In all seriousness, after what the pack has just experienced it would not surprise me in the slightest if they never recover from it...Or it takes the opposite effect and finishes the tempering on their frigid, slightly deranged but overall kind souls. Now either going to cry at the sound of a rat or grab it and cut off it's throat...Only time will tell. But back to the story hmm...it's strange knowing what those things are and not being able to see past them. It's almost like a one way mirror and I'm not sure if something is looking back or not. Strange feeling I must say but with these False Heroes is almost a challenge keeping up with their escapades. So we should continue before we get off track again.
The cave was silent all but the sounds of snoring from Elias while Kyu sleep sound next to him, Bee and Mathis were up but Mathis stretched as if it had not been long since he woke up with the demon handing him a water skin that he took with both hands and gulped it down before Bee spoke,
''So what was in the door?''
Mathis finished his drink before throwing it back, speaking with a soft tone but one that trembled with fear,
''Things I will surely remember when I get back to the prison...Even being locked in a cell with Drax or Stitches would of felt like a walk in the park compared.''
Bee realised quick that the prince did not wish to speak on the subject, he huffed before standing, looking at the two men sleeping before turning to Mathis, sitting down but now eye to eye with the demon,
''For a guy who's royal duties were running the kingdom's prison you sure are calm...Gura told me about it...Mr. 'Patron of Imprisonment'...HA! What a funny nickname to give ya self!''
Mathis tilted his head like Kyu before responding,
''No...I was given that title by the inmates...And the level negative one boys have an even worse name for me aha! What did Gura say about me then?''
Bee stopped his laughter before smiling,
''Not much other than the nickname really...You been doing it since you were ten apparently?''
Mathis looked down with a sad smile on his face,
''Aye...My tenth birthday I remember being forced to go in with Daramyr, Zandar and Jericho to watch uncle Drax in action but all I cared about was testing out this new toxic sludge...Made it with my uncles bone shavings and a Kraken's heart that was in my father's archive...Tried using it on Stitches funny enough...He always creeped me out up till this point but anyway I missed him but only just...He raised a shadowy fist into my stomach but I placed the blade facing down so he stabbed himself...My brothers assumed I would take stance and all but Zandar rushed over but they were confused to see once he dropped me that I pulled out a notebook and started writing down the effects...Dracul saw this and grabbed the formula I was working on and said as punishment that I would work as a vice-warden for two years...As you may of guessed I was good and ended up getting made a proper vice-warden before my eleventh and the Warden when Drax wanted a easier role when I was thirteen...twenty-four years of life and the majority of it have been there.''
Bee was shocked to see the prince divulge some much as he smiled,
''Ha! Not all royals are happy then! What you end up calling the poison then?''
Mathis smiled at this,
''I guess...I called it Sea Stopper...My old man made a poison so bad that it made a sea god from a forgotten pantheon be bedridden for decades before finally dying to it...He was reached out by her husband of all people! Fathers notes said The god's were a weird group...So yeah I was quite proud of it.''
The two started laughing as they heard the movement of the angel waking from his slumber and sitting straight and looking at Mathis,
''So you have been working since childhood? I always believed the royals had little care but one would guess only your family would be the exception Willa...Seirei.''
''I swear Kyu...M.A.T.H.I.S! MATHIS! Is it that hard?!''
''SHUT UP YA LOUD FUCK!''
The three looked as Elias rose quickly with a look of anger on his face before Mathis and Bee laughed, the prince stood next to the demon as they offered their hands to the two sitting down, Elias looked confused but accepted the help up to his feet from the two before Kyu stood and Bee spoke.
''Well since these guys are here they must know something right?''
Elias looked even more confused as he spoke,
''Well ain't that obvious? The doors we went through would be the answer...Mathis? Kyu? Did it go that bad-''
''No...They were not just here for these doors...I feel something pulling me here...I've been hearing a voice since the elections a few days ago telling me to travel to Glassand and on my way I will find a man to lead us a unknown way...We would fight a true battle with no result guaranteed expect the answers I seek...Don't like it that's fine but I will be looking for the source of the messages alone if needs be.''
He turned to Bee,
''So where did you get your weapons?''
The demon pointed up to the high roof with a hole the shape of a far away moon on the black roof. Mathis sighed and asked,
''Were ours there to?''
''Yep...Was in a rush so forgot to grab them.''
''Well then…''
He felt two hands touch his shoulders as he saw Kyu and Elias smiling before they spoke in turn,
''Sei...Mathis...I believe you following this will bring you salvation and as a friend, brother and reason Baarias won't let me leave...No...Never mind the last part what I am trying to say is I will help still.''
Mathis smiled before he spoke,
''Buddy...Thank you but you know she can't hear you here?''
''Y-You sure?''
Mathis nodded as the angel smiled and walked towards Bee and Elias spoke,
''So...We can call saving me even now, right? Since you had a feeling about the pain I would go through.''
He squeezed the shoulder slightly but was hit in the wrist by what felt like a viper, looking down and seeing the princes hand before he half turned his face showing only his Violet eye,
''Try something...No you still owe me and I will call it in...You lived didn't you?''
He released the goliath before walking towards the demon with Elias dragging behind trying to loosen his wrist before Mathis spoke again,
"Right...How are we all getting up? Kyu can fly and I can use the shadows but...You two…''
Elias laughed as he looked around for supplies. Then looking at the group.
"Come on one of these guys Probably had rope right"
After only a short time Elias managed to find a bag of possessions and survival equipment hidden by a rushed attempt of throwing dead plants on top before he called over to the group
"Oi boys I found some useful stuff.
Some rope and plenty of pegs and about a day's rations for me that is."
Gaining the attention of the group, Kyu and Mathis look for decent places for the crew to climb up with them. While Bee was looking around the doors coming up blank.
"Alright you two can you fly or magic your way up there."
Elias asked as he passed Mathis and Kyu some pegs and a long rope each. Mathis shrugged, responding.
"Why don't you 'magic' your way out of there you have reserves right?"
All the comment managed to do was make Elias roll his eyes,
"Yea I have reserves, I'm not the type caster that can teleport or jump around. So would you kindly help me and Bee get out of here?"
Mathis turned to get Kyu but all he saw was a moving rope sliding up the shaft almost looking like a root being manipulated by a druid, Mathis waved his hands mildly speaking out a incantation,
''The shadows are my home and with them I will traverse this.''
His body then developed itself in a black inky substance before he sank into his own shadow, it's form resembling that of a serpent as it flowed up the wall rapidly wrapping around the cave's jagged walls as he ascended up the shaft. Getting to the top his hand ripped from the shadow gripping the dirt ground as he forced his body out from the darkness. Standing as he dropped one end of the rope down grabbing the other end as it fell down to the lower level. Then looking at Kyu who was busy trying to work out how to use the pegs properly, calling to the bird,
"Hey Kyu! just stamp the thing though the rope into the ground then we will pull the bulks of meat up."
He said throwing the sharper edge down, passing though the rope and into the stoned ground having charged it with a minor amount of Ki. Then proceeded to help Kyu get Bee and Elias out of the pit. Using all the strength to get the two heavy men out first Bee then Elias. The two casters panting as Elias rolled out from the whole. As he got up he saw Mathis and Kyu start complaining.
"I'm never going to get used to lifting a damned Goliath a hundred or so feet. Lose some weight you asshole."
Mathis said huffing and stretching his arms before Kyu spoke with the same breathing pattern,
''Yoru...cannot lift...you into her paradise...being this heavy...''
Elias made a fist before grabbing the meats and pointing to the corner,
''There are ya weapons right?''
Mathis looked over to see his staff and hilt along with Kyu's dagger and Elias's sword. The two moved to grab them but as Mathis was a inch from picking them up he heard the voice come back,
''The next room to your right...That is where you need to be.''
He looked either way but to no avail before picking them up and moving to his right as the rest all tried to call his name to no avail before reading their weapons before following and being shocked by what they saw. A large door but nowhere as big as the doors below, standing at the arches highest point around twenty feet but no engravings but dark black chains with a putrid red moving through keeping the door closed but at the centre was a normal lock but old in look. Elias moved to the door tapping it then moving his hand over the lock before turning to the group.
"Well boys this is some old fashioned enchantments right here. Usually these things come with a riddle or something. Though if you wanted to give it a shot you got some nice gear. Could show it off, don't get to see new enchantments often. But that's up to you."
As Mathis and Kyu looked over the door it's looming form was rather daunting as they saw the same runes as earlier on the doors below Mathis turned to Bee asking.
"Hey. Bee read the door. Now"
Mathis' voice sounded anxious as he spoke, his eyes never truly leaving the door as Bee looked at the door responding.
"Oh course your royal asshole. What it says is. What walks on four legs at birth then two in its prime and then finally three at the end...Hmm I think it's a bear! it's a healthy cub then it stands proud then it limps away to its death…that sounds about right. I think…"
Elias looked at the demon with a look of disgust but saw that the angel was rubbing his chin and nodding before his eyes opened wide,
''No! It's a meerkat if you think about it!''
Elias looked over to Mathis as he walked towards the door and shouted,
''HUMAN!''
The chains glowed bright before turning into small embers of black that floated to the ground before disappearing, Mathis turned to the other two and shouted as they were opening,
''You two are actual liabilities I swear-''
His anger paused by the sound of crackling lightning making him drop to his face as he shouted to the rest to move who all did except Bee who pulled his two hammers and blocked his face as a skinny bolt struck and sparked out around his hammers before Mathis teleported next to them, getting out of line sight of the creature the group all getting to the sides of the door
''Great...A fucking fight.''
Looking at each other as they hear what sounded like stone hitting and grinding against bone. Bee edged his vision into the room seeing that seemed to be a massive four legged beast, leaning forward to see what the threat was before he could get a glimpse of the creatures ice blue eyes locked into his paralyzing him in place, trying to move the beast reacted opening it's maw to reveal rows of golden teeth before lightning evacuated his mouth and hit Bee, sending the demon flying backwards, his body seizing before he bounced of the ground in to the cave wall behind. Kyu rushing to his side as more lightning rushed from the monster Kyu placed his hand up saying a minor incantation.
"Light shatters around the bringer of night"
The lightning seemed to have dispersed around him as he placing a hand on Bee, passing some light into his chest then grabbing his ankle, bolting as fast as his legs would take him while dragging Bee across the ground. Out of the lightnings path.
"Oi bird get the fuck off me. I'm fine!"
Bee exclaimed, pulling his leg away from Kyu then looked at his spare hammer, spinning it by the leather tassel before asking,
"Oi you throw some magic into my hammer. I have a plan"
Bee said, getting the confused, head tilted Kyu to do it before he pointed at Mathis,
"Hey umm...Willabaar? Aren't you meant to be the stasis master? What do you want me to do, melt it?"
"Yes, do it now!"
"Sure umm.. holy mother in the sky lights this unholy being weapon so he may smite this sinful being."
Kyu spoke an hastily made incantation making Bee used his demonic strength, jumped into the line of sight of the beast throwing his hammer, light now enveloped it's form as it collided with the beings lightning. Melting away at the weapons leather handle before the now sparking blunted weapon slammed into the chest of the creatures. The hammer splitting apart into smouldering fragments lighting the room. Revealing a large malnourished blue scaled dragon, over twenty feet long but limbs showing the bones edges and curves under it's dull blue scales as it tried to stand again, struggling with it's legs shaking frantically making Mathis smile as he ran, body low to the ground as the dragon spewed it's lightning in his direction making him slide on his chest, arms spread out as he muttered a incantation.
''Rocks and stones turn to the powder of the earth.''
His arms started piling up the rock with a now almost liquid like form as he threw it into the air, acting as a shield as the pale blue hit and seemed to dissipate quickly as the prince placed his hands forward, making his momentum pull him into a handstand that he used to vault legs first in the direction of the dragon as it lifted it's claw and connected to the sound of a large tree being struck with lightning, revealing Mathis in the palm and using his staff to block the claws, the staff started to crack as he struggled to hold the beast back before it's eyes slithered to it's right as it closed it's fisted claw, Mathis only narrowly escaping the crushing last second but his elder wood staff snapped and turned into two small sticks and a confetti of splinters started to fill the air next to the dragons face before the prince uttered his incantation through gritted teeth but sounded like nothing before, his eyes turned from the two vibrant colours to a jet black as horns of shadows formed on his head as his voice was deepened and layered over itself a few milliseconds out.
''I am Mathis Tysol. The right hand of Indra. The god of the forgotten and the endless void. The nature that fills this air will become one with the void.''
Bee and Kyu looked shocked but nowhere near the level of fear that was shown on Elias' face at what he saw before he dropped to his knees and clasped his hands, Kyu heard the soft voice speak,
''Indra I have done nothing but help your vessel so i beg you please remove the curse on our lands!''
Mathis' body was starting to take a more shadowy form as the splinters all smashed into the dragon's face and making it fly onto it's back again as the prince tilted his head to Elias and now had a crescent moon of bold white sinking into his forehead as he spoke with the same distorted effect,
''Ah...The Seven Sands...They have suffered to long but that is not at my hand.''
Elias looked up confused as Bee stood with weapons in his hands before whispering to Kyu,
''Oi Bird...What is happening?''
He was shocked to see Kyu looking at Mathis but paying no attention to what the demon said before Mathis looked over to him,
''Ah...The right hand of my dear mother...The curse can be broken by me touching the pike that lays by the throne''
He outstretched his hand to point behind the dragon that was trying once more to get to its feet but now blinded towards an old and decrepit throne, sitting was a skeleton of a big humanoid but upside down, head at the bottom and feet facing up. Bee was confused as the body of Mathis made its way to the spot it pointed, followed by Kyu and Elias making him stay close but keep his weapons primed. Mathis walked past the dragon that was squirming frantically to get up and swung it's skinny blue whip of a tail towards him that seemed to get close before burning in black flames, passing through him as he walked towards the throne, ignoring the sounds of the dragon's screams as he saw the old rusted pike stabbed into the ground as he spoke once more to the weapon with his hand over it,
''Lytesbane...I have found the one that will reawaken you and your brothers...The battle of the sword contracts….BEGINS AGAIN!''
He gripped around the weapon as a bright light enveloped the room for a split second and when the crew could look at Mathis again he seemed to have his body back, the shadows had receded and his horns were gone but in his hands he held something new, A long six foot long dark blue pole that was ended with a three foot guard and a long and skinny six foot blade, The prince kicked the flat of the blade that was in the floor as it spun up and landed below the guard on his shoulder as it rested and he half turned his head to show his face with a cold look but his deep green and bright violet eyes had returned before he spoke,
''Guys...That thing is not done yet.''
The crew turned to see that the blue dragon had spawned four new heads and stood looking to have more muscle this time as the heads roared in unison as the crew all took their varying weapons out and took position in a spread line with Mathis behind and in the centre, ready to fight this beast and hopefully finish it and move on to the next goal.
I knew this kid would do something from a young age...Even more so when you asked for his tale but...In an elven era I would never have guessed something so...genius! Still sad by the fact they were never a thing in my days...Hm? Oh get over it you would do the same if your god ever asked you right? Now let us discuss the finer details, that blue dragon...I thought that ability was extinct. The closest thing I ever saw to this was a...well two dragons in one body and no not a hydra those things are common as dirt in the right places. I wonder how long the poor thing was in there for? imagine having an immortality but never experiencing the warm day's sun or the fresh scent of a night time candle. How I pity its lack of experience.