So he wants me to climb a mountain to gather a fern that supposedly he only trusts me to get. Why did I have to work him? Easily could have said no or just walked away. Seriously. But then again it should be easy work. How many mountains have I climbed in this journey? This is just another one in my path. Except at least this one has a reward with my name on it waiting for me at the end. Come on Lucian let's go this damn fern for a crazed scientist.

The sun is truly blazing today of all days. It seems that mother nature will not be making this an easy task for me to complete today. Hopefully, the mountain won't be too hard to scale. At least this time he has said that it should be easy to find and spot as it has a very distinct color and location from other flora.

Okay, he said that the mountain would be right here... And this is definitely not going to be fun. Gah, the wall goes up for quite a ways, I barely even see the top. Is this some cruel joke or something, why would he even know about a plant that is so high up. The man looks like he barely leaves the heart of his lab let alone the house. What could he possibly want with a plant that exists in the complete opposite place from him?

Whew.. Just get to climbing. Just like always, left, right. Left, right. Mmm, this climb doesn't seem to be so bad. Luckily, from the various years, there are definitely an excellent amount of foot and hand holds for someone to grab on. There seems to be ledge ahead maybe that will have the fern and I won't have to climb on higher. Come on Lucian let's get on up there.

Ah. Nice spot to rest, but the fern is clearly not here. These plants have the wrong colors, the doctor said it would be a deep dark rich green color and these are definitely not that. Light yellows and mellow greens were the norms here and the fern I'm after would stick out like a sore thumb here. Which means that unfortunately, the climb continues.

Back to the climb. These handholds are starting to get more sparse higher I seem to get. Jeez, this plant can't be that precious. It definitely has to be an integral part of one of his crazed experimentations. Krotodamus, I can feel the sweltering heat, the rock seems to be radiating the heat from the sun. And in turn, the sun seems to be determined to make the rocks bend to its will and which then causes it to burn even hotter. Thus is this hellish cycle and here I am the lonely human caught in a war between two forces of nature that refuse to bow to the other. And all of this for a plant. A gods forsaken plant. I could just climb back down and say screw this quest, there are much easier ways to get money. Especially ones that don't require having to climb a mountain.

Yet, that is not my style. This is just another obstacle in the path. Much like everything else I have ever had to deal with in this existence called life. There have been multiple mountains that I have conquered and this will be just another one on the list. Therefore, I must shoulder on. Because I do not give up.

Ah. Ah. There seems to be another ledge up in front. Considering how far I am from the ground, I can't lie and say that I hope this thing is closer and I do not have to climb any higher.

Okay, this ledge as a nice stream, and there seem to be ferns growing here but these are once again not the color of the plant that I am looking for. They are definitely getting darker which means I am headed in the right direction but that also means that there is more climbing ahead of me. Not much more I hope. But no matter, for right now I rest.

*sigh*

I see why some people enjoy doing this kind of thing, the world seems to be so much more simple from up here. Away from the bottom perspective, you can see how connected everything is. How cohesive things are meant to be. The horizon stretches for miles and miles on end and the more you look the more you can't help but be drawn by the beauty of the sight before your eyes.

This is what I used to desire to do with my father before he passed. I also had hoped to get to do this with my friends from the village. I'm sure they would have loved to see this view. Tch, it almost makes Oak Town look like a genuinely good place to be. Instead of the ugly cruel place, it hid beneath its roofs and intertwined with its streets.

Enough of a break. Time to go get this over with. Grr. I can feel the pain in arms and my palms are starting to slightly blister. Nothing too bad I suppose. Move on Lucian. Stop stalling.

Ha. There it is, there is another plateau, all I have to do it get up there and...

Ouch! Damn rock. Crap. My hand is bleeding and it is running hot down my arm. Just keep going. I can rest and clean this out when I get my money. Go.

Ah. Ah. Here it is. Finally.. The fern. Here it is. The perfect shade and everything. Five plants should be enough to last the doctor for a good while. Now too... Just go back down the mountain... But at least this time. Gravity is with me and not against me.

There is the house, or should I say lair. This man better be ready and I better not hear one complaint. There is the usual smell of sulfur and other oddities.

"Doctor, I have your fern. "

"Ah. Good. I trust your trip wasn't too troublesome... Is that blood? Would you let me apply this prototype healing ointment I am currently working on? You would make an excellent test. "

"Doctor, Heres the plant and as joyful as that sounds. I will stick to good ole bandages and hot water. "

"Shame. Here's your reward. Now, off with you. "

This was definitely worth it, but there are a bed and a bath calling my name. And I'm not one to miss out on an opportunity like that.

1124/1000