Blue

by Silenta-Atestanto

The history of our world is a simple one. An Overlord emerges to terrorize mankind, before a Hero rises up to slay him. So the cycle went, until it was broken when a succubus claimed the mantle, seduced the Hero sent to slay her, and created the stalemate we recognize today. But history is rarely ever so straightforward. I should know. I saw the events that would unfold for myself.

22. Chapter 22: Grove

Chapter 22: Grove

A new day dawned over Neith. But there was something different about this day. For the light of the sun was accompanied by an unfamiliar sound- the long, low sound of a horn. The people of the village stirred from their slumber, rubbing sleep from their eyes as they stepped out of their homes, searching for the source of the sound. And soon, they found it- two men, clad in robes of black, with gaunt faces that more closely resembled skulls. They held aloft a long pole, topped with a red banner depicting a black horse with a single horn. The villagers cowered before them, for these men were agents of Ixion, the General that ruled their lands, come at long last to collect tribute.

As one of the gaunt men sounded the horn again, sending shivers down the spines of the frightened villagers, the other began to move through the villagers, inspecting them, though for what, none of them knew. And although they trembled as the gaunt man circled them like a vulture eyeing its prey, they remained rooted in place, paralyzed by some primal instinct.

As the gaunt man drew near, Sai began to tremble, shaking more and more with every person he passed over. Baligant was afraid as well. But even so, he reached out, to touch the younger boy's shoulder. "Hey, don't worry, Sai," he said, his voice surprisingly steady. "We'll get through this." Then the gaunt man stopped before them. He lingered for a long while, regarding them both with sunken black eyes. No, that was wrong, Baligant realized. It wasn't the both of them. He was looking only at Sai. Then, he reached toward Sai, gripping the younger boy's wrist in his skeletal hand. He inspected the mark on the back of Sai's hand, before suddenly pulling Sai forward, hard enough that the younger boy stumbled. "…This one," he rasped, his voice somehow both a whisper and a growl at once.

A wave of relief instantly washed over the other villagers, as the gaunt men bound Sai's hands with rough rope. Everyone except Baligant. His mind was clouded by confusion… before it was replaced by an anger that overwhelmed his fear. "What!? Why him!?" he shouted, taking a step forward.

The gaunt man turned to Baligant. His eyes were cold, his voice colder still: "Our reasons are not for you to question. We are taking him."

"Is it… it's because of this, isn't it!?" The older boy held up the back of his hand, revealing his own mark. "I have it too!"

The gaunt man looked at Baligant's hand for a moment, before turning away, dragging Sai along with him. "We need only one tribute from this village. We do not need a second. And we have made our choice."

Baligant felt a surge of fury rise within him, burning away his fear like a flame. He wouldn't let them take Sai! "I won't let you put your hands on my brother!" In a matter of moments, Baligant drew a carving knife from his belt, grabbed the gaunt man's shoulder, turned him around, and plunged his blade deep into the gaunt man's throat. The young hunter took excellent care of his knife, sharpening it so that not even the toughest hide could impede it. And the thin flesh of the gaunt man proved no exception. Blood gushed forth in a torrent, spraying across the ground, across Baligant and Sai, and the remaining agent, who stared in shock as his companion crumpled to the ground.

The other gaunt man tossed his banner aside and reached for his belt, for a short sword of his own that hung there. He would never get the chance. Baligant knocked the man to the ground, raised his knife, and stabbed the man in the chest, over and over again, each swing painting him with flecks of blood. Even when the gaunt man's cries of pain ceased, the older boy didn't stop, he kept hacking at the corpse until there was nothing left but ragged meat and bone. Then, panting, Baligant looked up, surveying the scene.

No one had moved. No one had tried to stop him. They were all just watching, faces twisted in horror. Slowly, he stood, still splattered with blood, and turned toward Sai. "Sai, come over here. Let me get those ropes off you."

As Baligant cut the ropes from the younger boy's wrists, one of the other villagers stepped forward. An older man, stooped in age and with white in his hair, named Adai. It was a rarity for anyone in Neith to live to be so old, and because of his experience, he became something of a leader to the people of the village. "Baligant!" he roared, pointing a trembling finger at him. "You are a fool! Do you know what you have done!?"

"I saved my brother," Baligant answered. His voice cracked slightly. "Because no one else would."

Adai spat on the ground. "Your recklessness has doomed us all! Now Lord Ixion will send more of his demons to our village! Every last one of us will die!"

Baligant looked down at the gaunt men, their blood pooled on the ground beneath them. "You know," he said, "I always heard the General's agents were demons born in the deepest hell, invulnerable to any weapons." He looked back toward Adai. "I wonder what other lies they told us."

Adai hobbled closer to Baligant. "Sai is just one boy, Baligant. One. You would doom us all, for one boy?"

Baligant drew himself up to tower over Adai. "You're one man," he growled. "Your wife was one woman. Your son is one man. Would you still be saying 'it's just one' if one of them had been chosen?"

Adai opened his mouth to respond, but found he could not speak. He trembled, his face darkening with rage. Then, he stormed away from Baligant, towards the village. A few villagers followed after him. The rest remained, watching Baligant and Sai, fear and confusion twisting across their faces. But finally, Adai looked back, and raised his hand, his finger pointed at Baligant. "…Leave. Leave, and never return."

Baligant didn't hesitate. "Fine. Let's go, Sai." He did not look back as he left Neith behind, nor did he glance at Sai as the younger boy struggled to keep pace. They simply walked, continuing out of their village, and into the unknown.

"Baligant! Baligant!" Sai shouted. "Where are we going!?"

Again, there was no hesitation in Baligant's answer. "We're going to find General Ixion." The older boy held up his hand, showing the black mark on the back. "You saw it, right? They were looking for people who had this mark." His eyes turned, sweeping toward the horizon. "We're going to find the General. And we're going to make him tell us why."

Although Alondight spoke little of his life before leaving Neith, his account of his departure is much more detailed. One day, agents in service to the Fiend General Ixion arrived to claim their tribute- in this case, his friend Baligant. Alondight resisted, and slayed the agents sent to claim his friend. Fearing reprisal from the Fiend General, Alondight was banished from Neith. So, with Baligant in tow, Alondight left his home village, seeking the lair of Fiend General Ixion. His mission: to question the General about the meaning of the black marks, and why those with them were selected as tributes.

Dragonslayer, Chapter 2: The Beginning

---

"…once you disembark, Captain Cid will pull the Mistral out of the harbor," Liz said. "Then we'll drop anchor offshore and wait for you to return."

"You aren't going to explore the ruins more?" Holly asked.

"We should be able to turn a profit with the artifacts we've recovered," the merchant replied. "Hopefully, it'll be enough to encourage sending another expedition with more members. Besides… exploring Ulara isn't our main reason for being here."

"And how long can we expect you to stay?" Seth asked.

"We left Lohan with enough supplies to last two months. We used a quarter on the way here, so we'll need roughly the same amount on the way back. So, we should be able to hold out for another month."

"A month…" Abel said.

Raine then threw an arm around his shoulder. "That's more than enough time for us to find the altar and make it back! Right, Blue?"

"That's only if the information from this 'Sion' can be trusted," Claire cut in coldly, arms folded across her chest.

Abel pulled himself free from Raine's grasp. "I think Sion was telling the truth. I mean, it's not like she's working with the gnolls- they're her enemy as much as they are ours." The next morning had come. Once everyone had gathered, Abel told them about the encounter he'd had with Sion, and passed on all the information she'd shared with him. The others seemed… skeptical, but at the very least, they hadn't yet dismissed what he'd told them out of hand.

"Well, I suppose you should be on your way," Liz said. "The longer we spend saying our goodbyes, the more chances the gnolls have to get us. Be careful out there."

"Thanks." Abel replied. "We'll see you soon." Then, he said out loud, "Alright everyone, let's go," and climbed down the gangplank. The group stopped at the pier, to watch the Mistral pull away from the harbor, before continuing on with Abel in the lead, guided by his amulet. As the group made their way through the ruins, they passed the bodies of gnolls slain the day prior, slowly rotting under the hot Windurstian sun. It seemed the survivors had made no effort to recover the bodies, or even their equipment. And with any luck, as they made their way through the ruins, that wouldn't change.

For some time the group walked in silence, their attention focused on finding any potential threats. But, when it became clear they were alone in the ruins, Holly spoke up. "So… I was thinking. About all the things Abel told us before. And I was wondering if any of you had any ideas what this monster with a lot of heads is supposed to be."

"A monster with multiple heads," Raine said, a hand on her chin. "That sounds like a chimaera."

"I doubt that…" Minze replied. "Chimaera are known for their aggression, but it's unlikely a single specimen could force a whole tribe of gnolls out of their territory. If I were the wagering sort, I'd bet that a hydra is a more likely culprit."

"A hydra?" Abel asked. "What's that?"

"Hydras are a subspecies of drake," Lailah explained, "which are themselves a dragonoid subspecies. They lack wings or the ability to breathe fire, but grow multiple heads able to act independently of each other, and are extremely aggressive- the most aggressive of any of the dragonoid subspecies. The only saving grace is that hydras are also extremely rare- the conditions needed to create one are said to only occur every few hundred years."

"I think you're all getting a bit ahead of yourselves," Claire then said. "What makes you think we'll have to fight this monster in the gnolls' camp? It's possible we'll find the altar and make it back to the Mistral without so much as laying eyes on it."

Raine put her hands behind her head. "C'mon Prez, where's your sense of storytelling? Someone mentioned there's a big monster on the way to our destination- there's no way we won't end up fighting it now!"

"I think Miss Raine may be in the right," Violet said. "In stories, whenever the hero is traveling to claim a treasure, and a specific foe is mentioned, that very same foe is almost always the final opponent the hero must face before collecting their prize. Or, the hero will find the prize unguarded, claim it after being lulled into a false sense of security, and then the foe will leap out to attack them."

"The two of you read too many stories," Seth said, shaking her head. "If life were that predictable-"

All of a sudden, Fiann froze, drawing her axe. Her slowly swept over their surroundings, her entire body tense. The group turned to follow her gaze, but nothing seemed to stand out. "…What is it, Fiann?" Abel asked.

The answer came not from Fiann, but from a stilted voice that said, "Eibo."

The group whirled around, weapons at the ready, to find a masked figure with a long mane of pale yellow hair behind them. Abel immediately lowered his sword. "Sion."

Sion flinched back, retreating to hide behind the corner of a nearby building. But Abel quickly stepped forward, putting himself between Sion and the others. "Arvu teach, Sion," he said. "Arviin ukoe." It's alright, Sion. I'm here.

Sion peered out from behind the corner, before quickly hiding again. So Abel looked back at the others. "Guys, put your weapons away."

For a moment, Minze, who was closest, hesitated, before finally sheathing her sword. One by one, the others followed suit. And once the weapons were put away, Sion finally stepped out into the open, taking off her mask.

Holly let out a small gasp. "Her ears!"

"So she is an elf…" Raine said.

In the light of the sun, Abel could see features that had been hidden by the shadows the night before. Most notably, the scars. Sion had easily over a dozen just from what he could see- some as thin as a hair, some wider than his thumb. He couldn't imagine how long she must have been fighting to get so many. But he had to put that out of his mind for the moment- Sion was tense, giving each of his companions a wary gaze in turn. "Sion, arvir rich se usejir." Sion, these are my friends.

Sion tilted her head, brow furrowed. "Usejir?" Friends?

Abel nodded. "That's right. My friends." Then he asked, hesitantly, "You… know what a friend is, right?"

She nodded stiffly. "I know. Have friend, here. I will… show you."

"Alright." Abel replied. "Show us your friend."

Sion nodded again before gesturing for them to follow her down a nearby alleyway. They followed single file as she led them through the ruins- Sion in front, Abel behind her, Holly right after him, and everyone else bringing up the rear. "This is ridiculous…" Abel heard Claire mutter. "What kind of friend could she possibly have here? A statue? A rock with a face painted on it?"

One of the others shushed her as the group emerged from the alleyway into a plaza. It was different from the one Abel and Fiann had found the day before. It was smaller, its centerpiece a tall tree with many branches, reaching for the sky like numberless grasping arms. And as they walked towards it, Abel noticed a figure seated at the base of the tree, their eyes closed, as if sleeping.

A gnoll, with fur as white as ash.

Instantly, Abel and the others drew their weapons. But Sion darted in front of the gnoll, drawing her spear. "Chi!" she shouted. "Chi suz! Chi suz!" No! Not bad!

The white gnoll stood. It was massive- easily towering over Minze- the fur along the top of its head braided in a way that resembled rows of a freshly plowed field. But unlike the other gnolls Abel had seen, it wore no armor- instead, it was clad in thick robes, a wooden staff adorned with feathers and beads was slung over its shoulder. But its eyes were its most striking feature. It was not the steel grey color that stood out, but rather, the seemed to hold a spark absent in other gnolls. The white gnoll then raised a single claw, a gesture to halt. "Eiríni, parakaló," it said, its voice rough and gravelly. "Den thélo na polemíso."

Peace, please. I do not wish to fight.

The gnoll's words caused Violet and Minze to falter. "Wait," the alchemist said. "That was-"

"This… Whitemane," Sion said. "He live here too. Different… from other wolf-men."

Abel looked at the gnoll, then back to Sion. "I… thought you said you were alone."

"Was…" Sion replied hesitantly. "For long time. But then, met Whitemane. Not long ago. Not tell, because… I thought you might get mad." Sion then turned toward the gnoll. "Lefkí Chaíti," she said. "To agóri. Eínai aftós gia ton opoío sou eípa." Whitemane. The boy. He is the one I told you about.

"Kai ti akrivós eíches na peis gia ton Abel?" Violet suddenly asked, in quick but stilted words. And what exactly did you have to say about Abel?

The gnoll blinked, surprised. "Katalavaíneis ti glóssa mou?" he asked. You understand my language?

"Old Cybelian," the alchemist replied. "My research required that I gain a certain level of proficiency in it. I may not be as proficient as my servant, but I understand well-eno-"

Suddenly, Claire marched forward. "Oh I have had just about enough of this fucking nonsense!" She aimed a hand at the gnoll. "May the curse of Babel yadda yadda et cetera: Translate!" She then aimed at Sion. "Fuck fuckity fuck fuck: Translate!" A blue glow briefly washed over the gnoll and Sion, then the president said, "And before you ask, the spell I cast on you allows you to understand any language and for your speech to be understood by anyone who hears it. Understand? Good."

The gnoll blinked, surprised either by the harshness of Claire's words, or by the fact that he now understood them. "…I see," he finally said. "Yes, this will make things much simpler." He then turned to Abel, bowing his head with his arms spread. "As young Sion said, my name is Whitemane." He then pointed at Abel. "And I know who you are, Abel. Lady Nane foretold your coming."

Abel's brow furrowed. "And who's Lady Nane?"

Lailah then drew close to Abel. "Abel, look. See his pendant?" Hung around Whitemane's neck was a metal pendant, hammered into the shape of a bird with large eyes. "An owl… that's a symbol of Minerva, goddess of wisdom. Nane must be his people's name for her."

Minerva… one of the Heroes Abel met in Lescatie had been her Champion. Lavian. Whose Relic was a flying steel giant.

"And… did this Nane say if Abel was going to do anything specific, or…" Raine said, before trailing off.

Whitemane bowed his head. "I fear that Lady Nane is not so straightforward. When she appeared in my dreams, she said only that my people's salvation would come when a ship came to the city where the sun's grasp failed at last."

What was that supposed to mean? Where the sun's grasp failed at last… Then Abel remembered something Seth told him: Ulara was Cybele's last colony. Then "the sun" must have been…

"For three turns of the moon I waited in these ruins. I met Sion here. But as my faith in Lady Nane's words began to falter… Sion brought me news. Strangers had come. And now, you stand before me. All has transpired in accordance with Lady Nane's word."

"I see…" Minze said. "However, I have a question for you. Your goddess told you that your people's salvation would come from a ship that sailed to Ulara. …What is it that we are meant to save you from?"

Whitemane's ears flattened against his head, and he looked down at his claws. "…The form which stands before you now… is not how I have always been. It is a curse, placed upon me and all my people, for allowing Selardi's sacred grove to be profaned."

"A curse?" Abel asked.

"And… who's Selardi?" Claire asked after, eyes narrowing.

"My people's patron, the Lady of the Wood, master of all beasts of the earth and birds of the air. It was she who protected and guided our people through the dark days when we wandered the wilderness as nomads. Her grove, the place where she ascended to the heavens after leading our people to safety, is the most important place in our history."

"And someone defiled it?" Lailah asked. "Who? Why?"

The white gnoll looked at the sky, his eyes distant. "Six moons ago, a terrible beast entered our lands from over the eastern mountains. Our priests could not quell its rage, and no weapon we brought to bear could avail against it; and so, we were powerless when the beast claimed Selardi's grove as its warren. My people had sworn an oath to Selardi to defend the grove- with our very lives, if need be- and for our failure to keep this oath, Selardi punished us, twisting our forms and our minds into those of beasts. As a priest of Lady Nane, I alone was spared, but she could not protect me entirely- while she preserved my mind, my body was ravaged by the curse, twisted into what you see before you now."

"Then…" Holly began with a trembling voice. "The gnolls from yesterday… they're… your people?"

Whitemane looked back to the group, sadness in his eyes. "Yes. Every one of them was once a man or woman like you. But Selardi's curse has twisted them beyond all recognition."

Fiann stepped forward, something written in her journal. Minze read it: "'This beast that invaded your lands. Describe it.'"

Whitemane looked at Fiann and Minze, surprised. But, he complied: "I have never seen anything of its like before, and pray I never shall again- the creature was as tall as a tower, and its body covered in scales as hard as iron. Its eyes were like flames, the ground shook when it walked, and its roars as loud as thunder. But what I remember most clearly… are its heads. It had six of them. Each one coiling over the other, snarling and snapping, spitting clouds that melted the very flesh from one's bones."

Abel blinked. "Six heads…"

Raine looked over to Minze. "Looks like your guess was right, Miss Maid. Sounds like a hydra to me."

"But, didn't Lailah say that hydras didn't have a breath weapon?" Holly asked.

"I only said that dragonoids are unable to breathe fire," the priestess replied. "Certain species do possess breath weapons, although hydras aren't typically one of them. This may be a specimen with a unique mutation."

"So… what?" Claire began. "We kill this monster and you all go back to normal?"

Whitemane gave a small nod. "That is my hope, yes."

Fiann hastily scrawled something, which Minze then read. "'But… what if you're wrong? What if your god is not appeased, and your curse remains even after this beast is slain?'"

Whitemane shook his head. "Lady Nane told me our salvation would come from a ship that would arrive here, at this ruined city. And now, you who were aboard that ship stand before me." He leaned forward. "I will admit, I have received only a few revelations from Lady Nane. But I assure you, every one I have received has come to pass."

Fiann scowled, before writing down something else. But, Minze didn't read it aloud. "Fiann, that is quite excessive, don't you think?" But Abel caught what the bard had written in her journal:

[A god that would so readily curse an entire nation is not one easily appeased.]

Abel didn't fault Fiann for her words. If anything, he actually agreed with the bard. A wandering priest that had once visited Seles when he was younger said that the gods were quick to take offense, and slow to forgive- even if one performed all the correct steps to atone for one's sins, forgiveness was not always granted. It wasn't exactly a comforting thought, and considering the situation Whitemane and his people faced-

"You seek an altar, yes?" Whitemane then asked, seemingly sensing Abel's hesitation.

"How did you know that?" Abel asked in turn, taken aback.

"It was part of Lady Nane's most recent revelation. She told me that after the curse was lifted, our savior would request only one thing in return: to pray at Selardi's altar." He drew near, looming over Abel. "Should you slay the beast that defiled Selardi's grove, I will guide you to her altar myself."

It seemed that this Nane- or, Minerva- had even predicted the best way to entice Abel if he hesitated. But even so… "…If we go to fight this beast, we may end up running into more of your people. We might have to fight them, maybe even kill them. We've killed some of your people already. Can you… accept that?"

Whitemane looked away, eyes full of pain. "…I have no love for the beasts my people have become, but they are my people all the same. I would ask that you spare them… but I know too well they would grant you no such mercy." He then looked back to Abel, his eyes clear and determined. "If you must defend yourself, then do not hesitate. If some must be lost so the whole may be saved… then I will shoulder the burden of their sacrifice."

Abel could feel the white gnoll's gaze weigh upon him, like a heavy stone on his shoulders. Whitemane had every confidence that Abel would be the one to save his people… but even if they did slay this beast, there was no guarantee that the curse would be lifted, and that all would return to normal. Abel wished he could have that amount of faith.

And through everything, Niel had been silent. Abel was certain the angel would have opposed Whitemane at every turn, insisting his word could not be trusted, that he was trying to lead them all into a trap… but, what choice did he have? As he suspected, finding the altar and slaying the beast Sion mentioned were bound together.

And in any case… he was a Hero, wasn't he? Slaying a mighty beast to free a whole nation from a curse… that was exactly the kind of thing a Hero was meant to do. And it seemed Niel wasn't about to naysay him anytime soon.

Abel sighed, before looking back to Whitemane. "Alright," he said with a nod. "We'll do it."

Whitemane looked surprised at Abel's agreement, but then bowed his head in gratitude. "I am indebted to you and your companions. Now…" He reached up, taking his staff into his hand. "Let us go. There are many dangers between this place and the grove, but I can guide you safely past the worst of them." He took several steps forward, before he stopped, his gaze turning to Sion. "Sion. I must ask you to stay here."

But Sion shook her head vigorously. "I go."

Whitemane frowned… or Abel assumed the strange grimace was the white gnoll's closest approximation of one. "This is not your fight. I cannot allow you to endanger yourself for my people's sake."

But Sion shook her head again. "You help me. So, I help you now. Is fair… yes?"

Whitemane's brow furrowed for a moment… before his expression softened he sighed. "Very well." He gestured for the group to follow him as he made his way out of the plaza.

---

"Miss Meltrose?" Holly said. "There was something I wanted to ask you."

"Another question about my magic?" the president asked in turn.

"Well, yes, actually. I'd always heard that mages needed to recite incantations to use spells. But the incantation for the translation spell you used on Whitemane and Sion was very… unusual."

Claire's lip twisted. "That wasn't a question. But, I can explain what happened. Normally, incantations are a necessary step to spellcasting- they allow a mage to properly direct the flow and shape their mana needs to take to properly activate a spell. But if a mage casts a spell with enough frequency, they'll begin to unconsciously mold their mana into the form required to cast the spell, without needing to recite the full incantation. It's similar to how a musician can play a song on an instrument without having to think about where to place their fingers."

"Ah, I love it when you talk all technical," Raine said, seating herself next to Claire.

The president scowled. "And there you are to ruin the moment."

Raine stretched out, legs extended toward the campfire. "So, where's the sudden interest in magic coming from, Jugs? You planning on switching jobs to Mage?"

Holly looked down, embarrassed. "No, nothing like that. I just always wondered how magic worked. My physician said that because of my illness, I have poor mana circulation, so I've never been able to use it myself."

"Is that right?" Raine leaned back, looking to the sky. "Y'know, I've got bad mana circulation, too. It's the reason why I made a pact with a fire spirit in the first place." She then looked to Holly. "You could do the same thing I did- find a spirit to make a pact with, I mean. Since it's the spirit's mana you'd be using, it'd bypass your circulation problem."

Before any more could be said, Abel approached, setting down a plate laden with sandwiches. "Here you go."

Holly's eyes sparkled, and she quickly took one. "Ah. Thanks"

Claire however, was much less enthusiastic, eyeing the plate suspiciously. "That… seems like a bit much."

"Whitemane says we have a few days before we reach the grove," he replied. "We need to keep our strength up. And, it's been getting harder to keep our fresh supplies… uh, fresh. We should use them before they spoil."

"C'mon, Prez, just eat one," Raine said, already halfway through her own sandwich. "Blue's actually a decent cook."

Claire still looked apprehensive, but relented, and took one of the sandwiches. She took a bite, and her eyes widened in surprise… but she quickly suppressed the emotion. "It's… alright, I suppose. It doesn't hold a candle to my family's personal chef, though." As she said this, she took another sandwich. "Then again, Mavorian chefs are some of the finest in the world, so I suppose to be expected." Then another. "His specialty were rolls that he'd stuff with cheese imported from Argrytis." And another. "He'd put the cheese inside the dough, so that when the rolls were finished baking, the cheese inside would be perfectly melted-"

"Hey, what do you think you're doing!?" Holly said sharply.

Claire gave the mercenary a cold glare. "Is there a problem?"

Raine looked over, tilting her head. "I'm pretty sure those sandwiches were meant for all of us."

Claire looked down at herself. She'd already piled five sandwiches onto her lap, and was midway through reaching to grab a sixth. "Oh."

The witch smirked. "Told ya he was a good cook. Still, it wouldn't hurt for Blue to expand his menu. I'd love to have some fried eggs right about now." Her gaze turned to Holly. "What about you, Jugs? If you could have any meal you wanted, right now, what would it be?"

"Me? Well…" Holly thought for a moment. "In my hometown, there's a vegetable soup, with all these spices mixed in. It was the perfect thing to warm you up on a cold winter night. And it was delicious, too."

"Figures that Vulkans would be fans of spicy food…" Raine said with a nod.

It had been roughly a week and a half since the group set out from Ulara, following Whitemane as he guided them to Selardi's grove. The white gnoll's guidance had been vital in steering them around various threats: monsters, roving bands of gnolls… but he could not anticipate everything. There were still creatures lurking in the shadows that attacked without provocation- ants the size of dogs, bats as large as horses, and spiders bigger than the former two combined. But strange as they were, they bled like any other creature, and the group made short work of them. But some of the creatures they found were much more alien, and thus, more dangerous: one was a creature Whitemane had called an "alraune," a massive flower that tried to ensnare them with vines and pull them into its bud, a massive maw lined with sharp teeth. Another was one they never saw, but only heard- a creature that made strange, mournful cries that seemed to come from every direction. Whitemane named it a "leshy," a spirit that tried to lure travelers into the forest until they became hopelessly lost. But the most unsettling encounter by far was a clearing overgrown by enormous mushrooms, with human-shaped stems. Whitemane refused to identify them, instead steering the group away from the clearing as quickly as possible, instructing them to breathe as little and as lightly as they could. It was only later that he learned precisely what they'd encountered: matangos, parasitic mushrooms that could grow inside the bodies of animals, taking over their minds and bodies, all while shedding spores that would go on to infect other living things.

But in spite of the dangers, with each day, the group drew closer to their destination. By Whitemane's own estimate, they were only a few days away from his people's city, Manaan, and by extension, Selardi's grove. The number of monsters they had encountered when first setting out from Ulara had diminished rapidly, no doubt to give the monster lurking in the grove a wide berth. And with the risk of attacks diminishing by the day, the group could afford to travel at a more leisurely pace, and the tense silence that had dominated the early days had given way to idle conversations.

Raine's attention shifted again, this time to Abel. "And you, Blue? What meal would you wanna have right now?"

He stammered. "Uh, I… well, um… I… don't know."

Raine tilted her head, eyes narrowed further. "Blue, are you seriously saying you don't know what your favorite food is?"

Abel scratched his face, looking away. "I… I've never really thought about it. I know it wouldn't be anything spicy, though…" Master Rachel's preferred way of punishing him for his mistakes was to add so much pepper to his meals that they were rendered inedible. Even now, even a faint scent of pepper was enough to make his tongue twitch painfully.

"Huh. When we get back to civilization, I'm force-feeding you a bunch of food 'til we find something you like." Raine's eyes cracked open, sweeping over Abel briefly. "Although… I've got a hunch that you're a fan of sweets. Now then… Sis!" She turned to Lailah. "What's your favorite food?"

"Well, I wouldn't necessarily call it my favorite…" Lailah began, "…but, the first time I traveled to Hokes from Apollonia, while I was in Lohan, I found a stall that served this absolutely amazing bowl of beef and rice. The beef was dipped in this sauce that was… I'm not sure what would describe it best. Tangy? Sweet? Either way, it was incredible. If I think about it, I feel like I can still taste it…"

"Uh, Miss Lailah?" Holly said. "You're drooling."

Lailah quickly wiped her mouth, face reddening. At the same time, Raine said, "That good, huh? Well, once we head back, we should see if we can find this place. Sounds like it'd be a perfect spot for Blue to take you to on a date."

Suddenly, there was a roar of fire. The inside of the pan Abel was using to cook had erupted into flames as Minze recoiled. But the maid recovered quickly, and placed a lid over the pan, smothering the flames within. "Sir Abel, please be more mindful of your actions. You could have injured yourself. Or others."

"I-I'm sorry," Abel stammered.

"What are you getting all flustered for?" the witch asked. "You already hang around with Sis all the time. It's not like anything'll be different without the rest of us there."

Abel's mind raced as he searched for some topic to steer the conversation away from himself. Fortunately, one was readily on hand. "I-I think we should be more focused on how we should fight this hydra. Anyone have any ideas?"

"And there you go changing the subject…" Raine said glumly.

"It's not like someone's written a manual on how to slay hydras, degenerate," Claire said. "Between the Vinland Wars and today, only about six or seven have been sighted. And the last time one was slain happened two hundred years ago."

"Two hundred twenty-eight, to be precise," Violet added. "A hydra crossed the border into southern Cybele, and the imperials sent a division of their army to slay it. They succeeded, but of the hundred and fifty men sent, only a third survived."

Minze had a contribution of her own: "In fairness, that particular hydra was both the largest ever recorded, and had ten heads- the most seen on a single specimen."

"I hate to say this, but I don't think we'll be mustering an army that size around here any time soon," Raine replied.

Abel's attention turned to Lailah. "Lailah, you've studied monsters, right? Do you know anything about hydras that might help us?"

Lailah made an odd face. For a moment, Abel's stomach clenched, worried that he'd somehow offended her- just because she was… what she was, that didnt mean she knew everything about all monsters. But after a moment, the priestess merely replied, "Im sorry, but I don't know much more than what I've already told you. Because hydras are so rare, there aren't many chances to study them."

That didn't bode well. The less they knew about the hydra- assuming it was a hydra in the first place- the less chances they would have to prepare. But then, Violet spoke up, asking, "Mister… Whitemane. You said the monster breathed clouds that melted flesh?"

The white gnoll nodded firmly. "Yes. Even the barest touch could cause grievous wounds."

Violet was silent for a moment, deep in thought. "I cannot be certain without a sample… but I believe this breath weapon may be acidic in nature," the alchemist finally said. "There are formulae capable of neutralizing such corrosive substances, but I cannot guarantee I will be able to find the necessary components to create them." She then looked toward Minze. "Minze, I trust I can rely on your assistance?"

"Of course, My Lady," Minze replied with a nod.

That was a start, Abel supposed. But…

"Uh-oh," Raine began. "Alright Blue, what's bothering you?"

Abel sighed. "I'm worried about the hydra, or whatever's in that grove waiting for us. I feel like we're all just going in blind, without any real strategy."

"Until we know what's waiting for us, there's only so much we can do to prepare," Lailah replied.

"Besides, fighting the hydra as soon as we find it is the last thing we want to do," Seth added. "One of the most important things I learned in my time as the Ghost was to gather information about your enemy. Learn their habits, study their environment for elements you can use to your advantage, and once you eliminate as many unknowns as you can… then you move against them."

Whitemane let out a small chuckle, which sounded more like a growl than anything. "Your companions seem quite wise," he said. "You should heed their words."

"But…" Abel began.

But the white gnoll shook his head. "'Each day is appointed its own burden.' To slay the beast in Selardi's grove is a weighty task, but the time to take up that burden is not yet upon us. For now…" Whitemane trailed off, his ears twitching. Slowly, he turned, drawing his staff.

"...What? 'For now' what?" Violet asked, looking around warily.

"For now…" he repeated, before touching the tip of his staff- magic began to gather there, taking the form of swirling green lights. "…We defeat the enemies standing in front of us." Then the gnoll thrust his staff out to the surrounding trees. "Garu!" The lights flew from the tip of his staff, turning into a spiraling column of wind that struck a massive spider descending from above on a thread. The creature was slammed into a nearby tree and dropped to the ground, lifeless, its body crushed by the impact.

The surrounding trees began to shake, and more spiders emerged from their branches. Abel drew his sword, as the others readied their own weapons. "The enemies in front of us…" he muttered. "I can handle that."

---

The group's encounter with the spiders was the last one before arriving in Manaan. The city stood at the base of a mountain that Whitemane called "Kasu," once so distant, now looming over the surrounding landscape. Manaan was as much a surprise to Abel as anything else. He had imagined it as a small, primitive settlement not unlike Seles, with some rudimentary houses but little else. But Manaan was far larger than that- not as large as the bigger cities, like Lohan or Aglis, but bigger than the smaller towns like Hokes or Fueno. The walls of buildings were made of stone- even the streets were paved with large stone slabs. Banners of all kinds, in seemingly every hue imaginable, hung from buildings, stretched across roads, and waved from poles. Stalls lined the streets, their wares proudly displayed. Everything about Manaan gave the impression of a bustling city… aside from the fact that it was completely empty. And evidence suggested it had been empty for a while. The banners were torn and frayed, their once-vibrant colors faded; the wares of the stalls were cracked, chipped, broken, or slowly rotting away into nothing; gardens were overgrown, and vines had begun to creep across the paved streets, up the walls and buildings as nature slowly began to reclaim the city.

A sense of dread and foreboding hung over Manaan. Abel couldn't help but feel like he was intruding on a ghost town. And he was far from the only one. "You… live here?" Sion asked warily.

"Yes," Whitemane replied. "I did."

"I imagine it must have been quite a city, during its time," Violet observed.

"It's time is not yet passed," the gnoll said firmly. "We will free my people from this curse, and Manaan will return to its former glory."

"Looking forward to it," Raine replied. "But first, we need to deal with this beast. Where's the grove?"

Whitemane pointed ahead, toward the mountain. "On the far end of the city, near Kasu's base."

"Alright then. Let's go."

As the group moved through Manaan, Abel found himself unable to shake off the feeling of unease. And as the mountain loomed ever closer, he discovered why- the far side of the city was in ruin. Stone buildings lie shattered into pieces, bodies mixed among the rubble, reduced to shriveled husks and bare bones. Deep gouges lay in the earth, overturned by some great force, and the ground was painted by dark marks that could only have been blood."Well then…" Raine muttered faintly.

"Still no sign of that beast," Seth began. "But it sure looks like it came through here."

Violet had strayed from the others a short distance, examining some of the rubble. "Look at this," she said, picking up a stone and showing it to the others. There was a small hollow in the top with a liquid inside, bubbling and giving off a small cloud of steam.

Lailah looked at the stone curiously. "What is that?"

"Acid." The alchemist grimaced as she set the stone down, being careful to not let the liquid spill. "Even after all this time, it has yet to lose its potency."

"This hydra leaves quite the trail behind," Claire said. "I doubt we'll have much trouble finding it once we reach this grove."

"How much further is it?" Abel asked.

"It is not far now," Whitemane replied. "We need only cross the fields outside the east gate, and we will reach the grove."

The group continued onward, passing through Manaan's eastern gate. The destruction outside was far more extensive than within the city proper, the ruins giving way to utter desolation that stretched to the mountain base. Once had once been farmer's fields were now flat, blackened patches of ground, stretching as far as the eye could see, at least where the ground wasn't torn open by craters and deep gouges. It was obvious a battle had taken place here- a massive one, fought on an enormous scale. Abel had encountered plenty of monsters thus far, but even so, could all of this destruction have been inflicted by just one?

They crossed the desolate plains, looking about at the destruction."It's terrible…" Holly said.

"How does one repair damage such as this?" Violet asked.

Whitemane sighed. "I do not know. I pray Lady Nane will guide me to a solution. For Manaan's sake."

Abel looked around. But amid the blackened earth and the cold grey of Kasu's stony slopes, he spotted something out of place: a splash of green. Tress. Tucked into a hollow on the mountain's base, large enough to let several wagons through, and open to the sky above. Felled and broken trees, but trees nonetheless. "Looks like we found it," Raine said.

"But how do we get close?" Seth asked. "There aren't many places for us to hide." The thief was right- though the hollow's entrance was turned slightly away from them, to the north, there was little in terms of cover between it and the city. Anything lurking within would have a clear view of their approach.

Fiann took out her journal and wrote something. Minze read it: "'Perhaps we should begin observations here. The beast may leave its lair to hunt for prey.'"

Raine nodded. "Not a bad idea. Let's find somewhere we can hide."

The group took shelter in a crater in the plains, large enough to hide all of them, but shallow enough that they could easily hide themselves should the need arise. And for the next few hours, they watched the grove for any sign of activity. The sun began to set, bathing everything in an orange glow as it sank below the horizon. But nothing changed. There was no movement within the grove- not even the trees waving their branches in the wind, as if the wind itself was afraid to enter.

"Still nothing…" Claire muttered, watching the grove from their vantage point. She looked back. "How can we be sure it hasn't moved on?"

A response came, surprisingly, from Sion. She swept her arm over the surrounding landscape. "Look around. No monsters."

Claire tilted her head, eyes narrowed. "So?"

"Actually, Sion's right," Lailah replied. "When a powerful monster claims an area as its territory, weaker monsters normally flee, and stay away until the more powerful monster either dies, or leaves the area. If the hydra had moved on, there would be other monsters here, fighting to claim its territory. But we haven't run into anything over these past two days." She peeked over the crater's rim, toward the grove. "Something's in there, if not the hydra."

"Well, let's give it more time," Seth said. "It'll have to come out to hunt eventually."

More time passed. But the thief's words did not hold true. The night wore on, but still there was no sign that the hydra planned to emerge any time soon. Eventually, the group finally decided enough was enough, and they needed to move in for a better look. They snuck closer to the grove, staying low moving quickly between one crater or ridge to the next, to stay out of sight as much as possible. At one particular ridge, as the group stopped to catch its breath and ensure they remained unseen, Holly asked in a low voice, "Miss Lailah, you said earlier that monsters will run if a stronger monster drives them out of their territory, right? Do you think that's why the hydra came here? Because it was driven out even stronger?"

"That's not impossible…" the priestess began. "But considering how strong hydras are said to be, I can't imagine there'd be many monsters able to drive one out of its own territory."

Abel recalled something that Niel had told him in their first visit to Lohan: "Niel said that when a new Overlord emerges, monsters begin to seek out and attack places with large populations of humans. Maybe that's why it came here."

Lailah nodded. "That's also a possibility…"

"As much as it troubles me to say it, hunting humans may have been the beast's goal," Whitemane replied. "When the beast claimed the grove for itself and Selardi laid her curse upon my people, it seemed to lose all interest in pursuing us."

Something tapped on Abel's shoulder. It was Fiann, holding open her journal. Inside, she'd written, [Perhaps the gnoll's gods moved this beast into your path to stop you from ending their curse. I'm aware that the gods worshiped outside Brighid enjoy tormenting mortals under the guise of testing their faith.]

Abel's mouth opened… but, he found himself unable to refute the bard's words. The priests that visited Seles often said that life's hardships were caused by the gods- sometimes as a test of faith, sometimes simply because they could, regardless of whether their victim had done anything to warrant it. Setting aside Selardi's curse, it was suspicious that the hydra moved into the area before he and the others arrived… but was it more than a coincidence? Or was he letting his past experiences color his perception of the gods and their motives? He sighed, shaking his head to clear away the thoughts. "It doesn't matter why the hydra's here. It's in our way, and we need to deal with it. That's all."

Fiann frowned, eyes narrowing. But she said no more, shutting her journal.

The group continued its approach. They made it to the edge of the grove, where the trees began, and stopped there, looking about cautiously. There was still no sign of movement or danger. "I don't see it," Holly whispered, peering among the trees.

"Quiet," Claire hissed.

Whilemane crouched down, leaning forward on one arm, sniffing the air. "It is here," he said, after a moment. "Further in."

"How far?" Raine asked. She drew her Vajra, the weapon extending to its longer form.

Whitemane returned to his feet. "I cannot say."

"Then let's get searching." She stepped forward, leading the way into the grove, leaving behind the desolate plains for the twisted, broken remains of the grove. Trees had been battered aside and overturned, as if something large had forced its way through them, The undergrowth was thick and tangled, the branches and stems and grass and fallen trees weaving together to form an almost impassible thicket. To better conceal themselves, the group moved among the trees that remained standing, using the trunks to mask their movement. But even as they proceeded deeper, they found nothing, they saw nothing, they heard nothing… and that deeply unsettled Abel. This beast was capable of causing death and destruction on a vast scale- he needed only look outside the grove for proof of that. There should be signs of its presence- damage, perhaps, or some sort of nest, somewhere it could retreat to when it wasn't hunting. But there was nothing. They hadn't so much as seen any footprints or tracks. It was as if the monster didn't exist at all. If not for Lailah and Whitemane's insistence that the hydra was near, he would have believed that the beast had moved on. Abel shook his head, trying to clear away the doubts as he followed the others further into the grove, moving with silent precision, scanning his surroundings warily every moment.

Then, they found… something. But, it wasn't the hydra, or any beast for that matter. It was a slab of white stone, set upon two similar, but smaller slabs. It was much larger than the ones he'd seen before- about the size of a large table, where the others were closer in size to a small bench- but Abel recognized it in an instant. "What is that?" Claire asked.

For a moment, Abel concentrated, feeling a tug on his amulet in the altar's direction. "It's… one of Alondight's altars," he replied. But, why was it here? Was this supposed to be Selardi's altar? Or-

Any further speculation was interrupted by a deep rumbling that Abel didn't hear, as much as he felt throughout his whole body. He whipped around, as did everyone else, in the direction of the rumbling. And in that moment, time stood still.

It was like nothing Abel had ever seen before- not even in his nightmares. A monster, yes, but not merely a monster. A titan- that was the only word that could describe it. Just as Whitemane said, it had six heads, and all glared down at the group with blazing, hateful eyes. But what the gnoll hadn't passed on, was the sheer scale of the thing. It towered above them, dwarfing everything around it. Each head had a pair of glowing eyes, crowned by a pair of thick, spiraling horns. Its scales, as thick as a stone, were a mottled mix of black and green. It stood on four legs, as wide around as a tree trunk, and tipped with black claws so long and sharp they looked as if they could tear through steel. But its mouths… each was filled with what must have been rows of sharp teeth, now worn down to barely-recognizable stumps, the scales around them bleached white, exhaling small wisps of green smoke with every breath.

Only now did Abel understand what had happened. It knew. The beast had known they were coming, and deliberately drew them in.

"Ambush!" Raine shouted. She braced her Vajra against her shoulder and took aim…

…but three of the hydra's heads lunged at the group, jaws wide. Everyone scattered in panic- Holly leapt to one side, barely avoiding one head's grasp, while Claire and Seth dove into the underbrush on the other side. Even Whitemane, who had been standing closest to the creature, managed to leap just in time to avoid being snatched up in the hydra's jaws. As he scrambled to safety, Abel lost sight of everyone else, before turning back to face the hydra again.

He froze for a moment, as he stared at the monstrous creature. Every instinct in his body told him to run. To put as much distance between himself and this beast as he could… but he refused. Focusing, he drew his sword, wings of light flickering to life on his back, and rushed toward the beast. The hydra roared, one of its heads snapping its jaws at him in a near-miss, only for another head to lunge at him from the side. He flew up, and out of the head's reach, only for yet another head to snake through the air in pursuit. He darted to the side just as the head reached him, turning back to slash at the hydra's head. His blade cut deep with a spray of blood, but it was nowhere close to a killing blow.

The head turned toward Abel, eyes blazing. It hissed, thin wisps of green smoke billowing from its mouth. But before it could begin whatever plan it had in store, a gravelly voice shouted, "Zandyne!" Abel then felt as if he'd been hit with a wall of air, almost being knocked out of the sky. But the hydra was blown back, rolling over from whatever force had struck it. Abel looked down, to see Whitemane, staff extended. He touched the tip of his staff, changing the flickering white light at the tip into a glowing green. "We need to retreat!" Whitemane called out, just as the hydra began to right itself again. "Now!"

Abel complied, returning to the ground to follow the white gnoll. Inside the grove, the hydra had the advantage- all it had to do was breathe out a large enough acidic cloud, and all of them would be dead. They needed to lure it into the open, where its acid would be less effective. They ran back to the grove's entrance, following Whitemane's lead- but the hydra was fast, far faster than it should have been for its size, and would catch up to them with ease. He had to do something, to at least distract the beast long enough for them to get out of the grove.

Abel stopped, his wings igniting, before he flew back at the hydra. It barely even slowed down, with only one of its heads turning its attention toward him, snapping forward with its jaws wide. With ease, Abel darted to the side, before lunging back, driving his sword into the beast's neck. The hydra roared in pain and its charge finally came to a halt as its other heads turned their full attention toward him. Two more heads lunged toward him from each side- Abel flew forward, beyond their reach, dragging his blade through the hydra's flesh all the while. The wounded head screeched in pain, while the others roared in fury. He pulled back, just as one of the heads lunged at him… directly into the path of another head which struck from below.

There wasn't enough time to avoid the attack… as if the hydra had timed it deliberately. So Abel called a sword of light to his hand, and swung it around himself as the beast's jaws began to close around him. It cleaved through flesh and bone with ease, splattering Abel with hot, black blood, and the beast's jaw flopped back open as if it were the peel of a banana. But there was no time to relax, as yet another head was already snapping at him… or so he thought. But instead, the hydra closed its fangs around the neck of the wounded head. Darting to a safe distance, he watched, baffled, as the hydra's other heads savagely tore at the wounded head's neck, as if… trying to tear it off. Then, with a sickening tearing sound and a pained growl, the remaining heads tore the wounded one from the hydra's trunk. They then tossed it aside, the severed head and neck falling limply to the ground, severed jaw flapping limply.

Abel could only stare in horror. But he regained his composure. He needed to get back to the others. Surely, he'd given them enough time to escape from the grove. So he turned, flying away from the hydra, in the direction of the blasted fields and the abandoned Manaan. Behind him, he heard the hydra roar, which spurred him to fly even faster.

But all at once, he began to slow, and to descend toward the ground. He glanced back, to see the hydra had already resumed the chase. How could his mana reserves have run out already? Had the last attack truly drained him so much? Then, something slammed into Abel's back. His wings went out, and for several terrifying seconds, he fell, before landing painfully on the ground, rolling and tumbling for several moments before he finally came to a stop, sprawled face-down on the ground. Groaning, he began to lift himself up, only for something- someone- to grab him by the back of his collar, and throw him onto their shoulder before running away from the hydra. At the same time, loud cracks like thunderbolts rang out around him. The world spun, and then he saw Raine, her Vajra braced against her shoulder, firing at the hydra. He only had a few moments to take in the sight, however, before whoever was carrying him leapt into a crater, and set him down. Looking up, he saw that his savior was Fiann. She looked him over briefly, before tilting her head.

"I'm alright," he replied. "Where are the others?"

Fiann looked around, pointing in a few directions. He followed her finger; Lailah, Violet, and Minze were hiding among some nearby debris one way, Holly and Seth hid behind a ridge in another direction, and Claire and Whitemane had stepped into the open to help Raine. For a moment, the bard's gaze lingered on the hydra, seemingly taking notice of its missing head, before her gaze turned back to him, eyes wide.

"The hydra did that to itself," he said. "After I wounded it." He climbed up the crater's edge. "Come on, we gotta get back out there and help the others!"

Fiann nodded, and followed him back into the open. The hydra was still advancing, its remaining heads hissing as wisps of corrosive smoke leaked from its jaws. Raine's Vajra had barely put a dent in it- black blood leaked from its fresh wounds, but they were too small Raine's Vajra had barely put a dent in it- black blood leaked from its fresh wounds, but they were too small to hinder the beast in any meaningful way. But as soon as it noticed him, the hydra's attention immediately fixed on Abel. Eyes blazing with hateful fury, one of the heads lunged, but before he could react, Fiann darted in front of him, axe flashing as she batted it aside with a spray of blood. The hydra reeled, and the head snapped around, hissing, plumes of green smoke erupting from its nostrils. But before it could strike Fiann again, Claire intoned, "Piercing bolts of heaven… Thunder Arrow!" and three bolts of light flew from her hand. The bolts struck their target, making the whole hydra seize momentarily as it roared in pain. Seeing his opening, Abel charged toward the beast, joined by a few of the others. As soon as he was in range, he drove his sword into the base of one of the hydra's necks. Hot blood splattered against Abel, but as before, the blow was nowhere near a fatal blow. The hydra roared, and pulled back, flinging Abel off and sending him skidding across the ground.

As he struggled to rise, the others continued their charge. But the hydra turned, whipping its massive tail at its foes. Raine and Seth, the most nimble of the group, evaded the attack; Holly, unwisely, tried to use her shield to block the strike, and was knocked back; and Minze and Lailah scrambled to retreat outside the hydra's reach. But Fiann rushed forward, grabbing hold of the hydra before it could turn away. Abel scrambled to where Holly had fallen, calling out, "Holly are you alright!?" He held out his hand, bathing the mercenary in a white light.

"I… I'm fine," Holly groaned, as she slowly staggered back to her feet. There was another loud roar which drew Abel's attention. Fiann had cut a deep gouge into one of the hydra's necks, black blood pouring from it like a fountain. But the other heads had turned their attention toward her and lunged. She leapt back, just barely avoiding one head, only to put herself in the path of another. The head closed its jaws around her… but Fiann raised her arms and held the beast's jaws open with her bare hands, even as its teeth pierced her palms. Her arms quivered with the strain, and her boots dug furrows into the ground as the hydra pushed her forward, but the bard held the beast at bay. But the hydra would not be denied- its jaws began to close once again, slowly but surely, wisps of green beginning to flow from deep within its maw…

Until a thunderous crack rang out. The head recoiled and flung Fiann aside, thrashing and screeching in pain, blood flowing from its eye like black tears. Several more cracks rang out, and a spurt of black blood sprayed from the hydra's other eye. In spite of its blindness however, the head lunged for its attacker- Raine. The witch narrowly avoided the attack, before turning her weapon back on the beast. "Come on!" she taunted. "I got plenty left!"

The wound Fiann had inflicted on the hydra's neck was deep, but hadn't been enough to disable the head it was attached to. Abel's mana hadn't fully recovered… but what he had would have to suffice. His steel simply wasn't long enough, or strong enough, to do what he needed done. "Holly, help Fiann!" he ordered, before rushing toward the hydra. One of the heads noticed and lunged- a quick burst from his wings pushed him forward and just outside its reach. But as soon as his feet touched the ground, Abel lunged forward, summoning a blade of light into his hand and driving it into the hydra's neck. Black blood splattering across Abel, and the hydra roared in pain. But with a final push, the blade carved through the remaining flesh, and the hydra's head toppled to the ground like a massive tree, twitching and spasming in its final moments.

Abel's triumph was short-lived, however- the four remaining heads fixed their gaze on Abel with furious roars, eyes blazing, green wisps flowing from their mouths and nostrils. Abel recoiled from a sudden pain in his arms. To his horror, that same green smoke was billowing from the stumps of the severed heads as well. "Abel look out!" Raine shouted.

But it was too late. The heads opened their jaws and exhaled a great cloud of corrosive mist. Instantly, pain flared across Abel's whole body, as if a thousand razors were cutting into his flesh all at once. He tried to cry out, but only choked noises escaped him, as though his throat had been set ablaze. His muscles shuddered, and he collapsed onto the ground, unable to move.

"Abel!"

Then something grabbed Abel around the waist, and pulled him from the corrosive mist. He stumbled and fell, landing hard on his side. As the pain faded, Abel's vision cleared, and he saw Lailah kneeling next to him. Her clothes were frayed and torn, and the skin of her arms and legs were red and blistered. She laid a hand against his chest, and for a single moment, her eyes turned red, and her pupil narrowed into a thin slit, as she said, "Rayn." Heal. Something emanated from her hand- not the familiar brilliant white of his own spells, but not quite shadow, either. The only thing that Abel could use to describe it was an… un-light. It felt… wrong, in some undefinable way… but even so, the pain faded, and he could finally breathe again. He coughed, gasping for breath, before he began to pull himself up.

Lailah's pupils widened, and the red in her eyes faded. "Are you alright?" she asked.

He was, but before he could answer, Abel spotted something rapidly lunge toward them. Without thinking, he tackled Lailah to the ground, just as one of the hydra's heads shot past them, its jaws snapping only at empty air. Abel scrambled to his feet and to a safe distance… but the priestess didn't follow. Instead, she ran directly at the hydra's head, leaping on top before it could pull back. She took hold of one horn and held it tight, even as the hydra thrashed, trying to throw her off. With her other hand, she raised her spear, before thrusting it into the hydra's skull. The hydra screeched, but Lailah stabbed the hydra again and again, until she drove her spear into the top of the hydra's skull and out through the base of its mouth. The head let out one final, pained cry, before falling to the ground, limp, and lifeless.

The hydra roared. But there was something different about these roars. Before, they were angry, or pained. But now, they sounded panicked- frightened, even. And for good reason: three of its heads had been killed, a fourth was blinded, and gods only knew how much blood it had lost from its wounds. The monster was weakening, and it knew it. For a moment, the hydra stepped back, its lifeless head dragging over the ground, as if it were about to retreat…

But then the three remaining heads tore the fourth from its body, and let out another enraged roar, green smoke billowing from seemingly every hole in its body. But, the hydra didn't attack, or approach. It remained where it was, spewing corrosive clouds that settled over its body like a cloud. But while it didn't advance, the monster didn't retreat, either. It was as if something were forcing it to stay.

Abel's companions, as well as Sion and Whitemane, quickly gathered around. "I guess hoping it would run away after all this was too much to hope for…" Holly said meekly.

"The hydra's growing desperate," Minze said."But that only makes it more dangerous. We need to approach this carefully."

"And how do we do that?" Claire asked, eyeing the cloud. "I doubt we could even get near that thing now."

"I may have a solution for that," Violet replied, before retrieving a brown satchel roughly as big as her head, a small amount of black powder spilling from it.

"And how's that gonna help?" Raine asked.

"Lady Violet and I were unable to find reagents capable of neutralizing acids, so after referring to Master Valerian's notes, we created this instead," Minze replied. "A bomb. And a very powerful one at that."

"We had planned to use it against the hydra in an ambush," the alchemist continued, "…but the hydra ambushed us instead. However, it may still help to turn the tide of this battle."

Seth looked unconvinced. "So what, we throw it out there and wait for the hydra to step on it?"

"Not quite," Minze replied. "We'll attach the bomb to the hydra's body before detonating it."

"And… you think that'll work?" Holly asked.

"Jugs, most living things don't survive having a big hole blasted into them," Raine said, exasperated.

"Minze and I came to the same conclusion," Violet said. "With the amount of wounds the hydra has suffered thus far, this bomb should hopefully be enough to finish it off."

"That sounds promising…" Claire began. "But I think you're forgetting step one of this plan of yours." Again, her gaze fell on the advancing cloud.

Whitemane stepped forward, gripping his staff. "I can blow away the mist with my magic. That should create the opening you need."

"Well, there's step one," Raine said. "But now step two: who's actually gonna carry that thing?"

"Abel should do it," Holly replied. "He can fly in and out. It shouldn't take more than a few seconds."

But Abel shook his head. "I don't think that'll work. I took out two of the hydra's heads; there's no way it won't try going after me as soon as it sees me." He took a moment to think. "…Sion. Sion should take it."

"What, her? Why?" Claire asked.

"Back in Ulara, when she fought all those gnolls, we all saw how fast she was. You said it yourself- you were trained by the best warriors in your homeland, and you could barely keep track of her. If we can keep the hydra's heads focused on us, then Sion can get the bomb near the hydra. It'll be dead before it realized what happened." He looked around. "What do you think?"

"I think we should ask Sion what she thinks about this plan," Raine replied.

Sion seemed confused, but only for a moment, before nodding. "I… can do it."

Whitemane looked down at Sion, stern. "Sion. Are you certain about this?" Sion answered, not with words, but with a single tight-lipped nod. The gnoll's eyes shifted, but in the end, he answered, "…very well."

Violet handed Sion the bomb, explaining carefully how to ignite its fuse- and how she would have around five seconds to get to safety before it went off. The group then split into three, one for each head, taking their positions at ridges nearby- Whitemane took the center, while Sion was in one of the flanking positions. Abel was on the opposite side, Raine and Claire joining him- if he was right, the hydra would fixate on him, giving Sion a chance to slip past. As the others moved into position, Claire said, "Let's hope Miss Promestein's bomb is enough to end this."

"It'll be fine," Raine replied confidently. "Besides, if we work fast enough, we might not even need it."

The president scoffed. "As if we'd be that lucky…"

From a distance away, Abel saw Lailah, who was part of Sion's group, wave toward him. "Alright, Sion's group is ready," he said.

"So am I," Claire said firmly.

"Let's do this," Raine replied, grinning.

With a nod, Abel turned, and waved to Whitemane's group. In response, the white gnoll raised his staff, its tip swirling with glowing green wisps of light, before crying out, "Magarula!" and slammed it against the ground.

A powerful wind swept across the plains. Abel staggered, as if run down by a wall made of air. The corrosive cloud was instantly blown away, leaving the hydra exposed. The remaining heads roared, one turned toward Whitemane's group, the other- along with the blind head- focusing on Abel. Perfect. Things were playing out exactly as Abel hoped they would. "Go, go!" he shouted, and charged toward the hydra.

The beast's attention was instantly drawn to him, and one of the heads lunged. He dodged to the side, striking back with a swing that left a superficial wound but little else. But he wasn't fighting to kill the head. All he needed to do was keep it occupied. And in the edge of his vision, he watched Sion sprint toward the hydra, her feet barely seeming to touch the ground. But Abel was forced to turn away when another head lunged at his side? But then the hydra swung its head and knocked him aside, and he skidded across the ground. The second head was already lunging for where he had fallen, but he focused, ignoring the searing in his temples, and used his wings to push himself back, just outside the hydra's reach. The beast's jaws slammed into the ground less than an arm's reach away. Not exactly the most graceful of escapes, he had to admit.

But it had been enough. Sion had reached the hydra, and jammed the satchel into one of its neck stumps, lit the fuse, and retreated. Mentally, Abel counted in his head. Five, four, three, two, one.

…and nothing. No explosion. He waited another moment, then two, but still, there was nothing. "What the fuck happened?" Claire called, before using her staff to leap over one of the hydra's heads. "Why didn't it go off!?"

"I… I don't know!" Abel stammered. "Something must've gone wrong!"

Sion must have realized something was amiss as well, because Abel saw her skid to a stop, and start running back to the hydra. Unfortunately, the beast saw her as well. All three of its heads turned their attention toward her; one lunged close to the ground, jaws snapping open. Sion leapt, just barely avoiding the beast's fangs.

Leaving herself unable to avoid the second head's lunge.

Sion was knocked aside, and crashed into a nearby ridge with a sickening thud, falling to the ground limply. "Sion!" Before he realized it, Abel was racing toward her. One of the heads took notice and lunged at him, but a burst from his wings pushed him to safety, and he came to a skidding halt next to the elf's body. "Sion! Sion!" Her only reply was a weak, wheezing gasp. The elf was unconscious, blood streaming from a large gash on the side of her head. He picked her up, shaking her. "Come on Sion! Wake up!"

Then he heard a thunderous crash, and turned to see the hydra charging at them, jaws wide. But, there, resting precisely where Sion had placed it, was the bomb. She'd lit the fuse, but it had gone out before reaching the satchel, extinguished by the beast's own blood.

Several cracks rang out as Raine fired her Vajra at the hydra. "Abel get out of there!" she shouted.

But Abel didn't move. Instead, he muttered, placing a hand over his chest, ignoring the pain it caused as golden outlines of scales flashed over his body. Then, placing himself between Sion and the hydra, he aimed his palm toward the hydra- at the bomb. And once the hydra was almost upon him, he shouted "Angel Fire!" White fire erupted from his hand and washed over the satchel.

For a moment, there was only the heat and the light of Abel's flames. Then, there was an explosion. The world went white, and Abel was thrown back- he clung to Sion, curling around her to protect her from the blast. Pain flared across his body as he hit the ground, hard and unyielding. Abel wasn't sure how long he lay there clinging to Sion, but only when his ears finally stopped ringing did he force himself up, and look around.

The hydra had collapsed to the ground. The bomb had blasted a massive hole in its front, severing two of the three remaining heads. But then, the body moved, even as torrents of black blood fell from its wound like little waterfalls. Its final head loomed over Abel, letting out a long, weak growl… before it pitched forward, hitting the ground nearby. The hydra twitched, its claws digging into the earth, its neck and head spasming for a few moments more… before at long last, the beast fell still.

Abel gently laid Sion down, and took a deep breath. He could feel something warm trickling down from his eyes. He touched it, already knowing what it would be: blood. He'd overtaxed his mana again. But, he was alive. They were all alive. And then, the pain began to set in. Every part of his body hurt. His temples pounded like drums, every muscle felt like it had been torn apart and sewn back together. It hurt just to breathe.

But, they had done it.

They had killed the hydra.

They… had won.

Several moments passed before Abel heard something. He realized that it was a voice, calling for him. "Abel! Abel!" Footsteps approached, his gaze was suddenly turned upward, and Abel found himself face to face with Lailah. "Abel, are you alright!?"

"Y-Yeah," Abel croaked, "I'll live." He tried to stand, but the priestess quickly pushed him back down.

"No, you shouldn't move yet! Just… just rest, alright?" she said, worry etching her face as she took hold of his hand.

Abel remained where he was, body pulsing painfully with every breath. As bad as he felt, if he hadn't thought to use Dragonskin on himself, he might not have survived the explosion at all. He wouldn't have been able to keep Sion safe.

Sion…

"Sion!" Abel tried to stand, but a combination of Lailah holding him down and the pain kept him from moving. "Is she okay!? What happened to her?"

"She's alive," Lailah answered, looking down at the elf briefly. "Just unconscious."

There was a commotion of several people approaching, before Raine called out, "Yeah, they're over here!" before she knelt down next to Abel as well. "Hey. Guess we needed that bomb after all, huh Blue?"

Abel couldn't help but chuckle weakly. "…Yeah, I guess we did."

"Alright everyone, step back," a steely voice said. "Give the patients some space." Raine and Lailah complied, allowing Violet and Minze to approach. The alchemist and her maid looked over Sion and Abel respectively, before Minze brought out a small flask, putting it to Abel's lips. It was both incredibly bitter and sour, making him flinch away.

"Ugh, what is this stuff?" he asked.

"A healing potion, mixed with a potion designed to stimulate your body's mana production," Minze replied. "It should help alleviate your mana deprivation symptoms."

Abel nodded, before taking a few sips from the flask. He felt the effects almost immediately: his body began to warm up, his muscles relaxed, the pounding in his head subsided. He felt like himself again, or at least close enough, and found the strength to stand on his own two feet. "What about Sion?" he asked.

"Miss Sion suffered a severe blow to the head," Violet replied, still examining Sion. "We should be able to treat her, but I cannot say for certain when she will regain consciousness."

"I must admit," a gravelly voice said, "for all of their wisdom, I didn't expect your companions to construct such a reckless plan." It was Whitemane, slowly approaching the group. However, something was very much off about the gnoll. His appearance hadn't changed in the slightest… and that was precisely the problem.

"Whitemane," Abel began. "Your curse…"

The white gnoll looked down at one of its claws. "It seems it remains unbroken." He then turned his attention back to Abel. "Even so, you slayed the beast which defiled Selardi's grove, and upheld your end of our agreement. Now it is time I respond in kind."

"But-" Abel began. What Whitemane said was true- he had only needed to slay the hydra to be brought to the altar, but leaving the curse unresolved…

But Whitemane raised a claw to stop him. "Please. Let me settle at least one debt I owe to you."

Abel still had his misgivings. If Niel were awake, she would no doubt have reminded him that the altar was the entire reason that they were there, that any other concerns were secondary. But just leaving Whitemane and his people to their fate-

"Abel," Lailah said. "Go with him."

He turned to look at the priestess, surprised by her firmness "Are you sure?"

"Don't forget why we came here," she replied with the same firmness. "I'm not saying we can't help fix this curse, but we can't forget there are people waiting for us." She looked toward him, with a serious expression. "You understand, don't you?"

A moment in silence passed. Then, slowly, Abel nodded, and replied, "…I understand."

"We'll stay with Sion until she wakes up," Raine added. "Try not to keep us waiting for too long, alright, Blue?"

With a final nod, Abel allowed Whitemane to lead him away from the group, back into Selardi's grove. They passed the destruction, the shattered trees, the withered plants, until at last, the two reached the altar. It stood before them, daunting and silent. Whitemane stepped aside. "Do what you must," he said.

Abel said nothing, merely nodding in reply as he stepped up to the altar. He reached out tentatively, gently laying his hands on the altar. And as before, there was a flash in the center of his vision, and the world went white.

---

When Abel's vision cleared, he found himself in a world of green. On all sides, he was surrounded by plants: grasses and trees and bushes and flowers- all alive and bursting with color. The sky above him was clear and bright, the sun warm on his skin. A gentle breeze blew around him, rustling the leaves and carrying the scent of blooming flowers. Abel took a step forward, taking in his surroundings. This wasn't Selardi's Grove anymore; it was something different entirely. If past experience taught him anything, it was that he was now in the realm of one of the gods. But which god's domain this was, he could not yet say.

Cautiously, Abel moved deeper into the grove. The ground underfoot was soft and spongy, the foliage overhead casting dappled shadows on the ground. All was quiet; the only sounds which broke the silence were the occasional rustle of leaves or the snapping of twigs as he passed. Still, Abel didn't relax- although he had encountered no dangers in Bacchus or Hermes's domains, he couldn't know for certain if that pattern would hold.

After some time, Abel became aware of a new sound emanating through the brush: that of rushing water. Curious, he followed the sound until he came to the foot of a great cliff. Water tumbled over its edge with a great roar, collecting into a crystal clear pool of water that stretched out before him. The water was so clear that he could see straight to the bottom, where pebbles and rocks were scattered about. He approached the edge of the pool, looking down into it, his reflection staring back up at him. Something about his reflection however seemed… off. He knelt down, trying to get a closer look, when a new sound came to his ears.

A gasp of surprise.

Abel turned to its source. Standing nearby in the pool, submerged to her waist, was a girl. A girl with short black hair and brown eyes, her skin darkened by the sun, wearing absolutely nothing to preserve her modesty.

Abel wasn't sure how long he and the girl stood staring at each other, though in truth, it couldn't have been for more than a few seconds. But he was the one to react first, recoiling and turning away, stammering, "U-Um-"

Then the woman sprang at Abel. In a matter of seconds, he was knocked to the ground, the woman seated on his back with a knife to his throat, demanding, "Who are you!? How did you get here!?" Abel could only stammer, which made the woman bring her knife even closer to his throat. "Don't you have anything to say!? Or will I have to cut open your throat to find an explanation!?"

Abel finally managed to force out an answer. "T-Th-The altar! I touched the altar!"

The woman glared down at him, but thankfully finally pulled her knife back. "The altar," she repeated. "Wait… you're Bacchus's brat. How did you get past my hydra?"

"Wait, your hydra? You put it there?" Abel couldn't believe his ears. If this woman was the god he was looking for, it meant that Fiann's words had been completely true. He turned to confront her further.

The woman was in the middle of dressing, and hadn't quite finished. In an instant, she pulled a knife from a sheath on her thigh and pointed it at him. "Are you going to turn away? Or will I have to cut your eyes out to get some privacy?"

Abel quickly turned his back. A moment passed, before he said, "…You didn't answer my question."

"Yes, I sent the hydra to guard my altar," the woman answered brusquely. "Now your turn: how did you get past it?"

Abel's response was just as brusque. "By killing it."

The woman suddenly burst out laughing. "Kill it? You? You share that drunk's taste for poor jokes if nothing else." There was a rustling, as if the woman were unrolling a parchment. "Now let's hear the truth, though I'm sure…" She trailed off, and remained silent for several moments. "…You actually did kill it." She then circled around him, now fully dressed: a dark blue tunic, sandals, and a hood crowned with branches resembling a deer's antlers. "But don't get too full of yourself. You may have slain my hydra, but that's just one beast I have dominion over. And as I recall, your last hunt didn't end too well for you."

Abel seethed, but held his tongue. This woman reminded him of the villagers back in Seles, and not in a good way. Instead, in strained, measured words, he said, "I'm guessing you must be Selardi."

"That is what the people of this region call me," she replied, "but it's only one of many names. Elves the world over know me as Divana; the Vinlanders of old named me Skathi; but it was the Cybelians who gave me the name most now know me by: Artemis."

Her introduction confirmed Abel's suspicions, and he took a deep breath. But before he could say more, the air to his left swung open, and a familiar horned, blue-haired figure stepped through, stooped over and breathing heavily. "Hooh, there you are Abel," Bacchus said. "I was wondering who was in charge of that altar."

Artemis scowled at the intruder, before shifting her attention back to Abel. "It seems your chaperone has come to collect you. I won't lie and tell you it was a pleasure to meet you, so… begone."

Abel stepped forward. "You and I aren't finished yet."

Artemis gave Abel a look as if she were trying to shoot him with arrows from her eyes, hand gripping the handle of her knife. "You are quite bold, to defy a god in her own domain. Now be gone!"

"Not until you lift the curse you put on Whitemane and his people!" Abel took another step toward Artemis. "You cursed them because that hydra defiled your grove! A hydra that you sent there! How can you punish them for something that you did!?"

"Abel!" Bacchus called, grabbing Abel by the arm and pulling him back. "That's enough! You have no idea what you're getting yourself into!"

Artemis folded her arms over her chest, a thoroughly unimpressed expression on her face. "And now you presume to lecture a god on how they should conduct themselves. Your boldness never ceases." She then raised a hand. "...very well." Then, Artemis snapped her fingers. Instantly, a frigid wind passed through the grove, before fading as though it had never happened. "But remember, whelp: it is by my grace that their curse is lifted, not your actions. And you'd do well to remember that." She stalked away, disappearing into the surrounding trees. But when she spoke again, her voice was clear, as if she were still standing next to him: "And give thanks to your patron. She is the only reason you're leaving this place alive. But should you ever set foot in my domain again… I will not be so merciful."

The woods fell silent once more. And again, Bacchus grabbed Abel's arm, quickly pulling him through the entrance she had come. In an instant, the sunny grove was replaced by the shadowy grounds of her villa. Only when the "door" was shut did she finally let Abel go. "So… yeah," the goddess finally said. "That was Artemis."

"Didn't seem to like me very much…" Abel said coldly.

"Artie doesn't really like anyone, to be honest…" Bacchus replied after a sigh. "…You might already know this, but Ilias and I aren't exactly on the best terms. And since Artie's one of Ilias's biggest supporters, you really shouldn't push your luck around her."

Abel was quiet, but his mind raced. He wasn't worried about being on Ilias's bad side- based on his encounter with Cardinal Szandor, he was fairly certain he was already there. It was Artemis that was on his mind. How could that goddess have done something so terrible? Even if Whitemane's people swore an oath to protect her grove, she sent a monster there, for no other reason than to stop him from reaching her altar, and cursed them for failing to prevent a disaster that she herself caused. Did their lives, their suffering, truly mean so little to the goddess that was meant to be their patron? He couldn't understand it. Not in the slightest.

At that moment, someone approached- another horned woman with brown hair, clad in a white robe. "My Lady," Sterope said. "I see you found Lord Abel."

"I did," the goddess replied. "And get this- he was trying to pick a fight with Artie! Can you believe it?"

"Lady Artemis?" She looked at Abel incredulously. "Well you certainly know how to make enemies, don't you, Lord Abel?"

Any response Abel could have given was cut off when a new voice interrupted: "So this is why ya snuck out on me." The voice was feminine, but rough and scratchy, carrying a strange accent Abel couldn't place. He looked around, spotting a black cat stalking toward them. A moment later, the cat said, "An' you's must be the one Bacchi's been goin' on-and-on about."

"Uh…" Abel wasn't sure where to begin. Was a cat really talking to him right now?

"Lord Abel, this is Bastet," Sterope said, as if this was the most natural thing in the world. "Bastet, Lord Abel."

Bacchus rubbed her forehead. "Shit, I'm sorry for running out on you, Bastie. Having a Champion's a lot of work."

The cat, Bastet, let out a laugh. "Oh don't I know it. Runnin' around stressin' ovah every little thing they do… 'S why I nevah bothahed with it. Too much trouble." She trotted up to Abel, leaning against his leg with her paws as if trying to get a better look at him. "Still… he's got some potential. Easy on the eyes too. I can see why ya picked 'im."

Abel couldn't believe what he was hearing. This had to be some kind of joke. Was he actually being hit on… by a cat? But before he could say anything, Bastet pulled back, but not before snaking around his ankles. "Well, I'll let ya get back ta business, Bacchi." Then she looked back, and winked up at Abel. "See ya 'round, big boy." She pawed at the air, which swung open as if an invisible door had been there, and stepped through, disappearing from sight almost immediately.

For a moment, Abel just stared at where the cat had departed, unsure how to react. Seemingly sensing his confusion, Bacchus said, "Oh don't mind Bastet. She may be the god of cats, but she actually really likes humans. Men especially. She's kinda the complete opposite of Artemis there." She then clapped Abel's shoulders. "Anyway, that's two altars now. You're one-quarter of the way there!"

Abel huffed. "It wasn't easy."

"I know. But you've already made it further than most of the other gods expected you to! And you'll keep going, I know you will!" The goddess took a step back. "Anyway, I've kept you long enough. Good luck out there. And keep it up. I wanna be able to brag to all the other gods about how great you are." Then, as before, Bacchus touched Abel's forehead with her finger, filling his vision with a white light.

---

Abel found himself standing in front of the altar in Selardi's grove once more. "You've returned," Whitemane said. "It is finished, then?"

He took his hands off the altar, and turned to face Whitemane. But as he did, he saw that the white gnoll was still just that: a gnoll. He grit his teeth, seething silently. Artemis had lied to him. She hadn't released Whitemane and his people from her curse, and had seemingly no intention to. But Abel suppressed his anger, replying curtly. "Yeah. It's finished."

"Then let us return to the others. Perhaps Sion has awakened while-" Whitemane's words were cut off by an abrupt choking sound. He doubled over, clutching his chest, his eyes wide and breaths ragged.

"Whitemane!" Abel rushed over. "What's wrong!?"

The white gnoll fell to his knees, gasping. He curled up, shuddering, letting out cries Abel didn't know a living thing could make. Abel could only stand and stare in horror, not knowing what to do. Then came the snaps and the crackling. Whitemane convulsed as those horrid sounds continued. It was as if something invisible were breaking the gnoll's body, twisting and reshaping it into something else entirely. Clumps of his fur began falling out, revealing dark brown skin beneath. His ears shrank, his snout began to flatten, and the claws at the ends of his hands and feet twisted and contorted into different, but familiar forms. His tail grew shorter, and his legs straightened, becoming human legs. Finally, his convulsions stopped, and for a while, he lay on the ground, breathing heavily. He began to rise to his feet, only to stop when he saw his hands. They were no longer claws, but instead long-fingered human hands. "T- …the curse, it…" he stammered. "…it is lifted." He turned to face Abel. The gnoll was gone, and in its place stood a man- a human, tall, with white hair braided to resemble rows of a freshly plowed field, and many lines on his face. Despite the change, Abel could tell that the man before him was still Whitemane- he was clad in the same robes, he wore the same owl pendant… but it was in his eyes that it was most apparent.

They still held the same spark he saw when they had first met.

But even so, Abel asked, cautiously, "…Whitemane?"

The man looked down at Abel- though much of his body had changed, he still towered over the younger man. "Yes, it is still me," he replied. "Although, now that I am myself once more, I suppose I have no further need for that name. Allow me to introduce myself properly." He rested a hand on his chest. "I am Neo of Ravga, Priest of Nane, and elder of my people, the Taikhi."