Chapter 5: The hidden gem
I slowly opened my eyes to the blinding light of the sun, accompanied by the endlessly annoying rattling of the carriage. The cool morning breeze was gently caressing my slowly awakening body., slowly I sit up from my position of laying down and force myself up against one of the sides of the carriage.
"Good morning Fenrir" came a familiar voice from my side, I turned to spot the giant form of Ainz sitting beside me. The only answer he received was a groggy nod from me before I returned to my visual worshipping of the landscape of this new world.
Nabe's P.O.V
The moment that Lord Harito woke up I felt a little sad that I could no longer watch him, this sad feeling was swiftly replaced by a large amount of embarrassment at the fact that I had just mentally admitted that I enjoy watching my adorable and fuzzy lord sleep, thankfully none of my emotions managed to creep their way upon my face.
'I can't help it, he's just way to adorable when he sleeps, even when he's awake he's adorable' I sigh as I mentally discuss all of the issues with these feelings.
To lost in my own thoughts I did not know that my eyes we mesmerised with his fluffy tail wagging from side to side, never once leaving until I shook myself out of thought.
I found myself using security of his safety as an excuse to validate watching him sleep.
'how dare these impudent lower life-forms even breathe the same air as my lords, especially lord Harito' I think as I angrily glare at our current travel companions.
Fury and rage had begun to simmer like a volcano under the surface as I continued to think of all the disrespect these insignificant worms had shown lord Ainz and lord Harito. However, like a true combat maid I did not allow a single one of these feelings show as to not alert them if I need to dispose of them stealthily.
Though out of all of them I despised that disgusting flirting sack of flesh that was the ranger of this expedition team, his antics constantly made me want to throw up endlessly.
We had been travelling for a bit and the blazing sun had nearly reached its apex, slowly the mountainous terrains gave way once more to a seemingly endless wild forests and the once gentle breeze had now picked up slightly and was a light gust of wind though it did keep the scorching heat of the sun at bay. The wind bringing the heavy scent of distant fields of flowers and delectable smelling herbs causing everyone in the carriage to get a little hungry. However, despite all of these changes lord Harito was never once disturbed and neither was my watchful gaze on him until lord Ainz nudged me with his elbow to get my attention.
"how long do you plan to stare at him like that?" he silently questioned gesturing towards the seemingly oblivious Lord Harito, humour was quite evident within his tone leading to the belief that he might be making a teasing joke. At that moment, an emotion coursed towards my cheeks in the form of a heated pinkish tinge.
"I was merely lost in my thoughts, Momon… sir" I said trying to be informal and formal at the same time as was required to one of lord Ainz and Harito's position.
He responded with a sly cough of both annoyance and disbelief at my statement and as he was about to say something in return to me he was interrupted by the annoying vermin that had contracting us this mission, Nfirea.
Harito's P.O.V
"We're here" screamed Nfirea. However, he did not look so sure of that statement as we neared a very familiar location thou I could not tell why as I stared at a large enclosing wall of wood that I assumed was our destination. The nagging feeling of familiarity towards this location was starting to become quite annoying as I struggled to release the answer to the question, where are we?
Turning my gaze towards the ever observant Ainz I noticed that he too had noticed something familiar about this place but his presence was slowly becoming more and more agitated leading to the belief that he too had no idea why this place felt so familiar to us.
As we drew closer and closer I began to notice more and more life-forms that appeared to be readying to ambush us, I gave a subtle signal to Ainz, who had exited the cart at this point and was walking alongside the transport, he simply nodded and continued to move forward.
My hand slowly found the grip of my handle in preparation for a fight with these unknowns, my senses proved me right as we were all but kissing the door when several goblins appeared out of the tall grass to either side of the path, they were either armed with bows or swords but the blades looked awfully dull and used while the arrows looked as if they were made from random materials that were found lounging about the place.
They swiftly surrounded us from all sides, including in front, before what appeared to be there leader stepped forth, I withdrew my hand from my prized blade and stood not wanting to dirty my blade once more with goblin blood.
"Hold on, we'd rather avoid any conflict if at all possible especially with the giant in black and the masked one, I know a bad feeling when I get one ad the pair of you are giving me the heebie jeebies" said the goblin that looked like thee leader of the bunch.
'impressive survival instincts' I thought slightly impressed by this usually savage bunch's ability to access an unknown threat, I seated myself as I noticed a familiar presence approaching the gate, finally I knew what this pace was.
"What's happening Mr Goblin?" questioned the new figure as they exited the protection of the gate. However, at this point I decided that I was tired once more and lay back down in the carriage before swiftly falling asleep in the relative safety of the transport.
DREAM
Outside the car's window a ravenous storm rampaged through this dismal day, endlessly release its savage and thundering cries upon the world below it. The sky pitch black except for the random lighting of the vengeful clouds above, my gaze turned to the front seat to see my big brother and father singing along to a song though I cant hear the song itself I see them smiling and cheerful and I feel a painful sting in my chest.
"Hey dad look over there someone broke down, should we help them?" asked big brother sarouk, his hand pointing out to a smoking blimp in the distance.
"Of course, it's best to help those that need it, always remember that" he said philosophically.
My heart begun to pound in my ears as I recognized this scene, I attempting to beg them to keep going but my words were caught in my droughted throat. Slowly the car came to a halt and my dad stepped out into the starting drizzle.
"Hey, do you guys need any help?" he asked to the people that we parked in behind.
'please stop, please stop' I thought begging to whatever god would listen as my father approached his demise.
"if only you had more power" whispered a voice temptingly, though I was not listening as my pleas began to turn to curses to these monsters before me.
"if you could It would be much appreciated" said one of the creatures before me, his false appreciation perfectly mimicking real emotion.
Dad turned around for a split second. However that was all was needed as the men before us each pulled out a gun with a cheery expression on their faces, one of them shot my dad in his legs the other shot my brother in the head, killing him instantly.
Sobs racked my body as I could feel myself tearing apart, the anguished screams of my father could be heard as he started crawling towards the car in an attempt to escape his murderers, whom were laughing away at their victims suffering. The world slowed to a halt as they pointed their guns once more to my father.
"it should have been you"
"you could have stopped it"
"power, all you need it power"
"discard your weak flesh and become one with us"
"shut up" I screamed suddenly being hauled out of my dream and back into reality.
I burst upright tears crawling down either side of my face at the memory I was forced to replay.
'just a dream' I assured myself remembering the voices that held such greed and temptation.
I looked around the surroundings and noticed that I was now within the wooden walls of the village and that I had not been asleep for much time as the sun had barely moved, it was still peacefully dwelling in the clear sky, my focus slowly turned to the villagers who, despite recently being pillaged, now were working hard to preserve their way of life with both motivation and positivity, though on the inside I could tell that they were hurting just as much as I had.
'this world may house such beauty however all that causes is more evil that must dawn the robes of light so that they can hid in the cloak of darkness, the more light there is the more darkness can rise' I thought releasing a sad sigh.
"we are preparing to head to the forest soon, Fenrir sir" stated the cold voice of Naberal who I noticed had been watching me during this trip whatever that is about. I merely nodded towards her which she took as a satisfactory answer.
'I wonder what Calypso and the others are doing?' I thought before jumping out of the carriage changing my weapons to a spare katana I had, I don't want the villagers recognizing my blade.
Meanwhile with Calypso
"you all know why you have been summoned I presume?" asked a finely dressed man with glowing blood red eyes and sun yellow hair that seemed to be as smooth as an undisturbed lake. His intimidating gaze landing upon the several other occupants of the room, including calypso and derconius, before setting upon a basketball sized gem in the middle of the room which seemed to be dyed with the presence of the abyss.
Dun dun dun. Sorry about how late this is, I just couldn't get enough motivation to write though I still plan to finish what I started, I'm not gonna bail this far into the story though I may rewrite the first 2 chapter. I may use my new series chapters to fill it out instead of creating a new version of this. Love you all, thankyou for reading all of my chapters so far.
As usual special thanks to all of the people that have been adding themselves to my list of favourites people alive. Thankyou you guys make my day even when I'm not writing, thankyou you guys from the bottom of my heart.