AN: As long as my insomnia persists, these chapters will be showing up far earlier than normal. Bit of a long one today, too. Almost 2500 words.
Once again, thank you all for reading thus far. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to voice them.
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This was how we stayed. I atop the boulder, the Human Elder close by chatting non-stop about how much prestige I would make if I were to ply my talents amongst this unknown Prince's compatriots, and the like. As well as Robby, my newest, unwilling servant, becoming the object of many stares as nearly all eyes and ears turned towards his now restored face with a tale of heroism as to how he received the scars in the first place.
Yes. Many were skeptical about such exploits, but the healing the Human received was genuine, as the male showed off an old picture of what his face used to be through some sort of sharing magicks I've seen many times before. However, these interactions did not last for very long, as many expressed a wish to try and find some semblance of rest after running away from the scene within the first clearing. This led to a few seeking some sort of comfort against the trees nearest the group, as well as near my own boulder in the hopes I would gift them with something.
Well, I would not unless they held something of interest for my person to use or explore. However, they were hopeful, whilst I simply waited for the day-star to rise above its horizon. Though, at this hour, I was the only one awake to admire such a splendor and yes, it is the same rising we have upon our world. You may believe I was wasting my time in this, but you must understand. I had been away from Terra for so long, I would not miss the rising of the day-star for anything.
For in this instance, I simply felt at peace, and was a hair's breadth away from summoning my Undying so that they may witness it all. In the end, though, I did not and settled in to continuously record it all within my mind so that they may see what I have seen, and feel the echoes of what I had felt as the colours of crimson, orange fire, and violets were splashed across the paled blue sky above my head. To which I sighed happily, and grinned a small grin which would have led to my person shouting with elation over being home once more, but was interrupted by the Elder once more.
"Wha-?" she began, then jolted her body to standing from her position to my right, "Oh dear, the sun is up. Come, come, we must leave this place and continue onwards to meet the Prince." These words were repeated as the Human made her rounds to wake up everyone, who were not at all pleased with the interruption of their restless sleep.
In any case, they each huddled around the odd basket someone was thoughtful to bring with them, as they pulled out item after item in order to gorge themselves upon the contents. Of which reminded my person of the Devourer Matriarch I had picked up so long ago, and found her to be quite amusing when she and her children gorged themselves upon each body we had desired to remove after no longer needing them.
However, this was not amusing, as they were each greedy in their ways. Not to mention, most of them were Humans, and I detest that race the most.
Though, of course, Robby moved towards my person with a few strips of meat he called "bacon" to give to my person. There was also another object he called a "potato", and seemed to be quite hot in his hands, as these two were passed into my hands.
Although I did not have a stomach, per se, I was able to store such ground up foods inside a pseudo stomach which would then be converted into raw energies to fuel my magicks. Of which was used to keep others from finding out a bit more of what I truly am, as I slowly "ate" the items given to my person. This then caused the male to beam with happiness as I accepted the foods, even more when I ate them all, but seemed rather down when I refused anymore.
"Perhaps later," my voice rumbled softly, as my right hand patted his left shoulder whilst my body slid off from the boulder I had stood upon.
The small action towards his person caused his body to shake with excitement, even going so far as to allow my mind imagine a tail sprouting up from his backside to blur from the shaking. Yes. Such a display was rather uncomfortable, but I chose to ignore it as it appeared we were about to leave.
"Come along everyone," waved the Elder, of whom waved her arms in order to gather everyone's attention, "We must follow the edge of the forest here in order to hide if we come upon any search parties who may wish us harm."
"What happened back there?" cried out one of the female Humans, "Why was the city on fire? I thought this place didn't have these kinds of events."
These words seemed to caused the older Human some confusion, and would have piped up if I had not spoken first. "This world usually has only has a 'Kill the Demon Lord' sort of event to it, which is what you'd normally have to complete when starting on your journey. However," I held up the forefinger of my right hand to waylay any others from voicing their own thoughts, "such things had changed several cycles ago when the Gods believed this to be far too boring. What with many humans giving away details and secrets on how to defeat such foes, when it should not have been so easily accomplished.
"Of which led to what we have today. Think of it as a way to 'spice things up', as they say. So, if you believe that this world, and all others like it, hold onto the norm of just slaying a Demon Lord of some sort, then forget such notions. For it has changed."
"Actually," called out the old female Human, "We do have a Demon Lord here, but they're not a threat to us currently. Because we're on the other side of the continent where most people are fighting him and his legions and hordes."
Visually, I shrugged, whereas on the inside I held a great desire to journey towards the Demons of Terra. For they are none other than Dragons, Drakes, and winged Draconians, of which I held in high regard. This was so, as the Demon Lord of our world was a female Dragon of Fire, and she had once promised to grant me one of my greatest wishes. Which was to have a child, but such a thing never came to pass, as the false God of our world removed my person the moment my monstrous Horde killed off the last of the Human royalties.
Thus, leaving my person with nothing, but contempt for such actions, and a desire to exact revenge upon that which denied my person of what I had craved for so long.
*
Within half a turn, we had made a few kilometres of travel, which caused the Elder to call a halt to our little group. Many within expressed gratitude towards a few random gods, whereas I and Robby stood off to the side and merely conversed with one another as I supplied his body with my own energies. As to my reasons for doing thusly? I had questioned him whether or not he truly desired to remain a Human. To which he answered, "I dunno. I did hope to become a Werewolf, but they didn't have it available."
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"Hmm?" my head cocked towards my right shoulder as I stared at his person, whilst my ears flicked forwards, "Why would you wish to be that?"
"'Cause I thought it'd be cool to be a wolf in one instance, then a Human in another. Besides, they're real scary when I was little, and wanted to be one for so long. Then Origin Point Online appeared and I thought,'This is my chance', but lo and behold, they wouldn't let me be one," a heavy sigh exuded from his open maw, as his body slumped forwards in a dejected manner, "All 'cause they didn't think I could handle the transformations. I'm a man, ya know?"
His eyes was full of anger and righteous indignation at being denied, whereas I simply smiled softly as my tail flicked from my mental thoughts. "What if I told you I could grant you your wish of becoming a Werewolf, Robby?"
This caused his eyes to light up, as he gripped my hands with great expectation, "Really? That would be so cool if you did." Of which led to him hesitating and releasing his grip, "What's the catch?" he asked, leaning backwards as though to dampen my next words somehow.
"There isn't any, as you've already paid for such a thing after I healed you," my voice was light as I closed my eyes and smiled softly. All the while, my mentally self was roaring with laughter at the thought of corrupting yet another Human in order to have them join my cause.
"Great! When can we-"
"What's going on here?" called out a voice behind my person. Of which belonged to Jenny, who was accompanied by two Human brutes who sneered down upon my Kin self. These three had branched away from the main group, of whom were staring towards our persons, not knowing what to do. Even the Elder was helpless in this situation, and simply sighed and turned away from it all.
This was so, as she was only told to lead them away from the capitol city. Anything that happened along the way was simply a way to cull the weak from the strong. Of which led her to allow many others to take advantage of the situation and form groups and parties with one another, but without any semblance of order except when it came to taking food and drink from the basket. However, even that was slowly degrading into a chaotic state when it was found out that the basket held liquor.
During this little journey through the night prior, and well into that day, the little Halfling called Jenny had tried to worm her way next to my person. More so after the spectacle of healing Robby. However, I had chosen to ignore her person the entire time, which seemed to have caused her mind to snap at some point. Which led to her pretending she was a child due to her small form, and running up to the biggest pair of idiots she could find. Of whom were half Ogres, half Humans, by the look of it, and not at all intelligent.
She then plied some wit into her words, and no, I did not find out what they were. What I did find out, however, was that she now had these two creatures under her thumb since mid-morning that day. Which were then used to allow the three more time with the basket, and even to her being in charge of it somehow. Even at that time, she twirled it around her person as though to mock my own by saying, "Follow me if you want more food."
Unfortunately for her, I did not crave sustenance, as I am Undead, but that was not so for all others. Which caused Robby to frown and glare at her small body, but before he could speak, I simply laid my left hand upon his right shoulder, and lightly pulled him behind my body. "To what do we owe the pleasure of the Brat and her Idiots?" I called out, mocking her and her antics.
Predictably, she stopped swinging the basket in order to glare in my direction, whilst I smirked down at her. Yes. I was playing the arrogant fool who held a death wish, but I was quite confident in my paltry skills to handle such foolish tactics of intimidation. For the pair of half Humans stood tall above my person, whereas I gave a lopsided grin towards Robby, "Do you still wish to become a Werewolf?" His eyes widened greatly beneath his odd hat, and nodded once, "Then watch closely, for this is the strength of the Wolf."
Upon these words, did I intone a spell with words long forgotten by many races. To which a golden spell circle bloomed outwards from beneath my feet, encircling the whole of my body as I squatted my legs and tucked my arms closer to my body whilst the spell raged within the circle. This caused the others to leap back with shocked expressions, as a multitude of eyes focused upon the light show.
This light, which erupted from around my body, was of silver and crimson, as it struck my person in the form of lightnings. Wherever it struck, patches of thick, crimson fur appeared and slowly covered the area around the strikes. This would continue until the whole of my body was covered in such fur, and from there came the elongation of my face which transformed itself into the muzzle of an adult wolf. All the while, the linen clothing I wore was being torn to shreds by the energies within the circle, but I paid it little heed.
From this point, however, came the sounds of bones breaking and rearranging themselves in order for my appearance to be liken unto a Wolfman's form, but far more feral. For this spell was not just a regular incantation, but a curse that only those of whom were considered lesser gods, or greater, could remove. Which was called "The Gift of The Blood Moon", and has been known to kill those afflicted with such a thing. However, I was at least fortunate others upon the worlds surrounding Azzarath did not have such a Curse. For it was only discovered within the past decade, and upon the world called Forge. Of which was not allowed to join the collective worlds, for I had decided to not join them.
In any case, such a display was sure to attract the False God of Terra, which caused my person to grin malevolently. To the point where I decided to push the boundary of what I could and could not do, and howled into the air around us. From this howl, I used it to distract all others, including the "God" to summon up one of my Undying Chosen, Sia, who would leap to such a venture as to come back to our world of Terra.
Thus, she was given leave to enter the nearby forest until I had come to collect her. Whilst all others continued to stare upon my person with a large mixture of emotions, and soiled trousers.