The Dark Tome

After being missing for an entire day, an angry half orc busted through the door stomping his feet in anger while he grumbled to himself scowling as he startled those in the hall with his actions. Sporting damaged armor, the scent of multiple healing potions from his breath and spiderwebs that clung to his hair and body. Drestal had just returned from a quest outside of the guild.

Fun he thought it would be. "If it wasn't dumb luck, it would've." Drestal muttered. The people in the area just eyed the green adventurer warily as he trudged around in circles and continues to grumble.

"Stupid other half-orc, Stupid halfling, Stupid genasi." He growled. "Oh, look at me! Look at me I'm being stealthy! I'm a dumb stealthy half-y that got attacked by three giant spiders. I get it! You don't have to rub it in!"

He punches a wall causing it to crack. "I'll show them." Drestal muttered to himself while cross with the entire ordeal. "I'LL SHOW THEM ALL!"

Those residing in the room would have either left the uncomfortable atmosphere made by the man or just roll their eyes at his tantrum and then leave to other rooms. Drestal would the toss his bag of loot onto a nearby table and pace around back and forth.

In his rage as he continued to rant, an old tome that glowed a red ungodly aura shook within the confines of the bag. It moves around a little before trying to escape like a helpless bird in a sack. As the bag of loot soon fell of the table, the rope binding it went loose letting some of its contents fall off. None of this being noticed by the adventurer as the tome flew out suddenly and smack into the ignorant Drestals forehead, knocking him off his feet.

"Ow!" Drestal rubbed the sore spot hit as he eyed the book in front of him. He looks around to see no one who could have possibly have thrown it at him. He would then hear voices from the book calling to him. "What the...?" Drestal picked the tome up and looked at it with great curiosity as voice continue to whisper in his ears.

"The chosen damned..." The mysterious voice whispers.

"Stronger..."

"Destroy all..."

As the tomes light reflects into his eyes, Drestal felt himself drawn to it more. He would stand up slowly holding it entranced by the power.

…. Only to suddenly lose concentration.

"Achoo!" He sneezed and look over the tome again. "Meh, books are for nerds anyway." Drestal said as he tossed the book behind him and shrugged. "Now what was I complaining about again?" The half-orc thought to himself out loud.

All of a sudden, the book shook in anger as it flew and rammed itself harder than before at the back of his head knocking forward flat on his face.

He yelped followed by a groan in pain as he narrowed his eyed at the tome now fallen on the floor. "WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM, YA DAMN BOOK!"

"READ IT!" The once whispery voice screamed, surprising Drestal.

He picks it up and marvels as the cover glows again, drawing him in. The tomes had a language unknown to him. His eyes widen as the strange letters inscribed flew around a bit above the book. Multiple whispers in a strange language would speak in his ears and he stood there taking it all in. The words would rearrange themselves while also morphing into more common letters he was familiar with. With a flash it exploded with the red aura from before lighting the entire hall. He shielded his eyes with an arm for a moment and peered down after a moment when the light lowered. It would then read "Order of the Blood hunters and the Reign of Lord Mercer"

"Huh?" Drestal raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"UGH!" A voice groaned as the tome then shook in his hands a little.

The covers words suddenly changed once more.

"Edgy Edgelords Guide for Dummies"

Intrigued, Drestal looked around and the proceeding to stuff the loot back into the bag and moved to a much more secluded part of the empty hall with the tome in hand. Finding himself hidden from any possible onlookers, he started to scan the first few pages. As he skimmed page by page, Drestal felt himself getting more excited as he went on. He gives a wicked smiles as roars in delight.

"Yes... Yes. Yes! This...!" He closed the tome and eyed it while a scheme forms in his mind. "This is my answer!" He smirks. "Let's see who's the dumb half-orc now."

Meanwhile

Bruce the paladin walked in the halls to see Drestal after closing the tome. Not noticing what happened, the red-haired man had heard some very concerning noise from here earlier when coming in and pondered what on earth is going on. Spotting Drestal being a tad bit interesting he chimed up in hopes Drestal hears him with a kind wave.

"Hey Drestal!" He called out. "Heard a weird noise earlier. You, okay?" Bruce said in a query as he approached his brother at arms with his kind trademark smile that he always wore.

Drestal yelps in surprise and almost drops the tome as he juggles it in the air in panic but manages to catch it in time. He turns and hid the book behind his back and spots the paladin standing before him. "B-Brother Bruce! " He stumbled on his words. "I didn't notice you were here!" he smiles at his heavy armored friend. "That was probably the ranting of mine. Nothing to concern you though." Drestal said. "Just got pissed off at some pirate island adventure gone south. Me and the others got the treasure in the end. All fine."

Bruce calmly waited as his friend recovered from his panic attack. He then folds his arms to show he is still concerned for him. Though only to dismiss it after a second. He would then look at the tome and back to the green skin felow.

"Aye. I'm like that, I'm light on my toes even with my armor on. I can creep in like a ghost without a sound." Bruce teased as he tiptoes a bit to emphasize.

"It's good to have a moment or two, to vent out your frustration. I'd say instead of hurting the ones you love indirectly."

"You know..." He added and then pointed to the tome Drestal holds. "I'm curious. Is that the treasure you speak of?" The muscle-bound human said, gesturing he loved to see it with his pointer finger in a tapping motion.

"What?" Drestal said in confusion but then suddenly stepped out of his stupor. "Oh!" he pulls out the book in and raised it as he feigns a surprised expression. "You mean this thing." He gestures to it. Thoughts ran through Drestals' mind for a response. "Yes, it's an ancient...Fire Genasi Cookbook!" He frantically explained. He coughs into his hand and relaxed a little. "Indeed, it was part of the treasure form my adventure." The adventurer said. "I was planning to make my old pal Azalea a Reaper Seed Pepper Stew from their homeland."

"In fact, uh...I was just on my way to the town shop for supplies. You know how fire Genasis love um... hot n' uh spicy food stuff? " Drestal said the last part as if more of a question.

Bruce looked at Drestal puzzled. Seeing his brother being a little bit different from knowing him from before. That he almost questioned if he should use Divine Sense but was distracted at the mention of food. At that, he smiled more so than before.

"Well that... that sounds amazing. Yeah, show me this fine food recipe you speak of." Bruce asked Drestal eagerly.

"Uh..." Drestal eyed his friend warily and back to the book when he suddenly heard a whisper this time in his head. "Do it."

He gained a look confusion that turned to shock when in front of his eyes sees a floating letter in scrambled in front of the eager Paladin. While Bruce could not see the letters, Drestal saw it scrambles as it read "Trust me." Drestal then hands it over and catches for a split second as the cover title shifts in a blink of an eye to a bonfire with a skewered meat over it. As Bruce flipped through pages, the half orc moved to look over his friends' shoulder seeing everything from before turn into rows of recipes and step by step information on meals. "What the...?"

Bruce never suspected a thing while reading a page. Then Bruce pondered in confusion as to why would this book would be considered to treasure to pirates. He'd find it silly but then dismissed it as something others would find value.

"It sounds good, I'd think we could try to..." Bruce stopped speaking as he glaced over to see Drestals perplexed expression. Turning to him, he asked "Hey brother you, okay? What's wrong."

"Hm?" Drestals face relaxed turns to face Bruce. "Oh, nothing. just saw an ingredient that would cost me a fortune." The half-orc said.

"But then again, those Phantom peppers and Reapers are quite rare here." He chuckles. "Any who~. We can try them out another time." Drestal waves his hands dismissively. He takes the book back and places under his arm. "We can even test it on Grimal just to see her reaction. What do you say, hmm?" He whispers to Bruce with mischief in his eyes.

Bruce stood in a wonder why Drestal acting so odd. Not getting the hint at all there could be something wrong. Yet smiled at the fun idea of Grimal joining in the fun time to test the fiery dish. Most likely not thinking like Drestal is, but friends being friends Bruce thought.

"Yes, that sound fun. I think she would enjoy it one day." A bit bummed out he couldn't try it now with Drestal and Grimal.

"Oh, she will indeed if she's not busy in the sick bay after all that. Hahaha!" Drestal heartily laughs imagining an angry centaur glaring at them as she is drinking gallons of water to cool off while they both are snickering a few feet from her. "Enjoy it indeed."

Bruce silently laughed in a bit of confusion in what he was saying but shrug it off of fun and goofy chat. "I think she can handle it." He spoke

Bruce thinks about it he would like this kind of bonding with his friends.

"And you guys can try out the Haggis family recipes too from me." Nodding as he boasts with a proud tone at the fun idea of having a good time.

"I look forward to trying it dear friend." Drestal agrees.

Bruce grinned and puts a hand on his friends' shoulder, "You know you can talk to me, right? I am a Priest to my people and I'm your friend. If anything is hurting you... please tell me. Ok?"

As Drestal nods and proceeds to leave, he smiled one last time before giving off a wave "Of course, Bruce. Same here."

When finally sure he was alone again, Drestal pulls out the tome to see it return to its former state. He proceeds to retire to his private quarters. Closing the door and windows, he then opens the tome as he sat on the side of his bed to read. The pages glows while whispers returned to speak into his ears. "Now..." Drestal said as he reads the first page. "Let's see what you got?"