- First Day -
First POV (Y/N)
*Shing*
*Whimper* *Thump*
*Pant* 'Three down, six more to go.' I said to myself as I sidestep an incoming swipe and quickly two handed my sword and swung my sword down on the exposed limb, severing it.
*Screech!*
The monster screamed out in pain at the loss of its arm. With the monster distracted, I quickly swung my sword again at its throat.
*Gargles* *Thump*
The monster fell backward gargling and slowly lost its life.
*Pant* 'Five more.' *Pant* I took a quick deep breath and steadied myself. I knew that my body won't be up to fit like my real body but I didn't expect my current body to become tired this fast! Aside from having a few bruises and cuts on my body along with the fact that maintaining Zolf is making me feel like I'm burning from the inside out is not helping me.
"Behind you mister!" One of the children yelled.
Upon hearing the child's warning I turn around to face the incoming threat. Another monster launched itself at me and I immediately braced by myself.
*Thud!*
"Ugh!" I grit my teeth as my body is buckling under the weight of my assailant that was trying to overpower me. Normally, I would be able to brush this off easily but I remind myself that this isn't my real body. The monster tried to bite my head off but I kept its head at arms length with my sword's flat side while trying not to fall down. From the corner of my eyes, I notice another one charging from the side. I put one of my feet back and as the charging monster got closer, I then moved sideways letting the monster pushing against me fall down and the charging monster ram against that monster. Both of the monsters are in a daze, so I took this opportunity to finish them off. I channeled my power through my body to my sword, to which my sword began to glow with a tinge of fire that began to engulf and cloak my sword with a blaze.
*Swish!*
With a heavy swing, my sword cleaved through both monsters followed by a flaming arc. Both halve corpses fell down smoking, no blood came out of them as their mortal wound was signed from my blade. Panting, I wipe the sweat from my brow and point my sword towards the remaining three monsters who were now cautious to me.
"Who's next?" I asked with a stoic face despite how tired and in pain I was. The three monsters looked at each other then at their dead ones before turning around and hightailing it.
After they ran out of my view, I let out a sigh of relief as I dropped on one knee, tired. I heard many footsteps and a lot of worried yelling coming from the ones I saved.
"Are you okay, mister!?" A feminine voice called out in concern as she got closer and helped me up. I took a glance at the girl and saw a young teen girl with brown hair and bear ears? "Yeah, I'm fine, just need a breather or two." I answered while trying to hide my discomfort.
"So, what brings all of you out here? Especially with no protection?" I asked them. "We were playing around with each other while big bro and sis were looking for herbs for their father. But then a lot of snow came falling down and those scary monsters showed up." A little girl with a feline tail answered.
"I see." I said. "Do you know your way back?" I ask.
They shook their heads.
"Ever since the Tschäggättäs attacked us, we just ran without looking back." The older boy said. 'So those monsters are called Tschäggättä, I'll have to write it down.' I thought to myself.
"Hmmmm, I see." I said while putting my hand up to my chin while contemplating what to do. "Then come with me, we'll talk more about your situation when we get some shelter." I said.
Everyone looked at each other before nodding. I look at Zolf and he likewise to me, Zolf then lowers himself.
"Hop on him." I said.
One by one, they jumped onto Zolf's back. As the last child was about to climb onto Zolf's back, I spotted something from the corner of my eye running for the child. Without a single thought I rushed ahead and pushed out my arm to protect the little boy.
*Chomp*
"Ughhh!" I grunted in pain as I realized that this was the Tschäggättä whose neck has a huge gash across its neck. 'This one is more tenacious than I thought!' I thought to myself.
The Tschäggättä proceeds to bite onto my arm even harder even though it's on death's door. I quickly drew my sword back and thrust it into Tschäggättä's heart.
*Stab*
The Tschäggättä went limp despite its death grip on my arm, I pried the jaw of the Tschäggättä off of my arm. I looked at my arm to see that it was now bleeding. Seems like the jaw pierced through my bracer.
"Are you hurt mister?" said the little boy whom I protected. "A bit, but I'll tend my wound when we get to shelter." I said with a tired nod.
I lifted the boy up and set him on Zolf before I followed up as well. Zolf feels very uncomfortable with all the weights and bodies on him but I told him just wait a bit longer and when we reach the cave he'll be dismissed. Zolf then moved towards the cave. During the ride, I was feeling extremely tired and could drop anytime but the burning sensation that I feel from within, not the good kind is what kept me awake for the time being. Hell, throughout the ride Zolf would whisper worries for me in my mind as he sensed my fatigue. But I was also grateful for the kids as they started a conversation to distract me of my fatigue and discomfort. Starting with the introduction, the two oldest were brother and sister, Lyra Paleroche and Ternias Paleroche. The next two boys were twins with a bushy brown tail, Bliar Browntail and Kliar Browntail. Finally the youngest of them all, a little girl with a feline tail, Penia Silverash. Along the journey back, they told me that their family and themselves are refugees much to my surprise because I thought of the Tschäggättäs being the reason why they are refugees but it was another disaster forcing them to move all the time until recently.
"I see the cave, mister Klaus!" said Lyra. "Good, when you all get inside the cave, stay near the entrance and you'll see a campfire I made earlier before the attack. Do be careful though, I don't want any of you getting lost in the cave." I said.
As we stopped by the entrance of the cave, Zolf lowered himself to let them off. When the last one hopped off of Zolf and headed into the cave, I dismissed Zolf and a sigil appeared beneath him and he faded away, with the blizzard still blowing, it looks like Zolf became one with the blizzard and was gone. I felt a huge relief through my "body" as the burden of maintaining Zolf is lifted for now. Although, the burning sensation is still here but I can feel that it's fading away. With one final breath, I turn around and proceed to enter the cave. But a thought came to me.
'What happened to that spirit that led me to them? Where is she now?' I wonder as I haven't seen the spirit ever since after rescuing them.
When I caught up to the kids, they were already settling down and the campfire was burning. So I found a spot to sit and took off my bracer to examine my arm that was bitten. Seeing that the bite isn't that terrible that it requires a potion, I simply patch it up with some bandage wrap from my bag before putting my damaged bracer back on.
"Ummm...mister Klaus." A quiet voice calls out. I look up to see Penia nervously walking towards me. "What's the matter, Penia? I ask.
*Growl*
Penia flush as I put on a small smile. Then I gesture to her to sit down by me. When she did as I told her, I reached into my bag and pulled out a green fruit and gave it to her.
"This is...?" Penia tilts her head in confusion as she looks around the fruit. "It's called a Buru, a drupe fruit if you're inclined to know what it is." I said but Penia looked even more confused than before.
"Ah, my bad in simpler words, it's a fruit with a huge seed inside." I restate my word to which the young feline nods and brings the fruit to her mouth. Everyone else in the cave was watching her as she proceeded to take a bite. "...!" Penia's eyes widened before she quickly began eating the fruit with vigor.
"You like it." I said as she nods back. "Itz sweeet!" she said with her mouth full.
"Swallow your food first before you speak." I gently chide her. "Mmph!" Penia nods before resuming eating the fruit.
I turned to the rest and offered them some food to which they all accepted. As tired as I was, their wellbeing comes first. The twin wants to eat the same kind of fruit that Penia was eating. Meanwhile I gave some of my emergency food that Tilith and Lin made for me to the older siblings while I was taking out other ingredients to cook something on the campfire to which Lyra offered to help me to cook and I gratefully accepted her help.
'I'm sure girls are fine with me giving their food. Well maybe not Lin, she really wants me to try out her food that she painstakingly made.' I thought to myself as I settled the ingredients down.
Third POV
As the sun falls, dusk comes, then settles, soon night falls with the twin moon shining above. A certain cold breeze comes blowing into the cave where everyone slept. This breeze came to Y/N's sleeping figure and brushed against his face as if trying to wake him up. Y/N then slowly opens his eyes as the breeze brushes against his face. Y/N turned to the entrance of the cave to see that the blizzard was gone but yet the breeze kept on brushing his face. Y/N had a gut feeling that he knew who was doing this and quietly stood up. Y/N then looked around to see everyone was sleeping peacefully and comfortably in the sleeping rolls and blankets that he handed out. The breeze once again brushes against his face as if telling him to follow it. Y/N grabs his sword with him and before that Y/N took a pink sphere out of his bag and set it down on the ground and then the sphere glows and erects an invisible barrier to protect the others as they sleep. Seeing that the Arcane Defense is still functioning, Y/N then follows the breeze deeper into the cave. As Y/N follows the breeze, Y/N recognizes some familiar things throughout the cave from the frozen river to ice crystal stalagmites hanging from above till the breeze leads him to unfamiliar parts of the cave. For each unfamiliar part of the cave Y/N walks by, Y/N takes note of them. Y/N then stopped in his tracks when he entered another part of the cave to see the breeze led him to the "spirit". The "spirit" then floats towards Y/N then bows a bit.
"Thank you for saving those young ones." The spirit said. "No need to thank me. I'm just doing what I believe is right." Y/N quickly responded back.
The spirit then smiles at Y/N's answer. "Let us continue where we were at." She said and Y/N nodded. "My name is Kjeragandr, the goddess of this land." Surprising Y/N a bit but Y/N quickly composed himself.
"Nice to meet with you, Goddess Kjeragandr." Y/N said cordially. "Likewise, 'Klaus' and please no need to be that formal with me." Kjeragandr responded in kind.
Y/N nods.
"However, I do have something that's been bothering..." Said Kjeragandr. "That is?" Y/N ask.
"Are you like me?" She asked Y/N. "...!?" Y/N was stunned at her question.
"If you wish not to speak of it, then I'm sorry for prying." Kjeragandr apologizes but Y/N shakes his head. "No, no, it's fine. I wasn't expecting that kind of question." Y/N said.
"To tell you the truth, I'm just a normal human being, not a god or anything similar or related to that." Y/N answered truthfully.
'I think...' Y/N thought to himself as he thought about it.
Kjeragandr nods to Y/N's answer, although she still has some doubts.
"Then please tell me why I feel that you are similar to me?" She asked. "That's...it's a bit complicated." Y/N reply.
The goddess would stare at Y/N for a bit before prompting Y/N to continue.
"Whatever you feel is something that I've awakened and technically inherited long ago." Y/N said.
Kjeragandr stood there digesting what Y/N had said to her.
"Doesn't that still make you similar to me?" She asked. "In a way, yes but no. Unlike you, I can still grow old and pass away." Answered Y/N.
Kjeragandr hum.
"Well, I think it's time that I go, Kjeragandr. I don't think I should be away too long, lest the others panic to see that I'm gone." Y/N said. "I agree, I shouldn't keep you here for too long." Kjeragandr said with a smile before waving her hand and a flow of wind circled around Y/N.
"This will lead you back to them." She said and Y/N nodded. "Farewell, may we meet each other again at a favorable time."
"Likewise." Said Y/N and he turns around to follow the breeze back.
As Y/N turned around and walked away, Kjeragandr kept staring at him from behind. Despite his answer being satisfactory, she knows that he is hiding something more but decided to leave it be for now, as he already proved himself to her.
~ Quick Time-skip ~
When Y/N gets back, he sees that everyone is still sleeping soundly. So Y/N slowly and quietly moved in to retrieve the sphere that he placed until he heard a young voice call out to him.
"Where did you go, mister Klaus?" Y/N froze and turned around to Penia who was awake for who knows how long and he had to think quickly of an excuse. "I woke up early to explore the cave." Y/N said, hoping his excuse is enough.
"Really?" She said, "Really." Y/N replied.
"Can you take me with you if you are going to explore? I wanna see more of the cave." Said Penia. "Sure, I'll take you with me to explore the cave next time." Y/N said.
"Pinky promise?" Said Penia with her pinky stretch out. "Pinky promise." Y/N said as he crossed his pinky with the small girl's pinky.
Y/N then picks up the sphere with a curious Penia looking at it and then looks outside to see that the blizzard had finally settled down along with the sun rising up from behind some mountains.
"Can you wake up the others, Penia?" Y/N ask. "Okay!" Said Penia.
As she was waking the others up, Y/N organized whatever things that were lying about in the cave and put them away.
~ Quick Time-skip ~
"Everyone ready?" Y/N ask. *Yawn* "We are." Ternias groggily said.
Y/N was deciding whether or not he should be showing his power in front of them but considering that Y/N met a goddess Y/N thought it should be fine. Y/N then tells everyone to stand back much to their confusion. Y/N then mutter something that they couldn't hear and saw a large sigil appearing on the ground in front of Y/N. Much to their surprise, they see a large familiar fangbeast appearing. As for Y/N, the initial pain felt from the first time summoning while in the vessel seems to have lessened or rather his body is somewhat getting used to it and the same thing could be said for the burning sensation that he would feel when he summons.
"It's the big fangbeast that we rode on!" Bliar said excitedly. "Hop on." Said Y/N as he conveyed his apologies to Zolf once again.
"What amazing arts you have, mister 'Klaus'. I thought that you can use fire art but didn't know that you can conjure animals!" Said Lyra. 'Arts? Is that what magic or anything similar to it is called in this world?' Y/N thought to himself.
First POV (Y/N)
After everyone gets on Zolf, I ask Lyra and Ternias for directions to where their family and others were at, if they are still there. After a few hours of traveling, Zolf and I heard Ternias spoke up as he spotted something familiar.
"It's that way, mister 'Klaus', see that dead tree by the three boulders nearby each other on that hill, go over there." Said Ternias.
As Zolf follows the direction given and when we pass the landmark and see what was behind the hill. In the distance, I see what seems to be a lot of yurts among the snow with what seems to be some activity among the residents. I have Zolf to carry us down closer to them and as we got closer the residents seemed to notice Zolf and I and began to scurry about. As we got closer, I saw people armed with blades, axes, bows, and so on, coming out to meet us.
"Stop here, Zolf." I said and Zolf stopped as told. Then I turn to the others behind me and say. "Can one of you co-" Then I hear a whistling sound coming towards me.
I quickly turn my head back to see an arrow flying straight towards me. I couldn't draw my sword because of my posture nor can I dodge the arrow lest I risk the arrow hitting the others behind me. I quickly readied myself, as the arrow got closer, I moved my arm.
*Thunk!*
And caught the arrow with my hand, surprising those behind me and those in front of me.
"Don't shoot him! He's with us!" Lyra yelled to them.
Her voice and yelling seemed to have surprised the armed people and a voice cried out.
"Lyra?!" A man with bushy brown tail resembling an older version of Bliar came out of the crowd.
'Off to a great start...' I thought to myself.
Meanwhile back on the snow filled area where the slain Tschäggättäs are...
Among the dead Tschäggättäs and the Tschäggättäs that are alive came back to their dead and began greedily devouring their dead. As they ate their dead, one of the dead began to twitch and then began to spasm. One of the cannibalistic monsters noticed the body's movement and brought itself closer. When it got close enough to inspect the body, the body then bursts open and blackish tendrils, and tentacles of flesh and bone comes out and takes a hold of the Tschäggättä which began to struggle before its head along with its upper half body is now being consumed and merging with the cavity of its attacker. The other Tschäggätta noticed this and tried to run away but they were also caught by the blackish tendrils which began to drag them to the body. The dead were not ignored and were also being taken to the body. Those that are alive resist all they can but couldn't and before they knew they were gone. The dead body that consumed and merged anything dead or alive around it had its head spasm for a bit before its eye opened to reveal white dead eyes with black veins pulsating around it.
'More…..'
That was its first and only single thought...
Rhodes Island Archive - Klaus Fimbulwinter
I love the story of Klaus Fimbulwinter. I love the adventures that he takes and that if it wasn't for him, Kjerag might've been very different or if not exist at all. - A very passionate R.I. operator from Kjerag
I see Klaus Fimbulwinter as someone to look up to. Although, I can't much about what my older sister thinks of him, but I can say that Enciodes respect him, he respect him for being an innovator and someone who brings progress to Kjerag during his time and that from time to time wonders how Klaus would react to Kjerag's progress and would like to have a talk with him especially how did Klaus come to find the Buru fruit. He's a huge fan of the fruit. Please, don't tell my brother that I said this, okay? - Cliffheart
I do love to hear the many stories of the Pioneer of Kjeragandr, although I do find it strange that Kjarr knows so much about the Pioneer and the details of his adventures. Not that I'm suspecting her or anything, but to know so many details that are not in the books or records of the Pioneer... - Pramanix
The story of Klaus Fimbulwinter is well known and loved among those that came from Kjerag and the mystery of Klaus has always been a hot topic alongside with the "Ten-winged Sankta" or the "God Slayer of the Great Yan" among so many others. Ever since the 'Snowcap Incident', we were granted entry to the Ice Tomb of Klaus Fimbulwinter and were allowed to analyze and study the relics left behind, although it took some convincing and a lot of effort from the Karlan Saintess and some pulled strings behind the scenes. We were finally allowed entry to study the relics although under strict supervision or through the supervision of the Saintess or surprisingly her chief maid Kjarr. Our studies of the relics baffled us to no end. Starting with the outfit or rather armor, the material used for the relics doesn't match any of our known material after multiple scans. Not only that, even after thousands of years of being confined in an ice tomb, the relics are still in good condition aside from a few damages that seem to be battle damage from who knows how long ago or from what. I also heard that under the request of the Saintess, the Paleroches are to lend a relic or I should say a weapon that was supposedly given to them during the early age of Kjerag by the Pioneer. I don't know what it is but I did hear that the former patriarch Arctosz Paleroche wielded the weapon during the incident when everything was about to get messy before the intervention of the Saintess. If anything comes up in our research, we'll keep it up to date. - R.I. Researcher
Bonus
A Brave Hope - Shattered Memories
~ Location - Rhodes Island ~
Third POV
One Month before Chernobog-Lungmen Crisis
Amiya was taking a walk along the halls of Rhode Island after helping Kaltist. As she walked she took notice when a familiar young gray feline appeared and noticed something in her hand.
"What do you have in your hands there, Rosmontis?" Amiya asks with a curious look. "A book." Rosmontis answered.
Amiya takes a closer look at the book and doesn't recognize the book at all.
"Where did you find this book?" Amiya asked. "I don't know...I found it in my dorm." Rosmontis answered again.
'Strange.' Amiya thought. "What's the book about?' Amiya asks once again.
"It has a lot of drawings and words that I don't understand." Rosmontis said. "May I see it?" Amiya asked.
"Before that, let's find a place to sit down." Said Amiya.
After finding a place to sit, Rosmontis gives the book to Amiya and she opens the book and looks through the many pages to see very defined drawings and sketches.
"Whoever drew this is amazing..." Amiya said.
Rosmontis nods in agreement. Amiya then flips another page to see words of a language that she doesn't know. As she turns more pages to find a page with words that she could understand but couldn't find any so far but for each page turn she and Rosmontis would see drawings and sketches of landscapes, creatures, and so much more. All of this makes her wonder who was the one behind these. For all she knows is that this book can be a piece of fantasy that belongs to a series or something. Then when she turns to the next page she sees a familiar mountain.
'Isn't that the mountain where Fimbulwinter is built right next to?' Amiya thought to herself and she turned to the next page to see a figure of a man, sword drawn, and standing protectively against what seems to be monsters in her eyes. 'Is this some kind of record?' Amiya thought.
"I think it's best if we bring this to Kaltist." Said Amiya. "Rosmontis, can you come along as well? Kaltist is gonna need your side of the story."
Rosmontis nods and both Amiya and Rosmontis proceed to walk back towards Kaltist's office. As they walk away, A lone figure watches them, considering whether or not he should continue what he is planning. Then he fades away.
The (Unofficial) Sarkaz King
~ Location - Kazdel Palace ~
Third POV
A lone figure sits on a throne with his head down and both hands on a beautiful sword. A female Sarkaz walks into the throne to see their "king" was asleep.
With a sigh, the Sarkaz walks up to their sleeping "king".
"Milord." She said, "..." Only silence and soft breathing was all that was heard from her "king".
With another sigh, the female Sarkaz raised her sheathed sword and swung it down on her "king's" head.
*Thud*
Her king opened his eyes as the sudden pain went through his head and rubbed his head to ease it.
"Ow! My goodness, my head." said the "King". "Good morning, King Y/N." said the female Sarkaz.
"Well, good morning to you Shining and didn't I tell you not to address me as such." said Y/N. "Very well, your majesty."
Y/N let out a sigh.
"How's her condition?" Y/N ask Shining. "Liz is faring much better now thanks to your help, she told me to thank you at her behest despite her wanting to thank you in person." Shining answered.
Y/N nods.
"Any news of Theresis?" Y/N ask. "None. Ever since his banishment, no news of him has come yet." Said Shining
Knowing Theresis, he won't take things kindly and would try to reclaim the throne one way or another. Speaking of Theresis...
"How's Theresa?" Y/N ask. "She's taking care of children in Babel right now." Shining answered.
"Then I would like you to relay to her to come to the palace and have a talk with her of what's going to be our next course of action. I'll get another messenger to gather the others." Said Y/N. "Very well." Said Shining.
The Sarkaz would take her leave, leaving Y/N alone. Y/N would slouch back into the throne thinking back on how the hell did he end up in this kind of position. Going from helping Theresa with her cause to helping Shining and Liz to ascending the throne.
'What a mess...' Y/N thought to himself, although some of blame could still be placed upon him for coming at the wrong time at the wrong place. Although, some will say otherwise.
A Kind Elafia and her Paladin
~ Location - Tundra of Urus ~
Third POV
Alina was running and panting hard.
"She's over here!" Someone yelled.
Alina felt a bolt flying by her head. But she kept on running because she knew if she stops, then her life is forfeit. As she ran, she felt pain all of a sudden and fell down. She then realized something struck her left leg and Alina looked down to see a bolt embedded into her left leg.
"Nice shot!" Another person yelled.
Alina struggled to move but the pain was too much for her. Then she sees four anti-infected patrolmen approaching her.
"Damn, infected making us chase you all the way over here." Said the first patrolman. "Now, what to do with you." The second patrolman said sadistically as he drew his sword.
"But first..." He said as he put his hand on the bolt and then twisted it. "...!" Alina grits her teeth at the pain.
After he was done twisting the bolt, he suddenly pulled it out with force causing more pain to Alina. Then he brought his blade onto her wound and stabbed into the wound.
"..." Alina won't scream or give a reaction to them. She refuses to do so.
Seeing that she wasn't reacting, the patrolman scoffs and signals the others to join in.
"We got a tough one here." Said the third. "Yeah, but we'll see." Said the fourth.
Knowing that her fate was sealed, Alina closed her eyes and let out one last silent prayer. A prayer that Talulah would not stray from the path. A silent prayer of hope, sadness, resignation, and finally regret. A prayer that would be noticed by a wondering, broken soul. A soul would reach out to answer that prayer to redeem himself.
"What the!" A patrolman yelled. "Who the hell ar-" Another yell but was cut short.
With one swing all four patrolmen fell down dead. Alina would open her eyes to see a tall armored man that reminds her of the knights of Kazimierz that she would read from the books. His white plated armor despite being battle damage looks pristine as if it was never touched along with a ruined red cape. His teal eyes with what seems to be gray or silver hair under the damaged helmet.
He would look down on Alina before reaching behind and taking off his cape and wrapping it around both her and her wound..
"Do not worry, your prayer has been answered. You are safe now..." Said the Knight.
He then proceeds to carry her up in his arms.
"Do you know anyone or any place that is safe?" Asked the Knight.
Alina pointed to a direction and the knight began walking to his next destination.