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Despite the murk of dense fog creeping over the area, our trip outside town didn't take long; with Reggie leading the way, we found a small path branching off from the road - obscured by the dense, fragrant bushes and evergreen trees now growing along the coast, and followed it down to the shore through a narrow ravine.
The small cove where the smugglers are operating from was just half an hour away from the town. Hidden among the cliffs, this place seems to have been serving as a quarry, back when the town was still growing; the slightly pinkish stone found around here, similar to what most of the architecture there was made of. A crescent shaped beach, formed from crushed stone, leads gently into the calm blue water. Few old wooden shacks standing by the chiseled walls - likely left behind by the miners, are falling apart. However cliff dwellings were also built along the sides and under the overhang cliffs, and those remain in a good condition — a rather beautiful spot. Back in the Before, it would have been a popular tourist attraction.
Swaying on gentle waves, a long ship was docked here.
-Alright, it's bigger - or rather longer than I expected, and besides a pair of strange sails it also has oars. A galley?
It is currently being loaded by a bunch of rugged men, carrying crates and barrels over the short stone jetty, but they all stopped what they were doing the moment our group showed up in view. -Oh, this bunch isn't happy to see us. Weapons were drawn — and then promptly lowered, or even dropped in few cases, when the golem emerged from the fog; glowing blue markings on its stone body giving it an eerie look as they lit up the mist in response to the threat.
"I need to speak with Tegan!" Reggie, currently in the lead, was fast to interject as more men emerged from inside one of the cliff-houses. It appears the smugglers recognized him and some tension left the bunch - but only some. We were obviously not expected.
Then, someone very bizarre showed up.
"You're one of Arlon's, what is the meaning of this— who're these people?"
"Clients" Said Marcus, as he and Caroline step ahead to meet the strangely dressed man who asked from the doors. Meanwhile the caravan started to fill into the cove from the path, parking on the flatter terrain by the beach. With Reggie here, the negotiations shouldn't take long since this band likely doesn't know about what happened to the bandits. I didn't sense that Arlon guy around, so we are clear.
The odd man wearing a very flamboyant clothes, doesn't seem interested at all. "I ain't have time for this! The dead are coming and we're setting sail; Arlon can go and fu—" He paused for a moment when a ball of roaring flame appeared over Caroline's palm. " -Ehem, and we should better make this quick... Tegan, a humble privateer, at your service." His eyes turn into crescents as he grins really wide at the not so subtle threat.
There is around 30 of them here; most are armed but they are all pretty weak - sailors, thieves, and rogues mostly, with the colorful individual being the strongest among the bunch.
> Tegan. Beast-man (Cat, thin blood).
>
> Pirate (10) [Sailor 5, Rogue 7], Merchant (2) [Trader 5, Trafficker 5].
-Oh, interesting. The guy still looks like a human; does he hide animal ears under that wide brimmed hat? Now I wanna see them— Anyway, this ship's long deck should be more than enough to fit everyone. Honestly, this crew doesn't seem like enough for something of this size, but what do I know.
Jarred, Elen, and five of their employees; 12 mercenaries serving as the caravan's guards; 5 gnomes that tagged along; Angie, Hart, Reggie and 7 of the inn's staff that accepted the fool's offer; a pair of prostitutes that stayed at said inn, and two small families of four that decided under Hart's advice that the Empire was a better bet at survival, despite not knowing anyone there. 7 carts and and two carriages, together with their animals and a big golem... -Alright, it will be a tight squeeze.
No one wanted to waste time or spill any unnecessary blood, so they've got down to business.
The cat-guy kept arguing about the golem being to heavy, and how it could damage the deck; he might be right, even after the slight remodeling the thing is still a huge mass of earth and rock. —To everyone's surprise, myself included, it shed most of that extra mass off - dirt and loose rocks falling from its form onto the beach, leaving only the bare, enchanted stone covered in runes and swirling patterns. It then lumbered over the ramp, rocking the boat; none of the sailors daring to get in the way of the still imposing figure. The boards held, and Angie looked smug at herself while holding the elemental heart close to her chest.
Neat trick, although it significantly weakened the construct - not like it would be able to fight while on the ship without wrecking the deck.
Just as first of the wagons was being rolled onboard and tied up to the wooden floor, and we were about to go check out what the smugglers have stashed around here while everyone was busy; something entered the range of my Mana Sense—
They really don't have much time.
"You all might want to hurry it up!" I call out to the group, currently haggling over the price- and how the golem is still too heavy.
"Did that cat just—?" The parrot-like man asked with eyes wide.
"Skeletons on on the road." I cut off the beast-man captain.
"Arr, Fuck! Hurry up you scallywags! Leave tying 'em up for latter, just roll the damn things on the deck. Roger get the men to bring the rest off supplies on and don't forget me coffer —move it! I ain't goin to wait for no one when I see them bones come down 'ere" Promptly the whole cove erupted into a frantic whirlwind of activity.
"Keep calm everybody! Just move the wagons to the ship."
"How many Red?" Marcus joins me after leaving Caroline to wrangle the panicking people. His face serious as he looks up the narrow path leading up to the road.
They came too soon, I thought we had more time. According to the rumors I picked up while roaming around the town, a horde of undead arrived at the marsh to the north via the Coastal Highway, and seemingly stopped there; spreading over the wetlands instead of marching on Port Coral. However, it seems some of them were still right on our heels. How far south did the bone-bastards spread?
Is the town already under siege?
In the end Angie jumped the gun with making the elemental board the ship first; sure it put the smugglers in check and under her thumb, they are in no position to ditch or oppose us if they hope to keep the vessel in one piece - although that might not have even been intentional on her part. But with all the commotion of loading the cargo happening now on the deck, it can't really be called back to defend the cove.
Well then... We've invested to much time into these people to just leave them now, right at the finish line. There's isn't that many numbskulls out there and I can't sense any strong signatures among them, a perfect opportunity to test few things out.
"It's not that bad, at least for now; maybe a dozen, all weaklings and I'm unsure if they even know we are here since they now passed by- " I tilt my head while explaining the situation, I can feel another group of them arrive on the cliffs above. "—More are coming along the cliff though; those will definitely run into us."
"Marcus, can you guard the path?" Caroline joins us after giving out her orders to the people of the caravan; she heard our quick exchange. "If there are archers up there, someone will have to deal with them. I'm the best rider here, I will take a horse and go around to draw those away." She glances back at the animals currently being untied from their carts and slowly led up on deck. None even has a saddle ready for her.
-Hmm, it seems they don't expect me to involve myself with situation since our deal was over. You are being cruel, Caroline; I'm not heartless, could have cleaned them up as a parting gift. But if you want to go instead—
"That's dangerous Carol, even if Red claims those undead to be weak, that's from his perspective-" I get a slight glance from the veteran.
"We can't have arrows flying down here while they set everything up for the sail-off. I will just lure them away towards the road where we can deal with them if necessary." She scans the cliffs framing the cove on both sides, but the undead haven't arrived yet.
-I have an interesting idea; something I've have been meaning to test after getting some peace and privacy... There is still the essence of that unfortunate horse swirling inside of us— I've been keeping it 'to the side' while slowly going over what the hydra provided; without properly meditating on it, we weren't able progress much. Rose took most of it anyway, but there is still a lot to go through for me.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
Anyway, after examining the Animal Form a bit more this morning, I wished to try something - a theory. To shove a gathered essence directly at the Skill, instead of recreating it from what was present in my core and memory; compared to what we've been doing until now, that seemed more in line with its intended use. Whatever ritual was mentioned in the Skill's description, it clearly wasn't the demon summoning one - I'm sure of that now.
I meant to wait with testing that, but an opportunity to prank Caroline might not come again anytime soon - or ever, after we part ways today.
The small amount of equestrian essence that was present around my core, gets swiftly directed to where the skill is 'located' and it sinks in without any resistance, merging with the skill. Oh, that sensation is definitely much different compared to our cat transformations. Pieces click into place.
Mystical powers swirl around and my frame grows, fueled by mana, and surprising the duo that were just staring at each other in silent argument.
"Leave the poor tired animals, I can do at least this much." Both of them take a step away from my changing form. Much taller now I turn to Marcus. "This way I can keep this silly witch safe, and make sure she doesn't miss the ship."
"What are you planning, demon—" As always suspicious; her paranoia only grew after our contract was finished and we stayed in the mortal realm instead of going back to hell. "What do you expect in return?" She asks with narrowed green eyes.
"Consider this a parting gift." I neigh in a small laugh, the transformation complete.
They both study me, clearly unsure of what to do.
"You will promise to bring her back safe before the ship sails away?" The spear-master, now able to look me straight in the eyes, asks with a serious, stony face.
I can only try to raise a brow -horses were built differently, at that blatantly loaded question; a small attempt at making me promise, at making a deal. Whatever, this isn't much. They will be gone in less than and hour, so we might humor them; and I like her enough not to let her do something stupid, like getting left behind or dying at the end where they are about to get away to safety.
"Yes, I will. There's not much time before the undead reach the edge of the cliff, better hurry up if you wish to stop them." I turn to still hesitating Caroline. "Now, hope on!"
-Still... this form looks like an almost exact copy of the horse that got killed back there on the road; it is a beautiful bay animal, but a bit— yes, I believe we should be able to do that...
Recalling how we've usually transformed up until now, my Presence leaks out and I break through the constraints and limits created by the skill; small roses bloom in my mane as smooth vines show up, waving themselves into supports for Caroline's legs and hands; then our coat turns black as night— before suddenly becoming a purest white, while my form slims down and grows even more as I recall an image of a certain mythical beast from memory - I wonder if those are real here. I can't alter the body too far from the original 'blueprint' but this much is fine.
-Yes, I can reshape it by forcing my Presence into it; a demon's body not restricted by mortal flesh.
The fire witch's eyes grow wide as dinner plates - well, not literally, but just this sight alone was worth making this small promise. -Did she just blush?
——
Caroline rides through a dense fog and towards the top of a cliff hanging over the waves below, where a group of undead is supposedly marching through the thick bushes growing along the coast... She loves horses even more than she loves cats; the little devil yet again proving its insidious nature, as it took this form right in front of her.
She has never seen such a magnificent beast even in the capitals stables, and riding such an amazing creature was too much of a temptation to decline the opportunity; despite knowing better. Caroline could almost imagine that she's riding an actual unicorn that escaped from a bard's tale. -Damned demon, it is definitely doing that on purpose, she knows that now. That's what demons are famous for - playing on mortals' emotions.
-And it is not listening to her at all!
"—I can kind of guess what you want or expect with all those motions; but I'm not a real horse, and was never trained to follow these commands. So maybe talk to me instead of squeezing and pressuring my sides? Also, these are not real reins."
Her ride speaks as they leave the road and move in between the fragrant shrubs growing over the tall shore.
"You move surprisingly well despite that claim, I can't believe this is your first time taking this form." It almost glides along the ground. Despite the poor visibility it has no problem finding a best path forward on the uneven terrain.
"Transformation comes with a set of... instincts. It would be a pretty useless Skill if I were to just trip after trying to take a step."
It slowed down after leaving the road and entering the densely vegetated coastal strand, but the many branches baring their path, instead of grasping at her while they make their way past them, actually move out of their way as if pushed by an invisible force. -This is cheating, way to convenient.
"So it is a Skill after all." She answers her mount — no, a dangerous demon that carried her away, after that unexpected help offer. It always expected something in return for favors; she has to be careful.
The creature was very curious about the topic while the caravan traveled through the swamps, almost as if it didn't know about Skills at all. It was cautious about its questions, but as more people reported to her what they talked about, it soon became apparent they weren't dealing with some ancient all-knowing being. -Unless that was just an act. That's actually even mo—
-She can hear something hacking at the dense vegetation, making her refocus; magic ready at the tips of her fingers.
"They are here, just ahead." She nods at the confirmation and scans the scrub.
Beyond a wide round shrub, and barely visible due to the mist present even among the vegetation, she can see a group of armored skeletons. Cursed beings are clearing a path with rusted blades as their bones get tangled in thorny creeping plants growing over the ground— for just a single moment she worried about her mount having to move through those; before reminding herself yet again, that this isn't a horse she is riding right now— something like wild roses and raspberries covering the ground with their snares, likely not something it even notices.
There's quite a few of them here, over a dozen, and three of the wretched carry bows with them. Caroline quickly takes aim at the closes one, before they get noticed. A fast-cast flaming ball of magic flies true and sets the skeleton of fire; she pulls the 'reins' to make them retreat after getting the undeads' attention— but to no avail, her ride won t move, and she curses as another macabre archer readies an arrow.
"Move!"
"Hmm, after just this much? Well, as you wish." -This damned thing! This isn't a—
Too slow; just as it decided to turn, an arrow flies straight at her and she is right about to leap off when a— vine? wraps itself around her waist, pinning her down to the creatures back. -What!
"Easy there, what are you trying to pull? Fall off?"
—The black, deadly missile was buffeted by a strong gust of wind that didn't even disturb a single leaf from the nearby shrub; another of the demon's tendrils grabbed it from the air as it harmlessly tumbled past them, before just disappearing it somewhere.
Crap. Old habits and reflexes, thoroughly drilled into her by instructors in the army, are not easy to combat - nor should they be if one likes their life. But this is not a normal situation...
It finally moved, getting them out of the line of fire; two more arrows came and met a similar fate as the first one. —The demon is just playing with her, calm down. It promised Marcus to bring her back safe. As far as she knows, hell creatures are not supposed to lie. She can only hope its definition of safe is something they can both agree upon.
-Caroline grits her teeth, frustrated at the whole deal. She should be glad but—
"Hey, what's the big idea? You are not supposed to kick a horse on its sides, I know at least just that much." -Annoying creature.
"Shut up, you." Sigh. She can't let it play her like this, even if its amusement is the undisclosed price to pay for this assistance. "Are they following?"
The demon has no trouble finding a path and making distance from their pursuers. Caroline doesn't even need to bother directing it. Honestly, the thing could have likely defended them all back at the cove, if it wanted to. But with the deal off, counting on the fickle thing's protection could prove fatal.
"Why are you always so angry?" -This damned demon! Asking so innocently as if she was at fault here... "Yeah, the numbskulls are coming, you've got their attention. But we have another problem; more of them is arriving towards us from the north, along the road—The hell is that!?"
Dark vines explode from the creatures mane, wrapping tightly around Caroline in an instant, biding her... "— Wait, what are!" Anxious fear tightens up her chest, taking her breath away at the unexpected development.
No.
Flames surge inside of her, ready to burn everything around.
Magic! I have to use my—
The world warps around them, she blinks her eyes as they are no longer riding among the shrubs, appearing on the road instead. —What just happened? She instantly and completely forgot about her panic attack after experiencing... -What was that just now?
*Wham! *snap.
Something behind them crashed through the dense vegetation, followed by the sound of snapping and breaking branches.
Her bindings unravel themselves immediately; not a single thorn of the long, thin tendrils —no, those are vines; from this close up it is obvious. Not a single one hurt her, despite the whips being covered in sharp, glass-like barbs. But the one coiled around her waist still remains, keeping her in its vice-like yet gentle grip.
-Focus Carol! Something is wrong!
"Fuck! Hold tight, we have incoming—" Just as it said so, the bushes to the side of the road burst apart as a rusted chain-mail wearing skeleton charges at them.
The demon kicked the ground, immediately carrying her away at high speed, and all she could do was lower herself down to its mane; griping tightly at the strange vines growing from between the pure white hair. Her head finally clearing up to the danger they've found themselves in.
Chancing a glance behind, she sees that they narrowly avoided the charge of their enemy. A long spear traced an arc behind them, leaving a deep gash in the road on the spot they just left. Her magic, that surged up in her when the demon briefly bound her, rushes through her arm and she throws it behind in a wide fan of flames and sparks; catching and burning the powerful undead - before a swipe of its weapon dispersed her fire.
Another group of the cursed creatures showed up from the fog, to the right of the road behind them. One of them, especially haggard, covered in old rags and carrying a gnarled staff, raised its skeletal hand in their direction. Out of nowhere, a fireball flew past her and exploded on a spike of stone that raised from the ground in front of the new arrivals, sending flaming shrapnel into the undead, breaking bones and hiding them behind a cloud of dust — she didn't even notice it being cast. Looking back she sees a pair of horns now growing from the head of the white creature she's been using as a mount — like some kind of mockery of a unicorn; the demon also looking back at the enemies with wide black eyes.
The bushes they've rode through just a moment ago explode; branches, leaves and whole shrubs are sent flying as a skeletal lizard tears them up, rising from among the dense growth and spreading its nightmarish wings. An undead-fucking-wyvern...
She can tell this is not going to be an easy fight.
"...Watch where you are going and run, you stupid demon!"
It didn't need her prompting as it sprung into a mad gallop, carrying them over the coastal road.
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