Chapter 7 : What Slithers in the Dark

The unpleasant man's hand had skid to a halt just within reach so Zhoey had grabbed it though the bars. There was a nice ring on it and quickly snatching unguarded things was a reflexive compulsion she had developed.

She discarded the bloody hand and held the ring up in the light. A little too discreet and ordinary looking, but perhaps worth 30 copper if she could find the right buyer. Well, she couldn't now of course so she just mindlessly rolled the ring back and forth over the callouses in her palm, then finally decided she'd wear it for the execution, at least looking a bit nicer.

She slid it on and held up her hand to admire it. The ring faded away. A silent voice spoke in her mind, somehow feeling more like a quickly comprehended written message.

Godly grade system ring. This gives you access to the system HUD and dimensional storage. This ring will remain invisible as long as the wearer is alive. There are currently zero other active system ring users in this world.

This ring contains the following items:

• Self purifying canteen "Refreshing Spring". It is currently full. May only store water. Volume: 5 decilitres, dimensionally boosted to 60.

• 100 Silver.

• Set of 5 System type minor healing potions. Cures lesser poison, paralysis, confusion and other effects. Excess healing power can be used to restore lost organs and limbs of low level users. Cannot be diluted or split.

• One epic system type level up pill worth 120000 experience. Can raise a hero to level 59.

• Set of 3 extremely tasty loafs of nutritious bread. Filled with herbs, appfele and smoked pippin meat. Temporarily increases stamina.

• Set of 3 minor system type level up pills worth 6000 experience each. These are suitable for raising companions and pets up to level 20.

• Lewd figurine. A novelty item, valuable in the right situation.

• Enchanted feather-leaf cloak. Makes user lighter.

• Iron skin scroll. Single use item. User's skin will temporarily harden when attacked. This effect stacks with normal toughness level scaling.

• Strength scroll. Single use item. User's muscle strength is scaled not by their current level but eight levels above.

• Master Smith scroll. Single use item. User gains the instinct and ability to craft enchanted weapons, armours, amulets, and other items.

She looked around, feeling that someone would appear out of nowhere and snatch it from her. She still vividly remember having found a pouch with six silvers on the street, only to immediately receive a club to the face... which was how she lost a few of her teeth.

There was some distracting noice coming from the alley, likely related to the freak accident. Some noble was very angry. Zhoey couldn't imagine them having any business in her cell though, plus, the ring was supposedly invisible. She stepped back, carefully peering out from a distance. A guard walked by and text briefly flickered in the air.

... Norell, City Guard, Level 8 ...

This was all she had time to read, so she kept watch until another man appeared.

"Ouff – I really oughta talk to lord Mavruc about the odour right outside his manor." the man mused, apparently having found some social ammunition.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Tondor Seck, City Lord of Hask, Level 26

Zhoey pondered. Hask? Ah, that's the next city over. So, a city lord here for the imminent execution spectacle, perhaps? Would it get delayed? It was almost third noon. She moved back into a dark corner of her cell and sunk into a sitting position, wincing at a sudden pain in her ribs. She had become pretty good at ignoring discomfort, but this went beyond normal for her. Was she hungry too? Probably.

Focusing on the ring she tried to bring out an "extremely tasty loaf of bread", curious to find out whether it was actually true. Her whole situation had been surreal lately.

A golden brown piece of crispy bread appeared in her hand and she immediately brought it to her mouth, biting awkwardly into it using her side molars. Then she cried – it was indeed extremely tasty, instantly filling her with a warm buzzing sensation. Nobles would pay gold for it, and here she was, having a private feast in a stinky dungeon.

Then she brought out the "refreshing spring". The water was also as advertised, very refreshing and slightly bubbly. Suddenly this had turned into the best day of her life. How could it possibly get better than this?

Then she remembered the other stuff in the ring. It was true too? Magical potions which could cure any condition? She had only heard about such things in stories. Commoners who were a little better off had access to expensive healing and specialised curing potions, but nothing with miraculous effects.

Bread and canteen now relegated to her lap, she stared at the glowing red potion that appeared in her hand. She had seen a few lesser healing potions in a store display, but they were all a milky dull pink.

System type minor healing potion. Cures lesser poison, paralysis, confusion and other effects. Excess healing power can be used to restore lost organs and limbs of low level users. Cannot be diluted or split.

She brought the small pear shaped bottle to her cracked lips and drank the whole thing in one swig. She felt nothing at all. Felt nothing as the scabs fell off her skin. Felt nothing as her teeth grew out. The background noise of pain was gone, too. So she felt nothing. She tried to stand up but sunk right back down, blinking in confusion. Her hands were smooth and pristine, full of vitality. She ran a finger over her new teeth, then took another bite of the bread. It tasted even better now. Divine.

Having quickly finished the whole loaf, she then took out the 100 silver. It would take a commoner family years to accumulate this wealth, yet somehow it just seemed a little like dead metal to Zhoey now. With a serious expression she put it away. The scales had shifted.

Just as the conversations outside seem to move off into the distance, a wheezy, yet powerful voice spoke out of the darkness in the cell.

"So are you going to use the epic pill, or just laze about? Hurry up now lady... your time draws dreadfully short. No time for bread and coin."

A talking white snake slithered out of the darkness, startling Zhoey upright with a jerk. She put everything out back in the ring and looked guarded.

"Relax, I'm just a little snakey snake, here on behalf of my mistress. Here to keep an eye on you, and ask a small favour, or two. Three, in fact.", the snaked spoke while weaving and undulating hypnotically.

"Do these favours three, and you may keep the ring, contents and all. Such is the deal."

"Wh-what favours?", Zhoey stuttered.

"Kill Mavruc Moor. His soul is ripe and delicious."

"Kill Tondor Seck. His soul is ripe and delicious."

"Kill the pottery worker with the dumb green hat, at the southern gate. The blaspheeeemer!"

"Smash his misshapen statue! Grind it into dust."

Zhoey blinked, then a wrinkle formed on her brow. Those were four favours. Would the list grow further?

"Well, I know the first two – the city lords – but uh- who is the last guy?", she queried hesitantly.

"A blight!", the snake immediately responded, " He must die. Die die die. Mistress ordains it, as do I and every creature of her nine realms."

"Now eat the pill!", the snake hissed at her before turning to slither back into the darkness. "Then use the scrolls.", it flicked its head around to add.

Then it was gone.

This just keeps getting stranger and stranger. Who was the mistress of this snake creature? The whole thing seemed a little ominous, but that feeling was entirely dwarfed by the prospects ahead.