Chapter 24: A Hero’s Duty Part 2

Lynn: “Where is it, it could have been moved, could it?”

Lynn, along with a few others were in the area where Nathan had killed the Gorgon child, attempting to locate the body, but their efforts seemed to be for naught.

????: “Hey Lynn, maybe we shouldn’t do this.”

Lynn: “What are you saying Karri, do you want our sisters getting hurt?”

Karri: “No, but I just don’t think, we should go through with this, it too dangerous.”

Karri a pretty little water nymph, not that much younger than Lynn, but yet to become as defined. Just like all her sisters, a jewel hidden from the world. Lynn and Karri were closer than any other, always glued to each other but as of late, Karri felt something was off with her sister. Even now, what she was proposing they do, though she did not say, she felt it was borderline insanity.

Lynn: “Yes, it is, can’t you see, he even able to influence me. I ask him to send our sister home, tell them that he didn’t want their help, but he just turned his back on me. If he would just send Saria away, everyone would follow, but no, he’d rather have her clinging to him all the time, just the thought of them together, make me so angry. Why won’t she realize he’s deceiving her?”

Karri sighed deeply, she knew how badly Lynn wanted Saria’s affection, she to wished for some as well, but not to the extent that Lynn wanted. This was probably the biggest reason for her hate for the Hero. Karri didn’t hate the Hero, but she did agree that he should be fighting the Gorgon, but he out right refused them earlier, he even blatantly disrespected Lynn. Karri try to confront him, but all he had to do was look at her and she stopped immediately.

Wind Nymph: “Lynn, Karri, bad news.”

Wind Nymph: “Karri, Lynn, very bad news.”

Both girls turned to the two wind nymphs, hurrying towards them.

Lynn: “Aira, Brisa did you find out anything?”

Aira and Brisa were nearly identical, both born from the same gale, they were always mistaken for one another. It was only Lynn who could tell them apart, even before they change hair styles. Ever since, they look up to her and believe wholeheartedly that what she says is always correct.

Aira: “I’m sorry, but we just learned, earlier when the Hero and his associates were cleaning the area, they witness, the Hero hand the Therian girl something.”

Lynn: “So?”

Brisa: “She touched whatever it was to her chest, then waved her hand over the corpse and it was gone.”

Lynn: “They beat us to it?”

Karri: “Well, what do we do?”

Lynn: “HOW SOULD I KNOW, THAT WAS ALL I HAD.”

Lynn pounded the ground in frustration, her plan to give the corpse of the child to the parent was ruined. It was an insane plan, there was no telling what the parent would do upon receiving the corpse, but she couldn’t think of anything else. In the off chance, it worked she would lead the creature to the Hero, then he would be forced to fight.

Lynn: “(Now what do we do, the Grassvalley Tribe could not defeat the creature, but surely the hero could. If only he would do his job, if only he would understand his role, why can’t he just do what he supposed to? If he won’t) THEN WHAT WAS THE POINT IN SUMMONING, YOU!?”

Lynn beat her fist to the ground, she would have to grovel to the Hero once more, that thought drove her up a wall, she even accidentally revealed her feelings to him and declared that she would win Saria’s affection. If she went back now, she would just make a bigger fool of herself.

Karri: “L-L-Lynn, Lynn, Lynn.”

Lynn: “What is wrong with you?”

All at once she felt it down her back, a dread, a rage that drilled into her back. Tears begin to roll down her face, she did not want to turn around at all cost, but her body would not listen.

She turned and was met with a deep black void of unimaginable darkness. As if her entire being was being drawn into the emptiness, she stared unable to look away. Blinking had become impossible, moving was no longer allowed, she stared helplessly into the eye of the Gorgon.

The Gorgon so massive, casting an eclipse on the four nymphs, it looked around the area, it was not how it left it. The most important thing was nowhere to be seen. There were further signs of battle and then it’s eye fell on a small blackened area. Slowly moving over to the spot, it could tell immediately. this was the dried blood of its child. 

It turned back to Lynn, its anger, its utter rage was apparent.  It had no voice, no audible sound was made, but the message was all too clear, “Where is my child”?

As if the Gorgon was allowing her to speak, Lynn felt some lax on her body. Turning to her other sisters, they all remain frozen, eyes still locked on the Gorgon, unable to look away, she was the only one allowed to move. How did it even arrive so fast, they should have one more day before it had reached this point?

What was she to do, she felt as if she told even the smallest lie, they would all meet their end, here and now. She could tell it where to find the Hero. Right now, the hero was currently setting up for the Gorgons arrival, it has been several hours since she talked with him. He could still be there, but so could her sisters, she couldn’t lead it there. Then she had an idea, she didn’t have to lure it there, she could lure the Hero away. She needed just the right words, so it knew who to direct its anger at

Lynn: “Y-Your ch-child is no longer of the living.”

The Gorgons eyes narrowed on Lynn, as if understanding exactly what she had said. She felt the tension return, had she just doom them all.

Lynn: “Pl-please, if you allow us, I would like to offer you, your child’s murderer.”

The Gorgon stared deeply into her eyes. As if probing her very soul. Then altogether the feeling vanished. They were all freed from it gaze. Several of them falling flat to the ground, unable to stand.

Lynn, breathe a sigh of relief, but she wasn’t finished yet. She had to lead it somewhere, away from her family. She turned to the Gorgon, falling to her knees, she prostrated herself.

Lynn: “To the southeast of here, there is a area. Its surrounded by thick forest, but a path between two hills, will allow entry. If you head there, by the time you arrive I will present you the killer.”

The Gorgon made a low growling sound, as if anger from being told what to do. Though, as silently as it arrived, it turned and left, heading southeast.

Karri: “Lynn, what just happened, Lynn?”

Lynn couldn’t stop shivering, she had bought them some time, but she still needed a way to get the Hero there. She took off in direction of their home, the other three getting themselves together, followed.

Karri: “What do you plan to do, the Hero will never follow you to those plains. That’s right in the middle of the grasslands, where the “Reapers” make their home.”

Lynn: “Karri, Aira, Brisa, I have an idea, if we use those flowers the Hero use on us, we might have a chance.” We just need to be quick, we might even get what we want in the process, the Hero will fight for our sake. He doesn’t have any other choice now…………..neither do we.”

The girls all agreed, if they did not deliver with the deal they made, the Gorgon would surely come looking for them. It was either him or them, with that thought, the four raced off, desperate to defy their fates and seal the Hero’s.

_

_

Anais: “Finally, something that fits.”

Anais turned around in the mirror, several times, she had search for something that could replace her current attire, it was way past its expiration. When she first met up with Nathan outside the study, he tailored the cloak he had with him to make an outfit, but it was always temporary. Looking through Amelia personal affects, she came across a robe that fit her just right.

Most likely from Amelia younger days, it hugged her body, but it was like elastic silk, whenever she twisted or turned it would comply, highly maneuverable.  She smiled, as she posed in the mirror, at first, she hated the thought of being a giant, but she soon become accustomed to it. Though she did wander why her features weren’t as defined as Saria or Lynn, even the fairy was bigger, though she was so much smaller in stature.

Anais: “Damn Bug.”

Anais was starting to depress herself, after picking out a few more things she decided to find what Nathan sent her here to get. She left Amelia’s room and headed to the second floor.

She went to the room with weapons and armor for the second time, nothing could fit her, but she could at least find some weapon she could use to protect herself.

She looked around, but everything she tried was way too big or way too heavy. Putting back the sword she was playing with she noticed a small shelf aligned with short blades. A shelf full of Knives, all still accounted for. Nathan must not have thought to take any of these when he left before.

She picked one that caught her eye, a short-curved blade, that thinned out towards the tip. But, what caught her eye was the purple gem embedded in the hilt. She swung it around, it was perfect, she grabbed the sheathe and put it away, while she was at it, she grabbed several more and placed them in her inventory.

Satisfied, she decided to do what she was ask to do. Nathan told her it was in one of the rooms in the left hallway but he wasn’t sure which one. She stepped into the first room, artwork loitered the room. She had never been in here before, there was never any need to. No food, no shortcuts needed, so she never needed to come this way. She didn’t see what she was looking for, so she continued on to the next room. She searched just like before, this time she found it.”

Anais: “Why the hell would he need, a stupid mask?”

She looked it over several times, but it didn’t seem at all special. Putting the mask on, she looked around, nothing happened.

Anais: “Piece of junk, whatever.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

She waved her hand, instantly the mask was gone.

*ding**ding*

Mask of Devoid was Stored!

Anais: “That’s one, there should be seven more.”

The masks were scattered across the room, she began to relocate each on into her Inventory. When Nathan, gave her one, she was surprised he ask her to remove the Gorgon corpse. It was a strategic advantage, but still it sucked to know she would be carrying it around. She headed down to the third floor, to the other room Nathan ask her to visit. The room with all the jewels and accessories.

She relocated several accessories into her inventory, he didn’t specifically ask for anything, just to grab what she could. With everything done she headed for the exit, on her way she passed by the library, Iris was not around, she could go for a snack.

All she had to eat were the fruit from around the area, not that it wasn’t good, she just missed the scratchy texture of the books she chewed on for so long.

She shuffled to the bookshelves with higher grade spells and indiscriminately cleared out shelf after shelf. She stopped on a tome, wind spells, she doesn’t have many wind spells, she might as well fix that now.

*Chomp*

Anais: “…………..Blegh, awful, what the heck?”

She spat out the foul taste and brush her tongue, did she lose her taste for books.

Anais: “Ah, right.”

*Poof*”

Instantly, her mouse form had returned, she had forgotten her giant form doesn’t like the taste of books or anything outside of food. She nibbled on the book and smiled in satisfaction, it was the taste she loved. She opened her stats screen, spell after spell was being added, more than half the spells she knew could not be utilize due to the lack of MP, but it never hurt to have them.

After finishing her book, she took one more look around for anything important, before heading to the exit. The door at the top of the step, still open from the times before, let in a warm breeze, a breeze she had become accustomed to her from her time outside these walls.

She left it open, no need to close it with the barrier in effect. Walking down through the cave, she hadn’t realized how dark it was. Her first time through here was a race against time, she was nearly locked in.

Reaching the end of the tunnel, she pulled out the “Alssein Eye” and placed it around her neck. As Anais channeled here mana, the amulet began to glow. A familiar light shot towards the invisible wall, creating a small hole, big enough for her to fit through. She didn’t have as much power as the fairy did but that’s was fine, without unlimited power, one has a clear view of their limits and are able to improve on them.

Stepping through the opening, she looked down at her hand, Nathan was heading towards her and he wasn’t too far off, she headed toward him, they would meet before long. Then suddenly he stopped moving, somewhere in the brush.

Anais: “Why are you doing, stopping in the middle of nowhere?”

He moved a little ways off and then stopped again. Stepping into the brush, she peered around, it wasn’t dark but the lack of sunlight cast a quiet shadow. Pushing through the bushes, she spotted a few nymphs hiding around the area.

Anais: “The hells, going on?”

Whatever they were doing they were looking pretty nervous about it, they scanned back in forth, watching for movement. Anais sense something was wrong and went to investigate. Not wanting to be spotted she activated “Shadow Sneak”. With it activated as long as she kept moving, she could move through people blind spots with no more than a passing glance She circled around the group in went to the other side.

She peeked over and couldn’t believe she was seeing. Nathan floating in mid-air unconscious, while the group of nymphs surrounded him. Anais didn’t understand what they were doing, but she instantly conjured some fire. Though she was a second too late Nathan along with the nymphs, vanished, leaving the nymph who spoke up against Nathan before. Anais was not going to let her escape as well.

*Fwoosh*

Tossing a fire ball, it landed right in front of the nymph, startling her and knocking her off her feet. Anais decided not to fry her, she needed to get Nathan back, then she could fry her.

Anais: “That was a warning, I don’t know what’s wrong with you and I really don’t care, but you’re going to call your sisters back here, right now.”

Anais stared down at the water nymph, she couldn’t remember her name, but she did remember the way she looked at Nathan. So much hate, she clearly had it out for him and whatever she and the others were doing, she was not going to let happen.

The nymph shook as Anais stared down at her, Anais took a step towards her.

Lynn: “Stay Back! *Splish*

A torrent of water splashed towards Anais.

Anais: “Tch!”

She threw her fireballs, but they were instantly snuff.

Anais: “Dammit!”

 She tried to jump out the way, it was too late. She was engulfed, the water swirled around, trapping her in a giant bubble.

Anais: “*Gurgle*”

She looked over to the nymph, their eyes met for a moment, before the Nymph turned and took to the sky. Anais tried to scream in rage, but that only help to shorten her breathe. The Nymph disappeared into the trees leaving Anais to her fate.

She pulled out the knife and stabbed at it.

Anais: “The hell…….why ……won’t……. you…….bust?”

Every motion she made work against her. Thanks to the “Plant Physiology” she could hold her breathe longer, but she needed to get out.

Anais: “(What the hell is wrong with her, she kidnapped Nathan and she’s trying to kill me, does Saria know, no, I don’t have time for that now. Have to get out.)”

She needed something to rip apart this bubble, but she was too far from the ground to use “Jagged Edge” spell, the rocks pillars would destroy the bubble, but once you unleash the spell, you lose control, there a chance it could skewer her in the process. The knife she had did nothing to the bubbles interior, she was at a loss.

Her body began to feel heavy, she was almost out of time. Her lungs screamed at her, begging for air.

Anais: “(Ah, air.)”

She remembered, she had just gotten a spell the might be able to help, it was a long shot, but it was this or die. Anais channeled her Mana, as  she did the knife in her hand begin to glow, the jewel shine, as if reacting to her mana.

Anais: “(Wind Scythe!)”

A storm of wind surged around Anais, slicing and cutting the bubble to nothing. The spell continued further, slicing everything in its path, when it subsided, the area around her had been leveled. She fell to the ground, coughing and spurting, gasping for air as she tried to stand.

Anais: “*COUGHING* Bitch, where did you go?”

She looked at her hand, three arrows, three teammates. She emptied her lungs and took off after the single arrow. It was moving away very fast, much too fast. She was not as fast as Nathan, but her “Shadow Sneak” more than made up for that. She looked at her hand, it seemed Iris and Celes had noticed Nathan moving away, they had started converging on his location.

 She tracked Nathan arrow for a while, running at full speed, keeping “Shadow Sneak” activated constantly. This was actually the longest she had ever kept it activated. Her Mana was running low, her lungs burning, screaming for her to stop. She ignored this, continuously looking  

 As she continued her chase, Nathan’s arrow came to a stop. Had they reached their destination? She looked around, a lot of the forest was dried up and dying. She stopped running, she knew all to clearly what the dead forest meant and what had passed through here. If that’s the case, the reason why she took him was all too clear.

Anais: “That Bitch………. she set him up.”

_

_

_

Nathan held his hand to his head, he was back in the familiar white space.

Nathan: “Augh, Dammit Lynn, what the hell did you do to me?”

As Nathan vented his frustration into the nothing, spinning around as he floated along in the vast white space.

Nathan: “Dammit, I should have seen this coming.”

Girl: “Yes, you should have.”

Nathan: “WHOA, you need to stop appearing in my blind spots.”

Girl: “I’m sorry, but we have no time to speak, you need to wake up.”

Nathan: “I know that, but I kinda just floating along here, how do I stop?”

Girl: “If you can’t, that means that someone is moving you while you’re asleep.”

Nathan: “………..Lynn, what the hell are you thinking?”

Girl: “You shouldn’t stay while someone is messing with your body, wake up now, your life is in danger.”

Nathan: “No, as long as I’m floating, I not in any danger, well, any immediate danger.”

Girl: “What?”

Nathan: “She said so before I passed out, she wouldn’t hurt me, because she wants me to fight. I’m such an idiot, why didn’t I see this coming, all the signs were there. I was so focus on what I knew she wasn’t capable of, I didn’t stop to think of another way?”

Girl: “You can blame yourself later, do you know what she plans to do with you?”

Nathan: “Well, it’s a pretty dumb idea, but it’s the only thing I can think of. If she take me to it, chances are, she’ll be killed right along with me, I can only hope. But if I can wake up now, while I’m still floating…….. huh?”

Just as he said it, Nathan felt himself slowly being lowered to the ground.

Nathan: “………………..Sonuva.”

Girl: “Quickly, we need to wake you up.”

Nathan: “Shit, that stuff she blew in my face she made from the “Lillaby”, it could keep me to sleep for days, she probably didn’t know that when she did it. Something must have happened to her, she think this through at all, how can I fight if I’m asleep?”

Girl: “All you need do is rid yourself sleeping agent, then know of a way, the problem is it could take a long time, depending on your “Blessings” strength.”

Nathan: “It doesn’t matter, it’s not like I have any other choice.”

Girl: “Then let’s start immediately, lie down here.”

Nathan did as was told and lied flat down. She placed her hands over him, her hands emitted a light which slowly engulfed Nathan. As the light intensified, he felt sharp pokes from his sides, like something stabbing him from within.

Nathan: “Oww, is it supposed to hurt?”

Girl: “If you truly have her blessing, then you should be able to do this as well, its early, so will have to force it to happen, it will be painful, but you must bear with it.”

_

_

_

Saria suddenly stop moving, she closed her eyes, as a breeze brought her hair to life.”

Iris: “What on Leseres?”

Saria: “………….The Grassvalley Tribe, they’ve arrived.”

Iris: “That’s wonderful, you should go, I’ll handle things here.”

Saria: “No, there is no need for that, I’m sure Lynn will deliver greetings and get them up to speed, I’ll remain here.”

Iris: “Ah, so you were unaware?”

Saria: “Unaware of what?”

Iris: “Lynn is here, she and Master were speaking not too long ago.”

Saria: “What!?”

Saria looked shocked, For Lynn to come here and not speak with her, she not one to change her mind, she would definitely not come here. Something was off, she called a few of her sister over.”

Saria: “Why had none of you, informed me that Lynn had arrived and was speaking with the “Hero”?”

Water nymph: “Lynn was here?”

Wind nymph: “That’s weird, she was so adamant about not helping.”

Water nymph: “And to have a conversation alone with the Hero, very uncharacteristic of her.”

Iris: “What do you mean?”

Celes hearing the commotion, came over to listen.

Wind nymph: “I didn’t know you were unaware, Lynn and the others were not very fond of the Hero.”

Saria: “What!?”

Wind nymph: “Come now, everyone’s notice how affectionate you and Celes were being to him. A lot of our sisters did not like that.”

Saria: “I was being affectionate?”

Water nymph: “You really didn’t notice, you two were clinging to him all the time. They probably felt like he was stealing you away from them, but the others here knew you had a reason behind it, you wouldn’t just latch to him for nothing.”

Wind nymph: “If she having a secret conversation with the Hero, it’s probably about you.”

The nymph around began to converse about the situation. Saria indeed had a reason behind being close, but she didn’t realize she was being affectionate, she was just thrilled to know that “Mother” was still close to them. That was the only reason behind it, nothing more, she had no idea her sister had view it as such.

After hearing about this, Iris had the sudden urge to check on Nathan. Searching for his mana signature, she was surprised to find he was moving so far away, so quickly and that there were so many other signatures around him.

This did not make sense to her and before she even realized, she had taken off and pursuit. She checked her hand, one arrow was moving fast in pursuit of Nathans, that must have been Anais, something was definitely wrong. With that thought she sped up.

The nymphs watched on puzzled by her sudden departure, without a word, Iris had left them.

Water nymph: “What do suppose, that was about?”

Saria: “Something happening, but first I’ll go greet the tribe, you guys finish what you can.”

Saria than flew away, for the first time ever she had no idea what was going on or what was going to happen.

Water nymph: “Why’d miss Iris fly off like that?”

Wind nymph: “Not sure, but Celes took off her after her."