hey all! It's me again! since I had a bit of a break, I was able to get this out a lot faster then I thought I would, though I don't think very much seemed to happen in this chapter! However, thats neither here nor there!
Now, on to my favorite part of the intro, that being me replying to all the reviews you guys leave for me!
notstudying6527: Thank you for the kind words! also, glad you decided to make an account for this!
Karharot: and something does in fact happen, but who says it's the last thing they'll encounter eh?
MGEObserver: Well wait no more!
GioMM: Thank you kindly for all the reviews for my chapters! I'm so glad you where able to enjoy my series in such a way! I'm hoping that I'll get the next chapter out pretty quickly as well!
Anyway, the last poll is closed and I have a winner in that regard, but now I have a new poll up on my profile so give it a look and vote if you can! But it will be the last one for introducing characters seeing as I don't want to turn this into a Multiwork series!
Anyway! enjoy!
Chapter 7
Serena let out a loud yawn, her hand coming up to cover her mouth as she did. Andrew looked over at her, a small grin on his face.
"Still tired are you? I don't know why you would be considering how late you slept."
The girl looked over at him with a slightly annoyed look on her face.
"Hey, some of us aren't necessarily used to… new things… ya know?"
Unoma, who had been hovering overhead as usual, floated on down and wrapped her arms around the twintail.
"Well with the way you acted yesterday, it's easy to see how unused to it you actually where."
The blush on her face caused Unoma to laugh at the girl's expense before Serena shrugged her off. Andrew laughed a little as well before he brought his attention back to the front, where admittedly, nothing had really changed. The group had been walking for a while now, the late start from certain somebodies having delayed the group by a short amount of time. Thankfully, they had easily made it up with a quicker pace then usual, but during all of this, Andrew had come to notice that one person in Jonathans party would eye them when they weren't paying attention. Cue him once again catching Morgana staring at his group before she looked away, acting as if she hadn't. he honestly couldn't fathom what it was she found so interesting, but at the same time, it was something she had started doing when they had all gotten up. More importantly, he found that her gaze seemed to direct itself more precisely upward, meaning she was looking at Unoma most of the time. However, if it was a real problem, he was sure that she would have said something about it by now, so he opted to not say anything in turn. Leaving it aside, Andrew drew his attention back to the front and ahead of Jonathans group, trying to keep watch for anything up ahead that might pose a problem later on. He had yet to mention anything to either of his familiars, but the feeling he had yesterday was still growing stronger, and from the feel of it, they would get there pretty soon, though he couldn't put a time on how soon that would be.
Meanwhile, Serena was busy bringing her blush back under control as she walked along. A moment later and her new buddy Sarya walked up behind her, a small grin on her face.
"You can't handle teasing very well can you."
Giving the elf a cross look, Serena only stayed that way for a moment longer before she turned back to face the front, a slight pout on her face as she grumbled.
"Its not like I chose to be teased ya know… geez…"
Sarya giggled to herself before she took a cursory glance behind her, the elf having decided that she and Serena would bring up the rear for an hour or so. For a little bit, they didn't say anything, but with nothing to say, this allowed Saryas mind to wander back to yesterdays little escapade with the other group. Letting a small blush cross her face, sarya leaned in close and started to talk in a low voice.
"So… Serena… Do you happen to like girls?"
All that effort to compose herself just went out the window. Serena blustered for a moment, the blush returning in full force as she turned to the girl and her 'accusation'.
"What!? Where did you even come up with that idea?!"
"Well… kinda hard not to think that when you see what you did with the other one yesterday…"
Serena only felt her blush further deepen.
"You watched?!"
"Well… when your making as much noise as you did… Look, I'm a mamono okay? When something sexual starts happening, I zero in on it like a hawk on it's prey. It's pretty much instinct for me. Just be happy I had the decency to use a muffle spell to stop all the noise."
Serena only narrowed her eyes at the elf.
"You didn't answer my question."
Sarya tried to look away, but the sheepish look on her face told Serena everything.
"Oh my gods…"
"Again, mamono. Can't really help it. Also, you didn't answer my own question."
For a moment she didn't say anything, but a moment later she looked away in embarrassment.
"I don't really know. I don't have a lot of my memories since I woke up here. Andrew helped me to recover a few, but I don't have a lot in regards to how I may have lived my life or sexual preferences."
Sarya nodded her head in understanding before she stroked her chin in thought.
"Well… you seem to like girls well enough… or at least, girls with large breasts. Of course, I have to admit that I also have had a few thoughts of having your teammate smother me in her breasts…"
Serena looked over at her with a surprised expression.
"Really? What about Morgana? Can't you just ask that of her? Sure she isn't nearly as well endowed as Unoma is, but I would think that her chest would at least be decent for that kind of thing."
Sarya let out a low sigh before she looked off to the side with a defeated expression.
"Let's not get me started on my team's sexual preferences…"
"Why is that?"
"Because Morgana is a prude and Jonathan is oblivious when it comes to attractions of the opposite sex. It makes me a little jealous of your group."
Not really sure how that might feel considering, Serena could only give her a look before she turned her attention back to the front. Sarya, noticing this, felt she may have gotten off track.
"Anyway… so your unsure of what your preferences are? As I said before, you seem to like Unoma at least, do you feel anything for the demon or for Andrew?"
Serena thought about it for a moment before she gave a reply.
"I have thought about what it might be like to cuddle with Labareda and as for Andrew… I don't really know… sometimes I just see him as a guy to travel with… others… I don't know. It just feel complicated."
Sarya looked at Serena as she said that, paying particular attention to when she started talking about the guy. She knew Serena may not have noticed this, but when she started talking about him, her eyes drew themselves to him. Specifically, his lower region. Letting out a contemplative hum, Sarya let her mind work for a few more seconds before she was sure. However, she didn't voice her own idea on Serenas mental state, it being to late to do anything about what was no doubt happening to her anyway.
"I see I see… well… let me give you a word of advice. If you feel your inhibitions starting to gnaw away, make sure to run them by Andrew first. He'll be able to take care of it for you."
Serena blinked a few times when she heard that before she looked over at her, some confusion on her face.
"What exactly do you mean by-"
"Don't worry about it! Let's hurry up and get out of here. We still got some ways to go, and we should try to spend as much time as we can getting out."
Walking away, Sarya cut the conversation off at that point, leaving Serena somewhat confused about what may or may not have been said. Deciding that now wouldn't be the time to bring it back up, Serena decided to wait to ask about what she was going to say for a later date.
Afterward, the party continued on in relative silence, the lack of any real monsters down this passage being something of note that they all had noticed in the time they had spent in this secret shortcut. However, Andrew had yet to throw off that feeling that had been growing in his body since yesterday, it only getting stronger as they continued. he could do nothing about it though, and he still felt that the only way that he was going to get over it was if he figured out what was causing it. Thankfully, after they had spent the better part of a day traveling, they finally managed to make it to an area that was unlike the rest of the boring hallway they inhabited. Or more like, Sarya spotted it from a good distance.
"Oh? Is that a door I spot further down the hall?"
Everyone found themselves becoming more focused on the path ahead of them, Though Labareda was nodding her head in confirmation.
"You would be correct. If my calculations are correct, we are currently at the halfway point. From this point on though we'll need to be careful."
Serena tilted her head at the familiars' words.
"Why is that?"
Labareda looked back at her, a deadly expression of seriousness on it.
"Because up ahead is where Oda Nobulax's body was contained. You don't feel it right now, but the moment we pass through those doors we'll be assaulted by the sheer power still stored in that very body."
At that, Jonathan party all looked to each other, some worry in their eyes. Andrew wasn't quite as worried though, simply shrugging his shoulders in his usual manner.
"Well, we can't turn back now. It'll take even longer to go the other way. I think we should be fine, I'm getting a pretty good feeling from this… though that may be the feeling of digesting that orc leg we had for breakfast. It did not go down easy today."
Andrews stomach issues aside, the party simply had to agree with the logic behind the statement he made. Going back would take even longer to get out, and they where already here anyway, so the only path they could travel was this one. It took a minute or two to get to the actual door, but when they did, everybody save for Andrew and Serena was pretty tense. Andrew was more focused on the actual door itself, the surface having some intricate drawings and details in its stone face. It was a mural depicting what looked to be a wave of bodies colliding with a massive demon etched into the door. It didn't take a genius to figure out who this was supposed to be or what it was a representation of. However, Andrew had to note the words etched into the frame. He wasn't expecting it to be in English of all things, thus it was easy to read. Looking it over for a moment, Andrew read under his breath.
"Be wary ye of mortal coil… here lies the world tyrants body, ever hungry and ever vicious…remember the days of old upon his name was uttered in fear and spite."
He had said it under his breath, but Serena had heard him speaking.
"Huh? Is that what that chicken scratch reads? I can't make heads or tails of it."
Andrew turned to look at her, no surprise to be found on his face.
"Makes sense, you language is probably different from mine, so you wouldn't be able to read my language."
However, when he looked back up front, he saw that Jonathans group was giving him some surprised looks.
"W-whats wrong?"
Morgana was the first to answer.
"You can read old tongue?"
Andrew cocked his head in some confusion.
"Old tongue, whats that?"
Unoma spoke up at that point, flying over to the door and tracking the letters found there.
"The old tongue is something used long long ago, before even the system of the current demon lord was put into place. So roughly about two thousand or so years ago. I think nowadays people just use Common. Actually, common is just a derivative of the old tongue, only the letters used being vastly different by comparison, but people don't know how to read old tongue anymore. I myself not even having a good understanding of it."
"Huh… now that's interesting… but I don't think it's that important right now."
Jonathan could only nod in some agreement.
"To a point I agree with you. But I think we should have a talk about it at some point in the near future."
Andrew only shrugged his shoulders at that.
"Well, whatever floats your boat. Lets hurry up and get in there and get out."
Jonathans group only agreed with his statement before they turned back around to face the door. Labareda, who had simply waited for everybody to get ready, nodded at them.
"Since we are good to go, I'll go ahead and get this open. However, what I said earlier still stands. The power in this room will be unlike anything you'll have ever experienced before, so I suggest that you mentally prepare yourselves."
Everyone only nodded at her in affirmation. Letting out a low sigh, Labareda only looked at her master one more time in some worry before she turned back around and began to weave arcane markings across its surface. It took her very little time to get the door open, her knowledge of the arcane easily picking the doors safety mechanics apart.
A moment later and the cracking sound of the door splitting apart indicated that she had opened it. A second later and everyone felt a wave of oppression like none ever felt before push them to there knees, the sheer gravity of the malic permeating just from the slightly opened door enough to indicate what exactly they where about to get themselves into. Or, that would be the case if one person was not still standing. Unlike everyone else, who was forced to the ground from sheer animosity, Andrew only felt a familiarity to this oppressive power. It was as if this was something he always had. But at the same time, he knew that he was only this way because of the power he held. Everyone else was just struggling to prevent themselves from being flattened. Jonathan only looked on at the door, his face pale and his body shaking in both parts resistance and terror.
"Such… Power! Oda Nobulax… such a monster… even when… dead!"
Andrew looked back at the group, everyone pretty much trying to stay up. However, he could only let out a low sigh.
"Well… I guess I'm going to have to do something about this aren't I? ya'll stay here… actually, that was really stupid of me to say, of course you have to stay here. You can't even move. I'll be right back."
Moving forward with ease, Andrew pried the door open just a little bit more so that he could slip through, but even that small amount was noticeable when they flinched, shuddering even harder under the oppressive aura. He then lightly closed the door behind him, though not all the way in the event of something happening. Finally, he then turned around to look into the room that was emitting such force and he had to admit, it was pretty big. The room was square, like one would expect out of a stable construct, but at the same time, the lack of pillars anywhere allowed the whole of the room to be freely visible.
And along with that freedom of vision, came the ease of the sight in the very middle of this room. Sitting there, not even three feet off the ground was a stone block table. Nothing important about it, and nothing grand about a stone. However, it was the thing that was on that stone table that made it vastly more interesting for Andrew to look at. Upright in the very center of that table was an immense ax, as tall as a person and a twin ax head as wide as a tree. It was grossly huge, as if only monsters or beasts of immense strength where allowed to even have the thought of wielding it. But it wasn't just the size that was intimidating. It was also it's looks.
Deep red in color, the ax head shone like a savage maw that just recently consumed the meat and blood of the living, but the rest of the ax was black. Even darker and deeper then a moonless midnight black ocean, just barely reflecting the pitiful light that surrounded it. Andrew could tell just from looking. This was what had happened to the body of Oda Nobulax, the World Tyrant. His whole body had been reformed into a weapon, still containing his bodies physical might and power. Andrew only felt familiarity from it though, as if he only need to take it in hand to feel whole again. But he wasn't so distracted from the Axe's looks that he didn't notice something else about it.
Impaled by the handle itself lay something small and almost fragile looking, cloaked in red and white, and maybe just a dash of blue mixed in as well. Curious, Andrew walked toward the table, knowing that he wouldn't leave until he both figured out what that was, and figured out how to repress the Aura of the ax in front of him enough to allow the rest of the party to safely traverse through the room. Andrew walked on until he was standing right next to the table, and what he saw made his heart heavy, and filled him with curiosity. Laying there, the handle of the ax imbedded into her stomach, was a girl who looked to be in her early teens. She had long golden blonde hair that went well to her waist and was dressed in a red dress with white frills to be found under the hem of the skirt and long sleeves. She had a blue bow in her hair that helped to keep it out of her innocent face, the girl's eyes closed as if she was in a deep sleep. What he had mistaken for white cloth was in fact six beautiful white wings, three on each side of her body and fully extended as if to show of the girl's white splendor.
Andrew couldn't help but find her equal measures cute and adorable, but he felt a knot form in his belly at the fact that she was impaled through the stomach by such a vicious looking weapon. However, that negative feeling quickly gave way to curiosity when he saw that just around the corner of her mouth, a stray strand of her hair seemed to flutter oh-so-slightly. Curious, Andrew leaned in closer. At first, he wasn't sure what he was expecting, but a low breathing sound coming from her lips was not high on that list.
"She's still alive…" was all he said in some shock and and interest. Though there was magic around in the world he found himself, he wasn't sure what kind of magic would be necessary in order to keep a person alive.
Pushing it to the back of his mind, Andrew looked around her abdomen. More specifically, in the area around where that axe protruded. He was a little curious when he saw that there was no blood, obvious magic shenanigans at work, but he couldn't for the life of him figure out why she was impaled in this manner. He couldn't guess if it was for the sake of a seal or if it was just an unfortunate accident. Letting out a low sigh, Andrew only looked at her for a moment longer before he rolled up his sleeves, already well aware of what it was he was going to need to do.
"Let's hope this doesn't backfire on me…"
With that fate tempting statement out of the way, Andrew reached over to the axe and with only a moment's hesitation, grabbed just below the axe head. He had unconsciously held his breath when he did, not sure what to expect when he gripped it. However, he didn't feel anything. Correction, he felt something, but at the same time, he felt that it was blocked in a way. He wasn't sure how or why, but he decided that it would be best to cross that bridge when he came to it. Not even thinking about it anymore he used his other hand to grip closer down the shaft. With a mighty yank, he found that the axe came out quite easily.
In fact, he almost tumbled back with how light it felt to him, but he quickly managed to right himself before such a silly slip happened. Taking a second to hold the axe out in front of him with both hands, Andrew couldn't help but examine it for a moment as if not really sure if this was all that was going to happen.
"ya know…" he said to himself.
"In these kinds of situations, something bad is supposed to happen when the guy pulls out a cursed weapon… was I expecting too much?"
Feeling that he might be tempting fate a little too much with his recent statements, Andrew opted to stop talking and tested to see if he could hold this behemoth of an axe in one hand. Surprisingly, he was in fact able to hold it in one hand, the thing easy to lift and move about as if he was swinging a large nerf bat. Having established his physical superiority, Andrew turned his attention back to the girl on the table. He drew his line of sight to the girl's abdomen, where he noted that despite the hole in her clothing, the skin was unbroken and didn't seem to show any signs of bleeding. A good sign for him. Using his free hand, he hovered his hand over her mouth and found that her breathing seemed to be increasing, as if she was able to focus on that for the first time in a long time. Smiling to himself, Andrew let out a relived smile.
"I'll get the others to look at her when they get in here… but for that to happen… I'll need to do something about the power emanating from this thing here."
Andrew lifted the axe and looked directly at it, his mind trying to work out how best to go about that situation. He had the feeling that just taking it somewhere else wouldn't do anything and he couldn't ask anybody outside the room what he could do to rectify the situation. That didn't mean he hadn't thought of a theory of his own though. he just had to suppress its power somehow, but in order to do that, he felt that he would need to find a way to connect himself to the Axe and it's power. It felt like the right thing to do, but at the same time, he wasn't sure how that might turn out for him.
"Only one way to find out I suppose…"
Relegating his thoughts back to the task, Andrew decided to go through with it and just hope nothing bad happened. Doing as Unoma had instructed, Andrew tried to feel his inner power. It didn't take him very long, Unoma telling him that the least he could do was try to learn how to detect magical energies around him. It was easy enough since the axe practically radiated power, though the next step was something vastly more difficult to him. He had never been necessarily taught how to use his power, but he was sure that as long as he at least tried, he would figure something out.
Taking a deep breath, Andrew closed his eyes to make it easier for him to concentrate. He found that something was blocking his access to the axe, but he felt it would easily crumble if he applied some pressure to it. Focusing on his power, Andrew tried to grasp hold of it in an attempt to use it. It came to him as if it was begging to be used, his power practically jumping into his grasp. It then began to build, and starting to panic a little, Andrew mentally directed that flow into the barrier that prevented him from accessing his weapon.
It shattered like glass against the flood he poured into it.
"Ah… now I'm about to have a problem."
And that was when hell broke loose.
Meanwhile, in the outer room, everyone was somewhat pacing. Correcting, Labareda was pacing, Unoma was hovering just above her with her eyes on the door. Everyone had managed to get back up after Andrew had closed the door earlier, and they had decided to wait and see what exactly it was he would do. Labareda had wanted to charge right in after him, but she had been dissuaded by Serena that it would be better to trust him. She had relented somewhat and had opted to keep to the pacing, Jonathans group merely waiting on standby in case anything needed doing. That changed immediately when an ungodly wave of energy washed over the group, even more powerful then when the door had been opened. However, it seemed to start fluctuating in intensity wildly. Labareda didn't need a cue to know something had happened.
Rushing to the door, she savagely kicked it open and only took a moment to locate her beloved master. He was in the middle of the large room, holding what looked to be in axe in both his hands, wind picking up and energy radiating off of him like heat would from an inferno. She could hear his physical distress, his grunts of pain and the way his body was tensed up. But even worse was the mental connection. His mind was raging, as if a sea of turmoil and fury bellowed forth from her link.
"MASTER!"
She tried to run forward, to get him to let go of the axe, but two steps in and a wave of power blew her right back. She could only take a knee, burying her claws into the stone floor so as not to be shoot out the door. A moment later though and a barrier formed in front of her, doing it's best to hold back the tide of power radiating from the young master. Labareda looked back and saw Unoma land right next to her, her hands up in an attempt to keep the barrier going.
"Lab! Help me with this! I'm barely keeping this thing going as is!"
Knowing that this would be a better option, Labareda did as she was asked and held up her hand to assist in maintaining the barrier. It mitigated the effects of the energy in the room somewhat, but it wasn't doing much. The rest of the group, now having a method to get in, ran next to the two familiars. Sarya was the first to speak up.
"What's going on?!"
Unoma, gritting past some very obvious pain, only glanced at the elven archer.
"He came into contact with the rest of his power, that's what!"
Serena looked at the mage in worry, not sure what that could mean.
"How is this a bad thing?! Didn't he already have it under control with what he had?!"
Morgana, holding up her staff to assist with the two familiars upkeep of the barrier, looked to the red head twin tail.
"In a normal condition, it would be fine, but this isn't normal power. This is the power and might of Oda Nobulax. I'm sure that the gods and demon lords of that time did what they could to add safeguards to prevent this very thing from happening! Even from here, It's as if I'm being crushed by a colossal beast…"
Jonathan looked to Morgana, holding his face up when some turbulence managed to get through the barrier.
"How do we help him?! If he can get it under control then it should calm down!"
Unoma cut of anything the mage woman would have said.
"That's impossible! Even with three of us holding up a barrier, we are doing everything we can just to stay this close! My master as he is now is going to have to try what he can!"
Labareda however, only shook her head.
"I think I can do something, but you and the half-rate are going to have to maintain this by yourself for a period of time!"
Unoma looked to the demon for a moment, not sure what exactly she was going to do before a moment of clarity hit her.
"No… you wouldn't dare. Not in this small of a room! You'll kill him and all of us if you do that!"
"That's only if you keep up this shoddy spectacle of magic Unoma! You can hold this back all day if necessary!"
The both of them glared at each other for a moment, nobody really sure what they where on about between each other. However, as the two of them where trying to duel it out with glares, Serena had brought her attention back to Andrew, and was surprised when she saw him.
"Look!"
Everyone turned there attention back to Andrew and was surprised to see that he had changed his position. He was holding the axe above his head in both hands, having turned to the side. It looked as if he was having a conversation with himself, but nobody could hear it, nobody but himself that is.
Andrew was doing his best to keep his body in check, to prevent himself from losing it right then and there, but this power was outrageous. To him it felt like a storm raged inside of his body and mind. Emotions he hardly even used roiling to the surface while his body felt like it was tearing itself apart and building itself back up. It was like death and life where occurring inside of him all at once, and the emotions of everything that encompassed with it tried to split his mind open from the inside. He felt like he was lost in himself, but when it felt like this would continue, he felt as if he heard a voice in his head.
'Young man.'
He couldn't even blink in surprise, but surprised he was when something that sounded like an old man spoke to him in his own head.
'Young man, you must listen to me. At this rate you will tear yourself apart trying to control this, though I will be honest and say you surprised me with the sheer amount of will you are currently displaying. Myself and others actually. But that is not important, you must-'
Andrew didn't let it finish.
'Who in the fuck are you and why are you talking rather than doing something about this!?'
For a moment, Andrew could feel the surprise from the voice talking to him, but it quickly recovered.
'I apologize. I am Called Leviathan. And I had assumed you would be distrustful of me on our first speaking.'
'Fucking right I am, but I don't have the leisure to worry about that seeing as I'm fucking falling apart at the seams here! If you can do something or know how to help me, then do it goddamned now!'
'Understood. I will need you to focus your power however in order for me to help you stabilize it. Try to take everything, your power along with the axe's and focus it into yourself. From there I'll help you.'
Andrew could only listen to what this leviathan character was telling him, he himself not having any idea how to fix this on his own. Doing exactly as he had been told, he directed all of his power, that of his own while forcing the axes own power into what he found to be his center, or his core. This did not come without its own problems though, as the moment he tried to stuff almost all of it inside of him, it felt like he was trying to push something much to large into something much to small. He felt his body couldn't handle it, and he was sure that he was bleeding out of some orifice from the sheer amount of concentration he was putting into this. However, he felt a somewhat foreign but familiar power in his own body begin to take hold of that power… and for lack of a better term, seem to make space for it all. After what felt like an eternity, Andrew finally felt as if his body wasn't about explode into a crimson mist all over the floor and he felt that he could finally take a relaxed breath. However, he was far more curious about who had just helped him.
'Alright leviathan, so you helped me. What did it just cost me?'
'Skeptical, a good trait to have. Especially with so much power in your possession Young man. However, it cost you nothing as of right now. However, now that you are possession of your full power, you and I will need to talk again at some point. Just know that I will communicate with you again in the near future. So prepare your questions, for I doubt even your familiars could have as much knowledge as I do about your current power. Until then, keep yourself guarded and trust nothing anybody might tell you.'
Andrew felt that voice vanish after that line, as if it quickly receded into a deeper part of himself. However, he wasn't going to worry about it just yet, the ominous words almost sounding stereotypical cloak and dagger novels. Letting out a low breath, Andrew decided to focus himself a bit and check and see how he might look in regards to magical power. What he felt was like a colossus in a very small cage, his power almost double in comparison to what it was earlier. Deciding that he should probably suppress that, Andrew thought about lower the levels he was emitting and found his power resisting at first, as if it didn't want to be contained. He could only 'man handle' it into submission at this point, like trying to put a struggling cat into a wash bin. But he finally succeeded after a moment and he could only sigh in exasperation.
"Well that wasn't how that should have gone… but I guess it could have been worse."
"Your damn right it could have been Master!"
Stunned by the sound of the voice, Andrew turned around and saw that the group had apparently made its way into the room when he hadn't been looking. However, the very cross expression on both Lab's and Unoma's faces told him that they no doubt where not happy with his previous stunt. Nervously looking between the two of them, Andrew attempted communication.
"Hey guys… when did you get in here?"
"About halfway through whatever it was you were doing. And do not start trying to act al innocent with me! I know exactly what that axe in your hand is!"
Andrew looked from Labareda to the aforementioned weapon in hand and back to her.
"Yeah… well, it kinda needed to be done since nobody in the group but me seemed able to even move around in here."
"You could have at least discussed it with us first! even I could have told you that something terrible would have happened if you did this without any preparation!"
However, where Unoma and Labareda where busy chastising their master, Serena and the rest of the group saw the stone table right behind him, and the movement that was occurring there. Serena was the first to point it out.
"Andrew, what's that behind you?"
Stopping what he was going to say next, Andrew turned around to see that the girl who had been previously sleeping, was waking up, her body already shifting to a sitting position. Bringing the current argument to a close by turning around, Andrew tried to get the girls attention.
"Well hello there sleeping beauty. Glad to see you woke up."
The girl, blinking groggily, turned to look at the source of the voice. For a moment, she wasn't sure what she was looking at and raised her hand up to rub the sleep from her eyes. Andrew found this adorable, but he kept it to himself as she got done. The blonde then turned to look at him again and muttered one word from her mouth.
"Alex?"
Andrew cocked his head to the side at the sound of a familiar name, but he felt that the girl couldn't be talking about his little brother. Andrew shook his head at her.
"Sorry, that's not my name. My name is Andrew. You where sorta right though, since I do have a little brother named Alex after all. But what's your name sweetheart? And how did you get here?"
The girl only looked at Andrew for a moment, her eyes opening wider, allowing Andrew to get a look at her bright green eyes. He would compare the color to emerald, but he was more focused on the look of confusion on her face when she saw the axe in his hands. It only took her a moment to suddenly be hit with memories, causing her to look down at her stomach, where she still remembered the painful feeling of being pierced.
"I… this is… I was… lost… and trapped… and then brought here… and then they used me for… some kind of seal… I don't… know… where am I? where is my brother?"
Andrew saw the girl start to panic, fear and confusion deep in her eyes as everything in her mind seemingly began to spin out of control. Dropping the axe, Andrew put his right hand on the girl's shoulder, forcing her to look up at him.
"It's alright darling… just stay calm and I'll help you out okay? You just need to tale a few deep breaths and you'll feel a lot better, alright?"
The girl slowly nodded her head at him, his voice firm… but at the same time, very comforting to her. Like it was an anchor to hold onto in this very turbulent storm of her own thoughts. For the next few minutes, the girl simply breathed in and out, doing her best to calm herself down. Eventually she did manage to feel more comfortable, Andrews firm hold of her shoulder anchoring her. Andrew smiled down at her, as if to reassure her.
"Feeling better sweetheart?"
The girl slowly nodded her head at him, the fear and anxiety in her eyes having diminished greatly.
"Yes… thank you…"
Andrew continued to smile as he used his free hand to pet the top of her head gently.
"Good girl. Do you mind telling me your name?"
For a moment, the girl didn't say anything, being lost in thought about that. However, it came quickly when she managed to refocus her attention.
"Aruma… my name as Aruma."
"That's a lovely name. Aruma… it just seems to roll off the tongue."
The girl, who had been nothing but fear and anxiety a few moments ago, couldn't help but smile a little at Andrews praise.
"Now Aruma… I know you probably have a lot of questions, and I have my own fair share as well. But if it's okay with you, do you mind if we go ahead and get out of here? You see, we aren't very far from the exit of this place, and we should be out of here within the next day. I mean, if you want to stay here, then I won't stop you, but I personally wouldn't feel very comfortable if I left you down here by yourself. Which also begs the question, do you want to come with me?"
For a moment, she didn't say anything, the girl only looking at him as if to see if he was trying to trick her. However, she nodded her head a moment later.
"M'kay… I'll go with you…"
Smiling at her more brightly, Andrew simply held his hand out to her to help her up off the table. However, as she got to her feet, her legs started to give way, almost causing her to fall to the ground. Andrew, still right there, quickly caught her.
"Ah… I guess you've been down here so long that it'll probably take time for your legs to get used to walking again… I guess You'll just have to get on my back then."
Curious, the girl wasn't sure what he was talking about until her kneeled down next to her with his back facing her.
"Come on. Also, don't worry, I've done this plenty of times already."
Despite the oddity of that statement, Aruma found that his confidence filled her with some of her own before she carefully wrapped her arms around his back. He then used his hands to push her further up before he looked back out at the group. Noticing that they where confused about the girl on his back, along with the wings she was keeping nestled against her back, Andrew opted to say something.
"Everyone, this is Aruma. She'll be traveling with us as well to get out of here. She's kinda groggy seeing as she just woke up from a really long nap, so please don't pester her until she's ready to talk, aight? Also, sorry Unoma, but you'll have to fly on your own for a while. This back is taken for the time being."
The dark mage could only shrug her shoulders followed by a 'it is what it is.' Everyone else only nodded in understanding, but they still wanted to ask questions about the situation. However, Serena took note of something else about the situation.
"I know you have the kid on your back… but what are you going to do about the axe you dropped?"
Andrew blinked a few times before he looked over his shoulder at the Axe leaning up against the table.
"Oh… right… could someone carry that for me?"
However, Morgana shook her head before anybody did anything.
"I would seriously not do that if I where any of you. It may be suppressed now, but that weapon is the body of Oda Nobulax himself. Anyone else who touches it I fear will have something disastrous happen to them."
Andrew looked to her before he looked back at the axe, suddenly realizing what she was talking about.
"Ah… I guess your right on that one… might be best if I was the only one to handle it…"
However, he didn't want to let Aruma be held by anyone else, not sure how she might react to anybody else from the group. However, a thought came to his mind, something crazy yeah, but at the same time, he had a feeling it would work. Turning his body to face the weapon, Andrew freed up one hand and held it to his side. A moment later and he concentrated on it.
"Come."
Surprising everybody, the axe flew from the ground and directly into Andrews hand, where it disappeared upon coming into contact with him. Grinning to himself, Andrew turned to look at Morgana.
"I think that solves that don't you say?"
Somewhat agap, Morgana didn't say anything in return, most of the rest of her group equally surprised. However, Serena started to get impatient and tapped her foot on the ground.
"Less gaping and more moving guys. I want to get out of here as quickly as possible."
Andrew smiled at that before he corrected his grip on Aruma, the girl holding tight as he started to walk toward the door.
"Serena is right, if this room is the halfway point, then we should get moving. We wasted enough time with this little escapade.
Unoma couldn't help but chuckle at that as she flew overhead.
"I believe you know more about that then we do Dear Master."
Andrew wisely opted not to answer her. Thankfully, getting the other door open was just as easy as the last one, only they didn't have to worry about ungodly amounts of energy holding them back this time, which allowed them to get underway down the path. For a while, it was nothing but the continues pace of drudging steps and silence. However, after a while, Andrew felt that he should probably start to get a little more information out of the girl he just so happened to be carrying, though he found his thoughts did linger to what that Leviathan character had said back in the sealing chamber (as he was now calling the room where his axe had been sealed up).
"So, Aruma… did you have any questions for me? Or do you feel in the mood for questions?"
For a moment, the girl didn't say anything, but it didn't last very long before she spoke up.
"Where… am I?"
Andrew thought about it for a moment before he spoke, being a little selective in his answers.
"This dungeon we are currently in is called The Shadow Labyrinth. The world itself… well… hey, Jonathan what is the name of the land we are on? Its not called Rigel is it?"
The blonde man looked back at him from the group. Nodding his head.
"That would be correct Ser Andrew… actually, we happen to be on an island some distance away from Rigel. Though the shadow labyrinth isn't really treated as belonging to Rigel since people from many different places come to train here."
Andrew nodded his head in understanding.
"Huh. Good to know. Anyway Aruma, does that answer your question?"
She responded with a short 'Nh' in replay. Andrew wasn't sure if that was her way of saying yes, but he wasn't going to question it. However, seeing as she didn't seem to know what to ask next, he opted to ask one of his own.
"I take it you aren't familiar with that name then… do you mind explaining a little more about yourself and where you came from?"
The blonde girl nodded in answer.
"Nh. My name is Aruma… I have an older brother named Alex… and he's the leader of the Hiram tribe… I know I come from another world… and I ended up getting sent here when something happened in my own world… I don't really remember what though… after that… I was found by a group… um… I was asked to do something… I didn't want to do it… But they forced me to do it anyway. Then they locked me up in here and stabbed me with that axe thing… though it used to look like a very scary demon person… sorry… I don't really remember much more then that…"
Andrew simply nodded his head at her.
"That's fine, you just woke up a bit ago, and you've been asleep for a very long time. It's no surprise that you don't really remember much about before you went to sleep. Though it doesn't sound like the memories you have are very good ones. Sorry if I brought up some bad memories."
"No… it alright…"
Everyone in the group found what she said to be a little sad, and perhaps somewhat disturbing. It could easily be inferred that she was forced to seal Oda Nobulax against her will, something that didn't sit well with anybody in the group. However, Andrew felt that it would be best to draw away from that memory for a moment.
"If you say so… anyway, do you have any other questions?"
The girl looked to Andrews neck before she looked at everyone else in the group.
"Who… are they?"
"Oh! I guess I never gave any of them a proper introduction. Silly me! Let me introduce the members of my party. The red headed girl with horns is my first familiar, Labareda. Wonderful girl she is."
Aforementioned demon girl gave the girl a wide smile, Labareda looking the closest in physical age to her, thus she tried to make her feel comfortable in terms of familiarity.
"The silver haired woman floating above us is my second familiar Unoma. I hear she's super powerful, but all she's really shown me is that she's awesome at two things. Being lazy and fuuuuu… bed top exercises."
Andrew was about to say something else, but he wasn't sure what the girls actual mental age was and thus opted to keep his words clean in her presence. She didn't seem to mind though as she seemed rather distracted by the mage who floated down next to them and gently ruffled the girls long hair.
"If you have any problems, just make sure to come to me to fix them okay? I'm more then happy to help you."
Andrew along with Serena where a little surprised to see her act like this, the woman's older sister act not something they where used to seeing from her. However, they opted to leave it be when Aruma simply smiled at her followed by a 'Nh' while they took for confirmation of some sort. Getting back to the introductions, Andrew looked directly behind him past the winged girl.
"And back there we have the sorta hired mercenary of our group. The lovely red headed twin-tail Serena. Just like you, she doesn't come from this world. I hope you can get along with her."
Aruma looked back at the girl, Serena having started blushing when he had called her lovely, but quickly recovering when she noticed she was being looked at.
"Why did you have to say lovely of all things… anyway, I guess I count as the bodyguard to the guy your riding on seeing as the first two he talked about are good enough in a fight by themselves. Don't worry though, I'll help keep you protected as well. Nice to meet you Aruma!"
Serena gave the girl a big friendly smile along with a wave, both of which where returned by the blonde girl. She then brought her attention to Jonathan and his own group before she looked to Andrew for an introduction.
He only smiled at her.
"I'll let my buddy introduce his own group. Though we are traveling together, we really aren't part of the same group after all."
Turning to Jonathan, Andrew nodded his head at him to go on. A cue the other male took.
"Hello there young Aruma. My name is Jonathan. I am the third sone of a noble, and with me are my two traveling companions, Morgana, a powerful mage from the Eturia mage academy, and-"
Before he could continue, Sarya butted into the rest of the conversation.
"My name is Sarya Juan Mapleleaf! A wood elf from the southern vaunwoods who hunts evil and monsters around the world with Ser Jonathan and Lady Morgana!"
Andrew found the girls sudden interest and flair a little unusual, but Jonathan simply smiled sheepishly at him.
"Sorry, she gets fired up when it comes to children…"
Only nodding his head with some amusement, Andrew looked back to see that Aruma seemed interested in the elf's enthusiasm. Though he honestly couldn't get all that fired up about that line of work. However, Sarya pretty much took over the conversation from there, the elf wanting to regale the girl with exploits from around the world about her and Jonathan's group. For what felt like the next few hours, all anybody ended up hearing was Saryas stories about Jonathan's exploits and adventures, a great many Andrew felt where embellished, though she seemed to try to keep it somewhat realistic and truthful. It didn't really matter though as Aruma simply listened on in rapt attention. It was also a good way to kill time as the group travelled, the boring din of footsteps on stone having been heard enough from everyone. Eventually though, the group had to come to a halt, the feeling of exhaustion finally hitting most everybody present. Spending a few minutes getting everything set up for some sleep, Andrew, who had already set Aruma down on the more comfortable boar fur rug, found that that he found a small problem. That problem being that his own group ate some weirdest shit around and that he didn't want to subject Aruma to eating the legs of orcs or the bodies of giant insects. Letting out a low sigh, he couldn't help but look over at Jonathans group, who had already gotten their small fire pit going and cooking there own meal deciding that now rather then later would be a good time to ask, he got up and turned to look at Aruma, the rest of his group getting ready to eat their own food.
"I'll be right back you all… by the way you guys, don't feed Aruma any of the crap we eat okay?"
Only looking at him curiously, nobody said anything before he walked over to Jonathan group. Jonathan, who had been tending to the fire (Andrew still wasn't sure how they managed to get that going) looked up to see Andrew walking toward him with something of a nervous grin on his face.
"Andrew! Is something the matter?"
Andrew couldn't help but laugh a little nervously before he answered.
"Not… for me specifically… if anything, it's about the most recent addition to my group."
Sarya looked a little worried when she heard that.
"Why? Is something wrong with her?"
"No… not any immediate issues… if anything she seems to be doing okay. No, what I want to talk about is the fact of what my group eats."
At that, he got knowing looks. he knew that what his own group was beyond odd, Unoma and Labareda not really caring what they stuffed in their mouths seeing as they hardly even needed to eat while Serena just cooked it to the point of being palatable. However, that never gave him much more comfort, and he found that his groups menu choice was actually pretty bad.
"yeah… so… I came over here in hopes of petitioning you guys for some of your food. For Aruma of course, not for any of the rest of us."
The look he got from Morgana was annoyed at the very least.
"I do believe you said you would be able to take care of your own food issues yourself did you not? I'm sure we had an agreement that your own food situation was yours to deal with."
Andrew gave the mage woman a look that could only be described as 'annoyed'.
"Yes, I did say that. But it's not for my whole group, it's only for one small girl because she hasn't eaten anything in what might have been fourteen hundred years. I don't want to give her any of the weird crap my group eats in fear of giving her stomach issues. Just a little soup or something that goes down easy is all I'm asking."
Morgana looked as if she was about to argue the point, but Sarya spoke up.
"It's fine Morgana, we have more then enough, especially since we'll be out of here by tomorrow anyway. Plus, I can't bear the thought of that girl getting sick because we weren't willing to give up a little food."
Again, Morgana looked as if she wanted to say something, but she only turned her attention to Jonathan. The young man only nodded his head at her.
"I don't see the harm in it. How about some of the dried fruit we have? It should go down easily enough for her and tide her over for a while. We'll give you enough for tonight and tomorrow morning, how does that sound Andrew?"
Andrew only smiled at the young man.
"Perfect! Couldn't have asked for anything better! You're a real bro Jonathan! I owe you for this!"
Andrew waited a moment or two for Sarya to get the food. Thankfully it was easy enough, just reaching into a bag. It was when it was about to trade into his hands is when Morgana said something.
"Before you walk off with it though. I would like to impose a condition."
Curious, Andrew looked over at her in response.
"Okay… shoot."
"I would like to speak with Unoma… alone for about ten minutes."
Now confused, Andrew looked back at the woman in question before he gave Morgana an equally confused look.
"Uh…. Sure? I guess? That's kinda up to her, but I'll see if I can arrange it. Just let me get this over to Aruma and I'll let her know you wanted to talk."
"Appreciated." Was all he got out of her before he walked off, curiosity and some slight concern on his face. He finally managed to get back to the group, upon whence he kneeled down next to Aruma.
"Here ya go sweetheart. I figured you wouldn't want to eat anything we had on us, so I got some from the other group. It should last you until lunch tomorrow. So don't eat it all in one sitting m'kay?"
"Nh." Was her only response before she took the bag from his outstretched hand and started to nibble on the dried fruit inside. Andrew gave her a gentle pat on the head, a gesture she appreciated before he stood back up and looked directly at Unoma. Noticing the intensity of his gaze, the dark mage looked back up at him curiously before she let a grin spread across her face.
"What's the look for Dear Master? Did you feel in the mood to give me a recharge?"
Andrew only shook his head.
"Not right now. Maybe in a little bit when… certain people are asleep. No, I actually came over to let you know that Morgana wanted to talk with you one on one for some reason."
Unlike what he had been expecting, Andrew was surprised when Unoma simply looked over at the mage in question and let out an irritated sigh.
"I figured this would happen before we got out of here…"
Perplexed, Andrew cocked his head to the side to indicate his confusion.
"What are you talking about?"
Unoma only looked back up at him with a smile on her face.
"Don't worry about it Dear Master. Anyway, this should be done in a few minutes. Feel free to start getting everyone ready for sleep. I get the feeling I'm going to want to vent when I get back."
Andrew, along with the rest of his group, could only look to each other in hopes they knew what she was on about. However, only Unoma could answer that for them, and she wasn't keen on it right this moment. Getting up off the floor, Unoma started to hover over the group, upon which she indicated to Morgana to follow along. Doing just that, Morgana told her own group she would be back in a few minutes. Following after the silver haired mage, Morgana continued after Unoma until the both of them where far enough away to not be overheard. Turning around, Unoma looked on at Morgana with an annoyed expression on her face, as if this was the last thing she wanted to do right now. Seeing as Unoma wasn't going to start the conversation, Morgana decided to instead.
"I'm sure you already know what it is I'm going to say but humor me by letting me say it anyway. You… I've heard everyone call you Unoma many times on this trip, but I never took much stock in your name until last night. Unoma is the name of a legendary sorceress, and It didn't hit me until a little while ago that you are in fact that legendary sorceress."
Unoma, in a sarcastic fashion, started to slow clap.
"Yes, I am the Prisma Sorceress, the Witch of Babylon, the Demons Whore, and owner of many other such unamusing and absolutely insignificant titles. Good job finding that out when you literally could have asked me. Plus, it's not like I was keeping it a secret or anything."
Not letting the sarcastic tone get to her, Morgana only looked at the woman head on.
"Yes, none of that is really surprising given what is recorded of your uncaring attituded. However, I find it most curious that you, of all the people who are still alive from the age of Oda's terror, even allow that young man to even walk with that filth deep in his soul. As far as I was aware, you where one of the key individuals who helped to destroy the tyrants mind and seal away his powers. So why is he still walking around if you don't mind my asking? Even worse, why are you his familiar."
Unoma let a long sigh, but this time, she stopped floating and instead stood on her own two feet in front of the other mage.
"Becoming a familiar was an oversight on my part. But I honestly find that it's not that bad. Secondly, he walks around because I just so happen to like my Dear Master. Oda's power only being a slight stain on the otherwise interesting young man I've come to like in these last few weeks. However, none of that should be any of your business."
"Do not dare tell me that it's not my business. There is a reason Oda is still feared even to this day. Letting that man walk out of this labyrinth alive as paramount to telling the world that Oda Nobulax himself has returned! We left him to die because we knew it would be for the greater good if that kind of power was to vanish!"
At that, Unoma narrowed her eyes at the woman, clear hostility in her glare.
"I care not for the world or how it may view my Dear Master. As long as he is safe and sound, he could be the coming of the next World Tyrant for all I care. However, you know as well as I do that Oda's mind was destroyed. The chief God and maou saw to that the day we pulled his power from his corpse."
"Odas mind in him isn't the problem. It's the other six that are the real issue. Nobody saw what happened to Oda's pets when he died, everyone assuming that they died when he did. But nobody knew that for certain. Even now they could just be waiting for this young man to come waltzing right out, and then only the Gods know what would happen to him and the rest of the world."
It was only for a moment, But Unoma had an uncomfortable look on her face. But it was gone so fast that Morgana wasn't sure if she saw it right. Simply letting out another sigh, Unoma simply started to hover again.
"It really doesn't matter at this point. What will be, will be. If he is destined to become the next Oda Nobulax, then I guess that's what's going to happen. But let me say something first. I seriously doubt it, My Dear Master having what would amount to a very clean conscious. Also, in the event that you try to take matters into your own hands… forget me, Labareda will see you burn alive. That girl having an almost overzealous love for our current master. It's just a warning though, so heeding it or not is really up to you."
With that out of the way, Unoma started back to her group, Morgana's angry glare going ignored as she passed the mage woman. However, Morgana wasn't stupid, as she knew that if it really came down to it, she would have no chance in doing anything to the one named Andrew. Both Unoma and Labareda where to powerful individually for her to handle, let alone both of them using their power in tandem. That wasn't even accounting for Andrew raw power itself. No, as frustrating as it was, she could do nothing about the situation. However, she knew that others who where much stronger then her would find out about this, and she knew it wasn't going to be pretty. Doing as the Dark Mage before her did, Morgana simply turned around and went back to her group. Andrew, who had watched the both of them finish up, simply observed for a moment longer before Unoma hovered over to the group and landed right next to him, where she then lay her head down in his lap.
"So… did your talk go well?"
The mage let out an exasperated sigh.
"Not the choice of words I would use, but it's not going to be a problem in the future."
Andrew simply nodded his head.
"Hum… I see… well, good job with whatever it was."
Letting out a low sigh, Andrew began to run his hand through his familiars long silver hair, the silky-smooth feeling relaxing his mind. Unoma though, wasn't expecting it. However, she didn't react or anything, only a small widening of her eyes indicating such a reaction from her. She only relaxed though, the pampering of her hair a subtle and comfortable feeling to her. Nestling her head further into his lap, Unoma only closed her eyes as he continued to stroke her head and hair.
"I was going to ask for something a little more intimate… but I feel that this will be more enjoyable for the time being Dear Master…"
Andrew simply smiled at her as he continued his gentle stroking. However, when he looked back up, he noticed that his other familiar was giving him a jealous look. Or more specifically, a look that was directed at Unoma. Serena was already laying down, but she couldn't help but feel a slight ting of jealousy at what she was looking at, though again she wasn't sure why she would in the first place. Aruma, who had watched the whole thing and wasn't very familiar with everybody else in the group, only came up next to Andrew and leaned up against him because he was the most comfortable to be around. Upon seeing that, Labareda could only hold it in for so long before she jealously took the other side, using his arm as a pillow of sorts. Andrew, in all of this, found that it was something of an uncomfortable position. He could only endure though, the sensation being nice in their own way. Serena, not wanting to be left out, decided to use Unoma as a kind of pillow, nestled gently next to the mage woman, who only held her close. It was in this position that Andrew group found themselves going to sleep in, the only onlookers simply finding it to be a heartwarming scene to some, and annoying to others.
Hope you enjoyed it as Much as I did writing it! Hopefully next chapter comes out soon... ish.