Ok, my loyal... well, ill just say readers since im pretty sure i have been far to absent on this site for you all to be patiently waiting for me to get off my lazy backside to write this stuff. But, im putting out a call, to any who think they have a good artistic thumb.
please, see if you can create a good cover for this story! I am not a good artist, and sad to say, I do not really have any means of hiring an artist.
But that said. Ill be putting a Email down in my Bio, specifically created for usage of the contest. I ask any who could, please make a cover art for this story. It can be anything, so long as it makes sense. So, It could be anything related to the story, or just the title with a cool logo i do not care. But, the prize for the winner?
to be revealed later.
BUT!! In other news, Drake is going to be working through some issues this chapter, sooo... except rage, lightning and cliche plot twists that a novice wouldnt use but i will because i think its fun.
( Letter pops into authors disembodied hands.)
* BLINK,BLINK*
Huh, wasn't expecting that...
I own Nothing.
Drake Pov
Walking into the pub, you could clearly tell that the place was well liked be the average adventurer. Most customers were still geared up, clearly coming from the Dungeon recently. The atmosphere was warm, welcoming even. A smile came onto my face as it reminded me of some of my favorite places back on Earth.
Hopefully, the food was as good as the ambiance.
The girls who worked here, all clad in non fetishist maid outfits thank God, fluttered about as if they had wings on their feet. Still, for as popular as this place is, it was not overly busy.
But, the most important worker, Syr Flover, or rather, the Identity shared by the Goddess Freya and her Familia member Helun. ( AN: Refusing to use the name from the english translation, too many Horny jokes to resist and im trying to not make this story crackish, just mind screwingly bizarre, there is a diffrence.)
In any case said possible Goddes walked over to us. Her silver hair and sparkly eyes were definitely cute, and while one of my favorite girls when this was an Anime, she was now more then likely an enemy.
Maybe, jury was still out on that to be honest.
Still, better not to piss off Mia Grande, Drake has memories of that woman when in a rage. *Shudder*
Letting the chill of evil pass, Syr finally reached us.
She smiled that waitress smile and said. " Hi!! Welcome to the Hostess of Fertility! My name is Syr, is it just the two of you? "
I nodded politely, while Bell, the socially awkward teenager he is, blushed as he was currently under the girls examining gaze.
I said. " Just us tonight, Is there any room at the bar? "
She turned an examined said counter, then turned and nodded. " Right this way Sr! Now seating two! "
She said that last part rather loudly, clearly to let the servers know that new customers had been seated.
We followed her to the counter, and as soon as our asses hit the stool Mia walked over.
The anti-Dwarf former captain said. " Welcome, Im the owner Mia Grande, but, most just call me Mama Mia! So, what'll you have? "
Taking a glance at the menu, i came to a rather obvious conclusion.
I dont read Kione.
... Fuck.
'I can read it you idiot! You simply need to use my memories!! ' The voice from earlier snarks.
' Shut up!! You arent reall!! ' I thought to myself.
' Said the fanfiction writer to the voice in his head of the guy whose body he stole... ' The snarky figment of my imagination deadpanned.
Ignore it, ignore it or else it will be real...
I looked at Bell and said. " What sounds good to you? "
Better to play it off for now, lest Bell try and gain revenge for the teasing.
He read the menu a second and said. " Well, the chicken club looks good, but it says that the daily special comes with a free appetizer. "
I nodded and turned back to Mia. " And what is todays special Mama? "
By God it felt weird to say that...
The owner Said. " Todays special is beef and vegetable skewers with a side of buttered pasta, with your choice of three dipping sauces. Or alternatively you could pay 20 Valis more and get a side of todays Chicken pot pie. "
I looked to Bell and he nodded, I handed the menus back to Ms. Mia and said. " We'll both take the special, as for the appetizer that we will leave to you. "
The owner smirked the kind of smirk a card shark let out the moment they scammed your ass. As she nodded and headed to the kitchen Bell turned to me.
He said. " Ok Drake, I have a few questions, if its ok? "
I could tell he was nervous, the way he shifted on the stool. Bell was never a person to ask someone any personal questions without prompting from the individual in question. But I guess that it makes sense, he would want to know about me, even with what ive told him so far there was so much he didn't know.
" Ask away Bell. " I said as one of the servers walked past, nearly colliding with me as i leaned forward to avoid leftovers down my back.
Didn't recognize her, so probbably just an extra waitress that wasnt seen on screen.
Bell looked up, eyes set into the sealing for a sec before he said. " Well, you've glossed over your journey, but was there any part that stood out to you? I mean, you couldnt have been fighting the entire time right? "
Huh, hitting the big parts right off the bat huh? Ok then.
I leaned over the counter, resting my elbows in front of me.
I said. " Well, the first region of the Lands Between was Limgrave. The center of the continent. It was where i spent a lot of time. I met a few people there that I guess I could call friends, not that many of them lived in the end. "
Bell flinched, but i continued before he said anything.
" Now that i think about it, it was there I slew my first Dragon. Agheel, a black dragon of fire who had roosted for so long in the lake of limgrave they named it after him. "
Bells eyes immediately went starry, as he leaned over into my personal space.
" A real Dragon!? How big was it!? Did you jump on it to finish it off!? Tell me!?! "
Wow He was excited...
I chuckled as I gently pushed him back. " Ok, ok Bell. Calm down and I will tell the story. "
Bell immediately sat straight in his seat.
As I was about to start explaining my story Mamma Mia came back with plates of food and drinks for both of us, nodding in thanks I reached over and grabbed the mug.
I drank, wincing at the unfamiliar taste of Alchohol. What? Im twenty!! And my mom would've murdered me if i drank while i lived with my Parents!!
Not much problem here, but still not used to the taste.
' Wimp. ' The voice snarked.
' Fucking Fenris knockoff. ' I retorted without thought.
' Two things, one: I, therefore WE, do not possess a set of Tattoos that make us ghosts. Two: If That was a jab at my looks, then sorry to tell ya pal, but your the knockoff here now! ' The annoying as shit voice said happily.
I twiched, full body as i supressed as much of my mounting frustration as possible. I suck in a breath and began the story.
" Well, It was about three days after I had arrived in Limgrave. I've gotten word of an artifact in a cave up the river from lake Agheel. While I was following the river i was attacked by a crazed man who was a follower of a Cult called the Mohgwyn Dynasty named Nerijus, they were some of the most evil bastards you've ever met, they practiced blood sacrifice. " ( AN: Is this a good way to summarize the Varrie questline/ Bloody fingers without mentally traumatizing a 14 year old that didnt grow up with the internet? cause i feel like it is.)
Bell's face, and quite a few others who were listening in now that i noticed, paled in horror. In fact, if i looked i would've seen Mama Mia clench a Iron pan so hard that she bent it like it was soft clay. Not that anyone could blame them, Mohg and the Formless Mother were nothing more then Monsters of the worst denomination.
I hardened my face as i said. " Let that be a lesson Bell, not all Monsters look the part, some may look just as human you do. "
Nodding his head shakily, but he didn't seem to want to speak. I nodded back and continued my story.
" A few minutes of me dodging his attacks and me trying to reason with him later, a man known as the Hunter Yura arrived and struck Nerijus down while distracted by his zealous need to kill me. "
Bell flinched, no doubt because of my seemingly blasé indifference to the death of Nerijus. I did a quick glance around, and was suprised to see so many of the older adventurers nodding in sage wisdom. I was confused for a second before it hit me.
' Ah, thats right. Most of these guys must've lived through the Evilus conflict. ' I thought as I caught on to the reason.
Seven years, while a long time for some things, wasnt really all the long at all when it came to trauma, whether physical, emotional, or even, especially both.
I sigh as I said. " Trust me Bell, I didnt really like it either, but Limgrave, Hell the entire continent was a survival of the fittest free for all the likes of which many Gods would say the world hasn't seen since before the sealing of the Dungeon. "
Mama Mia, who had been polishing her cast Iron lump of metal, asked. " How in the hell has all this happened and nobody not heard of it? I can tell yer not lying Brat, ya cant fake that look in yer eyes. But still, how? "
All across the bar, the patrons and waitresses alike nodded.
How the hell did I go from Dragon slaying to this? This was a really downer tangent to get lost on...
Ah Fuck it.
But before i could say anything, A loud, Feminine voice shouted from the opening doors.
" HEEEEEY MAMA!? TABLE FOR 13!?! "
Two guesses as to which tomboy that was...
As the somewhat short, slim redhead Goddess of mischief walked in, her executives followed close behind.
The short but well-known pallum Captain. Finn.
The princess of the Elven Forest Riviera Los Alf.
The Dwarven Bulwark Gareth.
The twin Amazonian sisters Tiona and Tione.
The young but prodigal blonde haired elf Lefiya.
The silver haired Werewolf Bete.
And of course the Sword Princess Aiz, Bells crush.
Following with them were other members of the Loki Familia's A team, but they were ones i had no name for.
And the part of me that had been talking by itself wasn't happy with them here...
' They have fucking balls for showing up here, lets rip them off...' The Growl that came with these words made me imagine i shouldn't have been so obsessed with collecting dragon hearts in game...
But, as things stand, this was a good distraction.
I truned to Bell and said. " I'll finish the story back at home, for now lets just eat. "
A few people around us seemed to grumble at this, but i honestly could not care. Bell was the only one who needed to know anything about this, and even then there were things even he would not find out if i said anything about it.
Bell nodded, while Mia gave me a half glare while i just pointed at the group that came in and said. " Not the kind of people i want to hear my dirty laundry, hell you arent the kind i want to know with that love sick goddess you used to serve. "
Her eyes widened for a second, before nodding begrudgingly. She grumbled as she left, but not before trowing the ruined piece cookery into the garbage.
As she walked away, Bell quired a brow at me. I said. " Later. "
He nodded, but judging by the look in his eyes, there most definitely would be a later.
...
( 3rd pov )
The night continued on at this point, in a direction that fate was always going to force it to. Near 15 minutes after showing up, Bete, the Vanagrad was roaringly drunk and felt the need to be an ass, as was his want.
" Hey Aiz, tell us about what happened yesterday, with that Minotaur and tomato boy!! " he half shouted in his drunken state.
Aiz, for her part was confused, she asked. " Tomato boy?? "
Bete snickered as he leaned forward. saying " Yeah, that pathetic rookie from yesterday, the one being chased by that Minotaur that got away from us. That was hilarious!! Danm kid was screaming his head off running from the Bull and got his dumb ass cornered!! "
Bell stiffened as the veteran adventurer laughed at his moment of shame, when he was even there he didnt know, but all the same Bell didnt really want an entire bar full of Adventures to know.
Drake was watching his little brother like a hawk, making sure to try and see how bell handled this.
The other part of him was listing ways he would skin Bete alive if he didnt shut the fuck up.
Riviera tisked, showing her appreciation for her younger Familia members lack of empathy. " Your drunk Bete, knock it off. "
The Werewolf scoffed. " Shut it Hag, anyways The newbie was a second away from biting it when Aiz sliced the thing in half. The kid was drenched in blood to the point only thing that wasnt red was his eyeballs. Then instead of saying thanks he screams like a little girl and runs off, it was hilarious!! "
He punctuated this by slaping the table in a fit of laughter. Tione was about to say something when a knife flew at Bete and hit him handle first.
BAM!!
The level 6 had his head smashed into the table, hard enough to leave a spiderweb of cracks. The Knife bouned off his skull at an angle and flew up, twisting end over end until it fell back down to be stabbed into the table scant millimeters from the now concussed adventurers head.
THWUNK!!!
The knife was barley settled when everyone looked to see where it came from.
Drake was camly drinking his Ale, back turned to the scene, the only thing exsposing his guilt was this hand still in a back throw position. Bell was in the middle of standing to run out, only to gape at this display of mastery of aim before him. Drake set his mug down, and turned to look at the gaping table.
His normally sky blue eyes were a draconic red, burning like Hellfire.
He stood and walked to the table, nodbody saying a thing, the bystanders not wanting to anger the stranger who had knocked out a 1st rate adventurer with one shot.
The Loki Familia were simply shocked that someone had actually made that kind of shot. Bete was an ass, but an ass who could tangle with some of the strongest Monsters in the Dungeon. Drake grabbed his knife and looked at the Red head Goddess.
His eyes narrow, and he said. " While i apologize for interrupting your celebration, keep your mutt muzzled or else I will fix him."
Nearly every man in the building flinched, forcing themselves not to cup their family jewels in fear. Loki actually had her eyes open slightly, her red eyes peering at the enraged young man in front of her.
Before she could say anything however, Bete managed to shake off his headache and immediately turned to Drake.
" Oi Fuckface!?! What's the big idea!! " He shouted, barring his fangs.
Drake for his part, turned back to the enraged level 6, and sneered. " The fact you have to ask, you pathetic Mongrel, should be obvious. "
Bete, and Aiz for that matter, both took the time to examine the newcomer more closely. The shining white hair and pale skin, along with the facial similarities to the boy from yesterday finally clicked.
Bete snorted, still pissed but at least know had an idea. " Oh, so your pissed that i made fun of you little shitstain of a bro-HIRK!?! "
Before Bete could finish, Drake grabbed him by his throat.
Hoisting the Loki Familia member above his head, Drake let loose a Growl that many an adventurer had sworn they had heard only in the lower floors.
The Growl of a Dragon.
Drake increased pressure, not bothered by the Loki Familia already surrounding him.
His gaze was focused on the Mutt in his hands. He said. "For a Level 6 adventurer you have poor self preservation instincts. If you wish to breath under your own power for what little remains of your pathetic life, shut the fuck up. "
Finn spoke up then, clearly not willing to put up with this show anymore.
" Im afraid im going to have to ask for you to let him go, Now. " The Pallum said, his voice brokered no argument.
...
(Drake pov)
For what it was worth, while I wasnt really going to kill Bete, the annoying shithead in my head very much wanted to.
I dropped Bete and stalked over to Finn, and Said. " You have the balls to order me around, after your fuck up nearly got my little brother Killed? The boy has barley been an adventurer for two weeks, and he was nearly slaughtered because you couldnt keep your Familia in line to keep the damned Monsters from running. And to top it off this Mongrel starts laughing at the traumatic experience you bastards made him face and you expect me to do as you tell me? "
I was standing right over him, not that he was intimidated by me, the man had fought battles for longer then i was alive, but even so, i wasnt really in the best state of mindyo care one way or the other.
I leaned down, nearly face to face with the Captain of the Loki Familia. " Consider yourself lucky that he's unharmed, or else that mutt would've already been fixed. "
Riviera inserted herself into the conversation at this point, trying to defuse the situation.
She said. " Look, I apologize for what happened, but is this really the best place, let alone the best way to air your grievance with us? "
I glared at her, unable to suppress the emotions controlling me. " You of all people should know what my grievances are, You Oathbreaking bitch!! "
Nearly everyone gasped, not that i blamed them, Riviera was legitimate Royalty, and id just called her a bitch.
Oh, i can feel Lefiya about to fail to murder me...
Riviera herself went wide-eyed, possibly unable to comprehend what i just said. I forced my eyes to return to their normal Sky Sapphire, thus letting the majority of the Loki Familia to see the greatest part of my mother i possessed.
Judging by how Riviera gasped, she put two and two together.
She hesitantly said. " D-Drake?..."
Her voice barley came out in a whisper, her face pailing to the point a Ghost had more color.
I glared at her, Hellfire returning to my irises, but the Gold of my power mixed, No doubt causing an unearthly combination to show in my eyes.
I snarled, unable to hide the pure hatred i felt for the woman. " Hello again, my dear godmother. "
...
3rd pov.
Apon the Dark moon.
She had been left here, not of any volition of her own, or her Consort. She knew, from the very start, he sought the Elden Ring for a way home. To return and finish the task appointed by his mother upon her last breath. She could not begrudge him that. It was not even that she was alone, for she was not. Two were with her, the two who had always been with her, she had solace in that.
Still, she missed him.
Ranni, former Demigod turned Witch, now Goddess in her own right Camly observed the worlds. Her new Power was vast, and hard to control, yet it came to her as easy as she once knew how to breath.
She knew where her dear Consort was, Now that the Greater Will and its cohorts were no longer able to control her world, it was easier to see that which lay beyond the Fog. Both the world the Lands Between themselves were connected to, and the other worlds beyond even that.
Beside her, her two loyal attendents and Friends were with her, The large and stalwart smith Iji, helm off and yet still reading his book, and Dear Blaidd, her shadow. The former wolf was now of similar make to the Wolf people of Drakes world, he needed to be, for his new mission.
" Dost thou understand thine orders, mine Shadow? " Ranni asked, not for an instant doubting her guard.
Blaidd, now with a head of a 22 year old man, his dark fur had become a dark, shaggy mane of black and grey hair, wolf ears atop his head and a copy of his greatsword strapped to his back. His old armor was cleaned, and the giant pelt that adorned it was replaced by a white, embroidered cloak. Upon its center was a symbol of a white dragon, circling a black cresent moon.
Blaidd lowered his head, and said. " I am to meet up with Lord Drake, and keep both himself and his younger brother safe, until such time as you and Iji can join us whithin the world Drake came from."
Iji spoke up then, his many years waying heavy on him, even though he no longed possessed a true body.
" Are you sure of this course my lady? To Give up what you've obtained, and fought so long and hard to achieve? Ive no doubt that Lord Drake is worthy of such, but would he truly wish for you to forsake that wich you have gained? "
Ranni raised her hand, the one upon which her Ring lay, the one she was ment to present to her Consort, but now granted her the power to command her own fate.
But it was a fate that she now, found no comfort in.
It had been less then three days for Drake, but close to three centuries for them. For three centuries did she wait, observe and force herself to do nothing as the man she could admit, at least to those here now, that she loved was forced into a merging of souls by a man who she knew was both a god, and her Consort's adoptive Grandfather,Or at least, he was now.
She watched, forcing herself to do nothing. But now, she could idle no longer, If she must give up her Godhood, then so be it.
She would not falter, not in this.
She spoke. " I and sure, dearest Iji. Drake hath done much in mine name. He hath earned my heart, and i can stand this separation not a moment longer."
She lowered her head, and spoke soflty. " If this is even a fraction of what my mother went through when Radagon left, then i can understand why she fell so far into despair. "
Blaidd nodded, and said. " I shall depart at once, be safe, both of you. "
With that, the Wolf of the Dark Moon fell into shadow, falling into the portal from which they observed the fourth of their number.
Blaidd thought as he set out, was this. ' Hang on Drake, Dont fall to the dragons just yet, fight it! '
END
HAHAHAHA!!! PLOT TWIST, AND HOPEFULLY A GOOD ONE AT THAT!!
But in all seriousness Im kinda suprised i went this way, but you gotta admit i could see Ranni doing this if it came down to it. But in any case the plot thickens, and so dose Drakes Issues.
Between all this shit Bell hasnt really been a active element in this story, but that is going to be changing soon, mainly because next chapter is going to be mostly told form Bells perspective. So, look forward to the Shitshow!!!
REVIEW, Worship From Software, Im Going crazy dealing with all the ideas i have flr the love of god MAKE THEM STOP!!!!!!!
After update notice. had to repost to fix spacing issue.
Wolf Out!!