, Goose doesn't tell him about the armour. "Why don't I give you the sword from the commander of a fallen nation?"
Undead looks down to his blade, cracks etched into the blade. The edge chipped and worn down. Before he agrees, he needs to hear what Goose wants. "What do you want me to do?"
"I just want you to break the chains binding my feet." Goose smiles charmingly, trying everything she can to help gain her freedom. "Simple compared to the reward you're getting."
"How exactly will I get this sword?" His gaze raked over Goose once more. "Looking at you now, it doesn't seem like I'll get it soon."
"Don't you worry, I've already thought about that." Ruffling through her feathers, she pulls out two rocks stuck together, tossing one to Undead, the separated rock vibrating as it does. "Take this, it's a relay stone. They vibrate when separated, getting stronger the closer they are."
Catching it, he feels it vibrate in his hands, inching towards the one Goose has. Securing it within his chest plate. No more words need to be said. Taking out an arrow, he picks out the lock, jamming it inside.
Raising his fist, Undead strikes down. A soft click leaves the lock, the chain falling limply to the ground. The arrow, now broken, is tossed away with the lock.
Stretching her legs, finally free after who knows how long—walking up to Undead, she pats him on the shoulder. "Good job Mr Knight, I knew you had reason! Not like those unsavoury pigs running this ranch."
"In a week's time, I'll deliver you the sword." Not wanting to stay in this forsaken ranch anymore, rushing past Undead, her gaze is caught on the unusually quiet Leaf.
"Wait, Goose, was it?" Unsure of why even she, herself was stopping Goose, the turning of gears can be heard as she thinks of a reason. "Ughhh, forget it."
Shooing Goose away, shooting a small blast of wind at her back, Leaf goes to her usual spot on Undead's head.
Stumbling a few steps forward, Goose takes off, leaving these words behind. "Remember, in a week's time, I'll deliver the sword. Don't die before then."
Once Goose is out of earshot, Leaf tells Undead. "Undead, I wouldn't trust her. The wind surrounding her is as foul as demon beasts."
Sticking her tongue out while saying this, Leaf complains about the stench left behind by the bird.
"Oh? What does it smell like then?"
"How should I put this? Uhhhh, think of the scent of rotting flesh. That's the best way I can put it."
Sniffing the wind, all Undead can smell is the odour of beasts. Seems only Leaf can smell it. Tossing useless thoughts aside, the duo makes their way towards the core of the ranch.
——
Every now and then, demon beasts would charge at them. Varying from bulls taller than any man to chickens as fast as the wind itself. Oddly, the horse-human hybrid hasn't been seen among any of the beasts seen.
Anytime Undead took damage or his armour was broken—souls from killed demon beasts would flow into him, mending his armour, healing his wounds… making him stronger.
Leaf, of course, would hide behind Undead, only giving support from behind, sometimes going in for the kill.
After travelling so long that the sun has set, Leaf's head perks up. Her nose twitches as she sniffs the wind—glee spreads across her face. "Undead! Undead! There's a bonfire up ahead!"
She jumps off Undead's head, flying faster than he's ever seen before. Carefully following after her, half an hour passes or so. The flickering of flames and the crackling of wood enter his sights.
When he arrives, he spots Leaf floating around the fire, humming a tune. Dazed by the fire, it feels oddly familiar, a ghastly blue glow instead of red. Snapping out of his daze, anger taints his voice, "why would you ru-."
"Shhhhhhh, Undead, don't you feel it?" Cutting him off, she points to the fire excitedly. "The wind of the forest, it's here!"
"The wind of the forest…?" Undead's confused gaze lands on the campfire. Sitting beside the fire, feeling the wind through his armour. Nothing's changed? "What are you talking about? Are we still not on the ranch?"
"Ahhhh, I forgot, you're stupid. That senile rabbit told me this, these campfires act as portals for the forest, warding off the fog and demon beasts." Talking to Undead like he's a child
"And since you've got me, the cutest fairy in all the land, we can use these to go back and forth between campfires and the forest!"
If this is true, this is a massive benefit to have. "…You're not lying right?"
"Of course not! I'm the reliable guide chosen by the forest's guardian!" bringing a burning branch to Undead, she makes him hold it. "Don't you feel it? The purity flowing from each branch."
Holding the branch, it just feels slightly warmer than an average fire. Lifting his visor, Undead blows.
Flicker.
To his surprise, the fire doesn't go out, nor does it even seem bothered by his breath. It flickers unchanged. Breaking the branch, the flame atop it whittles away. The light from the campfire dimmed ever so slightly.
Leaf watches all this unfold, yelling at the knight. "You stupid, stupid knight! Why would you break a branch of the holy forest?"
Ignoring her, he tosses the broken branch back into the campfire. Now it's just ordinary firewood, crackling in the flames.
"Hahhh, why did someone so unlikeable have to be my knight. " Leaf mumbles to herself, quiet enough that Undead can't hear.
"Undead, listen here. From now on, I'm in charge, so you can't disobey me." Flying in front of Undead, exuding an aura of authority, stern eyes looking at him. "First order, you must never break any of the branches lighting the campfire."
"Moving on, let's get out of this ranch, it gives me some seriously bad vibes." Shivering while saying this, she clicks her fingers.
Woosh!
Fire bursts from the campfire, a sea of flames dancing with the wind. Forming a vortex, the duo is engulfed. Just as suddenly as it happened, it vanished. And instead of the ranch, the dungeon where they slept before now surrounds them.
"Fufu~ what do you think, Undead? Pretty cool, right? Well, it's only natural because it's me, of course!" Gloating once she sees Undead stunned to silence.