Laugh of Destruction (Book 3 of the Death Incarnate Saga)

by Jr H. Lee Morgan

  Sailing was slow thanks to the drag caused by the barge and by the early afternoon they reached the island, entered and docked for a few hours to unload supplies and bring it to shore where all of those who stayed were waiting and warmly welcomed their brothers and sisters.

  Afterwards they sailed inside the reef barrier to bring the barge of animals to the new western island that was still over half barren. Still, there was plenty of grass for all the animals for several days.

  By the time they called it a night, Daku flew home and waiting for their arrival was Megdline and Frill who immediately demanded every account for the week, especially for the second and third day back. It took almost all night to make the two satisfied and they had said they got word through Leon and Colby about the attack, but not how issues in Miot were sorted. Apparently they were busy longer than expected and just returned that day while Cage and the others were herding the animals to the secondary island.

  A whole week passed and Cage felt he would die of exhaustion. He had to reduce a training day for the children so he would be able to keep up since he had to transport patches of grass from the main island to the secondary and get the plants flourishing while also making a pine tree manipulate into a huge shelter so the animals could go to keep warm and stay out of the snow. Much of the tribe helped create hay so the animals wouldn’t starve since there wasn’t much time left.

  The next week was dedicated to growing homes since the temperature began to drop at night. He finished two more pine homes before deciding to make one large, almost like a hotel, tree since he didn’t have time to make every family a house in time. He didn’t hear one complaint.

  While he worked, none were lazy as food was gathered as fast as possible while the leather was being fashioned to clothes. But the new resident blacksmith and his new mate had up and disappeared, but everyone knew they were safe and unable to resist each other. They just wondered when he would return.

  First snowfall arrived during the halfway creation of the tree almost as large as his house. It was only two stories, but had thirty rooms in all. It was a tightening deadline that had to be done and was.

  Well fed and sheltered, the elders three weeks ago told Cage to relax now that the people are safe. He mentally had sighed in relief and could do what he wanted.

  He gladly took the needed break and used the spare time to dedicate to his teacher who surprised him a month ago by saying she no longer felt he needed a magic teacher and could take care of himself, especially since he had an aid to get him what he needed. Cage didn’t know what to say at the time so she took his silence as an agreement and said that that all was left was a graduation gift he’d personally have to make and donate to Twilight so future generations could see what their predecessors had made or did. All graduating mages had to give something to show they existed and the requirements were to use the three fundamentals of Creation, Manipulation and Alchemy.

  Like he once did with wax, Cage grew three trees by speeding creation and altered the form into three humanlike shapes within the privacy of his study. He then manipulated and compressed the wood while discarding the limbs all while sitting in a chair and not doing any physical touches though he so wanted, but with his teacher’s observations and orders to only use magic, he resisted the urge. The first tree soon shed its rough bark and revealed an almost lifelike wooden copy of himself, standing proud and wearing not a shred of clothes. He wanted to be remembered for who he really is and nothing in the sculpture was exaggerated. His image stood proud with its hands touching air at the moment, but would later be placed at the small of both Meeka’s and Brooke’s back later. It took a full day to get every detail of himself transposed to the figure.

  The next day he sculpted Brooke’s naked perfection as she stood with her tomahawks clutched in either hand. He knew both of his women’s bodies like the back of his own hand and accurately applied the proper shape of her body, the swell of her breasts, the placement of areolas and nipples, every muscle under soft skin, the wooden hair brushed against her slender shoulders and he even transposed her aesthetically pleasing vagina in such a classy way that it emphasized the natural artistry she already had and gladly strutted. Her firm backside fully displayed her wildly prominent mark applied to her lower back and the striking lines gripped her buttock. Her sculpture emphasized raw sexual femininity with an unbreakable warrior’s spirit.

  Meeka’s sculpture was just as profound as she gripped the handle of her knife. Her large breasts and round hips drew the eye, but none more so that her facial beauty. Her stance wasn’t as commanding as Brookes, but she too was a beautifully sexual piece of art, but her warrior side was pushed aside for she was made to be a deeply compassionate woman. Long hair tumbled down her back and the front emphasized the curve of her neck. At the corner of her mouth was the graceful beauty mark.

  Cage smiled as he took another sip of coffee as he remembered his teacher’s profound expression when she saw how he placed Meeka and Brook to either side of his sculpture with him centered. She was unable to form words at the time and her grey eyes roamed the amazing quality put into the set piece. Megdline was unable to stop herself from gliding her fingers all over the sculptures. No words were needed and it touched her so deeply that she actually cried.

  Then for the next few days he spent his time altering the actual makeup of all three pieces by forcing the wood and transforming into pure marble. No veins ran through the pure white bodies by the time he’d finished. So long as they were taken care of, the pieces might last forever. When they were finished it looked like the stone was actually alive and were proudly looking at you. The only mild dark dots were intentional to make the bodies feel truly alive as they all had freckles

  But when the models finally were allowed into the room to see what he had been doing and hiding, they were just as speechless as they fawned over the wonder. They stared at the pieces for hours, making sure every detail of themselves were placed and found nothing wrong. Even tactile caresses over the highly polished bodies felt lifelike if not for the cool sensation of real stone. Once Brooke made the room laugh as she groped her left breast and the left one of her sculpture to find them identical and asked Cage how he transposed them so well and he explained that his muses were too amazing not to be burned into his mind so well he could create images of them anytime.

  That night he was showed how well they approved by joining all night long.

  By the next morning they spent a few more hours together in admiring the amazing work when Megdline stated that Cage had passed and was no longer an incompetent dimwit of a student, but a mage in full and a dear friend. She then personally Jumped the statues to Twilight’s graduation gallery.

  Then she dropped another surprise that she and Frill were planning on leaving to journey again. Cage and his family didn’t want her to go, but knew it would have happened sooner or later. And before they did leave Cage asked how to go about doing certain specific magics, but then reminded he already had an aid who would get whatever he needed.

  Cage chuckled silently as his mind kept going over recent events while enjoying the fresh wintery air.

  Leon and Colby pulled through again three weeks ago and got permission to Jump a rather detailed tome from Twilight’s archives, one that wasn’t too sensitive. He still needed to sign an agreement to use any and all books with discretion and upmost care or face the penalty and reimburse for any and all damages. The wizard aid made sure Cage first signed the document before shipping the book directly to the island to be caught by the pillars. It was surprising that the book’s title was only printed on the spine and also in it was a tiny crystal created to preserve the pages and at first glance showed them to be new, but when he ran a piece of cloth across a page, no ink was transferred, proving the tome was actually quite old.

  It took a week to read through the book and it actually refreshed what he knew about the areas in question. It had been awhile since studying anatomy, but the book went further than bas
ic facts as it also held spell structures to complete a personal desire. He studied the book’s spells till he wouldn’t trip over the words and knew exactly what was meant and where the pieces were located.

  After the last drop of coffee dripped down his throat Cage sat the mug down and felt his new ears once again. He was tired of Daku both seeing and hearing things long before his natural human senses could detect the same things. The book was invaluable to enhance his sense of sight and hearing to newfound levels he greatly enjoyed. Smell unfortunately wasn’t meant for human enhancement and always seemed to overwhelm the human brain, but the two most major sense enhancements were common among mages and now Cage enjoyed such perks too. He could now see farther than he ever had before with his eyes growing an overall tenth of an inch in diameter and the tips of his ears were now pointed instead of the original curve. The tapered ears now stood a half inch taller at the point after rearranging the cartilage, but that was the only exterior transformation that could be seen. The ears were altered for a reason because it would be able to catch sounds more effectively and funnel it down the ear canal. Inside, Cage’s ear drums were three times as thick as they were originally and more sensitive. The inner parts were also modified so it would be easier to attune to different sounds by focusing. His hearing was not only more sensitive to the lower and higher sound frequencies, but should any sound be too loud, his ear drums would greatly dampen vibrations so as to not cause damage or hearing loss by effectively hardening the now thicker membrane. When he finished the spells it felt like he was in another new world. He could hear a hushed conversation from well over a hundred yards away, see greater distance than ever before and even more detail up close. And if he stood within ten feet of someone he could actually hear their heartbeat and he couldn’t quite drown out his own heartbeat yet. Night vision though was somewhat enhanced since the larger eyes could allow more light in, but not so much he could walk around in the dead of night without some form of light. Still, now from where he stood he could easily see the black pillars jutting from the sea like a gateway without a visible fence. In the day, his sight was nearly as good as Daku, but human senses could only be heightened so much before being overwhelmed of information and weren’t a substitute for the natural predatory senses like Daku. The coolest part of having new eyes, if he narrowed them it was almost like focusing binoculars.

  And the cost of altering the structure was nearly nonexistent. It took mana to sustain the augmentation, but if he ever chose to do serious physiological changes would require so much energy it would reduce his potential power greatly and likely be weaker for it until he returned his body back.

  But the change didn’t get any disapproval from his women as they both found it only made him look better and showed off his jaw line more. Meeka found she liked rubbing his ears while Brooke liked looking into his eyes.

  Cage’s new sight caught a slight movement in the wintery forest below where he knew the path connecting the now frozen paradise to the eastern beach, where the bulk of the tribe lived and guarded the entrance to the island. He smiled once he peered more closely into the woods. It wiped away when he heard the familiar flapping of Daku’s wings.

  Just before the griffin landed Cage heard Meeka say “Cage, can you give me a hand?” and what was amazing was she asked from the kitchen below since she knew he could hear her easily.

  Daku landed expertly on the balcony and didn’t slip in his lion size form. He dipped his beak in an affirmative nod to the unspoken question. Together they walked into their spacious bedroom, wiping their wet feet on a towel. The instant warmth of the room felt good and it matched the heat in his stomach from the coffee. Since they wouldn’t be in the room for awhile Cage said “Master bedroom fire, out!” and the fireplace was snuffed. Together they walked down the steps to smile at the change done to the living room.

  Greens and reds decorated the room. Mouthwatering smells reminded him of times with the Old Man who brought him up as a son. It didn’t take much to talk Meeka and Brooke into the spirit of Christmas. At first they thought the tradition ridiculous, but he pointed out a few they had here on Raliea that were questionable as well. Now the two of them were really into it. Beside the roaring fire was a freshly cut Christmas tree dressed with strips of brightly dyed leather and off the leaves hung handmade ornaments. Yesterday Sean and Rena had a blast decorating it, so much so that they burned themselves out. As intended. Around the base of the Christmas tree were presents made by everyone for everyone. It proved to be best idea over being kept indoors with little else to do. Over the dinner table lay a handmade tablecloth with traditional Utala weaving and bold geometric patterns.

  Wonderful smells rolled out from the kitchen as Brooke stepped out with a plateful of breakfast delights. She smiled warmly to her man and Daku before turning around and reentering the room. In that brief moment he caught her wearing her new leather clothes she personally made and fit her like a glove. He always wondered how she found it possible to squeeze into the outfit. Little threads in the front could be loosened and when pulled that tight, it looked more like a seam. Her pants also hugged her shapely form ideally. No other could ever wear that set. If not for the color patterns, it would be difficult not to think she was actually naked.

  Daku walked silently over to a large circular bed on the ground and curled up to sleep. Winter seemed to make Daku sluggish and lethargic, but most animals were hibernating at this time of year so it made perfect sense. Usually Daku slept no less than sixteen hours each day. Also his trickster personality also cooled and Cage suspected why he once had an ice castle near the southern pole, likely to sleep through the years till he had arrived and Summoned for him.

  Cage let the thoughts pass as he moved across the room and entered the kitchen. Brooke was opening the newly made second freezer box to pour orange juice. This new one wasn’t as cold as the freezer and was like a refrigerator.

  Meeka was stirring a pot in a near identical glove fitting leather outfit. Any other time of year would make the suit completely unbearable. Right now it kept them as warm as his robe did him. The stove had been modified with a molded metal plate over the oven that he originally grew, but like the windows of the house, the oven’s front had a transparent quality akin to glass while retaining its reinforced wooden density. Meeka really liked the oven’s clear front. New pots and pans were made by magic, but other families had to wait till Eoin returns to have him make the needed items. But the metal in the house was divided per family for the whole tribe equally. Everyone shared and none hoarded, one of the things Cage never had to mediate the whole time he had been chief.

  “Good, you’re here!” Meeka piped when she looked over her shoulder, knowing he had heard her and not able to use that excuse ever again with his new ears. She gestured to the prep table with a hip. “Don’t know why you are making us cook a whole pig, but we cannot lift it for the oven.”

  He moved over and gripped the platter. With a strong grip and grunt, Cage lifted the hundred pound slab of meat he would have no part in, but he slid the whole pig in the oven when Meeka opened it and stepped back. Then it shut for him to say “I know it’ll just be us today, but you never know when leftovers will come in handy. Besides, Rena’s been asking all week for meat. I know it’s hard to be a vegetarian, but at least you’ve broadened your diet. Especially her.”

  “It isn’t easy.” Meeka said and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “But you give us foods we never had before. I cannot wait to try out this dessert you’re not telling us about.”

  “Nice try.” He grinned. “You’ll just have to wait. Did you get the drinks from storage?”

  She shook her loose golden mane. “Not yet… Oh! Get the mushrooms and sweet potatoes too for me please.”

  He waved in confirmation as she asked for the ingredients. He entered the pantry obviously larger than before. He flicked a spark of light from a finger to find a cask made from a solid drum of wood and tossed it over his shoulder. As he grabbed a bow
l of what she wanted, it made him smile. He actually felt family ties for the first time with not one, but two women and it all felt right. The kids were upstairs fast asleep. He felt like a domestic civilian, something he never really had on Earth. But this wasn’t Earth and it was his first Christmas on a new world.

  He wanted it to count.

  Cage helped where he could, but mostly he felt like he was in the way. He took the cask and brought it out into the living room fireplace to slowly warm up the liquid refreshment.

  Brooke then commanded the house as she sat down fresh bread “House, wake up call, Rena and Sean’s bedroom.”

  Above there came a chiming sound that worked much like an alarm system.

  Sean and Rena awoke and walked down, rubbing their eyes as they were still half asleep. “Good morning, Dad.” Sean yawned while Rena walked over to pet Daku who lifted a wing which Rena took the offering and snuggled up to fall right back to sleep.

  Trying not to laugh, Cage replied “Morning. Did you sleep well?”

  Sean shot his dad a dark look. “Dad, why did you make us split wood all day yesterday? We’re still tired.”

  “Where’s Rena?” Meeka asked as she stepped out of the kitchen with sliced fruit. Brooke pointed with mirth twinkling in her eyes at Daku’s curled form. The only piece of Rena that could be seen was the top of her head beneath the encompassing wing. They all knew how warm it was and his soft fur was soothing and all too easy to sleep with. They all had a good laugh at that till Meeka sadly had to say “Rena! Time for breakfast.”

  The little girl groaned and Daku nudged her with a beak and chirped in her ear. “Wake, Little One. Today is a big day for everyone. Later you may come back and keep me warm.” He lifted a wing to hear another groan come from her. She gave him a morning hug before coming to the table with a zombielike quality.