Chapter 10
The Kind Lady and Reunion
Beta: Old man of the mountain/Darklord331
Naruto had awakened by a bonfire, he didn't know how he got there but he knew that he was there. Sitting there, he saw the woman from before and that there was another one of those puss man he saw before. However, he seemed to be conversing with the woman and he, Naruto wasn't sure if he was seeing this right, was in tears.
"My lady it is wonderous that you were cured of your ailment to the Cursed Flame."
"Thank you Eingyi, however I owe it to this man. He saved me from the flame and separated me from the Flame Spider."
"Indeed, it concerns me that you brought him this way. How do we know he won't put the Fair Lady in danger?"
"Simple; he saved me when he could have just killed me."
Naruto up slowly and groaned,
"Man that sucks."
The woman turned and rushed to his side,
"Savior your awake!"
Naruto looked at her and his eyes averted which confused her.
"What is wrong? Does my appearance displease you?"
"No, but it wouldn't hurt for you to have some clothes."
The woman looked down and took in her appearance before smiling,
"Do you desire me? If you wish I shall lay with you if that is your desire."
Naruto's blush intensifies,
"No that is not the case!"
Naruto summons some armor and clothes on hand and lays them out in front of her.
"Just choose something to cover yourself, it is hard to talk to you otherwise." Naruto looked away and the woman had a smile on her face before finding one of the red robes and putting it on.
Dressed now in the red robe Naruto turned to face her and she had a big smile on her face.
"I thank you my savior."
"Naruto, just call me Naruto I haven't been one for formalities."
"I understand thank you Lord Naruto you have saved me from my eternal torment. I feel now I can defend my baby sister better in this state."
Naruto frowned,
"Is she suffering like you were?"
She sighed and turned her head to the back of the room. Naruto narrowed his eyes and his eyes widened as he saw another woman spider hybrid.
But this one looked more frail, her body withered, her legs unresponsive, and her body seemingly glued to the spot they were in. She had her eyes closed and her hands in a prayer.
"My god what's happened to her?"
"That is the price for her good deed." She stood up and walked over to the man with the egg sacks on his back. "As you can see the Blight Puss that has afflicted this area has turned some of the pyromancers into these sorry creatures. My sister not wanting to see them in pain removed the poison in their bodies and took it upon herself.
"Wait really? She can do that?"
She nodded her head,
"Unlike the rest of my sisters, the Fair Lady as they call her, is a soft heart and cares for the people in need. She also has fire that is more about healing and recovery rather than burning down everything around her. It is one of the reasons when we lost our mother to the Chaos Flame that we fled."
"Chaos Flame, someone I think mentioned that a dark flame formed in the capital with the Witch of Izalieth but I didn't know what it was called."
She nodded her head, Quelaag answered definitively,
"Yes, our mother, the Witch, created what is now the Chaos Flame. It is a flame that fits its namesake. Nothing but madness and insanity, it is a flame that lashes out and rules over anyone that is near it. My sister and I noticed this and many fled the capital when the flame started to expand. However, two of my sisters remained behind with mother to try and control the output of the flame and our mother tried to condense it to allow everyone to escape. Sadly, that is not the case as some of us were still touched by the flames due to our pyromancy. In time, my body had fused with the Flame Spider you saw and my sister did too. One of my sisters seemingly managed to remain untouched by the flames but she has been missing for ages. I haven't been able to find her since I turned into that thing." She frowned, "I was aware of my actions you know?"
"Then why did you attack?"
"To protect her." She walked a little closer to her frail sister and reached out to touch her but pulled back. "If something were to happen to me then no one could protect her. Not anyone here, even though they all are strong pyromancers none of them could fight off someone that was able to best me. I did everything I could to try and kill you because of how annoying it was, but in time I realized it was all for naught." Then she smiled, "But then you did something so miraculous and saved me from the flames that were controlling my body and keeping me tethered to that spider. Thanks to you, I'm now free of its influence and can start protecting my sister more effectively." Forming a large ball of fire in her hand she smiled, "With this form, I'm back to my full strength and can handle anyone that dares to come for her." But she frowned, "However that would mean I would have to remain her longer and watch my sister slowly wither away."
Naruto frowned and after steadying himself he walked over to her but saw the man with the balls on his back grab his ankle.
"Please, please don't harm mistress. She is a kind soul, a loving soul. Please, don't dare harm her."
Naruto looked at the man and frowned before leaning down slowly and touching the man's head.
"Rest assured, I have no intentions of harming your mistress. I just want to get a better look at her if you don't mind."
The man withered on the ground and cried,
"Please, don't harm her."
Naruto smiled before Quelaag interrupted,
"His name is Eingyi, he was a master pyromancer back in the Great Swamp. However he was banished from his land due to creating a poison flame that was considered heretical."
"Is it?"
She sighed,
"I don't know anymore." Looking at her sister she bit her lip, "Who is to say what is anymore; after what happened to our mother and how everyone was so bent out of shape to preserve this age, I wonder if this is divine punishment from those that rule over us. While Gwyn and the others claim to be gods, I just don't know anymore. It feels like the world is angry that we went this far to preserve out dynasties and didn't accept that Nature eventually has to move with the times." She looked down and cried, "If this is the cost to keep our age going, then I would have rather been in the Dark at least there I would still have my family."
Naruto frowned and touched her shoulder before walking slowly to the younger sister and looking her over.
'This stuff is all over her.'
"It is, from what I can guess it was like she sucked it into body too many times or too often that her body didn't have time to burn away the Blight. Meaning that she got this way because she just couldn't say no, there is no telling if she would have been able to do this more if it wasn't so often. But at the same time it is not clear if she could have stopped the plague from spreading."
'Yeah but looking at her I can tell she is attached to the body similar to Quelaag meaning if we somehow manage to severe her ties to the body we could in theory get the poison out of the body and leave it in the spider's half.'
"Naruto I beg you please think this through we have no idea what could happen if you try this. I mean think about it; you got lucky with Quelaag when removing the flame from her body and expelling it outward. At the same time, we are talking about someone that not only has this flame but some kind of virus that spreads the body rapidly. Without Kurama and myself there is no chance this would work and even with us I don't think it will work. You could be taking a big risk for nothing."
Naruto frowned at the thought; could he pull this off? They were right, since using Senjutsu he was able to remove this Chaos Flame from the body and expel it outward but the pain and suffering he went through was so gruesome and over the top that he wasn't sure he could survive too many close attempts, especially back to back.
'I know that there is a big risk here.' He smiled, 'But I can't ignore this woman.'
"Why? Why would you risk so much more with her than anyone else."
"Heroes complex. I swear kit you got a death wish."
'Maybe it is. But at the same time, I won't know something is impossible unless I try. Besides I have a powerful fox and Goddess on my side.'
"Kit if we are doing this then we need a strategy because this is going to be harder than the other one."
"You both can't be serious? I mean I feel bad for the child too but this would put us all in danger and unlike others Naruto is still alive meaning that we have no idea if he will survive this process or even return as an Undead."
"Gwynevere when you been with this idiot as long as I have, you'll realize that he is part plan and part luck. Whether someone likes it or not, he is going to help them if he can and if not then he is going to do right by them."
Naruto sighed and walked up to the girl and smiled at her.
"You were so brave, you did so well surviving at this time. But rest assured you are loved, your sister continues to watch over you even to this moment."
Naruto reaches out and gently touches the girls stomach, feeling her stiffen a bit. She then reaches down and touches his hand.
"Rest easy now."
Naruto closed his eyes and started up his Senjutsu.
Kurama got ready for the flames and Gwynevere while against the idea got ready as well. While she might not have her powers she did before, she was still a goddess and she at least had some ways of fixing the issue with her own powers if necessary.
Naruto grunted, he could feel the flame coursing through his body and his body was shaking rapidly.
Quelaag saw him shivering and his body shaking badly. She held her hand in prayer and looked on intensively.
Naruto could feel it; the rush of the flames just entering his body and this one seemed even more intense than before. But he was ready for it this time and quickly suppressed it deeper inside of him with Kurama and Gwynevere.
While this is going on Naruto could feel the Blight puss starting to enter his body and he started to cough and his choke on the feeling of the sickness.
'This is bad, this is worse than I could think of but I have to keep trying.' Naruto pushed more of his energy into the girl and soon, he felt all the poison leaving her body. Slowly but surely it was creeping into his own and more coughing was heard.
Quelaag had gripped her hands tightly to the point that she was digging her fingers into her hand but heard footsteps behind her. Turning around she narrowed her eyes before pulling out her sword.
But she was shocked at the robe wearing woman standing there, she had a shocked look on her face seeing her and both of them just stared.
"Quelaag, your, your alright?"
"Yes," She smiled and rushed to her sister and hugged her. "It is good to see you Quelana."
A scream ripped the two apart and both turned.
They saw their sister whose entire upper body was on display gripping her hands on her head and screaming bloody murder.
Quelana seeing this rushed at the boy that was touching her sister but when she tried to touch him Quelaag slashed her sword down between them.
"What are you doing! Move!"
"I won't."
"He is hurting her!"
"He is saving her, he is trying to do the same thing he did for me for her. Please have faith sister!"
"I won't, not when she is like this already!" Quelana rushed once more but Quelaag slashed her sword in front of her.
"You won't be allowed near him. I'm sorry sister but I have faith this man can save our sister from her suffering. He is doing everything he can for her and us. Please, be patient and wait and see if he can do it."
Quelana growled, but then she gasped.
Quelaag looked behind her and she dropped her sword in shock while the man just screamed.
Their sister, the kind and frail sister they knew, her body fell off the spider's body and not onto the floor. Her lower body showed legs that were incredibly frail, unable to to move on their own and both sisters rushed to her side.
They picked her up and quickly dragged her away from the spider's body and over to the bonfire but when they turned back they saw the boy standing there and he is coughing and convulsing before falling to the ground. He huffed and coughed rapidly causing Quelaag to rush to his side.
"No, no don't you dare die. You saved us so you don't get to die without me being by your side."
She tried to think of something, anything but all she could do was hold his hand tightly. But then she saw his metal hand go up and aimed at the ceiling and without warning a ball of fire shot out.
It hit the ceiling and she saw that the attack had scattered across the ceiling but the flame itself remnant of their mother's Cursed Flame. It started to disperse along with a green energy that seemed to come from the body.
Looking down she heard his shallow breathing and quickly reached for his estu's flasks and started pouring it down his throat.
"Come on, come on you got to be all right."
She kept pouring more and more down his throat until the amount ran out.
Quelana seeing her sister in such a desperation walked over to her and check on the body.
She could see the cracks forming on his skin and his body convulsing.
"This is bad the Blight Puss is spreading through his body, something is suppressing it but it is not unable to stop the spreading completely."
"Damn it there has to be something we can do!"
"S-S-Sisters."
Both turned their heads and saw that their youngest sister was looking at them. Her eyes were opened but they could see she was not seeing them clearly due to how foggy they were.
"Please, bring me to him, I can help." Her voice was hoarse and she coarse but the sister could hear her plain as day.
"No, you have been through enough, please don't make us watch this again."
"I-I-I can stop it from spreading. I found a way but I took too much. Please let me help him."
Quelaag looked conflicted; she wanted to help him but at the same time she didn't want to risk it. But if her sister was saying there was a way she had to take it. She couldn't lose more people that are trying to help her, she just couldn't.
Walking over she quickly picker her sister over her shoulder and carried her slowly over to him and laid her next to him. There the sister touched his chest and she smiled,
"My savior, thank you for what you have done. Please allow me to show you my gratitude."
Her hoarse voice soon started mumbling something and this led to her hands glowing white. Her flames started covering his body and in time the flames just rushed over and soon extinguished.
Quelaag looked at him and saw no signs of the poison in his body but she could tell he was breathing shallowly. So, thanking her sister she and her other sister, Quelana carried them back over to the bond fire and let them rest there.
Inside of Naruto's mind scape he had seen the healing done to his body and sighed. He was glad that she had an answer to this as he wasn't sure that he did. More so, he wasn't 100% sure that he knew how to stop the plague from spreading through his body. Normally he would have had Kurama try his hand at it but he didn't have his powers anymore, in fact he barely had enough power to keep his normal form and to communicate so it wasn't like he could flush it out of his system anymore.
As for Gwynevere she was trying, honestly trying, to find a way to purge it from his bloodstream but it was spreading at an alarming rate she couldn't fix. When the flames washed over it and destroyed the cells, she was glad and saddened. She had tried so hard but still failed and almost lost another person.
'If only I was stronger.' She gripped her fists in anguish and just settled back into her forest with Naruto sitting next to her.
"Well you were right." Naruto looked at her, "That plan failed epically."
"It did." She looked at him, "If it wasn't for that healing process she dead you would surely have turned into one of those infected people."
Naruto sighed,
"Yeah but in the end, we did manage to cure her and save her life along with uniting their family. While it is a job well done, I don't think I'll be making that stupid mistake again."
"You shouldn't," She stood up and slapped him. "Do you not realize that you put all of us in danger? Your actions while noble reflect on us as well. We have gotten this far but since the Gaping Dragon and the Witch you have failed to see the danger you are putting us in with your reckless actions and challenges. We need to be more cautious going forward as the challenges only increase from here on."
Naruto sighed and nodded his head,
"Your right."
"Also I highly advise against doing that Senjutsu again."
"Huh? But-"
"NO!" she glared. "Not only do we not know the full scope of the power now that you are using mana instead of chakra but we don't know if this is having long lasting effects to your health. As of this moment you are forbidden from using it. Is that understood?"
Naruto stared at the woman. He wanted to yell back at her, but he noticed the subtle shaking she was demonstrating.
Walking up to her he hugged her,
"I understand."
The woman hugged him back and the two enjoyed the embrace. But after separating Naruto returned to his consciousness while leaving the goddess to reflect on their talk and why she was so passionate with him and her heart seemed to flutter the more she thought about it. Kurama made a joke and she sent a bolt of lighting at him making him shut up quickly.
Back in the real world, Naruto's eyes opened and he saw the three sisters sitting together.
The youngest now sitting in the lap of Quelaag and Quelana sitting there rubbing her sister's legs trying to do something to do them. He wasn't sure but he knew it was something to help her.
Sitting up he saw the sisters look at him.
Quelaag smiled,
"I'm glad you are awake Lord Naruto."
"No lord please, and thanks for watching over me while I was recovering."
She shook her head,
"After what you did? We owe you a great debt of gratitude."
Naruto smiled and looked at the youngest,
"How is she?"
The two looked at her and smiled,
"She is mostly sleeping but we have managed to heal her eyes and part of her body but her legs seem to be taking the most time to recover. If we only had some way of healing her faster."
Quelana shook her head at Quelaag,
"That would require Humanity and I don't have any on me and neither do you."
Naruto raised an eyebrow,
'Humanity isn't it that black stuff we have found all over the place?'
"Yes; Humanity mostly is meant to boost your abilities while also helping to manage your ability to find things and even regain your mortal form. But considering you really aren't using the amount that we have I say that giving them to the girl wouldn't be a bad thing. Plus it isn't like we aren't going to find more over our journey so a few here and there is not a bad thing."
"Um, ladies?"
Both women turned to him.
"If you would like I have a bit of Humanity on me so if your sister wants she can have them if this helps with her recovery."
The girls looked in shock and Quelaag smiled with tears in her eyes,
"Yes, yes please she only needs a little bit, three or four at the most." Naruto nodded and summoned the Humanity to his hands, thanks to Gwynevere guidance, and handed them over to the sisters. They quickly put them near the youngest and they absorbed into her body in which she stated to glow slightly before she started to move.
Looking up she stared at her older sister,
"Quelaag, is that you?" She touched her face, "I can really see you."
The witch cried and hugged her sister and Quelana joined in with both of them crying over the suffering of their youngest sibling.
Naruto smiled at the scene while his heart ached as this is something he always wondered about. If his parents had survived would he have more siblings to play with? Would he have tender moments with them as well?
Shaking his head he stood up to his feet,
"Well, I'm happy for all three of you. But I must be off I got to ring the second bell as soon as possible."
The sisters looked at him and frowned,
"Are you on the path of the Tarnished to follow in the path of Gwyn?"
Naruto frowned at the way Quelana made it sound.
"I guess, you could say that but I'm more just trying to find out how I can help this land and solve the issue more than anything. If I'm being honest I was thrown into this mess without a second thought."
Naruto explained to them briefly how he arrived and the sisters were shocked to hear of a place with no undead curse and people were just living their lives normally. But they did notice a slight tension in his tone so they decided something happened that forced him to leave. But they would let it rest, for now.
Naruto the youngest stood up on wobbly legs and smiled,
"Lord Naruto," Her voice still hoarse but slowly recovering, "After everything you have done for us. I feel the least we can do is accompany you on this journey."
Naruto waved his hand,
"Oh no, I'm not going to drag you women into my mess. By the sounds of it, this journey will be long and hard, no joke, and I don't want you getting hurt because of me."
The women frowned but the youngest returned with a smile.
"I don't think you understand we are going with you. Staying in Blight Towns runs the risk we might be exposed to the virus again and while I'm happy I could help some, I don't want to get infected again with maybe no chance of being saved."
Turning to her dear friend who was crawling on the ground she smiled,
"Besides, he told me to go on, leave this place and not to look back. He wanted me to finally be free and I want to take him on this suggestion."
Quelaag smiled and stood to her feet standing next to her younger sister,
"I agree with her. We have been stuck in this place for quite some time and with our mother and home gone we have nowhere to go. I think it be best to follow you as it seems you have a destination in mind. Plus," She blushed lightly, "I still owe you for saving my life and my sister and I must repay this debt by any means."
Naruto sweated at this comment.
Gwenevere tightened her fists and lighting started to crackle around her.
Kurama was sweating as well, more in fear of the goddess and seeing the raw power coming off of her. While she said she lost some of her strength years ago, she was definitely showcasing she was far from frail.
He was terrified what that meant if she ever got her full strength back.
Quelana sighed,
"I guess it be nice to travel again, more with my sisters." She smiled, "Plus, I guess it wouldn't hurt to help you see this journey through to the end."
Naruto looked at them and while two were shining brilliantly the other was having more of a neutral expression on her face.
Seeing this he saw there was no way out and sighed,
"Alright fine."
The girls laughed at him just giving up.
"But we make sure we practice safety and train before certain encounters as I won't be risking anyone's life recklessly."
The girls nodded their head and soon after saying goodbye to the people there, they left the chamber for the last time.
Naruto walked all the way back to the bell and quickly pulled the switch to ring it. The girls heard the bell ringing wildly and Naruto smiled at this.
"Alright now it is done."
Naruto looked at the girls,
"So where to next?"
The girls looked with Quelana sighing,
"From what I heard from some of the undead that tried, apparently it is supposed to open Sens Fortress outside the temple, so we should head that way."
Naruto nodded and began his trek back to Fire Link Shrine with the sisters in tow.
Upon arriving at the shrine Naruto noticed that the swamp pyromancer sitting there with a look on his face of shock.
He rushed up to him and then to the women, before bowing.
"Greetings and salutations my ladies it is an honor to meet daughters of the fabled Witch of Izalieth."
Naruto looked and saw the woman smiling at him.
"It is nice to mee you as well, what is your name?" Quelaag twirled her hair a bit while Quelana just sighed.
"Laurentius of the great swamp, I have come to these lands after becoming undead to hone my craft and learn the ways of fire. If you three would part some of your wisdom and knowledge I would very much appreciate it."
Naruto saw them contemplating with the youngest nodding her head and slowly and steadily instructing him in using his flame and being more flexible and creative with it. Even teaching him one of their sacred arts, Giant Chaos Fireball. Naruto saw the concept was the same as the fireball and Fire orb but this attack in particular was powerful that it created a patch of lava as an after effect meaning that if the attack hits then so doe this lava.
They spent an hour working on this spell and Naruto and the group soon parted ways with the man of the swamp. Stating he would remain in Fire link and eagerly await anymore of the great spells he can learn down the line.
The sisters mention that it wasn't uncommon for the people of the swamp to revere them and see them as the highest order, especially true when they can control fire better than most.
Naruto learned that with more practice with his fire magic, he can learn to even enhance his flame through their guidance and reach a higher level of flame than ever.
Naruto knew that it required more practice so he would keep at it and maybe start using it more in combat against enemies that didn't have fire on them or use it themselves.
Naruto walked his way to Andre, while on the way Quelaag and Quelana both demonstrated their mastery of pyromancy by literally incinerating all that dared to get in their way and even demonstrating their control over flames in doing it with the least amount of mana.
Arriving at Andre he got his equipment repaired and even learned that if he ever finds one of those stones he did before, he would make him even better equipment and even enhance his weapons more down the line.
Naruto thanked him and soon they were on their way to the opened gate. But seeing the fortress and still feeling the effects from earlier he turned,
"Do you girls mind if we settle by the bond fire for a bit? I think I need a little more rest before we tackle this."
The girls looked at one another and nodded retreating but Naruto noticed two things; one the man that looked like a rotund knight was gone and seemed to have disappeared as soon as the gate was opened.
Two, he had noticed that the wizard from before, whose name escapes him, was approaching him from across the way.
"Naruto! I'm glad I caught up to you!"
"Um, okay what can I do for you?"
"Listen I was talking to the guy at the shrine and mentioned a man that looks like Logan! Apparently he went into Sen's fortress but he hasn't come out or been since he did!"
"Wait how did he get into the fortress without ringing the bells though? I thought that was the whole point of the path of the Pilgrim?"
"It is but Logan has always been a genius so maybe he tagged along with someone who was getting through the fortress or he could have just as easily found a way around this. I'm not sure but I think that my master, he must be inside of the fortress if not then he must have made it to the capital. Please, if you see him, please send him to Fire Link so I may speak to him again."
Naruto nodded his head and soon the wizard took off with the girls look at him.
"Not sure why but he really wants me to find this guy Big Hat Logan as he is called but other than that, nothing else. He said he could teach me sorceries but sadly I don't have a skill for them yet."
"Ah, I see." Quelana frowned, "I recall seeing a man traveling with a group to the fortress after walking through the swamp a while back but surprisingly, they were all very weak. I'm surprised they even made it passed Quelaag."
Quelaag, snorted,
"I didn't care at that point as after they rang the bell if they came near sister then I would have smashed them but luckily for them they didn't."
"Lucky for you or them?"
The two sisters started having a small shouting match at one another while they reach the bond fire and sat down while the youngest yawned from her exhausting ordeal. Quickly laid down with Naruto who was laying out on the floor. There he closed his eyes to get some rest while she rested on his chest snoring lightly and listening to his heartbeat.
The arguing sisters soon stopped and just laid down next to them with Quelana next to her baby sister and Quelaag next to Naruto with her hand on his ass.
Gwynevere growled at how flirty and forward she was being and was ready to smite her.
Kurama was just panicking as lighting was starting to fall everywhere in the mindscape, praying that this chick would stop pissing her off.
"You sent sister to the Ring City?"
"Yes just so she could keep those filthy Pygmy from making any sudden moves against me."
"Father isn't this all a little much? I mean brother already resents you for doing this, why are you trying to anger more people?"
"You wouldn't understand dear, it is all for the greater good. It is for the Age of Fire, my age, an age that is the greatest period of all time. We must ensure that it continues and thrives."
"At what cost though? Father rumors are spreading of the undead emerging from graves and battlefields to ravage the lands."
"Nothing but superstitious nonsense, people just creating rumors to suit their means and to try and undermine me. If that is the case, then I shall show them what happens when they speak ill of me!"
"Father-"
"Enough, I have a task for you as well my daughter."
"What task?"
"I want you to go and see Seath, there is something he wants to experiment and he states he needs your help."
"After he has captured my maidens and tortured them for his own experiments is that not enough?"
"Don't argue with me and do as your told! Go to Seath at the Observatory and do as you are required! He was instrumental in the war and he is an asset to the kingdom!"
"He is a monster who betrayed his own kind!"
"He is someone that understand the order of this world! Stop arguing and go!"
She appeared in the conservatory and soon she saw the white pale creature approaching her and she just screamed.
She is found in her bed with her father sitting next to her holding a child in his hand.
"This abomination must be dealt with."
"Wait father please don't-"
She was standing in the throne room and yelling,
"Why did you get rid of my daughter!"
"She is a threat and that is all there is needed to be known."
"I hate you!"
A stinging sensation hit her face,
"You will do well not to anger me further." Lighting gathered into his hand with fire swarming around him. "I don't take kindly to traitors and those that fail their duty just ask your dear husband."
Chapter End