image [https://imgur.com/RS4NQPd.png]

Xanther swung with his newly acquired khopesh and easily cut through the thick brambles that barred their way. He did not want to reflect on how the previous days had gone. Increasingly he found himself not thinking at all. He knew that the town had been an Evil one, and that they had needed to… fight… against any who opposed them. And some who had not. That had been necessary. Things had become very blurry by the end of the battle. He had gotten a level. And not too long after leaving a skill as well. A reward. The Gods were rewarding him.

[Physical Skill- Silver Flesh Butcher]

Passive skill-Aura

Every life you end adds to the strength of your Aura.

You can see the best places to cut on living beings inside your Aura.

Living beings entering your Aura are pressed down by the weight of your actions.

The man who called himself “The Hero” trudged past him. Xanther watched as pale silver lines illuminated parts of his back, neck, and arms. The best places to cut. He shook his head. This man, this Hero, was his companion now. The only one he could rely on. Because… there wasn’t anyone else here he could rely on. Not here.

Xanther had a sudden intense desire to scream, and to claw at his own face. He let out a shuddering breath and quickly caught up to The Hero. His strong unbending presence was calming. That man was unphased by all they had gone through. He should be more like him. Xanther tried hard to calm his rapid breathing, watching the silver lines shift and move on The Hero’s neck. Good places to cut.

“HEYYYY! Did you miss me?” The glowing sphere was back. Xanther found himself relaxing even further, his shoulders untensing. The little fairy whipped around them, the embodiment of cheerful goodness. He smiled at it. “I… I did miss you. Thank you for returning.” The fairy stopped, then laughed again. “Oh of course you did! I am the best fairy in allllll the land! Okay, well come with me, I’m going to take you both to a safe place. Come on come on!” It began to whip through trees, forcing them both to quickly follow after.

The fairy kept up a non stop stream of one sided conversation as they trudged through the dense vegetation. Much of the forest and undergrowth was covered in thorns, as was appropriate for the Evil lands they now navigated. Xanther was so grateful for the fairy returning he could cry. Her words seemed to reach into his mind and stroke his feverish thoughts, calming them, bringing on a kind of dreamy contentment.

“Where.” The voice was deep and rough, a rarely used tool. It came from The Hero. The fairy whipped back around them. “Where? Where are we going? I’m assuming that’s what you’re asking. We are going to the Night Caves! Wahoo! It’s a safe place and from there… we will go someplace else! A powerful wizard of good… or something… will come and join with us there! Oh yeah you passed a test. Good job!” Xanther nodded. That made sense. It was hard to find safe places to rest in these lands, they could have blundered around in the woods for ages. Or worse, found another town.

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The walking never let up, and the fairy continued to prod and cajole them into moving if Xanther began to slow. He dripped sweat now, and realized he had not eaten or drank anything in over a day. But they would be safe soon. He realized that they were no longer in the forest, now walking through a field of long golden grass. The fairy was still moving around swiftly, seeming to enjoy swooping close to their heads. “Hey! Something… something hunts in this area it looks like. So let's be quiet, okay? Quiet quiet, little mousies running through the field, looking for some grain. Quiiiiiet quiiiiiiet noooooone make a souuuuund!” The fairy was singing this last part, for some reason. And then a booming screech resounded across the open grasses. “Oh WHOOPS eek!” The fairy sped away and then was gone, like last time.

The Hero stopped, looking around slowly. Xanther had already drawn his sword, and he glanced around feverishly. That sound. He hoped he was mistaken, but he had heard it before. A Wyvern. He scanned the sky, blinking against the bright blue sky overhead. Nothing yet. But…

It was upon them in an instant, diving out from the glare of the sun so fast Xanther couldn’t believe it. Massive wings easily over seventeen feet across buffeted them as it opened, catching itself just before hitting the ground, the huge jaws opening and snapping down. Xanther brought his sword up and around- “[Punishment]. [Condemn].” The voice was almost calm, and he watched in shock as The Hero brought his hand up and INTO the jaws of the Wyvern.

There was a beat as the Wyvern savagely bit down, and then the wyvern crashed down into the ground, bringing The Hero with it. Invisible blows rained down onto the Wyvern’s head and Xanther found himself staring in disbelief as the massive head and neck begin to crack and shatter, scales flying off. Even after it was clearly dead the blows continued to descend. The Hero was attempting to lever the crushed and mangled head off of his hand, but couldn’t seem to get it open all the way. Xanther hurried over to help, and the two of them pried it open.

The Hero’s hand was a pulped and mangled mess, blood flowing brightly from it. It was barely attached anymore. “Oh… I am so…” And then Xanther looked closer. The skin was rippling, re-attaching itself. The Hero looked down at his gore flecked hand with disinterest. “Healing.” Xanther nodded, eye wide. What incredibly powerful skills. This man was incredible. Terrifying. Amazing.

The fairy was suddenly back. “WOW! Holy… shhhh…. Wow. You really are something else, huh? Completely broken if you ask me. Well, that’s the power of a one track mind I guess! Ha!” The fairy seemed to be talking to itself, it seemed a bit giddy. “Heyyyyy something’s in that Wyvern. Cut it open cut it open!”

Xanther mutely obeyed, sawing through the tough scales of the belly slowly, the silver lines from his skill guiding him. It felt good to follow those lines, another thing he didn’t have to think about. He stopped as he saw a gleam.

A sword. A whole sword was in the belly, encased in some kind of jelly. Gingerly he picked it up. The fairy flew closer, and then started laughing. “Oh WOW haha! Do either of you put points into Luck? No… no you wouldn’t be in this position if you did. But still!” Xanther pulled at the jelly and it sloughed off. The handle felt warm in his hand, and there was a slight waver in the air around the blade.

The fairy twirled around him, laughing. “Ohh you found a holy RELIC! A holy relic! Hahaha, woah, don’t point it my way!” The fairy darted behind The Hero as Xanther tested the blade in the air. He looked at The Hero. “You defeated the Wyvern, do you want this blade?” The Hero looked at it, at him, and then shook his head. He seemed disinterested.

Xanther moved the blade through the air slowly. Yes, he could feel it now. The heat of righteous fury was in this weapon. With it Evil would fall even more swiftly. He smiled, and he heard the fairy laugh harder.