The group was able to reach Drakon’s Nest carrying a wounded and unconscious Onyx along the way. The armor was able to sustain most of the damage, but his body still ached.

“So remind me who’s bright idea it was to bring the Fog Warrior along?” Said Tykal as she helped carry Onyx.

“I knew she was lying. I never expected her to be a Fog Warrior.” Answered Maxwell as she and all the rest kept their eyes on Seo.

“I never thought they would be able to catch up to us.” Explained Seo.

“In any case… Let’s put him down here for now.” Embry and Tykal laid Onyx on the bench. “Lyo, Tykal find us a ferry.”

“On it Tykal let’s go.”

“Tigris watch the perimeter for any other Fog Warriors.” Ordered Embry.

“Yes ma’am.”

“As for the two of you…” Embry put a hand on the shoulders of both Maxwell and Seo. “If he doesn’t make it I’ll make it my personal mission to kill you both. You for lying to us, and you for bringing her along. Am I understood?” Embry glared at both girls.

Both stuttered and quaked in fear. “Y-yes ma’am.”

“Good. Seo help out Tigris with the perimeter check. Maxwell you stay here and help me treat his wounds.”

“On it.” Answered Maxwell.

Embry removed Onyx’s armor and shirt. His skin was purple and red from the beating he took from Sloane earlier. Embry ran her hand across Onyx’s ribs to see if any of them were broken.

“Looks like it’s mostly internal bleeding if that is the case then let me…” Maxwell opened her bag and reached out for a jar containing some kind of clear green fluid.

“What is that?”

“It’s a type of poultice, except you drink it, helps with internal injuries. Open his mouth.”

Embry did as the girl ordered and opened Onyx’s mouth. Maxwell poured some of the liquid into Onyx’s mouth. Onyx’s face seemed to cringe at the taste, but other than that he didn’t wake up. All Embry could do for now was hope that Onyx would wake up by the time they were halfway to Midir’s Pass.

“So are you his second in command?” Asked Maxwell.

“No that would be Tigris.” Answered Embry.

“Then why wasn’t she the one barking orders and threatening me?”

“She cares more about who she’s going to sleep with than leading a squad.”

“Yeah I’ve seen the way she looks at you.”

“She’s more focused on my ass, chest, and legs most of the time.”

“She is an animal after all.”

Embry slapped Maxwell for that comment. “She’s also saved my life more times than I can count. I will not have you insult my comrades in any way.”

“Tch.”

“Bitch.” Embry whispered.

Lyo and Tykal looked at the fishermen dragging the large net across the mud. They definitely caught a big one as it took seven men to carry the fish out of the boat. When the men stepped aside and pulled the net out of the fish Lyo and Tykal saw that it wasn’t a fish it was a…

“Naga.” Said Tykal.

“Naga?” Asked Lyo.

“Snake like creatures with two arms and a giant fin at the back. They have a large bottle like snout with razor sharp teeth. They wrap themselves around their victims and drown them. I’ve never seen one quite that big though.” Explained Tykal.

“Think there are more of them in the river?”

“Yeah where there’s one there’s a dozen.”

Lyo looked at the naga again. It was at least eight or nine meters long. She spotted the hands Tykal was talking about and could see sharp claws. She made a mental note to stay away of the edges of the boat.

“Any of you own a ferry that can take us near Midir’s Pass?” Asked Tykal as she neared the fishermen.

“Yeah Old Ben can take you there.” Answered one of the fishermen.

“And where is he?” Asked Lyo.

“Sun’s still out so he’ll be out fishing a ways up the river. He won’t be back until sunset maybe sundown at the latest.”

“Thank you.”

“Looks like we’re still waiting.” Said Tykal.

“Where have you seen naga before Tykal?”

“In the shores of Lake Almarra long before I met you guys. I saw them come up and drag the bodies of the dead from the shore into the water.” Tykal paused for a moment. The memories she had of that place still haunted her. “Let’s go we have to tell Embry the news.”

Tigris kept sniffing around the perimeter, but could smell nothing but the scent of water, fish, and sweat. She didn’t find anything out of the ordinary. If there were more Fog Warriors around they were probably waiting, keeping their distance until the sun set just like last time. It didn’t look like the Dolsurians sent them so maybe they really were after Seo all along.

“Story of my life.” She sighed as she saw Seo coming up.

“Anything?” Seo asked.

“No… Or should I say I didn’t find anything at all that they wanted me to see.”

“Hmm…” Seo hummed as she kept thinking of the possibilities of Corin bringing reinforcements to take her back.

“Why are they after you anyway?” She asked.

“I… I was born different.”

Tigris looked at Seo’s crotch. “Now when you say different do you mean…”

“No… I just… It’s hard for me to… Kill.”

“That’s it!? That’s the easiest fucking thing to do! You just did it not too long ago.”

“That was different! When a child comes of age they undergo a ritual to prove their worth. They use children for us to kill. I escaped before it was my time to take it.”

“Even so it’s a waste of resources for just one girl.”

“No it isn’t.” Whispered Seo she then proceeded to probe Tigris on the legionnaires. “I’ve heard the stories surrounding the legionnaires.”

“Like?”

“I’ve heard that you are all orphans raised to take up arms.”

“Something like that Lyo and Tykal don’t have any last names. Onyx does, but he won’t say why it’s Albion. As for Embry she’d rather not talk about her family. I can’t blame her reminds me of me.”

“What’s your last name?”

“Euphrat, Tigris Euphrat. I left my family a long time ago. They’re probably still alive, maybe.”

“Why leave them?”

“They’re a lousy bunch always going on about claiming the land that was given to us by the Divines and such. They always end up getting slaughtered by the Zulamarians. Land doesn’t feed your people.”

“But it is a place you can call home.” Answered Seo.

“So? I can rebuild elsewhere Aephon, Dol-Sur, Karash, Ulammar all of them great places to build a home. Besides you left your so called home remember?”

“…” Seo couldn’t answer.

“Besides being a legionnaire isn’t all bad. I fight, I kill, I get paid, I get laid, and best of all I know here being an animalist and a Gaist is tolerated. It’s mostly the Gaist part that bothers them. But between you and me I think it’s just the fact that I once slept with my drill sergeant’s daughters.”

“You what?”

“Best night of my life. Remind me to tell you about it when this is all over.”

“Right… We should probably go.”

“Yeah.”

The group reconvened and discussed their options and findings.

“This Old Ben still hasn’t returned it seems. The fishermen say he’ll be back by sunset or sundown.” Explained Tykal.

“Well on the bright side there are no signs of any Fog Warriors. At least none that they left behind.” Said Tigris.

“Then that doesn’t really leave us with much choice. Any chance we could follow the river to where this Old Ben is?” Asked Embry.

“Not in his condition. Besides if what your friend with the crossbow says is true then naga and Fog Warriors will make things complicated.” Explained Maxwell.

“No other option then. Alright I want the four of you to scatter and watch the approaches for any other Fog Warriors. Maxwell and I will remain here looking over Onyx.”

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

“What if the Fog Warriors use the civilians as leverage?” Asked Lyo.

Embry looked at Onyx who still lay unconscious. If it was him he would try to save the hostages, but it wasn’t up to him. That decision would be up to her, and they had bigger priorities than a few civilians.

“They can certainly try, but they are looking for you Seo. So unless they want payback or know that we are bringing Maxwell with us I won’t hesitate to give you up. If they are looking for payback…”

“Expendable losses?” Asked Tigris.

“It’s war.”

“Damn Embry! If he finds out…” Lyo began.

“Hopefully he won’t have to. Now scatter.”

Embry looked at the sky turning orange as it began to set. There was still no sign of the one the fishermen called Old Ben. It seemed like they would still be waiting his return for a while. Embry looked at Onyx’s wounds that already seemed to heal. Embry had the entire group scatter and watch the various approaches save for Maxwell who remained with her watching over Onyx. As much as she loved Onyx she knew better than to hope. To dream that the war that both countries have been fighting for over one hundred and twenty years could be won his way. But she took some comfort in knowing that Onyx still remained true to his ideals, however stupid and foolish they were.

“Ugh…” Onyx began to groan.

“Embry he’s coming to.” Said Maxwell as she examined Onyx.

“Let me see.” Embry saw Onyx slowly open his eyes.

“Where am I?” He said weakly as he slowly started to get up.

“Hey now your wounds are still…” Embry placed a hand on Onyx’s chest and shoulder trying to keep him down.

Onyx groaned from the pain. “Damn it.”

“I told you.”

“And the others?” Asked Onyx.

“They’re fine. We’re waiting for a ferry to come and take us up the river near Midir’s Pass.”

“Good. That’s good.” Onyx laid back down and tried to get some more rest.

“AH!” Embry and Maxwell heard screams coming from outside.

“Maxwell stay here.” Ordered Embry.

“What was…”

“I got this Onyx.”

“Okay.”

Embry rushed outside to see a large dark figure crouched over a body. She heard sounds of crunching and growling along with sounds of whimpering. As she neared the figure she saw that it was Sloane. Except he resembled a monster his teeth were sharp and jagged, patches of his skin were blackened, his eyes were bleeding, his nails looked sharp like claws, and he also carried a feral and wild look in his face.

“What the fuck? How did…” Embry couldn’t believe that the man was still alive, especially after Seo slit his throat.

Sloane rushed at Embry all the while he tried to get a hold of her. Embry dodged to the side and stabbed Sloane with her sword. Sloane got a hold of the sword and pushed it deeper inside his body closing the distance between him and Embry.

“Hey asshole!” Yelled Tykal as she fired a round from her Sybaris rifle the round hit Sloane’s head, but he was still somehow moving.

“What the fuck? How is he…” Lyo began trying to make sense of the situation.

“Later Lyo let’s kill this asshole.” Said Tigris as she began transforming. “Get away from her!”

Sloane threw Embry at Tigris and both fell down. Tykal pulled out her crossbow and began firing aiming at Sloane’s head. Lyo and Seo both rushed at him together hoping to overpower him. Lyo attempted to impale Sloane, but Sloane grabbed her spear and threw her at Seo. Sloane still held onto the spear and threw it at Tykal who was busy firing arrow volleys at him. Tykal barely dodged the incoming spear. Sloane felt something penetrate his stomach. He looked down and saw a javelin spear lodged in him. He turned around and saw a young blonde girl holding up the spear. Sloane punched the girl throwing her several meters away. As soon as he turned one of Tykal’s arrow bolts hit one of his eyes. Sloane howled from the pain.

Onyx heard the screaming coming from outside the hut. He had already put on his armor, and he tried to pick up his sword. His body still ached from the beating, but he had no choice but to go out there and help his comrades. He saw Sloane pull out an arrow bolt from his eye.

“How the…” Onyx began he saw Maxwell approach him.

“Can you fight?” She asked.

“Yeah… How is he still…?”

“Doesn’t matter right now what does matter is how we kill him.”

“Any ideas?”

“Fire. The locals must have plenty of oil barrels here we can use to burn him.”

“Will it work?”

“It’s better than nothing.”

“Okay then. Ask the locals where they store the stuff. Take Seo, Tykal, and Lyo with you to set the trap we’ll hold him off.”

“On it.”

Tykal, Maxwell, Seo, and Lyo went from hut to hut trying to get one of the fishermen to help them out, but none of them would. Tykal began to kick open one of the doors.

“What the fuck do you want?” Yelled one of the fishermen from inside the hut.

“Where the fuck’s your oil? The stuff you use to burn your shit with?” Tykal was getting frustrated having to go door to door.

“Why do you need that stuff for anyways? Can’t you just use your weapons?” He asked.

“Weapons aren’t doing shit against that motherfucker so unless you have a better idea I’m all ears.”

Tykal heard no answer coming from within. “Fuck it!” Tykal kicked the door open and aimed her crossbow at the family of three cowering in the corner.

“Alright asshole you have until the count of three to tell me where the oil is. One.”

“We need that shit out here.” He replied shielding his wife and daughter.

Tykal fired her crossbow at the man’s shoulder. “Two.”

“Agh you fucking bitch!”

Tykal fired her crossbow again this time at his leg. “Three.”

“Wait!” The wife yelled trying to defend her husband.

“It’s over in the dock we leave them out in the dock.”

“Now that wasn’t so hard was it?” Said Tykal as she turned around and smiled to herself.

Onyx drew his great sword and rushed at Sloane. He managed to cut part of Sloane’s torso, but he didn’t seem at all affected. He seemed rather enraged by it actually. Sloane grabbed Onyx’s neck and began to squeeze. Onyx felt like he was about to pass out from the lack of air. Embry rushed in and cut off Sloane’s arm. Sloane howled, but the hand was still tightly gripping Onyx’s neck. Embry helped Onyx remove Sloane’s hand from his neck.

“Agh… Thanks.”

“You’re supposed to be resting not fighting.”

“We’ll talk after the fight for right now let’s…” Onyx winced in pain as he tried to stand up. “Damn it!”

“You’re weak… You’ll die… Death… This is the end.” Onyx heard whispers in his head as he saw Sloane pull out Maxwell’s spear.

“Onyx pull back you are in no condition to fight.” Said Tigris as she helped him up.

Onyx felt a massive headache, and he felt something warm trickling down his nose. He wiped his nose and saw his finger covered in blood. His internal injuries hadn’t recovered to a point where he could put up a fight. He slowly began to retreat when Sloane threw his spear at the trio. Tigris and Embry both dodged, but Onyx did not have the strength to do so. He lifted his great sword and used the broadside to shield himself. The spear grazed his left arm.

“Agh!” He cried in pain as he applied pressure to the wound it wasn’t deep, but it still stung. He felt as if he was about to pass out. He fell to the ground seemingly unable to move.

“Onyx! That’s it I’m gonna cut you down. Die!” Embry cried as she lifted her sword ready to cut him in half.

Sloane let Embry get close and sliced his head in two. Embry smiled thinking she had finally landed the killing blow. Sloan punched Embry effectively knocking her out.

“Ah!” Tigris yelled as she sprinted ready to land a blow on Sloane.

Sloane let Tigris punch him. The force of her punch made her arm penetrate his body. Tigris saw that Sloane was still somehow unaffected by it. She quickly pulled her arm out and retreated. She saw what looked like tentacles emerge from Sloane’s severed head.

“The fuck are you!?”

One of the tentacles whipped Tigris. “Agh!”

Tigris fell to the ground. She turned her head to see Embry still knocked out cold. She heard shuffling and saw Onyx rise to his feet. He looked different too. His eyes were not the usual black they were colored crimson with black slits. He had a smile in his face, but it was different more sadistic.

“Dragon eyes…?” She thought.

Onyx held his sword ready to make a horizontal slash. The tentacles lashed out at Onyx who swung his sword and cut them off. There was a loud screech as if Sloane felt pain from having his tentacles cut. Onyx smiled and rushed in to finish him off. Sloane aimed his severed arm at Onyx and from it emerged yet another tentacle. Onyx stopped and angled his sword parallel to his body with the edge aimed at Sloane. The tentacle was sliced in two as it attempted to impale Onyx.

Tigris saw Lyo approach her. “Tigris are you okay?”

“Yeah I’m fine… Where are the others?”

“The trap is set we just need to lure Sloane to it.”

“Shouldn’t be a problem then help me out with Embry.”

Onyx kept slashing and cutting Sloane’s tentacles with every swing. Sloane let out loud screeches of pain as Onyx kept cutting his tentacles. Sloane noticed Tigris and Lyo carrying Embry away from the fight, and near the huts. Sloane disengaged and pursued the girls. Tigris and Lyo sprinted towards the trap laid by the rest. They reached the trap which consisted of several barrels close together through a small clearing around three huts made of mud. Sloane neared the barrels and prepared to attack the girls. Tykal, who was on top of the roof of one of the houses, lit one of her bombs and dropped it on Sloane. Sloane caught fire after the bomb exploded and covered him in oil. He was completely set ablaze screeching, tentacles whipping about frantically. Seo and Maxwell dropped a net for the girls to use to quickly climb up to the roof.

Onyx saw Sloane on fire attempting to pursue the girls and simply just rushed at him. Onyx dashed through the flames focused on delivering the final blow than being set on fire. Onyx impaled Sloane, and cut him in half. He lifted his sword and kept hacking at Sloane’s body over and over again.

“What is wrong with him?” Asked Lyo.

“Dragon eyes.” Answered Tigris.

“You know what that is?” Asked Maxwell.

“I’ve heard the stories.” Tigris began. “A trait from one of the thirteen tribes very rare to find it these days. It is said that those with a heart of darkness are the only ones able to acquire it.”

“Ha!” Maxwell was surprised at the animalist’s knowledge. “You are only half right. It’s genetic clearly the boy must carry the gene in his blood. It is not a ‘heart of darkness’ that determines the trait.”

“I dunno the way he keeps hacking at Sloane makes me think so.” Answered Seo.

Embry slowly came to and saw Onyx hacking away at Sloane’s burning corpse. “Onyx what is…”

The fires faded and subsided Sloane’s body was burned to a crisp and Onyx fell backwards seemingly tired from the whole ordeal. Embry and the rest climbed down from the huts and examined Onyx and Sloane. Onyx seemed fine probably tired from all the fighting that happened. Sloane on the other hand was a whole other story. Maxwell examined the remains carefully trying to deduce how a dead man could do all of this. There had to be a rational explanation behind it, but she couldn’t find one. She noticed something moving underneath Sloane’s skin.

“Seo give me one of your small throwing knifes?” Asked Maxwell as she pulled out an empty jar from her small rucksack.

“Here.” Seo handed the knife to Maxwell.

“Thanks now let’s see here…” Maxwell cut Sloane open and let the small worm exit his body.

“What is that?” Asked Seo.

“The source of our problems now if I could just…” The worm let out a small screech before dying and evaporating. “Sovereigns be damned so much for a logical explanation.”

“What about him?” Asked Embry.

“He’ll be fine. He’s just tired.” Maxwell simply waved off her question.

“That’s not what I meant.” Stated Embry.

Maxwell sighed. “You mean will he remember?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know. I’ve never met someone that has Dragon Eyes before maybe ask the animalist. She seems to know something about it. Although I would advise caution as the tales she has on Dragon Eyes may be a little… Exaggerated.” Maxwell moved on to examine the rest of the body parts scattered about.

Embry felt like punching the girl again, but she let it go this time. She saw several of the fishermen approach her. She placed her hand on her sword’s hilt ready to draw.

“What was that thing that killed Moira?” Asked one of the fishermen.

“It was a Fog Warrior.” She answered.

“Last time I checked Fog Warriors didn’t tear women apart or cannibalize on them. They also didn’t grow tentacles or require to be killed with fire.”

“Hmph I was wondering where that bravery was. Here I thought you all would try to defend your own community, but you were all cowards.” Said Tykal.

“What did you say?” One of the fishermen held up his harpoon.

“It’s easy for you all to gang up on a bunch of kids, but when confronted with a real threat you all simply cowered inside your huts.”

“Aren’t you legionnaires paid to protect us?” Retorted one of the fishermen.

“Then pay up if you want protection bitch.” Said Tykal.

One of the men rushed in to impale Tykal with his harpoon, but Tykal dodged it grabbed its end and pulled the man forward with her crossbow aimed at his face. The man cowered as he saw the proximity with which his eye was to the tip of the arrow bolt.

“Anybody else?” Asked Embry.

The men pulled back.

“What do I do with this one Embry?” Asked Tykal as she kept her crossbow aimed at the man’s face.

“Kill him.”

Tykal pulled the trigger and the bolt penetrated the man’s skull killing him. The other men gasped, and Tykal aimed her crossbow at them ready to fire if any of them would try to attack them.

“My advice would be to leave us. Unless of course you would all like to join your friend here?”

The group scattered and dispersed all of them keeping their eyes on them as they did fearing the possibility of Tykal firing an arrow at them.

“Hmph typical.”

Maxwell examined the tentacles and severed hand Onyx and Embry had cut off before they killed off Sloane. She first examined Sloane’s hand hoping to find another one of the worms. She was unsuccessful, but she did find the same black substance she found on her spear when she impaled Sloane. She dipped her fingers on the black substance and sniffed it. Her fingers smelled like a rotting dead corpse. Her working theory was that Sloane was in fact dead, and that the worm she saw was some sort of parasite that took over his body after Seo killed him. But that still left the changes in his body to remain unanswered. Normally parasites would have to take control of the nervous system or the brain in order to gain control. Even if the parasite used Sloane’s nervous system as its control mechanism changes like the ones she saw should not be possible. She would need to have a word with a parasitologist once she reached Spyre.

“Something tells me this is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.” She thought as she wiped her fingers clean.