"Let's make a deal," Akatosh says.
Sitting by the bed Chifya can barely hold her grudge against the man sitting in front of him confident to talk in her ferocious mood. And Akatosh can see her angry lips as her teeth grating in hatred ready to slash him.
"Do you hate me that much?" Akatosh said when suddenly Chifya glared at him with eyes full of malevolence. "I take that as a yes. Leaving that aside, you see I'm not a--"
"Have you had enough!" Chifya interrupts. "Money!? It's that all you care!"
"Well that's one of my choices, but there are other things that I'm more interested in. The thing is, I've been running out of your sleeping potion lately and since I'm in at a good and bad timing we can make a bargain. And seeing how much bitterness you had in me I'm not a fool to give this early." Akatosh said waiting for Chifya to respond.
Having no words coming out from her and can't even stand to stare at him Akatosh continues.
"We can continue our bargain once I'm done helping these youngsters and their mission. But more importantly… won't you leave a lonely man to his sleep."
Assuming Akatosh would run away from her again, with no words or whatsoever Chifya went by the corner and sits watching him from escaping.
"Well, we can sleep together like we did last time." Smiles Akatosh removing his gears and even casually putting his 'bag of holding' right on top of the table where Chifya could grab it with ease.
Chifya's intense watch caught a glimpse at Akatosh's eyes. A sight that made her unease.
"You can take that bag and kill me. And make it quick and painless that might satisfy your abhorrence." Implores Akatosh tired from Chifya's malice and after his words he then drinks the sleeping potion.
Lost from thoughts Chifya only wonders what surprises her. After Akatosh had quickly fallen into slumber Chifya was filled with confusion. Hesitant to scavenged her stolen items she decided it's best to make a conclusion till morning comes.
With nothing to do as silent grew and blizzard persist Chifya thought from the past. The lingering mark that burns her heart from those stillmage people. Now with a set of minds Chifya decides to do what's right for her.
As for the traveler, something creeps his grave-like slumber, not light or darkness. He was drag into an unknown dimension and little did he know his soul was ripping into chaos. Sucked deeper into a dimensional blackhole and while frequently being tortured a vision gnawed his mind. He saw a colossal monster ripping through chaos itself, walking in four it roars heavily through a different dimension filled with rival monsters. Then again, he was drag into his past world but what he saw was different. A limbo, a place for the dead, and a die from his past world in a never-ending war. Never tired, never dead they clash recklessly.
From there, he watches history in a different era brawling in a desolated land. The bronze age, the dark age, the ashes of world war one and two and so on are all-in-one. Battleships and warships brutally clash at the sea sending tremendous explosions, shocking the waters. While on the land are the sounds of the dead in their war cry ripping each other as they fear nothing from the explosive ammunition. Warplanes from the air savagely chasing their adversary hitting everything from their path. And while on the run the sky was raining bombs and hailing machineguns. The roar of the big guns and the breath of rapid firearms terrified and excites his desire. And the madness of blades and arrows filled his lust to which he doesn't know why.
As all things come to an end when an atomic bomb roars and ruptures through the battlefield, he finally comes face to face with 'Death' himself. In the flesh, a god in black clothing that of a grim reaper. The patriot from deep within him.
When Akatosh was plunged into the world of limbo, Chifya saw his body slowly taken by frostbite. Being immune to cold and too distracted she haven't noticed the chilling chamber they were. Forgetting the hut was imbues with magic, didn't she hesitate to activate its effect. Using magic, the room's temperature quickly rises to melt little icicles that form from the intense blizzard.
"That should do it." Sighs Chifya checking Akatosh if he recovers. Sensing nothing she turns around seeing Akatosh's body
Despite her, work Akatosh was still dead-cold. Rushing without thinking, desperately she pools her healing power. Inadequate, her magic won't even change a thing, not even the slightest.
For a glimpse of seeing another god equal to the one, the creator, Akatosh was sent back from his place. Having his soul reunited with his material body. Tolerating no more, Chifya is worried and panic she goes to call for help. And in time when Akatosh's soul and body fused, she finally saw his body returning to normal.
A brief of respite, she outbreathes heavily. Closely by his side Chifya in her she-wolf can't help but be puzzled more by what's in front of him. She had seen chaos within him but never knew what it is, she had experienced his enigmatic existence and presence. Though never once she wasn't unraveled its inexplicable life nor taken a slight interest. Nonetheless, she could keep her eyes no longer and fell asleep right next to him.
The two of them slept well that night and the next day Chifya was the first to rouse on that late morning. Taking time to refreshen her weary morning a knock suddenly came from the door calling Akatosh. Not a time to react Sheila opens the door overlooking Chifya in bed with Akatosh.
"I'm sorry!" Exclaimed Sheila immediately closing the door.
"It's, it's not what you think it is." Chifya implores nonetheless Sheila was already gone taking with her what she saw.
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Clenching fist Chifya forces Akatosh to stir from his slumber. The first shake didn't affect him, but after losing her temper Chifya uses her druid magic rooting Akatosh in his deep state slumber.
"Are you like this every day!" Thwart Chifya in her cold glare and crossing arms.
"Mm-hmm…" Akatosh moans squirming under the blanket ready to continue his sleep.
"FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE WOULD YOU STOP ACTING SO STUBBORN!" Roars Chifya dragging him out of the bed. Separating him from the bedstead Chifya then begun scolding him in an aloof way. The words coming out from her were Akatosh's words from last night, about helping Sheila and their mission. On the other hand, Chifya didn't utter a word regarding her family drawing.
In spite of her loud voice, the message didn't enter his dead-ears for he was far too busy contemplating his dream, or so he thought it was a dream. Recuperating for a second Akatosh goes preparing his gears. Drawing out the mask, he quickly remembers the bounty on his head which he then returns back the mask.
"How long are you going to monitor me with that dangerous eyes of yours," Akatosh says opening the door. Having no response only silence of observation he smiles. "By the way, I like your flowery smell it feels nice smelling it."
Regrouping from his companions and with a hungry stomach, Sheila and her friends had to patiently wait for him to eat his breakfast, gloomy and melancholy.
"Are you alright, Akatosh? Is there something the matter? We could postpone the mission--" Implores Sheila.
"Don't worry I just got traumatized, Chifya raped me last night." Akatosh doughtily said unfazed from Chifya's ire, sitting three blocks away.
Avoid adding fuel to the fire Chifya restrains her fury from his derisive words. Following his breakfast, Chifya maintaining her composure follows Akatosh and his companions in a discomfited silence. Making the four friends wonder and question their relationship.
Not before long just a few minutes of walking, Galish came desperately looking for Chifya. And once Akatosh and Galish cross, Akatosh felt the abhorred atmosphere lingering from Galish. A sensation of loath, jealousy, and those disgusting eyes coming from a druid.
Stopping Chifya from her track, Galish let out a word of his love about how he was worried and anxious during last night's blizzard. Now with open ears, Akatosh can tell their affiliation as Galish gushes out his emotion, his devotion.
With closing ears and few steps apart their conversation no longer influences him. There were only muffled voices even though he was only ten meters away from them. A habit which he develops from those long past desertion. And he too was still longing from that experience he felt, an encounter with 'Death'.
"We should move on." Akatosh bluntly implores.
With no more restriction from Chifya, Akatosh calmly asks their quest. Considering how oblivious his behavior is, they all repeat their explanation.
"So let me guess this straight. You all came here to gather something from this place guarded by some sort of a guardian or whatever it is. Which you need permission from those senile druids." Akatosh reply after hearing their quest's clarification.
"That's right…" Riya nods. "Though the guild mentor advises us to rather stick with our current goals. A trivial task such as scouting, gaining authorization, that sorts of things. But Sheila insist--"
"Wahh… That's enough already!" Exclaimed Sheila in her fluctuated face-covering Riya's mouth.
"Taking a risk eh… There's nothing wrong with that, you can always withdraw and challenge again… So, what's my role?" Akatosh implores fixing his equipment.
Using the druids' teleportation stone they were cast in a different forest. An uncommon place to be, and a very unusual impression. They could see sparkling dust elegantly dance through the forest and what's more, there was no snow on the ground. Curious, Akatosh's eyes were swaying all sides looking for clues. The glowing mushroom and few other lights emanating from plants which he didn't know, gave him an understanding. Snow would quickly turn into the water the moment it reached the ground.
While he was busy investigating the place, Sheila was doing her occupation. In her hand was a glowing golden fruit, and upon laying it on the ground. It quickly burst into sparkling lights making the trees slowly part ways, creating a route.
"That was cool." Whistles Akatosh.
Stopping at the entrance of a cavern the group first prep their equipment and potions for a big fight. Seeing Reith's sword, a broad and large weapon Akatosh thought something else.
"Hey Reith, try using this." Akatosh called tossing his katana.
"Are-are you sure," Reith replies but Akatosh ignores his words as he conjures a sword. It was the sword he commission from Barry.
"Just what type of monster are we facing and what kind of item are you seeking."
"Didn't we told you before?" Sheila said.
"Um, er… I was dreaming back then."
Sheila sigh, tired from repeating her explanation. "'Zelus Senires' that's what the druids called it. Which is translated to as 'Guardian of Life'. And once we slay the 'Spirit Guardian' that's the time we will collect the elixir from its body. It may be a trifling drop but it's very valuable." Sheila says showing him a very small bottle, closely at 40ml in size.
"Where did you all learn these things, do you even know how to dissect the process just to obtain its vial. And what does it have to be so valuable." Replies Akatosh.
"Well, to be more particular the elixir from a Zelus Senires are used to make high tier health potions or recovery potions and lots more."
"A recovery potion?!... RAG! C'mon, stillmage it's your time to shine." Implores Akatosh towards Amaragnum.
"Bah, pity… Since you'd been battered and shitted at every fight. I guess there's no helping it. Getting a large amount of liquid from Zelus or whatever it is, is just a minor task. And I don't mean killing, you just have to reason with it."
"How."
"Graph… just get inside with your group I'll show you."
Following the stillmage's command and with weapons sheathed the four friends can't help but doubt Akatosh. Upon entering the open cave, there was a pond luminating in aqua. And every corner houses dozens of dead Zelus Senires and corpses in withering time.
Not even close to the glowing pond the spirit guardian sprout through the ground. With its entrance, the ground shakes, weighing heavily and elevating four meters tall. As much as its bulky body made out of thorn hard roots, its presence gave a very intimidating atmosphere.
Hesitating to draw their weapons Akatosh quickly calls for a halt.
"Who dare enters this place. Are you here to do what my past had been through, to kill?" The guardian said not by voice but through telepathic as it waits for an answer.
"Well hello there," Akatosh replies through the help of Amaragnum. "And to answer your question, no. Correct me if I'm wrong, test me if you want but that's all my honest word."
"For the past hundreds of years never had I met a human who could talk with a spirit like me." The guardian said surprised by Akatosh's reply.
"Then congratulations must have been rough being so lonely."
"Hmm… That may be true to your heart, yet I sense you are more grasping than those people I've seen, even for me."
"You could say that." Akatosh sigh. "Moving on to our delicate matters, these lads here are seeking your so-called elixir of life. We can make an arrangement."
"Hmm… There is one. From time to time, the odium essences of the dead people I've killed from the past have grown, slowly corrupting the waters. Soon it will consume this place and me. I cannot even reach it for it's beyond my grasp. However, I can send you to cleanse it."
"Then you got yourself a deal." Akatosh quickly respond.