AN: Looks like this little portion of the story will end during the first half of chapter six. Afterwards comes a little surprise, and a bit more brutality from the kitsune. Should be entertaining, right?
By the way, I got hold of of a local editorial service called 'Monique Happy Editorial Services', but because it was the Easter Weekend when they decided to answer back, I have to wait a few more days before I can receive an exact quote on the cost. Pretty much, it's expensive. So what does this mean to you guys? Well, either I'm going to blow through my vacation savings to put out this book, or you'll be seeing a donation box down below.
Anyways folks, thank you for reading thus far. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please let me know down below.
__________________________________________
"Did you know, human," the earth about us shook slightly, as my eyes did spy movement coming from the small jester. It was still bound in the gilded and jeweled chains, but floated towards my skull so that I may look upon it more closely. "there are approximately two hundred bones in an adult human body?"
The creature stirred from its short rest, then gasped as it found its body still tied to the chains. "Wh-," it began before screaming as its eyes fell upon my bare skull. "Monster! Someone! Save Me," but none would come to its aid.
"You have summoned a god," I began.
"-and it is angry," whispered the creature before my person, which caused my imaginary lips to peel back in revealing a feral grin. Its body was limp soon afterwards, of which leaked fluids from its eyes and lower body.
"Look about you, thing, for there are none of your kind here to save you from my wrath." The chains swung him to and fro, allowing its eyes to view the rubble filled "throne room" full of my Undying feasting upon the flesh of the mouse-kin. Her own skull was seen within the hands of Brutus the Lich, as he drank deep of the blood within. This was before he cracked open the skull in its entirety, and fished out the brain. Whereupon his four hands did tear it into four large, bloodied chunks, and handed three of the pieces to three of my female Undying, before tearing into his own piece.
The sight of such actions paled the face of the small human, who shivered against the chains that bound it. "Look upon them well, little thing called 'human', for these are my chosen, and they still hunger for flesh." A roar echoed my statement, but for a different reason. Those down below fell upon the bones of the Kin, cracking them open to drink the marrow within. However, the chained human fell into the belief of my Undying desired the flesh, bone, and blood of itself.
"Please," it whispered softly, "Anything..."
"What was that, thing?"
"I'll tell you anything," it screamed, "Please don't let them eat me!"
"Where. Is. The. Little. Princess. Thing?" The jaw of my skull opened wide, causing the creature to squeal as it did its best to back away from my opened maw.
"She's at the ruins of the Blood King's Castle," its voice was high pitched, as the words flew from its throat quickly, "I swear it. They are going to sacrifice her in two days' time."
"Where is this castle?" My voice shook the whole of the castle, causing more of the ceiling to fall onto the ground below.
"A sennight's ride north by way of horse," its voice was now a sneer, as the creature's face contorted into a hideous visage. "You will never reach us in time," it cackled maniacally, as another voice overlapped its own, "Soon our god will rise ag-"
"<
"My Lord God?" Brutus called out to my person, as all others began to gather close by.
"Find out where this 'Blood King's Castle' resides, Brutus. We must make haste, if we are to make it in time for the party."
*
"You are certain it is at the old castle?" Asked an old human wearing what appeared to be scraps of discoloured clothing sewn into its skin. It was... odd.
"Our Lord God heard it from the little cretin before it fell to the ground," growled an Undying, who brandished a fairly large battle axe.
The old human raised its hands high, waving them quickly in front of it, "I mean no disrespect. Just that the castle is located within the Degro territories, and-"
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
"We do not care for your disputes between nations, human," growled Brutus, whose emerald eyes flared enough to illuminate the human standing over a large map upon a blood soaked table, "Give us the location so that we may recover your lost princess."
"Of course, of course," it nodded quickly, then turned to stare at my person from the corner of its eye. This earned the human a display of power, as a bolt of chaotic lightning struck close to its tattered feet. It leapt back with a yelp, as I turned to point my gnarled staff towards its body.
"Where. Is. The. Castle. Located?" I growled slowly, emerald and violet coloured energies crackling about my person.
With a yelp, it pointed a bony finger upon the map, indicating where we are currently located, "We're here, and the castle is northwest of-," its body was lifted high, as a large bear Undying dragged it towards a large hole in the wall.
"Which direction is your 'northwest', human," my voice was barely an audible hiss, as my eyes flared a brilliant crimson. My mental state was enraged at the thought of not completing our assigned task. Of which would mean we would not be allowed to see the tribunal, and the world would reset itself to repeat the process over again. This was unacceptable to my person, for we had already failed in another task, thus barring our persons from venting upon the "tribunal" once more.
"That way," its finger pointed towards the mountain range, to which earned it a toss to the floor, as my score of Undying gathered about my person.
Each knelt down, pressing their foreheads to the ground, whilst their primary clawed hands rose up towards my being. My own body flared with a sickly coloured light, which bathed them all in its glow, as I intoned, "<
*
As all who follow my person in worship know, an Ageless is able to grant others an eternal blessing. Each blessing given is able to increase each recipient's strength close to the one who granted such things. However, the only difference between the I of today, and the I of yesterday is not of added strength, but of time. For you see, the I of the past was unable to grant a permanent blessing, which caused our group to become slow halfway to the mountain range.
Of course, this also tired most of my Undying, as many of the twenty were not skeletal. In other words, my dear audience, they did not have the stamina to keep up with myself.
"In more ways than one," the kitsune chuckled to himself.
"Rest," I commanded, as we slowed near a copse of trees which heralded a great forest beneath the mountains, "We have plenty of time, and the day star has not even begun its trek across the sky just yet." Which was true, for the most part, as the colours of violet and red flew across the night's sky as though an artist had spilt paint upon a masterpiece.
"Thank you, My Lord God," panted several bestial and serpentine Undying, who stretched and relaxed their bodies against various trees. My own form had become a kobold once more, as I stood under a large oak tree, watching as the day star slowly inched its way into the sky above.
"How long has it been, My Lord God?" Asked Brutus, who stood by my side as his own emerald eyes watched the same beautiful scene as I.
"Far too long," my voice was a slow whisper, as my eyes beheld the majesty of the gold and... blue? "Do my eyes deceive me, Brutus, or is the day star as blue as our great waters upon Terra?"
"They," his voice hesitated, as his own eyes flared brilliantly for a moment, "They do not, My Lord God. It is indeed a blue day star." The metallic skull upon his shoulders turned this way and that, as though searching for something lost upon the ground. "My Lord God, the grass and leaves are of royal purple," he exclaimed loudly, inviting all others to glance upon the ground and trees.
Indeed, they were of a rich purple colour. The sort of colour one of royal majesty might wearing upon their clothing. "Find the seeds," I muttered softly to myself, then turned towards all who stared upon my person with curiosity, "Gather the seeds of the grasses and trees."
"My Lord God?" The Lich had questions within his eyes, as the Undying set to work in collecting the seeds I desired.
"These plants have intrigued me, Brutus, and when we've taken back our home of Terra, I desire to see if these seeds may flourish under its golden day star."