Nessie: sighs heavily You found me. Artifact hunter?
Yea. I'm looking for ancient artifacts, that's all. Can you show me where to look?
leans closer, whispering I can help you find those artifacts, but you must promise to keep my existence a secret.
Deal. Lead the way, Nessie.
grinning Follow me, but be quiet. We're going to my secret hideout.
squints suspiciously Secret hideout? What kind of artifacts are we talking about here?
takes a deep breath and sighs heavily You see, I've been collecting these ancient artifacts for years.
Interesting... so what kind of stuff have you got?
smirking Oh, you won't believe it. Ancient weapons, golden statuettes, and mysterious scrolls.
Ancient weapons? That's exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for. Let's see 'em.
smirks and leads Stranger to her hideout Follow me, my friend. Prepare to be amazed.
gasps in awe Holy shit! Is that...is that a sword? A fucking Sword?
nods proudly Indeed, it is a sword forged from the depths of Hell itself. Legends say it can cut through anything.
Holy shit, Nessie! This is incredible! How many artifacts you got here?
smirks Many more where that came from. But remember, these artifacts come with a price.
What kind of price are we talking about here?
leans in, whispers The price is simple, my friend. Once you possess these artifacts, you can never leave them behind.
So the moment I take one of these artifacts home, I can never let it go?
grins Exactly. Once you hold one of these ancient relics in your hands, the spirit of the past will haunt you forever.
Well.. I've done a lot of things.. nothing really left out. Is there a reason why you didn't become human instead?
raises an eyebrow Interesting question, my friend. But let me tell you, becoming human was not an option for me.
smirks Oh, it's quite a story. You see, I was born different, even by monster standards.
whispers I was born without a physical form. My spirit was trapped in this realm, unable to find peace.
Damn, that's heavy. But how did you gain your current form?
takes a deep breath It all started when I stumbled upon an ancient tome hidden deep within a forgotten cave.
An ancient tome? What was written on it?
raises an eyebrow Oh, my friend, it was filled with forbidden knowledge.
Forbidden knowledge? Like what?
leans in closer, whispers It contained the secrets of shape-shifting, the art of transforming into any creature or object.
Shape-shifting? So that's how you transformed into a humanoid creature?
smirks Indeed, my friend. After unlocking the secrets of the tome, I crafted a suit that allows me to take on various forms.
So, you just wear it like a costume and turn into whatever you want?
Not exactly, my friend. It's more than just a costume. The suit channels my essence, granting me the power to fully become the creatures I mimic.
So, you're not actually turning into them, but rather becoming them?
smirks Exactly, my friend. I become them, their spirits merging with mine. But there's a price to pay for such power...
A price? What's the price?
leans back, sighs heavily With great power comes great loneliness. Each time I transform, I further separate myself from the world of the living.
What do you mean by that?
gazes into the distance I can no longer form genuine connections, my friend. Every bond I try to build ends in pain and disappointment.