"I think we are nearly there" Evergreen whispered feeling the pressure build up. It is almost becoming intolerable she thought constantly shrugging her shoulders trying to relieve the pressure. Glancing at her two companions out of the corner of her eye she could see they were to rolling their shoulders and stretching their necks out, trying to shrug off some weight on their backs. If this magic pressure wasn't bad enough, the thought that they might be being followed by some undetectable wizard made Evergreen more tightly wound up then before.
Evergreen twisted her head to look at Elfman as he tapped her on the shoulder.
"Ever, there is a light up ahead"
"Those must be the Lacrimas" Lisanna said speeding up to reach the end of the tunnel.
Finally I cannot wait to get out of this place Evergreen thought still unnerved by the presence they all felt following them down the tunnel. A soft greenish glow framed the end of the tunnel giving a clear indication that the tunnel widened up into a large cave. Evergreen and Elfman quickened their pace to match Lisanna's hastening forwards while Evergreen extinguished her fairy light, the opening to the cave becoming their only light source.
My nerves are on end, what ever is following us if anything is following should be a man and face us. Not skulk in the shadows Elfman thought eyes constantly looking behind him from the corner of his eye trying to pick out anything. As they entered the cave Elfman gasped and clamped his hands over his eyes, intense bright almost green light blinded him from all sides of the cave burning his eyes. Fiercely rubbing his eye's with the heels of his palms Elfman could still see the light marks on the underside of his eyelids causing tears to stream out of his eyes. Blinking rapidly Elfman slowly wiped his tears away as he removed his hands and was taken aback from the beauty of the crystals. Immensely large crystals climbed like trees from the ground, each huge crystal splintering off to form crystal branches both long and short. Soft white veins webbed through the interior of the soft green crystals cutting through the straight shapes giving it a life like feel, like something alive was moving through the crystals. These veins seemed to shimmer with a glow like stars do in the night sky it's light moving like a current through the large crystals. As Elfman's eyes traveled up the large crystals his jaw slightly agape, his breath was taken away further by the gargantuan ceiling that stretched out like a horizon. Large crystals coated the walls in a perfect shell reflecting all the light across the room and onto itself once again, these crystals also reflected their reflections creating demented images on the crystals before them.
"Ever, lisanna look" Elfman muttered taking a step towards a huge lacrima crystal placing a hand on it gasping as he felt the indescribable power he felt coursing beneath his hand.
"Oh my god" Evergreen and lisanna said in union after removing their hands from their eyes. Evergreen was speechless. The site of these crystals was mind blowing it was hard to believe they were right there. Stepping slowly forward she placed her hand on the large crystal next to Elfman's.
"This is unbelievable, I know the mayor said these were huge crystals but this big?, this powerful?" Lisanna breathed she too placing her hand next to her brothers on the crystal.
Elfman smiled thinking about how he was going to describe this to everybody back at the guild when suddenly he felt the presence like it was right behind him. Growling he turned around and automatically changed into his beast soul form. A dark shrouded figure cloaked int the shadows stood int the opening of mouth of the tunnel. A dark grating laugh rolled out of the large mysterious figure a laugh that sounded like nails on a chalk board.
Lisanna and Evergreen whipped their body's around as Elfman changed into his beast form stepping into defensive positions as they saw the large demented figure standing in the exit.
"An animal soul, a fairy magic user and two beast souls stand before an ultimate source of power" a rusty voice rolled out from the hooded man echoing around the room.
"Who are you" Elfman growled flexing his large claws in front of him.
"who am I? I am you soul brother, your fellow beast heart, I am a power of which we both share" The large man boomed his hood whipping off to show a large scarred face with think blond hair streaked with gray and pure yellow cat eyes.
"Who are you really" Evergreen yelled stepping forward "And why couldn't we sense you"
"So you are the woman Calador spoke of. He said you were fun to play with but I'm sure you can't have been the one who caused such painful infliction's on him" The cloaked figure grinned at Evergreens pale face and slowly pushed up his cloak, showing the upturned paw symbol that belonged to Manticore Talon printed in black on his shoulder.
"But no my name is Ezekiel master of Manticore Talon and I'm here to exact revenge for my guild members you oh so badly injured, and that is why I couldn't let you detect me no fun in ruining the surprise now is it" He menacingly whispered to Elfman.
With a yowl of anger Elfman ran at the guild master swiping with his claws at the open muscled stomach with outstretched claws. Laughing Eziekiel moved with extraordinary speed out of the way dodging with nimble movements Elfmans follow up strikes.
"Manticore's tail" a laughing Eziekiel drawled. A immense scorpions tail whip lashing out from behind him whipping Elfman nearly catching him in his stomach.
"How do you know that take over" Elfman yelled. Nobody should have the power to even transform the manticores tail Elfman thought his mind briefly drifting to the past. But quickly returned to the present as Eziekiel growled in anger as large bolts of fairy magic drilled at his back. His growel sent shivers down Elfman's spine as it was so rough and guttural it was almost a roar from a beast.
Roaring in anger the guild master turned hatred burning through him as he eyed Evergreen. No mere wizard strikes me without paying Eziekiel thought eyes flashing.
"BEAST SOUL: MANTICORE" Eziekiel yelled.
Evergreen watched horrified as the guild master glowed yellow his body expanding until he toward over a small evergreen by at least three metres in the hideous form of a Manticore. Yowling the Manticore lunged at Evergreen with his large sword like fangs bearly missing her as she flew up into the air with her fairy wings. Dodging massive talons raking the air at her small body she flew in behind the massive manticore spraying fairy magic behind the Manticore's large head. Feeling victorious Evergreen flew higher, not realizing her mistake until a large scorpion tail whipped around striking her hard across the back flinging her into the wall with a sickening thwak. Groaning Evergreen opened her barely conscious eyes watching an out of focus Lisanna and Elfman attack the huge beast, watching as lisanna's cat form was flung against the large Lacrima crystals nocking her out cold.
Panting heavily an enraged Elfman jumped up and blasted down with an immense punch down on the Manticore's. A roaring laugh echoed through the cave shaking the immense crystals.
"Please you expect measly attacks like this to bother me the leader of Manticore Talon a Manticore himself" The beast bellowed twisting himself towards Elfman and pacing slowly forward. "True you are a strong beast soul user, but not strong enough. And It's because of this strength I shall give you a gift, let your companions watch as you try to contain your own MANTICORE " Eziekiel laughed tauntingly.
"WAIT NO-" Elfman yelled but to late.
A large paw struck him hard to the ground pinning him hard to the slippery ground, the large head of the manticore drifting closer towards his own his large yellow cats eyes boring into his own.
"Come face me again if you can withstand the power of a Manticore" The monster growled his face mere centimeters away from Elfmans.
"NO,NO" Elfman yelled trying to close his eyes from the large cats one's the size of a football staring into his own, but couldn't.
Not breaking their gaze Eziekiel the Manticore yelled with full force of his lungs at Elfman.
"DEPRIMERE AEVITAS: MANTICORE"
Elfman yelled as a soul was forced into his own he could feel it already ripping and tearing at his own forcing its way to the surface.
Evergreen finally recovering from her blow stumbled to her feet and staggered across to the two beast souls.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HIM" Evergreen yelled trying to steady her gaze to turn Eziekiel into stone as she worridly watched Elfmans screaming form.
The large Manticore rustled his large bat like wings and turned toward her.
"I have forced a Manticores soul into his. Both souls will now fight for dominance and if the Manticore emerges victorious" Eziekiel grinned "Than everybody in it's path shall be annihilated." Laughing the Manticore leaped to the exit to the tunnel and sprinted to the top of the tunnel in a matter of seconds and escaped into the dark night.
Hastily putting on her glasses Evergreen sprinted over to Elfmans side grabbing his large shoulder to steady his contorting and twisting body.
"ELFMAN, ELFMAN"
Asdjbvskjdvb that took me awhile to write ahh but it was fun. Sorry I leaft you guys on a cliff hanger but you will just have to read the next chapter to find out what happens ;). In case any of you are confused by the title Deprimere Aevitas literally means forced life in Latin (that's right I did my research ;) ) but i hope you all enjoyed this chapter read and review hugs and biscuits for those that do
love sanguine16 XD