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Chapter 3
A monstrous, bone-chilling roar tore through the tranquil fabric of the night. A visceral assault that sent shivers down the spine and clenched jaws in a vice-like grip. Its savage resonance echoed with a malevolence intended to shatter the very essence of hope and reduce the bravest souls to quivering remnants of terror.
Keyleth's heart thundered in her chest as she snapped to attention, her body springing to life with a jolt that threatened to snap her own bones. Wide-eyed and breathless, her senses spun in a disorienting frenzy. She scanned the surrounding darkness with a manic urgency that threatened to overwhelm her. Every nerve in her body screamed in primal response, a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins, urging her to fight or flee.
The chilling intensity of the moment threatened to choke her, the sheer weight of fear dragging her deeper into its suffocating grasp. Time seemed to stretch and contort, her mind grappling with a deluge of thoughts and scenarios, each more treacherous than the last. It was a relentless battle of wills, a harrowing dance with the unknown. As her gaze darted feverishly, her muscles tensed to the point of strain, the relentless intensity etched into her face. In that electrifying moment, the very fabric of her existence hung in the balance. It teetered on the precipice of despair and untamed determination.
"Looks like it knows we're here," Shirou said. His voice was barely audible over the thunderous sound that still echoed in the forest. "Keyleth, ever hear a roar like that?"
Keyleth shook her head in response to Shirou's question, her voice having abandoned her.
'How is Shirou fucking calm!?'
The ancient trees swayed in anticipation, seeming to bow to whatever malevolent force lurked nearby. As they stood in silence, the sound of its menacing growl filled the air, another warning from an enraged beast.
Shirou gritted his teeth, his body coiled with anticipation. The menacing presence lurking in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to pounce, left him tense. "It's watching us," he muttered under his breath, "looking for the weakest link." His jaw clenched as he readied himself for the battle that lay ahead.
Keyleth laughed, a shrill sound that froze in the air like a broken record. She didn't know why she laughed. Nothing about this felt funny. "S-sorry," she forced out through frozen lips, her voice quavering with fear as she stared into shadows, desperate to see the evil creature that watched them.
Shirou glanced at her incredulously, taking in the quivering of her legs, knees, and white knuckles.
"I didn't expect you to laugh at danger."
Keyleth blinked, and a real giggle erupted from her throat. Shirou wanted to distract her, Keyleth realized. He jested, yet stood ready, hands at his sides, awaiting the monster's approach.
'Shirou's amazing.'
A flicker caught Keyleth's peripheral vision, causing her head to snap to the side. Had it been a figment of her imagination? Or was the monster that close?
"Sh-Shirou..."
"I saw it. It's staying just outside the perimeter I set up. I wonder if it can sense the magic in the swords?"
Shirou squared his shoulders and stood tall, a wall of defiance between the flame and the beast. His presence was a challenge, an invitation for the creature to come closer and face him in battle. His shadow cast out long and far, threatening whatever lurked in its dark embrace.
"Keyleth, come over here." Shirou gestured towards his rear-left. "Remember what we discussed. When it comes, I'll get in close and keep its attention. You wait for an opening and try binding it like you did the troll. Simple and easy, right?"
"R-right, simple and easy," Keyleth said, moving into position. She almost hoped the monster would hasten its attack, as the anticipation only heightened the tension.
As if her thoughts served as a signal, Shirou swiftly turned his head as another monstrous roar reverberated and a shadow surged forward.
With swords around the camp, Shirou could visualize the creature before Keyleth. Yet even he was unprepared for the sight of it amidst the dancing firelight.
The creature charging at them was a hulking mass of muscle, bristling black fur, with pointed ears and red eyes that seemed to suck the light out of the air. Its massive limbs tipped with sharp blades made of bone, like knives they carving deep furloughs into the earth as it ran.
"Shirou! Wait —."
Ignoring Keyleth's shout of warning, Shirou sprinted forward and formed a long spear of sharpened steel in his grip. His weapon glinted in the light as he thrust it forward with incredible speed, heading towards the monstrous creature barreling down on him.
The beast whipped around at lightning speed. Its razor-sharp claws gouging deep into the stone, slicing through it like butter as it narrowly missed Shirou and darted right for Keyleth. Its crimson eyes burned with rage, focused solely on its target as it snarled and prepared to strike.
Keyleth didn't even have time to scream, let alone cast, as the monster appeared mid-pounce. Its maw gaped like a bear trap, filled with razor-sharp teeth, and more than capable of biting through her torso in a single chomp. Time slowed, dragging out so Keyleth could feel every terrifying moment, every regret, and failing. She wished she at least had time to close her eyes.
Boom! The air shook, and the beast howled in rage and pain. Shirou's spear pierced its side, sending it flying from Keyleth.
Shirou stood before her again.
"Bind it!"
Heart palpitating, breath all but lost, Keyleth jumped to follow Shirou's command.
Thrusting her staff around him, Keyleth wheezed her incantation out through chattering teeth.
The ground split apart with a deafening crash as enormous earthen roots exploded from the bedrock, spewing huge clods of soil and debris into the sky. The thick, twisting tentacles shot forth like lances, ensnaring the monster in a web of roots and thorns.
'Please work!'
Keyleth almost sank to her knees as, unlike the troll, the vines shredded themselves on the blades of bone that jutted from the monster's body. It shook itself free not a second after the vines tightened.
"Oh, that's not good," Keyleth said, her voice a bare whisper.
The beast disagreed, and in an action that shocked Shirou and Keyleth, it laughed.
The monster's appearance would haunt nightmares, but its voice — its voice brought to mind images of brutal battles and empty homes. Bleak and cruel without a hint of hope or humanity. At that moment, a realization struck Keyleth with hurricane-like force.
"Shirou, I-I think it's a demon!"
The demon let out another chuckle filled with gravel and grim amusement. Razor-sharp fangs parted, and a long black tongue sneaked out to lick its chops as drool fell, impacting the rock and causing it to sizzle.
"Elf!" the demon said. Its pronunciation was so distorted that Keyleth could almost mistake it for a different word. "Kill... will kill you and let you rot before eating my fill. So sweet. Sooo... tender."
Shirou's mind raced. He'd never faced a demonic beast. They watched as the spear fell from the demon, wound healing instantly.
Shirou's eyes widened, whites prominent. Such regeneration would have impressed even Apostles.
"Do you know its weaknesses?" Shirou asked. He watched the demon closely as it prepared to pounce.
"H-holy weapons and fire."
Shirou settled on a strategy as the demon howled and charged anew. This time Shirou stayed in front of Keyleth and called on his magic. Through the benefit of long practices, Shirou reinforced his body with magic in a fraction of a second, channeling mana into his flesh, bones, and muscles. It caused his body to burn as energy flooded through him, granting superhuman strength, speed, and toughness.
"Trace, on!"
A shield materialized on Shirou's arm, blocking the demon's charge in the nick of time. Heavy and shaped like a kite, it emitted a pale golden glow that illuminated the blood-red cross embossed within the shield's center.
The demon howled as its body collided with the blessed steel, but it didn't flinch back. It hissed, and quick as a snake, the demon's tail struck. It reminded Shirou of a scorpion as he dodged by the breadth of a hair.
"Keyleth! Flank it!"
He needn't have bothered; Keyleth had already found the opportunity he presented her.
"Firebolt."
A stream of red-hot fire launched from Keyleth's staff and smote the demon in the ribs with the smell of burnt fur and charred flesh.
With a pained cry, the demon flung itself again away from the source of the flames, hit the ground, and rolled, dousing the remaining embers in its fur. Keyleth's spell petered out, and she blinked hard, trying to clear the bright spot from her vision.
"Hit it again!" Shirou bellowed, letting the shield drop and forming a brilliant sword made of the purest silver. The Sword of St. Catherine, La Pucelle, had never tasted blood until its beloved wielder burned at the stake for her faith. Now, in Shirou's hand, the sword held sorrow and wrathful flame.
"Firebolt!" Keyleth said, and another stream of crimson fire smote the demon.
The creature let out a monstrous bellow of agony as it thrashed, desperate to escape its fiery prison. Its cries pierced the night air like writhing blades, each more tortured than the last.
As Keyleth bought Shirou time, he lifted La Pucelle and touched the flat side of the blade to his forehead, almost in a prayer-like gesture. The three bonfires leapt into the night sky, their flames twisting and pulsing as they grew higher and higher. The heat was unbearable, waves of scorching air searing everything in its path, and the smell of acrid smoke stung the air.
"O Lord, I entrust this body to you."
The inferno expanded at an alarming rate, swirling and roaring like a raging river. It moved past Shirou's feet, engulfing him in a fiery embrace until it coalesced around his sword. He held his breath against the intense heat, refusing to be overcome by the flames.
Keyleth flinched back in fear of being burned, her spell sputtering out; her focus lost.
The demon, feeling the might behind the magic swirling around Shirou, attempted to flee, its wrathful howls becoming terror filled wines.
Shirou refused to let it escape and leaped after it, fire trailing behind him, a molten stream burning air.
"Immolate and burn the wicked!"
The demon tried to dodge but Keyleth's spell had done its work. Charred muscles slow to respond. It never stood a chance. The sword burned through its muscle and bone, separating the head from the body in a gout of holy fire.
Shirou panted and as the demon's body slumped and its head rolled. La Pucelle faded in a glimmer of blue.
Keyleth fell, resting on her knees and breathing hard.
"That... Shirou how did...? I've never seen magic like that before." Keyleth said. Her eye wide, with shock and awe replacing terror.
With a wan, exhausted smile, Shirou shrugged and wiped a layer of sweat from his brow. "By using an excellent sword that once belonged to a wonderful person. That's all."
Keyleth shook her head, disbelief plain to see but let the subject drop in favor of more important details. "I can't believe we found a demon. This isn't good, Shirou."
An understatement. People considered demons abominations in Exandria. Whenever they appeared, they brought sorrow and destruction. Keyleth's face lost all trace of color.
"No one will believe this."
Shirou forced his bleary eyes to focus. La Pucelle was a powerful weapon even if he didn't use its full potential and tracing it left him drained. "Are demons that rare?"
"Of course! If any of the races learn somebody summoned a demon, they're put to death."
Forbidden magic, Shirou had seen it before, and he grimaced in remembrance.
"Trace, on." A burlap formed and fell over the demon's head, and Shirou tied it off with efficient movements. "I need to rest soon, but let's find a sheltered campsite."
Keyleth rose, knees shaking, but followed Shirou without complaint. They found a suitable campsite a kilometer away from the battlefield and settled down, Shirou passing out straight away.
Keyleth found sleep more illusive. The shadows seemed darker, and every rustle in the distance set her senses into overdrive. The battle had been terrifying, and as she lay down and processed how close she had come to death, her emotions overwhelmed her. Tears flowed down her face, and she turned away from Shirou, trying to stifle her sobs. She felt ashamed for her emotional breakdown and wanted to shield him from her vulnerability. A demon. She could see it salivating mouth. Hear its horrifying voice.
Keyleth stuffed a fist into her mouth and curled into a ball.
'I want to go home.'
Keyleth's shoulders slumped and her feet seemed to drag as she shuffled through the wide open gates of Spire. Heavy bags hung under her bloodshot eyes, a reminder of how little she'd slept the night before.
Every muscle in her body ached. She wanted to sleep for a year, and when she woke up, she wanted to take a hot bath and then luxuriate in bed beneath the covers with a favorite book. That's what she wanted.
"Let find Jeod," Shirou said. The burlap sack containing the demon's head bounced against his back. In her tired state, Keyleth found it hypnotic. She hummed.
They strode forward, with Keyleth stifling yawns and rubbing her face to stay awake. Even though she was exhausted, she followed Shirou up the stairs and towards Jeod's office. She heard a loud thud as he knocked on the door, and then a muffled voice from inside asking them to enter.
Shirou paused after opening the door. Two individuals stood callously leaning against one of Jeod's bookshelves. They were a curious pair, one hardly a meter in height, slight with delicate features. The other, bare chested and covered in tribal tattoos, stretched so tall his head almost brushed the ceiling.
A smile bloomed on Jeod's face when he saw them.
"Shirou, Keyleth, you have returned!" Jeod turned to the strangers and waved at Keyleth and Shirou. "These are the adventurers I spoke of, and by their presence, I believe they were successful." Jeod turned back to Shirou and Keyleth. "Pike and Grog here arrived in town yesterday after receiving guidance from the Everlight. But please, don't keep me in suspense. Tell us of your hunt."
Shirou shared a glance with Keyleth and nodded.
"... We found and killed it."
Jeod's body slumped in an exhale of relief, and a joyous laugh bubbled from his mouth.
"Thank you. Thank you both for bringing me and this town closure. I assume you brought evidence based on that sack, unnecessary but appreciated."
Shirou stood at the entrance to the office, gripping the heavy burlap bag. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward and slowly lowered the head onto the floor. The thud reverberated through the room as Shirou forced himself not to wince; this was a necessity, no matter how rude it seemed.
Jeod almost bounced around the desk, anticipation tightening his chest. But as Shirou drew the cloth away from what hid beneath, Jeod's skin drained of color and he staggered back a step. His eyes were wide with fear and his body quivered.
"Hey, Pike, look it. We were right." The giant said while pointing and grinning.
"Yeah, but I kinda wish we weren't, Grog. Demons are bad news."
"Not just a demon," Jeod said. He stumbled back to his chair and slumped, shellshocked. "It's a Shoosuva, one of the Demon Lord, Yeenoghu, favored minions."
Shirou felt a sudden chill, as if the name alone draped a heavy blanket of unease over the room. The surrounding air seemed to thicken, making it difficult to breathe. Everywhere he looked, dark shadows lurked. Gods just speaking its name caused such an effect. No wonder Keyleth had been afraid.
"Relax man, I promise this isn't Yeenoghu," Pike said, playing with a medallion hanging around her neck. All the air in Keyleth's lungs released in a great whoosh. "A demon lord would have destroyed the entire region by now. Much more likely, a mortal mage decided to mettle in forbidden magic."
Shirou's brows furrowed as he considered the implications of summoning the ferocious Shoosuva. Allowing it to roam freely or commanding it to attack the city would be a malicious act. He glanced at Jeod and Keyleth, understanding that sometimes evil is necessary for good to exist.
He closed his eyes, taking one deep breath.
"So, to summarize, we killed the monster terrorizing your City. We also learned that someone summoned said monster and turned it loose in the area. So, now we have a question. With the demon dead, will its summoner send more?"
"It's a matter of timing, though, selfishly, I hope Spire will suffer no further woes."
Grog growled, a low bass rumble they felt as much as heard.
"Sounds like you know who done this."
Jeod stood still, his broad shoulders slumped, hands clasp together in front of him, and he studied the floor as if searching for answers etched in the wood. His face revealed a mixture of resignation and shame.
"Years ago, my wife took an apprentice named Rose. War orphaned her at birth, always getting into trouble until my wife gave her purpose. We brought her into our home. She became our daughter in all but name. Such a smart girl. She learned everything my wife had to teach, and then some. But everything changed when my wife fell ill. My son and I were heartbroken, but Rose... She turned to magic, hunting for a cure. She found herself embroiled in dark magic. I did not understand the specifics, but when my wife found out..."
Jeod shook his head.
"Rose ran away, and Martha passed on soon after."
The room descended into a deathly stillness after Jeod finished his tale until Pike charged up to Jeod's desk with rage blazing in his eyes. Her heavy boots thundered across the floor like a miniature earthquake as she glared at Jeod, ready to burst with fury.
"You knew someone practicing black magic and didn't report it!" Her small voice packed a punch. "There's a reason we outlawed black magic! It's addicting, and those who venture such a path never return, you fool—"
Jeod slammed his hand onto the desk and rose, causing Grog to draw a massive two-handed axe slung across his back.
"I know!" Jeod said, choking the words out through grief. "But she is my daughter! How could we turn her in? Knowing what would happen to her? How?!"
Keyleth's fingers tightened around Shirou's arms as she pressed her face into his back, gasping for air. She could feel her heart pounding against his back like a drum. She couldn't deal with another fight, not now.
"I think," Shirou said, breaking off the stalemate between Pike and Jeod. "You should step back. Blaming Jeod won't change the past. We don't know if Rose summoned the demon, anyway."
Pike huffed, frustrated, but backed away.
"Let's find a pub, Grog. I'm going to need an open mind before praying for the Everlights' guidance."
A big grin spread over Grog's fearsome features.
"Oh, ale! Good idea Pikey."
Grog left, prancing like a giant child. Pike followed with a last glare.
The silence felt awkward until Jeod pulled open a desk drawer and grabbed a large bag and set it on the desk with a clink
"Your payment.. the least I can do considering. Please take it and leave me. I need to think." Shirou looked at Keyleth, catching her eye, then nodded to the bag. While she retrieved the reward, Shirou bundled the trophy and left the grim feeling office behind.
"I didn't expect that," Keyleth said, clutching her staff and bag. "I thought we would make some money doing good. Not whatever that was."
Shirou stared straight ahead for a long time, lost somewhere down memory lane.
"Sometimes doing the right thing… it hurts good people. We did the right thing today, but forced Jeod to acknowledge something he wanted to forget. It hurt him, but It avenged lives lost and prevented future tragedies." Shirou turned to Keyleth and offered her a wan smile. "We served justice today. We did the right thing."
Keyleth slowed, surprised by Shirou's sudden bout of wisdom, but something else she couldn't help but notice. He seemed so very sad, offering it. Almost like someone speaking about a loved long past and whose loss still echoed keenly.
Mid-step, Shirou noticed he was leaving Keyleth, so he turned back, tilting his head.
"Keyleth?"
Tired green met sad gold.
Keyleth blinked first, and wiped her face, trying to scrub away the weariness.
"Let's find the inn. I'm tired and need a bath."
Shirou didn't argue, and once more they walked side-by-side.
"Keyleth, I don't suppose you know where one takes a demon head?"
Her look of incredulity made Shirou smile.
Night fell fast, and streets emptied as folk returned home or sought refuse in their favored gathering places.
The Black Flagon served the ladder.
Its heavy oaken doors swung open, revealing a world of vibrant revelry in the tavern. Within, the air crackled with energy as a large, boisterous crowd filled the space, their voices intermingling in a symphony of mirth. A cacophony of laughter and animated conversations reverberated off the walls, blending with the lively tunes played by a minstrel in the corner.
The room pulsed with life, each corner alive with activity. Patrons huddled around tables, their hands clutching frothy tankards of ale, while a group of adventurers engaged in an intense game of dice at a nearby alcove. Shadows danced across the walls as candlelight flickered, casting a warm glow upon the scene. Delicious scents of savory dishes wafted through the air, enticing hungry patrons to indulge in the tantalizing fare.
Amidst the cheerful chaos, serving wenches weaved through the throng, navigating the sea of people to deliver trays laden with delicacies. The clatter of mugs and the clinking of coins added a percussive rhythm to the atmosphere. With every raucous cheer and triumphant cry, the tavern seemed to come alive, pulsating with a contagious sense of joy. It was a haven where worries dissolved, where the weight of the world faded, and where camaraderie thrived. In this ephemeral sanctuary of laughter and merriment, time seemed to stand still, and it swept away all who entered the enchantment of the moment.
Grog threw his head back and let fly a belch that shook the table.
"Yeah!" The crowd roared its approval, drowning out the bard's enthusiastic strumming.
The young man across from Grog blinked and swayed drunkenly before reaching for his last pint.
"Let's go, Simon, I've got a silver on ya!"
"Show this outsider who's boss!"
"I love juicing thighs!"
Another excited roar and much laughter followed the final cheer, and it grew in volume as Simon brought the pint up.
"Simon! Simon! Simon!"
Alas, the cheers and excitement weren't enough. Simon toss his head back to finish the pint, but fell backward, landing on the floor with a thump, out cold.
Groans and cheers rang out, and money began exchanging hands.
Grog pounded his chest and rose, arms raised in victory.
"Pike, three straight wins, personal record!"
"What?" Pike glanced up from the bar, a puzzled expression on her face. "Sorry buddy, great job and stuff."
Grog sat beside Pike, ignoring the groaning stool.
"Still on about earlier. Gotta let that stuff go Pikey. The monster's dead."
"The source isn't! Fucking short-sighted bastard." Pike's finger the traced over her right eye and the scare across it. "Who knows how much damage he caused?"
Grog's massive hand rested across Pike's shoulder, the gentle weight a comforting reminder he was there. His expression softened as he looked at his friend with sympathy.
"You know I'm with you, Pike, wherever your glow-y magic takes us."
Pike snorted, but shot Grog a half-grin.
"A divine message isn't 'glow-y magic' Grog."
"Ya glow when you get them. I say it counts. Now here..." Grog reached over and stole a mug of ale, ignoring the indignant cry of its former owner. "Drink up and start glowing already!"
This time, Pike laughed. Grog always could cheer her up, far faster than anyone else. She took a great swig and sat up straight.
"You got it, buddy!"
Deep within the bowels of the earth, a sinister abyss beckons the intrepid, daring souls who dare to venture forth. The entrance to the cave, obscured by the gnarled roots of ancient trees, exudes an ominous aura, as if warning all who approach to turn back. A chilling breath of stale air escapes the depths, carrying with it a foreboding whisper that dances along the skin.
Shadows cling to the jagged walls like wraiths, morphing and twisting with an unsettling life of their own. The air, thick with a damp, earthy scent, tainted by the acrid tang of decay. Jagged stalactites hang like monstrous fangs, stalagmites jut upwards like skeletal fingers grasping at unseen prey. A pervasive sense of unease settles upon the atmosphere, suffocating and oppressive. The cold, unforgiving rock underfoot seems to seep into the bones, freezing any hint of warmth or comfort. One cannot help but feel as if unseen eyes watch from the recesses, their malevolent gaze piercing the veil of darkness. This is a place untouched by light, where secrets lay entombed, and ancient horrors slumber in the depths. It is a place where the mind teeters on the precipice of madness, where the boundary between reality and nightmare blurs into an indistinguishable haze.
Faint drips of water echo through the cavern, a haunting melody that reverberates with the weight of solitude.
Drip, drip, drop.
The sound ate away at her. How long had the droplets been falling? Weeks, months, years? She couldn't remember.
They were ever-present, but now they haunted her.
"Drip, drip drop." She said, her cadence matching the droplets perfectly, even though she could not see them.
The darkness in the cave loomed like a heavy curtain, swallowing every ray of light that dared to enter it. The oppressive atmosphere weighed on her shoulders like an invisible force, making her tremble with fear. The void seemed alive with dread, as if it fed off her terror and didn't want anyone else near.
'You don't have to be scared,' A voice whispered in her ear.
She shuddered as the voice echoed through her mind. She wanted to be comforted by it, but was scared of its power over her. Every time it spoke she felt a wave of love and hate battle inside her, leaving her feeling helpless and confused.
"Where are you?" She asked. She always asked, but never received a proper answer.
'Everywhere, nowhere, here.'
"What do you want?"
'To exist. To live.'
She wanted those things, too. Ever since that day, she could not quite remember. She didn't feel like she existed. All alone in the dark cave. Made she didn't exist, was it so farfetched?
"If you exist, will that mean I exist, too?"
'Over course. Is that what you want? To exist?'
"Yes! To exist, to remember what I've forgotten, something important."
'I can help you remember. Remember, so you can make us exist.'
The air shimmered, her eyes burned, and she finally saw a person smiling with pride, causing deep crinkles to form around her eyes.
"That's perfect Rose, amazing!"
Rose? Yes, she knew that name, her name. She was Rose.
"Who is she?"
'Your mother. Would you like to see her again?'
Rose forced her trembling hands to answer their call. She ached for the reassurance of someone's acknowledgement of her presence, a word, a smile – anything that could make her feel seen and heard in this world. Her longing was almost too much to bear, all consuming as she struggled to keep it at bay.
"Please, tell me."
'Are you sure?'
Rose shivered. The voice sounded unfamiliar, louder, more insistent instead of its usual hushed whispers.
Could Rose say for certain her surety? Something inside her twisted, tried to pull Rose away from the voice and its promises. Darkness return, stark and all-encompassing.
"No! Please, I want to remember." Already Rose could feel the memory slipping away. How did the woman smile? "Help me remember. Make me exist!"
'Are you SURE!'
"Yes, I'm sure, please!" Rose wailed, voicing bouncing and echoing all around her, desperate tears falling down her cheeks.
'Good.' The voice purred, almost caressing the word and the victory of her concession. 'If you want to exist and remember, we need souls.'
"Souls?"
'Yes, delicious, innocent... powerful.'
"Are they here? How do I get them?"
'I'll help you remember.'
Something cold and limp caressed Rose's head, freezing her in place. Then, like a cascading waterfall, memories rushed through her being. Magic, powerful and willing, surged through in limbs, sending delightful tingles running under her skin. How could she have forgotten this? It felt intoxicating. But regardless of the sensations, something else made itself known. The hairs on Rose's neck stood on end, and she knew the signals her body and magic provided her. Someone was watching.
Rose felt the energy swell up in her, like a raging fire, and unleashed it with an unstoppable force. She let loose a terrifying tsunami of power that shook the ground around her and left all who witnessed it trembling in fear.
The voice laughed, a rough, groaning sound that filled Rose's mind of steel grinding against stone. However, success suppressed any discontent she felt. The darkness felt empty once more, her magic sufficient to drive back the watchers.
'Good, your memories brought you strength.'
"Yeah." Rose whispered, amazed at what she could do. "I—I'm powerful."
'Yes... Strong enough for both of us to exist.'
Pike moaned. A pathetic sound, reminiscent of a death-knell haunting those who heard it.
"Never again."
Alcohol, you delicious bitch. Regardless of Pike's throbbing head and roiling stomach, success almost made it worth it. Almost.
"Grog!"
Bad idea. Pike grasped her head, trying to numb the ache through will alone. Ineffective. She regretted all her life choices.
Grog snorted and coughed from the floor of the pub.
"Waa?"
"It worked. The Everlight sent me a message."
Pike heard Grog shuffle about before rolling over and settling.
"Hmmm, we'll discuss your dreams later Pike, I'm still drunk."
Pike would have argued that visions send by the divine were not dreams, but she'd yet to summon the strength to open her eyes.
Later, she told herself.
She waited a time and eventually felt strong enough to reach into the source of her faith. The Everlight engulfed her, though not with the intensity Pike expected. Figures.
The Everlight, for all her kindness, enjoyed insuring one learned from their actions. A penance for overindulging, so to speak. However, after a few minutes, Pike's headache faded, and the nausea fell away.
The bar top served as a wonderful braced when Pike climbed down from her stool, causing the world to spin. She carefully picked her way around various unconscious lumps to reach the door.
The smell of stale beer disappeared when Pike stepped outside, enjoying the cool breeze against her face. She felt better already. However, with clarity of mind, she thought of her vision.
Pike shuddered. Everlight could rarely be clear when sending visions, a hazard of divinity. But Pike could often feel impressions. Last night, darkness suffused her being. Not an absence of light, but a soul tainting wickedness, insidious and cruel. Something beyond even the Everlights' forgiveness.
She clutched at her amulet, the ever-warm metal finding comfort. West. She knew that much, but nothing more specific.
Pike's stomach gurgled, hunger asserting itself with vengeful need. Saliva filled her mouth. Pike really wanted some bacon.
Fortune favored her. Near to the pub, an inn stood, and as Pike drew near, the smell of food became overpowering. Stomach letting loose another gurgle, Pike hurried inside and found the place almost empty. Old habits reasserted themselves, and Pike ran a critical eye over the scant folk and almost missed a step.
Rusty hair flecked with white in intricate silver armor. Indeed, the man and his companion from Jeod's office rested in a corner. His eyes flickered toward her, hawklike, in color and feel.
Pike returned the look, feeling a slight tightening in her chest. Dangerous. She'd met enough people to realize the man was no stranger to combat. Eyes like his — they never lied. She should have ignored him, would have, until a gentle pull caught her attention.
The amulet around Pike's neck guided her toward him.
"Really?"
A more insistent tug followed her question, demanding. Crap, Pike hadn't made the best impression yesterday and now the Everlight wanted to make nice.
With a huff and clenched jaw, Pike stomped over to the group of two and promptly threw herself into the empty chair beside the elf.
"So, I'm Pike. Who the hell are you?"
Good new everyone, Futurama is coming back July 24, woohoo! Not sure if everyone here share my enthusiasm for that so lets talk about this fic.
Quite a few big story decision were made writing this, and I made a few style tweaks. You may notice I get very descriptive in certain places. This, hopefully, made scenes more lifelike. What do you think?
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