Scar’s eyes burned with a feral light that I’d never seen before, and I hardly recognized the… beast that was staring back at me. Despite the kill lying at his feet, his piercing glare held a wild bloodlust that had yet to be satisfied. With a low growl, he warned us not to approach any closer—a threat we both heeded.
“You’re safe now. It’s only me, Scar,” I spoke softly to him as I held out my empty hands.
No words came back in response to my plea; Scar continued to stand astride the orc’s body, guarding it possessively against my intrusion. There was no doubt in my mind that taking even a single step closer would provoke an attack, so I held my ground. As I looked on in horror, Scar’s jaws clamped down on the orc’s leg, and he began dragging the body away, only to vanish into the trees with his kill. Scar’s abrupt shift from beloved puppy to wild animal left me completely baffled, and I wondered if I’d lost him forever. If his sudden thirst for blood was any indication of his new demeanor, Scar had become quite dangerous, and I shuddered at the thought that I might have to defend myself from him.
“That wasn’t really Scar, was it?” I understood exactly what Kyrah meant as we both stared at the patch of forest where he’d disappeared.
“No, it wasn’t.” The pain of losing him began to set in when I said the words. “Let’s see what we can find and get out of here before he comes back.”
I was more afraid of what I might be forced to do if that happened rather than having any real concern over our safety. It didn’t matter what changes might have taken over my little puppy—I still loved Scar, and I didn’t want to cause him any harm. With that in mind, I quickly began searching the corpses for any decent loot.
The first two bodies yielded several pieces of leather armor that looked as if they might fit Kyrah, a few coins, and some decent weapons. Expecting more of the same, I flipped over the female orc’s ‘corpse’ only to have her let out a pained grunt. Although the arrow jutting from her shoulder left her unable to reach for her weapons, she glared back at me with a defiant stare.
“Go ahead and finish me, filthy elfling,” she spat out her hate-fueled words.
Killing an enemy in battle was one thing. I could even justify taking the life of someone who deserved such punishment, but I refused to murder this woman simply for the crime of being an orc. Although attacking her had been necessary, now that she’d been defeated, there was no longer any reason for me to slay her. But I also knew that I couldn’t just set the orc free—I might no longer want her dead, but I was quite certain she didn’t share that sentiment. Rolling her onto her stomach again, I bound the orc’s hands tightly behind her back. Once she was securely restrained, I leaned her against a nearby tree and explained the situation to her.
“I’m going to heal you,” her confused expression was exactly what I’d expected to see. “After we get away from here.”
Not wanting to risk her calling out for help, I placed a gag in the orc’s mouth before hoisting her body over my shoulder. Making my way across the bridge as quickly as I could, I then turned our course back northwards again. I didn’t plan on lugging the orc all the way to the Free Lands, of course, and as soon as I felt we were far enough away from the scene of our battle, I began searching for a likely place to stop for a while. Once I found a secure enough location, I brought us to a halt.
“I’ll take care of this wound for you; then we’re going to have a little chat,” I informed my ‘guest’ as I pulled the cloth from between her teeth.
The look of suspicion in her eyes was obvious. She’d clearly interpreted my words far differently that I’d meant them, and understandably so. The orcs of Runía were still viewed as wild savages, and maybe that was all they were, but after living peacefully alongside them all my life, I knew they held the potential for so much more than that. Yet I wasn’t going to only rely on my knowledge of her people to get what I wanted from the orc; I intended to persuade her with something much more tangible than that.
“This part will hurt.” Kyrah gripped her weapons, watching closely as I grasped the arrow’s shaft with one hand and held the orc’s shoulder steady with the other.
“Do it.” The orc stared me in the eye, her jaw tightening as she grit her teeth.
Unwilling to let me see her discomfort, the orc let out only a single pained grunt as I tore the arrow free from her flesh. The gaping hole began bleeding quite profusely once the shaft was removed, and with my hand already pressed against her flesh, I started casting Cure Minor Wounds.
The indifferent façade she’d been working so hard to maintain crumbled when the faint blue light flowed between us, her mouth falling open in amazement while the ragged flesh slowly knitted itself back together. With the near-total absence of magic in this land, the display of even that minor Spell must have seemed like some sort of miracle. I only hoped it would be enough to earn the orc’s cooperation.
“What’s your name?” I didn’t give her an opportunity to recover from her shock before asking my first question.
“Agna,” she replied numbly, still staring at the faint creases that were all that remained of her wound.
“We’re heading for the Free Lands, Agna.” She finally turned towards me as I wiped her blood from my hands. “What can you tell me about the wilds we’ll have to cross to reach them?”
“You are not far, Uglessek.” I realized that I’d earned far more than just her cooperation when I recognized the term she used to address me. “A week, maybe two, is all that lies between you and the freedom you seek. But you have entered goblin territory, and they do not suffer trespassers lightly. Even one such as yourself may have trouble fighting your way through their lands.”
Fucking goblins…
I truly loathed the disgusting little creatures. Despite centuries of effort, Dreya had never been able to dissuade them from their evil ways. Although there were still bands of orcs who also fought against the civilized people of Arrika, nearly all of them had joined in her fight for peace. Along with the kobolds, ogres, and a few other truly evil races, goblins seemed to lack any redeeming qualities, however. Yet their lands now stood between us and the safety we sought—I had no choice but to travel through them.
“Let me help you.” Agna read the concern on my face quite clearly. “My people are in a constant state of war with the goblins; I’ve led many raids against them and know their lands well. I cannot promise that we won’t have to fight our way through at times, but I can guide you as safely as possible.”
“You were trying to kill us just a few moments ago,” Kyrah’s harsh words interrupted our discussion as her knuckles whitened around the hilts of her blades. “How could we possibly trust you?”
“You’re right. Before I knew who you were, I would have gladly slit both your throats.” The sight of Agna’s short tusks lent a certain menace to the smile she flashed at Kyrah, an effect I was sure she was completely aware of.
“But you travel with one who practices the ancient magics, human.” Agna’s voice lost its edge as she continued. “We have been waiting for her return for a very long time. I always thought she’d be one of us, but now that she’s finally arrived to deliver us from the Nér-vrogan, there’s nothing I won’t do to aid her.”
Oh, shit… I’d fucked up again.
While I’d definitely wanted to earn Agna’s trust, at least enough to persuade her to divulge a little information, my little magic show had done far more than that.
“I’m not your savior.” I hated to douse her hopes, but I couldn’t allow Agna to continue believing that I was something I clearly wasn’t. “The only thing I am is lost.”
“You may be unwilling to accept the truth, but I know who you are, Uglessek.” Although Agna’s tusks jutted out from her lips when she smiled at me, her toothy grin was somehow more friendly than threatening.
Realizing that it was far too late to recover from my error, I let out a deep sigh as I cut away the bonds that held Agna’s hands behind her back. While she rubbe
d at the raw skin of her wrists, I dug her weapons out from my pack and returned them to her.
“Are you insane?” Kyrah whispered loudly enough to ensure that her words were overheard.
“Probably.” I couldn’t help but smile. “But I think I’ll still let you travel with us.”
Agna let out a snort, obviously appreciating the joke I’d made at Kyrah’s expense. Yet I’d only been half-kidding. Agna had mentioned the Nér-vrogan, and I needed to make sure she was aware of exactly who she’d be traveling with before we took a single step together.
“Introductions are probably in order,” I began, also not wanting to be continually referred to as ‘Uglessek.’ “I’m Ashíel, and my friend here is Kyrah.”
Agna offered a slight tilt of her head in recognition before I dropped the hammer on her.
“Oh, and you should also know that she’s half Nér-vrogan.”
Both of them stared at me in shock; Kyrah was obviously taken aback at the disclosure of her secret while Agna seemed equally horrified by the revelation.
“You think we could hide that from her?” I turned towards Kyrah first. “You’ll have to feed sooner or later. It’s better she knows the truth right from the start.”
“That creature will kill us both the moment her hunger strikes,” Agna’s hands strayed far too close to her blades for my comfort as she shifted to stand between Kyrah and me.
“Kyrah is my friend. I have fed her willingly and will continue to do so whenever she needs me.” I argued, glaring at Agna. “She’s no more a prisoner of her ancestry than you are.”
The heat quickly faded from Agna’s eyes at my pointed comment—the not-so-subtle reminder had its intended effect, and Agna backed away a half-step. Although I’d managed to avert a complete disaster, as they continued to scowl at each other, I realized that both of them might have some trouble letting go of their ancient hatreds. The lingering resentment might make the road ahead of us… interesting at times, but it seemed as if I had no other alternative. I needed to reach the Free Lands, not only for my own safety but also to fulfill the promise I’d made to Kyrah. The path I had to follow to get there led straight through goblin territory—treacherous lands I dared not cross without Agna’s guidance. I doubted I could have abandoned her even if I’d wanted to; Agna’s devotion to me was already too powerful to allow that.
“We need to get moving again.” Eager to refocus my companion’s attention on something besides each other, I motioned towards the surrounding forest. “Perhaps you should take the lead, Agna.”
15
Agna blazed a trail for us, and as the day wore on, I grew increasingly impressed with her skill. True to her word, she guided us safely through the goblins’ territory, bringing us to the shelter of a small cavern at the end of the day. The refuge was obviously a familiar one to her, and the rough ground inside was even furnished with several pelts to soften its rocky surface.
“We often use this place during our raids on the goblins,” she noted unnecessarily. “It should be secure enough for the night.”
Discretion required yet another cold dinner, and after a quick glance that Kyrah shook off, I began eating some of my rations. While I was glad that her hunger hadn’t returned just yet, I couldn’t help but wonder how long it might be before she needed to feed again. Considering how… profoundly we were both affected by the experience, doing so with Agna watching would definitely be quite awkward.
As I chewed on a mouthful of dry rations, I recalled the blinking light that had appeared in the corner of my vision after the fight. The interface was still unfamiliar to me, so it took a few minutes for me to bring up the messages that were waiting there.
Experience gained – You have gained 440 Experience Points (XP).
Experience gained – You have gained 440 XP.
Experience gained – You have gained 440 XP.
Quest completed – You have completed the hidden quest Acolyte. Gaining your first follower is quite an accomplishment. The question now is whether you will use your… notoriety to help others or for your own selfish purposes. You have been rewarded with 2200 XP.
Follower??? What the fuck?
With a set of ‘stats’ to work on and a definite goal to reach with what the interface labeled as ‘XP,’ I certainly appreciated knowing exactly where I stood in my quest for advancement. Yet I could’ve done without the message naming Agna as my ‘follower.’ I found it extremely disturbing to consider her in that light, even more so when I realized that the message only labeled her as my first. That was something my mind just wasn’t prepared to deal with right then, so I shoved the thought aside and closed the window.
“Where the hell were you just now?” Kyrah’s question rang out before my eyes could fully regain their focus.
“Nowhere,” I responded far too defensively. “I was just thinking, that’s all.”
The expression on Kyrah’s face told me she’d seen right through my blatant lie, so rather than deal with any further inquiries, I got up and began casting Create Trap, laying a series of snares across the cavern’s lone entrance. My attempted distraction utterly failed when it only roused Agna’s curiosity, and she gazed in wonder as the bright red outlines of the magic appeared on the ground before her eyes.
“What have you done?”
“It’s just another Spell of mine.” I tried to downplay my actions. “I’ve placed some traps around us that will capture any hostile creatures before they can cause us harm.”
“You possess combat magic too?” A knot formed in my stomach as Agna’s tone of utter astonishment let me know how badly I’d messed up.
“Perhaps you should tell her everything,” Kyrah taunted me as she chimed in. “Like you said, it’s better she knows the truth right from the start.”
The little smirk of satisfaction on Kyrah’s face as she flung my own words back at me made me want to wring her fucking neck. With the already overexaggerated sense of importance Agna had bestowed upon me, revealing my origins would make it nearly impossible for me to dissuade her.
“What are you saying?” Agna’s gaze pivoted towards Kyrah, and she responded before I could intervene.
“Ashíel’s mother is the newly raised Goddess of Justice.” Her sneer only widened as she revealed the secret of my past. “Although she denies it, I also believe she’s been sent here to free us from the tyranny of the Nér-vrogan overlords.”
“Noxyl took advantage of me!” I stomped my foot in protest. “That fucking bitch only sent me here because she knew it would hurt Dreya.”
“You would speak of a Goddess in that manner?” Agna’s jaw went slack at my blatant disrespect.
“I’ll do far more than offer a harsh word or two the next time I see that little shit.” My rage began to simmer as I considered just what I’d do to Noxyl when I finally got hold of her.
My vision blurred slightly as I spoke, although it was nothing like the haze that came over me when I’d pulled up the UI. Both Kyrah and Agna took a step away, and I realized why when I noticed the slight green tint of the world around me. I’d only seen Dreya’s eyes take on their ominous glow once before, but even if mine held only a fraction of the menace I’d detected then, I certainly understood their reaction.
I shut my eyes and took a deep breath to calm myself before daring to open them again. “Sorry about that.”
“You truly are the one we’ve been waiting for.” Agna’s voice came out in a bare whisper.
“I admit, I had my doubts,” Kyrah echoed her reverent tone. “But I can no longer question what is so obviously true.”
I realized right then that I had no hope of convincing them I wasn’t the savior they thought I was. The best I could do was prevent them from encouraging anyone else from joining my ‘flock.’ I hated to use their belief in me against them, but it was the only way I could think of to stop them from creating some sort of cult in my name.
“You can’t tell anyone about me,” I implored them. “Whatever
I may be, I’m not strong enough to stand against the forces that would oppose me.”
“Yet,” Kyrah quickly added.
“Nor will you have to fight them alone.” Agna bared her tusks in a tight grimace, seeming to welcome the opportunity to strike down my foes.
That was more than I wanted to consider at the moment, and I sought any diversion from the topic of my ‘status,’ whatever that might be. Fortunately, one of Agna’s prior comments provided me with the inspiration I needed.
“Your people live well beyond the borders of the Nér-vrogan Realms,” I began, not understanding why she’d been so vehement in her hatred of them. “Why are you so concerned with their activities?”
“I can understand why Kyrah didn’t explain that to you before.” Despite the pointed nature of her comment, Agna’s words held no malice.
“The Nér-vrogan aren’t content to simply live off the larder they have within their own lands.” Kyrah looked away in obvious discomfort as Agna spoke. “They hunt us down like wild animals whenever the desire for something less… tame comes upon them.”
“Unlike when they take one of you to feed upon, the Nér-vrogan do not merely sip from our veins,” Agna’s tone grew bitter as she relayed the fate of her people at the ‘Overlords’ hands. “They drain us completely dry, leaving behind nothing more than an empty husk for us to bury.”
“We may not live under their tyranny, but we feel their bite more keenly than you can imagine.” There was no mistaking the note of pain in Agna’s voice. “Until now, we had no hope of striking back at them, but The Thirteen will soon feel your wrath, and I want to be there when they do.”
“There are only twelve at the moment,” Kyrah corrected Agna’s count. “Although she’ll soon be replaced, Lady Vistaal has already fallen to Ashíel’s blade.”
From what Kyrah had told me, I knew that wasn’t the full count of the Nér-vrogan, only the number who held the title of ‘Lord’ or ‘Lady’ and ruled over one of their territories. The Thirteen were simply the most powerful among them, a symbol of both Nér-vrogan might and ruthlessness. That was the reason we’d been forced to flee so hastily—killing Vistaal wasn’t a crime the Nér-vrogan could allow to go unpunished.
Second Skin: Wayward: A litRPG Adventure (Second Skin Book 7) Page 14
