AN: Looks like I'll be making this one a whole lot longer, and there might even be a separate book to come out from this one. Such as a large collection of short stories from the perspectives of the armies branched off from the Black Parade, as well as the inhabitants of the worlds. Well, there'll be some perspective changes in that regard, anyways. If there is a book to come from it, then it'll be after 'The Family' and 'The Sins of The Abyss' arcs are out, but before 'The Children of Terra'.
Should be fun. :D
As always, thank you all for reading thus far. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to voice them.
__________________________________
"What the hell?" howled the False God of Terra, who stared at one of the screens as a biscuit fell from his fingertips to the ground below, "I leave for only a few minutes, and come back to find the Magister in a coma? This is not part of the script! He's supposed to die!"
Ah, for those of whom do not remember, or have never learned, our world of Terra used to be a Tutorial World for those upon Azzarath to become used to the dealings of being transported to various worlds. In this world, everyone is given the freedom of choice, save for those who live upon the world. The only exception is when one accepts a quest of some sort, and are hence forth compelled to complete it so that they may leave the world for others.
Those of whom were a part of our world had to follow a script, of sorts. In that, the False God had inputted a design into the system for everyone to follow. If one was to die, then they would die, live to live, run to run, etc. However, there are exceptions to the rule. Such as a summoned being who had not accepted a quest who altered the system for this or that.
In this instance, the Magister was supposed to die by the party who comes upon him. For the Human was to become so full of lust and desire, he would try to attack everyone until he satisfied himself upon the child in question. Of whom was also destined to die due to her injuries. However, she was saved by my person and kept alive through my various magicks whilst the other was sent into a hellish nightmare from the curse I had cast upon his body. Thus, defying the system in its entirety, which then caused something to go wrong, and accept the new changes.
"Why is this happening?" the False God whined over the ruination of his script, "What's going on?"
The fingers of his right, gauntleted hand swiped to the right of the screen, which caused his brows to furrow with concentration. For something was denying him from doing such a thing, of which would allow his eyes to view what had happened to cause such a scenario. "Why the hell aren't you letting me view any of this? I am your God, and you are to listen to me!"
Of course, the screen still denied him his right to view such a thing, whilst unbeknownst to him, a small girl-child giggled within the outskirts of his little realm. One of whom grinned in a demented manner, as a smaller screen appeared in her hands. This gave her unrestricted access to the movements and dealings of an odd Wolf-kin and his companions as they entered a ruined building which was occupied by a scarred, old Human caring for a score of various children of multiple ages. These were huddled around each other for warmth, whilst the new group slowly pulled out small foods and drinks for all present.
This then led to the score of children to crowd around their persons, as they stared up with hungry eyes and maws as though they were baby birds about to be fed by their mother who had found a large, fat worm. To this, the girl-child giggled once more, whispering, "Good. Good."
*****
"I thank you for allow us to stay under your roof," my hands were cupped as I bowed to this old Human, of who was considerably flustered as I did so. For I had done much over the last turn, and it was he who was indebted towards our persons.
In this, he would hobble around whilst watching Shadow help remove large beams and fallen debris from their home, to the Halfling twins playing with a few more adventurous or trusting children. As well as to Robby and Shiro who passed out foods and treats from the basket which I had carried with us since the incident with Jenny. Yes. All of this was observed by the old Human, of whom was distrusting after stories of someone called a "Magister" had appeared and was abducting children left and right. These children would later appear somewhere in the city's back alleys, dead or near death with much blood drying upon their legs.
Of course, such a thing was given over to the new guards for their newly crowned King to address, but it never was. In fact, those who came to the gates to complain about such a thing were turned away with a sneer or with sorrow, for they could do nothing about it. Now? Now the old Human was told of someone large and bulbous who had attacked the girl-child they had rescued, of whom was called Sherry, was now in a state worse than death.
"Good," grumbled a tired voice from the Human before my person, "I hope to God they suffer for their actions in the next life."
"My dear Human," I began, as I directed himself to a seat near an empty fireplace, "When I spoke of how this one was in a state worse than death, I meant that he is still alive, whilst wishing otherwise."
"What do you mean?" he asked with a groan as his legs popped from the bending motions needed to sit in the chair.
Whereas I simply called out to Shadow to bring over a few beams of fallen wood she was not using. Once brought over, I used my strength to rip a few of the broken ends off and tossed them into the fireplace. Whereupon I did ignite them with a single intonement of, "<
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
*
Another turn had passed, and during this time, I had grown fond of a few children. Not in the sense of desiring abuse towards their person, but of general enjoyment. For these few, which numbered in three, were Kobold children and had decided that my lap was more comfortable than their own bed. Yes. Such individuals had caused my mind to calm, as I simply watched their small forms sleep with nary a nightmare which the others had claimed to have been afflicted with.
For you see, my dear audience, I had once adopted a pair of Kobold Children so long ago. Of whom were called Igne Comas and Puer Veneni. This pair were quite demanding of my person, to which I gave into their demands many a time, which was transferred over to these ones quite readily. In that they used my lap as their bed, or gnawed and suckled on my fingers until a bottle of milk was prepared for their persons by the basket. Of which was going to stay with the old Human and the children, as their need was far greater than our own.
To this, only Robby and Shiro complained, whereas the females of our group were in full favour of leaving such a gift with them. This was so, as they believed their motherly instincts called out to these children in their time of need.
"Just look at them," spoke Anna, whose sister nodded to each of her words whilst the former shook the basket at them, "They're starving children who need this more than us."
"Besides," chimed in Shadow, whose metallic skin gleamed in the firelight, "We can always find more food in the forest nearby if necessary, or purchase it from the broken marketplace the old one took Anna and Shanna to yesterday."
"Yeah, but," whined Robby, "where else are we gonna get yogurt or a parfait from?"
"Isn't there one in Azza-" began Shiro, but stopped when he noted the glare from Robby's eyes.
"There, you see?" pointed Shanna, "You can get your snacks and stuff when we get back home. For now, the children will be taking the basket. So stop complaining."
"Boss," he turned towards my person whilst two of the Kobold pups were suckling on a strange, soft cap over a bottle of milk that they were drinking from. The third, on the other hand, had already finished its bottle, and was happily playing with my tail as it danced around its own body.
"I will not be helping you in this, Robby," my voice gently shook the air between us, "These children have a greater need than us, and I will not suffer those who are foolish enough to say otherwise." Thus came the end of the debate, for I had spoken against the males who desired to keep the item which had given these children the joys of such a thing as good food.
Ah, but during this debate, someone new had entered the scene, of which held a regal livery over chainmail. This individual was a standard guard from the castle, and came to purchase a child to see if having one of them naked near someone who was ill would help cure them of said illness. No. This one did not choose to hide such a thing from the elder, of whom had stood between this person and a few cowering children who were now mewing pitifully in fright.
This caused my ears to stand up straight and my eyes to widen, as I ordered Shadow to protect the children near us whilst the Kobolds were handed over to Shanna and Anna. Of whom quickly handled the three with awkwardness, and I would have admonished their persons for such actions. However, I had a strange feeling in my gut, as the saying went, and slowly moved my way towards the area with the elder and this other.
Of whom I noted was indeed a guard of some sort, and was staring upon a few of the young males with eyes of a hungry predator. This caused my left eyelid to twitch with anger, as such beings were to be killed upon noticed, but I held back. For I did not want others to take notice of my strength so soon.
"Oh?" called out a few voices from the entryway, of whom also wore the same livery as the one before the old Human, "It seems there is already a warm meal just waiting to be eaten."
This statement confused my mind, and desired to know what they meant by this. To which the group simply laughed uproariously at my naivety until one spoke up, "Come with us, and we'll show you a grand ol' time, my dear boy."
However, I would not, and simply stood next to the old Human. Of whom placed his left hand atop my shoulder to steady himself, as a cane was in the hands of the one before him. This one did not seem at all amused, and ordered the others to enter and simply take the children behind our persons to give to the Magister.
"Oh? Did he recover already?" My words were full of bemusement at the thought of the bulbous Human somehow managing to free himself from the illusory curse I had placed upon his mind. One of which, if not taken care of properly, will leave the victim in either a vegetable-like state, or dead.
Upon these words, the one holding the wooden cane paused for a moment to stare upon my now grinning features, and began ordering all of them to arrest my person. "He's the one who did that to our Magister! Get him!"
Of course, the scene was of foolishness, for they did not know my strength. However, one of them had thrown a knife at my person, to which I stepped to the side, but stopped as my eyes widened when I remembered what was behind my person.
Yes. I made a mistake, and a child died because of it. To which I noted as I slowly turned around to witness a boy-child of the Human race falling over with the blade securely in his right eye socket.
Of which caused an audible cracking noise to resound throughout the world in its entirety. For upon my body was a lightning shaped line running down its centre. This then pulsed with a baleful crimson light, as the Madness within all Undead took root once more.