AN: I have news. Going to be receiving a contract by the editor in the next couple of days, then will start paying them quite a bit to edit it all out whilst keeping my "voice" (writing style) prevalent. After this comes the process of publishing it, and I don't know how long THAT will take. Hopefully it won't be as painful as this one felt like, but hey, still cost me an arm and a leg.

Which begs the question: Would you purchase the book/s if presented one? Would love to know your thoughts as to why you would, or would not, purchase a copy.

As always folks, thank you for reading thus far. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please let me know either down below or in my PM box.

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Sounds of branches straining under a great weight punctured the silence of the great host of monsters that was the kitsune's small army. Many heads turned towards such a sound, only to realise it was their Ageless's ethereal wyrm resting upon a great and bare tree. Beneath such a beast was their leader, whose warmth within his eyes startled many, as they've come to know him as only cold and cruel.

"You may believe what you will," his voice drifted into their minds by way of the Mindflayer's touch, "but know that I am a just being in my own right. I still feel the warmth within my beatless heart when I look upon those of whom had earned such affections." His right paw flowed over the tail of his wyrm's tail, which shivered under such a caress, "Those of whom had earned the right to be graced by my warmth and affections will know no fear of Death and Her eternal kiss. For I shall keep you from such an embrace forever more." Upon the words of their Ageless, the host of monsters became excited, as each would strive towards the day their leader would gaze upon them with such eyes as he did upon the wyrm.

For now, though, his right paw waved them all over as a large cauldron filled to the brim with an unknown soup appeared in front of his person. Other platters full of meats, cheeses, vegetables, and fruits did appear around them upon long tables. "Eat," he commanded them as three large kegs full of a golden brew thumped upon the ground before him, "Drink," wooden plates, utensils, and mugs fell upon the edges of the tables with a clatter, "Be merry. For tomorrow we leave the Great Forest of Nu'Bai, and must trek upon the Plains of Nu'Ohn. From there, we shall journey south towards the Necropolis, where we shall all feast once more."

"How long do you estimate this journey towards the home of the Lich King will take, my Master?" Asked a large, dark furred Nekotar, as a wooden plate full of meats was placed in front of it.

"The celebration will not start until mid-winter," hummed the Ageless, of whom was now lying against a trunk of a great oak tree, "The trek will not last long, perhaps a full moon turn. As long as we do not come across any great armies who wish for my head, of course." Many voices raised themselves in laughter, as the denizens continue to fight his rightful claim of ownership of the world called Terra.

"Well, no matter," he mumbled, twirling a foreclaw from his left paw in the air. Lines of emerald, sapphire, and ruby danced gaily about his claws, as he simply gazed upon them with joy about his eyes. For a time he was like this, as the host of monsters did drink and eat merrily, before a question appeared within their minds, "Do you, all of you, know of another Great Forest called Sai'uun?"

The great host silenced their merry making, and as one turned towards their leader. Many eyes were full of questions, but a bare few nodded upon these words. "The Great Forest called Sai'uun," began a decrepit skeleton, whose bones cracked even as it fought to stand tall. Another skeleton appeared beside it, gently bracing the former against its own body, and was awarded a small whispering of, "Thank you."

"The Great Forest called Sai'uun," it began once more, "once held the ruby trees called 'The Eyes of Gahn', before they were all torched by the elves of Terra. For their terrible crime against our god, most of their race was executed by way of fire and iron. This led to the second Great War between our god and the world, of which lasted until three cycles ago."

"Yes, yes, Old One," grumbled a large, green skinned orc, who was busy chewing upon a bloody haunch of meat, "but what does that have to do with anything our Leader has asked?"

"Sai'uun's origins began upon the world called Nova," spoke their Ageless, whose eyes were now of crimson, as they stared down upon the orc who spoke out of turn. The other shrank in on itself, desiring naught, but to hide under something heavy to avoid the ire of his eyes. "It was planted upon our world simply as an experiment, before it grew into the majesty of its name. Sai'uun, the Eyes of Gahn, of whom was one of many treasured servants, resided within the forest proper before his untimely demise at the hands of those elves.

"The world called Nova held the seeds of Sai'uun, and with it, Gahn."

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

*****

Nuts, acorns, and grass seeds were laid out in front of my person atop the crimson robe I had shed, much to the dismay of a few female Undying. For they had labourously sewed the garment for my person to wear, and was now being used as a package for the small seeds. Many did beg my person to reconsider such action, but to no avail, as I did not need such clothing whilst my body became that of my skeletal form.

"Where will they be placed, My Lord God?" Asked the Lich, of whom was not the only curious being amongst our small party.

"Do you remember Soja of the desert world of Suul?" All nodded at my query, "The burnt human was kind enough to impart his knowledge to my mind before his... departure," several chuckled at the memory, and for those who do not know, or remember, Soja of the world called Suul was a desperate human who desired to live forevermore. In doing so, he concocted a ritual to grant him immortality. However, instead of granting him his wish, it ended up summoning my person and Brutus to his location just as my Undying broke through the last of his defenses.

Within moments, I drained him of all thought and ability, making it my own. Thus, our time upon the world was done, as we had to deliver his body, alive, to complete their quest. However, they did not specify if his mind needed to be intact or not.

As to why it was important at the time, well, "Soja of Suul had a most peculiar ability. He could, essentially, create a small pocket dimension to store anything and anyone for all time."

"Can you mirror such an ability, My lord God?" Many wondered if this was possible, and if it could be learned, too.

"I do not know if it could be taught," my voice shook the earth greatly, calling all attention upon my person, "but I have been able to creature small pocket dimensions here and there." To demonstrate, a minor foreclaw was lifted high, and slowly raked the air in from of my body. As a result, the air shimmered for a moment, then tore a great hole for all to see.

Normally, when one performs such a task, there is a great sound of flesh being torn asunder. In this case, on the other hand, it was noiseless, even as my lesser clawed hand reached in to pull out a severed head of a random human. However, upon entering the open air, the head turned to dust and scattered itself upon the winds.

"My Lord God, was that-?"

"Indeed, Brutus. That head was the king of Aruuma, who declared I and we to perish the moment it found out our true identities."

Ah yes, the human king of Aruuma. It was one of the humans I would not have minded if they became a pet of mine. However, it seemed this one was of a mind where if you were not of his race, and like-minded, you were fair game to its whims. Which included torture, enslavement, and even death.

This one, unlike all others, was present upon our summoning, but once it noticed Brutus wielding my sword body, it desired it greatly. Especially after noticing the acidic poisons which ate away at the flesh and metals of the soldiers it sent to claim my body for its own. Unfortunately for it, my sword body became my skeletal form, and I did claim the human's life for my own in retaliation. Which, in turn, allowed us to visit the "tribunal" much sooner than expected, but I digress.

"How long-?" He mused aloud, as each of us began to count how many cycles it has been since we were summoned upon that world.

"Almost three cycles, My Lord God," spoke the bear Undying who had the honour of taking apart and preparing the female mouse-kin for them to feast upon.

"There about, yes," I agreed with a nod of my skull, as the seed were safely stowed away, "Come. We've tarried for too long, as the sun is nearing its zenith, and I desire to find these ruins before nightfall." All knelt before my person once more, and unbeknownst to us at the time, a small stone-like creature had appeared among their number as I intoned, "<>."