by David Gunter
Nothing and no one would stop him from his goal, and he would be an unstoppable force towards whatever his will desired.
A word interrupted his thoughts and introspection. “More!”
Tommy snapped out of his internal monologue, realizing that the word had been spoken in his mind and then, knowing that it had come from the soul eater, stared inwardly at his slowly ebbing soul. Half between nausea and rage, he let out a scream.
“Mooooorrrrrre?” It was more of a question than a statement.
New emotions ran through him, but he suppressed them and answered them solemnly and with control.
“No! Not now. Take what has been offered and be content, you little demon worm.”
The Soul Eater would be a presence that would haunt his every thought and action, but he was sure he could handle it, and he, not Soul Eater, would be the master of this body.
With his newly acquired abilities, he looked around the now lit cave and saw the bones of the poor devil that he’d previously disturbed and made a few observations about them.
The first thing he noticed about the body was that all the bones and connected ligaments were pretty much intact. He also saw tale-tell signs that the poor devil had been humanoid and female as it or rather she had had clothing and jewelry that looked more feminine in nature than male.
The second thing he noticed was a fairly decent-sized dagger still being grasped in one of the corpse’s bony hands.
The dagger looked sharp but not made of steel or any kind of metal that he could tell in this light. The dagger, in fact, looked to be made of some kind of petrified and very smooth wood. It had so many details in its construction that he thought the dagger looked more grown than made.
He reached down, picked the weapon up, and the voice he now thought of as Whispers spoke.
“Ooo, you’ve found a weapon of the dark. You will want to hold on to this and get it properly appraised in the city of the dead, little dark one.” - Whispers
Whispers has spoken and has said something useful for a change. - Narrator
“When I find out who’s adding this extra commentary I’m going to boil them in a stew, cut their…”. - Whispers
Whispers continues to rant but we no longer care about what he has to say.
- Narrator
“Wait!” Tommy exclaimed. “You have something to say when I pick up a dagger from a corpse but getting my soul eaten by a creature from this dark cave and getting both flight and night vision abilities doesn’t award me an audience with you or even a mysterious chuckle?”
The voice said nothing in response to his outcry, and Tommy wondered if this might be because Whispers only clearly spoke out when he had made a good move towards the dark. Maybe deciding to share part of his soul with a creature from the dark wasn’t necessarily a wise or positive step in his adventures.
A second later, his mouth dropped open when the Soul Eater spoke into his mind, “Whispers talks to me and says, ‘eat little dark one,’ when I start nibbling on your tasty soul. He also says, ‘grow and be strong on little dark one’s soul,’ when my little dark one gives me more juicy soul stuffs a moment ago. If my little dark one likes I tells him more things if I can eat more yummy soul stuff and tells him when Whispers talks to me too?”
Tommy, wide-eyed from the shock of the creature’s outburst and words, quickly processed what had just happened and steadied himself quickly, and continued with a deeper introspection. He didn’t know what to say to these new revelations and ones such as these that had such far-reaching implications. That this creature would think of him as a meal wasn’t as surprising as the fact that Whispers was not only involved in his affairs but also in the affairs of other creatures Tommy would’ve considered non-essential. There was more to this world, and he would have to be very careful with whom he dealt with in the future as there were overlapping motives and games being played by many beings here.
“So, we are now talking, you and I?”, Tommy asked referring to the creature, and the creature responded.
“We’s talks, and we’s thinks as one and I make little dark one strong from tasty soul food,” said the creature.
Tommy was not really enticed to start a conversation with this thing on his back, and the thought of having long drawn-out conversations with something that was eating a part of him was just not something he was prepared to accept in spite of whatever benefits the relationship might unravel. Tommy refused to say more to the creature as he did not want to continue the conversation. The time would come for more reflection, but he also knew that a trip awaited him outside and one he was now far better equipped to undertake.
Taking one more glance at the body, he noticed very little else of interest except that the feminine creature wore a headdress with some type of bird’s feathers and a few items of jewelry around the neck, nose, and hands. He also thought of pocketing these items but thought against it as there had been very little else the poor creature had had at the end of her life, and he didn’t really want to leave the corpse devoid of anything identifying it.
Turning, he walked around all the mushrooms; as he made his way back to the area of the cave, he expected to find the cave opening. Walking by mushrooms of all sizes, he noticed with amazement at how he had managed, though in pitch darkness, to miss so many large and ominous specimens before. The place where these mushrooms grew was certainly one to make a mental note of as they might serve useful one day, and this too he filed away for another day.
A few moments later, he was standing at the opening of the cave and noticed that it was definitely nighttime outside and nowhere close to morning from his earth-based estimations. Of course, he knew he’d been asleep long enough to be starving, and his loss of soul seemed to indicate that he’d been passed out at least two days, so he calculated that this must be the third night from the time he had arrived here. He activated the hovering ability with barely a thought and carefully eased out of the cave, noticing that his eyes by no means enjoyed the effects of the moonlight but at least the “Dark Touched” buff was unaffected by the moonlight touching his skin. This brought him some relief and showed him that he was on the right path to getting back on track with both his main objective and the quest he had been given. So long as his feet did not touch the stone affected by the moonlight, he would be able to maintain this “Dark Touched” buff.
After a few minutes, he was standing at a crossroads where he could clearly see both the direction to a place called “The Opal City” and another in the opposite direction pointing to the “City of The Dead.”
❧
About an hour of hiding under dark forest canopies and evading the touch of moonlight touched stones, and other things brought Tommy to a clearing and the part of the trail that led down to what appeared to be a very large and ominous looking city.
Tommy stood under a tree at the edge of the forest he had just crossed, and though the forest ended with a steep incline, the road continued down the steep incline towards the city where it seemed to vanish into a fog surrounding it. From his vantage point, he could see that the city was surrounded all around by a very tall wall that was so tall that it rose above the fog.
Looking high above the city, Tommy saw the moonlight was somehow being filtered out for many miles around by a very thick grouping of dark purple and reddish clouds which seemed to claim as its epicenter the very center of the city. It looked as if these clouds were a permanent feature of these lands and of the city, and as he watched, he could see that the clouds seemed to be constantly blossoming outward, in a constant state of regeneration and expansion extending their reach.
Tommy had been grateful for the cloud cover as he had expectantly neared the city as it had made the last thirty minutes of hiding from the moonlight progressively easier, and if he was honest with himself, it had also increased his excitement a little as he thought he would soon reach his destination. But look
ing now over the scene before him and the immensity of the “City of The Dead,” he realized his excitement should have been far greater at reaching this place. What he beheld now was truly jaw-dropping in immensity.
Behind the walls, Tommy could see many ornate buildings of different sizes and shapes and made of a type of black stone that glimmered with purple and red hues, which seemed to reflect the clouds above but which also seemed to have a light emanating from within. There could be no more beautiful a sight as this place, at this moment. His legs felt weak, and he thought that he would fall down from the emotions he was feeling.
Tommy knew this land was his land, and though he wasn’t sure why he knew it, he knew he was home.
He would go down to this great city and show it and everyone in it that he was the new boss. He would own this city, and all would know it as his domain. With that thought, he put his pace to the task and headed down to conquer his new domain.
❧
Thirty minutes later, Tommy saw the walls looming over the fog as he came to the entrance to the city. The entrance was wide, and it probably could have easily accepted four or five trains from the real world simultaneously.
As Tommy walked towards the entrance, he noticed a large figure he hadn’t noticed when he had looked down towards the city from the forest clearing. The figure was not moving, and so at first, he thought it might be a very large statue, but then he noticed that if it was a large statue, then it was a large statue wearing a very large shroud which was clearly moving in the wind.
Tommy froze instantly, and his eyes went wide as a realization came to him. This was no statue but a very tall being wearing a shroud and staring down at him with as much intensity as he now, no doubt, had staring up.
Tommy’s instincts told him that he should proceed with caution and be-at-the-ready to flee, but another part of him felt that he belonged here, and this being would know it. So, without pausing further, he lowered his gaze and simply stepped towards the entrance and directed his pace towards the large being, which he realized stood closer to the other side of the city entrance.
As Tommy did this, he noted that the being turned and moved in his direction from the other side of the entrance as if to meet him head-on. The monstrosity of a being and he met at the entrance as two, and a half steps from the large creature brought them quickly together. The being then lowered himself to a single knee kneeling stance, and though the creature’s gaze was hidden under the giant hood, Tommy felt the intensity with which he was being scrutinized.
Tommy noticed then that the creature held an impressive scythe in one hand. The weapon loomed high above the creature as the creature knelt and was clearly taller than the being who was mostly using it as a walking stick. Pretending to ignore this, Tommy proceeded to speak to the being.
“Hello there!”…gulp, “Big guy,” Tommy said with just a little bit of noticeable uncertainty and perhaps too much familiarity. “I am sorry to disrupt what looked to be a moment of reverie you were having just now, but I’m a newcomer to this place, and I would like to find the nearest city temple.”
The ‘Big guy’ spoke, “I couldn’t help but notice just now that you had the buff’ Dark Touched’ as you entered the city, and you are presenting yourself to me of all days today?… ‘little dark one.’”
The being chuckled ominously and continued.
“Coming here holding on to that buff and after having held it for at least five days is no small feat. And now I see you have the ‘Rune of Shadows’ and that it is at level two. Did you know that you are well on the path of becoming a dark rogue, dark assassin, or simply a really proficient thief? Many a thief would do unspeakable things to reach this level, and you have done so in just a few days.”
He continued.
“But I also see you have been touched by quite a different thing. Hello, little demon worm.”
The demon worm spoke.
“Hellos big guy,” The creature on Tommy’s back said directly through both minds, copying the same form of speech Tommy had used with the same effect.
The “Big guy” chuckled at the thoughts coming from the creature and continued.
“You have a tasty morsel there, endeavor to keep it long, and I will award you with a greater morsel when this one is no more.” Said the ‘Big Guy.’
“I Keeps this tasties safe for even sweeter tasties to come,” said the little demon worm.
“Hey! I don’t like being talked about like some piece of meat, and I don’t have any plans to die ever.” Said Tommy with more than a little irritation showing in his voice.
“Newcomers die very often in the ‘City of the Dead,’ and it isn’t a reflection on your chances that we have to consider the future of your friend, right?” Asked the giant.
‘Big Guy’ continued, “And if you do live long enough eventually the demon worm will devour your spirit, will he not? So it’s not a matter of ‘if’ you will die but ‘when.’ Have you not considered this?”
“I… I don’t know about that”, Said Tommy with more than a small hint of doubt. Tommy thought about his instructions to find the city temple and look for instructions under a stone and considered that perhaps a way to accomplish this might be to attempt to use the stone to communicate with the outside world as well. Maybe even the game designers would tell him of a way to remove the ‘Demon Worm’ safely. So he continued.
“So while we are still talking like friends, where might we find the city temple?”
‘Big Guy’ glanced into the distance and then said, “Why this has to be the first time anyone has ever asked for directions there, but I can see you might be a little less intelligent than I gave you credit for. Fortunately for you asking for directions there, in your condition, is the wisest choice even if it is the simplest to answer. The temple is located at the center of the city, and any of the six main roads will take you there. “
Tommy thought that perhaps he should also find out what most ‘newcomers’ like himself did in the city upon arrival in case there might be a more conventional way of approaching his adventures here. He also couldn’t help but feel that there was something about his presence here that was distasteful or unwanted. So he thought for a moment and figured out a way of asking in such a manner that wouldn’t give away any plans or motives.
“Why wouldn’t finding the city temple be the first thing to do upon arriving?” Tommy said finally.
The colossal creature used his free hand to reach within his hood and rub what Tommy could only imagine was a chin somewhere hidden in the dark beneath the shrouded cloak. Tommy was not really buying the gesture as an honest one, but then the ‘Big Guy’ spoke.
“Well, ‘little dark one,’ your display exhibits a number of rarely employed elements that I must acknowledge. The first element you chose to employ was foresight when you took the buff five days ago and right at the start of the festival of darkness. This choice allowed you to hold the buff through the darkness, which, because of its extended reach during this festival, allowed you to wait longer outside the city and gain the extra levels to a buff most never attempt to gain. The next element you employed was craftiness as you took the demon worm from some undiscovered dark place and then used its added benefits to ensure no moonlight touched things would touch you on your journey. Few know the worms even exist, and even fewer would know to use one to aid in this endeavor. The next element you employed was a little of the first two elements mixed in with a lot of courage as most would never dare appear before the gates of this city with a buff which would normally label one as a sympathizer of Whispers the Dark One, as he is sometimes called. To appear before the gatekeeper on the last day of this festival, which commemorates the defeat of the Dark One, was astoundingly courageous. Then finally, an element of genius was employed to confront the gatekeeper, and instead of asking for directions to a brothel or an inn, ask instead for directions to the city tem
ple. After all, how can I the ‘Gate Keeper’ oppose one fulfilling the prophecy?” The gatekeeper looked off into the distance once more and recited. “The dark comes on a dark day to the dark temple for his dark quest… or so it goes, right?”
Tommy didn’t know what to think of all this and was scrambling to put the pieces together, but it seemed that knowing too little could get one killed and that making assumptions like he had when entering the city could lead to his demise. If he pretended to know this prophecy, he would open himself up for an examination which he would undoubtedly fail, and if he gave away that he had been in contact with Whispers, the gatekeeper would probably follow through on his threat and simply end him right then and there. Maybe there was a way to stay in the middle a little longer if he pretended to feign ignorance in the right way.
Tommy replied. “I’m not really sure which prophecy you’re referring to, ‘Big Guy’, and I’m not really sure why I asked for directions to the city temple except that it felt right somehow. These last few days have been a bit of a blur to me. One moment I was going about my business, and the next, I was heading towards this city with an incredible urge to meet some unknown end. But from what you’re telling me, I might be a small part of a larger wheel. I think I’d better follow through and go to this temple as I’d hate to be ignorant of my own destiny for much longer.”
The tactic seemed to work as the gatekeeper scratched his chin once more and then slowly reached out his hand and pointed in the direction of the temple at the center of the city. The gatekeeper then said, “Well, I suppose there wouldn’t be any harm in letting you at least get that far or at least attempt to. I’ll let morbid curiosity in your outcome win over my better judgment. This might be interesting, after all.”
