by Porter, Jack
The lady monk nodded, but that was all. Hours had passed since our conversation this morning, and I was growing worried about her absent presence.
When it grew too dark to keep moving, we set up camp and Yua finally broke her silence. Her voice was a blank sheet, and I couldn’t really get a read on her emotions.
“It’s time for your training in the spirit world.”
“Works for me,” I said. Then I had a thought. “I’ll try to enter the spirit realm myself, if that’s alright with you.”
Yua nodded. “Well, you’ve done it before. Sure,” she said, nodding. “Tonight, I’ll try to explain how to measure how much time has passed in the physical world. I’ll be waiting for you.” She tilted her head to an angle, as if considering something. “I think we should find somewhere free of the Vulox for this lesson. Somewhere far away from where we are. Which means we’ll need to use the red pathway. Hold on for a moment, and I’ll see if there’s one nearby.”
She closed her eyes and immediately her expression fell vacant.
Damn, she’s quick.
Before I could really react, she was back. “There isn’t a red pathway close. But there’s a yellow one.” She grinned. “Think of it as a test. I’ll wait for you at the beach near where you first came to the island.”
With that, she closed her eyes again, and I knew that her astral self was already gone.
Turning to Megan, I said excitedly, “If she’s followed the yellow pathway, she won’t be able to see us. Feel up for a little—”
But damn me if that woman wasn’t already naked and dashing over to throw her lithe swimmer’s body on top of my massive guardian form.
“Thought you’d never ask,” she purred. “I’ve been waiting for a moment alone with you for what feels like ages now.”
“Me too,” I said, climbing quickly out of my own clothes.
After that, we made the most of our alone time without need for words. Megan sent a trail of kisses down my neck, hands searching out every inch of my broad chest and shoulders. Her red hair burned even brighter in the firelight as she tossed it back out of her eyes, exposing her breasts and trim stomach to me.
“So fucking beautiful,” I groaned, brushing the pads of my fingers around her nipples. I let her softness send curls of desire all the way down my groin and grew hard for her in an instant.
“Come a little closer and say that,” she teased.
Being so much larger than Megan, there weren’t so many positions we could achieve, but during our few months at home we’d explored what worked for us.
Usually that involved me tonguing her until she tossed her head back and screamed. Or her riding one of my fingers like it was my cock. And sometimes, she’d rub her entire upper half all over my cock until I found my release all over her—which was as arousing as it was unorthodox.
She did this now, using her tongue to lick the more sensitive parts of my cockhead and sliding her hot frame up and down my manhood. Pale pointed breasts bobbed up and down against my shaft as she rubbed her pussy against my middle finger, moaning and gasping.
“So. Fucking. Beautiful,” I repeated, and Megan shuddered in pleasure.
We both found our release far sooner than we would have liked, but it was so desperately needed. Plus, Yua would soon wonder where I was. That didn’t stop me from taking my time to kiss my future goddess thoroughly before pulling away.
“Love you, Dex. Don’t be such a stranger,” she pouted, giving me a gentle pat on the cheek.
“Never again, love,” I answered. “I’ve missed you. Thanks for being tolerant of my, er, moods. Yua has a crystal. It’s been driving me crazy with the urge to make her a goddess.”
Megan’s eyes widened a fraction, eyebrows raising as she glanced over to Yua. Then she nodded, seeming to accept my explanation as truth.
“I understand. I’d noticed that you hadn’t been yourself lately, and I figured it was something guardian related.” She rose on her tiptoes to kiss me on the tip of my nose. “Speaking of which, Yua’s sure to do some serious harm if you keep her waiting. Don’t worry about the campsite cleanup, I have a method to my madness and you guys will only mess it up.”
I smirked. “I’ll leave it to you then, but I’ll make breakfast tomorrow so you can take a break.”
“Sounds like a plan. Hopefully, we find a river or something tomorrow. I need a good dip in cold water after what you just put me through,” she sighed, giving her breasts one last squeeze and biting her lower lip as if re-experiencing it in her mind.
I gave her a wink as an answer and settled down into a mirror position of Yua. After a quick check to make sure I was presentable, I closed my eyes, shut off my mind and dove into the spirit realm.
Finding the yellow path wasn’t difficult, and this time, I managed to control my journey comparatively easily.
I popped out at the beach without any issues.
Sixteen
Yua’s astral self had her head in her hands, fully hiding her expression from me.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, wondering if I’d taken too long in the physical world and she’d fallen asleep. Could an astral body sleep in the spirit realm?
I’d have to ask.
“Lesson number two,” Yua said, her voice wavering with misery and something else I couldn’t identify. “The way to tell how much time has passed in the physical world is to stay in tune with your physical body no matter how far you travel in your astral form.”
“Okay?” I drew out the word, confused. “You mean like feeling the change in temperature or light on your skin?”
Yua didn’t lift her head, and her voice became even more muffled. “Actually, depending on the season, warmth might not be a reliable enough sense, so I use hearing. The sound of birdsong is the best way to know how long you have before sunrise, as most birds wake up an hour before dawn.”
Her words came a little faster as she explained. “It’s also useful because you can detect unfamiliar footsteps or talking and know if your physical body is in danger.”
The reason for her strange actions fell into place. “And do you use this skill often while you’re in the spirit realm?” I asked, grimacing.
“Constantly,” she replied. “Once learned, it becomes second nature. You can’t really ignore it.”
The fact she still hadn’t shown me her face answered my next question. But I put it to words anyway.
“So, how much from the physical world did you hear just now?” There was no need to specify that I meant.
“All of it.”
Yua finally removed her hands from her face. Was it just wishful thinking, or did she have a look of undisguised lust hiding behind those eyes?
“Megan isn’t exactly a quiet lover, is she?” Yua asked.
Grinning to stave off my embarrassment, I replied, “Not at all. I’m sorry if we bothered you.”
“I wasn’t bothered. That’s not the right word. And it’s only natural you spend intimate time with your future goddess.” She paused for a moment, her astral cheeks blushing red. “But I think you and I could make some sort of arrangement that will allow for you and Megan to share time together in the physical world.”
I considered her closely. “That honestly would be welcome.” I hesitated for a moment, unsure how she would react to this next bit. “Based on what I saw the first time we entered the spirit realm together, I understand you might need personal time as well. Maybe you don’t have to leave? Megan is very welcoming, and she likes you. If you wanted, we could all have fun together.”
I knew I might be pushing it, but figured there was nothing to lose. “You don’t have to become a goddess. And if there are things your vows won’t let you do, I can respect that, and Megan will too.”
Yua visibly swallowed a few times, seeming to have lost her ability to speak. “Noted. I—I’ll think about it.”
That was good enough for me, and poor Yua was at her limit. There would be plenty of time later for more talk,
if she wanted. But the spirit realm should be a place for work, not play. I veered to a safer subject.
“Maybe you can teach me to listen to my physical body now?”
“I planned on it,” she replied. “Soon, you won’t even need my guidance anymore.”
I laughed and said, “I doubt that. I’ll always need your wisdom, Yua.”
She first took me on another journey along the red pathway, the both of us traveling through the stars as we’d done before.
I didn’t know if she picked the direction at random, or if she had a destination in mind. All I knew was that we came out into an area that felt like it was a long, long way away from anything, with few stars and none of the Vulox anywhere nearby.
Yua seemed happy with the location. She gave me a few quick instructions, and I did my best. But after my tenth try to connect to my physical body, I had to utter a sigh. “I don’t think it’s working, Yua.”
She smiled. “You’ll get it. You seem to have a knack for instinctively figuring out the possibilities in the spirit realm. It’s probably related to your tendency to go off and do your own thing. You just need to understand that staying in touch with your physical body is all about remembering that it and your astral form are one and the same. There’s so much to distract you in the spirit realm, so try blocking it all out for now. Close your eyes for a bit, and see if that helps.”
I did as she asked, blocking out every other sensation but what my physical body had been experiencing as I lay down in the grass. If I could sweat in this form, my forehead would have been drenched with how hard I focused.
And at one point, I could have sworn I heard a crackling fire and Megan’s soft snores.
Opening my eyes, I glanced at the lady monk. “I think I have it.”
“What did I tell you? And over such a distance as well. You’re a natural. Good job,” Yua said warmly. “Keep practicing. It’ll become easier as you do.”
I did as the lady monk said, and her words proved prophetic. Soon, I could hear everything that was going on around my body. And not just hear. I could smell the scent of my immediate surroundings as well, and could even feel the slight breeze on my face.
But as I practiced, I also sensed Yua becoming distracted.
I brought my awareness back to the spirit realm. “Yua?” I asked. “What’s wrong?”
The monk didn’t answer immediately. She was looking away, and at first, I couldn’t see why.
Then, out of the abyss of space, came a bioluminescent being that was twice as big as any cluster of Vulox I’d seen in my previous journeys. It had tendrils that hung underneath a huge, flat-topped body.
If I had to describe it, umbrella jellyfish would be the closest it would come—assuming that jellyfish was mutated to be the ugliest creature in existence. And had a gaping hole seemed to serve the purpose of a mouth.
Why did everything in the spirit realm remind me of the ocean? Was it because, like life on earth, this was just the shape that suited nature—even if it was thousands of light years away?
The creature wasn’t particularly fast, but it was coming steadily toward me. Instinct urged me to tap my awareness against the thread of power at my chest. I did, and bolts of blue energy like fire radiated through my entire body. It appeared that my magic was eager for this fight.
As if sensing this as well, the creature picked up its pace. In my mind, I found I could hear a gnarled voice. Broken sentences, like a toddler’s way of speaking, but ominous for all that.
“Thornarm’s space. Thornarm kill false god.”
I was astonished. But if a giant guardian tarantula could speak, why not these creatures? And besides, it wasn’t as if it was talking with words, not really. Thought and willpower controlled everything in the spirit realm.
Yua was already retreating. “Dexter! Back in the pathway!” she yelled.
I’d never seen Yua look so terrified. I’d seen her in the face of adversity before, and usually she remained calm, collected, and matter of fact. Now, though, her entire body suggested panic to the point of total breakdown.
This creature obviously alarmed her beyond anything we’d faced before.
Making a decision, I turned back toward the jellyfish creature and called loud enough so the lady monk would hear me, “Go on back to our bodies and wait for me, Yua. I’ll catch up before the sun rises.”
Her reaction was predictable and immediate.
“Are you crazy?” she shouted from somewhere behind me. I could tell she had stopped now too, despite her fear. “You are not ready to fight Zavier’s own guardian!”
The knowledge that Thornarm belonged to Zavier didn’t surprise me in the least. Maybe because I’d already known, in a way? Thornarm felt like the dark god, if I could detect such a quality.
Spinning on my heel, I used the warped ability of the spirit realm to place myself in front of her in seconds flat. “You will do what I say,” I told her. “I am the White Guardian. Let me do my job!”
Then I pushed her into the current, trying not to wince at the stunned and slightly hurt look on her face as I did so. I would apologize later.
If there was a later for me.
After making sure the lady monk had truly gone, I refocused my attention on the jellyfish creature.
“Alright, Thornarm. Here I am. Come and get me,” I spat.
Seventeen
“Thornarm kills idiot false gods. Protect the healing Master.”
The guardian’s voice in my mind was such a spot-on impression of Andy Serkis’ Gollum that a rogue, involuntary laugh bubbled up from my stomach.
However, the spine-tingling knowledge that this creature knew Zavier’s whereabouts didn’t escape me. So that was plan A. Get what information I could about where Zavier was recovering from our battle in the spirit realm a few months ago.
If I can stop him from waking up permanently, that will solve all my problems.
Shortly thereafter, that plan got cut down to size by Thornarm’s long bioluminescent tendrils swarming me from head to toe, leaving my arms sticking out from between coils. Inky black gas seeped from its flat-topped head and ran along the tendrils toward me.
Soon the poison hit my astral form, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say it was cutting off my ability to breathe.
It wasn’t real, right? I didn’t need to breathe. Not here. Yet, there I was, struggling to do just that.
Anxiety roiling in my stomach, I searched for tangible sounds through my physical body, wanting to make sure it was okay. But the noises of the real world cut in and out like static.
Was Thornarm doing that? Cutting my spirit from my physical body?
Fuck, that’s not good, I thought. Plan B.
Yua hadn’t shown me how to use my sword in this realm. But maybe she didn’t need to. I had conjured it here all by myself, as if it was part of my astral self.
And I didn’t even need to draw it. Just by thinking about it, I held it in my hands.
I reached for my magic, and my sword began to blaze like a flaming torch. Through the increasing pain, I noted my sword’s light cast out far enough that I could see a few Vulox hovering on the outskirts of the battle.
Maybe hoping to pick clean the energy of the loser?
I didn’t want to be the one to find out.
Slicing the sword in a wide arc, I directed a burst of blue-white energy through it, breaking the alien monster’s hold. It let out a sharp yelp, but otherwise didn’t seem to be fazed. I had to wonder if I’d done any actual damage at all.
“False gods will die here!” Thornarm screeched, gathering his remaining in-tact appendages and preparing for another attack.
Not bothering to answer, I shook off the severed limbs that still clung to my astral body, but I didn’t pause in my pursuit. Plan B was more a kill first, ask questions later sort of measure. One that had helped lead to my survival—and that of the girls—many times in the past on this dangerous island.
I dashed out as fast a
s my astral form would allow, aiming the pointed end of my sword toward whatever soft spot on Thornarm I could find first.
But this was Thornarm’s domain, and my vision was limited to what my crystal could show me.
He darted back just before my blade hit and blurred out of sight. More tendrils struck my back like the lash of a whip. I cried out, anger burning away my sense of self until I wanted nothing more than to smash my adversary into oblivion.
Doing an alligator death roll maneuver to get out of Thornarm’s grip once more, I found that the creature had also wrapped a few tendrils around my legs and feet.
How many of those things did Zavier’s guardian have?
Realizing just how bad the situation I’d gotten myself into was, I sought to distract the creature. “You keep saying false god. I just wanted to let you know, there’s nothing false about me. I’m a Guardian. And you’re just an overgrown jellyfish, out of your element.”
A wet wheezing sound came from the flat, jellied body-hole on top of the creature. It took me a moment to realize it was chuckling.
Creepy.
But beggars couldn’t be choosers, so I rolled with it. “Mind filling me in on what’s so funny?”
“Idiot false god thinks he’s a protector. Thornarm kill!”
“I am a protector. I’m a guardian,” I replied as the monster’s tendrils swarmed up my body, pinning my arms to my sides and making my sword arm immobile. “No idiot false god here. No need for Thornarm to kill.” I was trying anything I could think of to give myself an advantage, and didn’t much care what I said, as long as it worked.
“Idiot false god use god’s magic.”
“That doesn’t make me a god. Seriously, Guardian is the title. I’ve been called White Guardian so many times that—”
