Chapter 49

Lilith awoke to the sound of her name being called into her mind. “Miss Devine! Miss Devine! Please wake up! There is someone at the door.”

As she came around she could hear a knocking sound but it was much too close to be from the door. She then felt the cool hard sensation of smooth stone under her shoulder and arms. She wasn’t in her bed. She was lying on the floor. Panic suddenly filled her mind. Did I over sleep? Lilith sat up on her side as the knock repeated and a man called out “Muster call please report.”

“I’m awake!” Lilith shouted as she tried to rub the sleep out of her eyes.

“Duke Rarington has a cart ready for you and the contingent out front. They will be ready to depart in 30 minutes.” the crier called out in a clear practiced voice.

“I hear you.” Lilith managed as she began to pull herself to her feet. She then promptly fell back onto her side as she discovered she had no feet. Her eyes now fully open, she saw the large tail of a giant black snake coiled around her and instinctively tried to move away from it. The curves and length of it moved with her though as she was now pressed against the door. Hesitantly she pulled up her evening gown finding that her legs were completely gone.

The sides of her hips were now covered in scales that made a V shape down the middle to where her crotch should be but instead there was a transition to yet more muscles and more scales. She then noticed that the entire length of her heaved and moved with every breath she took. In and out. In and out she heaved as her heart a much larger heart pounded in her chest. Her breathing made a lot more noise than it used to. It reminded her of the sound a horse made as it expelled and filled its vast lungs. The jet black scales glistened as the morning light came through the window. “Thanks Lathander” She said out loud as she looked in the direction of the rising sun peeking through the mostly closed curtains. Luckily raising herself up was remarkably easy as she stood at any height she wanted to, finally settling down to around 7’ tall, she surveyed her room trying to figure out what the heck happened. She specifically looked at her bed wondering why she wasn’t still on it.

Just as she feared her bed was broken. The foot board had given way breaking loose to fall flat at the foot of the bed. What remained of the bed now slanted down at a 10 degree angle where she obviously had slid off and on to the stone floor during the night. After gathering her thoughts and a few pieces of the broken bed-frame, Lilith cast Fabricate fixing it exactly as it had been the night before. She really was going to need a bigger bed now. “Fuck” she said outloud. Looking around she was now becoming well aware just how much of the room her lower body now occupied. It was huge easily over 20 feet long, maybe even 30. Even with that, the room seemed to have enough space for two of the queen sized mattresses if the bed-frame was removed. With a nod, Lilith decided to do just that as soon as she returned from the days expedition.

Moving to the closet Lilith pulled off her evening gown hanging it closest to the door. Now completely naked she closed the door taking in the full sight of herself in the mirror. Red hair, and red eyes looked back at her. Her breasts and waist were still shapely and fit but below that was a thick ribbon of black scaled muscle that looked like it was both dense and powerful. “Merilith, right. Well at least I only have two arms.” She said trying to look on the bright side as she caught sight of the two noodles in the mirrors reflection. They were just standing there on the side of the now repaired bed not saying a word. Either they didn’t see anything wrong with her new form or they didn’t know what to say as they had been silent since the knocking had stopped. Suddenly remembering that there were people waiting for her she hastily put on her arming jacket and her armor before looking at herself in the mirror once again. Her hair was a mess but the armor still fit her rather nicely. The skirt now went around her waist completely just as it had when she arrived. The magical armor hadn’t tried to generate any boots or leg plates, it truly fit her no matter what she looked like. ‘Magic is awesome’ Lilith thought to herself. Her mind then turned to the thought of her old habit of standing on her toes and falling back to her heals. Trying to do the same thing just resulted in a slow change in height with no satisfying jiggle at the end. “Darn!”

After letting out a short sigh Lilith put on her rings and her Holy Symbol before strapping on her greatsword. After brushing her hair briefly she turned to her two familiars and said, “Noodles we are going on a field trip. Stay quiet and stay on my shoulders” she commanded as she cast invisibility on both of them. Once again the invisible snakes perched on her shoulders as she prepared to leave her room for the day.

‘Its ok! You are NOT a monster they can’t hurt you. The worst thing they can do is scream and run away.’ She thought to herself as she prepared to turn the door knob, her hand stopping just 6” short. ‘God I hope Tom isn’t on duty’ was the last thing she thought before opening the door and sliding out and around the corner in controlled 10’ pushes as she coiled and straightened in a careful deliberate manner.

As Lilith moved into the guest hall a steward saw her and pressed his back firmly against the wall as she passed but didn’t say a word. Trying to ignore his fright the sweet smells of breakfast hit her as she moved forward, her mind quickly shifted focus as she considered making the Duke wait just a bit longer. ‘I still have twenty minutes left I should go fix a plate’ she thought as her nose seemed to be leading her body.

Entering the banquet hall Lilith saw only a scattering of staff and nobles in stark contrast to the raucous group that had been there the night before. Nearing the serving table she picked up a plate before the whole room went silent. Looking behind her, Lilith could see a steward standing on a table and many faces staring at her. Then a short stocky man came forward walking within an arms length before speaking. It was Gonald, his face seemed to lack all understanding as it hung limp, his mouth half open. “Lilith what happened?” he asked with one hand outstretched motioning at the length of her.

Lilith was under stress and so she reverted to type. Most of her interactions with Gonald began or ended with a joke so it was in the forefront of her mind. “Well, I ate a lot of food last night and you know all that weight just goes straight to my tail.” She said loud enough for the whole room to hear as she looked down at the well dressed dwarf.

“Well we are going to put you on a diet starting now!” He said as he snatched the plate out of her hand.

Feeling robbed Lilith picked up a second plate from the serving table this time holding it higher, just out of the dwarf's reach. Gonald tried to jump for it but fell short. A few laughs were heard from the dining hall followed by a few shushing noises as she continued to keep the plate just out of reach. Finally as both of them tired of the game Lilith and Gonald locked eyes for a second before they too burst out in laughter. Lilith then served herself a plate full of scrambled eggs and ham before sliding over to a table to sit down. Moving close to the table her bulk simply pushed the bench underneath it. Then before she realized it, she was sitting. She was sitting and standing at the same time. She had simply lowered herself setting down her plate before she started eating.

“Holy hell woman how long are you?” Gonald asked as he sat across from her leaning over the table as he watched Lilith coil herself in tighter so as not to block the walkway.

“I don’t know you got a tape measure?” Lilith said as she took a big bite of scrambled eggs.

“A what?”

“A marked bit of string? What do you use to measure long objects anyways?” she asked.

“oh this.” Gonald pulled out a cylinder from inside his vest and expanded it to about three feet long. Looking closer she noticed it had markings on it that denoted feet and inches. “They make them in sizes up to six feet but we just tip it end over end to measure anything longer.” He then collapsed it putting it back in his coat pocket. “Why you got something better?”

“Yes but its not that much better. Do you think you could measure me once we are done here?” Lilith asked as she looked over her side before turning her head back to finish off the last of the eggs.

“Well I’m done eating so just stand still for a minute. Wait where do I start measuring?”

“At my belt and don’t get any funny ideas while you are down there. Or I might put YOU on a plate.” Lilith warned as Gonald got up walking behind her as he pulled out his measuring stick once again. With renewed vigor she began eating the ham slices one at a time savoring the taste as she tried to ignore the sweet smell of Gonald as he stood behind her. A few moments later Lilith finished her plate as Gonald got to the second turn in her tail. Turning to track him better, her tail moved slightly.

“Now stay still I said.” Gonald scolded her as she had only moved about 6” as she turned. A few people entering the room spouted expletives periodically but most just kept walking after pausing for a few moments.

Meanwhile Lilith bopped one of the Noodles on the head when he got a bit too close to her plate.

Finally, the petulant dwarf got to the stubby end of her tail calling out the length “Thirty five feet, four inches. Its a new record!”

“Record for what?” Lilith asked.

“Longest sack of shit I have ever had to work with! What do you think, I measure snakes like you every day?”

“So that makes me 10 Gonalds long then.” Lilith said with a half smile.

“Hey now! I’m four foot two thank you very much. But that does beg the question. How much you suppose you weigh?”

“Come on you aren’t supposed to ask a lady that. Besides I need to get going.” Lilith said as she ‘stood’.

“Oh and where are you off to? Going to go raid a Roc’s nest?” Gonald asked in a flat tone.

“I am going with Duke Rarington to Cromm’s Hold to help him determine what destroyed it. It was a dragon.” She pretend whispered that last part.

“Well good luck and tell him to come see me when he has some time. I would be interested in salvaging any weapons or tools that ya might find. Don’t want them getting all rusted, would be a shame you know.”

“Will do.” Lilith said as she left the dining hall heading for the entrance. The cool stone slid beneath her scales with only a slight bit of a grinding noise as she pushed herself out the entrance and into the morning light.

Sliding down the entrance path she saw a large covered wagon at the end. With no one in the way she jumped forward then moved slowly up to Duke Rarington before calling out his name. “Karl, good morning.”

The Duke turned his head in her direction hearing his name but did an almost comical double take at the sight of her. “What? Ahhhh that's…. your umm... not going to fit on the cart. Are you ok? That is you right Lilith?”

“Yes it is me, it seems I ate too much last night.” Lilith said with a smirk almost daring him to agree with her.

“Oh. Ok then will you be back to normal in a few days?” He tried to ask politely.

“No of course not Karl I’ve got no legs. Now can we get a second cart just like this one?” Lilith asked as she could hear murmurings from the soldiers in the back of the covered wagon.

“Ah yes. Sergeant come down here I need you to fetch a second cart” A militiaman hopped out of the back of the cart giving Lilith a look over, his eyes going wide in the process.

“Ya that would be a good idea.” The man said before he yelled for a Private Parsons to go fetch a second cart. Soon a younger looking man hopped out and began jogging down the Hill Road in the direction of the stables.

“I have seen you a few times this week ma’am and you have looked different each time. What gives?”

“Oh god I am going to have to make cards and hand them out to people aren’t I?”

“That would be handy ma’am.”

“Do you have a paper and pen on you Sergeant?” Lilith asked holding out a hand.

“Just a charcoal marker and a small pad.” he said

“That won’t do. Where is Hamlin when you need him.” Lilith retracted her hand and began to look around for anyone that looked like they might have an enchanted pen.

“What the banker? You borrow parchment off of him?” Duke Rarington asked seeming a bit offended.

“Well he does have a nice pen.” she said tilting her head and nodding.

“I would imagine so.” The Sergeant said with a nod.

Lilith spent the next few minutes explaining to the Sergeant and the Duke how the life cycles of demons progressed as they gained magical power by eating ‘things’. She then explained how Lathander had been giving her magical power as a reward for her deeds. Then after a few more minutes the private returned driving a two horse team pulling an almost identical covered wagon. Once it came to a stop Lilith lifted herself in by coiling around herself then extending her upper body up and in. Like a muscly elevator piston she was now pushing lengths of herself up and in as she proceeded forward until all of her was onboard. She soon sat her rear on the bench on the right side of the wagon pushing her upper body to the front only a few feet from Private Parsons whom she could see through the flap. He looked back at her a few times giving a nervous smile. Lilith noticed the cart tilting prompting her to make adjustments putting an equal amount of her bulk on the other side against the opposite rail. After a few bags of supplies were moved to her cart to free up a bit of leg room for the other men they were off and moving down the Duke’s Way. Next they met up with a supply wagon that had been waiting for them at the Caravan Grounds just outside the Western most gate that led to the main road. Now with three carts the small convoy began picking up speed as they met the main road turning South towards Cromm’s Hold.

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Less than a minute after they joined the main road a voice could be heard asking a question from the side of the cart. Then Lilith heard her name and the reply that she was in the second wagon. Soon she saw Kevin’s face behind the tail gate before he grabbed on lifting himself in using the railing on the left side for leverage. Once his eyes had adjusted he finally reacted to the massive amount of coiled flesh resting in black ribbons crossing back and forth five times across the width of the cart.

The invisible noodles perked up seeing him from their hiding spots under the right bench but didn’t say anything. They were doing good, keeping their presence hidden so that the spell wasn’t wasted.

Kevin swung his head from side to side and then focused on Lilith. He seemed to be looking for something, perhaps her legs, she imagined. Then he spoke. “Think you could use a sell sword by your side? My rates are very reasonable.”

“I didn’t bring any gold with me just sarcasm and a sword.” Lilith said giving him an unwelcome look.

“My rates aren’t that unreasonable I think we will have to work something out.” Kevin said moving slightly closer to her along the opposite bench.

“I bet that would make you happy. Is this payback for me kicking you out of my room last night.”

“Maybe, just be honest with me Lils, what are the odds I would have been crushed to death last night if I hadn’t left your room?” He said with a seriousness he seldom used.

“I don’t know. The Noodles survived just fine but the bed…..not so much.” Lilith admitted as she gave him a fragile smile. He was wearing his armor and a backpack with all his adventuring gear along with his longsword hanging from his belt. The sword seemed to emit a slight blue glow in the shade of the covered wagon.

“So your legs are gone?” he asked craning his neck in different directions as it seemed like his eyes were still trying to adjust.

“Yep completely gone, but I can move a lot better now without them.”

“Damn I liked your legs. Did you know this was going to happen?” He asked looking down at the floor as if he was morning a loss.

“Come here.” Lilith said opening her arms to her left hand side so he could sit there. Kevin shifted over from the opposite bench after dropping his pack. “I knew this was coming. I just didn’t know when.” she explained.

“Well I know you warned me, you tried to at least, but I still didn’t expect, this.” Kevin said as he put a hand on where her thigh would have been and leaned his head on her shoulder. At this point Noodle one must have brushed against his leg as he suddenly sat back up straight looking at his feet and then at her questioningly.

“Relax you didn’t think I was going to leave town and not bring them with me.” Lilith said with a hearty chuckle.

“Sorry I thought we were alone.” Kevin said in a mischievous voice.

“No I’m right here just three feet away.” Private parsons said from the other side of a thin flap of canvas.

Kevin let out a nervous laugh followed by a sigh. Lilith could see he was feeling confused, dejected and embarrassed all at the same time. His face contorting differently each time he started and then stopped. The words not quite coming to him yet.

“Well I am glad you came.” Lilith said directly into his mind, figuring that at least half their conversation could be private.

“That's a new trick, heh, I was worried you were going to send me away again.” He said trying to find a good place to lean his head against her. Her pauldrons made a faint clinking noise as the weight of his head coupled with the bumps of the road to make a random Morse code like metallic sound track.

Lilith then told the Noodles to go hug Kevin’s backpack before she saw them move across to the other side. She then took off her armor leaving just her red arming jacket on as she held the cuirass firmly in her coils.

Seeing this opportunity Kevin decided to lie on his back resting his head on her lap looking back up at her. His left arm wrapped under the seat back of the bench to keep him steady. “Comfy?” Lilith asked again speaking directly into his mind.

“Ya I have the best seat in the house.” he said with a smile looking up at her.

Lilith sat there enjoying the moment playing with his black hair that seemed almost invisible against the black scales of her lower body. As her mind drifted she thought of her annoyance with this man who just wouldn’t leave her alone as well as her own new needs for attention and physical contact. In some ways she was very glad he was here. Trying to be close to her, not running away screaming like she was some type of monster. Still so troubled by the inhuman parts of herself she needed this. She need someone to treat her like a person.

“This feels strangely normal…. Your lap I mean.” he said with a smile looking up at her his face half obscured by her breasts and the boob window in her armor. To be fair he had a point. Lilith still had hips and even femurs. She could contract her quads even as they pulled against the next rib segment of her body. Kevin’s head shifted up and down as she moved different sets of muscles playing with them to figure out their nuances. Her body was still broad at the hips but got slightly narrower as it wen to her knees It didn’t get smaller though it just changed to be more evenly circular. She had no knees of course, the muscles connected to her spine and ribs. It then continued roughly at the same size for the next 30’ until it tapered off rapidly ending in a stubby tail perhaps 6” across. She could always spot her tail it seemed to move about, twitching and swinging with her emotions. It swayed back and forth slowly now on the opposite side of the cart in a sign of contentment.

“Ya I think I still have most of the same muscles there, they are just covered in scales.” She said as she drifted off in thought again.

“I think your teeth got bigger too.” He said still looking up at her with those blue eyes.

Lilith began to examine her mouth in a panic she brought up her hand tracing her teeth with a finger. She felt her fangs lingering there finding that they were now large enough to wrap a finger around. Then as she felt the tips she realized there was a recessed hole close to the end of each of her top fangs. ‘Am I venomous?’ Lilith then felt the sides of her face to see if she had any bulges or protrusions that hadn’t been there before but she found none. Then in a bit of panic she stuck out her tongue looking down at it. It was really long, long enough to fully enter her line of sight, but it wasn’t forked like she had feared.

“Whats wrong, you look silly doing that?” He asked.

“Kevin I think I may be venomous now, so don’t put your tongue in my mouth when we kiss. Its important.” She said looking down at him with a bit of fear and disbelief.

“Awww but that's the best part.” he lamented. Lilith gave him a stern look for a second before he responded. “I hear you don’t worry I don’t think you will poison me unless I do something really really dumb.”

But she wasn’t listening instead her eyes were looking at her tail again “So I really am a monster.” Lilith said out loud followed by a sad chuckle.

Kevin shifted slightly using his left hand to grip her arm just above the elbow. “Hey, would a monster save my mother from a dungeon? While taking care not to kill anyone?”

Lilith just looked at him with tears beginning to swell up in her eyes.

“Would a monster warn me not to give her tongue?” Kevin asked with a smile.

Lilith began to smile a little but also convulsed and drew in a sniffle.

“Come on, nothing you have done has been even remotely monstrous. You have saved the town and helped everyone in the process.”

“I bit Celeste.”

“Ya mom did mention that, but you were still mostly asleep when that happened right?”

“I thought about biting Gonald’s head off, once.”

“Who hasn’t!” Kevin said spreading his right arm out for dramatic effect before he continued. “Thoughts aren’t crimes you know.”

“I know.” She said as she wiped her eyes with her forearm. “So what am I to you?”

“A beautiful demon with bright red eyes and crimson hair to match.” he said pushing her hair out of her face as it had caught on some of the moisture on her cheek.

“So I’m not a monster?” She asked her eyes finally looking at him clearly.

“That's up to you. Your actions define you not some silly venom in your teeth.” Kevin said with a smile and another chuckle.

Lilith realized how childish she was being. She had been choosing her actions carefully all along. She didn’t want to leave his mother in that dungeon, not for another minute. There was no way she could have waited for the cleric to arrive later that week. Especially not after seeing her there in chains. Lilith could take some pride in her actions especially in that it had brought her closer to Kevin. She wasn’t physically attracted to him but she definitely needed him emotionally and he had been very good to her in that respect. Lilith started thinking about how she could repay him for his help when she realized the sadness and doubt had left her and it was just Kevin and her staring at each others eyes again in the shade of the covered wagon. She pushed his head farther away and then lifted it as she bent over and kissed him on the forehead. The taste of bacon cheeseburgers suddenly made her hungry again but the feeling soon passed.

She played with his hair some more as they talked for another hour before he finally sat up next to her calling the noodles over to sit in his lap. He couldn’t see them but he still managed to pat them on the head and answer their many questions.

Feeling relaxed, Lilith took the time now to look at her spell codex hoping that there wouldn’t be any surprises like last time. But in fact there was a huge surprise in store for her. She now had nine folders in her codex and this meant she could cast up to eighth level spells. Quickly she opened the second to last folder to see [Teleport] and [Plane Shift]. It seemed Lathander was ready for her to travel the greater world and perhaps even the planes beyond.

Then Lilith looked at the last folder to see what arcane power awaited her. There she found [Demiplane], [Antimagic Field] and [Feeblemind]. Lilith noted that both Feeblemind and Antimagic Field were very potent at fighting spellcasters, while Demiplane was like creating your own small universe that was only accessible by you.

Looking back at the other pages Lilith noticed a few new spells there too. [Bless], [Heal], [Greater Restoration], [Spirit Guardians], and [Teleportation Circle] were now in her repertoire. Dawnbringer Hass might have to make her an actual cleric, given how many divine spells she now knew. Lilith smiled at the thought of trying out the new spells.

Kevin soon began to pester her as she had been looking in her codex for a while only half aware of the outside world.

“What is it?” Lilith asked as she closed the codex turning to her left to face him.

“We’ve stopped, and I hear the Duke talking up ahead he doesn’t sound happy.” he said reaching to his pack for his sword before placing it through a loop on his belt.

Following suit Lilith put her armor back on and picked up her sword and scabbard holding them in hand as she moved to the back of the cart along with Kevin. He hopped out and started to lower the rear gate when Lilith teleported behind him only to tap him on the shoulder playfully. She could see the Noodles still in the cart looking at her and was satisfied that they knew to stay put. Quickly Lilith buckled her scabbard to her back again before moving forward so she could find the Duke.

At the front of the convoy he was easy enough to find. Karl was in front of the lead cart along with the Sergeant, looking at something. Moving closer Lilith brought up a hand to block the mid day sun as she squinted at the shapes in the distance. Large shapes, they were huge. It was an approaching force of giants. They were still a mile away but they were almost on top of a merchant running in their direction as fast as it could, a trail of dust being kicked up behind the cart. Lilith got to the front of their group and watched as one of the giants swung his club hitting the cart, knocking it sideways off the road like it was a small toy. The four giants who seemed tall and slender in build then went over to inspect their quarry. One of them seemed to push something into the ground with the end of their massive club and before it proceeded to pick up the horses stuffing them into a sack tied to the back of another.

“Gods have mercy, turn the carts around lets move!” the Sergeant yelled as he and the Duke jumped on the drivers bench of the front wagon. Lilith and Kevin just stood there as the carts wheeled about in the grass to face North back up the road where they had come from. The soldiers were waving them on from the back of the first cart but soon gave up as the distance increased. Lilith then looked back at the four giants, their gate seemed to have quickened again as small clouds of dust could be seen where their feet made contact with the ground.

“Are you thinking of fighting them?” Kevin asked as he lay a hand on Lilith's shoulder to try and shake her out of her stupor.

“Would you go with the carts if I said no?” Lilith asked with a smirk on her face.

“No I’m….” He swallowed a large lump in his throat. “staying with you.” he said as he took a deep breath to calm himself.

“Well then at least let me soften them up first. Ok?” She asked as if she expected a confirmation.

“Fine, lets see some more fire works.” Kevin said as he drew his sword moving to back away from Lilith.

“Oh yes more fireworks, we get to see them this time.” Noodle One said from somewhere close to Kevin.

“Get off the road and hide in the grass. Both of you!” Lilith yelled.

“I will do nothing of the …. oh ya there are two of them. Never mind.” Kevin said a bit sheepishly.

Lilith looked back and gave Kevin a laugh before she teleported forward several times to meet the ‘Giant’ problem bearing down on them from the South.

With the giants now about 150’ away Lilith began by throwing a few fireballs at them. Each one hitting a different giant they were so spread out that even the sizable blast that her magic created could only hit one of them at a time. The orange fire billowed off their forms leaving black smoke in the sky. The second one in line stumbled and decided to hide behind the front giant. Then she noticed that they were lined up pretty well along the road so she switch to Chain Lightning. A bright white streak left Lilith’s fingers flying directly at the giants, striking the first one in the chest before it jumped to the three behind him. The loud crack split the air echoing off the near by hills. The giants all stumbled, some nearly falling over as the pain and the electricity made their muscles seize up and spasm. White smoke rose from the massive scorch mark on the left side of the closest giant’s chest. The four of them screamed in anger renewing their charge. Now only 50’ away from Lilith they raised their clubs seeing she had no more time to cast spells.

Thinking the same thing, Lilith drew her sword teleporting behind the first giant. There, she slashed at his ankle damaging his Achilles tendon before letting her momentum carry her around so she was facing the next giant behind him. Again she jumped landing behind his lead foot where she slashed at it, his lower calf being waist high to her.

Then Lilith jumped a third time but this giant had anticipated her movements its club already in motion as she appeared in a thin cloud of mist. With her sword held high ready to slash Lilith instead blocked the blow but she was now held partially under the club as she could hear the other giants turning around to face her. With all her strength she managed to shrug off the club the giant roughly shaped tree trunk landing at her side. Then just before she could jump away, a giant hand gripped her by the waist from behind lifting her into the air. Lilith grabbed the wrist with her tail and turned herself around to face him. His giant blue visage had a look of hatred and disgust as it came into view his fist lifting her higher and higher. Lilith struggled in his grasp unable to teleport while being held she now found herself high above his head some in the air. Desperately, she tried to attack him with her sword but couldn’t build up much speed with her waist being gripped so hard. The blade hit but barely broke the skin. She then lifted it again but managed nothing else as her world instantly became a blur.

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Still jogging forward to close the distance Kevin could only watch in horror as Lilith was spiked into the ground like a dart. Her long black form telescoping into itself landing in a motionless heap. The sickening thud seemed to strike him in the chest as his heart sank his eyes shooting open wide. He yelled without thinking as he charged forward getting the attention of the lead giant who seemed to move in a lurch one leg not working as it was supposed to. Even so the giant still managed to swing his club. Kevin dodged it narrowly his focus shifting to the giant’s injured leg. He jumped at it landing with both feet before he jumped again. This time towards the giant’s right leg. As he leapt he brought the tip of his sword to bear sinking it in deeply. He let his weight and his momentum push the blade in to the hilt before he used his legs to pull downward, cutting open the leg and freeing his sword at the same time. A gout of fresh blood poured out as Kevin did a somersault landing on his feet. The giant now wounded on both legs toppled over falling with a great thud and a cloud of dust. He wasn’t thinking he was just moving on instinct his focused mind allowing him to charge forward again without fear for his own life.

Kevin wasted no time running directly at the giant’s upper torso. Seeing the head tilt up to look at him, Kevin dodged the sudden grasp of the right hand of the blue giant while simultaneously severing its thumb at the second joint. With his target now screaming in pain he plunged his sword repeatedly into the giant’s rib cage, slicing down after each thrust. Crimson rivers of blood flowed out of him as the giant tried to turn over to face his attacker. Kevin seeing the other arm coming over the top jumped over the right arm of the giant sprinting to his left towards the giants head. The giant however continued rolling, blood coming out of his mouth, his body going limp as he continued rolling settling chest down as Kevin approached the top of his head. He then circled around placing the giant between him and the others as his eyes searched for the next threat. Blinking he was stunned and relieved as he realized the other giants weren’t coming over. No those giants had problems of their own as it seemed Lilith was back in the fight. Nimbly she was jumping back and forth peppering them with spells.

He had expected to see her as smear on the road by now but instead she was throwing firebolts and lightning at them from all angles always staying out of reach. Once she had enough distance she prepared a much more potent spell the words sounding like death. Then it was cast a green beam that disintegrated one of the giants as his massive form turned to dust falling in a great pile the size of one of the covered wagons.

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Lilith had learned her lesson. ‘Yep, don’t get into grappling range of giants!’ It had only cost her a couple ribs somewhere in her tail. But she had lots of ribs to spare she thought, as a small trickle of blood came out of her mouth. After being spiked into the ground, she had rolled over after she regained her senses just in time for the first club to hit her on her side mid way down her tail. It spun her knocking her further away from the giants giving. Luckily this gave her time to teleport away before the next attack. From there she just continued to jump to the side casting spells at them. She was circle strafing while the darn fools just kept running at her as she shot bolts of fire and lightning at them in equal measure. One of the giants grew tired resting his club on the ground giving Lilith time to cast a full spell. She hit him with Disintegrate. There was no scream, only a crackle of magic and a massive pile of gray dust, a grim marker of its violent end.

The two remaining giants tried to run for the hills, literally. They were heading east at a full sprint but Lilith kept up her pursuit firing Lightning Bolts repeatedly until they fell over with charred smoking holes in their backs. She had to snake her way over to the two giant corpses now a quarter of a mile off the road. She didn’t even have her sword. It was probably back on the road where she would could find it later, probably right next to the large snake shaped crater. For now she went over to the large sack that was holding two very irate horses. They whinnied and snorted as she tore the sack open at a seam. With their heads and most of their bodies free she back off giving them space to stand up. She wondered for a moment but then Lilith was glad to see the two horses stumble to their feet before they walked away into the grassy field. Seeing that they were ok, part of her wanted to pet them but the animals seemed to recoil each time she moved. ‘Horses have never liked snakes’ she thought to herself giving up on the endeavor.

With that settled Lilith went further up the road checking on the cart of the merchant they had seen in the distance. For a moment she hoped that there might be survivors but as she drew close it was just as she had feared. The man who had been on the drivers bench was pushed into the dirt, flattened except for his legs which stuck up at an odd angle. The cart was also banged up but it seemed that all four wheels were still attached.

Not wanting to take anything, Lilith jumped back down the road to where Kevin was standing victorious over one of the giants.

“I wish I had a camera to record this.” Lilith said as she shimmied around the feet of the dead giant making sure to stay clear of the table sized pool of blood that was slowly sinking into the soil.

“Lilith, I thought you were dead. How are you ok? You weren’t moving?” Kevin asked shooting off questions as fast as he could swing a sword.

“Well I am not totally ok but I’ll be fine eventually. That hurt like hell. Is my face ok? How’s this?” Lilith asked pointing to her face with one finger making a circle around its outer edge in her best Johnny Knoxville impersonation.

“It looks fine, just a bit dirty.” Kevin said stepping closer to get a better look.

“Then we’re all good.” She said with a laugh that she quickly regretted. “Oh my ribs that hurts but now I walk with my ribs. Oh I know.” Lilith said as she moved slowly down the road before stopping to look in her codex. She read out the rune words [Ho] [Za] [Na] as she activated the spell [Heal]. As it activate, her hand glowed a bright golden color the energy clinging to her hand looking for a place to go. She then pressed it to her ribs half way down her lower body causing the glow to spread out sinking into her scales. She felt the warmth spread and a soothing calm rushed over her. When the spell faded she felt no pain looking up at Kevin with a huge smile on her face. The Front part of her flopped up and down as she tried to jump with excitement like she had seen Celeste do so many times.

“Was that divine magic? Did you just mend your own ribs?” He asked with his eyes wide.

“Yep.” she said as she took his hand and started jumping down the road towards their Wagon train that had stopped almost a mile away. She stopped briefly to recover her sword. ‘Yep that's one big snake shaped crater’ she thought before the two of them continued on.