by Virlyce
“N-no,” the guard said and lowered his head. “I’ll go.”
I climbed back over the counter and stood behind the guards and Evelyn. It may have been a bit shameless, but there’s no point in pride if I die. The guard opened the door, revealing a stairwell heading down. Evelyn turned her head to look at me. Like little ducklings, the guards mimicked her action.
You really think I’m going down there with you behind my back? “Ladies first.”
Evelyn’s eye twitched. “Go,” she said to her guards. They seemed a bit reluctant, but they followed her order. I entered the stairwell after them, but not before stabbing the vine to make sure it was truly dead. It was.
We arrived at a metal door. The vine had snaked through a crack between the floor and the metal. A guard copied my earlier action and jabbed it with his sword, but there was still no reaction.
“Open it,” Evelyn said. Her hands gripped her dress as she took a few steps back. I made sure to be behind her at all times. Metal creaked as the door swung open, revealing a room. The smell of carrion assaulted our noses, and one of the guards vomited. Limbs and butchered bodies lay scattered across the floor. The first thing I did was track the vine back to its source. It was connected to a black rose that grew out of a severed head. I recognized the face even though it was rotting and filled with roots. It belonged to Bryant.
Evelyn screamed. I turned around and was about to leave, but I saw an expression of excitement on Gae Bulg’s face. I was curious—nothing excited him. “What is it?”
“Durandal,” he said in a low growl. “I can smell his scent.” His hands opened and closed, his claws scratching the armor covering his thighs. “But it’s faded. He’s not here anymore, but he was.”
“How are you so calm!?” Evelyn glared at me. “Bryant’s dead!”
I ignored her. “Do you know what that flower is?”
Gae Bulg shook his head. I kicked one of the guards in the back, pushing him towards the black rose. There was no reaction from the flower. Seems harmless enough. I wandered around the area, keeping my spear at the ready. There was nothing unusual—unless you counted the flower and dead bodies—and there were no treasures. However, there was a library, but the covers of the books were so faded, I couldn’t make out any letters.
Evelyn followed me and kept quiet, but I had Gae Bulg watch her in case she tried to kill me.
“Is this really the Godking’s treasure trove?” she asked. After getting over the initial shock of Bryant’s death, she became curious.
“It should be.” I took a book off the shelf and flipped through the pages. A few words were readable, but the majority of the pages had blurred due to mold.
A guard screamed from outside the library, and Evelyn and I dashed outside with Gae Bulg behind us. A flower had bloomed from a severed hand, and a vine had entangled one of the guards. I looked up and saw three motes of purple light descend from the ceiling. When they touched the severed limbs, flowers began to take root.
Gae Bulg and I made eye contact. We both lifted our spears, shouted, and ran away at the same time, shutting the metal door behind us and running up the stairs. Evelyn and her guards had been left behind.
“Should we have done that?”
I shrugged. Not only was Evelyn a professional alchemist, she was also a first-circle magician. She’d live. Probably. I was starting to feel a little guilty. Though I suspected she wanted to kill me, she hadn’t made any attempts. “We’ll wait for a day.” That was the least I could do.
Gae Bulg grunted, and we both sat outside of the ice cream store. The smiling face embedded in the ‘O’ of Roland seemed to be laughing at us. A few hours later, the doorknob turned. I had my spear ready—Gae Bulg had alerted me of footsteps beforehand. I took a step forward and lunged, thrusting my spear at the opening gap. Evelyn screamed and ducked, dodging my strike. I checked her feet during that time. There weren’t any vines.
“Just checking.”
I looked past her. None of her guards followed her out. She started to cry.
***
What did I do to deserve a brother like this? Did I assassinate the pope in my past life? Maybe I offended a god during the period of reincarnation. When we found Bryant’s last known location, Lan glared at me and threatened to stab me with his spear. If you want to stab someone so badly, stab Bryant! It’s not my fault we’re at an ice cream shop. Luckily, his weapon spirit spoke up. Thanks, dog-person. I’m sorry you’re stuck with Lan for an owner.
Not only did he threaten me with a spear, but when I was eating ice cream, he threw a rock at my head! And then he killed the nice shop owner the instant he saw him. But, then again, the owner turned out to be an evil plant of sorts, but still. He gave me free … ice cream. What if that ice cream was made out of human brains? I vomited.
It was then that Lan pulled the gentleman card. Ladies first? Who would want to be the first one to go down an ominous set of stairs? Don’t act like you’re doing me a favor. I had my guards go down instead. We arrived at a metal door. When my guards opened it, the first thing I saw was Bryant’s severed head. I screamed. I’m not afraid to admit I grew up in a sheltered home while being pampered in my own little bubble. Severed heads were not something I was usually exposed to.
But how was Lan so calm!? He even turned around to leave after accomplishing the mission. Was he used to sights like this? I thought back to the rumors of Lan sneaking out at night to slaughter people. Of course, there was no evidence against him, but I was starting to believe it was true. I glared at him as he talked with his pet wolf-man. Did they say Durandal was here? Regardless, that didn’t matter.
“How are you so calm!? Bryant’s dead!”
Do you know what he said to me? Nothing. That savage completely ignored me and asked his spirit about flowers. He wasn’t sure if the flower was dangerous or not, so he kicked one of my guards towards it. Can you believe that? I don’t understand why he was so hostile towards us this whole time. He was like an unchained dog that we had to bring along. This mission would’ve been so much easier if he wasn’t here—except for that shopkeeper bit.
Then he acted as if I didn’t exist, but his weapon spirit sure didn’t act like it. The wolfkin kept glaring at me with those yellow eyes, and if I stepped too close, he snarled at me. Never in my life have I been treated like this before. I guess if I interacted with Lan in the palace, I would’ve. How is he nobility? Just what part of him is graceful? He’s even worse than my deceased husband!
We entered a library that had more books than our own. I picked up a book and opened it. The words were faded, but I could still make some out. Wasn’t this an entry-level alchemy textbook? Well, the Godking did die eighty years ago. There have been a lot of advancements during that time. “Is this really the Godking’s treasure trove?” I wasn’t asking him. I was asking myself, but he answered anyway. I guessed the silent treatment was over.
“It should be.”
And that was when Joey screamed. We dropped the books and rushed out of the library. A scene of carnivorous evil plants greeted us. Joey’s hand was being eaten by a flower. Lan and his spirit nodded at each other and drew their weapons. At last, they’d be useful…. Did they just run away!? The metal door shut with a clang, and my heart dropped to my stomach. He really left….
I heard more screaming as another cluster of flowers bloomed on the severed body parts that littered the ground. Joey screamed as a green vine grew out of his nose and blossomed into a flower. Calm down, Evelyn. You’re a magician of fire. You can do this.
I sucked in a deep breath and willed my mana into my palms. I raised my hands and pointed them at the flowers. “Conflagrate!” The plants exploded, relieving the pressure on my guards who were fending off vines. They tried to free Joey, but he was already dead, so they hacked off the flower that was binding him.
“What was that?” I asked. None of my guards had an answer. A black vine sprang out of the floor and curled around Jordan, one of my guards. It pierced through h
is chest, pushing his heart out of his body. It beat a few more times as the vine throbbed in tune like it was drinking something. I ran for the door. I don’t want to die!
My guards saw my actions and made it to the door before me. When Josh touched the metal, a vine fell from the ceiling and wrapped around his neck. There was a snapping noise, and Josh stopped moving. I couldn’t stop the scream from escaping my body.
“Conflagrate! Conflagrate! Conflagrate!”
All the visible vines in the room exploded. My throat burned, and my legs grew heavy. I felt like I had sprinted for a mile. My remaining guards looked at each other, but neither of them were willing to touch the door first. Before they could decide, the ceiling exploded. Rocks fell to the ground, revealing a massive rafflesia with thousands of vines wriggling around its flower. Three vines shot for the door, blocking off our escape. I was too spent to cast anymore spells.
My guards tried cutting the vines, but they were harder than metal, making their swords ineffective. “The library,” I said. They picked me up and ran towards the library. One vine snaked around Julian’s leg, causing him to trip. Multiple vines promptly turned his body into a pincushion. Jack continued to run, refusing to let me go to save himself. Before we reached the door, a vine stabbed through his chest, causing him to scream. With the last of his strength, he threw me inside of the library and reached for the door. He smiled at me as it swung shut.
I passed out. When I woke up, my body was sore and my stomach growled. I didn’t know how much time had passed. Was I going to die here? Lan wasn’t going to come back to save me. I already knew that. Maybe if I surrounded my body with flames, I could make it out alive. My mentor had taught me a human-bonfire spell, but I always thought it was stupid, so I never practiced it. How did it work? I experimented with my mana, attempting to wreathe my body in flames. After a dozen attempts, I managed to get it to work.
I rested and waited inside of the library until my mana was recharged. This is it. I activated the spell and pushed open the door. I was greeted by a sea of black vines. As if sensing the flames around my body, they drew back and parted. I took even steps towards the exit, unimpeded the whole way. A few vines tried to grab me, but they were incinerated before reaching my skin. I pushed open the door, stepped outside, and closed it, maintaining the spell until I reached the top of the stairs. I deactivated it because I didn’t want to set the building on fire and closed the door behind the counter. I made it. I was still alive.
I opened the exit, and a spearhead rushed towards my face. I screamed and ducked before shouting curses. I recognized that spearhead from back in the palace.
“Just checking,” Lan said as he took a step back.
Just checking? Just checking!? I almost died! My screams reduced to sobs. Why was I stuck with him? Why!?
“Why did you take so long to come out?”
“Because fuck you! That’s why!” If my mana weren’t exhausted, I would’ve conflagrated his ass.
Lan shrugged. “Well, at least I know you’re still alive.” He turned around and walked away. Was he leaving me again? What the hell?
“Where are you going?” I wiped away my tears and blew my nose on my sleeve. Fuck manners.
“Chasing Durandal. You can go back first.”
He was walking away from the direction we came from. I watched his back as he left. Good riddance. There was no way I was going to follow him, that was just asking for death. My stomach gurgled, and I stood up. I didn’t want to stay in this damned ice cream shop any longer. A bag on the steps caught my eye. I opened it and found a sandwich inside. A note on it read, “It’s not poison. – Gae Bulg.”
Maybe his weapon spirit wasn’t such a bad person. What did Lan do to deserve someone like him? I shook my head and walked away as I ate the sandwich. Our carriage was still where we had left it—no one had the audacity to steal a royal carriage. I boarded it and urged the horses to make haste towards the capital. I think I’ve had enough adventures for the rest of my life.
7
“Lucia.” Durandal’s so cute when he blushes! “I love you.”
If this is a dream, please, never let it end. “I, I—” Before I could say anything, he rushed up to me and embraced me, covering my lips with his. So forceful! So aggressive! So Durandal-like!
“You have to live, Lucia.”
Eh? “You’re leaving?” His body began to lose its color. He pulled away and smiled at me before he dissolved into dust. “D-Durandal?”
My eyes shot open. It’s nighttime? A dream then. Well, even if I asked for it to never end, it was getting depressing, so it’s a good thing it did. “What time is it, Durandal?”
…
“Durandal?” Where’d he go? He always watches over me when I sleep in case I’m about to fall over while sitting in my horse stance. Eh? Why aren’t I in my horse stance? “Snow…?”
…
“Bouncykins…? Guys!?”
Did, did they abandon me? What the heck? The fire’s out too. “T-this isn’t funny.”
Rustling sounds came from the nearby bushes. Glowing eyes appeared in the darkness. Moonlight wolves? I don’t have the patience to deal with you! “Get lost! Flying Qi Blade!”
Seven whimpers rang out at the same time as my projectile slashed into the darkness, cutting down the bushes and trees. The remaining eyes closed, and their owners ran away. What the heck was going on? At least I still have my fire starter. …Why’s there a pot of burnt stew above the campfire? Was Snow in the middle of cooking when he left? First things first, light the fire to prevent anymore beast ambushes.
Okay. I can see. Now, what was I doing last? I drank Snow’s stew, then I got super tired and fell asleep. That’s it? …What are these pictures of arrows on the ground? Are they pointing at a penis? Wait, no. That’s a hilt. Why does it look so ugly? And those squiggles…. Send my qi into mini-DalDal’s hilt?
Durandal’s voice flooded my head. “Lucia. You were poisoned by Snow. I will try to remove the poison, but if I succeed, I’ll fall into a deep sleep. Snow’s still alive. Be careful. The fastest way to wake me up is to get stronger. I left some rudimentary knowledge in my weapon body. This is not a drill. You have to survive, Lucia. I believe in you.”
…Eh? Snow poisoned me? What the fuck? “If this is a joke, it’s a really sick one, Durandal.” Didn’t Durandal say if he was separated far enough from mini-DalDal, he’d automatically enter the weapon? I don’t know where he is, but if I go far enough away from here, he’ll reappear, right? Or this is a training exercise Snow and Durandal came up with. Some mental fortitude test. Definitely. I’ll play along then and pretend it isn’t actually a drill. Our massive bag of materials and supplies is still here. I should take it with me. I should also remove the pictures to prevent Snow from discovering them. …Durandal left his metal spear behind. Maybe this really isn’t a drill. Fuck. Fuckity fuck, fuck, fucking fuck. Fuck! Fucking whore of a rabbit! I’ll kill Snow the next time I see him. Gah!
Calm down, Lucia. Deep breaths. Durandal said he left rudimentary knowledge in mini-DalDal. I should check it with my qi; that’s how it works, right? I sent my qi into mini-DalDal’s hilt again, and I felt it right away. Durandal’s presence. A giant glowing ball of light in the middle of a room filled with darkness. Beside it, there was a speck of blue light that floated towards my qi tendril. Was this it? My qi touched the speck, and I regretted it right away. Nausea. Lots of nausea. My head hurt as something buried itself inside my brain and pulsed. It felt like someone was repeatedly hammering my head while shouting at me.
The art of bone engraving. Engrave runes on bones to draw out their power. Turns bones into consumable items. Rune of strength. Rune of speed. Rune of intelligence. Rune of perception. Rune of…. Dozens and dozens of symbols flashed by my eyes. Rudimentary knowledge my ass! My head’s going to explode! …And I passed out again.
When I woke up, the sun was shining overhead. I sat up. The fire was gone, and there were deep grooves in th
e ground where I had stamped out Durandal’s scribbles. Last night hadn’t been a dream. Was the art of bone engraving real? I rummaged through our materials bag and pulled out a bone, a small skull from a scavenger crow that Snow had told me was valuable. Let’s see…, a rune of focus? I roughly carved out the appropriate rune with 32 strokes of mini-DalDal, inserting my qi in the process. The skull flashed with an orange light. Did it work?
I squeezed the skull with my left hand, and it disintegrated. Work! Lots of stuff to do, Lucia! Carve more runes! Strength! Speed! Focus, focus, focus! Lots of focus runes! Use all the bones in the bag! String them up around your body like some macabre decorations for easy use! What are you waiting for, start now! You’ll only be focused for another 59 minutes and 32 seconds! 31 seconds now! 30! …Yup. It worked. Busy, busy.
An hour later, I looked like some kind of decorated holiday tree with bones instead of shining crystals. Thank you for the last gift, Durandal. I’ll definitely be able to survive with this. But I’m exhausted now. Maybe I should look for something to eat? Or…. I looked at the skull hanging from my wrist. I squeezed it, and it broke. Focus! Hunt! Train! Become stronger! Pick a random direction and flee in case Snow comes back! Kill more animals, consume more cores, create more focus bones! Repeat process until death! Oh, and sleep and eat. Don’t forget to do those on occasion.
I can do this! I’ll grow stronger, so Durandal will wake up faster! He left me the greatest footwork in the world, the strongest close-ranged burst attack, and … an alright long-ranged attack, I guess. What more do I need? With these focus runes, I don’t need head pats or ear rubs for motivation! It’s a shame I don’t have a guide, but I don’t need one. I just have to follow the screams of the scavenger crows!
“S-someone. Help me!”
There! Time to acquire more skulls!
***
Stab the eyes. Deflect the claws. Breaking Blade upwards to bisect the body. Rummage through the brain for a beast core. Store it in my bag. Inscribe a rune of strength on the skull. Consume the bone of strength. Forget all feelings of hunger and exhaustion. Store the corpse. Move on.
