"Ugh, my fricking head, where are you Clarence; get your butt over here." Grumbled Imogen groggily as she rubbed her head.
After a bit of thought, and a lot of silence; Imogen sighed. "And bring Auden as well, I've got an idea to share with the rest of you!"
In about five minutes Calrence stood true, a tired Auden limping by his side.
"Imogen, I'm so-." Tried to apologize Clarence as Imogen spoke over him.
"I've got an idea, an idea that'll solve our most pressing issue... how about we all take an oath to never attack each other; a pact of cooperation in all our favors!" Inquired Imogen while standing up, and feeling her broken nose.
"Hey!" "I was tr-." Attempted to say Clarence, but he was interrupted by Auden.
"If what you said before was in truth, then I think it may be the best possible course; we can't stop fighting for the life of us." Suspired Auden as Clarence grumbled unhappily.
"Stop cutting me off, I just want to say sor-!" Tried to yell Clarence, but was interrupted yet again by Imogen.
"Exactly my point, our infighting will cost us even greater than it already does if it continues, we need to stop it before it's too late." Agreed Imogen while looking over at Clarence, of which wasn't too happy in visage.
"So, how about you Clarence, do you agree to seal this pact of no violence?" Questioned Imogen with a smile on her face as she patted the almost shaking Clarence on the shoulder.
"Thank you for asking, it was very kind of you to let me speak; perhaps we should really hurray with this pact of no violence." Frowned Clarence with a strained voice, and a face like a smoldering fire core.
"Okay, so we're all in agreeance, as I don't know the words; how about one of you two go first." Requested Imogen while Auden pointed at Clarence, who pointed Auden.
"How about a game of Rock, Core, Boom to settle this standstill." Suggested Auden as he readied his hands.
"Oh, you're on... ready, rock, core, boom; go!" Shouted Clarence while holding a Core Symbol in his hands, and Auden a Boom.
"Darn, maybe I'll win this one... ready, rock, core, boom; go!" Announced Auden as he held a Core Symbol, and noticed Clarence held the same.
"Tie... ready, rock, core, boom!" Grinned Clarence while spotting what he thought Auden was going to do next, but noticing that he himself held a Boom Symbol; and Auden a core.
"Ha, tie-breaker round, let's see just who'll win... ready, rock, core, boom; go!" Smiled Auden as he looked to his right to find that Clarence had a Rock Symbol, meaning that this was a loss for Auden who held a Core Symbol in his hands.
"Damn it, looks like I go first... okay, I Auden... of The Bedevilled Tyrant, hereby swear that I shall never perform actions of hate filled violence towards the two largest creatures within a half a meter of me." Promised Auden while feeling something like needles stab all around his body, sealing the oath.
"Your turn Clarence, I think Imogen should go last; it just feels right."
"You know, I agree... time for me to perform my oath, I Clarence Stoneral, hereby swear that I shall not perform any acts of hate filled violence towards Auden of The Bedevilled tyrant, and Imogen of no present last name, or title." Swore Clarence as a feeling of his left arm's circulation getting cut off resounded throughout his whole body.
"I've done my part, it's time you do yours now Imogen." Coughed Clarence while sitting down upon the sand with Auden, who somehow sat down without anyone else noticing.
"Okay, okay, I guess it was my idea after all... So, I Imogen of no last name, or official title hereby declare that I shall not even lay a finger of hateful intent on Clarence Stoneral, and Auden of The Bedevilled Tyrant." Yawned Imogen as for the first time since she arrived on this almost godforsaken planet, her soul was bound to something; without her being able to do anything about it.
"Ahh, and that's my part done, it feels weirdly nice to be bound to something, though; I don't really get it." Chuckled Imogen while feeling Clarence suddenly tap her on the shoulder.
"Um, Imogen, do you remember that sea worm we almost killed yesterday; it's been watching us ever since."
~~~
"Elora, look here, there was a raid on this town by a disbanded unit of infantry, now usually I'd send someone more fitting for such an unimportant job; but the people have to feel like we're placing them above all else." Winked the queen as she handed a platter to a finely clad servant.
"I understand my queen, I'll head there immediately; but who'll guard you when I'm gone?" Asked Elora while sipping some black tea with an added parsley leaf.
"Gabriel of course, he's three ranks above you if I remember correctly, I haven't spoken to him in a while; and want to make sure we're on the same foot." Smiled the queen as she pushed herself up, and left for the pleasures of court.
~~~
"And?" "It's not like the worm can shoot lasers out of it's eyes or something, what's so unnerving about it staring at us?" Laughed Imogen while turning around to slowly walk towards the worm.
"Hey, I don't know if you can talk, or communicate in any understandable way; but do you want to be my servant?" Inquired Imogen as she suddenly pulled a weird scroll out of her pocket after having a quick chat with The System, and rolled it down in front of the worm.
"All you have to do is eat it if you're wondering, not too complicated; right?" Chortled Imogen while tossing the scroll up into the air, and watching the worm, on impulse; consume it.
"If you're wondering what the terms of the agreement were, well it's simple, you'll become my faithful servant forever in exchange for a human form like me; and free reign over the Vavian language... totally fair." Cackled Imogen as she turned back to her awestruck companions.
"See, it was that easy; you don't have to be so sur-... why do I get the feeling that you're not looking at me." Grumbled Imogen while turning around to see a young woman standing tall with long, lime green hair, and weird scale patterns covering most of her face.
"Fricking hell, when will the author get tired of this boring way of introducing characters; it's gotten really old!" Griped Imogen as she held her head in disappointment.
"I mean, oh my god, I totally didn't expect such a twist; it was so impeccably planned that I didn't even notice something exciting was about to happen." Mumbled Imogen while turning around for the last time, and simply leaving.
"Imogen, where are you going; are you even going to say hello to your new servant!" Exclaimed Clarence as he watched the already confused woman shift into that of someone even more fruitless.
"I'm going to dig my own grave, wake me up in a few decades alright!"
"Oh no you're not, get back here you absolute jack- I mean jerk!" Thundered Clarence while he too ran off into the sunset in search of a way to end his sufferance.
"So... it's just you and me right?" Muttered Auden as he waved to the green haired lady.
"...Yes." Answered the worm while standing in place unnaturally still.
"Okay... do you want to talk about something, or..."
"No" responded the silent woman as she moved her arm, just slightly though.
"...Hmm... well this is awkward."
~~~
"Well, it's just the three of us now; the Crimson Of Twilight fell admirably." Lowered The Crimson Of Dusk while joining hands with the other Crimsons.
"We need to find The Chosen One now, we need to sail to Nodgein, this world will fall if we don't hurry." Spoke The Crimson Of Dawn in a tone of urgency unheard from him before.
"But The Ancient Ones block our every entrance to Nodgein, and we can't cross one of those barricades without The Crimson Of Tenebrosity; he was the strongest by far and the one most devoted to our cause out of all of us." Objected The Crimson Of Pale as Dusk interrupted in a devious tone.
"Our entrances above sea are all blocked, but has no one thought of going under?" Suggested Dusk while hoping she had found the answer to their problems.
"We have, trust me, it may be free of Ancient Ones, but more terrifying abyssal horrors lurk below the tides; things that have been around since the dryads ruled the land oh so long ago." Frowned Dawn as Pale took the lead, and suggested something extraordinary.
"What if we teleport to Nodgein, we could avoid all of this stress with a simple teleportation crystal; and I know where to get them." Beamed Pale while staring into his companion's eyes with a smile on his face.