Sebas looked down at five spearheads that threatened to take his eyes out as he slowly raised his hand when the elves refused to answer his query.
The wardens flinched as he finally rested his hand in the air.
“Am I free to go?” he asked again.
One of the elves stood forward and squinted, “We don’t have anyone of your kind here in our prison.”
Sebas tilted his head to the side in acknowledgment, causing the spears in front of him to shake as their wielders flinched again, and lightly moved the closest with a very slow-moving finger to prevent his eye from becoming blind. He cleared his throat and spoke slowly and quietly, “I am Sebastian Iore Aren… A mutant zombie hound broke my… whatever the bracelet you guys equipped us with, as well as changed me when the strange altar it came from…”
Sebas waited as the wardens shuffled around, he flashed them all a sheepish fanged smile and sighed when they flinched again and stabbed their spears towards his face again. His hand blocked a spear from embedding itself into his cheek. He sighed, “Can one of you go get Inalos, and another one of you just take me back to my cell?”
The wardens looked around at each other as if struck by the dilemma of listening to an inmate’s order.
Sebas settled their indecision by barking the order, “NOW? PREFERABLY?”
He watched as a pair of them scrambled to restrain him and began walking him through the long-spanning hallways of the stone ravine. Sebas sighed as he began to walk, and watched through his peripheral vision as some other prisoners managed to arrive at the dungeon’s teleportation platform and promptly restrained.
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When brought to his empty cell, Sebas finally spoke again, “You can let go of me now.”
The warden holding his arm was much more hesitant than the other who had to hold onto his scaled torso to “restrain” him. Sebas was not in a rush and waited for the trembling man to finally remove his crushing grip from Sebas’ forearm. Sebas walked forward and ducked underneath the doorway, closing the cell door behind him and tossing the bags at the foot of the stone bunk as he lay across the surface.
Sebas closed his eyes as he lay against the uncomfortable prison bunk. His gaze drifted across the stone walls of the room until it landed on the two wardens in front of him. He let out a soft sigh at the sight of the two elves.
"You’re both dismissed," he said halfheartedly, waving his arm dismissively.
He watched as the elves ran off and looked back up at the underside of the bunk above him, rubbing the back of his head as he rested his eyes.
[The Goddess of the Hunt asks why you didn’t just leave the stone cage realm?]
Sebas took a minute to answer, giving a perfect awkward pause to make it difficult to differentiate between him thinking over his answer and ignoring the god.
“I don’t think it would be a great idea to break out of here, there are plenty of amoral things going on in this prison, some of which I’m not even sure there are laws about; and I prefer not to have to deal with whatever corrupt politician sits at the dinner table of whatever homestead these “experience leeches” are born in.”
[The Goddess of the Hunt says that she doesn’t quite understand however, she believes in you and knows that you are the third greatest hunter she knows!]
Sebas raised an eyebrow, eyes still closed while he spoke, “Who's the second?”
[The Goddess of Mercy says that it isn’t important to talk about right now. She has spoken with the high priest of this region’s Church of Mercy and they have officially recognized you as a Missionary.]
“Thank you.”
[The God of Humanity tells you to be more grateful to the gods.]
“Ihta, why did you want Grave Impact?”
[The Goddess of the Hunt says that you have exceeded the point and purpose of the Quest she gave you, and thanks to the assistance of Mercy, Afterlife, and Death, she has been able to get you a Surprise!]
“A… Surprise?” Sebas asked with caution.
[The Goddess of the Hunt nods saying it's a Surprise!]
“Should I be… Worried? Mercy?”
[The Goddess of Mercy tells you that you will like it.]
“If you say so…”
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[Quest: Big Fish in a Large, Dead Pond]
[Description: Ihta, the Goddess of the Hunt, pissed off by ??? Offers you a better quest, cooler than whatever that loser ??? Can come up with. Ihta is the best God.]
[Objective: Kill: Field Boss: “Death Knight” 1/1
Kill: Field Boss: “Flesh Aberration” 1/1
Kill: Dungeon Boss: “Lesser Lich Sariel” 1/1
Give: “The Heart of the Chimera” to The Goddess of the Hunt (Optional): 1/1
Give: “Fatal Impact” to The Goddess of the Hunt (Optional): 1/1]
[Reward: 1x
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[Finish Quest?]
[Yes] [No]
Sebas opened his left eye, observed the text box, and considered not pressing the [Yes] option. He closed his eye again and spoke aloud, “Is there a way to prevent whatever container will drop from the sky, I’m not exactly at a very… I’m tired, I don’t want to catch anything right now.”
[The Goddess of Mercy consoles you, saying that there is a temporary blessing on Quest Rewards, preventing them from environmental damage.]
“Ah…” Sebas said in recognition, tapping the small [Yes] as he watched a small pointed flask and a small metal plaque both fall onto his stomach, sighing in relief as he held up the glass flask with iridescent blood that seemed to shimmer with a rainbow tinge in it as he swirled it back and forth as it hung between his fingers.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“There’s not much,” he said, holding the small tear-shaped bottle.
[The Goddess of the Hunt tells you that you can go and find a beast that lived hundreds upon thousands of years ago and effortlessly siphon its body for any blood that hasn’t been in contact with air and fill up a bigger bottle!]
Sebas sat for a minute, thinking over the idea before speaking in a deadpan tone, “Wow, Ihta is so great, I think the Goddess of the Hunt is the best god, probably ever and ever will be.”
[The Goddess of the Hunt nods enthusiastically, saying you’re right.]
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[Blood of the Ancient Beasts]
{Unique Legendary Consumable}
Effect: This vial of shimmering blood is considered to be the last of many once-prominent pieces of Staurros’ past; Upon consumption, the Player will receive an increase in physical capability, and have a chance to gain a part of the ancient’s strength. Other uses include artisanal production purposes or custom arcane practices.
“To challenge your humanity, you only need to take a drop.”
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“Ihta where the fuck did you get this?”
[The Goddess of the Hunt doesn’t see why that’s a relevant question.]
“Where did you learn to get so sassy?”
[The God of Afterlife chuckles and shakes his head at your shamelessness]
Sebas placed the small vial back on his stomach and investigated the metal plaque. The small light emanating from the magic stone in the ceiling of the cell reflected against the obsidian black and gold mirrored surface, shining against the letters that were illegible to Sebas. His thumb rubbed against the object as he focused on it.
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[Forgefather’s Accord]
{Divine Relic}
Effect: When energy is suffused into the Relic, the Player will be transported to ???, and ???
“Divine providence begets divine rewards.”
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“I don’t know what this is.”
[The Goddess of the Hunt tells you that you can find out later!]
“Thanks,” Sebas said, slinging his legs over the side of the bunk and grabbing the dark leather bag along with the alchemist's satchel. He used his pinky to open the potion satchel’s flap and gently set the small vial into place next to the only other potion within, a single crimson vial of wrath.
Sebas scooted back in the bed with both bags, using the shadow sling as a small pillow against the stone bunk. He slid the small plaque between the sides of the greatsword’s crossguard, as he pulled out a mana stone.
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[Mid Rank Magical Stone]
“Has a commodity of uses, and this one is the third highest… or lowest if you’re a pessimist.”
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Sebas set the blue crystal against his teeth and bit into it like an apple.
[Energy Flow Circuit has failed to absorb excess energy]
[Please exhaust current energy from within your body before accumulating a different rank of Mana]
[Excess Energy Amount: 135%]
Sebas hummed aloud and tossed the crystal up and down as his hand hung over the edge of the bed, letting his eyes close as the repetitive motion of the crystal echoed against the stone ravine, each of the hundreds of cells now laid empty.
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Silence awoke him, as the crystal disappeared from his hand, his clawed hand flexed against the metal as he tried to reach for the mana stone. Sebas was standing upright against the metal bars of the cell, looking across from his reflection, a small human with pale white skin, a black t-shirt, and black canvas pants. The reflection’s scarlet hair flowed in a nonexistent breeze, waving around like liquid fire, eyes squinting against the wind as it looked up at the horrific monster before it. The reflection’s hair; long and vibrant red flowed against the wind as it cascaded over its shoulders while its squint bore into him while it leaned forward, unmarred by the scaled and clawed creature.
“Look at you,” his reflection said, disdain in his voice, “Look at what you have become.”
Sebas gave a guttural snarl in return to his copy, his hand tightened against the metal bar, unable to shatter it, “Fuck you; This isn’t real.”
The reflection walked forward and phased through the bars unimpeded, its faceless visage made Sebas fall backward as it walked through the locked doorway. It shook its head, “No” it said as it finally stood upright in front of him, “You are not.”
Sebas’ feathers stood on ends as he stared at the faceless man in front of him, he tried to shout at the creature before him, but his mouth threatened to implode, choosing only to look at the thing before him.
“Have you forgotten?” It looked closely at him, “You have… You have forgotten, You forgot who you were supposed to be,” It tilted its head to the side, “Love, Envy, Survival; all the unnecessary things have taken an unrequited backseat so that you can play.”
Sebas mouth quivered as his claws sank into the brickwork, looking up as he scowled at its words. They made little sense to him, but he simply stared at the reflection as he spoke, “That isn’t me anymore, I’m not- You don’t understand-”
The reflection interrupted by closing in on his face, its smooth visage stared through him with missing eyes as it spoke, “I don't?” It laughed at him, face stretching as a small chuckle came from its… nowhere, “I am you. I was you! The part of you that you threw away, that which you abandoned when you decided to become this… this thing.”
Sebas’ chest heaved up and down for a few seconds before he scowled and slammed his fist into the wall, shattering the cell’s wall as he sat up, “I didn’t choose this.”
The reflection didn’t flinch and decided to crouch down, squatting in front of him as its fingertips sat together, “Didn’t you?”
The wind flapped through the room, letting the once invisible scars appear as the reflection’s hair moved out of the way, thousands of tiny veins of lightning created eyesockets and long snaking scars that zigged and zagged up and down its limbs. The reflection pushed its hair away as it stared at him, “You’re the one who let in the monster.”
The reflection’s hand slightly caressed the bright red heart scale where Sebas’ core resided, “nothing more than a puppet when you didn’t want to be a pet.”
Sebas’ brow furrowed at the accusation watching as the reflection’s touch burned against his chest, “I’m. Still. Me,” he emphasized through gritted teeth.
The reflection let go of him and let its arms rest against its knees as it sat in front of the monster, “Prove it,” it said, voice soft but unmistakably fierce, “I’m very tired and can’t hang on very long.”
He and the reflection contested each other’s stares, each watching one another, waiting.
The banging on the cell door made Sebas’ eyes shoot open, and he looked at Inalos as he stared back at Sebas’ wide-eyed expression.
“Don’t glare at me like that you little punk, I can leave you here if you really want to stay here that bad.”
Sebas sighed and looked at the floor where the Mana stone lay against the ground. He dragged his hand over his face as he sat upright in the bunk, collecting his makeshift pillow and the potion bag.
Sebas stretched as Inalos unlocked the Cell for him, “What took you so long?”
“Holy grounds like to pride themselves in their ability to have their faith matched only in equivalence to the amount of paperwork they can make someone do.”
“Yeah, that sounds about right,” Sebas said, clutching onto the bag on his shoulder as he walked beside Inalos.
“So, you’ve been busy; what the fuck happened in the two days I left you in there?”
“I think I’m an ordained minister now, I helped a couple get married.”
Inalos laughed through his nose at Sebas’ remark, “Oh yeah? Right after turning into whatever this is, right?” he asked as he gestured at Sebas with his lighter.
“I look the exact same as I always do, It’s not my fault I had to find these cursed pants when you guys gave us shitty little inmate pants.”
“Yeah, yeah, okay punk.”