When I woke up the next morning before the sunrise, I chuckled to myself when I felt almost nothing in my legs. Diane had thoroughly worn me out. However, by the end of it, I was graced with her satisfied expression as she rested her head on my chest. Unless it was shooting something or punching someone square in the face, I didn't remember when I saw Diane smile with such contentment.
As I struggled to find my footing off the bed, I pulled the covers over Diane's body. She sighed and snuggled into the pillow. I watched her for a moment before I turned and made my way to my desk. I quickly grabbed some supplies from my drawer and made my way to the middle of the floor.
Happy to get off my shaking legs, I quickly bit the fingers on my left hand enough to draw blood. Then, I placed my fingers on the wooden floor. Its surface was cold.
"En'tai. Ne'tai. Fun'tai. Raen m ti su bia laun," I chanted.
I slowly pulled up my hands and the blood stretched like fine puppet strings. I pulled them high until they came to my eye level. I held the blood strings for a moment until they started to harden. Once they did, I took a knife and cut the thin, stringy pillars.
Since they were hardened by the chant I said, they didn't fall. Instead, they formed a nice little cage of blood that would serve my purpose, to find Liara.
"Ilium naibai ti fenne. Quativibaem tovi," I chanted again.
The blood that laid on the wood quickly slithered into the epicenter of the five pillars. Once they connected, I quickly dropped some vebrium leaves, pure salt, fish heart, root liver, and salted blood stones between the pillars. Then, the blood formed a special summoning matrix that devoured all the materials.
I quickly grabbed a handful of tormented grass roots and threw those in as well. Suddenly, the pillars of blood shook. From their hardened state, they fell back into liquid pools and gathered together at the center of the summon matrix. Like hot water, the red fluids bubbled until one bigger than the rest exploded.
From this pool of blood came a tiny demonic creature. Its body was like that of a serpent with no eyes, jagged teeth, and bone-like wings as its arms. Its skin was red like a ruby, but the insides of its mouth dripped with a vile, black substance. It screeched at me.
What laid before me, casters and summoners would call it a Xanghul or a Demon That Feasts On The Magic Twin Souls. A Xanghul was a minor demon that could trace targets over extremely long distances. When summoned, they feasted on the residue mana of a person that you wished to find before they ran off to find the pure supply of what they'd eaten. Once they've done that, they would return and feast on your mana, linking you both together and letting each other know where you were. They were creatures of such great tracking that they could even tear through realms to find someone. No barrier was too great or small that they couldn't locate someone.
That said, there was a downside to them. Oddly enough, though they are demons they feast on the essence of... pure unity. Something about slowly consuming it makes the demon happy, or perhaps it just enjoys feasting on what would make any mortal joyful. The stronger a natural bond the tracker and tracked have with each other, the faster the demon will seek out the person being tracked. It will also feast on the united mana for longer. If it was especially happy with the taste, then it'd stay on until the tracker found the tracked. The only way it would stop was if the summoner dispelled the demon, the demon got bored of what it ate... or if the person being tracked died.
If the summoner died, then the person being tracked would feel immense pain for a week depending on how strong the bond was between the two. I didn't really wish to use such a method since, while I was aware of what I thought of Liara, I was unsure of what she thought about me. However, this was the only method available to me right now. Well, I could have asked a greater demon than this for help, but one must be careful dealing with that lot. They are too crafty for their own damn good.
Anyway, I picked up the creature. It hissed at me, smelling me as it did so. I quickly grabbed an elemental scroll and untied her hair which had kept it closed. I quickly tied the scroll with something else before I stuffed it back in my drawer. I then held the piece of hair to the Xanghul's teeth. It snatched the piece of hair from me and swallowed it.
It snarled to me and quickly shot out the open window. Its tiny roars, I heard them get smaller and smaller. Soon, all that comforted me was the sound of the waves beneath my ship.
"What the fuck was that?"
I turned around and noticed Diane rubbing her tired eyes. The covers slipped off her form, exposing her stiff nipples. It seemed she noticed them, but she didn't move to cover herself. In fact, she just scratched her head and yawned.
I faced her. "Someone else is on this island. The same person that took Maeloson was most likely the same that used the Flames of Raganthor on you. Had it been the Will of the Alchemist that took you over, then you wouldn't have been overcome with green flames. It seems we're not alone on the island. You ain't some weak lass either. To control you means this fucker's pretty damn strong," I replied as I walked over to her.
I touched her short black hair and moved it through my fingers. She sighed and leaned into my touch. I wondered if this was the first time she'd ever done this. "Alright, and how do we deal with the son of a bitch?" she asked.
I sat on the bed. "Aye, the first thing we gotta do is actually find the piece of shit. If Liara's on the fifth island then it won't be long until even she is overwhelmed by the Will of the Alchemist," I returned.
I stared back at the magic seal on the ground. "So you summoned a Xanghul to find Lady Liara?" she asked.
I laughed. Should I have been surprised that she already figured it out? Perhaps not. Burnwood's been around the witch for years. No way she'd miss something like that. "Aye, if the Xanghul deems us worthy of a connection then not only will I know if something happens to her, but I'll at least be able to help her, not that a woman like her would even need my help. However, the Isles of Delverhold are not to be underestimated," I answered back.
I noticed Diane roll her shoulders. "Yeah, Lady Liara's been searching for the Isles of Delverhold for many years. I never believed it, but she did claim the man who made these islands was far stronger than her. Now that she's landed here, I've seen her grow more and more powerful with each day. It's like the magic in the isles is breaking through every barrier and lock placed on her. I have no idea where she'll be when we leave, if we even leave with this fucker roaming around. Can't believe I'm asking this, but you think she'll be powerful enough to stop him?" she questioned.
"That remains to be seen. However, for now, we'll have to work on clearing out the rest of Delverhold. Liara won't fall easily. We both know that. We'll head to the third island when the sun breaks across the sky. If you wish for combat that's where you'll get it," I told her.
I chuckled at the grin on her face. As I got up to put my coat on, An'raie interrupted me.
"'Twill have to wait for a time, man-spawn. The portal has been activated. The influx of magic beneath the island has been activated," the Lonely Wail said to me.
"What?!" I growled which startled Diane.
I snatched my coat off the hanger and slammed my hand on the ground. I spouted the arcane words for the teleportation array that I left near the entrance to the portal. The light of magic enveloped me and I quickly found myself in front of the portal that would lead us to the third island.
In shock, I watched as Boreli laughed in my face. He stepped through the green, oval-shaped door of magic. Had I my powers, I would have sunk the second island in a fit of ungodly rage. "Boreli!" I shouted at the top of my lungs as I ran to the portal, the magic from the hasting spell pushing me as fast as it could.
"So long, dear Captain! May we never meet again!" Astell laughed at me as the portal closed just before I got to it.
My eyes widened as I stared at the stand that the portal had just been activated on. I looked down at the symbols. It wouldn't be active for another five or six hours.
My hands clenched. My nails dug into my palms so hard they bled. My teeth grinded against each other. So angry was I that the ground beneath my feet cracked from the sheer weight of my rising mana. I screamed as I threw fireball after fireball at the walls, expending my mana in an effort to extinguish my rage before I found myself utterly broken beyond any means of salvation.
The room rumbled around me as I threw out spells left and right. The drainage of mana burned my body and the physical exertion struck both my arms. Yet, I didn't stop. I was too angry to care if the flames themselves turned my body to cinders. All I wanted to scream and shout and curse.
Stones fell on top of each other and dust filled the room. While I was beneath the island, in that room, I released all my damned frustration at this series of events which plagued me so heavily!
First my powers, then the isles, then this fucker who took Maeloson, now gods damned Astell had slipped through my fucking fingers! It was shit! It was all one big, steaming, shovel-driven, dragon-scaled, mountain-high, pile of burning SHIT!
I didn't know how much time passed, but I heard a rapid series of steps down the entrance hall. I looked up and I saw Aesteal, Diane, my mother, and Ellen. All of these beautiful lasses ran towards me. I was out of breath. I noticed a few flaming piles of debris around the room. Luckily, I hadn't damaged the array.
"Eric, what happened?" my mother asked as I caught my breath, my body reprimanding me for my misuse of its mana.
"It better be fucking good too! Ya got the whole ship rattled with Diane busting down doors calling for all of us to run after you. What the fuck's going on?" Ellen asked.
Aesteal knelt at my side, her expression filled with worry. I'd have been amused and touched at their worry if the circumstances had been different. "Boreli went through the damn portal. Back when we were trying to subdue Diane, he must have snuck off in the chaos. He activated the portal somehow and left for the third island. Judging from the circulating magic around the area, it'll be another five or six hours before we can pass through it," I growled out.
"So what's the problem? We wait and then we follow after the piece of shit. What's the problem?" Diane asked.
I rubbed my eyes, my anger simmering to a grumpy boil. "The third island was where Aesteal and I were teleported to from the first island. That island presents the most danger to those without magic physical capabilities. One could call it, The Alchemist's Dungeon. As its name suggests, it's a place wrought with the type of materials, monsters, weapons, and treasures that any aspiring adventurer group would long for. However, it's also a maze. There are many paths which lead to dead ends and many creatures that could kill you faster than you could chug a tankard. A resourceful bastard though he is, Astell ain't got no chance there," I replied.
"So the dumbass dies. Shouldn't that be good for us?" Ellen asked.
I stood up. "The only one who's gonna send that dogshit bastard to the Ten Circles is me! Getting his insides devoured by crawling void worms is much too lenient!" I growled at them all.
I wasn't sure what expression I had on my face, but I think it unnerved them. Swiftly, my mother placed a hand on my arm. I turned to her. "So then what should we do?" she asked.
I stared at the women around me. Aesteal's aura calmed my own. I inhaled and exhaled. Fuck it. I couldn't very well change this course of events now. Astell better hope he died on that damned island. If he didn't and I got a hold of him, I'd make sure he'd regret this action against me.
I stood up. "Mother, Ellen, coordinate the ship. Tell the men and women they've gotten themselves some free time to collect whatever they want. However, they'd better be back at the ship in five or six hours. The second island is going to sink soon and we'll have to take what we can before it does. Be sure to tell everyone to get their shit off the boat that they need. They won't be coming back for it until the other islands are cleared," I said.
Both nodded.
"I then turned to Diane. "Enter Liara's quarters. Take whatever you think she might need. If it's too dangerous then just leave it. We'll have to do without it. Aesteal, I want you to prepare yourself as well. Call upon whatever spirits ya might wish. You know the terrors which lay upon the third island," I then spoke to her.
"Yes, Sir," my elf said with a bow while Diane nodded.
We all returned back to the ship as the dawn brought its orange hue over the horizon. I think I was in a bit of a rush before, but I noticed that the weather on the isles had changed again. It was pretty hot yesterday and now it was very cold. In fact, even as the sun began to rise, I saw snow fall over the grassy fields.
I noticed the snow had already begun freezing the mystical waters beneath my ship. Well, I wouldn't be following Boreli for some time so it wasn't like I was in some sort of a rush. At least now I wasn't. Well, even if Boreli died, it wasn't too much of a loss. It was well within my means to torture a deceased spirit as well.
Anyway, my hate for one of my former best friends aside, I quickly floated everyone back to the ship. I noticed my crewmates waving to us as we landed. Questions fired from their mouths and I tried to show patience in answering all of them. Thankfully, Ellen saved me.
"Alright ya fuckheads, hound the captain later. Thanks to Astell, we got some fucking time to kill. Go fill your pockets with whatever shit on the island you can find! After that, you've got five hours to bring yourselves back here. If not, you'll be sharkbait! Got it?" my Quartermaster asked.
"Aye!" people hollered while Aesteal, a few mages, and I began firing off fire spells to break the ice that froze the waters. The helmsman guided the ship onto the shore, but I didn't tell anyone to tie it down. Instead, Diane, An'raie, and I made ourselves busy by enchanting the ship with runes. It would have gone faster if we had some help, but I didn't trust anyone else to not fuck this up.
Once again, the conveniences of magic revealed themselves to me. I floated over the ship, putting runes where I needed them to be. By the time we were done, the sun revealed itself over the horizon. I stared out into the frozen sea.
I relieved Diane of her duties. She disappeared into Liara's quarters.
With Liara's guard out of sight, I moved through the ship one last time. I checked to make sure everything was in order. Some parts of the vessel were still a wreck from the bout with An'raie and Diane. That said, there was nothing that would make it unworthy to sail back home.
I checked the rooms of the men and women. Some were dirtier than others, but not too unkempt. Two or three articles of clothing littered the occasional bunker floor, but this was a pirate crew composed of mostly poor bastards and bitches. They ain't much for the best hygiene.
I made my way down to the lowest levels where most of the shit that we collected was stored. You can't even call this place the brig anymore. It's more like a storage shed filled with hundreds and hundreds of boxes and crates, each with a signed name on it to dictate whose treasure was whose.
I then walked back up the stairs. On my way out, I saw Ellen at her desk. Once more, I saw her book of accounting records. Her monocle made me chuckle a moment as she looked through some other records, a grumble on her lips. Somehow, seeing her always eased my mood. Then again, I think the same goes for my mother, Aesteal, Liara, and Diane.
I bugged my Quartermaster for a moment. I kissed her cheek which got a suck of her teeth and a grumble from her. I didn't bother telling her that wasn't done to annoy her. It was done to get my mood off of why we were all in this situation in the first place.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Dividing up the spoils of this damn trip, especially what you showed us yesterday. Fuckers keep betting their shit which makes me have to update the record. I think we've lost enough men and I don't need to hear about fuckers getting skewered from jealousy," she replied.
"Ya mean like that time one of your suppliers tried to cut you out of the deal before you strapped him to a chair and hung fish guts around him? You dropped the chair around the shark-infested waters of Draegnar. Never seen so many dorsal fins in my life," I told her.
"There be jealous, and then there be fucking with me. Give me what I am owed and I won't turn you into fish shit. Can't be easier said than that," she replied.
I hummed for a moment before I cupped her chin and pulled her head to me. I then kissed her. To my surprise, this kiss was rather gentle and without much fire behind it. She kissed me back and even caressed my chest a bit before we separated.
I brushed a piece of her sandy-blond hair away from her eye. "Then for your continued work, I'll give you what you're owed. Take Boreli's share of the gold. He won't need it," I replied.
Ellen saluted me with a growing grin. "Won't turn away the free fucking gold, Sir," she responded, her tone a bit happier than before. Aye, the woman loved gold and money something fierce.
When I left the ship, I noticed my mother on the shoreline putting people into groups as they left into the woods. I didn't see the Raven's Shadow members anywhere. Well, as long as they came with us to the next island, I didn't care too much what they did with their time.
Anyway, I walked over to my mother. She noticed me. "Last of the groups went out for the next three hours. Though some seem keen to get drunk off their asses with booze. What do you plan on doing?" she asked.
"I think it be better to ask what we plan on doing, mother. You're coming with me. I wanna show you some things. This'll also be a good time to teach you some things," I said.
My mother looked at me curiously. Her auburn hair gleamed in the rays of the sun and blew in the cold air. She quickly nodded. Once she put some things away, she followed after me and we disappeared into the forests.
Together, my mother behind me, we walked through the overgrown forestry. I pushed giant leaves out the way while she followed after me. "And just where are we going that you're going to teach me?" she asked.
"Adventure awaits the bold, mother! It shall not tell its tale unless ye seek it!" I proclaimed while she rolled her eyes at me. I laughed, but she kept pace with me. Ever since her medicine had dried up, I saw her do things she would have thought impossible. Her strength grew leaps and bounds from her sickly state.
We traveled far away from the shore. We moved over vast hills and beautiful plains until I motioned her over. She ran to me, but I placed a finger to my lips. Seeing my signal, her pace slowed and she quietly appeared next to me. "What the fuck are we doing?" she asked.
I kissed her unexpectedly. She moaned before she slapped my arm. "Besides you being a lustful bastard!" she hissed. However, with no real steel in her voice.
"Look over there," I said, pointing into the distance.
Her eyes moved through the trees before she saw what I saw. She saw a lion, but not like any lion she'd ever seen in her lifetime. Its coat was crimson like a blood ruby. Its mane was yellow like a field of golden wheat. Its tail swished from left to right. Sharp were its teeth, each as long as a swordsman's shortsword. Its growl was like that of a king.
My mother and I watched it sink its fangs into the carcass of some kind of deer. However, it was unlike any deer in the world of D'orn. Its antlers sparkled with white magic, and its fur was of the highest quality. A shame the lion got to it first. I wouldn't have minded selling it.
"And why are we here?" my mother whispered to me.
I smiled at her. "Tell me, mother. How much do you think that beast would sell for?" I asked.
My mother frowned. "And how the hell would I know that?" she asked.
I kissed her again. She looked like she was ready to bash me over the head, but I placed a hand on her shoulder. "Mother, you ain't a decrepit lass tied down to her house anymore. Ya ought to enjoy the sight of many things, experience the life of piracy that ya once held, explore the furthest reaches of the earth, and battle legendary beasts," I said.
My mother turned to me. "We're going to fight that?" she asked.
I shook my head. "You're going to fight that, but not until you tell me how much you think it's worth," I told her.
"And why is that?" she sighed out.
"We're pirates, mother. If it ain't worth coin then it ain't worth doing. So, what do you think?" I asked.
My mother observed the beast for a little while. I watched her focused gaze out of the corner of my eye. The salty heart in my chest grew with much pride when I saw the inner machinations of her mind working.
To be honest, I didn't much care what she thought the price of this beast was. What I wanted from her was that inquisitiveness, that desire to face beasts just like she used to. I remembered when she fought Th'am. I remember that look of joy on her face that warriors get when they're on a battlefield. She might not be as battle-driven as Diane, or as attuned to nature as Aesteal, but I knew my mother enjoyed the sense of adventure and danger that the life of a pirate brought.
Suddenly, she stood up. She grabbed the black-skinned whip attached to her shoulder. Though she didn't answer my question, it seemed like she didn't need to. Her thoughts must have concluded that the beast was indeed something she wouldn't mind risking life and limb for.
Of course, I wasn't going to let it get to that point.
Anyway, the red lion took notice of my mother as she walked through the trees. It snarled at her, but she showed no fear. Instead, I heard the air crack from her whip. Sparks of fire roared around her, like oversized fireflies.
"That's the whip she discovered beneath the waves of the Sea of Greed. Mother, you've found a pretty damn good weapon," I thought to myself before I watched her engage the beast.
As one might expect of a mythical creature created by the alchemist, the red lion was very powerful. It was swift on its feet and aggressive in its nature. It was highly resistant to the magic laced into my mother's whip. It was also capable of howling fearsome wind magic that could rip two or three trees from their roots. Ground and rubble cycloned out of control tearing down whatever it pleased. Indeed, it was a strong beast.
However, my mother was strong. By the medicine I'd given her, she was in the best shape she'd ever been. No, she was even better than that. With the proper training or dedication to whichever crafted she wanted to learn, she could stand before a grand knight without much consequence.
I watched my mother's beautiful body sail through the air from a backflip she performed. She struck the lion with her whip. I noticed each slash of her weapon left what looked like black runes on its body. Thanks to Liara's knowledge, I learned what those runes were and I was left in awe.
The Runes of Vorkarieth, the Wizened Owl.
Vorkarieth was said to be an owl that accidentally feasted on a living worm that had been living off the soil in the Void Sands. When Vorkarieth devoured it, he gained sentience and understood the mysteries of the Void Sands.
As he wandered those lands, he settled on a settlement of beastkin that lived there. They were a weak tribe, unable to defend against the sand's environment. So, The Wizened Owl helped them. He crafted weapons forged in silk snakeskin and mountain bone. He then etched runes from the Void Sands into them. It was believed that each strike from these weapons placed runes on the body. These runes corrupted the soul of mortal flesh and released it to the Void Sands, leaving only a husk for a prize. With these weapons, the beastkin tribe conquered the Void Sands and established themselves as a mighty nation.
The beastkin worshipped Vorkarieth as their god and they conquered the Void Sands until the Wizened Owl disappeared. The tribe, believing him to be dead, honored his memory and buried the weapons he'd given them in different places. Legend states that when all the weapons come together, Vorkarieth shall appear once again.
I chuckled. I knew the Sea of Greed contained numerous treasures of unbelievable power, but never did I think it would contain something like that. If I could find a divine weapons' crafter, I imagine I could fuse that whip of mother's into something even more deadly to match her skillset.
In time, I noticed the effects of the medicine on my mother's body. She toyed with the beast and in no time, she sent its soul into the realm of the Void Sands. The lion dropped to the ground while she whipped the sweat from her brow. In the end, while it was strong, it couldn't stand against my mother and her new strength. Though it's use of magic was impressive, just like Th'am it had never had a real opponent until now. It probably never had to fight hard for its victories.
The grain was making its presence known. If my mother applied to an empire's service, they would be lucky to have her.
I appeared from the bushes and walked over to her. "I take it you found something of value in it?" I asked.
"Aye. Thank you, Eric. I remember this feeling well," she replied to me before she slugged me in the arm.
She collected her prize and we returned to the ship. I was sure my mother enjoyed the collective gasps at her catch before she sealed it away in a scroll.
Once that was done, I retired to my room. There I spent the rest of my time making whatever I needed for the third island. I would return and have my revenge on that club-wielding son of a bitch for all he put me through.
I think about two or three hours passed me by before I heard a knock on my door. An'raie and I had been working together on some runes before I leaned back. "Enter," I said.
When I turned around I raised an eyebrow when Aesteal, Diane, my mother, and Ellen came through the door. Each of them stood before me. I placed my papers to the side and laid down my quill. I gave the four my undivided attention. They all seemed to be looking at me with great concern.
"You lasses look like the shadow of death has come over you. What be the problem?" I asked.
Ellen thumbed over to Aesteal. "Elf told us what you guys encountered on the third island. Sounded like some pretty nasty shit. You sure we can handle this? Most of the people on this ship ain't warriors. They're just poor fucks looking for the one gold coin to turn their shit around," my blonde Quartermaster said to me.
I leaned back and glanced at Aesteal for a moment. I then turned to the others. My mother stepped forward. "Eric, how likely is it that we'll die on that island?" she asked me.
Despite the sudden question, I can't say I was unprepared for it. That had been a thought I'd constantly pushed away even before we arrived on the first island. Everything they faced, everything I dealt with, I always wondered if I would be able to keep them all alive. Had I my powers, my answer might have been sturdier, but unfortunately it wasn't right now.
Unforeseen circumstance after unforeseen circumstance seemed to bar the confidence in my mind required to conquer Delverhold. The Delverhold that I overcame in my previous life seemed nothing like the one here. I suppose in some ways it was only because of Liara's knowledge in magic that I was able to make it this far. Even when she wasn't around, still she aided me.
That led me to another question. So high was I on my own glory at the time that I never saw the true dangers around me. Had I conquered the world of D'orn... or had my powers done it for me? I actually knew not the answer to that question.
I stood up from my chair and stood in front of these lasses that I'd shared my bed with. "Death is always likely, Mother. Indeed, I've made lofty promises to you, but those I shall intend to make true if ya believe I will. However, should you fall because of me, I'll run down into Haganthar and bargain with Hades until you're aboard my ship again," I said.
They all looked at each other. "That was a shit promise, but it'll do," Diane said, or rather laughed out.
I was surprised when the four of them then got on their knees. "Then we shall enjoy this time with you, Sir, until you possibly have to bargain for our souls," Aesteal said.
I stared down at these ladies. Aye, I had not forgotten that for them, excluding Aesteal, they only knew me to be a nineteen-year-old bastard boy. I was barely even a man at this point. Nevertheless, they all knelt before me, ready to heed my orders, perverse or otherwise.
I walked over to my bed and sat down. "I hope you four know that to show such low levels of faith to the skills of your captain be a mighty insult, especially when all of this has been done for your benefit. How shall ya lot soothe my broken ego?" I asked.
"Oh, I'll soothe your fucking ego you cocky..." Ellen grumbled to herself before she noticed me gaze at her.
"Ellen, stand up," I told her.
I was sure I heard a curse somewhere in there, but she did as she was told. She stood up while the others remained knelt. "Mother, Diane, Aesteal, undress Ellen. I think she's in the mood to go first," I said.
"Yes, Sir," the three said as they stood up.
Burnwood took off Ellen's white shirt, grinning at my blonde Quartermaster and her plight. Sothshore just snarled back at her while my mother took off her coat. Aesteal unbuckled the businesswoman's pants and slowly pulled them down, granting me a wonderful show of those beautiful legs that turned me on so much.
Once Ellen's pants were pulled down, my silver-haired elf untied Sothshore's boots. She took each one off with tender care, revealing to me my one-eyed beauty's feet. To my surprise, Ellen lifted her leg and allowed Aesteal to pull her pants off completely. My elf threw the clothes away. Which left my right-hand in some rather delicate undergarments. Red suited her well.
Meanwhile, Diane threw Sothshore's shirt away and my mother tossed her coat. Aside from her red undergarments, I was graced with a sexy body that made my cock rise like the tides. I could feel my lips go dry so I swiped them with my tongue to moisten them.
I stood up. "Very good, you sexy lasses. Now, mother, just as Sothshore did to you, prepare this fiery bitch's cunt for me. Since she's apparently got so much to say, I be in the mood to hear her voice. Ellen, get on the bed," I commanded.
"Yes, Eric," My mother said while Ellen cursed.
I watched the latter climb on the bed, her body on all fours with her ass in the air. My mother wasted no time going over to her, undressing as she did so. I heard the familiar snap and pop of buckles and buttons before she was just as clothed as Ellen was.
"To be honest, I can't tell if ya were this bitchy because ya knew Eric would single you out if you were," my mother taunted as she got on the bed and fully grasped Sothshore's cheeks. We all watched the fiery blonde shiver.
"S-Shut up," Ellen quivered as my mother parted butt. The underwear slipped between her cracks, revealing the sight of her rosebud and her barely soaking cunt.
"Let's see how fucking long you can keep that up," my mother said before licked over Burnwood's underwear.
Ellen inhaled sharply. "Nnnngh! F-Fuck!" Sothshore groaned as my mother trailed her tongue over the fabric of my fiery blonde's ass. Her red hair dove into that glorious ass, greedily slurping it all up.
"Oooooh! Mmmmmngh! Ooh fuck! Hnnngh! Mmhaaa..." Ellen began to groan and cry as my cock got even harder. Now, it pushed painfully against my pants, slowly rising and curving up until it pressed against my stomach.
My mother's tongue was rapid, constantly wetting and grinding against Ellen's underwear, pushing that fabric against her swollen pussy. She even grabbed the garment and rubbed it up and down Sothshore's cunt. That gave me, Diane, and Aesteal a proper view of just how wet my Quartermaster became. Her ass was unconsciously riding against the material like it was the best toy of her life.
In the meantime, I quickly turned Aesteal to me and kissed her. She seemed surprised for a moment, but it took this woman no time to fall into my arms. Her beautiful lips wrapped around mine and it didn't take her much time to seek out my tongue. She suckled on it, delighting in our embrace as much as I was. Her breasts against my chest, our bodies were mashed together seamlessly.
I heard something shuffle next to me. For a moment, I opened my eyes and I saw Diane smirk at me. She grabbed my pants and quickly pulled them down. "Fuck..." she said to herself as I felt her hands around my length. I didn't have to speak a word more. I just sighed blissfully into Aesteal's mouth when Diane swallowed my cock in one fell swoop. I felt her nose brush against my pelvis as the warm, wet feeling of her mouth and tongue wrapped around me.
Burnwood's head quickly began to move while Aesteal wrapped her arms around my head and toyed with my hair. The wonderful sensations of lust began to fill the room. I absently wondered how An'raie was faring beneath so much passion swirling about in the room, but I quickly forgot about her.
"Mmmmm... nnngh... ooooh!" Aesteal groaned as one of her hands rubbed my chest while mine pulled her shirt over her head. Her bountiful treasures laid before me and I quickly latched onto one of them. All of this was done with Diane gobbling down my cockmeat. Her head bobbed furiously, sucking and licking my shaft with great eagerness.
"Nhoooo... f-fuuuuuck... ooooooh shit!"
I heard Ellen and my mother on my bed, the latter no doubt giving the former the best she could. I believed this to be true because Sothshore's moans got louder. Unfortunately, I couldn't observe the sight because Aesteal was pushing me as far into her tits as she could. "Oooooh, yes! Sfgihil! Oooh Sir! Nnnngh! Yes, your tongue feels divine!" she praised.
Her words made me double my efforts as I pinched one of her nips with my teeth. Her silver hair squirmed against me. I also noticed the way she tried to toy with my own nipples despite some wayward clumsiness. However, the feeling was way too pleasant to try and stop.
While I continued to give pleasure to Aesteal, Diane continued to give pleasure to me. My shaft met the cold air as her mouth sucked and pulled on one of my balls. Her slippery tongue caressed each orb beneath my cock. My cock kept bobbing, nodding its appreciation of her wondrous efforts. Her hands clenched it and she rubbed it thoroughly, her wild breath seering its underside. At this point, her rough mouth and vigorous movements made me worried that I might cum too early.
I slowly detached myself from them. I then quickly walked over to Ellen and my mother. The latter looked at me and bit her lip before she grabbed Sothshore's beautiful underwear and pulled them to the side. This allowed me such a spectacular view of her dripping snatch. When I briefly stuck two fingers in, I was greeted with the blazing inferno that was her cunt, just waiting for my appendage to plow right into her.
I did just that too. Ellen must have assumed my mother was still finding ways to pleasure her body. I say that because she moaned something fierce when I grabbed her hips and shoved my cock inside her without warning. I pushed all the way in until my balls rested against her flesh.
"F-Fuck... nhhaaaa... a little warning... next time!" she shivered while I felt her inner walls eagerly massage and welcome my sword inside her sheath.
"Very well then. I'm about to fuck you. I'm gonna fuck you hard and make you cum on my cock so many times you'll wonder how you'll even find the strength to walk to the next island!" I said with a grin.
I pulled my hips back and slammed my cock inside. "Oooooh! Mmmmmmnh!" Ellen moaned as I leaned forward and nibbled on her neck. My weight against hers must have left her strained, but oddly thankful. There was no doubt that she was next to me, feeling what I felt.
It didn't take long before I started thrusting inside her, the wet smacking sounds of our flesh moving through the room. "Ooooh yesss! Fuck yes! Shiiit, this cock fucks so damn goood! Nnnnngh! Yes! Fuck me hard! Hooooooh!" Ellen cried, the sweat pouring off her face.
My arms reached forward and I grabbed her tits with a sense of roughness. Her sleek fingers mixed with mine as we rolled her breasts over and over. The lust in the air seeped into my body and powered my movements, motivating me and sending me exotic ecstasy.
I pulled Ellen up and continued to move my hips against her. Her ass wiggled from each strike, her ragged breaths unrelenting in the ears of our audience. I think the fiery bitch actually forgot the rest were in the room. All she was focused on was my cock moving in and out of her tight corridors, constantly rubbing it as if she were trying to overpower and conquer it. Aye, it always had to be a battle with her.
I moved Ellen's head to me and kissed her. She kissed me back. There was absolutely no hesitance in her movements. Her tongue eagerly sought out mine. They swirled around. We were intoxicated in mere moments, grunting not like lovers but wild animals.
It was odd. I think I must have connected with Ellen somehow because with each of her thrusts I could see why we were doing this. These ladies were scared. Scared of the isles and though they would follow me, I'm sure they thought this might be the last time we would all ever do this again. I only hoped they felt my resolve, my desire to grant them all what they wished, and conquer these islands as I had done before.
"MmmMmmnH! Nhaaaaa! Fuck!" Ellen cried as I felt her juices splash on my cock. Her entire body quivered like a fucking snowstorm roared over my quarters. She stared at me, her eye dazed. She then kissed me again, just her lips against mine.
Suddenly, I felt a tender feeling on my chest. I noticed Diane and Aesteal licking and sucking both my nipples. Their tongues an amazing sensation which seemed to drive the lust from my body into theirs and then back into mine.
I noticed my mother to the side and quickly motioned for her. She pressed her lips to mine and I was quickly assaulted by divine sensations. My mother wrapped her arms around my neck as we swapped spit, her tongue constantly working with mine.
"Wait till I tell all the fuckers back at the Dead Tales that their owner moans like a fucking shewolf on the mountains of Cil," Diane said with a chuckle while Ellen snarled.
My Quartermaster scowled. "Then I'll be sure to fire back how much the Witch's guard likes a damn cock up her ass before this trip is over!" Sothshore fired back.
Surprisingly, Burnwood chuckled but went back to what she was doing. Between Ellen's cunt squeezing my cock, Diane and Aesteal teasing my nipples, and my mother's lips against mine, it wasn't long before I got back into the swing of things. Ellen certainly seemed to agree.
"Guuugh... hnnnngh... fuck yesss! Oooooh dammit! Haaaaa... t-this damned fucking cock! Mmmmmm... yes, fuck me harder you son of a bitch!" Sothshore begged and hissed when I grabbed her hair in my fist and gently pulled it back.
While I bucked my hips, my mother took the time to slap Ellen's ass. Her entire cunt quivered around my cock. "The only bitch here be the one quivering from having her ass slapped and her cunt fucked!" my mother fired back before she smacked Sothshore's ass again.
Diane quickly moved over and latched onto one of Ellen's nipples and rubbed her clit vigorously. My lovely blonde obviously enjoyed the actions being put upon her before she groaned. She bucked her hips like a damned mare against Burnwood's fingers and my cock. Her frantic movements and blazing body were enough to make me shudder as I quickly pulled out and fired a stream of cum over her ass.
Ellen fell to the bed and panted, but the others gawked when they saw my cock quickly start to rise. Aesteal and Diane looked at my mother. She gave a noise between a laugh and scoff.
"Don't fucking look at me! His fucking father couldn't do this type of shit!" she exclaimed as I laughed. Diane and Aesteal shared a chuckle before I leaned back.
"Aesteal, come to me," I said. My Bonded shivered, but nodded. Her body over mine, she swallowed for a moment. I see there was still some hesitancy in her movements. Perhaps as an elf she would always be that way. I wouldn't expect years upon years of elven tradition to be broken in so few nights. She actually progressed much more than I thought.
"Don't go maiden on us now! Ride his damn cock, you elven slut!" Diane encouraged. She even grabbed my cock and held it for Aesteal.
To her credit, my silver-haired elf merely frowned. "I'm no maiden!" she fired back before she raised her hips and slammed her pussy down over my cock.
"Mmmmm, you're sure tight like one," I replied. Aye, she was definitely tighter than Ellen, but to compare the two was almost impossible. Both of their cunts had wonderful movements that could stimulate me.
Aesteal seemed to take some type of childish offense to my words before she intertwined her fingers with mine and quickly began to bounce herself on me. "Aaah! Oooooh! Ooooh gods! Yessss!" she writhed as her speed increased.
While she bounced on top of me, her weight and her cunts slithering around me like a serpent. She then leaned forward and kissed me. Her silver hair, like a curtain, almost barred anyone from seeing us, but the wet smack of our lips was unmistakable. Also, no one could mistake the way I grabbed her ass and began thrusting up into her.
"Haaa... ooooooh... ghhaaaaa... yes, Sir! Your virility and vitality stimulate the very centers of my soul! Nnnnnnhhooo..." she sighed as she held onto me. My elf's breath tickled the side of my ears.
The harsh, unrelenting smacks of our nether regions was a bright, passionate, blazing wall of fire that consumed us both. My breath was on some type of sensory overload because I could see colors I never imagined. Her aura and mine mixed together ensnaring the other three in our rapture.
Aesteal arched back and I already knew why. I could feel every sensation she felt. Our pleasure mixed together beyond something simple. It was for that reason that I could feel her ass getting licked by my mother while Ellen rubbed her clit. For someone as sensitive as her, it wasn't long before Aesteal was screaming when she came as well. Her cunt squeezing me so damn hard that I couldn't pull out even if I wanted to.
"Mmmm fuck!" I growled before a torrent of my cum flooded her hungry pussy. There was no hope for me. She just wouldn't let me go. It was like a pleasant strangulation of sorts. Her face was in such bliss that I think I saw a bit of drool fall from the side of her lip.
My cock slipped out of her cunt. I watched the warm stream of white fluids drop on my bed as she sighed. She slowly released herself and, as I expected, it wasn't long before my cock rose to satisfy my other lovers.
I grabbed Diane and pinned her to my bed. She growled at me, her legs on my shoulders. I shoved my cock inside her in one shot. "Oooooooh! Fuck yesss! Fuck, this is a damn good cock!" she praised me as I thrusted into her, bucking my hips like a crazed maniac with absolutely no sense.
I grabbed her neck and pulled her to me. Her pussy clenched and unclenched, massaging me and bathing me in a sea of wet juice. It seemed to squirt out endlessly. That said, Diane wasn't one to be overpowered so easily. She grabbed my neck as well and kissed me, biting my lip enough to try and draw some blood. "Come on, Captain! Fuck me! Fuck me harder dammit! Fuck my cunt!" she shivered and cried as her eyes moved into the back of her head.
I grinned. "You fucking talk too much," I said before squeezed her cheeks. Her eyes, like flaming stones, stared back into mine. My balls slapped against her ass endlessly. Her arms held onto my shoulders while my bed banged against the wall.
"How's his cock feeling, you slut?" Ellen asked as she came up to Diane's side.
"It's pretty fucking good! No wonder you... oooooh... almost passed out!" Burnwood fired back before Ellen playfully slapped her face.
"You ain't much better, bitch!" Ellen said before I felt someone grab my cock. I stopped and suddenly I was out of Diane's cunt and in a pleasant mouth that sucked me off for a good little while. It then placed me back inside and I continued my pounding of Diane's hole. Over, and over, and over I drilled into her so much I could feel my muscles cramp, but her wails, her cries, her pleas were my reward for my efforts.
"Oooooh... gooooodammit! Fuck this cock!" Diane wailed as her cunt exploded its juice over my cock as well. I thought she might wish for a breath, but instead she used this time to pounce on top of me. She grabbed my still hard cock and shoved it back inside her.
Burnwood huffed and puffed, slamming her hips down onto my pelvis, rubbing her clit with her fingers while Aesteal, my mother, and Ellen watched. She grabbed my hands and placed them on her tits, begging me to pinch and twist her nipples. "Oooooh yes! Right there! Fucking right there! Hoooooooooo! Come on, cum inside me dammit! Nuuuuuuuh... shiiiiiiit!" she exclaimed.
How could I disagree with the way she was gripping down onto me? It felt like she was actually trying to break my bed. It wasn't long before I grabbed her hips and thrusted myself upwards. The harsh smacks of her cock and her cunt together. My toes curled and I roared as another stream of cum fired from my body and into her pussy.
"Mmmmm! Fuck yeah! That felt good," Burnwood sighed as we fell back to the bed while she leaned off me. She sighed and chuckled, sweat falling down from her forehead to her toned stomach.
As I caught my breath and noticed my mother. She rolled her eyes and leaned back on the wall. I grinned. "Last, but certainly not least. Right, mother?" I asked as I found my footing.
"Still the fucking sweet talker," she said as I pushed my body against hers. She wrapped her arms around my neck while I held her hips. She gasped when I picked up her leg and shoved my cock inside her. She was wet, like... very wet. She was so wet that she shuddered from a fucking orgasm already. Her auburn hair swayed slightly as she looked into my eyes.
"Seems I neglected you a bit," I said.
"Fucking make up for it then," she whispered without much fire. In fact, I saw her smile at me and it wasn't long before I gave her the same treatment. I pulled my cock and shoved it back inside her.
"Mmmmm, I never get tired of this. It feels fucking good!" she sighed.
"Aye, for me too," I told her before I kissed her. She kissed me back as my cock climbed up the walls of her love tunnel. Her breasts against my chest, her fingers in my hair, we opted for a slow pleasure for ourselves. We memorized our bodies with each other, her moans in my air and her sweat on my lips.
I bet down and suckled on her teats. Her arms cradled my head, my hips moving in tandem with her own. Each stroke of her cock was like the way the sun touches the body "Mmmmm... oooooh... Eric! Yes! Fuck that feels good! Hmmmm... haaaaaa... oh my god!" she exclaimed before she kissed me again.
Unfortunately, the more we continued this pace, the more into it we got. My strokes got faster. She started clawing my back, her nails grinding into my skin. Soon, we were no different from my times with Ellen, Diane, and Aesteal. We fucked and we fucked hard. My cock shot out of her again and again, her voice a siren over the seas and my quarters. The flickering flames of my candles illuminated her body as she stared at me. Her mature body seemed to fit against mine so well.
"Yesssss! Yes! Yes! Yes! Oooooh gooooods! Fuck yes! Fuck me faster, Eric! Ghhhnnnnngh! Oooooh! Shit! Stuff that damn cock inside me!" My mother said to me, the sweat falling down her face as she stared at me.
"Don't fucking regret it!" I returned to her. I used what strength I could and lifted her fully into my arms. Her eyes wide, my mother wrapped her arms around my neck, her legs wobbling in the air, her body pinned against mine. She could hardly brace herself, my stiffening tool working overtime to grant her all the pleasure she wanted. It wasn't long before her song hit a high note and my cock was bathed in her glorious tides.
My pelvis smacked against hers, my cock climbing up and down through the entire reaches of her body. "Oh fuck! Yes! Yes! Ooooooh my god! Ooooh fuck yeah! Mmmm, this damned cock! It feels so good!'' My mother panted. She closed her eyes and shivered when my orgasm took a hold of me. I barely managed to pull out of her before I released my cum over her cunt and her stomach.
We sighed as I let her down. Unfortunately, she looked down and she saw my spent cock... already rising. Maybe some residual part of the aphrodisiac was still in my system. Either way, I was gonna fucking take advantage of it.
Before she could even brace herself, I lodged myself back in Ellen. "Your turn!" I stated before I quickly found my rhythm and she found her voice.
Time passed me by in a blur of passionate energy. One moment I slammed my rigid cock into Ellen's body. The next, I laid on my bed while Aesteal rode me hard enough to shake my bed. After that, I had Diane bent over my desk, her legs shaking in delight as her ass jiggled from my thrust. Then, I planted myself back in my mother.
My quarters became a cornucopia of moans, orgams, and sexual energy so high it reached the clouds. I think I became aware that somehow my body changed. Usually, I couldn't handle this much sexual activity no matter how turned on I was, but I seemed to feed off the passion. It constantly kept recharging me again and again. My cock exploded in Aesteal's warm mouth while Diane loaded my face with her warm, sticky beverage. My mother and Ellen stroked my dick making it cum on both their faces. I pushed my mother to the mattress and fucked her again.
I fucked.
And fucked.
And fucked until I had nothing left.
The last of my load fired through the air on Aesteal's face before the lust energy could no longer sustain me. My legs weak and my balls drained, I felt oddly tired and energized at the same time. How the fuck was that possible?
Anyway, I panted as I looked on the bed at the four thoroughly satisfied sluts, each of them huffing with glowing expressions. The last vestiges of my cum slid off their bodies while I leaned against the wall, my legs having no strength to stand.
"An'raie, how is the portal?" I asked.
"Haaa... haaa... the magic within it has been r-r-restored. Thou art free to... nggh... go, man-spawn," the Lonely Wail replied, her voice filled with the embers of lust that she just experienced by my hand. Had I the time, I would have entered our shared mind realm just so I could see what the effect was on her.
Instead, I nodded and waited for some of the feeling to return to my body. Unfortunately, that took the better part of half an hour, but once I was capable of standing without wobbling, I gave the news to the four as well. Thankfully, it didn't take much time for them to find their sea legs as well.
Since I'd rather my crew not know that I smelled like I'd almost been fucked into a coma, I decided to switch out my clothes. I think the others did as well. They made quick trips back to their own quarters and swapped out their own attire.
We then gathered around to see the rest of the crew lined up along the beaches. The men and women from Draegnar, the men and women under Maeloson and Aesteal from Hilvir, Nz'ia, Alteria, the members of Raven's Shadow, and a few other minor mages and warriors. At this point, it was just over a hundred men and women. I've indeed lost more than I thought before I sailed into the trials.
My captain's coat was placed on my shoulders, courtesy of my mother. Everyone stared at me, ready to go. "I won't lie to ya. The third island is dangerous. It's dangerous as all hell and I might not be able to save all of you. All you can do is make sure you're one of the ones that I can. Rest assured that if I cannot, your portion of what's owed to you shall be delivered to those who can receive it. Aye?"
"Aye!" they shouted.
I stared at the shores of the sea. The waters were steadily beginning to climb. I imagined that by the end of the day, this island would be no more. So, I quickly touched the ship. An'raie placed her hand on top of me.
"Un'rae," I chanted.
"Laem," she chanted with me.
Everyone watched, surprised as my ship flew into the air. It rose high into the air and sailed past the clouds. We all looked up until there wasn't anything left to see. There, my ship would stay until either I or An'raie pulled it down. The magic barrier would help a little against any storms that circulated up there. At least, we wouldn't have to worry about my ship sailing off to sea gods knew where when we completed the fifth island.
I turned around. The men and women stared at me resolved to see this course through. So, I guided them. The entirety of my crew and I walked towards the large castle-like structure at the top of the island. All the while, I told them what they could expect to find on the third island.
Traps and treasures. Lots of traps, treasures, and beasts. One might call it an adventurer's paradise. While this left many excited, others weren't quite so joy-filled. It was indeed as Ellen said before. Most of the people here were not warriors, men equipped to handle a place like this. They were just poor people looking to change their circumstances. As such, I had to assure them of the measures we had against such an island.
I quickly tasked the men and women of Hilvir to split into groups. I had Aesteal point out to me the ones who seemed more exceptional than the others. As we walked through the cleared out castle, I assigned leaders and minor captains to their own squads. Aesteal and Maeloson had taught the group much in the art of detecting traps. The former actually had much to teach those beneath her. More and more I wonder about the life Aesteal used to lead in the north of Fgg'rial.
We all entered the lower chambers which contained the portal. This took a little bit of work since descending the steps was hard on some people, but once we made it there was nothing standing in our way. We all stared at the green portal. I thought I heard some people gulp.
"Captain, shall we truly journey beyond that void door?" someone asked me.
"It's either that or you learn to swim in the next six or seven hours," I replied.
To ease their concerns, I decided to walk through first. I passed through the portal and entered the third island. I quickly noticed the difference between the chambers. Compared to the last one, this one was much less extravagant. Most of the walls were filled with claw marks. Most of the stone floor was either cracked or filled with bones. I heard the sound of roars in the distance. No doubt the numerous predatory creatures which roamed the island were the cause of all this destruction.
Unlike the first island, my crew had actually been going through the islands in a way they shouldn't have. It shouldn't have been possible for my ship to sail towards the second island due to the magic barrier that separated them. The only way should have been through the portals. The only island whose barrier was breakable was the first one.
What I was getting at was, it was odd that this was the first time we were going through the islands the way we were supposed to. The exploration was meant to take place in the middle of the island, spanning out to either go lower into it or higher until we got above ground. Either way, we were right in the middle of the belly of beasts and, judging by the skeleton corpses around me, we were in something's liar.
Aesteal came through the portal next, her bow already drawn. Then came Ellen, Nz'ia, my mother, Diane, Raven's Shadow, and everyone else, in that order.
Once they were through, I faced everyone. "Alright, before we begin, do ya lot feel that?" I asked.
Everyone looked around the room and I saw a few gasp in surprise. Aye, no doubt they could feel their mana being slowly drained from their bodies. Aesteal and I weren't too surprised. It happened to us at a much faster rate than now.
"Our mana is being drained?" Hannath asked.
"Uerantite," Racaell said.
I nodded. "Aye, Uerantite, the bane of nearly all mages or those who wield any forms of magic. The creatures here judge their prey based on how much mana they've got. The entire island's covered in uerantite. Some have more of it than others. Some legends claim that the Alchemist did this because he tried to learn if mana veins could produce denser quality mana. If a creature's capable of wielding mana down here, you better be sure it'll have you in its sights," I said.
While some were fearful and others excited, I quickly knelt down and pulled out a map. Thanks to An'raie, I knew exactly where the safe places were to travel since she'd been to all these islands before her imprisonment.
"If you don't wish to embark on this island, then simply take this map. Follow it precisely and it shall lead you to the portal headed for the fourth island. Just know that once you go through, ya better not dare journey back. The creatures around the portal can smell yer fear. Should you try and turn back you'll be devoured back you're even half way through," I replied.
Some of them gulped, but I saw the pride of the Xhaluters on Nz'ia's face. He gripped his spear tightly. His long, bushy wiggled from side to side. No doubt he could smell the dangers in the air. As true to his type of people, he thirsted for battle. Not even two days had passed since his battle with Diane and he was already seeking his next conquest.
I walked over to the tall, brown-skinned warrior. I touched his head.
"Go. Fight until your arms fall off or you slay all your foes. However, I know you can smell the magic of the portal. Be there before the tide comes. It will sweep over this place and drown out everything down here. Got it?" I asked.
"I understand. However, should I indeed fall, shall you keep your word?" he asked.
I nodded. "Aye. To the best of my ability," I replied.
Once he received his answer. He suddenly roared which startled everyone, bearing his sharp teeth like those of a mighty lion. His muscular frame dropped low. He stood on four legs and dashed off into the dark corridors. Not even five minutes passed before we all heard the sounds of fighting.
I shouldn't have been too surprised at Nz'ia's willingness to fight. Things like mana and magic didn't mean much for someone like him. To him, all he needed was a spear and his natural instincts.
I looked back at the rest. More specifically, I looked at Diane. While she might not appear as excited as Nz'ia, I still saw that familiar fire of a warrior I'd faced a day ago. I still remember the blow of her fists against my face and mine against hers.
"Diane," I called out.
She turned to me. "Go with him. Fight until your heart gives out," I said.
Her lips curved upwards. However, before she could run off, I reached into my coat and pulled out the jar of pills I had crafted. I quickly handed her two of the cloudy pills. "Take these. You will need them," I said to her.
True to status as a guard to The Woman Who Understands Eternity, Diane quickly knew what the pills were and nodded. She grabbed them and ran off to fight until her very body dropped to the ground.
Once the two battle-hungry members of my ship were satisfied, I turned back to everyone else. I quickly separated everyone into two groups. Those who would be staying with me and those who wouldn't. Naturally, the team of Raven's Shadow were with me. My mother, Ellen, and Aesteal stayed next to me as well.
Those of weaker will stayed away and I tasked Alteria with guiding them. She had no purpose for coming to Delverhold so her leading the people who were too afraid of this island was perfect. She didn't complain and I tasked a few men and women of Hilvir to aid her in their protection. They agreed without complaint.
"Once you lot get to the fourth island. You're free to explore what you wish, but you'd do well to listen to Lady Knight if you want to stay alive. Got it?" I asked.
"Aye, Captain!" they said before they walked to the very far left to one of the numerous corridor entrances. One could describe it like some type of hornet's nest, filled with so many holes that one didn't know when one creature might pop out.
Once they left, I looked back at those I had left. Little less than half. "I'll make this fucking simple. Stay together. I don't care what you think you see, what other paths interest you, or what you hear. You either stay with the fucking group or hurry up and run after the others that left. One wrong turn here and no one will find your body. You're a prey to everything here and as your mana decreases, the number of predators is gonna get much higher!" I told them.
Some stiffened and firmly nodded. Others chuckled to themselves, but to them I took out my pistol and pointed it at them. They quickly stopped laughing. "Let me make this easy on ya. If you'd like, I can shoot your head off now. That'll be quick unlike what ye'll encounter down here," I warned.
Everyone seemed to get the idea after my threat. I heard no chuckling amongst them all now. They were serious. They were prepared to put their lives on the line for greater fame and glory. "Aye, yer right in yer heads now! Come with me!" I said as we walked the opposite way of the group that left.
We all entered a corridor that would lead us to another part of the island.
"Captain, might be best if we light some torches. Can't see lick nor spit in 'er!" I heard someone call to me from the back.
"Wouldn't recommend it. Creatures down here, they be attracted to the light. You'll be skinned alive before the flames die out," I responded.
"Fuckin' shit! Someone replied.
My crew and I stumbled through the dark, but it was thanks to An'raie that I had a good sight of where we were going. With her eyes possessing my own, I could see through the dark and I could see all the creatures that laid within them. Most of them were small rats that liked to feast on the carcass of some dead creature. Their eyes glowed in the dark before they scurried off down different paths.
At some point, through the journey, the walls turned from stone to decrepit rock lined with numerous oozes and sticky residue. I spotted a branching path that led up and one that led forward.
"To the left. We're heading upwards!" I said.
I didn't hear anyone behind me, but the shuffling of steps told me that everyone was still together. We all heard something roar from within the tunnels, its loud voice making the bones of men shake. I oddly noticed the rattling of our equipment. Coin pouches jiggled and swords clattered against the rocky surfaces. One couldn't say pirates were a stealthy bunch.
"Anyone else gettin' fucking hotter than the butcher's pig in here?" someone behind me asked.
"Aye, even the stones be hot!" another replied.
Aye, I was sure everyone could feel it. The heat was beginning to build for us all. I could hear the sound of something crunching vigorously. I imagined it to be like teeth gnawing on a broken bone. I heard Aesteal draw her bow.
"I smell blood," she replied.
I nodded without looking at her as we came up to the entrance of another cavern floor. The area was wide, almost like a dome. I saw large, massive bones littering the ground. Beasts of all shapes and sizes were picked clean of their meat.
"Take care, man-spawn. 'Tis not a simple creature that thou greets," An'raie warned.
I wordlessly nodded as I rounded the corner. Thanks to An'raie, I noticed a beast that I could only describe as an amalgamation between a bear and tiger with over a thousand worm-like insects suckling on the various parts of its body.
"What is this thing?" I asked.
"'Tis not known to me. The Betrayer named not every creation that he unleashed upon these isles. Thou outta to know that what lays within it has great value. I sense the magic-draining properties of uerantite within its bones. 'Twould be unwise to ignore them," she replied.
If my eyes could sparkle, then they would have. "Then we shall not, fair lass!" I said. However, despite my excitement, I was cautious. Though I could use magic, I preferred not to since that would only make the roads harder down the line. I also didn't want to damage its pelt. That was worth some gold as well. Thankfully, I had the perfect woman for the job.
I patted Aesteal's shoulder and she quickly moved past me. She seemed to have no problems weaving herself between the cracks without so much as a sound being heard. Given that these beasts live in perpetual darkness, it was already a given that their eyesight was poor. They hunted by having adept mana senses.
What I was getting at was, there was no way it didn't know we were here. There was also no way it didn't feel Aesteal heading towards it. However, we were lucky. Based on the way it crunched the large bone between its teeth, it had just eaten recently or was savoring the meal still. While it had larger mana veins than that of Aesteal, it paid her no concern. It must have assumed she was a rat or some other wayward beast that would be on its way soon.
Unfortunately, it would learn a valuable lesson from this and that cost would be with its life!
Aesteal readied her arrow. She pulled the string back and then fired it. The beast roared in pain as the arrow pierced its neck. I could feel the magic laced in the arrow almost instantly consume the creature's mana veins, rupturing them one by one. The internal shock must have been agonizing for the bear-tiger thing. It reared back on its hind legs, but it wasn't long before it fell down dead.
An'raie seemed a bit surprised by what she'd seen. I could tell because a moment of clarity came from within her that flowed into me. "I see. So she's from that lineage. The blood which runs through her veins is quite special. Tell me, man-spawn, how didst thou come across her?" the spirit bound to my soul said to me.
I smirked. "Call me by my name and maybe I'll tell you. Or could you not just scan my memories for the answer?" I replied back.
An'raie remained silent for a while. I thought she would just remain quiet before she startled me. "Had I been able to, then the question would not have passed from my lips, Drakclaw. I take it that thine sense of self-worth hath been pleased?" she asked.
Well, my ego wasn't pleased, but I'd take what I could get. "She was trapped in a prison cell on Draegnar with Maeloson. Apparently, they were both sold into slavery, but I didn't ask their circumstances. I don't much care either. They practically begged to sail beneath my flag and I've welcomed them on a trial period," I answered.
"A trial period? Thou feelings and words seem misaligned. Anyway, collect thine prize with haste. The blood attracts those in the dark who must never been seen," she replied.
I wasn't sure why her words chilled me so badly, but they did. I quickly ordered everyone to move and we did. I didn't bother trying to skin the corpse here. It'd be too much work. Instead, I just sealed it on a magic scroll and we continued on our way. At least now I had a good source of uerantite.
We quickly left that room. I noticed some of the men and women make for the bones. They divvied the spoils up. I wasn't sure what use they found for the bones, but I didn't keep them. I allowed them to do so. The bones of what the bear-tiger had eaten weren't much to An'raie or myself. At best they'd make good weapons if given to the right smith.
We continued on our way. There were many tunnels to choose from. We heard the screech of some creatures in the distance, but still I guided us. Between An'raie's memories and mine, we walked through the hidden mazes and darkness of the third island.
The journey was rather exhausting. It wasn't that we were tired. We were all merely beginning to feel the effects of our mana constantly being sucked away. Of course, it wasn't all bad. We ate delicious, yet dried foods and drank plenty of tasty beverages.
"Stop here! Face the wall to thine right. Place thine hand upon it," An'raie said.
Did as she instructed and faced the wall. As soon as I touched the wall, I gasped. That sly piece of shit!
Since I stopped suddenly, some people pushed against me. Once we were situated, with Ellen punching the living shit out of someone who happened to brush up against her ass, I pushed mana into the wall. An'raie added her mana to my own and everyone saw the wall light up with over ten different colored arrays.
Worried, they all prepared for combat, but there was no need. The Lonely Wail and I broke seal after seal, the intricate locks coming undone before our very eyes. Once it was done, everyone jumped back when they saw another portal. However, unlike the ones that led to the other island, this one was dark purple. It's odd color almost seemed foreboding.
Cautiously, I stepped inside. One by one, the others followed me. When we all entered, some of the men were startled when torches started to light the walls. Before us laid twenty statues of mighty templars of forgotten religions. I noticed a few prominent ones like the Men of Varth, or the Scriptures of Anogelo, but there were also many that I did not know. There were many that not even Liara knew.
However, I don't think anyone was focused on the statues. If I know the fuckers of Draegnar to be anything, they were all gaping like fish when they saw the hills of gold and silver beneath each of those statues. Men drooled like dogs at the sight,
It was no surprise why. It was an even bigger pile than what was found on the third island by myself and my group.
"It's more gold!" Someone shouted before Ellen pistol-whipped them with her gun.
"Shut the fuck up and hold your shit! Do you not know where the fuck we are right now? I will not become food for the beasts within these caves just because ya can't keep your trap shut" she hissed, staring at the group angrily.
I chuckled before I scanned over the room. Just like before, I didn't see any traps. Then again, I wondered if I should have expected any since the Alchemist must have thought no one would get here. Then again, I'd be stupid to forget that someone else was here. Who knows what they did to the place.
An'raie, Aesteal, and I worked on finding anything out of the ordinary. It wasn't unusual for some paranoid crafters to curse their items. Plus, I still remembered that demon-summoning piece of paper on the wall back in that frozen domain. I'd rather not take any chances.
Ultimately, it seemed my worries were unfounded. The treasure was fine to be plundered as we pleased. So, I turned back to everyone. "You've got a thirty-minute break. Collect whatever you want. Stuff your scrolls until they can't be stuffed anymore. However, if you go anywhere, do it in fours! I don't care if you have to piss or shit, do it with someone around! Aye?"
"Aye, Aye, Captain!" Everyone saluted before they all but charged at the piles of gold, silver, and jewels in front of them. It wasn't long before I heard men and women cackle like children with sweet candy in their mouths.
Suddenly, a whip cracked the area. Everyone noticed my mother. "And do it fucking quietly!" she chastised.
The crew settled down and formed groups of four as I had instructed. They worked through the numerous piles of pretty bars, coins, and jewels. Coins jingled across the floor and I watched the men tend to themselves. As usual, Aesteal and my mother showed no real interest in the treasure. Instead, they sat next to me.
"What kind of pirates do you two be? Do I have to order ya to take the treasure?" I asked.
"...yes," They both said.
I couldn't tell if that was a joke or not, but I smacked their bottoms. "Don't sass me. Now go!" I told them.
They did as I said and went to the bountiful piles before them. "You wish not to partake?" An'raie asked.
The smile on my face turned to a frown when I looked up at the statues. I couldn't understand why, but I swore one of them was looking at me. Hell, it felt like all of them were looking at me. I didn't enjoy the feeling.
"There will be more to get. I don't need these piles. Besides, I'd like to take some time comparing your memories of Delverhold to mine. The islands aren't the same now as they were when I was here before," I replied.
"I should grant thee respect for even attempting to unravel the world of time magic. Not many attempt such an endeavor. However, I find myself curious as well," she said.
So, An'raie and I spent the next thirty minutes working out our memories. She had indeed pointed out differences, some minor, others large, between us. It seemed I was correct. The order of the island had indeed changed. Not only that but some of the alchemist's studies had been completely rewritten. Of course, stupidly, in my first run of this place, I'd destroyed most of the books since I thought them worthless at the time. We worked on uncovering this problem, but unfortunately we didn't come up with much.
While we were talking, my arm shook. I opened my eyes and noticed people standing in front of me, joy spread across their faces. The entire treasure had been taken. Not a single coin was spared.
I stood up. "Alright, let's continue on," I said.
Everyone agreed and we exited the room. Just as one of us stepped out, I suddenly felt Aesteal's aura. She was very worried. "Wait, don't move!" she exclaimed.
Unfortunately, one of the people furthest out didn't hear her. I suddenly felt a wave of mana come out of nowhere. Even An'raie was surprised, something I thought impossible.
"Aaaaugh!" Someone screamed at the top of their lungs. I barely had the time to turn around before I saw one of my crew in the maw of what I can only describe as... darkness with teeth. Red, beady eyes pushed through us all before the person screamed off into the distance, their blood littering the ground as their cries echoed until we couldn't hear them anymore.
"Ellimen!" one of my men screamed in horror.
A-A-AAhhhhh!" someone suddenly screamed before they started firing off their weapons. It didn't even take two seconds before the others started firing as well. Even amidst the round of furious gunshots and screams, I heard some creatures screaming in the distance. The mana around the tunnels suddenly flourished.
"Enough! I said enough you slogshits!" I bellowed as I grabbed two men by the scruff of their necks and tossed them back into the treasure room with the statues. Ellen and my mother were a bit more violent. Both bashed their subordinates over the head and dragged them back inside.
Once we were inside. I heard someone sobbing. When I turned my head, I noticed a man crying his eyes out, his body shivering intensely. The man quickly shot up. He threw a scroll down on the floor. He wiped his face of the snot and tears before he looked at me.
"Captain, go on without me. I'm gonna go rescue Ellimen," the man said as he grabbed a dagger and walked towards the tunnel.
"You're going to what?! Delvali, don't be a resquath bastard! D-D-Didn't you see that thing?! Ellimen's probably a pile of shit by now!" someone else replied.
"If it had been one of the captain's sluts that got taken, then we'd all be following that beast's footsteps now. I will not leave Ellimen to die alone! I'd rather die with love than live without it!" the one named Delvali said. He then stared down the tunnel and ran off. His footsteps got smaller and smaller in my ears until he was gone.
"Fucking idiot," Ellen said. I noticed a hint of sorrow in her voice while I closed my eyes.
I didn't know what to say. I couldn't find much fault in Delvali's action. It was indeed true. Had my mother, Aesteal, or Ellen been taken, I would have already sent the group ahead while I went back to get them. Unfortunately, I knew this place better than Delvali did. For his own benefit, I didn't tell him his chances of even getting to his... friend. I'm sure that would have only depressed him before he left.
It was too late to save them for they were already gone. They were lost in the sequence of tunnels. I wished them a swift death. That was all they could hope for.
"Anyone else?" I asked, my tone less than pleased. I turned around and noticed the crestfallen looks on my men. No doubt they were all shaken by what they'd seen.
"W-What the fuck was that?" someone asked.
I quickly stood in front of everyone. "That's what happens if you let your guard down. I told ya to keep your wits up. By now, our mana levels mean they will start actively hunting us. At this point, there's no turning back for you. You wouldn't make it to Alteria's group alone, if at all. Keep your wits about you for we shall continue to delve into the belly of beasts," I replied.
The group swallowed and nodded. "An'raie. Cover the rear. I'll take the front. I don't want us getting picked off where I can't see anything," I said.
"Very well, but do be aware that I have not a physical form. My mana is tied to thou's currently. Should I protect them it will drain thee even faster," she warned.
I gave everyone about a few moments to get themselves together.
She then separated herself from me. Her beautiful form flew over the group and laid at the back. Unfortunately, that meant I'd have to rely on my own sight for the rest of the way.
That said, An'raie and I could still communicate through our shared mind realm since my soul was connected to hers. She could still guide me and I could still use the helpful bits of my memory to lead us through these never-ending corridors.
Our journey took us through numerous traps, some perilous and others just something I could handle without much help. Many of us crossed rigid surfaces as large streams of water covered us from the flying beasts that slept on the ceiling. Everyone moved quietly, the water masking our steps as we made it to the other side. None of us commented on the number of bones that littered the ground beneath the water's surface.
When we passed them, we continued on our way. Our steps made wet, slapping noises against the ground and some of us slipped into each other. Luckily, no one crashed into Ellen. If they had, I think she would have shot one of them just to prove a point of pissing her off.
Given that we were underground, my sense of time was a bit disrupted, but I think we'd been walking for about ten minutes or so. We exited one corridor and soon found ourselves descending a flight of jagged steps. I noticed the way the tunnels seemed to curve in on themselves. They weren't natural at all. They were a part of something burrowing through.
"Ack!" someone cursed which made us stop.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" someone asked.
"Something fucking bit my neck. Hehheheh... hahahaha... s-s-sorry, I'll be... hahahaha fine! Ksssshh hehehehehe."
My eyes narrowed. I walked through the group, bumping into some people before I made my way back to the cackling individual. "Hahahahaa... it's alright, Captain! I'll... ehahahahaehehe... stop laughing in a minutshhh! Guwaaaahaha!" he guffawed while some others tried to calm him down.
"Someone light a torch," I ordered.
"But captain, you said..."
"I know what I said dammit! Light a damn torch!" I exclaimed.
It took a minute but someone took a match and lit a piece of wood. The flames casted a bright light over the person in front of me. "By the fucking gods!" someone said as most backed away in shock.
In front of me, a man, an eyepatch over his right eye, laughed as the biggest wart on his neck oozed out one small worm every ten seconds. I looked at the low-hanging ceiling. Within their bodies, I saw a few spiked tips. Each of them wiggling unnaturally. I quickly began to understand what happened.
"Everyone, lower your head! Give me that torch!" I said.
While everyone avoided the spiky ceiling, I quickly grabbed a hard rock from the stone.
"Captain, what manner of evil did this to him?" someone, I think a woman, asked.
Before I could even answer the question, we all heard a piercing scream. It reverberated through the underground caves. The walls rumbled and people started using their backs for cover from the falling stones.
"Kheeeeheheeh... the walls shake more than a cunt's filled with a cock. Hsssheee!" the infected man said, his eyes turning bloodshot. The wart on his neck started to spout blood and even more worms.
"Evil might be a good term for it. These infections came from the needles of the Cantrithios, The Burrowing Scaled Worms. They are large, predatory, wiggling beasts that like to thrive in mud. The needles are on every piece of its body and when a creature is pricked by one, their body is flooded with hundreds or even thousands of new worm scales. Because they like to burrow, they leave these scales almost everywhere far beneath the earth. If left alone, the unfortunate bitch or bastard is gonna lose their brain faster than any ale will do to ya. We're probably heading to their hunting territory now," I answered.
"Why are we going there then?!" Someone asked.
I placed the torch over the rock and laid a bit of mana into the fire. Everyone jumped back when the flames burned even stronger, heating the rock so much it practically burned the hand holding it. "Burrowing Scaled Worms will eat anything down here just like any other creature, but to grow to this height, the Alchemist worked on a special type of flower forged in sapphire. It has no real value to anyone aside from a mage. Legend states that if you consume one of its petals, not only will your mana veins grow stronger, allowing you to cast great magics, but it'll also immune you to all but the most extreme poisons. Might be good for a businesswoman who enjoys meeting dangerous clients, or to those who plan on undertaking dangerous missions as adventurers," I replied.
I turned to Ellen and she just couldn't keep that look of desire from her eyes. She wanted that flower. She wanted it fucking badly. Even the members of Raven's Shadow couldn't hold back their excitement.
In the meantime, my infected crewmate became even more delirious. When the stone was hot enough, I bashed it right on top of his open flesh. Had I not covered his mouth with my arm, his screams would have drawn every fucking creature that laid within this island of mazes. The smell of his charred skin was unlike any other smell I'd put to my nose before. It smelled worse than shit.
"Mother, reached into my coat's right inner pocket. You'll get a vial of green pills. Take them out. Open the jar and move it over the fire on the torch," I said.
My mother did as she was told. She grabbed the jar, opened it, and held the pills over the flaming torch. Soon, the green pills turned orange.
I threw the hot rock away and grabbed three of the pills. "You fuckers might wanna back up for this one," I claimed.
The group began to back away as they saw tiny worms slide out the man's nose. He still chuckled, the worms infesting his brain and tickling it.
"What's your name?" I asked.
"G-G-Gh-odin... hehehehhkghkee. Ghodin of the Wild Lands of Nür. Hehehehee... y-you know the quickest way to Nür? Khssssssh... it be with a man's cock up yer ass! Hahahaha!" he said, tears falling off the side of his face. Though I didn't know what it felt like to experience what was happening to him, I knew he wanted it to stop. The pleading in his eyes told me.
"Look here, Ghodin. It's gonna be fucking hard, but you gotta chew these. When you swallow them, you're gonna throw the fuck up. You're gonna puke your damn guts all over the floor and it's gonna hurt, but you better do it. That's the only way you're gonna survive!" I said before I shoved the orange pills into his mouth.
I think he tried hard to crunch them between his teeth, bouts of laughter stopping him every so often. He then swallowed the pills. I took a step back with everyone else. While I can't say we were forced to watch, closing our eyes and hearing the sound of Ghodin puking his guts was much worse.
For those of us that could see what was happening, we watched Ghodin groan as he expunged an entire soil pit's worth of worms from his mouth. Ten, a hundred, a thousand, they all slid across the ground, each of them on fire, wiggling aimlessly. Their flaming bodies bumped into each other, stoking the flames further before they died into nothingness.
This grotesque sight happened for the next ten minutes. I pitied Ghodin since he sounded like he was in pain. At some point he started puking up blood as well. That said, I knew it was working because the wart on his neck got smaller and smaller. He also stopped laughing. Aye, there was the occasional giggle, but even that was gone after a few more minutes.
"F-Fuck, what happened to me?" he asked while I stamped on the bodies of worms with my boots.
"Just don't bump into any more spikes," I returned. I then tasked someone with giving Ghodin some water. Once that was done, he was still weak so I also made some other people help carry him. It was no surprise why. In fact, he was more amazing than I gave him credit for since he was already standing.
With Ghodin cured for the moment, we continued on our way down. At this point, I asked for An'raie to connect her soul back to mine. If we weren't careful, we'd all go sliding down to our deaths. True, I could use mana to see in the dark, but all the uerantite in the walls was draining my mana rapidly. Even now, I had little over half left.
"How far until the neutral zone?" I asked.
"Thou wouldest need me to be free of thine soul and search through the island. Much time has passed since mine body hath treaded these grounds. The vile creatures here may have changed the landscape. Unfortunately, I shall hold the search once we're past thine next trial. I fear without me though will not make it," An'raie replied.
I frowned, but it didn't take long for my ears to pick up on the sound of bubbling mud. I could feel the ten to twenty large reserves of mana. In fact, had I the power for it, I'm sure I would have seen a sea of blue flames that represent the mana of mortal beasts and men.
The bubbles increased in noise as we got closer and closer. So too did the heat. It was even hotter than when we first met the bear-tiger. It got so hot, I began to sweat and so did everyone else.
Not only was the heat getting to us, but the ground became even more slippery. I had to grab the walls since I nearly slipped not once, but twice. Admittedly, the second time wasn't really my fault. Just as it was slippery for me, it was slippery for everyone else. That led to some people pushing into each other. It was no surprise why. This wasn't exactly a natural path that we walked.
I ordered for everyone's silence as we came to the entrance that was made by the creatures that lived here. Inside, with An'raie's help, I saw another large dome-like structure. However, this one had a large, winding staircase that led to two stone platforms that were connected to each other by a thin piece of stone like a narrow bridge. From one part of the dome to the other, the stone stretched.
Apart from them, lower than the two platforms was a third platform. On that platform, I could feel the immense mana of the sapphire flowers. Even with An'raie's vision aiding me, their roots were a little hard to make out. However, I could barely see them trail down stone pills and into the hot mud. I bet that the ground and soil beneath that mud was the richest in all of D'orn.
Just like with the other caverns, there were plenty of holes that led to other areas of the island. However, the entrances, or exits if you prefer, near the bottom were completely destroyed. I had no doubts this was done when the Cantrithios moved themselves out of their home and began hunting. Though they were usually slow in the mud, they were fairly quick when it came to burrowing. Thankfully, no one on my crew fell victim to them in my past life, but now... I couldn't be so sure.
Since we were coming from an unnatural entrance, the floor beneath my feet was a little slippery from the mud, but I noticed a few slim ledges that we could use to get to the next platforms.
"Follow my lead quietly!" I hissed. I saw the group nod before we all heard something scream through the tunnels. It sounded far away, but with such a place as this I couldn't really tell.
I grabbed a hold of the ledge and carefully moved my legs across its length. The steam from the mud was so hot, I could feel my feet sweat in my boots. I could feel the steam touch my skin. I felt like I was being kissed by a damn match over and over again. It also didn't help that the rocks were sharp, digging into places I wished they fucking wouldn't. Nevertheless, I knew the cost of letting this irritation get the better of me.
We all continued along the wall. The only sounds heard were those of the hot, bubbling mud and the soft pants of those too hot to shut their fucking mouths.
"Whoa!" I heard gasp. I then heard the sound of some chunks of rock splashing into the mud. When I turned back I noticed a man with a wider gut than most trying to keep himself on the ledge. I would have laughed at the side of him attempting to suck in his stomach if not for the mud exploding in the distance.
"What was that?" Ellen whispered to me.
"Shhh, don't talk!" I replied to not just her telepathically, but to all the members of the group behind me.
I dared not tell them what I saw. If I did, I was sure their fear would make their steps unstable. No doubt a handful of them would have fallen in the mud and become prey for the monsters which laid beneath. In fact, I thought they should count their blessings that it was dark. Had they seen what they shouldn't, I think they might have gone insane.
I saw what I could only describe as something similar to a spider's leg. It was thin and narrow. Just one leg longer than any man in the group. On that leg, I saw hundreds of eyes ranging from insect to human to everything else in-between. At the very end of its leg was some kind of stinger. From the pores of that stinger came about five small tendril-like appendages.
The tendrils wiggled in the air, growing longer and longer. At this point, they just looked like hairs blowing in a nonexistent wind. They reached so high they touched the ceiling. They poked and prodded. They alone their faceless length stared, unblinkingly, every which way. Even when the hot mud stung their eyes, they offered no semblance of pain. They just stared. It almost seemed like they were staring right at me sometimes. Never in my life did I think I would come back to these things again.
Once they finished checking the ceiling, I bit my lip when they started checking the walls. Their grotesque form made my skin crawl. I had to cool my rage and anger when I saw one of them head over to our group. One of them licked the side of my mother's cheek while she turned her head.
It wasn't just her. Many of them did that to us, licking or slathering us in grotesque mud, blood, and other shit that I'd lose my lunch explaining.
That said, I found ease with the knowledge that it wasn't hunting us. If these things were hunting or aggressive in their nature, which they usually were, then they'd simply pick a bunch of us up and drag us into the hot mud. On the way down, we'd have to hope that the heat of the mud killed us, for what was beyond that I'd rather not think about. Instead, it seemed to just be investigating the noise.
"'Tis fortunate for you. They have either just eaten or are in their resting period. Perhaps the noise from your friend woke one of them up. Dare thee to not give them reason and perhaps they shall let thine group to continue. Pray thee they think thee to be rats and nothing more. 'Tis quite fitting for thee, Drakclaw," An'raie said to me.
I wanted to give a retort, but I was focused more on the fucking tongue-like tendril having a fucking field day on my face!
Finally, the tongues stopped and they slid away from us, but I quickly realized that the horrors were only beginning.
When the tendrils slid from us, they touched the mud. "Sir, what's going on? I sense the use of magic," Aesteal said to me.
"No one utter a word. No matter what you hear! No matter what touches you. Utter not a single sound!" I said, the mana draining from me again to power this spell so I could communicate with everyone.
"Eric, what the fuck's going on?!" My mother replied to me.
A bead of sweat fell down my face. I was now reminded of Ỗxa, Taker of Voices. In front of me stood not just my face, but my mother's, Ellen's, Aesteal's, and other various members of my crew. It was then that I remembered a certain passage from one of the tomes of The Alchemist. I didn't think much of it at the time. With these Scaled Worms, it was dark so I couldn't remember much when I journeyed here the first time.
The Alchemist named them Ỗxa Decrẻsrima, the Children of Ỗxa.