by Eden Redd
“Dragons….” Kurn said as his mouth twisted into a frightful grin.
The paladin took advantage of the moment and charged. Some archers let loose a volley of arrows while other archers raised their arrows to the sky. Thorrin could see and feel several arrows bounce off his aura while others pinged against his armor. One arrow struck him in a soft spot between a joint in his arm but it didn’t slow him down. Hit points draining a few points, the paladin was within feet of Kurn. The troll licked his lips as he darted forward to close the distance. Blade and hammer met in the middle with a ringing of metal.
Talisa looked up as not one but three green dragons soared overhead. Wings stretched out, serpent eyes scanned the forest. Powerful muscles moved under thick green scales, wings beating and gliding along high thermals. They flew in formation, one leading the other two. Arrows were released and filled the sky. The dragons did not falter as arrows bounced off armored scales and falling uselessly to the tree tops. Talisa turned and threw her arms around the two smaller trolls, pushing them to the base of the round tree and shielding them with her body as arrows fell.
Thorrin clashed again and again against the bald troll. Kurn continued to leer as they tried to gain an edge over the other. The paladin was sure his hammer had enough weight to knock the troll sword aside but he didn’t account for their brutal strength. The troll stood at seven feet, muscles bulging as he struck out harder.
The player couldn’t help but fall back to his martial arts training he had growing up. Foot kicking out, he landed a strike on the troll’s knee. Kurn grunted as he took a step back. Thorrin taking the advantage closed the gap and brought his hammer across sideways. Kurn yelped as the hammer connected against his ribs, breaking two of them. Sword slashing out, it clanged against Thorrin’s armored chest. The paladin rolled with it, turning and bringing his hammer down on an unarmored troll thigh. Kurn crumpled to his knees, eyes wide from shock. Thorrin was about to give the killing bow to the head when several archers aimed at his chest.
The paladin reached down and grabbed the troll by his armored chest. Wrenching him up, he spun him around and held him close. Arrows sunk into troll as he cried out, body shattering into greenish shards and falling away. A maelstrom of chaos bloomed when fireballs fell from the sky and exploded among the troll ranks. Blue bodies were hurled in all directions as explosions rocked the forest.
Thorrin looked up to see the three green dragons making wide circles above their location, spitting fire balls and raining death to the trolls below. Trolls screamed before being shattering into fragments of light. Several trolls pulled the oversized spears from their backs, taking stance and holding the spears like long javelins. The dragons circled lower, serpent eyes scanning as mouths opened wide, flames leaking out. A troll heaved his arm, sending the spear airborne. The spear glowed with bright light as it seemed to burst forward in the air. A dragon turned his body but the spear changed its trajectory, struck it in the chest and exploded. The dragon screeched as it flapped its wings. Several more spears struck home and exploded. Another dragon tried to catch its falling companion before another spear struck it and exploded. The wounded dragon let out sad cry as it shattered into large chunks of light.
The paladin stared in horror as giant shards of light hit the trees and fading from view. Turning his attention to the trolls, Thorrin rushed them, hammer at the ready. With so many eyes staring upward at the spectacle of the falling dragon shards, they didn’t notice the armored paladin rushing their ranks. Thorrin let out a roar as threw himself at them, hammer swinging. Bodies shattered with each hit as the paladin spun, bringing his hammer across exposed heads, necks and thighs. Five trolls fell before several could change their focus. Swords and clubs slashed outward but Thorrin could not be stopped. Shoulder first, he crashed into them, using his body to knock them off balance and striking those stunned or exposed. A club slammed into his chest, causing the paladin to stumble back as two trolls shattered before him. Several more trolls joined the fray, hacking and slashing, driving him back several more steps.
Instinct took over as Thorrin tried to regain his footing. If he fell then he knew he was done for. Swords hit him and clubs bounced off his armor. Hit points fell a little each time, his protective aura taking most of the damage. A gout of flame rained down, burning the trolls attacking the paladin. Blue bodies turned black before they too crumpled into greenish shards of light.
Thorrin glanced at the two remaining dragons as they breathed streams of flame this time, soaking the troll ranks in dragon fire. Spears launched before the fire decimated trolls. A dragon screeched as six spears sank into its belly and chest before exploding. The dragon’s body cracked with light before shattering and raining down on the fiery battlefield.
Thorrin turned back to the trolls on the ground and charged. Through the burning trees, he hunted for trolls. The area smoked with black plumes rising into the air. Parts of the forest burned, damaged trees falling. Soot covered Thorrin’s face as he pushed through. A troll appeared in the smoke and was quickly dispatched with a hammer swing. The player became unhinged as he relentlessly barreled through the smoky haze, hammer crashing into trolls left and right.
The smoke cleared and Thorrin scanned with sharp eyes. Some trolls were running away, the battle clearly lost. A few stayed, raising spears and ready to launch. Thorrin bent low, running at them at full tilt. With an uppercut, the hammer connected under a blue jaw and the troll went flying as his body shattered like glass. Another troll launched a spear. The spear turned glowed bright as the dragon streamed fire overhead. Thorrin growled as he brought his hammer hard across, shattering the troll but it was too late. The spear turned midflight and dart toward the last dragon. The green wyrm turned in the sky, trying to avoid magical spear. A moment later, the spear struck the wing and exploded.
Thorrin stared upward as the dragon’s wing separated. The main body spiraled out of control. For a brief instant, a dragon eye connected with Thorrin’s wide eyes. The paladin watched with dread in his heart as the dragon spiraled over and over till it was out of sight. Several seconds later there was an immense “BOOOM!” in the distance.
The paladin squared his jaw as he turned to several trolls advancing on him. Looking to the right of his vision, he could see he was at forty percent of his hit points, more than enough to take on these monsters. Holding his hammer at the ready and planting his boots, Thorrin readied for their charge.
The trolls stepped closer, new courage bleeding into their faces. With the dragons defeated, they only had a lone human to deal with. Weapons rising, they prepared to charge the paladin with all their remaining fury. A shadow darted behind them. Thorrin’s eyes went wide as a dagger seemed to fly out of nowhere, sinking into thick troll necks. They never had a chance to make a sound as their bodies collapsed into greenish light. The shadow continued to dart behind them, daggers appearing and stabbing deep into exposed blue flesh. In a span of moments, the last remaining fifteen trolls burst into shards of light before they were no more.
Thorrin stood perplexed. The shadow melted from behind a tree. A woman stepped out, black cloak around her shoulders and hood up. A pale face lit up as black lips curved into a wicked smile. Her body moved with caged confidence as she stepped over the fallen troll weapons and stood about six feet from the stunned paladin.
“You’re welcome,” the cloaked woman said with a sharp grin.
Six
Thorrin kept a tight grip on his hammer, uncertain if the woman before him was friend of foe. Eyes locked on her, he waited for any sign of trouble. The woman on the other hand raised her hands and took hold of the edge of her hood. Pulling it back, black hair spilled out and elf like ears poked upward through thick wavy locks. Oval eyes blinked as she continued to smile. Thorrin eyed her up and down. She wore skin tight black leather and a thick leather belt hung from her shoulder and over her slightly larger than average breasts, curving around her thin waist. The belt contained sheathed daggers running the l
ength of it.
“Seems I just made it to the end of the party,” the elf grinned.
Thorrin remained silent as he studied her. There was something oddly familiar about the dark-haired elf. It wasn’t so much the fantasy trappings but more of the bone structure of her face and how her eyes reminded him of someone close. Mind racing, a strange realization washed over him, begging a simple question. At first, he thought it was impossible but he simply could not let it go.
The elf looked him up and down, biting her lip for a moment at the six-foot one blonde with a large hammer in his hand. The slight cuts and bruises only seem to make him sexier in her eyes but he stared at her with an unnerving gaze. Relaxing her shoulders, she eyed him with come hither eyes. The paladin did not move as his eyes narrowed.
“Vanessa?” Thorrin asked.
The elf’s smile faded away as her eyes went wide. Stunned, she stared at the hunky paladin before her. Her smile returned and grew into a toothy grin. Soon she let out a long laugh; hand on her flat stomach and shoulders bouncing.
“Luis! I knew you would join the game sooner or later!”
Thorrin hooked his hammer to his belt but Vanessa pounced into the air. Hands curled around his neck while strong legs curled around his waist, the elf kissed the paladin on the cheek. Thorrin instantly felt uncomfortable. Taking hold of her, he lifted her up and planted her feet onto the ground. Vanessa let out an evil laugh and she looked to him with squinted eyes.
“I don’t go by Luis here. My name is Thorrin,” the paladin corrected her.
“Oh right, don’t want anyone in reality to know who we are,” Vanessa giggled. “My name is Vass, Vass Mistglow”
“How did you…I mean how could we….” The paladin stammered on.
“I have a mod that allows me to run into people I know. I put your name on the list. There is no way to pinpoint where someone on the list is but it helps guide them to where they are.”
Vass stepped forward and hugged the paladin again, “So good to see you’re enjoying your present!” The elf stepped back and looked him up and down. “I like the look. You really do idolize Thor but this works for you.”
Thorrin brushed her hands away from him, “This is getting weird. I never thought I would run into you.”
Vass crossed her arms, “Oh please, don’t be a stick in the mud. Do you know how many people run into each other and don’t know it? Lukken is big but not that big. I’ve been playing for two months and this game kicks ass.”
The elf brought her face close with a smile and teeth showing, “Good thing you said something. When I first saw you, I was ready to let you take me to pound town.”
“What the hell Vanes…….” Thorrin let it trail off.
The elf lifted her hand and inspected her nails, “Take it easy. Even if something happened, it’s not like we would actually be having sex with each other. The suits and love boxes do all the work.”
The paladin turned away, hands to the sides of his head, “I can’t believe I’m hearing this.”
Vass let her hand drop. “You just fought an army of trolls and you can’t believe your sister is in the same game as you, A SEX FANTASY GAME!” Vass laughed after shouting the last part.
Thorrin let his hands drop and turned back to the elf, “I came here to get away from reality. Not have you show up to bother me. You have done this all my life. Can’t I just enjoy the game without you being a pain in the ass.”
“Like I said, take it easy. There isn’t much to do in Florida but go to the beach and play games. You know how much I hate the sun.”
It was Thorrin’s turn to smirk, “You’re playing Lewd Saga in Abuela’s house?”
Vass returned the smirk, “I’m in my room and she is out most of the time hanging with her friends. Besides, the door is locked.”
“This is crazy. I still don’t understand why you flew off to Florida just because the police wanted to speak to you, kind of big move over nothing.”
Vass looked away, “I rather not talk about it.”
Thorrin eyed the elf, “You know I only want to help you. Running off only makes you look suspicious. I still have the detective’s number…”
Vass turned her back to the paladin, “I said I don’t want to talk about it!”
After a long pause, the elf uncrossed her arms and let them hang at her sides. With a slight turn of her head, her eyes looking down as she spoke, “This game is my only fun time I can have. Don’t ruin it for me while I’m stuck in this god forsaken swamp.”
A stab of guilt filled the player, “Sorry. I just thought it would help.”
Vass turned away again, “How about the time we’re here, we don’t talk about stupid reality. I just want to have fun and you should too. I promise I won’t make fun of you or your weird obsession with the god of thunder.”
Thorrin couldn’t hold back his smirk, “Okay. Just don’t fawn over me like you do. And don’t make this any weirder then it already is.”
“I promise to try and not make it weird,” the elf said with a sly smirk.
“Vass!” Thorrin growled.
The elf turned and lifted her cloak up, moving her hips side to side. “You like the look? Took me an hour to get it just right.”
It was Thorrin’s turn to cross his arms, “I see that you’re an elf. Did you become an elf thief?”
Vass let out a sarcastic huff, “The proper term is Rogue. Thieves are petty. I’m in it for the big gold jobs. Going to build that castle I always wanted.”
“You look great, now can you go off on your own so I can continue my quest?”
Vass let the cloak drop and hang from her slender shoulders, “What’s the matter; you don’t want your big sister to see her bro getting his groove on?”
Thorrin’s brow formed a sharp V, “You said you wouldn’t make this weird.”
Vass grinned, “Sorry Thorrin, son of God of Thunder!” The elf laughed again before trying to stifle it.
Thorrin gave the elf a hard gaze with rage boiling underneath.
The elf held her hands up, “Sorry couldn’t help myself. I will try harder, I promise.”
The player tried to hold onto his rage but instead a small smile bloomed once again. His sister was a nut case but she made him laugh all the time growing up. Shaking his head, he pushed the weirdness away. A thought stabbed deep as he remembered the three trolls that needed his help. Turning around, he was ready to run to them when they stepped from the smoke.
Talisa walked ahead of the two smaller trolls, an arrow sticking out of her shoulder. Her eyes were steady and lips closed. After a few steps, she fell to her knees. Thorrin rushed to her, falling to his knees before her. Hands reaching out, he took hold of the arrow but stopped himself from pulling it out.
“You’re not supposed to pull an arrow….” The paladin began.
“Pull it out,” the raven-haired troll said in a low tone.
Thorrin looked to her as he tightened his grip. Making sure he had a tight grasp, he pulled the arrow out. It came away, opening the troll’s shoulder wound further but she made no sound or even wince. The paladin pressed his hand to her open wound, turning wisdom points to healing points. The wound closed up under his glowing hand until it was sealed. The troll looked to the paladin and let out a small exhale.
“Thank you, Paladin,” Talisa whispered.
“You found my trolls!” said a voice from behind Thorrin.
“Your trolls?”
“That’s what I’m being paid for. I took a quest to escort three trolls to the town of Talon Guard. It’s on the north-east coast and a safe haven for trolls fleeing their masters. Since the war started, it’s only place that will accept them.”
Talisa stood up and looked down at the elf, “You’re our contact and guardian?”
Vass nodded, “My contact said there would be three lust slaves I had to escort.”
Talisa shook her head, “There are only two Lust Slaves, Melina and Pyke. I am their true guardian, Talisa.
”
“Doesn’t matter to me, I just have to get you safely to Talon Guard for my pay day. If the good paladin has finished healing you then we should be off.” Vass turned to Thorrin, “Want to join us? I’ll give you a percentage of the reward.”
The paladin stood up, eyes to the troll but thoughts flashing back to the dragon that fell from the sky. “I can’t. I have to go find that dragon and see if I can help them. I also have to help the town of Apple Shire against some undead that keep invading their town.”
“The dragon is strong enough to help themselves,” Talisa said with a hard edge.
“You sure you want to do that? There could be more trolls in the area,” Vass added. “Come with us and we can adventure together for a while.”
Thorrin shook his head, “No, I have to see if they’re okay. The trolls were using some kind of magical spears. They were strong enough to kill two of them. The last one could use some help and I wouldn’t feel right if I left them out there to die.”
“You really are taking to the paladin class. That’s fine but you said there is a town nearby. If you’re not long, we can wait there for you?”
“Avoid the town. There are humans there and I’m not sure how they will take to trolls showing up. They seemed pretty skittish even with the undead wandering in.”
Vass raised an eyebrow, “Well you go do your thing and we will do ours. Once you’re done, head to Talon Guard and we can meet up and hang.”
“I will try my best to meet you there,” Thorrin said with a weak smile.
Melina moved to the paladin and wrapped her arms around his waist, “Thank you for defending us!”
Thorrin gave the troll a gentle hug back, “It’s my duty and my pleasure.”
Talisa stared at the human as Melina pulled away. Pyke walked over and gave Thorrin a hearty bow before walking back with Melina to Talisa’s side. The raven-haired troll parted her lips slightly before closing them again. When Thorrin looked to her, she turned away, a sliver of heat touching her cheeks.
