In place of the table that had held the slain dark elf was a red cushioned seat. I sat there as directed even if it seemed small for my new size.
As the two succubi sat back down, the Head Mistress looked me over. I would like to say that there was no squirming on my part, but that would be an over-seasoned lie. She towered over me from her throne. Even if she looked to be in a good mood it was intimidating.
Bringing her hands together before her, she looked me in the eye.
Without lowering my gaze I bowed my head, not really from respect, but my nerves were fraying at the edges.
The three of them giggled together.
“Elorion, my dear. This is the second time you have warned me of a threat. It pleases me you survived Lord Darius’s little visit. And you have grown so much!”
I would bid my time before asking about Skyler. My only hope was that she could be convinced it was worth keeping him alive. Bursting in here and demanding him be released was probably the most certain way to fail my mission.
“Such a fine boy,” added the succubus to her right. She cocked her head to the side as she stared at me.
“Sister,” the Head Mistress rebuked sweetly, then turned back to me. “You have grown much stronger than our last meeting. I hope my gifts have proved useful. Congratulations are in order.”
With a swallow, I found my voice. “Thank you. And on your victory as well.”
“Oh yes! It has been a decade since I had such fun. There is no race I take more joy in putting in their place then the vampires.” She rubbed her hands together quickly. “Which puts me in a splendid mood. As you may have heard, I will see to it that the area is renovated to make you all more comfortable.”
I bowed my head to acknowledge that I did.
“Because of your actions, I think something else is in order.”
“Sister!” The same succubus that had interrupted before inserted herself, while wrinkling up her nose. “There is some training that would do him well. The stench of his magic...”
It was the first time since the imp had discovered I had a talent in light magic that anyone had seemed to notice. This time she had really detected it from my smell. That was not a good sign.
“Very well. It will be your gift to him” The Head Mistress grinned. “I'm assuming you would like to do the pleasures yourself?”
“Oh, yes please!” she squealed with glee.
“Be gentle. Remember, he has been a big help to us.”
I had no clue what they meant by training, but I turned my attention to the succubus who was going to give me the gift.
With the flick of her finger, a dark electric bolt shot out and struck me on the bare skin of my forearm.
The next thing I knew I had fallen out of my seat. A cold electricity bit into me, snaking out in chaotic little channels of pain.
At the same time, the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. Was this the end? What was the point of them kidnapping us in the first place if I was just going to die when I had finally started to get stronger?!
“Poor beautiful boy. Today’s lesson is a bit painful, but a good one.” The Mistress sighed happily. “Your light magic can strengthen your body, but it also makes you vulnerable to its opposite, dark magic. You see, since light and dark forms of magic aren’t elements, they react differently than you would expect. Most things depend upon physics and the natural laws that govern us. This is not the case with light and dark.
“When they come together they both immediately begin warring with each other until one wins out. Since your magic is buffeting your body and literally filling you, the reaction between the two opposites brings your body into the mix, causing critical damage even if your power wins out. This is because you become the battlefield. The destruction they leave in their wake stays with you. The same happens if you attack a creature with dark alignment. They take critical damage even if they are more powerful than you.”
Despite the pain, it was not something that lingered with me for long. My chest heaved and my arm hurt, but I was already breathing easier. The pain didn’t hinder me from regaining my focus on what was being said; instead, it sharpened my mental clarity.
A simple clap of the Head Mistress’s hands brought her explanation to a close. “Very good. Elorion. We do not cause you pain for our pleasure but for your good. Most creatures don’t remember information well naturally, but they never forget how something makes them feel. This is a lesson you must learn or the first competent dark aligned creature you come across will slaughter you. And here's the danger. You are in the underworld. 80% of the creatures you run across will be creatures of the dark.
“You will also be able to smell them when you grow strong enough, but they can also sense you. Of course, if you remove your buffs, then the stench will be lessened greatly. This makes stealth a challenge, but with practice it is possible.”
I was able to check my HP and saw my loss had been no more than 200. Pain must have been the point, for it was far from killing me.
“1500 years ago humans had a powerful presence in the Underworld. Because of their religious traditions they forbade the practice of any magic but light magic. This also allowed them to master their magic quickly with a sole focus on one school. The number of humans along with the use of armor allowed them to get around some of their weakness. It was ultimately their downfall.”
Recovering further, I found the strength to sit back, giving my hands and knees a rest.
“Their presence began as only an annoyance to the lesser lords. By the time I spawned five hundred years later, about a thousand years ago, the humans were wreaking havoc, conquering many of their dungeons and sacking the cities of their realm. This forced the Vampire and Orc Lords to intervene. A single family of Vampire Ancients wiped out the majority of the intruders except for the strongest. Their strategy was so simple that the humans who were left became easy prey to the rest of the Underworld.”
My pain had lessened, but I feared healing myself to recover from the damage. Not letting the opportunity pass by, I looked the Mistress in the eye and asked the most obvious question. “What was the strategy?” My displeasure wasn’t hidden.
Pity looked down on me from her throne. Then the unexpected happened. She stretched out her hand and white light came forth and surrounded me. “That should feel better.”
It did, but I immediately noticed that it didn't heal my exhaustion, only the damage done to my body. My talent really was unique.
“Everyone still remembers the lesson the Vampire Lords taught the underworld that day. The humans became experts at crafting armor, but they left it without any elemental alignment that strengthens it against other alignments. They knew if they imbued it with light magic they would be weak to the dark. Steel is derived from the earth so it is earth aligned to a degree even if left neutral.
“The Vampire Lords took advantage of this and didn’t attack the humans directly, but instead focused on their armor. They used a simple mixture of water, wind, and earth to quickly rust the armor and then shatter it with the person still in it. After the armor was destroyed they switched to dark magic and finished the job. It is the ultimate example of why one must try to be a master of magic and not just a single element or alignment. Once this knowledge was made known, even the mightiest paladins had to go into hiding. In less than two years nearly all humans were driven from the surface of the deep.”
As much as I wanted to hold a grudge against them because of the pain, this really was priceless information.
They lectured on the weakness of those that only used light magic, but didn't stress its strength. In one way it made me vulnerable. In another, she confirmed that 80% of creatures in the underworld were weak against my magic. That was huge. If I could find a way to get around my defensive weakness then there was real hope.
“What should I do?” I asked as I stood before her.
“For the time being, get the strongest armor you can find. And by all means, do not l
eave it neutral. If you survive long enough to learn multiple alignments of magic, which can be incredibly difficult, you will be able to change the alignment of your armor at will. It won't make you invincible, but even a lesser lord like Lord Darius would have difficulty killing you if you learn how to use elements properly.
“I'd recommend that you talk your friends into first building a smithy. It will take time, but I remember there was a human or two with the talent for such things. As they grow in skill and level up, they will be able to create more and more powerful armor and weapons. There are also relics and items of power in the underworld that you can use to level up the smithy and a smith’s tools.
“This goes for all of the crafts. Everything from alchemy to enchanting, rune-scribing to tailoring, all must be mastered and their shops leveled up.
“Most importantly, don't let yourself become arrogant like your ancestors. Use every tool available to you. Every element, alignment, and magic has its benefit.
“Also, invisibility will continue to be one of the most powerful spells you will find.”
“Thank you,” I replied, swallowing back a knot in my throat.
“Now for my gift. What would you request of me this time?”
“I.” It was time. “I would like to have Skyler returned to us.”
She leaned forward in her chair, her knuckles white as she clenched the armrests of her throne. She glared down at me as if I had just spat in her face. Intensifying energy started to whirlwind from her.
“You want the thief?!” she said, her lips parting as if she was tasting the very idea of him.
I had to lean forward and plant my feet to keep from falling back.
“Calm yourself, sister,” the bolder of the two succubi on her right said. Both of them started to pulsate energy to fend off her anger.
Not backing down, I replied, “Yes.”
She was silent for a long moment. The muscles of her jaw clenched, released, and clenched again.
“Remember. It was you who swore off men, sister.”
“But the human looks so large and juicy,” she said. Her eyes were closed as her bottom lip trembled at the thought of him.
“There is a bodybuilder convention going on. Just say the word and we will bring half a dozen large ones.”
“But it's not the same. Their steroids and starving themselves makes them taste like kale. You know I hate salad!”
With a huff, the Head Mistress turned to me. “Why do you want him?”
There were so many reasons, or excuses I could give, but what would actually convince her? What came out of my mouth wasn't what I expected.
“Because I love it here.”
As one, the three succubi's heads twisted to the side like a bunch of questioning puppies.
I continued. “Eat—er, taking him will cause the other humans to be angry.”
“This is good, sister. They will fear you,” the not so bold succubus to her left said.
“The problem is they already fear you and are starting to respect you. If you do this you will lose that respect. Respect is worth more.”
“Oh? I have found fear much more useful,” the Mistress replied.
“Do you really want them to follow you out of fear? If they survive and grow powerful in time, eventually they might grow bold enough to challenge you. Yes, they might die as easily as the vampire, but then you would have to start over with more humans. But, if they respect you, then instead of challenging you, they will defend you.
“Either way, it’s not like they need the motivation of fear. Did you see their faces as they looted the battlefield? Skyler, the person you arrested, was so motivated that he couldn't hold himself back. I don't want to take him from you. I just think it will be more beneficial for you, and for me, if you leave him alive.”
Wording everything as if I was on her side put a bad taste in my mouth, but it was truer than I wanted to admit.
Her two sisters looked to her, nodding. They were taking my side?
The energy that was pouring out of her suddenly stopped. “You reason like a lich.” She sat back into her chair with a sigh. “Very well. This will be my gift to you. Tell the humans what you will. That I punished him for his crime and he is now free. Does that please you?”
It felt like a thousand pound water balloon had been sitting upon my shoulders and had suddenly burst. I didn't really know what had just happened, but perhaps she was more reasonable than I thought. Yeah right. Never trust someone that thinks men look juicy. Or like salad, for that matter.
“And here. Take this key,” she said, not hiding her disappointment. In her palm sat a six inch long skeleton key. By skeleton, I mean it in the most literal sense. It was made of polished bone.
“This is the prize for making it to the end of my dungeon. You have earned it months sooner than I believed any of you would. At the end of my labyrinth, you have likely noticed a tower made of bone. Inside you will find ten levels, each with its own set of guardians. Each level is progressively more powerful and aligned with a different element or magic form. At the top of the tower is a surprise. You will also find a door on the far side of the first floor. It will unlock once the first floor is completed. Through it, you will find the exit to the labyrinth into rest of the Underworld. From there you can pursue anything your heart desires, but only after you've earned it.”
That meant we were currently shut off from the rest of the Underworld and everything we had faced up until now was of the Mistress’s making—except the vampire. He was able to attack because of the lich’s spell that turned the wall into something they could walk through. Did that mean I could learn a similar spell and bypass the trials of the tower? As I considered it I knew I didn’t want to even if I could. Regardless of how sadistic the Mistress was, not everyone has a labyrinth designed to help them grow stronger. No gamer in their right mind would pass that up.
“There are many paths you can take. You have free rein to build your base below as you so desire as long as you can find or purchase the resources necessary. The underworld itself has many dungeons and secrets that can help one grow stronger. Will you conquer the first floor and try your hand out there, or climb the tower? I can't tell you what path is right or wrong, only that you must grow stronger. I have no idea if Lord Darius told others or if he kept it to himself. Eventually, his family will come looking for him. There may be other armies, larger and much more powerful ones, on their way here already. Or you might be safe for now. Most of those that pose a real danger to you live far enough away that it will take time for them to get here. In the underworld, peace never lasts forever.”
I took the key as she tossed it, and she cautioned me, “Don’t follow the mistake your race made a millennia ago. Respect all alignments. Magic in itself has no morality. Even the darkest magic can be used for good or the lightest for evil. If you know anything about your history you know how evil mankind can be.”
With a nod of understanding, I inventoried the key and stood.
“Go. Your friend will be returned to you soon. I must eat something first, or at a glance I will be tempted to devour your friend.” She turned to the succubus on her left. “Go fetch me the kale. Just make sure you bring plenty of ranch dressing.”
My mouth opened, but I found myself speechless after how nonchalantly she talked about eating people. With ranch dressing? Instead of trembling with fear, I was disgusted. It was practically dishonorable toward ranch dressing. How could she?
Finding the three of them staring at me, I started scrambling and blurted out, “Thank you, Head Mistress. We will continue to grow stronger.”
She moaned as if I was a child being sweet.
I left as quickly as my legs would allow without letting it look obvious that I wanted to throw a ranch dressing bottle at her and drown her in it.
Somehow I had survived and even saved Skyler’s life, although it seemed multiple people would take his place in her stomach. Any question that we were safe here had bee
n answered. We were not. Every gift she had given was dependent on what she would get in return.
What I had said to her was true. In time the others could grow to respect and even defend her. But not if I could help it. I knew what she was really like. She could not be trusted with the wellbeing of the very creatures she most enjoyed to eat. We needed to escape.
Chapter 22 – Much Needed Nap
I woke up from my first nap in four days. Both my leather and skeletal armor was removed while I slept in the dark barracks. Most of my buffs I still had on so that they would level while I slept.
After some haggling, I had been able to purchase some shorts and a real cotton t-shirt for my nap. The goth dwarf merchant even had real sheets! Why? “Dwarves demand soft sheets!” he insisted. Did that make me part dwarf?
Before my nap, I had sold all the zombie armor and weapons I could carry. Twice. The looting basically stopped after I left to face the Mistress. After explaining she was punishing him but would return him soon unharmed, even his group settled down and returned their attention to the loot.
None of them dared try to loot anything from the battlefield after that. We found a way around this by looting the items ourselves and them hand them items we couldn't carry after our inventories were already full. There were so many items that it could hardly be called generous to gift them the items we handed them.
All the items I sold netted me an incredible 300k. The least of the items they dropped was better than all but the best that I had owned. Even after my second trip, there was armor to spare.
Two things kept me from grabbing more loot to sell. First, someone got the idea that we should save some of it in the armory that had been offered to us the first day. Secondly, it was decided that Skyler’s group should get their pick of what was left. This was our gift to them, so they wouldn’t fall under the Mistress’s justice.
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