Chapter 3: The Nightcrawler

"Ooohohohoho! Rise and shiiiiiiiiinnne…"

Leodin awoke with a throbbing headache as the curtains were drawn and the sunlight shined in his face. He rolled over and away, covering his face with a pillow

"Uhhggggg….it's too early…" he mumbled.

"Actually, it's already past nine," Naga said as she sat down at the table and sipped some tea. "You really shouldn't drink so much if you can't handle your alcohol."

Leodin looked up from the bed at her, his eyes crusty as he glared suspiciously. "You must have had twice as much as me, and harder drinks. How the hell are you so…refreshed?"

"That…" Naga winked and wagged her finger at him. "...is a secret." In truth, Naga had used a simple Decleary spell to get rid of her hangover, on top of her rather high tolerance to alcohol built up over the years.

Leodin sighed as he got out of bed and went to wash himself up. The warrior got on some fresh clothes before stepping out and fastening his leather armor and boots on.

"As much as I like this place, it's time to get going," Leodin said to Naga as he twirled his axes before slipping them through their holsters. "We've got to get back to the other side of the mountain if we don't want to lose Grohl."

"Hang on now, we've just stumbled onto a small fortune," Naga said as she opened up the little chest of gold so generously gifted to them by Pugmutr. "And this is a merchant town. Don't you want to splurge just a little?"

"I'd like to save this for food and supplies we'll be needing along the way."

"Please, look how quickly you've come into money since we teamed up. It wasn't even a day." Naga leaned forward with a smirk. "There must be something you've wanted to get but just never could afford, my poor warrior…"

Leodin frowned at her momentarily, then placed a hand on his scarred chin as he thought. "We'll, now that you mention it, there is something I've wanted…"

Naga and Leodin entered Gloriel's Magical Emporium, Berylberg's resident sorcerer's shop. Leodin gazed at all the strange baubles and enchanted knick knacks that surrounded them, though Naga was quite used to these sights.

There were tall shelves filled with spellbooks, tomes, and grimoires. Jars filled with preserved animal parts for curses and potions. Enchanted armor and weaponry, and a whole host of magic tools for any intrepid adventurer.

"Welcome!" A voice from behind the front desk. The two looked to see a young woman appear from below. She had frazzled brown hair, thick jeweler glasses with several rotating lenses, a long nose, and a toothy grin. She was dressed in a simple apron. "New in town, are ya? I'm Gloriel. Need something?"

"Hi, uh, Gloriel," Leodin said as they approached, a tad cautious of Gloriel's friendliness. "I'm Leodin and this is Naga. I was wondering if-"

"Ooo, nice axes!" Gloriel jumped over the desk to get a better look at Leodin's weapons, taking him aback. She switched her lens to a higher magnification. "Daaaang, genuine orihalcon AND mythril? How much you want? I'll give you 10,000 gold up front."

"Orihalcon and mythril?!" Naga exclaimed. "Your axes are made of that?!"

"Well, yeah," Leodin began to say. "But-"

"And the craftsmanship is superb," Gloriel continued as she checked both up and down. "Both metals twisted around for the shafts, creating a pipe that channels the magic from these gems to the heads, powering up the blades and also blasting excess magic out these here lion heads at the back."

"Wow, that's exactly right," Leodin said, impressed by Gloriel's assessment. "You know your weaponry."

"It is ma' job." Gloriel stood up and grinned at him proudly.

"Leo, I thought you were poor," Naga chided as she put her hands on her hips. "Where did a second-rate adventurer like you get weapons like these?"

"I told you they were a gift," Leodin growled. "And sorry, but I'm not selling. I came here to buy something…" Leodin pulled an axe out of its holster and turned it upside down. The two women watched as he squeezed two small buttons at the end of the handle and pulled out the red gem from it. The gem glowed faintly between his fingers. "I want more of these."

"Ah, a caster gem," Gloriel nodded to him as she examined the gem. "Those are hard to come by."

"Hah, caster gems," Naga scoffed. "A crutch used by third-rate sorcerers for a cheap power boost."

"Hardly cheap, but they're good for us non-sorcerers who want some protection, or just need to wield a little magic," Gloriel chimed. She held out her hand to Leodin. "Can I see that there stone for a second?"

Leodin arched an eyebrow at the shopkeeper warily before giving her the red gem. She took it with a smile and a nod.

"Thaaank you. Don't worry, I won't break it," Gloriel said jokingly. "Over here, let me demonstrate." She turned and led them over to a small practice range in the back of the store. There was a wooden dummy dressed up in a worn metal breastplate in the middle of a wide open space riddled with burn marks. Gloriel held the stone out and cleared her throat.

"Flare Arrow!"

Out of the stone shot a fiery bolt of magic. Leodin and Naga watched as it flew through the air and struck the dummy dead center with a loud bang and a small explosion. The bolt dissipated into sparks off the armor.

"Yes, very impressive," Naga said with a facetious tone.

"Not bad for someone who can't do magic," Gloriel said before handing the stone back to Leodin. "These caster gems are about the only way I could even try practicing magic."

"Hm? You can't do magic?" Leodin asked.

"Believe you me, I tried," Gloreil replied sheepishly. "My daddy was a pretty good mage. He tried to teach me, but it turns out I just never got the gift. My bucket has got a hole in it, you might say."

"Bucket?" Leodin squinted at her. "What does a bucket have to do with magic?"

"Ohoho, my ignorant friend, don't you know?" Naga asked smugly. "Magical power, or capacity, is categorized into two forms, pool capacity, and bucket capacity. Everyone has it. Your pool is how much magical power you have in total, but your bucket is how much of that power you can use at once. The size of each varies from person to person. Every student of magic knows this."

"I see…" Leodin said as he thumbed his caster gem. "Well, I think I'm good with my weapons."

"Caster gems contain the essence of a specific type of magic," Gloriel continued. "The ones you have are both imbued with fire shamanism. I'm guessin' you're looking for a different element?"

"That's right," Leodin nodded to her and slotted the caster gem back into his axe handle. "Fire is powerful, but not always the most useful." He remembered how useless he felt being stuck in the tunnels behind the stone door.

"Weeeelll, I've got good and bad news," Gloriel began to say. "Good news is, I can make caster gems right here! I've got a magic kiln just for it."

"And the bad news?" Naga asked with intrigue.

"I don't have the raw materials," Gloriel said sheepishly. "I need a rough, uncut diamond, a high grade one that's strong enough to withstand the infusion of magic. On top of that, you need a powerful sorcerer to give it the required magic."

"Hmmph, well, luckily you already have a powerful sorceress here to help you!" Naga declared proudly as she stood tall. "For the right price, of course."

"You're seriously going to charge me?" Leodin asked irritably. "I thought we were supposed to be partners?"

"Well yes, business partners," Naga replied with a smirk. "My services aren't free, but I can give you a discount since we're friends."

"We'll talk about it later," Leodin scoffed and turned to Gloriel. "So where can we get the diamonds we need? What about a jeweler?"

"Not a bad idea, buuuut…" Gloriel gave him a sympathetic smile. "There haven't been any new diamonds for a while now, or else I would have bought and crafted some blank gems already."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Naga asked.

"For one, the kind of diamond you'll be needing, one of the right size and grade, is rare enough," Gloriel began to say. "The one place that might have them is a mine out further north along the mountains. That place has been quiet for a week now, and rumor is something foul is afoot."

Leodin sighed as he listened to the bad news. "Well that's just great…where else am I supposed to get a caster gem then?"

"Ohohoho!" Naga shocked them both as she burst out her signature laugh. "Oh Leo, how quick you are to give up. Can't you see the opportunity?"

"Opportunity?" Leodin blinked in confusion.

"Something foul afoot in the mines? That's just begging to be investigated by intrepid adventurers such as us. Gloriel, what is the place called?"

"The mining town is called Emerald Falls," Gloriel answered with a smirk. "On account of the underground waterfall where they found a bunch of those emeralds. It's just a couple days away on foot."

"That's all I needed to hear. Come, my faithful sidekick," Naga took Leodin by the hand and led him towards the exit. "I'll show you how a quest is really done, ooooohohoho!"

"I'm not your sidekick! Uhg…."

Naga's stomach growled hungrily as she and Leodin trekked down the road on their way to Emerald Falls. They had left Berylberg some time ago and the sky was starting to turn to warmer colors. The trail they were on was between the steep mountain range on one side and a sparse forest on the other.

"Mmm, Leo, I'm hungry," Naga whined as she rubbed her exposed, toned stomach. "Let's stop and eat."

"We could if we had actually brought food with us, but someone insisted we leave town in a hurry without getting supplies," Leodin replied with some irritation. He frowned as his stomach growled as well and stopped with a sigh. "I guess we do need to eat, and Emerald Falls is still far. Maybe we can camp here for tonight."

"Hunnnngrrrryyyy…" Naga nudged Leodin's shoulders and gave them a shake as her whining increased. "A resourceful traveler like you must have something on him."

"No, I don't," Leodin said as he brushed her hands aside. He unsheathed a hunting knife he kept hanging from his belt and twirled it between his fingers. "Look, just get a fire going. I'll be back soon with something to eat. Try not to make too much noise, okay?"

Naga stared at Leodin as he turned towards the forest and leapt up into the trees, landing on a sturdy branch before quietly jumping away into the thicket. Naga furrowed her brow as she watched him disappear, noting how agile he seemed to be to reach such a height in a single bound.

With nothing much else to do, Naga set about gathering up some firewood and making a firepit, using her earth shamanism to easily make a circle of stones and lighting it up with a simple Flare Arrow.

The sorceress constructed a little seat out of a rock and sat down, crossing her legs and arms as she waited for Leodin to return. Naga tapped her finger impatiently, quickly growing bored.

"Hmph, I'm starting to think that he ditched me," Naga said aloud. "How very typical. He's probably halfway to Emerald Falls by now. Well, the great Naga the Serpent won't be made a fool of. Ohohoho, I'll go find that deceitful man and then-"

She was interrupted by a loud thud on the ground behind her. Naga spun around to see the fresh carcass of a buck laying on the ground with Leodin standing over it. In one hand he held a pouch which he opened up.

"I'm back," Leodin said casually as he poured an assortment of nuts and berries into his hand. "This should be enough. Hope you don't mind your meat a little gamey…Naga?"

Naga stared at the deer carcass, frozen, eyes wide. "B…bl…bl-bl…"

Leodin was confused. He looked at the lifeless deer he had hunted down. The kill had been quick and clean, his knife going straight to the heart. The only sign of damage was around the wound where there was a streak of crimson.

"Blood…!" Naga gasped before collapsing to the ground. Leodin blinked in shock before dropping the berries and rushing to her side.

"Naga? Naga!" Leodin shouted as he lifted her upper body. His heart raced as his mind tried to figure out what had happened. He placed his hand to her neck and sighed when he felt a pulse and shallow breathing. "What the hell…?"

Not a moment later, Naga's eyes fluttered open. She gazed at Leodin and they locked eyes for an awkward moment until she blushed and looked away.

"Oh, Leodin…" She began to say. Leodin's cheeks turned a shade of pink as he wondered where this was going. "Don't you know? I become so faint at the sight of blood…"

"...eh?"

"I'm such a sensitive young woman," The sorceress continued, twiddling her fingers. "It makes me oh so lightheaded."

"Seriously?" Leodin asked. "How can you be a fighter and be scared of blood? Hell, why do you even carry a sword?"

"Ohoho!" Naga laughed as she got to her feet and turned to the fire. "My magic makes it possible, and that's all there is to it."

Leodin sighed. "Unbelievable. I'll keep that in mind. Next time I swing my axe, I'll be sure to ask you to look away."

"Hmm, you didn't seem to draw blood from those bandits when we first met," Naga pointed out. "Seems that it might be easy enough for you." Leodin thought a moment, realizing the fire magic from his axes caused any wound inflicted to cauterize before blood could flow.

"Well, that's convenient," the warrior said as he walked back over to the deer. "In any case, don't look over here. I'm going to prepare and cook this thing, so hang tight."

"Ohoho, very well," Naga said as she began to walk off. "I'll just be freshening up then. Call me when it's ready, my trusty manservant." Leodin rolled his eyes as he took out his knife and started skinning.

"First sidekick, now I'm her manservant," he grumbled as he worked. "I'm gonna wind up her slave at this rate…"

Naga walked past the tree line until she was out of earshot. The sorceress then leaned against a thick tree trunk, took a deep breath, and let out a long sigh. She cleared her mind of all thoughts, cleared her mind of memories, and focused on the present. She was the great and powerful Naga the Serpent, the most beautiful and talented sorceress in the world. Nothing could shake her. Not for long, anyway…

"Hey, come and get it!" Leodin shouted towards the trees. He had prepped the meat and stuck it on a makeshift spitroast hung over the fire. It had taken some time to set up and cook, but luckily the sun was only just setting now. The smell of cooked deer meat hung in the air.

Leodin looked around with concern, wondering if something might have happened to Naga. His worry was assuaged when the sound of distant laughter caught his ear.

"Ooooooohohohohoho!" Naga came flying over the treetops and landed gracefully by the fire. "Food!" She reached out to grab a leg, but Leodin smacked her hand away. "Ow!"

"It's hot," Leodin said with a glare and gave her a makeshift metal plate he carried with him in his bag. "Now hold it out."

Naga did as she was told, her mouth watering as Leodin carved off a forelimb with his knife. The meat was dripping with juice, and Leodin added some nuts and berries on the side to complete the simple dish.

"Dig in."

Naga grabbed the leg by the bone and sunk her teeth into the meat. It was definitely gamey, but she could taste some extra flavor.

"Did you add herbs?" She asked with her mouth full. "And salt?"

"Yeah, I carry some spices with me," Leodin said as he cut some meat for himself. "For when I have to hunt my own food. Bush meat isn't always the tastiest."

"Well, this isn't too bad," Naga said between mouthfuls. "Wild game is certainly beneath one such as I, but you've provided an adequate meal. Well done, manservant!"

"Uhg…"

Between the two of them, the entire deer was eaten in less than an hour. They washed down the meat, nuts, and berries with some wine Naga had kept on her for the trip, then settled down to sleep for the night.

Leodin scaled a straight and sturdy tree, finding a strong branch to get comfortable on. He looked out at the shimmering stars and crescent moon hanging in the sky, listening for anything lurking in the woods.

"Wouldn't you be more comfy on the grass?"

Leodin turned to see Naga levitating beside him before she took a seat on the branch. Leodin shook his head and gazed back out over the forest.

"It's safer up here," he answered. "Sleeping on the ground out in the open is just begging for a bear or a panther to bite your throat in your sleep."

"Ohoho, I'm not afraid of some lowly beasts," Naga proclaimed, putting on a brave face while she rubbed her neck. "But if you're so frightened, I suppose I can stay up here with you. You worry too much, Leo."

Leodin groaned and glared at Naga as she climbed to an adjacent branch and reclined on the trunk before quickly falling asleep. He crossed his arms as he examined her features illuminated by the moon. He had to admit, she was as good-looking as she claimed she was, not that he would ever say it to her. He was sure she would never let him live that down. Leodin was reminded of the first time he saw her when she attacked the bandits. She seemed so mysterious and alluring…until she opened her mouth…

The warrior shifted on the tree branch and sighed as he closed his eyes and settled in. Hopefully, they would be at Emerald Falls sooner than later.

Naga groaned as she rubbed her back and neck. She was trailing behind Leodin, who was munching on some hard-boiled quail eggs he had scavenged and cooked earlier.

"How do you sleep like that," Naga grumbled and stretched. "My back is so sore."

"I don't know, lots of practice," Leodin shrugged. He tossed Naga a peeled egg, and she caught it. The sorceress tilted her head at him. "Eat before you get hungry. I don't want to hear you whining again."

"Hmph, a lady of my status does not whine," Naga said and popped the egg into her mouth. "I make very reasonable complaints, and you would do well to heed them, manservant."

"Not your manservant."

They continued walking until the sun was high and the air was hot. Naga fanned herself as they climbed a hill. Leodin was beginning to sweat as well. When they reached the top, however, they were greeted by the sight of their destination; Emerald Falls, a little mining town nestled at the foot of the nearby mountain.

Naga shielded her eyes as she gazed below. She could see the entrance to the mine on the side of the mountain, along with a gondola system going down towards the town and a trail below.

"Finally," Leodin said as he took a moment to rest. "Alright, let's get down there, get something to eat, and get that diamond."

"Ohoho, now you're speaking my language," Naga said before bolting into a sprint. "You know the rules, the last one there pays!"

"Damn it Naga, I already made dinner last night!" Leodin shouted as he ran after her. "Okay, no more sandbagging it…"

Naga laughed as she ran down the trail. She looked back to get a glimpse of Leodin eating her dust but was shocked to instead see him gaining on her. The warrior smirked as he barreled past her, leaving Naga in his wake.

"You're faster than me?!" Naga shouted in disbelief. "No fair. Ray Wing!" She cast her flight spell and lifted off the ground. Leodin heard her chant and looked back to see her in the sky and catching up.

"Come on, you think flying is fair?!" Leodin growled and picked up the pace. They were going downhill and gaining speed, each hurtling towards the town border. The two were practically neck and neck as they made a beeline for the main gate.

Naga strained to go faster, and in her desperation she tried to shove Leodin's face and push him off course. In turn, Leodin pushed Naga's face away. He was not going to pay for her meal, win or lose, but he did not back down from a challenge.

Naga pulled Leodin back and tried to kick off his shoulder, but he grabbed her by the cape and tugged her back. The sorceress wobbled in the air a bit before falling back against Leodin. The warrior stumbled from the impact, and the next thing they knew, they were both rolling and tumbling over each other before coming to a stop in the center of town, one big heap of tangled limbs.

Leodin's head was spinning, and he felt his face surrounded by two large soft mounds. He soon realized Naga had fallen chest-first onto his face, and he quickly pushed her off him, his face red with embarrassment.

"Ohhh, did I win?" Naga asked as she sat up and got her bearings. She looked around, seeing several buildings but no people. The whole area was eerily quiet. "Where is everyone?"

"I don't know," Leodin said as he stood up and listened. Wind, but no people. All he could hear was the caw of a crow before it flew away. "Weird…"

Naga and Leodin walked down the dusty, earthen streets, looking for any signs of human life. They came to a restaurant only to see a sign which read "Closed." Tears ran down the sorceress's face as she slumped to her knees. Leodin frowned in disappointment.

"Noooo…I wanted a nice fat filet mignon…" Naga whined.

"Naga, this place serves fried chicken…" Leodin sighed and looked around. The buildings did not seem to be in disrepair, only recently vacated. It was all quite strange.

Suddenly, there was the squeak of a metal hinge. Naga and Leodin turned to see the front door to the local blacksmith open. Out of it stepped a big, burly man with a large black beard and a dirtied face who stared back at them. He wore a worn pair of overalls and sturdy boots, and his head was bald and shining. On his back he carried a pack full of long wooden planks, nails and tools.

"What are you doing here?" The man asked with an urgent whisper. "Nevermind, follow me if you want to live. What an awful time for tourists." He motioned fervently for them to follow. Naga and Leodin shrugged and caught up with him. He was looking around every corner as they quickly but quietly hurried down the streets until they came to the largest building in town. All the windows and doors were boarded up, save for the front entrance, a pair of big metal double doors. The man rapped on it with his knuckles.

"Bill, open up, it's Earndale," whispered the man. A slot in the door opened up and two eyes peered out, squinting at him and the two behind him.

"Who are they?" Bill asked. "Tourists?"

"Doesn't matter, just open the damn door," Earndale said between gritted teeth. The slot closed, and they heard a clang before the metal doors opened inward. Before them stood a tall, wiry man with a long face and curly, coppery hair, wearing the same style of overalls and boots. He motioned them in.

"You two picked the worst time to come sightseeing," Bill mumbled as he led them down a hall.

"Would someone please explain what's going on?" Naga finally said, her impatience getting the better of her. "Why are you acting so frightened, and where is everyone?"

"They're all in here…" Earndale said as they opened another set of heavy doors. They were greeted by a large, rustic auditorium full of townsfolk. Families, merchants, craftsmen, and even the chefs and bartenders were all huddled into groups at tables, in chairs, on the floor and along the walls. Sleeping bags and blankets were strewn about, and bowls of soup were being passed around, served from a large pot in the center.

"Get comfortable, because you're going to be here a while," Bill said as he and Earndale walked towards the podium at the back. He gave a whistle and got everyone's attention. "Alright, everyone, Earny's back so listen up." Earndale set his pack down and addressed the townsfolk.

"I'm done scouting the town, and everyone is accounted for," Earndale began. "We've also got all the essentials that haven't been bolted down."

"So what's the plan, foreman?" Asked one woman holding two twin baby boys in her arms. "How long are we going to stay hunkered in the town hall?"

"We stay here as long as it takes," Earndale replied sternly. "We stay in here until that….thing….gets tired and leaves."

"What if it never leaves?" A merchant asked.

"What if we run out of food first?" Yelled the blacksmith.

"What if the Nightcrawler breaks in here!?"

"What if it comes in the day?!"

"Oooohohoho!"

The whole town turned to stare at Naga, laughing as she stood atop a table at the center, with Leodin giving her a look of bemusement.

"And just what is this Nightcrawler you speak of?" Naga asked. "What monster could terrify a whole town?"

"Right, you two," Earndale sighed. "Let me inform our visitors why we're all here. About a week ago, my boys began digging a new tunnel into the mountain. We hit something, a hollow chamber. We thought it was a new cave system, but…"

"But it was the Nightcrawler," Bill interrupted. "A dark, evil beast that's been haunting the mines."

"I'm telling the story Bill," Earndale growled. "But yeah, we woke it up, and it started stalking my miners. We had to close the mines after it got two of them, but then…"

"It started going for the townsfolk," Leodin interjected this time. "With nothing to prey on in the cave, it had to hunt somewhere else."

"That's right," Earndale nodded. "It's hunted down most of our guardsmen. The thing comes out at night, but we don't even want to risk going out in the day."

"I can tell," Leodin said as he looked around. "So, how big is this thing? What's it look like?"

Earndale arched an eyebrow. "It's as big as a cabin, looks kind of like some giant wolf lizard, covered in hair, long claws and fangs and bright red eyes…" He more closely examined the two strangers, noting Leodin's holstered axes. "...why? You two monster slayers or something?"

"Ohohoho," Naga laughed. "As a matter of fact, we are, of sorts. I, Naga the Serpent, with the assistance of my manservant, shall rid your town of this menace, for the right price."

"I'm not her manservant…"

"And what price would that be?" Asked Bill skeptically.

"I need one of your diamonds," Leodin answered. "The biggest one, highest grade."

"You get rid of the Nightcrawler, and you can have the first pick," Earndale replied with a stern nod.

"Fools!" A shout came from the corner of the hall. They all turned to see a reedy white-haired old man with sunken eyes, wearing a plain black robe and a golden cross around his neck. He held a thick old book in one hand as he raised his other. "This creature is a reckoning, I say! It is here to weed out the wicked and the sinful from our flock!"

"Oh not this again," Earndale groaned. "Throlko, sit down!"

"That's Father Throlko to you!" The old priest shot back. "All those that have been taken by the Nightcrawler had given into their vices and lost their way. You should all be repenting if you want to save yourselves, instead of throwing your lot in with a scantily dressed harlot and a godless heathen." Leodin bared his teeth at Throlko. Naga simply turned up her nose.

"Not another word or we're gagging you," Earndale warned the priest. The old man grumbled as he sat down, something to do with them all being doomed. Earndale shook his head. "Never mind him. I'm not risking any of my people's lives, so you two are on your own, but if you kill that thing, then you'll have your diamond."

Leodin perched atop the bell tower's roof, looking out towards the mountain, the entrance to the mines dead in his sights.

"I'm not godless," Leodin mumbled. "My god's way cooler than his…" He glanced to the side to see Naga float up to him.

"So why not just go into the mines?" Naga asked as she set foot beside him. "Get it in its sleep?"

"Because one, we don't know the layout of the mine or where it would be," Leodin answered. "Two, we don't know exactly what kind of creature we're dealing with, and I don't want to get ambushed."

"Well if we know it's in the mine, we can just cause a cave-in and kill it that way," Naga suggested. "Easy peasy."

"We do that and we don't get any diamonds because then there's no mine," Leodin replied through gritted teeth. "I highly doubt the mining town is going to appreciate their mine being destroyed."

"Then what is your plan?" Naga asked as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Just wait for it?"

"Sort of," Leodin answered. "We just need to lay a good old fashioned trap…"

A hastily constructed scarecrow stood in the middle of the town square, dressed in a ratty old coat and with a bucket for a head. It had a straw hat for good measure, and Naga drew an oddly realistic and handsome face onto the bucket with a piece of chalk.

"You know the face doesn't need to be that good-looking," Leodin said, noting Naga's unexpected artistic talent. "An animal probably isn't going to care."

"You're just jealous of Sir Buckethead's chiseled features," Naga replied as she added the finishing touches. "There, that should do it." The sorceress and the warrior ran over to a nearby building and hid around the corner, hunkering behind two barrels. They looked out towards the mountain as the sun set behind it, and then they waited…

…and waited…

…and waited some more…

A little snot bubble inflated and deflated from Naga's nostril as she snored softly, leaning against the barrel. Leodin sighed as he kept his eyes and ears open. He really should have expected this. Maybe waiting outside the mine entrance would have been better…no, then the creature could escape more easily, and the trap was easier to lay here…

Leodin's ears perked. There was a sudden scraping sound off in the distance. Naga's snot bubble popped as she was awakened.

"Mmm, when's breakfast…" Naga mumbled. Leodin held up a hand.

"It's coming, get ready." The warrior whispered. They both stayed crouched behind the barrels as they listened to the noise come closer, the rhythmic scraping of something sharp and hard over the dirt and gravel of the streets. Then, the slight rumble of the ground, followed by a low, deep growl and a putrid stench like death.

Naga scrunched her nose and covered her mouth to keep herself from retching. Leodin grimaced at the smell, reminding him of all too much of carrion. A stench he was far too familiar with, and one he would have liked to avoid.

Finally, they saw movement in the shadows. Down the main street going towards the mountain, the glimmering of scarlet eyes in the light of the moon, and something more. The red eyes focused in on the scarecrow, and all went silent…Leodin and Naga waited with bated breath, until…it struck! With a snarl, the Nightcrawler lunged at the scarecrow ripping the ragged coat to shreds with long fangs and claws, smashing the bucket underfoot.

"Naga, now!" Leodin ordered as he drew his axes. The sorceress stood up and raised her arms.

"Flare Arrow!" Naga shouted as she shot a large fiery bolt into the sky. It split into several smaller arrows, each falling around the town square. The creature halted its mauling of Sir Buckethead, and finally it was illuminated.

Leodin got a good look at it and was taken aback by the appearance. The Nightcrawler was a massive, pale, reptilian creature, like a giant lizard with chalky scales. It had a long, thick tail that dragged over the ground. There was more to it though. Its limbs seemed to be simultaneously boney and yet bloated, pulsing between one and the other, but not through the natural flexing of muscles. All along its back were what appeared to be long, thick, whiplike black hairs that stood up and swayed unnaturally. It almost seemed like the mane of a lion, but it seemed to be almost glistening as if it were moist and slimy.

The Nightcrawler's face was what really startled the two. It was downright skeletal, with several places sunken in along the snout. The teeth and fangs were clearly visible, the skin along its mouth pulled back too far to cover them. Long canines pierced through the scarecrow's coat. And the eyes, wide and unblinking, red and orange, slit pupils, and something just beneath the surface that seemed to shimmer.

They only had a moment to take in the sight before the fire fell to the ground and lit up the firewood they had placed around the square. The Nightcrawler hissed as a ring of flames surrounded it. Leodin lit up his axes and ran forward, jumping through the flames and landing to face the creature head-on.

"Cover me!" Leodin shouted, getting the Nightcrawler's attention. Naga levitated up to the rooftops to get a better view. The monster hissed at Leodin and they began to circle the burning arena cautiously, its long tongue flicking outward… what looked like a forked tongue…or, there were three tongues? Leodin did not have time to process what he was seeing as the monster charged at him. The warrior leapt over the Nightcrawler, axes spinning as he slashed down the length of its spine, leaving smoldering gashes in its flesh along the back and tail.

Leodin landed behind the Nightcrawler and got ready. He was expecting it to howl in pain, but it only kept hissing. Leodin squinted, puzzled as the creature turned to face him. That's when he saw all the hairs on the ground, the ones he had cut from its back. All the long, thick, wriggling hairs…

"What the hell…" Leodin whispered in disgust as the whiplike appendages writhed in the dirt.

"Ohohoho! A good effort, Leo," Naga shouted from above. Leodin stumbled as he felt the earth shake. "Now it's time I showed you my true power!"

Leodin gasped as a massive figure stepped through the fire, bulky and stout, each heavy step reverberating. He looked up to see a crude, stone golem, two stories tall, and Naga riding atop its shoulder, laughing all the way. Leodin quickly rolled out of the way as the golem marched toward the Nightcrawler.

"A golem!?" Leodin shouted. "Naga, be careful with that!"

"Ohohoho! My golem will make short work on this monster," Naga cackled. "Now, attack!" The golem lumbered at the Nightcrawler and swung a massive stone fist down at it. The creature easily dodged to the side, and the golem's fist smashed into the burning wood instead in a shower of sparks and splinters. They went flying everywhere, landing on the buildings.

"Nonono," Leodin panicked and ran over to stamp out the cinders. "Naga you're gonna burn the town down if you don't wreck it! Call your golem off, I had this handled!" The golem swung its arm around at the Nightcrawler again, and this time managed to land a glancing blow to its hind leg. Naga wavered as she struggled to keep her balance.

"Waaah, once my golems get going, they're hard to stop!" Naga wailed. She looked down, hoping to see the creature beaten, but was shocked at what she saw. The Nightcrawler's hind leg seemed broken…until it snapped back in place with a sickening crack and stood back up.

The Nightcrawler got behind the golem, then lunged at its back, lag all our paws on it. The stone giant was knocked off balance and began to stumble. Both it and Naga tried to stay upright, but the golem's foot landed on a stray barrel and slipped. "Aaaaah!"

Naga jumped off the golem as it fell. Leodin watched as the sorceress began to plummet, and with haste, he ran towards her. Dropping his axes, Leodin caught Naga in his arms and let out a sigh.

"Phew, you oka-" Leodin's question was interrupted by a thunderous crash. He winced as he turned around to see the golem had fallen right onto a furniture store. "Oooh Krom…"

"Well, at least it's not the tavern," Naga said. Leodin glared at the sorceress whilst still carrying her. "What? It's not like we need to buy any chairs." The two were snapped back to the situation at hand when they heard the Nightcrawler hiss. They turned their heads to see it retreating back towards the mine.

"It's getting away," Leodin surmised. "Maybe it's too hurt to fight, but…there's something very wrong about that creature…" He glanced around the battleground and was grateful the one smashed building was the only collateral damage.

"Ahem," Naga cleared her throat. "As much as I enjoy being carried, you can let me down now." Leodin let out an annoyed grunt as he set her back down on her feet.

"Can you maybe get rid of the golem?" Leodin asked tersely. "This looks…bad…"

"Sir, that is my little rock baby I'll have you know!"

"Naga, please…"

"Oh fine…" Naga approached the golem and raised her arms. "Mega Brand!" The entire space surrounding the golem glowed, and not a moment later the stone giant exploded upward.

"Krom damn it! A little warning next time!" Leodin shouted as he shielded himself. "Do you ever think things through?"

"Ohoho, thinking is for ignorant peons who aren't confident in their knowledge," Naga replied smugly. "Thinking too much makes you slow to act." Leodin resisted the urge to strangle Naga's long neck. He took a deep breath to calm himself before the sound of footsteps was heard. They turned to see Earndale approach. The foreman's eyes went wide.

"What the hell happened?!" Earndale shouted as he looked at the carnage left over from the battle. "Oh, Matilda's store…"

"Ohoho, we-"

"We drove the creature off," Leodin interrupted as he slapped a hand over Naga's mouth. "The Nightcrawler went crazy and wrecked the store before we wounded it. It went back into the mines."

"I see," Earndale said, choosing to believe him. "So it's not dead?"

"No, but if we go after it I think we can finish it," Leodin replied. "But we don't know the mines. Do you have a map or something?"

"Yes, but I think it'd be better if I came with you," Earndale said. "No one knows the tunnels like I do. Just let me get some gear real quick and I'll catch up with you by the entrance. I want to see this thing through…"

"Hey, how come you didn't fly earlier?" Leodin asked as he leaned against the gateway to the mine. The fencing had been broken through and the wooden planks were scattered.

"What do you mean?" Naga asked as she sat on a nearby crate, her legs crossed.

"When you fell off the golem, why not just levitate to safety?" Leodin clarified. "You levitate all the time."

"Oh, that. I was tired from summoning my golem," Naga casually explained. "One that size can take a lot out of you."

"Really? Chanting some words and waving your arms doesn't look all that exhausting," Leodin replied.

"Well if you were a sorcerer, you'd understand," Naga said with a hint of annoyance. "Bukcet and pool capacities, remember? Your axes must cost you some energy too, right?"

"Well yeah, but…hmm…" Leodin ran a thumb over one of his axe heads as he thought. "I guess it's similar."

"Hey!" A shout came. They turned to see Earndale approaching from down the road. He wore a miner's helmet and carried a pickaxe and some rope. "Alright, I'm here. First, take a look at this." He rolled out a map of the mine onto an adjacent crate. Leodin and Naga came closer to get a look as he pointed to one tunnel. "The Nightcrawler is too big for the smaller tunnels. If I had to guess, it's hiding out in the waterfall chamber."

"Yeah, probably because of the fresh water," Leodin mused. "Foreman, if you can guide us through the smaller passages, maybe we can sneak up and ambush it."

"Well well, aren't you devious," Naga chuckled. "But you do seem to be an experienced hunter."

"Uh, yeah," Leodin nodded to her, unsure if she was complimenting him. "Hey, there's something you should know. This creature, I'm pretty sure it's a cave wyrm, but…"

"That thing is a cave wyrm?" Earndale asked. "You sure?"

"What's a cave wyrm?" Naga asked curiously.

"It's a saurian, distantly related to dragons," Leodin explained. "A big wingless reptile, kind of like a giant salamander, but adapted for moist caves instead of volcanoes."

"Uh huh…" Naga nodded, pretending she understood what he was saying.

"But this one, there's something very wrong with it," Leodin frowned as he recollected the tendrils and the creature's skeletal visage. "All those hairs, they weren't hair, they were more like tentacles, and it could reset a broken bone…this cave worm might be cursed or…possessed…or something. Like a zombie…"

"Oh, I doubt it's a zombie," Naga said with a knowing smile. "Zombies have an air of necromancy magic around them, and I didn't sense any sort of magic from that creature."

"Alright look, I don't rightly care what it is," Earndale interjected as he rolled up the map. "Just as long as we kill it. Now, let's not waste time. Come on…" The foreman lit the little light on his helmet with a match and walked past the two and into the mine, leading the way.

Naga glanced around the tunnel to see many discarded tools and jobs left half-finished. The miners seemed to have left in a hurry, once the Nightcrawler had begun to prey on them in earnest. The main tunnel was tall and wide enough for the creature to go through, but all along the length were smaller side tunnels. Earndale signaled for them to turn into one.

"Nnf, it's a little cramped," Naga complained as she squeezed past a rock. "Isn't there a more spacious route?"

"It wouldn't be a problem if you wore some real armor," Leodin whispered. "Or at least covered your skin up."

"But I'm so much more comfortable in this," Naga replied. "Maybe you'd be less grumpy if you wore less."

"Keep it down," shushed Earndale. "We're here…"

Ahead they could hear the sound of running water. They came to the end of the tunnel and were greeted by a tall, wide cavern lit by glowing crystals dotting the walls. At the back was a small waterfall, a stream of water pouring out from a hole in the rock and cascading down to a large pool at the bottom. All around the cavern were balconies and ladders leading to other small tunnels.

"Whoa, it's beautiful…" Leodin murmured. He heard a familiar scraping noise and signaled to Earndale. "Quick, snuff out your headlamp." The foreman did so, and the three of them hid and waited. The sound grew louder, and soon enough they saw the Nightcrawler emerge from the main tunnel, dragging its boney, deformed limbs.

They watched as the creature lumbered over to the pool and opened its mouth. Instead of lapping up the water with its tongue like Leodin expected, three tendrils emerged from its throat and touched the surface of the water. Each began to pulsate and sucked the water up as like a hose or a straw. The Nightcrawler's eyes seemed completely unfocused as it appeared to drink.

"Uhg, it's so weird," Naga whispered in disgust. "Come on, let's strike while it's distracted."

"Actually, I agree," Leodin said as he put his hand on her arm to prevent her from running ahead. "But we need to be smart…no explosions, got it?"

"I've got it."

"And no golems either," He whispered to make sure the foreman did not hear. "I'll sneak below, and when I give the signal, attack from above and I'll hit it from below."

"Alright…" Naga replied, annoyed at being ordered around. "We're following my plan next time though."

"Whatever," Leodin said as he climbed down the ladder. "Earndale, just stay safe, we'll handle this." Leodin silently climbed his way down to the ground, keeping behind any barrels or crates or large rocks as he crept closer to the Nightcrawler. It still had the smell of carrion on it, and he steeled himself as he drew his axes.

The warrior glanced up to see Naga at the ready. He calmed himself as his axes lit up with magic and he prepared to strike. Leodin was right behind the Nightcrawler. He raised his axes, and then-

"Heathens! Sinners!" A cry echoed through the caves. All eyes turned to the main tunnel to see Father Throlko standing there with a torch in one hand and his book in the other. "To challenge the Nightcrawler is to challenge the heavens themselves!"

"Damn it…!" Earndale cursed as he began to climb down the ladder, but it was too late. The Nightcrawler had turned its gaze on the priest and spotted Leodin in turn. "Throlko, you maniac!"

"Earndale, wait!" Naga shouted after the foreman.

"Holy beast, I shall lend you my aid in dealing with these non-believers!" Throlko opened his book and pointed his torch at Leodin. "Fireball!" A ball of fire shot from the torch and flew for Leodin. The warrior had little time to react. He raised his axes and shielded himself from the attack, the ball of fire exploding on contact, kicking up a shower of dust and debris.

"Leodin!" Naga yelled. "Levitation!" The sorceress began floating downward. The Nightcrawler hissed with anger as he crawled over toward Throlko. The priest had a crazed grin on his face as it approached.

"Yes, I have done well!" Throlko exclaimed. "I have shepherded this flock for decades. Still many refuse to see the light, but you shall cull the herd of those too far gone to be saved. Together, we can rid this world of sin and usher-"

The priest was cut short as the beast's jaws snapped shut over all but his arms and legs. It raised its head and leaned back, and Earndale and Naga watched and listened as the priest let out a scream of horror before he was pulled into the Nightcrawler's throat by a swarm of tendrils.

"That overzealous bastard," Earndale whispered. The Nightcrawler next turned its attention to the foreman and began to approach. Earndale tried to back away but stumbled over a stray pickaxe. "Ah, no!"

The Nightcrawler hissed and lunged for Earndale, jaws wide, but as it tried to snap them shut, its teeth were blocked. Earndale looked up to see Leodin holding the creature's maw open, his burning axes stuck to the roof of the mouth and his boots planted on its lower jaw.

"Oh Krom, its breath!" Leodin grunted as he strained to keep the Nightcrawler's mouth open. The beast hissed and began to thrash its head side to side as it tried to either crush Leodin in its teeth or shake him loose. "Some help please?!"

"Freeze Arrow!" Naga cast her ice bolts at the monster, striking it in the side of the head. It growled as its jaw was frozen in place, and it stopped long enough for Leodin to disengage. "So what's your plan now?"

"I dunno, just fight!" Leodin shouted.

"Don't use any explosions!" Earndale yelled as he hid for cover. "You might cause a cave-in!"

"No Freeze Bullet, no golems, no summoning," Naga sighed in exasperation. "What am I supposed to do…wait, or know! Leodin, stand back!"

"What?" Leodin swung his axe at the Nightcrawler's arm, leaving a searing cut. He looked to see Naga standing with her palms held up to her chest, arcs of electricity surging between them. He quickly dodged away before she unleashed her spell.

"Dig Volt!" Naga threw her palms forward and a blast of lightning struck the Nightcrawler. It let out a short howl as the electricity struck, then became immobilized. Leodin watched the dried outer scales begin to crackle with heat. "Leodin, hit it now!"

"Here goes…" Leodin said as he turned his axe heads around in his hands, pointing the sculpted pipes at the back of the heads at the creature. The blades glowed red hot as he concentrated. Leodin braced himself as he took aim, and then torrents of fire spewed from pipes like fire-breathing beasts. The Nightcrawler was wreathed in flames, and its dry skin soon caught fire. The monster let out a screech as it writhed and thrashed. The flames ate away at its necrotic flesh, burning it to the bone. Leodin stopped the flames, then ran towards the Nightcrawler. He somersaulted over it, swung both axes down mid-flip, and cleaved the base of its neck before landing on the cavern floor. It let out one last roar, fell over and went silent.

"Is…is it dead?" Earndale asked as he peeked out from behind a rock.

"Ohohoho, yes," Naga said triumphantly. "We have slain the-"

"Watch out!" Leodin shouted out. "It's still moving!" They all watched as the Nightcrawler's belly began to expand and undulate. Naga gasped in horror as its mouth opened wide and a writhing mass of tendrils emerged from its throat. "A parasite…!"

"GAH! Kill it kill it kill it!" Naga yelped as she raised her hands. "Flare arrow!" She fired a bolt of fire at the mass of tendrils as Leodin bathed it in the flames from his axes. The parasite quickly caught fire, letting out an unearthly screech. Seeking a way to douse the flames, the monstrosity crawled to the pool under the waterfall and submerged itself.

"Naga, freeze it!" Leodin shouted as he watched the tendrils begin to re-emerge. "Before it gets out!"

"Right! Freeze Arrow!" Naga shot a blue bolt of ice into the water. The liquid began to solidify just as the tendrils were surfacing. With one final screech, the entire creature was frozen, encrusted and trapped in the ice. Leodin dashed towards it, and with a swing of both flaming axes, shattered the frozen parasite, the shards scattering into a thousand pieces. The warrior looked around the cavern and let out a sigh as he dropped to his knees in exhaustion.

"Okay…now it's dead…" Leodin said as he caught his breath. "Is everyone okay?"

"Hrph mhhh!" Came a muffled voice. They all turned to see the body of the Nightcrawler, or rather the cave wyrm, begin to move, and a moment later witnessed Father Throlko pull himself out of the corpse's mouth, slimy and gasping for air.

"Oh, I thought you were dead," Naga said flatly. "Oh well."

"You have a lot to answer for, Father," Earndale said as he approached the priest with a furious expression. "But that can wait. You two saved my life, and I'm grateful. You can have any jewels in the mine."

"Any?" Leodin asked as he picked himself up.

"...at a discount," Earndale added. "I'm still running a business and you still need to help pay for damages."

"Eh, I'll take it," Leodin shrugged. "Show me the biggest diamonds you've got."

Earndale led them to a crate and pried it open with his pickaxe. Naga and Leodin peered inside and were greeted by the sight of two uncut diamonds the size of chicken eggs.

"Look at the size of them!" Naga exclaimed as her eyes glittered. "They must be worth a fortune…"

"They are," Earndale said. "But I'm giving you a big discount for helping me and this town."

"How much?" Leodin asked.

"Five hundred gold pieces for the both."

Leodin winced. That was half the money that Pugmutr had given them for stopping the greebles. Still, he was getting two new caster gems out of it, and they would still have plenty left over. He sighed and nodded to Earndale.

"It's a deal."

"Good on ya," Earndale grinned. "Now, let's head back to town to give the good news and get you two a hot meal, a cold drink, and a soft bed. And I can put this jackass in jail while we figure out what to do with him." He tugged the rope that was connected to a tied-up Father Throlko. The old priest gave a bitter grunt and looked away from them.

"Uh, bed as in singular?" Leodin asked.

"Ohoho, sounds marvelous!" Naga cheered. "I'm sure the town will throw a feast in our honor. Let us be off!"

Naga led the way out of the mine. Leodin gave a sigh as he and Earndale followed after and Throlko was pulled along. The priest kept his eyes on the ground, but unseen by anyone else, in the palm of his hand, was a soft, round object, no larger than a pebble, filled with something… living…

Author's Note

Apologies for the wait, I've been busy. This chapter is also the longest one I've ever written. Again, I've been dropping more hints about Leodin's past, and now setting things up for potential future stories. Find out what new element Leodin will choose in the next chapter. Things will become more lighthearted again as I introduce some more obscure characters fans may be familiar with. I've also updated Leodin's model sheet a bit on my blog, so check that out as well. Please leave a review and let me know what you think.