by Jackson Bale
Walking---past---him,---I---move---down---the---stairs---where---I---find---Anathema---sitting---in---front---of---a---table---filled---with---meats---and---some---kind---of---liquid---in---crystal---cups.
Nodding---towards---her,---I---move---to---an---empty---stone---seat---and---sit---down,---grabbing---a---cup---and---drinking---the---weird---green---liquid.
Huh,---some---kind---of---fruit---juice.---It’s---actually---pretty---good.---I---wonder---where---they---get---it.
“I---must---say,”---Anathema---starts,---gazing---at---me---with---a---smile,---”I---was---actually---not---expecting---you---to---mate---with---my---daughter,---especially---on---the---first---cycle…---nor---was---I---expecting---you---to---make---her---scream---in---such---pleasure.---I---am---quite---jealous,---I---don’t---suppose---you---have---some---stamina---for---me?”---she---asks---with---a---sharp---toothy---smile---while---her---tail---flickers---erratically---behind---her.
In---my---long---life---experience,---this---is---probably---one---of---the---weirdest---situations---I---have---been---in.
Clearing---my---throat,---I---lift---an---eyebrow,---”As---much---as---I---would---love---to---awaken---your---entire---city---with---your---screams,---I---do---unfortunately---need---you---awake---and---cognizant---to---answer---my---questions.”
Pouting,---or---what---at---least---seems---like---a---pout,---she---grabs---one---of---the---glasses---and---gulps---down---the---greenish---fruit---juice.---”Well,---unfortunate,---but---I’m---sure---I'll---get---my---turn.”
She---then---looks---at---me,---”Now---Thoric,---before---your---questions,---I’d---like---to---ask---you---if---you---know---anything---about---Aura.”
I---stop---mid-bite---as---I---was---biting---into---a---slice---of---weird---pink---meat---she---had---placed---in---front---of---me.
Chewing---slowly,---I---then---take---the---meat---out---of---my---mouth.
Its---raw---meat…---should---have---expected---this---considering---they---seem---to---not---have---any---heat---source---to---cook---it…---and---sharp---teeth.
“I---have---no---idea---what---aura---is,---but---it---sounds---like---something---pertaining---to---a---person.”
She---nods,---frowning---at---the---partially---chewed---piece---of---meat---on---the---table.
“I---need---my---meat---cooked,”---I---say.
Her---eyes---widen---in---understanding,---”I---see,---you---are---similar---to---the---kitsune.”
Kitsune---are---fox---people,---right?---Interesting---terminology---to---use…
“You---are---correct---about---aura---pertaining---to---a---person,”---she---says,---her---thoughts---going---elsewhere.
“This---is---actually---rather---difficult---to---explain---considering---my---aura---is---nowhere---near---enough---to---affect---you.”
Affect---me…---could---it---be!
“Give---me---an---example,---I---think---I’m---starting---to---understand---what---you’re---saying.”
Her---tongue---flicks---out,---”Hmmm,---when---I---speak,---I---can---imbue---my---words---with---my---aura,---making---people---obey---me---without---a---second---thought.”
My---eyes---widen,---”That's---how---you---got---all---those---people---to---leave---without---complaints!”---I---say,---realizing---what---she---had---done.
She---nods,---smiling---now---towards---me,---”---Correct,---many---of---them---would---have---been---against---my---decision---to---be---left---guardless---around---you.”
Alright,---that---makes---a---lot---of---sense---now.
“Soooo,---how---would---one---like---myself---be---able---to---utilize---this---aura---as---you---do.”
She---chuckles---softly,---”Unfortunately,---I---had---learned---to---utilize---my---aura---through---training---from---the---kitsune,---training---which---I,---unfortunately,---cannot---teach---you.”
I---frown---at---her---words,---”Is---it---because---the---kitsune---do---not---want---you---to---or---is---it---because---you---can't---for---some---reason.”
She---flicks---her---tail,---”Both---actually.---The---Kitsune---wouldn't---want---me---spouting---out---their---secrets,---but---I---would---make---an---exception---for---you---if---I---could.---Unfortunately,---aura---training---requires---someone---of---a---more---powerful---aura---to---train---someone---with---a---weaker---one.”
Interesting.
“So---my---aura---is---stronger---than---yours.”
She---nods---slowly,---”I---wouldn't---use---the---word---stronger.---A---better---term---would---be---thicker.”---she---says,---thinking.
“My---aura---would---be---described---as---a---gas,---while---yours---would---be---described---as---thick---mud.---I---have---little---to---no---chance---of---even---affecting---you.”
Nice,---my---aura---is---thick.
“Let---me---guess,---age---determines---aura---strength…---or---err,---thickness?”
She---pauses---and---then---nods,---”Age---and---class.---Many---classes---utilize---aura---and---grow---in---strength---with---levels.---I---have---had---a---class---called---[City---Leader]---before---I---outleveled---it---with---my---[Geomancer]---class.---Eventually,---the---class---was---removed---but---I---still---kept---all---of---my---skills---relating---to---it.”
“Regardless,---your---aura---will---cause---many---problems---if---it’s---not---suppressed,---which---is---actually---relatively---easy---to---do.---And---yes,---you---are---going---to---want---to---suppress---it---unless---you---plan---on---sleeping---with---every---female---which---takes---a---liking---to---you,”---she---says---with---a---seductive---smile.
So---what,---I've---been---giving---subconscious---sexual---vibes---to---people---every---time---I---get---horny?---Fuck---you---Loki…---It's---probably---not---his---fault…---still,---Fuck---you---Loki.
“So---what---do---I---have---to---do?”---I---ask
She---moves---and---grabs---a---piece---of---meat,---her---teeth---ripping---it---apart---with---ease.---She---chews---and---swallows---slowly,---her---thoughts,---”aura---surrounds---people---similar---to---a---physical---entity.---The---aura---will---meld,---form,---change---based---upon---your---emotions,---affecting---people---of---a---significantly---weaker---aura.---What---you---must---do---is---visualize---your---aura---to---stand---still,---to---restrict---it---to---your---body.”
Easy---enough
Immediately---I---enter---a---meditative---stance,---my---heart---slows---as---I---feel---myself,---visualizing---a---dense---liquid---to---relax---and---stay---still,---unmoving---to---the---force---of---my---will---and---emotions.
“Amazing,”---she---says,---her---eyes---widening,---”it---took---me---several---months---to---suppress---my---aura…”---she---continues---to---stare---at---me---in---utter---amazement.
“I…---you---truly---are---amazing.”
Not---amazing,---just---experienced…---very---experienced…---and---amazing.
“Well---then,---I---can't---tell---if---it's---working,---but---I’ll---take---your---word---for---it.”
I---grab---my---glass---and---chug---it---down,---her---gaze---still---planted---on---me,---”So,---question,---what---is---this---dungeon,---why---are---you---trapped---here---and---what---plan---do---you---have---for---me?”---I---ask.
She---blinks,---her---mind---returning---back---to---the---present,---”Right…---well,---we---can't---leave---this---dungeon---precisely---because---of---the---fog,---thus,---the---only---thing---we---can---do---is---to---go---deeper---into---the---dungeon,”---her---tail---swishes,---her---mind---thinking---about---something---else.
“We---know---that---there's---a---way---to---escape---the---dungeon---on---the---tenth---floor,---but---traveling---to---that---area---is---impossible---for---us…---which---is---where---you---come---in.”
So---they---are---trapped---and---want---freedom---but---lack---the---strength---to---obtain---it.
“So---you---need---me---to---free---your---people.---What's---in---it---for---me?”
&nbs
p; I---don't---work---for---free.---I'm---too---old---for---that---shit.
Her---gaze---hardens,---not---of---someone---caught---unaware,---but---of---someone---who---knows---what---they---want---and---the---price,---it---will---cost.
“Loyalty---and---servitude.---I---will---pledge---my---people---to---your---cause.---I---doubt---you---can---rule---the---world---alone,---you---will---need---an---army.”---she---says---without---a---stutter.
That…---is---actually---a---pretty---good---deal.
“Simple---enough,---but---what’s---your---plan?”---I---ask,---reading---her---underlying---confidence.
Her---tail---swishes---quickly,---”That---will---take---a---while---to---explain.---First,---you---must---know---that---we---have---three---other---intelligent---beings---living---within---this---dungeon.---We,---the---Gajeda,---live---on---the---first---floor.---The---second---floor---is---home---to---the---minotaurs.---The---third---floor---is---home---to---the---centaurs,”---and---then---she---pauses,---”and---the---fourth---level---is---home---to---the---kitsune.”
Mythology---meets---reality,---dungeon---style.
“Is---your---kind---known---by---some---other---names.”
She---immediately---shakes---her---head,---and---then---stops,---”Actually,---the---kitsune---once---told---me---that---my---kind---used---to---be---called---'Draconian’.”
Failing---to---suppress---a---smile,---I---gaze---at---her---lizard-like---features,---features---which---seem---to---be---more---present---on---males---than---females.
I---wonder---if---they---have---some---relation---to---dragons.
“I---see,---so---what---floor---is---giving---you---trouble?”---I---ask,---already---figuring---out---the---play---of---the---game.
Unfortunately,---my---question---quickly---causes---a---frown---to---descend---on---her---face.---”Recently---we’ve---been---able---to---pass---the---fifth---floor---and---enter---the---sixth.---On---the---sixth---floor,---a---floor---covered---in---mostly---sand,---we---were---able---to---create---a---staging---point.---A---place---of---safety---to---build---another---city---of---our---kind.”
She---pauses,---her---tail---swishing---back---and---forth,---”But---we---lost---contact---with---them---completely.”
And---here---is---the---underlying---problem.
“And---you---don't---know---the---reason.”
She---nods---towards---my---statement.
“So---you---want---me,---to---go---to---the---sixth---floor,---find---out---what---took---out---an---entire---cities---worth---of---people---or---what---is---keeping---them---from---traveling---back---here,---solve---the---problem,---and---continue---on---towards---the---tenth---floor.”
“Correct,”---she---says---without---hesitation,---her---tail---swishing---quickly.
I---lift---an---eyebrow,---”Am---I---to---understand---I---will---be---given---a---guide?”
“You---will---be---given---half---my---population---and---a---guide.”
Holy---crap!---Half?---I---mean---sure,---I---can---already---see---their---population---already---pretty---low,---especially---considering---it’s---mostly---children,---but---still,---they’re---quite---desperate.
“How---much---is---half…”---I---ask,---trying---to---think---up---a---proper---number.
Considering---the---density---of---the---population---going---in,---the---size---of---the---city,---I’d---guess---their---current---population---is---about---2000…---so---about---a---thousand---people.
“I…,”---she---hesitates,---thinking,---”I---can---send---about---seven---hundred,---most---of---them---are---people---who---can---fight…---I---do---not---wish---to---send---children.”
Seven---hundred,---most---can---fight,---and---they're---probably---underleveled…---She’s---very---desperate---indeed.
“I’m---going---to---pick---and---choose---people---to---go---with---me.---I---doubt---you---have---any---experience---leading---armies,---but---you---should---know,---the---strength---of---an---army---is---based---upon---the---people---who---reside---in---it,---not---the---number---of---fighters.---A---large---untrained,---unorganized---group---will---just---cause---needless---deaths---and---wasted---resources.”
Her---gaze---looks---to---me,---attempting---to---read---my---aura,---but---when---she---fails---a---frown---forms---on---her---scaly---face.
She---looks---down,---”Have---you---led---armies---before?”---she---asks,---knowing---the---answer.
“Several.---Some---of---the---armies---have---even---numbered---in---the---millions.”
Taking---a---deep---breath,---her---posture---improves,---”How---would---you---like---me---to---organize---my---people---for---your---choosing---process?”---she---asks.
“I’ll---tell---you---in---a...---cycle,---first---I---must---check---the---surroundings...---analyze---your---people,”---I---turn---towards---the---stairs,---looking---at---Janie---as---she---calmly---gazes---at---me,---”and---get---some---much-needed---information---from---her.”
I---wave---for---her---to---come---closer,---pointing---a---chair---next---to---mine.
Janie,---abnormally---relaxed,---walks---forward,---her---mind---seemingly---elsewhere---as---she---calmly---ignores---the---lizard---woman---in---the---room.
She---sits---down,---the---spider---on---her---head---jumps---down,---landing---on---the---table---and---bites---into---some---pink---meat.---Janie---merely---looks---at---the---table,---looks---at---me---and---the---empty---drink---in---my---hand.---She---then---reaches---forward,---takes---a---cup---and---slowly---starts---to---sip.
Well,---that---was---anticlimactic.
I---turn---to---Anathema,---”Soooo,---this---is---Janie…---who---is---acting---very---oddly…---more---so---than---she---usually---does.”
Anathema---looks---at---the---girl,---gazing---at---Janie---as---she---just---sits---there,---eyes---blank,---”She’s---fine.---Her---aura---is---in---a---state---of---shock,---having---been---suppressed---for---so---long---due---to---the---fog.---It---will---fix---itself---within---a---half---cycle,---probably---less.”
Well,---that's---good.---I---was---kinda---hoping---for---an---over---the---top---reaction---from---her,---especially---considering---how---against---she---was---towards---me---entering---the---fog.
I---stand---up,---cracking---my---neck,---”I---do---have---more---questions---for---you,---but---I---think---it---would---be---best---to---wait---a---bit---longer.”
I---look---at---Janie,---her---gaze---devoid---of---thought,---”Janie,---how---far---can---I---get---from---you---without---the---collar---killing---you?”
Her---head---moves---away---from---Petyr,---turning---towards---me.---She---pauses,---gazing---for---a---moment,---”Half---a---mile,”---she---answers---calmly.
That---is---so---weird…---it's---like---talking---to---a---puppet.
Anathema---just---stays---quiet,---gazing---at---us,---watching---our---interactions,---specifically---focused---on---the---spider.
“Good---enough.---I’m---going---to---head---towards---the---dungeon---stone.---I’m---curious---what---I’ll---find.”---I---say,---turning---towards---the---exit.
“You---should---really---get---an---escort,”---Anathema---interrupts---as---I---am---walking---out.
Without---turning---my---back,---I---wave---my---hand---in---the---air,---”Please---keep---Petyr---and---Janie---safe,---I’ll---be---back---in---a---bit.”---I---say,---exiting---the---home.
_____
Anathema’s---home---is---built---above,---towards---the---dungeon---wall,---overlooking---the---entire---city.---From---it,---I---am---able---to---see---the---entire---city.---At---the---center---of---the---city---is---a---glowing---stalagmite---coming---from---the---top---of---the---cave---down---to---the---center---of---the---city.---Around---the---stalagmite---are---crystalline---mirrors---surrounding---it,---redirecting---light---into---dwellings---and---streets---around---it.
Without---further---ado,---I---quickly---find---the---stairs,---walking---down---and---heading---towards---the---Dun
geon---Stone.
Moments---pass---and---I---find---myself---leveled---with---the---city,---only---passing---a---couple---of---people---who---just---look---at---me---with---curiosity---and---a---bit---of---fear.
None---approach---me,---not---even---the---children---who---keep---their---distance---but---follow---me---as---I---pass---by---streets.---Even---a---few---[Guards]---which---I---have---walked---past---had---only---given---me---a---furtive---glance.
This---city,---though---decently---big,---should---be---able---to---house---quite---a---few---people…---unfortunately,---it---seems---so---empty.---I---can---only---wonder---the---number---of---people---they---had---sent---to---the---sixth---floor.
