7/25 - Holy lands - morning

Another morning is here. The sun is beaming, the weird animals are frolicking in the wild, and everything is a-okay in the world. Yesterday, we hit a bandit camp near a small village. It went flawlessly. We ambushed the bastards inside their own camp. I got to kick some bandit ass. Of course, we spared them, but we took their shit and sent them packing. It was so goddamn awesome!

Now, Richard and I are using our day off for some adventuring. We left before anyone could ask us for anything. Now, it’s just us, the road, and my bike, speeding along.

“Proxy,” Richard yells, trying to outdo the wind. “...do you know where we’re going?”

“Yeah!”

I point to the tall ass trees in the distance, mounted on a mountain. I can barely tell there are trees over there. No real reason to go there, I just got this gut feeling to go there.

“I don’t know. It doesn’t look all that…well, safe.”

“Sure, I get it. But we’ll only take a quick peek, that’s that.”

Richard grumbles before speaking his mind. “Fine, but just a quick peek, nothing more.”

“Sir, yes sir!”

Then let’s go full throttle! I rev up my bike, going even faster than before. I’ve gotten used to driving this beast, and as long as I don’t let it do the driving, we won’t shoot off into the atmosphere.

“What if we find something dangerous up there?”

“Then we book it.”

“What if we can’t?”

“...Then I’ll keep us safe. I am the strongest punk in NewPort after all.”

“I…I know. I just want you to be careful.”

“I am, don’t worry.”

“Sometimes I wonder if you are.”

We climbed the hillside until we made it to the top, reaching the entrance of the forest blanketed in fog. It’s not as thick than it was from below. A dense sea of gigantic trees overtake the mountain. It’s practically like skyscrapers overlapping each other. There’s a passageway running through the roots of the large ass trees.

“Looks like we’re hocking it on foot. Come on, buddy.”

“Okay.”

Hate to leave the bike here, but if we gotta go on foot, we gotta go on foot. Entering the fog immediately brings up the idea that we’re entering blind. I can make out what’s in front of me, but anything further is a mystery. The ground is uneven, keeping an eye on my footing is key. Richard is keeping up; guess all that trekking through forests and whatnot is paying off.

“Keep close to me, man. The last thing we need is to get lost. Actually…” I bring out my sword, scraping the ground below, making a straight line. “...Now we can’t get lost.”

“Good thinking, but I wish we had GPS.”

“Looks like someone is suffering from phone rot.”

He settles his glasses, scoffing at the idea. “Not in the least. I’m just saying modern convenience would be nice.”

“Exactly, phone rot. Men of old never had fancy locating devices or phones, they used the stars and their guts!”

“Too bad you can’t see the sky with this fog, and it’s cloudy, and you probably don’t know how to read the stars for this world, let alone ours.”

“Harsh! Then what about you, huh!?”

“Not for this world, but I can for ours,” he ends, smirking while pushing up his glasses.

“Yeah, yeah, think you’re so smart… Well, I’m plenty street-smart, so beat that!”

We scaled down the path that’s covered up in tree roots. It’s rough and steep, but going slow lets us get down here without a problem. Further in, slim white strings extend from one part of the path to the other. They’re easy to get out of the way, but it’s sticking onto my hands. Are these spider webs?

“I don’t like this,” Richard says, nervous over the strings. “Maybe we should turn back.”

“Don’t worry. Gonna let some spiders scare you off?”

“No, but… Nevermind, let’s go.”

“That’s the ‘tude!”

The webs are becoming more common the deeper we go… Hmm, what the hell is that? Feels like my skin is crawling, specifically my back. It’s kind of cold here, but the shivers ain’t it. But I can’t put a finger on it… Damnit, maybe it’s just me. Talking to Richard should help me ease up a little.

"Yo, you remember that Legion guy?" I ask him.

“Of course I do. He said he could get us home. That’s all I’ve been thinking about for a while now."

“I mean, it ain’t so bad here.”

“No, but I don’t want to stay here forever. And our stay hasn’t been the best either.”

“But we met some good people, so that’s gotta count for something?”

“I guess, but I just want to go home at this point.”

More and more, I’m feeling frustrated with him. It’s not like I don’t get what he’s talking about, but we’re in another freaking world for crying out loud! You would think he’d be a bit more enthusiastic.

“What about Nunnalé?” I ask, rubbing the back of my head.

“I’ll take her with us, and I doubt she wouldn’t want to come along.”

“Yeah…”

She’s such a weirdo. I’m not bad at getting a beat on people, but her… She’s dedicated to Richard, that I understand, but half the other time, I can’t tell what she’s thinking. She reminds me of a dog that follows you around no matter where you go; caring only about Richard and no one else in the process. I wouldn’t go as far as saying she’s a bad person, but she’s not someone I can rely on when it comes down to it.

“But, I think we should keep the grimoire to ourselves,” Richard raises, placing his hand under his chin. “...As much as I want to wait on Legion, we never figured out how to contact him, let alone see him inside the kingdom. So maybe it would be best to figure out how to make the grimoire bring us back home.”

Sounds like a plan. Though that witch ain’t gonna help us, and we know jack on how we can even work the thing. We’re lost in the dark without a light to guide us… Heh, that sounded pretty poetic.

At the end of the pathway, a spacious area, lined with strings and tree roots, blocking out any other way in or out, save for this path.

“Proxy, don’t just– God, wait for me!”

Standing in the middle of the area, the hairs on the back of my neck stand. The cold air wraps around us, chilling me to the bone. Something is definitely wrong here. That feeling from before was new to me, fresh sensation I’ve never felt. With my whole body shivering all over, I think I know what it is; the feeling that you’re not alone.

Richard and I go back-to-back. Then, my senses hit me, warning me of something from above, and it’s big! I pull and throw Richard out of the way, following behind him at the last possible moment. A sudden gust of wind pushes us back, hitting the walls behind us.

"What the hell is that thing?”

Standing on eight legs, glaring at us with its crimson eyes, a big ass balls spider-looking creature closes in on us, watching our every movement. The upper half of its body is covered in metal plating that reflects in the fog. Its otherwise black form makes it easy to spot.

Hissing at us, It charges at me, lunging forward with the built-up momentum. Damn is too slow! I got out of the way before I became roadkill. However, it twists its body, having its legs planted against the wall, only to jump back at me with the same amount of force as before.

"Shit!"

I push the muscles in my legs just to jump out of the way. It crashes into the walls, breaking the wall. Splinters fly everywhere. That definitely would’ve crushed me into red paste if I didn’t dodge that.

"Proxy, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Get out of here Richard!"

Screw that, we both need to leg it out of here, but if we both go for it, then it’ll catch up to us in no time. I’ll distract it for a bit, and when he gets away, I’ll book it too.

The metal spider comes at me, striking me with its back metal piece. I dodge but it redirects its body again, hitting me. The pain isn’t unbearable, but any harder and it could break my bones! Even when I dodged, it was quick to respond and hit me with its back. Gotta think of something else or I’m toast. Maybe there’s a weakness on this thing, but I can’t tell… Then, from the corner of my eye, I spotted a hole on the top of the metal shell. A thin gap, but big enough to slide my sword into. When it tried to slam me with its arms, a set of swift motions kicked in. I jump up from its arms to its back, securing myself on the metal piece of the monster’s back. Drawing my sword, it hovers over the small hole.

“Eat this!”

My sword plunges into its back. The sound of flesh being ripped open echoes out of the hole. This monster shrieks, carrying pain throughout. It throws me off, despite how tight I was holding on.

Hitting the ground, my back flares up. Shit, I think it’s sore!

"Proxy!"

Huh? O-oh crap! This spider thing is already in front of me, raising its leg to strike me. Not good! I’m not gonna be able to get up in time to avoid the strike…! I flinch, closing my eyes like that’s gonna do anything… But it never came. Nothing feels different, I’m not dead, and I wasn’t hit. But a horrific sight in front of me said it all, it explained why I was not struck. Richard, falling in front of my eyes, blood flowing out of his chest. Everything is moving in slow motion.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"Richard," I whimper, unable to accept the reality in front of my eyes.

He took the blow for me… He saved me.

The spider was going for seconds, threatening to end him. Electricity runs through my veins, my feet rocket me toward him. In the blink of an eye, I grab him and slide under the monster’s body, bolting for the exit. Even with the added weight, my speed doesn’t decrease. Each step feels lighter than the other, but deadlining my legs, pushing them harder than I ever have before.

I ran through the way we came in from, hurrying through in a hurry. The monster is tailing us from above, slamming its claws through the gaps above. With my sense, I know when they’re about to us. But in a cramped area like this, and with Richard in my hands, I can’t make any complicated movements. Just stopping short of its attacks is all I can manage for the time. Rushing through under the roots of these trees, I go by memory to get us the hell out of here. The creature above starts to pull off from its pursuit, allowing us to make it through the entrance unharmed.

The thick fog shrouding the forest leaves my vision. Dark clouds cover the sky, ready to pour down rain any second.

“W-we got out! Hey, you hear me, buddy? I said we got out.” His eyes are shut and he’s limp. “Hey, come on Richard, say something!” I put my ear to his heart… There’s a beat, but it doesn’t sound all that good. “Shit, shit, shit! Richard, hold on, we’ll get help!”

I place Richard on my bike. "Don't worry, we'll get you patched up buddy, just please hold on."

I revved up my bike, racing down the mountain. Shit, this is bad, real God damn bad! His heart didn’t sound all that strong, and he’s bleeding too damn much…! Did that thing poison him or something!?

"Damn it, damn it, DAMN IT! What do I do!?"

What the hell do I do? If he’s poisoned, then we don’t have anything at camp to help him. Come on, think, you stupid bastard! What do I do…!? Where do I go, who can even help him…?

Moonlight castle - morning

The moon’s glow showers the castle in its glorious glow. This space, unaffected by the outside world, a safe haven for the one who resides here.

As usual, Selena underwent her morning routine: bathing, preparing her hair, combing it with delicate care. Then, having herbal tea, preferred hot to elevate the taste, along with light reading to start off her day. After 20 minutes of reading, she dresses in her usual garments.

Her stroll from her bedroom to the library takes about 6 minutes to reach at a brisk pace. Both rooms are on the east-end of the castle. The pale moon shines through her windows, illuminating her path. Her eyes glaze over the moon, ever mesmerized by its beauty as she moves across the hallway. However, she comes to a stop when she sensed something come into her domain. Inside this endless night, she is able to detect those who enter and exit her, and where they are positioned. She also has the ability to erect a proper barrier over her home. The fog that comes from the forest is a part of her territory; a forest that acts as the first layer of defense against intruders. This intruder is moving at an accelerated rate, blazing through the forest, but strayed off the proper path to the castle.

“Curious. A vehicle?” Selena surmises, brushing her long locks.

She transports the object to the front of her castle, then warping herself to the front door to greet whoever is at her doorstep, and zap them with lightning if they ruined her neat stone road….

Opening the door, she saw a mess like none other. Proxy, drenched to the bone, breathes heavily. Richard is on his back, unconscious, but his life is in danger. The desperation in his eyes was the most notable feature on his face, training his gaze at the witch he came to detest.

"Please,” he whimpers, pathetic, desperate, and without a shred of confidence backing his words. “...help him.”

Selena, a woman who removed herself from the world, uncaring of what happens to those outside her domain, and wouldn’t lend aid to those in need of it. However, no matter how she carried herself, despite her cold reasoning, the look of sheer despair on his face tore a hole in her logic. Without much thought, she transports herself, Proxy, Richard, and medical supplies in her supply room. The scenery shifts to the anti-bandit camp. The rain from before had let up, leaving the residence of the camp to witness the sudden appearance of Proxy and everyone else.

“Lay him on the ground!” Proxy follows her instructions, letting her roll up his shirt. “How was he inflicted with this wound?”

“He– Took an attack for me…”

Emerging from her tent, Marie catches the commotion going on outside. Curious, she glances at the center of the camp. The closer she got, the better her view of the situation was. Past the crowd, she spots Richard on the ground, bleeding from his chest. She breaks into a sprint.

"Proxy, what the…What happened to Richard? Why is he bleeding?”

Marie’s hysteria is met with a silent response from Proxy, who can’t help but focus on Richard, blocking out everyone else.

"Master! What happened to master?"

Proxy shied away from Nunnalé pleas for an answer. The shock in her eyes surprises him, making it even more unbearable to watch this horrible scene.

"Proxy, what did happen to him," Selena questioned.

"We got attacked by this monster, and he… He took the attack for me."

He still can’t believe it; someone had to protect him, save him like a child who can’t defend themself. Not just that, but the fact that it could cost his friend his life. His failure is crystal clear to him, and he couldn’t have felt any more shameful…

“Master Richard…?”

Standing behind Proxy and beside Richard, Nunnalé, staring down at her Master’s damaged body. Her stoic expression is nowhere to be found, only a girl who’s unable to express the fear and shock she feels, let alone even knows she feels this. However, her gaze turns to Proxy. He didn’t even turn to face her; ashamed of his inability to protect his own friend…

…

Selena and the others are inside the tent, healing Richard. Me… I can’t go in there…I just can’t. Why did he do that? I could’ve dodged, I would’ve! I’m not someone who needs help! He didn’t need to do that, he just didn’t… Why did he have to do that for me…?

“Proxy.” That voice… Alex! “...you look dreadful.”

“Richard! H-how is he!? Is he…?”

“He has poison in his system.”

My blood runs cold, my heart forgets to beat… “What?”

“It’s not a fast-acting poison, but he doesn’t have much time, is what Ms. Selena said.”

No, that’s not right! I…he…no…no… Shit!

“S-so what, he’s just gonna die!?”

“Yes… Only if we do not act!” He puts his hands on my shoulders. “...Ms. Selena said that if we were to find the monster that did it, and take its blood into this bottle…” It looks like a test tube. “...then we can save him.”

We can save him…

“...Hand it to me then… No goddamn way am I gonna let my best friend die! I’ll kill that thing and get its blood!”

He smiles. “Very well, but I will come with you!”

“I can’t ask you to do that. This is my problem.”

“It is not just your problem! Richard is my comrade, so I need to do everything in my power to help a comrade, no matter what it may cost me.

". . .The wound itself isn't deep, but his vitals are fading."

I jump to my feet, legging it to the exit. Alex follows behind me. If we’re gonna get that blood, then we need to book it, and with my bike, we can reach that misty forest in half an hour tops. Past the sea of trees covering our camp, my bike is sitting there, ready for me to jump on it.

“Proxy…” Nunnalé’s voice spooks me. “...allow me to take your vehicle.”

“Huh? Why?”

“To save my master’s life.”

“We’re gonna go do that right now.”

“Unlikely. Your involvement in all of this has led to this current situation.” Damn…she’s got me there. But why the hell am I scared? “...You’re the reason for my master’s current condition, his life fades in and out because you endangered him. I cannot trust you with his life…”

For a moment, she vanishes from my sight, appearing in front of me in the blink of an eye. Her hand grips my throat, lifting me off the ground.

“Wha…”

I can’t get a word out!

“Tell me: why should I not crush your neck?”

Nunnalé always weirded me out, with the way she acts, talks like a robot, and how she puts Richard above everyone else… It always scared me how I couldn’t understand her… But now, I’m even more scared of her; this cold rage. Staring me down with a piercing glare, her inability to properly express what she’s feeling is what scares the piss out of me; cause I know she’d snap my neck without a second thought.

“Nunnalé, he is the only one who knows how to save Richard.”

Her grip tightens around my throat, squeezing my windpipe with her superhuman strength. “I see, then…” The pressure around my neck disappears. She releases me, letting my body fumble on the ground. I cough in and out air, trying to get my lungs back into flow. “Proxy, you shall lead me to this creature, and I will kill it.”

“Y…yeah. Gotcha.”

“However…” She points to me, rocking that menacing gaze. “...if you halt me in any way, I will kill you.”

There’s no doubt she means it, which means I’m on super thin ice. But I can’t blame her, I deserve every bit of her anger; I hate myself more than anyone else here…

…

We barely had enough space to fit on my bike. Alex’s chest is pushing into my back, shoving me to the very end of the front. Nunnalé is scrunched up in the back, doing her best to hold on to the seat behind Alex.

“Proxy, what does the beast look like?” Alex asks me.

“Like a… You got spiders in this world?”

“Yes.”

“Then like that, but bigger.”

“Hmm, I feared as much.”

“Do you know of our target?” Nunnalé questions.

“It is a beast that dwells within the forest of giants.”

“Forest of giants? You mean for the big ass trees?”

“Indeed. From what I have heard, they suddenly formed decades ago, before the war began. The enormous trees sprouted from the ground, changing this mountain’s form.”

“They just sprouted? How the hell does that happen?”

“I am not privy to the details, however, the animals in there are bizarre. They’re more like beasts than animals.“

“So there’s more of them there?”

“I am unsure, so we must exercise caution.”

I didn’t even think that there were more freaky ass monsters in there, let alone at all…

Pulling up to the entrance of the forest, Alex jumps off, taking point. “We must make haste. Proxy, do you recall where you encountered this creature?”

“Yeah. I’ll take us to it.”

But how the hell are we gonna do this? If that thing hits us with its legs, we’ll be screwed. And to make matters worse, I didn’t see a weak point on that thing… No two ways about it, we’re gonna have to think of something, or else this ain’t going our way…

“When I locate this creature, I shall deal the killing blow and extract its blood.” That’s right, we have Nunnalé! With her superhuman strength, this should be a breeze. “...Proxy, stay out of my way when we find it.”

“Wha– Why the hell should I!? I’m here to help Richard, ya know!”

“Of course, I understand, however, you would only get in my way.”

“The hell I would! You don’t–”

“Your weakness was the reason my master got injured.”

My brain snapped, rationality disappeared in the face of seething rage at this girl.

“Shut the hell up, you brat! What the hell do you know!? I didn’t ask him to take a hit for me! So keep your damn mouth shut!”

She turned her back to me, facing the misty forest that blankets the humongous trees. She walks on without giving so much as a glance to me.

“Hey, where the hell are you going!? I’m not done with you! Hey…!”

She continues to ignore me, walking without decreasing her movement for a single moment. Anger swells in my chest, growing as she puts distance between us. Her words linger in my head, repeating like some goddamn record player.

“Proxy,” Alex calls. “...we should make haste. Time is not our ally.”

He’s right. Standing here like a jackass isn’t gonna do anything. Fixing up Richard is the only thing that matters now.

“Yeah, let’s get to it.”

My body feels heavy, and dull beats in my heart keep racking up my anxiety. Nunnalé is here, and Alex is pretty good with a sword, so why the hell am I nervous…? Nah, it’s nothing. I’m never nervous, never. The pressure is just tense, that’s it.I’ll kill that ugly ass spider and get its blood, easy!

“Richard…I’ll save you. Count on that, buddy!”

I’ll get it no matter what it takes; even if it’s my life…

Ruin's camp - morning

The poison coursing through Richard’s blood is being held at bay by medical supplements that I have given him. They will halt the process of the poison in his system, however, they are not a definitive cure. Healing via Source would be a wasted endeavor, for I am only able to heal physical wounds, anything more would be out of my field.

Furthermore, if I were to secure the cure, not a soul here would be able to respond to any changes in his health. The lack of a doctor is unbecoming of an army that wishes to oppose an enemy force.

"Proxy…Nunnalé…mother."

Tears trickle from his eyes to the side of his head, calling for those he holds dear…

“Rest, child. Have wonderful dreams…”

I touch the temple of his head with my hands. Activating my Source, I use an ability in illusion to calm his mind, allowing the boy to dream of whatever brings his joy… Source is not magic, I simply work his brain to see something or feel a sensation that should not be, but even this is far more effective than magic… If he were to pass, then may he have comfort. However, I do not plan on allowing him to die…

“Proxy…you truly know no shame… Such desperation in young eyes.”

Right, that is enough posturing! I shall go back to preparing another batch of supplements. All one can do is wait for that boy to return…

“...Brother…can we…play?”