When Erik woke up the following morning, he was greeted by a male half-elf standing a couple feet away from him.
"Hey there, bud," the half-elf said.
Erik sat up from his sleeping bag, looking at the half-elf man. "Uhm... hey," he replied.
"Hmmhmm, no worries dude!" The half-elf replied with his hands up. "You don't gotta worry about me - I'm friendly."
"Who are you?" Erik asked directly.
The half-elf replied, "The name's Jayc - Jayc Autumnbreak."
Erik stared at Jayc, tentatively. Jayc seemed to be about Erik's height and weight, with a similar build. His eyes were a pale baby-blue, coupled with a tan skin tone, and bold blonde hair styled in a short ponytail. His attire was largely concealed by a leaf-green hooded robe, with a bag strapped to his back. The robe had short sleeves, exposing a series of tattoos on Jayc's left forearm. He didn't appear armed, and he was clearly alone.
After a few more seconds, Erik responded, "Erik Leif."
"Great!" Jayc said, as he took a few steps towards Erik and extended his hand out towards him. "Nice to meet a fellow traveler out here!"
Jayc's robe opened some, to reveal that he was wearing a plain beige shirt and some slightly oversized pants, and average leather boots. He seemed casual, and rather comfortable. Erik was slightly surprised - he didn't seem like much of a traveler at a glance.
Erik nodded and shook Jayc's hand. Jayc then pulled up Erik up out of his sleeping bag and onto his feet.
"Whoa--hey!" Erik exclaimed. "I was comfortable..."
"Apologies, my friend," Jayc said with a smirk. "I meant no ill will! I just wanted to see how tall you are!"
Jayc then held his hand flat horizontally, and placed it atop his head, before shifting over to just above the top of Erik's head. Erik looked up at the hand, and then back at Jayc.
"Ahh... just an inch or two shorter than me!" Jayc answered himself. "Was just curious."
"You always greet strangers like that?" Erik asked sarcastically.
"Heh, only the ones I like!" Jayc assured.
"You barely even know me," Erik replied.
"True, but I do know some things about you," Jayc answered back. "For example, you are also a lone traveler and a rather flatulent fellow! Already, two things we have in common!"
Erik rubbed the back of his head. "Huh... so, you heard me fart in my sleep, huh?"
Jayc nodded. "Sure did - what, you embarrassed?"
Erik shrugged. "More than you might think... wait, did you say you're--?"
BRRRRRrrrrrppphhhhttt...
Jayc then waved a hand in front of his butt. Clearly, the fart just then was his.
"Yup, also just as gassy," he interjected. "So, nothing to be ashamed of. Not that I see many people in Esteri be ashamed of such a thing in the first place, haha!"
"You say that like people do it all the time in this kingdom," Erik said.
Jayc seemed slightly confused. "Uh, yeah - that's because they do, man."
Erik then seemed confused in turn. "Wait, what?! You're saying people in this kingdom fart that much!?"
Jayc couldn't help but grin. "Yeah, it's... sort of what makes Esteri Esteri. Seriously, you been living under a rock?"
Erik was about to answer, before he farted himself.
Brrrrrrraaappp!
Erik then gave a fake cough before continuing, "Uh, ahem, it's... kind of a long story."
"Works for me," Jayc replied. "I love a good story!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------
After some time had passed between the two, Erik had explained to Jayc the particulars of his current situation. He started with the fact that he had recently arrived in Esteri from the neighboring kingdom of Arbot with a caravan crossing the border. It wasn't until crossing said border that Erik and the caravan were ambushed by a group of bandits. Ashamed as he was to admit it, Erik did tell Jayc that the bandits knocked him out with their farts, and after he awoke, was gassy himself.
The only part he neglected to mention was his dream with the strange voice and the fountain of magic milk, since he felt that Jayc wouldn't believe him. Everything else was as it happened.
Jayc crossed his arms after Erik finished his tale. "Yeah, those would be the Bumm Bandits," he said. "Shame your greeting into Esteri was at the hand of those goons. Not the best way to set foot in a new land."
"Wait, did you say Bumm Bandits?" Erik asked. "That's what they're called?"
Jayc chuckled. "Yeah, I know right? Strange name, but not an inaccurate one. After all, they primarily use their butts for just about all their dirty deeds. So the name makes sense."
"But..." Erik said in soft disbelief, "Why is everyone else in this kingdom just as flatulent as them?"
Jayc shrugged. "Beats me - depends on who you ask. All sorts of folks here have all sorts of answers. Some say it's something in our food and drink, others think it's sort of mutation. The more spiritual types claim it's a matter of elemental magic."
My money's on the magic, Erik said to himself. Assuming that dream wasn't just some mad hallucination, anyway.
"So... what do you think it is?" Erik asked Jayc.
"Hmmm..." Jayc pondered. "Hard to say - for me, it's a case of simple genetics. My mother was a human, and my father was an elf. I got all my elf features from him, and all of my gas from her. So, for me, it's because my mom is such a farty pants herself! But, I couldn't tell you why she was that way. And, to be honest, I don't care enough to really think past that."
"And they don't have an opinion?"
"Well, my father does - he's one of those spiritual types. Not uncommon for an elf, of course. See, he believes that all this fartin' people do is the result of a widespread blessing given unto us by some Element of the Wind."
Erik's eyes lit up. Just like my dream! He thought.
"Not totally sure I buy it," Jayc continued. "But... after meeting you, it makes a bit more sense."
"How do you figure that?"
"Fartin' isn't contagious," Jayc explained. "People don't become gassy when exposed to gassy people. Just not how that works. And, if you only started feeling that way after you got here... then, I have no idea what it could be."
Jayc then leaned over a bit and broke wind.
BRRRRRRRRRRRRRPPPPHHHT!
"Whew...! And, I gotta say," he added, "If this is some sorta blessing, it ain't too bad! Feels nice to fart like that."
Erik then farted in return.
Brrrr-Brrrrrrpppphhh...
Erik wasn't quite so embarrassed, even in front of company. Perhaps he felt better knowing that Jayc himself was also flatulent, so that he didn't feel like the odd one out.
"I mean, it feels... alright," Erik admitted.
"Yeah, I bet for you, it's a lot to get used to, huh?" Jayc asked.
"Sorta, but that's not my issue - my issue right now is those bandits," Erik stated. "I gotta track them down."
Jayc smiled. "I hear ya - those people could use your help. Besides, you deserve to give 'em a taste of their medicine."
"How?"
"You got what they have now: you can fart just as much as they can!" Jayc answered. "If it were me, I'd knock 'em out."
Erik didn't seem convinced. "Ehhh, maybe. I suppose if it could knock me out, then maybe..."
"Tell ya what," Jayc said. "I know you're new to this whole sorta feeling. Me? I got experience - I can give you some tips on how to better utilize your gas, so it isn't just a newfound inconvenience. Besides, if you go in alone, you'll stand little chance."
"You mean, you'll come with me?"
Jayc nodded. "We'll be traveling buddies - fighting partners! We can laugh and train and exchange farts along the way. What do you say?"
Erik thought it over, before looking Jayc in the eye and replying:
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