Novels2Search

Search And Find

Under the cover of night Jormungandr returns to the city. They deftly enter through a cracked window and seek out Amethyst by smell. Finding them on the third floor behind a locked door, Jormungandr taps the door quietly. Amethyst sensing their presence unfastens the lock, allowing them in. Once inside Jormungandr asks their request. “Can you find the hearts which burn like mine?” Immediately once they’ve finished speaking Amethyst replies. “Of course, I owe you for the debacle yesterday, I don’t know what happened but the guards demanded we evacuate the Inn to capture you. I’m sorry.” Jormungandr accepts the apology and moves on. “It’s alright, I came to this island to deliver a package. I was quickly robbed of it by thieves and guards. I’ve done no wrong, they want me for reasons I don’t fully comprehend.” Understandingly, Amethyst responds. “I trust you and I’ll help you, come back tomorrow night, also you burn brighter what happened?” Actions being louder than words, Jormungandr ignites their fingers then departs, cloaked by darkness.

The next day Jormungandr returns to their pond and accustoms themselves to the flame by roasting fish. Hunger satiated they gaze at the sky and remember thrilling hunts in the great ocean, both in it and on it. Having had their fill of food and thought they decide to wait out the day in town. Keeping to the odorous alleys they avoid detection. While crouching across from the Sleeping Bird Inn Jormungandr smells the figure who buried the feathered demon in the forest. Emerging from the shadow Jormungandr follows the trace and comes face to face with the figure. They are dead beneath garbage being feasted upon by lizards. Dismayed by the literal dead end, Jormungandr fails to notice a familiar fatal heart injury on the corpse. With night finally arriving they head to Amethyst's chambers in the same manner as before. Growing close to Amethyst, Jormungandr takes a seat beside them and asks, “how went your day?” “It went swimmingly, I went for a walk around the city and felt auras like yours, yet each one was distinct. Oddly enough they all originated from the Crown Mountains.” Replies Amethyst. Tilting their head upwards in thought, Jormungandr pauses before speaking again. “Thank you very much, I shall head off to investigate under the night's cloak, lest my prey runs.” “Farewell… “ Amethyst whispers, disappointed in the briefness of the meeting.

Ascending the cliff side at a rapid pace, Jormungandr quickly reaches the nearest top. Finding nothing, they climb another and another until the sun rises. Fettered by this failure their heart proposes a different means of searching. “The hearts may reside in a hidden cavern of sorts. Rather than find the door, let’s find the key. Track individuals entering the vicinity.” Agreeing with the heart, Jormungandr begins to patrol the forest's pathways below. The first few people they track are local hunters, however, they manage to find the thread with due diligence. A cloaked figure carrying a human length bag wanders from the pathways, heading into dense shrubbery. Recognizing the bag, Jormungandr follows them. Before the figure can slip under a trap door Jormungandr incapacitates them, causing the bag to semi expose its content. Inside is a normal, featherless human free from any visible injuries. Still breathing, Jormungandr decides to not kill them for the heart which may not even be demonic. Having wasted time being gentle with the courier they slip below the trapdoor into a dark stone hallway, faintly illuminated by torchlight. Moving through the tunnel they eventually reach a large dome like room with three other tunnels. Unsure of which contains the hearts they walk towards the first. Entering the tunnel they are met by a human holding a tied up Prince Of The Sky. Upon seeing each other the human runs away, bird in hand and Jormungandr gives chase. Reaching another trap door the human finally releases the bird as they climb a rickety ladder. When Jormungandr reaches them it is too late, the ladder has been pulled up and the human is gone. Spotting the bird contorted in an awkward position on the ground they release it and the bird weakly flies away. Stealth spoiled Jormungandr runs back to where they entered. Unfortunately in the dome room a large warrior stands waiting, demon heart in hand. “You have seen what can not be seen, interrupted our experiment and interfered with our materials. This is your end intruder.” Recognizing the danger posed by the warrior and likely reinforcements Jormungandr prepares to end the fight swiftly and escape. They feint a rush, drawing a strike from the warrior's sword that misses. However, before Jormungandr can seize the opportunity a shoulder charge throws them to the ground. Dazed on the ground the warrior pins them with their limbs and prepares to decapitate them. This contact proves to be Jormungandr's saving grace. Erupting from their hand are demonic flames which come into contact with the warrior's leg. Howling from pain and surprise they leap off Jormungandr and roll on the ground in absolute agony. Crawling across the warrior is a flame which heats the armor, cooking them and refusing to be extinguished. After a few seconds the screaming stops, the warrior has been reduced to bone and ash. Instinctively Jormungandr picks up the flame, returning it to themselves. No time to spare, they grab the demon heart, sprint for the trap door and hurry back to safety.

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