Lian's Peculiar Journey: Starlight Paladins
Chapter 17
"God Fafnir" Drogoz
The pale woman stood in her dark cellar observing the times through a magical pool of purple water. Her face, though emotionless, betrayed her for a few moments to reveal a hint of frustration on the curling of her lips.
Her hand, laden with metallic chains and finger decorations, moved across the pool of water and stopped.
"Lady Seris." A cloaked figure spoke as he bowed before the woman, "The contact you hired in the desert is here to see you."
"Let him in."
The figure nodded and exited the door.
The woman sighed and twirled her fingers across the water.
Two footsteps reverberated across the empty stone room.
Sha Lin walked inside.
"Howdy." He waved at her, "I heard you were the person who gave out the contract."
Seris nodded but did not turn to face him.
"Well, unfortunately my partner-"
"Died. Yes, how unfortunate." Seris said in a monotone voice, "You, however, I figured lived to tell the tale."
"Well I am standing here." Sha Lin joked, "It was a funny story by the way."
"Wetting your pants in flight was quite entertaining." Seris spoke.
Sha Lin stopped and looked at her, completely shocked that she knew such details.
"Wha-" he stepped back.
"Sha Lin, did you want something?" Seris suddenly appeared behind the man in a mist of purple smoke.
Sha Lin felt a cold chill crawl up his spine as the pale woman walked in front of him.
"Perhaps, a second chance to take them out?" she continued as she returned back to her pool, "But I hate to hear my own presumptions… why not tell me from your own words?"
Sha Lin gulped and clenched his fists.
"I just wanted to let you know what happened… I almost killed the enforcer among them." He reported, "Had it not been for Zhin, an old friend of mine."
"Almost is not good enough for me…" Seris raised her hand, still looking at her pool, then clenched it.
Sha Lin's throat started to be choked by a shadowy being.
"You can almost breathe, can you not?" Seris continued, "But is that good?"
Sha Lin gagged and started to raise his arms.
"You can almost escape the darkness of blacking out… but is that good?"
Sha Lin wheezed when he regained his ability to breathe.
"I just wanted to say that… they… are heading… this way…" he panted and breathed in deeply.
"Yes, I know." Seris grunted.
"My avenging gods are falling to that group of misfits led by my sister… My Black Parade falling to those fools. Cassie, the young woman who pledged her life to me after I helped her escape her duties, Makoa, the ancient I only tricked, and Skaadi's Service, that ancient frost stand…."
Sha Lin saw the woman turn to face him.
"What are you going to do to help me, Sha Lin?" Seris asked, "You have only fled with your trousers wet from your own fear… And anyone can tell me the times and events that have occurred, even I can."
Sha Lin stammered as the woman raised her hands.
"What is this?" Seris spoke as she lifted an arrow from Sha Lin's hand.
Sha Lin gulped.
Seris mumbled and looked at the arrow, then stabbed herself in her exposed stomach.
Sha Lin gasped as black blood flowed from the wound.
"My body has been irreparably damaged by my sister's cursed Pyre." She murmured, "Long ago, we stood opposed, and she has caused my Abyssal regeneration to falter beyond simple repair… Unless." She stopped and showed of that her wound had healed but was still scarred.
"That's a story for another time. Sha Lin, all I need from you is to kill them all with your stand." She sat down on a nearby stone throne and looked at the arrow.
"And bring me the body of Furia…. Or Sarah K."
Sha Lin made the arrow she was holding disappear.
"I am glad you accepted my offer." Seris said lowly.
This crazy woman is going to get me killed! Me against those four guys!? This is insane! Sha Lin thought to himself.
I should have never listened to darling Ying… Oh I knew women would be the death of me…
Sha Lin clenched his fists and glared at the back of Seris' hood.
I don't want to be part of your family issues, lady. I'm outta here, but not before I kill you and whatever crazy powers you have alongside you.
"Why have you not gone, Sha Lin?" Seris asked as she grabbed a nearby book, "All you have to kill them, or I will consume your soul with the Abyss."
Sha Lin snarled.
You're all alone and vulnerable. Perhaps a quick killing blow will stop whatever healing powers you have on you.
Feel sorry for you, lady. I was only in this to get a shot with Ying, but now that she's dead, I'll just get a shot on you!
The archer called out The Bow and pulled it back with an arrow loaded, glaring at the woman's head.
You have a lot of old stuff here, might also be a good treasure to get much money out of. He looked around and saw all the old artifacts, gold statues, and a glowing metal lantern atop a stone pedestal.
I'll get a lot out of you, you crazy bitch.
"Why haven't you released the string yet?"
Sha Lin's eyes widened in shock as Seris was no longer on her seat.
"Huh? Where did you go?" he spoke to himself as his eyes darted across the dark dungeon.
"You have an appetite for coming out on top." Seris' voice sounded behind him.
"I like that… It gives you… a killing drive." She caressed his neck with her cold fingers.
Sha Lin started to sweat profusely, and his eyelids started to twitch violently.
"Now, I recommend you use that appetite in your quest to kill my enemies." Seris mumbled and walked back to her seat.
Sha Lin gulped and sped off out the door.
A few moments later, the dark cloaked figure walked inside.
"I see you convinced him." He murmured as he walked down the stone steps.
"He has a weak mind driven only by material desires." Seris responded, "The easiest to mold to your will."
The dark figure chuckled, then saw that the pedestal that held the metal lantern was empty.
"Lady Seri-"
"I know." Seris spoke, "I know."
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A slithering figure walked amongst some villagers as they congregated by the market.
It was a wyrm.
A dreadful snake.
Despised, scorned, and shunned by all but the lowliest of creatures.
It was angrily avoiding the disdainful looks of the humans around it, until it was blocked by a mother and child.
"Begone!" the fiend snarled and pushed the mother aside, "I have a mission to complete…" he continued and turned down and alleyway.
Zhin, Moji, and Sarah were walking down the road attending the market.
"I hope we can find something for the journey ahead." Sarah sighed as she felt the cool air hit her face, "Now that we have a new member aboard, we may have to buy some more!"
Zhin saw Moji struggle to pass through the crowds.
"Let me aid you." He said and picked her up.
"Oh!" Moji gasped as she was raised.
Nearby, the mother from before came out of the alley and walked among the people.
"Where are they?" the woman gruffly spoke as she made serpentine moves through the crowds.
The three paladins continued until the crowds started to whittle down to the point where it was only a handful of people on the roads.
"Why are we over here?" Moji asked Sarah as she balanced on Zhin's shoulders.
"I always believed that the freshest food is found where there are little people." Sarah responded as she avoided a man, "Your little mom-and-pop shops are where I stop." She smiled and started to make her way to a building of particular interest.
A bakery.
"I'll see if they have any bread here." Sarah informed as she sniffed the air, "Do you all want to come in?"
"I do!" Moji raised her paw and jumped from Zhin's back, "Oh I want some tarts! Do you think they have pumpkin ones?" she asked Sarah.
"I'm sure they do." Sarah smiled and turned to Zhin, "Zhin, will you join us?"
"No." Zhin responded, "I'll be on the lookout just in case Lian and Lex catch up to us. Where did we leave them again?" he cleaned his right ear.
"The pond at the park." Sarah sighed, "Oh well, we'll be out in a minute!"
"Aww! Zhin, join us!" Moji pouted.
"It's best to stay out here, Moji." Zhin nodded and the two entered the building, "I wonder how long it will take them." He thought to himself, then saw a woman walk into what appeared to be a saloon.
"Odd place for a woman to be." He chuckled and shook his head.
The man's focus turned to the bakery, then to his task at hand of waiting for Lian and Lex.
"I don't even understand how she could like him." Zhin laughed, "Oh well, a wise man once said that love is blind, on both ends." He smirked and then looked around again.
One of the women from the saloon had exited and was crossing the street to his side.
A very beautiful woman.
A…. hostess of the saloon.
Zhin looked at this woman and saw that she was very shifty but ignored it because of her looks. He started to fix his composure when he knew she was coming straight at him.
"Hello." The woman said as she came near the man.
"I see you're alone out here…" she winked.
"I am a bit busy, but yes, I am alone." Zhin cleared his throat.
"You look like a strong man. A warrior perhaps." The woman ran her hand across his chest, "Yesssss, you look like you need a rest."
"Unfortunately I have duty to fulfill." Zhin shook his head, "I would love to spend some time with you but-"
The woman sighed and fixed her black corset, greatly emphasizing her two chest pieces.
"My my… I understand. You can't have fun because you're busy. I've heard it before…" she sighed and started to walk away.
Zhin gulped as he saw her hinderparts, then looked back at the bakery.
"Well, I am a bit thirsty." He coughed again, "My tongue's a bit dry."
The woman smirked.
"Then why don't you join me for a drink?"
Zhin looked back at the bakery one last time and followed the woman into the saloon.
"What will you…" he opened the doors but stopped when he saw every person inside was knocked unconscious.
"What the-" he turned to the woman.
The woman's skin and frame was expanding rapidly, become coarser and redder with each moment.
"What is going on here!?" Zhin gasped as the form of the woman quickly vanished and became one of a wyrm.
"What the hell!?"
The wyrm turned with his beady yellow eyes and snarled.
"You fool!" he roared and struck the man with a draconic punch, instantly knocking him out of the fight.
Zhin groaned in pain and slid down the wooden wall, having cracked it on impact.
"Now… I go for your friendsssss… Serissss will be most pleased." The wyrm chuckled as he grabbed a nearby set of nails and then used his club like tail to nail Zhin to the wall.
"Hahahahahahaa…." He stepped back and looked at the hostess he had previously copied, "I don't need you anymore, worm." He stepped on her neck and snapped it.
"I, Drogoz, will strike them with their own kind as my stand FAFNIR'S SHIFT allows me to."
The wyrm's form started to shift from serpent to human.
A particular human.
A man with green robes and long black hair.
Zhin.
Drogoz chuckled and glared at Zhin, "I will be back with your friends, then I will burn your bones and give the ashes to Seris!" he snarled and stepped out.
"Zhin!" a rough voice sounded from the streets.
It was Lex.
"Drinking so early?" he chuckled as he walked towards the wyrm in disguise.
"I couldn't help myself… Silly me…" Drogoz chuckled uneasily.
How fortuitous, another comes straight into my clutches.
"Want to drink?" he asked.
Lex shook his head.
"How many times do I have to tell you I don't drink." He sighed.
Drogoz snarled.
"Perhaps you want to hear the music inside?" he continued.
"Are you alright, Zhin?" Lex asked.
Drogoz gulped as the enforcer's stern eyes peered into his soul.
He looked around and saw that there were still people here.
These pesky humans will cause a scare if I strike this fool down here. He thought to himself.
"I am well. Just a bit too much to drink."
Lex groaned.
"I think I forgot my wallet in there." Drogoz said as he started to lumber towards the saloon, then stumbled on the steps.
"Look at yourself." Lex grunted as he helped the wyrm up, "Come, I'll help you retrieve it."
Drogoz smirked as he charged some draconic power into his fist.
"Attention!" Lex announced, but then went silent when he saw the scene.
"What is the mea- AUGH!" he was clobbered across the face by a now revealed Drogoz, who once again grabbed nails from the counter.
"Another one Bites the Dust." Drogoz cackled as he nailed Lex to the floor, "This is too easy. I'll be drowning in gold before I know it." He rubbed his hands together and stuck out his serpentine tongue.
The wyrm then transformed his body into that of Lex, then made his way outside.
"Time to hunt…" he cackled and walked down the road.
"Where could the sister be?" he asked himself as he looked around, "Seris will be most pleased if I give her that woman's charred bones to her." He muttered.
The people around looked at him with respect.
"Pathetic humans." Drogoz snarled, "Only caring for their kind… how narcissistic." He shook his head and started to walk towards the busy market.
That was, until a hand grabbed him from behind.
"Where do you think you're going?" a voice asked as the wyrm was turned around.
Lian.
"Lex, are you done from going to the restroom?" the princess asked him, "If you are, hurry up, I really want to go back to the inn."
Drogoz sighed in relief when he realized his cover had not been blown.
"Yes, but where is the sister?" he asked.
"The… sister?" Lian looked at him in confusion.
"I mean, Sarah!" Drogoz shook his head, "Apologies, all these people are distracting my mind."
"Well then, we should get away from here." Lian smirked and grabbed Drogoz by the hand, "Come, I have prepared our inn!"
Drogoz growled as he was being dragged by an powerful force.
"What is thi-" he stopped to see Power Khan's arm envelop Lian's, "That must be her stand!" he called out.
"Huh?" Lian looked back, "Did you say something?"
Drogoz shook his head.
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"Where is Zhin?" Moji asked as she stepped out of the bakery.
"Hmmm… that's a good question." Sarah pondered and looked at the empty space in front of them, "Do you think Lian and Lex arrived? Maybe they took him to the inn." She shrugged her shoulders and pulled out a bread from a bag, "Mmm…. Smells good."
"No." Moji shook her head, "But smell…" she said and started to sniff the air, "I can smell Zhin." She said and started to sniff the ground.
"Leipori senses must be powerful for that." Sarah said as she walked behind Moji.
"He was around here… but then another scent." Moji said, "It's going…" she pointed to the saloon, "There!"
"Figures." Sarah sighed as she walked towards the saloon, "Probably drinking. That is his favorite thing." She pushed away the wooden doors.
"OH NO!"
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Drogoz murmured uneasily as Lian fidgeted with the keys while trying to open the door to her room.
He made sure too look around to see if there were witnesses, but there was a group of men and some waitresses going about the hall they were on.
"Damn it!" Lian groaned, "Ah ha!" she exclaimed when the key went in, "Finally!" she stepped inside.
Drogoz followed behind and closed the door behind him.
"Finally…" he cackled when he noticed the solitude between them, then started to charge his draconic power.
"Lex… I want you to see something."
Drogoz turned to see Lian with a towel covering her chest, for she was disrobed from the top.
"Uh…" he muttered awkwardly.
"Don't be disturbed, for you behold a princess." Lian said as she turned her back to him, "I wanted you to see something in the little time we have alone. I never showed this to anyone outside the royal house."
Drogoz looked at her back.
White, pristine, clear and clean.
But on it was a blemish.
A blemish shaped like a galaxy with a clear area in the center located on her right shoulder.
"My nursemaid told me it is a birthmark." Lian mumbled, "But none of my parents had it." She rubbed her hand over it.
"You see, Lex… There is another secret I want to tell you after this… I am not of royal seed." She said lowly.
"My parents are not King and Queen Aico." She walked to the bathroom.
"This wench does not shut her mouth." Drogoz snarled, "I should just end her now." He glared at the bathroom door and looked at his empowered fist.
He then walked to said door and opened it.
"AHHHHH!" Lian shrieked, causing the wyrm to recoil.
"Lex! Have some decency!" she came out with a towel covering her whole body, "I never imagined you doing this! Especially to a princess! Especially after I told you some deep secrets!" she yelled at his face.
"How dare you try and defile a princess!?"
"Shut up you monkey!" Drogoz snapped and raised his fist.
Power Khan came out and punched the wyrm in self-defense.
Outside in the halls, Lex, Zhin, Moji, and Sarah ran down.
"Quick, we have to warn her!" Sarah spoke as they started to reach the door to their inn, "The stand user may already be with her!"
"Lian!" Zhin called out.
"WAHHHH!" Drogoz shot out of the wall and struck Lex, causing both of them to hit the wall behind them.
"How dare you raise your hand at me, you fool!" Lian walked out with the towel still on her, "To think I was starting to like you!" she pointed at him.
Him.
But which him?
Lian gasped as two Lexes stood up.
"What?!" Zhin stepped back when he saw the sight.
"That must be the stand user!" Moji pointed at one of the Lexes, but then moved it to the other, then the other.
"One of those!" she said.
"Perhaps the Pyre will reveal this." Sarah said and gazed into the two Lexs' souls.
"What?! They're the same!" she stood aghast.
"What is going on here!?" Lex looked at Drogoz, "What is the meaning of this! You are the stand user!"
"No you are!" Drogoz responded, "Stop this at once, impostor!"
"Silence!" Lian spoke, "I will settle this!" she pointed at both of them, "The real Lex would not lie to me. Lex, what is the shape of the birthmark I showed you?"
"The what?" the two Lexs spoke.
"One of you must be lying…" Lian snarled, "any help?" she looked at her allies.
"Why aren't you wearing clothes?" Zhin asked, only to get smacked on the back of the head by Sarah.
"Lian, I must assure you I am Lex." Lex said, "This man is the impostor."
"The stand user is lying to you, Lian." Drogoz responded, "I am the real Lex, please believe me."
Lian sighed and shifted her tiara side to side.
But she had no tiara on, leaving her motionless for a few seconds.
"What a pain." She shook her head.
"I can't even tell them apart by their souls… Perhaps scent?" Sarah asked Moji.
"Alright!" Moji saluted and walked up to the two Lexs, then started to smell them.
"It's the same…." She sighed and stepped away.
"This stand must be so good at mimicking people." Zhin murmured, "Not only copy appearance, but scent and even soul- Wait." He raised his hand.
"Not now, Zhin, I have a better idea." Lian murmured lowly, then opened her towel.
"AHH!" Lex covered his eyes faster than human comprehension.
"STOP THAT!" Drogoz did the same.
"Lian!" Sarah yelled and covered Moji's eyes.
"I thought that would work…" Lian quickly covered herself.
"Can I look? OOF!" Zhin was elbowed in the ribs, "But regardless…. I know a way to do this!" he interrupted Lian, "Seeing you have…. Well… embarrassed yourself." He smirked.
"Get on with it!" Lian snarled.
"Alright alright…" Zhin chuckled, "From what I've heard Sarah say, a stand is a manifestation of the user's fighting spirit… or something like that." He murmured.
"What does this have to do with anything?" Lex asked.
"Everyone has a different fighting spirit. All of us. Some are brash, some are timid." Zhin looked at Lian and Moji respectively, "So… a stand must be unique to anyone, even a stand user who can construct himself as others! Lex! Show me your stand, The Law!" he pointed a the two Lexs.
"Alright." Lex said and took out The Law.
Drogoz stammered.
"Hmmmm." The Paladins looked at him.
"Give me a moment." Drogoz responded, "Hrrr…. You may have found me, but you will all still burn!" he roared and shifted back to his wyrm form.
"RAHHHHH!" he breathed in and started to form fire in his mouth, "R- HNGH!" a tight fist clenched his throat.
Power Khan was strangling the serpent.
"See you later, alligator." Zhin chuckled as they all took out their stands.
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"Amazing mount!" a blonde woman from the north exclaimed as she saw a trophy mount carried by Zhin.
On it was a wyrm's head.
"We captured this creature down south." Lian chuckled as she saw the hunting accessories at the woman's market booth.
"We'll sell it to you for 10,000 coin."
The woman looked at it, moving her braid back and forth as she did.
"I've definitely hunted bigger." She said and pointed to her own mounts behind her, "But I suppose it is fair for a dragon slayer."
"Great." Zhin chuckled.
"How did you kill it, if I may ask?" the woman said as she set the trophy to the side and pulled out some coins.
"I thought dragon hide was impenetrable."
"Wrong place at the wrong time." Sarah responded, "He also didn't make a stand." She joked.
Her allies laughed.
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