Tyler had Sera close to his side as they Followed the elven ranger through the rocky terrain of trees and grass. They spotted the tall rock formation, and it was easily twice as high as the hollow they'd been ambushed in. The group went flat as they crawled to get a look. The cave entrance was easily ten feet tall, with a perimeter wall around the front made of logs. Atop the rock, stood a pair of two lookouts. Tyler looked to Wulf and nodded to the rock. The ranger nodded, and they fit arrows to their bows. Using Longshot, and Farsight, killed the two lookouts with shots to the chest. Both bodies fell backwards onto the rock, instead of int the camp. Tyler looked to his crew and nodded. The group moved with all the noise of shadows, even Sera was as silent as the Ranger, to the wooden wall. The thing was made of logs taken from the area, and was ten feet tall. Wulf led the party along to a small cleft between the logs and rock that had plenty of room for them to squeeze by. Now within the camp perimeter, Tyler had Sera had his side, and would point out targets for her to snipe. The princess would take the shot, and the man would fall silently to the ground with an arrow in his head. The former pampered girl now not even smiling as she hunted bandits inside their own camp beside warriors. The ghosts moved around the outer wall of the camp, taking out stragglers and loners as they went. They used tents, rocks, and bushes for their stealth. At one point, they came upon a pair of men chatting as they looked into the opposite direction. Tyler smiled as he pulled his daggers and winked at Sera. The black haired girl watched fascinated as Tyler snuck up behind the two men, stabbed them both in the neck, and dragged them both behind the rock they hid behind without a sound. Then they moved. Sera had just killed her tenth when a cry was heard.
"Murder! We got an assassin in camp!"
She looked to Tyler, who smiled as he patted her. She nodded and put up her bow to draw her sword. Tyler pulled Oblivion and Oathkeeper. Wulf his longsword, Kaori her katana, and Vixen readied her spells. Out of the fifty men in camp, only thirty still lived. With only two mages till amongst them as well. Tyler watched from the cover of a convenient rock, as a group of ten men were walking by. The Warrior looked to Sera and smiled, then he and her moved together to attack. Tyler stabbing two with his blades, as Sera took one in his stomach, before spinning and reversing her grip to tear the red sword out of his belly and slash another in the throat. Tyler then blocked an overhead shot aimed at her.
"Always be mindful of where you turn you back."
She smiled as she killed the man, before pivoting on her left foot to run a man through the belly as Tyler took his head. Then she jumped back and deflected a sword stroke at her side, only to use the momentum from the swing to slam her blade into the taler man's leg, and sever it. She then followed through to slit the man's throat as the rest of the camp came running towards the sound of combat. Sera was back to back with Tyler as they got surrounded. Tyler smiling as a tall man with a massive spear was heard laughing.
"A wee lad an his sister? We got toys lads!"
Sera and Tyler smiled, as the two remaining mages revealed themselves with their chants. Only thing was, Vixen sent her new Hateful Burn spell into their faces. The spell cost ten mana, and would coat the target in a mass of black liquid that would eat any flesh it touched to the bone. The mages died screaming. Then Kaori and Wulf slammed into the backs of the ring. Tyler smiled widely as Sera stayed put instead of rushing off as she wanted to. Instead trusting her formidable friends to handle their parts. The pike wielding man stabbed out at Sera, and she sidestepped it, surged forward, and cut the man's leg before dancing back as he tried to counter. Then his leg buckled, and her fell to a knee, and the princess was right there to use a skill Tyler had given her: One-handed smash. She severed the leader's head with a single stroke, and that was all she wrote for the bandit camp. Tyler and his friends applauded Sera's kill. As the princess smiled shyly, and lowered her gaze with a blush.
"Thanks. How'd I do?"
Tyler hugged her tightly.
"well done Sera. Well done. All you need to learn now, is more tricks and skills. She's not a novice anymore guys!"
Sera looked into Tyler's eyes, and he saw they were clear, before she bobbed up to kiss him on the cheek.
"Thank you for teaching me how to be strong."
He hugged the girl.
"I just showed you how to use it. You were already strong."
Sera sniffed, before looking at the severed head.
"What's he worth?"
That got a laugh.
"Let's find out."
He looked at it,
"Wow. 400 gold. Sera, that's your gold. I'll still hold it an all, but you claim it yourself."
The smile of pride on her face made all their hearts sing. Tyler looked at the pike.
"I'll carry that for you. Thing's a bit much."
They laughed and got to looting. Tyler still keeping Sera close as she was the least experienced member of the team. The work progressed quickly, and they racked in 45 gold, 55 silver, 120 copper. Plus a few banned spells as well. Then they were faced with the cave. Tyler sighed.
"I really want to check it out. Same time, reeks of a nasty surprise."
Wulf, the more experienced with the area, tilted his head.
"As much as I agree with you, we kinda have to see what those bandits have done in there."
Tyler sighed.
"Alright. I'll go first, Sera, directly behind me, Kaori behind her, then Vixen, and Wulf you got trail. Wish we had a dwarf for a cave dive, but whatever. Let's go."
Tyler had his dual blades out, Sera her sword, kaori her katana, Vixen her axes, and Wulf his sword. The party ventured into the surprisingly well lit cave. There were torches were few feet, and looked to have just been changed.
"Active mine?"
Wulf nodded.
"Looks like it. Or they were looking for something."
"This cave have a legend?"
He sighed.
"Remember the Lich?"
"Okay. Sera, if we find something like that down here, we're swapping you for Thistle. Men and goblins are fine and all, but your still not ready for something that hardcore."
She nodded.
"I understand."
Tyler then used his detection skills to their absolute maximum to scour the cave as they went. As they went, Tyler noticed something disturbing.
"Hey, look, the wall's glittering."
Wulf looked at the shiny rock.
"That's pure red steel ore! A single vein is easily worth hundreds of silver!"
"That's it. Everyone out."
They all but ran from the cave as if the bandits were ignoring such valuable and easy loot, then they were CLEARLY after something else. They returned to the horses and other party members. They saw the grim looks and were on edge. Tyler looked right at Thistle.
"Those bandits were ignoring pure red steel veins as they dug. We're swapping you for Sera. All of you, head for the cave entrance. We may have something else down there."
They all nodded as they followed the Warrior's orders. Once in the ruined bandit camp, Tyler issued further orders.
"We're going back in. Rest of you stand watch. Malico, your camp."
"Got it."
Tyler, kaori, Vixen, Thistle, and Wulf all dove into the cave with spare torches taken from the camp. Tyler in the lead with his detection as the others watched for ambush.
"We go slow. I hate cave fighting for a reason."
So, they moved along meticulously, looking twice around every corner before Tyler led the way with his Mythril vest. As they went lower, Tyler got a hit.
"Hold. We got a room up ahead with a hollow feel. Guards up."
The party walked forward cautiously as they entered the stone room. The thing was smooth stone thirty feet wide and twenty tall. Tyler took one look and groaned.
"That's a boss room if I've ever seen one."
Kaori nodded.
"Only question is, just WHAT is it?"
Tyler looked to his team.
"We either can find out, or seal the cave permanently."
They all looked at each other. Kaori looked at the room.
"If WE can't handle it, NO one can. Plus, we also stand the highest chance of walking in, setting it off, and escaping."
Vixen was in agreement.
"Indeed. If you, the strongest man alive, can't best whatever is in there, then there is nothing that can."
Thistle was smiling.
"It is always wise to air on the side of caution. That side, we've come this far. Might as well get it done."
"What she said."
Tyler smiled.
"Well, let's knock! But first."
Tyler pried a fist sized stone off the wall.
"I have seen this trap FAR too many times."
He threw it as hard as he could at the floor. It shattered on impact, and echoed throughout the room, and Tyler lifted a large boulder taken from the mining operations, and did the exact same thing. Vixen was curious.
"What's he testing?"
Kaori chuckled.
"Making sure that floor's not rigged to fall. Seriously, it's a classic trope in our world."
Tyler sighed as his tests proved the floor was stable.
"I'll lead."
He had Oblivion and Oathkeeper out as they walked into the room. Tyler noted a carved circle on the floor.
"Shit. Vixen, is that what I think it is?"
The black mage took one look, and gasped.
"That's a demon summoning circle!"
"Break it! It's a demon chamber!"
The way they came in slammed shut as a ring of fire appeared around the edges of the room. Then an evil laugh was heard.
"Well, well, what luck! Such willing food!"
A ten foot tall beast with blood red skin, hooves and wings dropped to the floor. Tyler took one look, and grinned.
"A pride demon. I got this pissant."
Tyler puled Gleipnir as the thing snorted at him.
"You think you can best ME in single combat boy?"
"I just hope you put up an actual fight. I mean, I DID kill your brother, that rage demon yesterday."
The thing growled angrily at the now circling boy.
"I accept your challenge boy. I win, your party is MINE to play with."
"What have you got for me? All I see is an empty room. I'll still kill you, but ya know, stakes."
The demon snorted.
"Very well. If you best me, you'll be granted the title of Demon's Bane upon Slayer."
"Wulf?"
The ranger chuckled.
"It's the next level of Demonslayer. And adds plus 50 to all stats. Oh, and it also increases loot gained from killing demonkind."
"nifty. Alright hell's shitstain, time to face the TRUE Demon."
The demon had a single vein bulge on his head as the nonstop taunts got under his skin.
"Your death will be slow human."
"Funny, your brother said much the same. And look what happened."
The demon chuckled.
"How's it feel knowing you'll never measure up to what your mother wanted for you?"
Tyler burst out laughing.
"How's it feel being humanity's bitch?"
That sent the thing into a rage, and it surged forward with a roar.
"DIE PUNY HUMAN!"
"Nah. You will though. Blue demon dragon roar!"
Tyler breathed Tempesta's flames directly into the thing's face before surging forward with Gleipnir to sever a leg. The thing bellowed in raged pain as it swung it's spiked tail at Tyler, who merely set it on fire before severing it fully.
"Wow, you said a slow death, yet YOU'RE the one dying! Come on hellspawn! Maybe you'll touch me before you die!"
Tyler's nonstop taunts blinding the fell beast's judgement and reasoning, resulting in another lunge, as Tyler merely took a two handed grasp of his blade.
"Rock Smasher."
The sword glowed solid blue as Tyler spun and flipped the blade across the beasts chest as it tried to grab him. The swing severing the thing's torso completely. Tyler, however, was well-versed in demon slaying, pounced to stab the thing in the heart. The pride demon roared in defiance of death as it burst into blue flames.
"Huh. I guess all you demonkind are nothing but talk. Still, fun bit of exercise. And look, you died without touching me. Saw that one coming."
Tyler laughed as the thing was consumed by flames. Leaving behind a four foot piece of demon horn this time. The chamber cracked, and shattered, revealing the circle used to summon the thing written in white chalk on the floor. Tyler looked to his friends.
"Everyone good?"
Kaori was smiling.
"Was kinda fun was you taunt a pride demon into a rage filled suicide charge."
Vixen was also smiling.
"It would seem you understand demonkind surprisingly well, for a pride demon is indeed the brother of the rage demon. And they hate each other, so equating them at all was bound to hit a nerve."
Thistle was shaking her head.
"That was a Pure Pride Demon. A party of twenty priests is usually required to deal with such a beast, yet you killed it alone, and made it look soul-crushingly easy."
Wulf just sighed.
"He manipulated a lesser rage demon into a death match. Now's he taunted a pride demon into blindly charging him like a bull. That is a truly terrifying skillset."
Tyler smiled, and used his detection to scan the room.
"Heads up, still getting a hollow feeling. Vixen, destroy that circle, please."
The black mage smiled as she used her acid to burn it away. Once the summoning circle was gone, Tyler walked to the spot he was getting the hollow feeling from. He then pulled his dagger, and started tapping on the walls. He got the light clack of metal on solid stone, until he reached a spot that had a distinct thud.
"found a false wall. Should I look for a handle or just punch it?"
Wulf looked around.
"Look for a switch or something before tearing it off the wall."
Tyler stepped back as he looked. The Vixen noticed something.
"Hey, look."
She pointed out a small knothole near where Tyler had been standing. Set with in it was a series of five holes. Tyler sighed.
"Of course that's the trick."
Tyler placed his fingers in the hole, and yanked. The result was a heavy clunk of stone on stone, as the wall pushed outward, before falling to the floor with a heavy crash. Inside was another sarcophagus.
"That's more reasonable."
They stepped inside, and found the chamber was another twenty feet wide, and twenty high. As they all entered, glowing writing appeared.
"This look familiar to anyone?"
Wulf smiled.
"This one's a human ruler. I do not know of him, so, either a minor Lich or a draugr."
"Sounds like fun. I get to try out my undead spell then. Alright, form four square around the coffin. I'll throw the lid."
Wulf had his bow up with piercing arrows, Kaori had her katana ready for a heavy slash, Thistle had her axe held low, and Vixen had an acid spell ready. Tyler grasped the lid.
"Ready?"
Nods. He then tore the lid fully off, and jumped back, dodging the initial shot.
"Vixen!"
"High draugr! Smash it's skull!"
Tyler raised his palm.
"Holy Smite!"
His palm glowed like the sun as a white ball of pure white power smashed into the thing's head. It glowed as it screamed in pain while still trying to raise from it's coffin.
"Do it!"
Kaori used her blade skill, Lightning slash, to deliver no less then ten slashes in ten seconds upon the head, as Vixen dropped her acid on it, and Wulf fired his arrows into the eye sockets, before Thistle slammed her axe into the thing's head as well. The skull shattered like glass under the multi attack. It hadn't even been able to exit it's coffin before death reclaimed it. Tyler smiled as he sheathed his blade.
"Well done everyone. Let's see what we got."
The companions made a decent sum, 350 gold, 450 silver, 230 copper coins, a new greatsword the same size as Gleipnir made of Magicite, and fifty rubies the size of watermelons. Tyler whistled as they added the gems to their collection.
"I bet we could buy a house with gems alone."
Tyler resealed the tomb, and they exited the cave. As they went, Tyler pulled a few veins of the ore from the walls as they went. By the time they reached the others, he'd left the cave stripped bare of the red steel ore. They found the others listening to sera tell the tale of her first bandit camp.
"I stepped around Tyler's back, and stabbed him in belly! Then he cut his head clean off! Then the leader tied to stab me with that long pike, but I step around, and cut his knee out. He fell, only for me to swing my blade and cut his head clean off!"
The others were sitting around Sera as she retold the tale of her glory. They all clapped and hugged her as Tyler and his party returned.
"Nice to see you're a great story teller, Sera."
They all jumped to get the story.
"What happened? You were down there for a while."
Tyler sighed as he pulled the new horn out."
"Those bastards were summoning demons. There was a Pure Pride Demon down there in a Demon Chamber. I killed it. Plus a high draugr. We got it's loot, and I stripped the walls of the red steel ore. Let's go and I'll smash those two rocks they tied that chain to."
The group were shocked by the fact that such feared beast had been down there. But they mounted up regardless. Once back at the spot, Tyler removed the spiked chain and added it to their pouch of raw materials before lifting the two rocks up and throwing them into a nearby ditch. Then they thundered onward. Lily riding on Tyler's horse as he'd had a question.
"Hey, can you work red steel over a camp fire?"
The elven girl thought about it as she laid back into his chest.
"Again, depends if I can get the flames hot enough."
"Fair. Well, we'll figure it out. Worst case, I can always use Tempesta's flame to heat the metal for you."
She laughed at the thought.
"That could work. How long can you breathe fire for at once?"
He patted her head.
"Ya know? I'm not entirely sure, Lily. I can test it once we make camp."
She smiled and shot a sidelong glance at Kaori beside her, along with a smirk that said, Look where I am!
"Keep it up, and you ride with Lucy."
"Eep!"
She squeaked in surprise as he hadn't even looked at her. Kaori just smiled.
"Wow. I really DO have a serious challenger!"
Lily was grumbling, as Lucy rode her beast in a curious bucking manner, and Lily would have to sit in bucking range. And it'd hurt. A lot. Tyler just patted the fierce girl as they rode along the lonely road onward. The shadows were getting long as they came upon a small building on the side of the road. Tyler looked to Wulf.
"That a traveler's rest?"
The Ranger looked and smiled.
"Indeed. Sometimes a family will set up along a road with a restaurant or inn. They make their coin off travelers and caravans."
"Let's check it out then."
The party smiled gratefully, as they were getting saddle sore from the hard ride. The group pulled their horses to the posts inside a small shed to keep them out of sight of thieves. Then they walked through the small door, where a man was looking over some papers. He was an elf, but his skin was lighter then the grey of mountain elves. At the sight of his fearsome guests, he gulped.
"I hope you're just here for food, milords and ladies."
Tyler smiled.
"Aye, Sirrah. We mean you no harm."
He sighed with relief before guiding the party to a long table with a view of the road. Once seated and orders placed, Tyler pulled up his HUD. He went to Titles, and sure enough, Demon's Bane was added to the list above Demonslayer. It added plus 50 to all stats, increased the amount of horn received by 50%, and further increased the damage he did to demonkind. As he closed it, he heard some scared breathing, and as they all looked in it's direction, they saw the man with a pitcher of tea was bone white in terror. Tyler tilted his head.
"You okay?"
The man gulped again.
"Be ye Warriors?"
Tyler smiled.
"I be, and so be the blonde. Me name's Tyler the Outcast."
The man breathed a very heavy breath of relief at the name.
"Oh thank the gods. The TRUE Warrior. My apologies Great One. I saw your HUD and Assumed."
Tyler chuckled.
"Better safe than sorry."
The man smiled as he poured them each a cup.
"A wise sentiment indeed, lad."
Tyler smiled, as he noticed a small girl with a sickly look to her, walking towards the man.
"Excuse me, but is she ill?"
The man looked, and went right to the girl.
"Rosie, you're not supposed to be out of bed!"
The small elf girl smiled weakly.
"I wanted to see the Warrior Papa. That's all."
Tyler smiled as he got up.
"Had I known, I would have gone to your bedside, miss. Here, let me look at you."
The girl gaped as The Outcast himself sat in front of her to look at her.
"Hmm, runny nose,"
He placed a gentle hand on her forehead.
"Yikes, wow, your burning. Okay, Anyone? I think it's a fever."
Malico was the one that spoke.
"It's a fever alright. Water Fever. A very nasty water-borne illness in Lectis."
"Well, I got an excuse to try my hand at cures. C'mere sweetie and hold still."
He placed a hand on her head.
"Holy relief."
The girl glowed brightly, as his powerful white spell flooded her small body and cured her fever entirely. After she hugged him tightly.
"Thank you Lord! I feel so much better!"
Tyler looked to the smiling man.
"Anyone else sick in here?"
The girl answered.
"Momma is. She hasn't been able to leave her bed in days."
Tyler looked to the man.
"May I?"
The man seemed about to cry,
"Thank you, Warrior."
"Thank me AFTER it works."
Tyler was led upstairs to the lady's bedroom. Inside he found the lady fighting to breathe as a damp cloth was draped over her head. She looked at the door, and saw her cured daughter come in followed by Tyler.
"Momma! He's a Warrior! He'll cure you!"
Tyler smiled kindly as he looked at the now fearful woman.
"Let's get you cured, before we talk."
He placed his hand on her head.
"Holy relief."
He had seen her condition had been FAR more severe, so this spell had ten times the potency packed into it. The lady glowed like the sun as her disease was cured and her strength restored. The small girl, Rosie, gaped in awe as she got to watch a Warrior work his craft. Once the light died, the lady sat up, and had regained her strength.
"I thank you, Sirrah. Please, take your reward. I only ask Rosie leave the room, and gentleness."
Tyler tilted his head, confused.
"Umm, I'm flattered, but sorry. Kaori's downstairs, and I'd rather not die like that."
Rosie giggled.
"She's pretty!"
Tyler patted her head as he stood. The lady was shocked.
"Why'd you do this for us then?"
Tyler chuckled as he looked at her.
"Because I could."
He left her in her bed, only she had a final question.
"May I ask the name of our savior?"
Tyler paused in the doorway.
"Tyler the Outcast."
She gasped at the name, and he smiled.
"If you clean up and come down, I got my crew downstairs as well."
HE left the lady to her dressing. In the small dining area, the man was looing anxious.
"Well?"
Tyler smiled.
"She'll be down shortly."
The man hugged him, so overcome with joy at his family's healing.
"Thank you lord!"
"Not done yet."
The man stepped back, only to get a blast as well. After Tyler sat at the table as the man and his family reunited.
"Okay, Malico. Water Fever. How do you get it?"
The catgirl flicked her tail.
"A contaminated water source."
"Has ANY of us drank anything since we got here?"
They all shook their heads.
"No one does until I give to clear. I'll check the well."
Tyler got up and walked to the family.
"Sir, I must ask to see where you draw your water from."
The man nodded.
"Me names Eustein. Right this way sir."
"No one drink anything until I've cleared the water. That's how you all got sick."
They nodded as Eustein led Tyler to a outdoor well near the road. Tyler looked into it, and could not see bottom.
"Okay, let me think."
HE thought for a moment, as Eustein got curious.
"May I ask what you're looking for sir?"
"Anything that can poison a well. Could just be the well's gone bad. It's rare, but not impossible. But."
Tyler looked around at the surrounding plant life.
"If the ground water's gone bad, then the plants would start dying as well. Okay, I know."
Tyler pulled the chain he'd gotten from the bandits.
"I'll see if Lily can whip up a sludge net."
He led Eustein to where Lily was looking at her dagger.
"Hey, Lily. Question. I need a special kind of net made from this chain. Think you could do in that fireplace there?"
The elf girl looked at the spiked chain link.
"Sure. What kind of net?"
Tyler pulled a piece of parchment paper.
"What I need is a sludge net. Looks like this. It's used to drag wells for things that got thrown in that shouldn't BE in a well."
He drew a simple lattice pattern, with eye lets for hooks. Once Lily saw the design, she smiled.
"give me five minutes."
"You rock lily."
As the elf took her task to the fire, he looked at the man.
"That your only water source?"
The elf shook his head.
"we have an indoor one as well, for our baths."
"I'd like to check that as well."
"Of course sir."
Eustein walked Tyler to the well in question, as it sat near the back of the building.
"Sorry for the poking around, but if I help someone I don't believe in half measures."
Eustein laughed.
"Lad, the effort you're going to for a bunch of random elves you just met at a road side rest is nothing short of humbling. We deeply appreciate it if this don't happen again."
Tyler smiled as he looked into the well. This one being perfectly clear.
"Hey, Vixen!"
The black mage came in shortly after.
"You need me?"
"Did your training involve illnesses at any point?"
She smiled as she understood.
"Indeed it did, as some black spells cause illness like effects, my mentor would infect me with minor ones so I could build an immunity."
"Alright. Here, I'd like you to taste this."
Tyler used a cup from their pouches to draw a test for her, and soon as she tasted it she smiled.
"Pure. I can find no badness in this."
"You sure?"
She nodded.
"Indeed. Another illness training method, was to train my taste to detect both poison and illness. My mentor told me I was the best she'd seen."
"We'll check the outdoor well then."
He looked to the elf.
"I'd recommend using this one as the main water source in the house."
Eustein nodded.
"Very well."
"Ha, nice well pun."
The older elf chuckled as he saw his play. Tyler and the investigators passed Lily putting the finishing touches to the net that he'd use to drag the well with. Tyler smiled.
"Nice job Lily, bring it to us by the well when it's ready please."
"Sure."
Tyler drew another cup, and as soon as Vixen tasted it, she got a disgusted look on her pretty face.
"Oh gods that is FOUL."
Tyler took the cup and placed it on the well.
"You know what that taste is?"
She had a slightly green look on her face.
"Indeed. Something is dead inside that thing."
Tyler looked to the man.
"Anyone else come through here recently?"
Eustein thought for a moment.
"Another group of Warriors rode through this area, maybe, a week prior? They didn't stop, and we were glad as they were a loud, nasty bunch. One was pissing on her poor horse as the thing carried her along."
Tyler and Vixen looked at each other.
"Okay, Vixen. We cannot. Okay? CANNOT Tell Kaori that."
The black mage shuddered.
"With how that girl loves horses, I agree."
"Net's ready!"
They looked to see Lily with the net. The thing was three feet wide, was covered in sharp spikes meant to catch and hold, and could be flipped with a hard edge to scoop whatever was at the bottom. Lily had even used the leftover metal to make a mini chain to hold the device. Tyler patted her head.
"Thanks Lily. I'll keep you on my horse when we leave."
"Damn right you will."
Tyler smiled at her ferocity as he dropped the net into the well. As he did, Kaori came over to see what he was doing.
"Did you find anything?"
"Remember that movie we watched together? The Ring?"
She sighed.
"That poor girl made me cry."
"Yeah, be ready for that."
Tyler felt resistance in the murky depths of the well.
"Got a bite. Gimme a minute."
He used the thing to fully scoop up whatever had been down there, and he pulled it up. As soon as it broke the surface, the most putrid, foul odor of decaying flash hit their noses like an angry stone giant's fist. With the sole exception of Tyler, the entire group got as far as they could as he lifted the carcass out of the well and placed it in the road. Once the light hit it proper, Tyler sighed deeply.
"We have a dead elf. No older then Lily, maybe even younger."
It was true. The putrid carcass was once a small elven child. But, after two weeks of decay beneath the waters of the well, her face was a grinning skull, her skin was yellow with rot and peeling, and her once pretty red dress was stained black with filth. Tyler just sighed as he pulled his blade to examine the corpse.
"Okay, cause of death is...a fucking stab wound to the chest. Size of the wound indicates a blade like Oblivion."
Tyler looked to the elven man.
"Get a grave dug for this poor girl. Those Warriors raped her until they tired of her, killed her and tossed her in that well."
The man nodded and ran to get a proper burial ready for the ill-fated girl.
"Got something else here."
He looked to see Vixen had dropped the net back in. Now nestled in the net was a small necklace with a locket. The mage brought it over and he looked at it. It had once been a rather shiny silver, now it was green from the rot of the well and the corpse. The locket was of a simple design, with a pair of bird wings around the center. HE opened it to find a picture of what the girl had once looked like. She'd had shiny red hair, bright blue eyes, and beautifully pale skin. On the inside, it said.
"Sylvia Leechwood. Daughter of Marlene and Warlund Leechwood. Cragspire center avenue. Number three."
Tyler closed the thing and held it in his fist as he looked at the girl.
"Sylvia. I'm sorry this happened to you. I will hand deliver this to your family if they still yet live. If they do not, then WE will carry it with us on our travels, that you may know what riding with TRUE Warriors is like. For now though, rest easy. You've earned that much."
Tyler used his own canteen to clean the necklace as best he could, getting a good 90% of the grime and discoloration out. Then Eustein came over.
"Her rest is ready."
Tyler lifted the festering corpse bare handed.
"I'll lay her to rest myself. That way she feels the warmth of a True Warrior laying her to her rest."
His friends watched as he laid the unfortunate soul in the hole in the family plot. Once she'd been settled, he filled it in himself, before passing the locket around.
"Wulf. Thistle. Do you know this family?"
They both took one look, and had tears in their eyes.
"No. Not Sylvia."
"Those Monsters! I'll gut them myself!"
Tyler sighed as he took is back.
"Who was she?""
Wulf was praying now over the grave as Thistle spoke.
"Sylvia was as sweet and kind a girl you could ever hope to meet. She'd run along the road and greet the Guard as they came back from a patrol, or be seen playing near the palace. Her smile was always such a joy to behold, and her eyes were gorgeous. She was such a happy girl, and all of Cragspire loved her dearly."
Wulf rose from the grave to add his own.
"I know her parents well. Warlund and I were rangers together in the guard before I became Ambassador. He is strong and kind. His wife, Marlene, as fierce as Lily, but as sweet as Sera with all the beautiful of Kaori. I knew Sylvia well. I was there when she was born, and was named her second father. In case Warlund and Marlene died, she'd be with me."
He looked at the grave, and tears were in his red eyes.
"That girl was like a daughter to me. So kind, always smiling, and with a ready hug."
HE dropped to mourn her loss, as Tyler placed the locket over his head, and force the rage mounting inside him down. He patted the ranger's back, and nodded to his friends. They left the man to be alone for a while as they went back inside. Tyler then looked to Eustein.
"Tell me everything you remember about what they looked like."
The man sniffed.
"Two over-weight women, a thin dark skinned man, and a taller lighter skinned man with green eyes. The darker skinned man was pulling the single largest woman I had ever seen in a small wagon as they headed down the road to TopLeaf."
Tyler grabbed the wall, as the roiling rage within him threatened to explode.
"That was my family. Mother. step-father. Sister. The other man was Kaori's father."
The place was silent, except for the crackling of the fire.
"I will kill them for this."
They looked to see Wulf had returned. The mountain elf's red eyes were blazing with rage now. Tyler walked over as he cut his hand.
"No, Wulf."
HE held out his bleeding hand.
"WE will kill them TOGETHER."
Wulf cut his own hand and they sealed the oath.
"I will drag them to hell."
"They will fear my wrath."
"But, first we need to get this to Marlene and Warlund."
Wulf saw the locket, and sighed deeply.
"I bought her that myself."
Tyler placed it under his Mythril.
"I'll bear it. Only right she feels the warmth of a true Warrior."
Wulf shuddered.
"I was looking forward to having you meet her. Seeing a Warrior like you, it would have made her go absolutely insane. To her, Warriors were the embodiment of what a hero is supposed to be."
"We met, Wulf. Not the way I would have liked, but at least we did."
He sighed as his fists clenched.
"That you did. Thank you for laying her to her rest like that. I'm sure her spirit is smiling now."
"I'm certain she is. Her second father AND a Warrior were there to see her off."
Tyler patted his friends shoulder again.
"Let's try to have fun while we have her locket. Maybe her soul will see it, and have fun with us."
Wulf smiled at this.
"Aye. Let's. Now, as much as I appreciate the gesture of laying her to rest with your own two hands, ya might wanna clean up."
"Eh, fair."
That got a chuckle as he flipped the man a silver to clean up. He had a tear fall from his eye as he felt the weight of the girl's locket on his chest.
"I'm sorry."
HE knew what that poor girl had suffered at the hands of his evil family. HE finished his bath, and dressed. As he left, he felt something poke him in the leg. He looked, but no one there. He smiled.
"If you wish to follow our travels, please, do so. You deserve a proper adventure."
HE heard a giggle, before leaving the bathroom. He found his crew sitting around the table eating their food as he sat beside Kaori. The blonde hugged him.
"You okay?"
HE sighed as he dug in.
"No, Kaori. No I am not."
Wulf sighed as well.
"Neither am I."
Tyler just looked at the now sealed well, as Eustein had decided to never use the water from it again.
"I'm getting tired of these tragedies we keep finding. All at the hands of those from our world."
He rubbed his temples.
"At this point, when we gather, Let's just fucking kill them ALL. Kazuma lives, but the rest die. Seriously, this is just not right."
His friends sighed as Kaori patted his back.
"If you kill them all, would you really be better than them?"
"Doesn't matter if I'm better or not. If they're dead, then the girls like Sylvia get to LIVE. That's more important in my book then being the better person."
He ate in silence as his friends saw his reasoning. After, he sat back, and noticed something on his HUD.
"Hello, what the hell are you?"
HE hit it, and a new title had appeared.
"New title? Lets see. Holy Muse? Umm, okay."
Wulf dropped his fork from nerveless fingers.
"You know this one?"
HE nodded, a little pale.
"A Holy Muse can communicate with a soul. If the bond or connection is strong enough, you can sense the dead, and even grant solace and forgiveness to the fallen."
Tyler blinked.
"How the hell I get that?"
Wulf was shaking.
"The only way to get Holy Muse bestowed upon you, is to be of the White Path, and offer solace to two fallen souls that fell before their time. You ALSO need to FEEL their pain as if it was your own. For to give solace, you have to receive it first. As, a soul of the two HAS to absolve you of something."
Tyler and Kaori looked at each other.
"Sallie."
"Sylvia."
"Agreed?"
"Agreed."
They both looked at the couple, and Tyler looked to Wulf.
"When we pass through TopLeaf on our way to Yalik, we'll pay a visit to the Guide's Rock."
Wulf gasped as he understood then. Then he nodded.
"I understand. And thank you."
Tyler looked at his new title. It boosted his white path, and granted the ability of Soul Speech. If he had a possession of a fallen soul on his person, and went to sleep with it in his hand, he could speak to the dead in his dreams that night. HE pressed a hand on the concealed locket.
"As you wish."
They looked at him, but decided to just leave it. After their meal, Tyler left 5 gold coins on the counter. The elf just sighed as he took it.
"That poor girl will rest easy."
Tyler smiled.
"Indeed she will."
The silent party all mounted up, and as each one passed the grave and well, they all offered an easy rest to one that had suffered a fate she did NOT deserve. The party rode off as the sky went from bright blue, to dark as the day wound down. They rode for a few more hours before Wulf led them to a rock enclosed site out of sight of the road. The place had a large stone ring, with one that was taller and reminded Tyler of a tombstone. Heh, fitting. He cast Protective warning, Tranquil Waters, and Holy Purge as the camp was set up. The area was a hilly place with rocky peaks everywhere doted by bits of forest. Their spot was near a small stream with a patch of woodland. Once the spells were in place, tent raised and fire going, Tyler sat against a rock. Lucy was sharpening her axe, Lily her sword, Wulf also resting by a rock, Vixen on her back by the fire, Sera going over her arrows, Lillia cleaning her sword, Thistle doing some sit ups while hanging from a rock, Malico was naked by the fire, and Kaori was looking over the horses. Tyler sighed and pulled up his HUD, looking to the day's news.
"Today in Vernillion. The daily word of horrors perpetrated by the Warriors continue to come in. A group are responsible for a scene of wanton destruction near the dwarven border, as a small town was laid to waste by Warriors drunk on beer, in the south, word as reached us of a trio of warriors sacking a small fishing village, with every woman that called that village home raped to the point of death. We also have heard of a group that set a small woodland forest aflame as a means of entertainment. Another airship was shot down and sacked by Warriors, and, if reports are to be believed, a group of Warriors are responsible for the poaching of a Skyshark."
"Oh fuck."
Every head turned to look at his outburst of shock.
"Those dumb motherfuckers poached a Skyshark. We're FUCKED."
Everyone went absolutely pale at the news. Tyler pulled his Title of Dragon friend up.
"Okay, my title is still here. I think this SHOULD, okay? SHOULD, keep us safe if the dragons take action. If not, well, been fun runnin widcha."
Wulf sighed.
"Tempesta gave you that title himself. As the dragons go, HIS vote of confidence is nothing sort of a decree from the Gods themselves to us. If he's your friend, then all high dragons will be at LEAST willing to hear you out before killing us all."
Tyler sighed with relief.
"Okay. If they'll at least let me SPEAK to them before getting roasted, we have a chance. Jesus Christ on a stick. Even idiots know not to fuck with a high dragon."
There was a rumble of agreement as Tyler kept reading.
"it seems that not even the Sky Lords are exempt from their arrogance. As such, this writer sincerely hopes the only living Dragon Friend, Tyler the Outcast, can reason with the Lords of the Skies on behalf of those that just want to live in peace, and don't even know sky sharks existed until this very article."
Tyler burst out laughing, like a hard, unpleasant laugh too. He then looked to Wulf.
"They expect me to reason with the dragons on behalf of humanity. As I guess I'm the only living Dragon Friend."
Wulf and the camp also burst out laughing at the sheer impossibility of such a task. Then the Elven ranger looked at him.
"Yup. We're fucked."
"Yup. I-shh, hear that?"
The camp went silent, as dull thuds were heard in the distance. Tyler heard them clearly, and groaned hard.
"I'd NEVER forget that sound. Heads up, dragon headed our way."
The camp froze, then just sighed as despair set in. Tyler rose and looked in the direction of the wing beats. Sure enough, a massive green dragon was headed their way. Tyler just sighed.
"If she's hostile, I'll challenge her to one on one, rest of you, run. Not up for debate."
Kaori hugged him.
"I won't leave you!"
"Neither will we!"
Tyler looked around at his friends. There was NOT A SINGLE LOOK OF FEAR. He smiled.
"We began as Outcasts. We go out as Outcasts."
"The Outcasts!"
Tyler reached into his pouch, and walked to a spot between the camp and the now circling dragon. He set ALL of their emeralds on the ground and stepped back as the high dragon landed. Tyler took his spot between the creature and his friends as he looked up at the Lord of Green. This dragon was the same size as Tempesta, with eyes the color of a deep forest canopy with a pupil of gold. It's scales were also of a deep green, ass it the thing was made of jade and emeralds. Tyler waited patiently as the thing folded it's wings over it's broad back, only to find himself peering into the beast 5 foot eye.
"So."
This dragon's voice was more famine then Tempesta's voice, and whereas his had reminded Tyler of falling boulders, Her's reminded him of a wind gust through a forest canopy.
"YOU'RE Tempesta's newest Dragon Friend."
Tyler looked into her eye levelly.
"He granted me the title, if what that's what you mean. Not entirely certain a human can be friends with a dragon."
She blinked at him.
"For Dragons, the title is us what a lifelong friend is to you humans. I believe the term, is best friend."
"Huh, like I told Tempesta, I've peaked."
She snorted at that one, and it sounded like a gunshot.
"I see you have a fire indeed. Now, the stones."
"A peace offering. We do not wish to die this night."
"I see. Yet your fellow humans saw fit to steal from us."
Tyler glared at her with his full force.
"Then take it out of THEIR hides. Leave US alone. We've done nothing to your kind, and hate them just as much as you do. We are NOTHING alike."
He was still feeling the rage of finding that poor girl, and was once again on the verge of exploding from the sheer force. The dragon shuddered hard at the sheer fury in the boy's eyes. She then looked at him with a look akin to pity.
"I sense a great turmoil in your heart, young one."
"You see that elven girl with the red equipment?"
"I do."
"We found the remains of a younger elf thrown down a well after being repeatedly raped and tortured by Warriors before they killed her and threw her down there. This is what she looked like before."
HE showed the locket picture to the dragon before continuing.
"Going off the elf that own that well's description of the party, they were my mother, sister and step father with the father of the blonde. Now look here."
He lifted his Mythril to show his scars to the dragon.
"I know EXACTLY what they did to her. And it is tearing my heart to pieces."
HE stopped as he was shaking so violently with a rage that was on the verge of escaping his body. Then he glared at her anew.
"WE ARE NOTHING ALIKE."
This time, the dragon took a full step back from this enraged boy's fury. She settled into her new spot to look at him again. Behind him, Wulf was also shaking.
"He just scared a high dragon into backing away. With a mere glare."
The dragon sighed.
"I see the rage in you boy. It makes even MY blood run like ice in my veins. You seem to embody Tempesta. Restless, free, but with a fury that, once unleashed, is peerless in both intensity and ferocity. It would seem then, that you are indeed worthy of the title Dragon Friend. But, I must warn you. That rage will destroy you if you do not find a way to channel it OUT of your body."
Tyler looked at her.
"Are you saying…create my own skill?"
"No. What I am offering you, is a means to channel the pain you feel for that poor girl into something to prevent the next girl from suffering like you did."
Tyler fixed her with a very intense look.
"What is this offer?"
"MY Dragon Friendship. With it, you'll gain the Roar Of the Forest ability. It is fueled by feelings. The stronger they are, the more powerful it will be. It uses those feelings as fuel, and consumes them as well. So, once the attack ends, they will no longer weigh you down."
"Downsides to such power? Like my own ability leaves me exhausted for five minutes."
She chuckled.
"A wise question. You will suffer a similar helplessness. Once the fuel is consumed, you'll feel as weak as you would if you just recovered from a long sickness."
"It won't go off say if someone royally pisses me off on it's own…will it?"
She reared back, as if the question caught her by surprise.
"You are a very interesting lad indeed. No. No it won't. It is an ability that must be activated."
"Well then. I accept gratefully. Oh, and in case you forgot, your stones are by your foot."
She laughed as she added them to her pouch.
"An HONEST human? THAT's a rarity! Open you HUD lad."
He did, and she flicked a drop of her fire onto it. He had the new Dragon Friend title, the Roar of the Forest, and her own Dragon Roar as well. He smiled as he saw the new color.
"Seems only right I show my new flame to the dragon that gave it to me."
She snorted.
"You're a scary one alright. Alright lad, let's see you breathe fire."
Tyler took aim at the sky.
"FOREST DRAGON ROARRRRRRRR!"
The flames were jade green and shot a hundred feet into the air. The area was lit up for miles as he showed off his own Dragon flame. Then the dragon was laughing.
"Damn kid. Are you SURE there's not a dragon in your family tree somewhere? That was intense."
He smiled widely.
"Oh, and before I forget."
She looked at him.
"What lad?"
"Your names Furiosa right?"
"Indeed lad."
"Soo, you're the one that gave the okay for us to use the Nidhogg in that battle?"
"Indeed."
"Thanks for that. Nice to see Tempesta's lady friend hates demons much as he does."
His friends went bone white as he cracked a joke to the dragon. Furiosa, for her part, was shaking with some unknown emotion. Tyler tilted his head.
"You okay?"
She just burst out laughing, hard. Like falling to the ground hard. The ground shook as her bulk hit the ground as she lost it. Tyler looked to his friends, and jabbed a thumb at the now struggling to breathe dragon.
"See? I am funny."
His friends just groaned hard, as Furiosa recovered herself. She had barrel sized tears falling from her eyes as she righted herself to look at him again.
"Okay kid. You're a different one. Been a while since anything's made me laugh like that."
Tyler chuckled.
"Hey, if this Warrior thing don't work out, least I have a promising career as a dragon's comedian."
She burst out laughing again, as his friends just sighed.
"Now he's doing a comedy routine for her."
Wulf just sat on a rock.
"The Lady of the Elven Forest, Furiosa, nearly laughed herself to death from that prick's jokes. If I died tomorrow, I can look my father in the eye, and say I saw everything."
The dragon recovered herself as Tyler had a thought.
"Oh yeah. Question."
She looked at him again.
"What lad?"
"Why DID you even come out to see us?"
She snorted.
"I came to see if YOU took the sky shark from Tempesta's skies."
"No. No we did not."
HE looked her in the eye as he said this. She nodded approvingly.
"I see no lie in your gaze."
"I STILL wanna get on one of those floating islands and take a piss off the edge."
That got a snort from both the Dragon and Kaori.
"How long you been sittin on THAT one?"
"Since I saw them out the window of the Tower."
Kaori sighed and hung her head.
"Of course THAT was the very first idea you had upon setting foot in Lectis."
"Actually, Kaori, my FIRST idea upon stepping out of that circle, was to NEVER let you out of my sight."
She was wreathed in smiles then, as the dragon chuckled.
"I see. A Warrior's Romance."
She then fixed Tyler with her eye.
"I shall spread word among my kin that YOUR party had NO part in the poaching of our food."
"I'll also stake my titles that the Warrior named Kazuma played no part in it either."
"I am already aware of this. A fellow dragon encountered this boy on the road near Dragul. The fact you think highly enough of him to place such valuable titles on his honor speaks a lot about both him and you."
"We may be polar opposites. But, we were friends in our world and he's Kaori's brother."
She blinked at him.
"I see. Very well. You are proven innocent of the poaching."
"A request."
"Speak."
Tyler looked firmly into the dragon's eyes.
"Should the culprits identify themselves as Max, Zack, Justin, Moran, Jackson, Jeanie, or Felicia, I'd like to request a stay of execution."
Furiosa glared at him.
"On the grounds?"
He glared right back at her, with TWICE the rage.
"THEY WILL DIE BY MY HANDS FOR WHAT THEY DID TO MY FRIENDS!"
HE roared at the thing as he gave voice to the sheer rage within him. Furiosa was then witnessed to jump backward into a defensive posture: wings half raised, tail at the ready, and a clawed foot raised as her fangs were bared. The ground was shaking a little from the jump. Wulf was now white faced again.
"With but a single yell and a glare, he put Furiosa on the defensive. I cannot believe what I just saw. A high dragon. Scared!"
Tyler was panting as he calmed down from his rage moment, and was holding his head as he now had a throbbing headache. Furiosa retook her spot, and looked at him with pity in her eyes.
"That fury is driven by the pain you felt for those that suffered."
Tyler was rubbing his aching head.
"I feel the rage I do, because I know their pain, for having felt it myself."
Furiosa laid on her side, and wrapped her tail around her legs.
"Go rest, Warrior. Use that ability to see her. In honor of the pain you feel for their suffering, which is all too rare these days, I shall grant my protection this night."
Tyler smiled.
"We are not worthy of such a gift, but we thank you nonetheless. I'd offer more stones, but we're out of green. We got a few sapphires left though."
She snorted.
"I'm a dragon, lad."
"Diamonds it is then."
He put ALL their diamonds on the ground, and she added them to her pouch.
"Not needed, but appreciated."
Tyler smiled as they ate a dinner of leftover venison, making sure to give a healthy portion to Furiosa just because, ya know, dragon. After, Tyler and his friends climbed into the tent, and he laid on his back clutching the locket in a fist.
"Holy Muse."
He closed his eyes, and felt himself drift off to slumber, desperate to meet the tortured girl himself. At first, he felt nothing. No new sensations, and no visions. Confused, he opened his eyes to check his HUD description, only to see his sleeping friends all around him. He sat up using his stealth skills, only to see his body still on the ground behind him clutching that locket in his fist. That's when it clicked.
"Spirit walk. Still weird."
He got up and walked through the tent flap to see two small girls sitting by a warmly blazing fire. One had forest green hair, blue eyes and an ankle length gown of purest white. The other had blazing red hair, bright blue eyes and skin nearly as pale as Vixen's. As he looked around, he saw the world seemed much….clear for some reason. As if he was seeing it at it's most pure form. He braced himself to go sit by the fire next to the two girls. They looked at him as he sat down. HE smiled.
"Hi. I'm Tyler. Nice to meet you."
The girls smiled with such joy as they clambered over each other to get closer to him.
"I'm Sallie!"
"Sylvia! Gods it's an honor sir!"
Tyler sat them both on his knees, smiling affectionately at the two beaming girls.
"Nice to put names to the pretty faces. Sallie, Sylvia."
They blushed hard and hugged him.
"I always wanted to meet a Warrior!"
Sylvia was also giddy.
"So have I! They're so brave and Strong!"
Tyler hugged the small girls tightly, finding them to be very warm.
"Wow, you two give great hugs."
They giggled. Then Sylvia had an idea.
"Hey! What's the strongest thing you've killed?"
Tyler tilted his head.
"Good question. I killed a Pure Pride demon yesterday."
Sallie gasped.
"I SAW that fight! It was awesome!"
Sylvia looked at her.
"How'd he win?"
Sallie laughed.
"He taunted the thing so bad it was charging him like a bull! He cut the thing to pieces! And breathed fire like a dragon!"
Sylvia's blue eyes went wide,
"Was it a green flame like earlier?"
Sallie hugged her friend.
"Nope! Blue! He's got TWO dragon flames now!"
Tyler sighed.
"So, you've been following me this whole time, eh Sallie?"
She giggled.
"Uh-huh! Have been since you first heard what happened. You were feeling my pain like YOU were suffering INSTEAD of me, and it made me so happy I found a True Warrior! I'd been stuck to the Coward as a punishment for her failure to protect us like you would have, and yet, when the sheer pain you felt FOR me hit the bonds, they attached themselves to you instead."
Tyler patted her green hair.
"So, are you joining us for our adventure?"
She giggled.
"Yup!"
"You ARE aware of my rules, right?"
Sallie's blue eyes were sparkling.
"Yup! And I agree!"
He hugged her.
"Welcome to the party then."
HE then looked to Sylvia.
"Would YOU like to join MY party?"
Her eyes went so wide Tyler was afraid they'd fall out of her head, and her mouth formed a wide O as all the breath in her tiny body whooshed out of her in a gasp. Tyler smiled as he poked her nose with a finger.
"Boop."
It restarted her broken mind.
"I'd be honored sir!"
"My names Tyler. I work for a living. Kinda sorta."
They giggled.
"I agree to the rules."
"Cute spirits or not, rules are rules."
They hugged him tightly again. Then he sighed.
"Sallie, I'm sorry I gave you such a false hope like that. I'm sorry you suffered like you did."
HE hugged her tightly to his chest as he felt tears on his face.
"I'm sorry."
She hugged him back.
"It's okay. I forgive you. I forgave you by the rock after you killed them all. You even punished the one that is TRULY to blame here."
He hugged her all the tighter.
"I still regret not being there."
She smiled.
"You really are stubborn. If you'd been there, then the town would NOT be. But, look at like this, you're hugging me now, aren't you?"
HE smiled as he looked at her.
"IS this like a one time deal or?"
She shook her head.
"It's YOUR ability keeping us near you. Holy Muse has ANOTHER function as well. You can use it to seek the solace of the fallen in their own world. You truly caring about us allows us to stay with you on your adventure. The Muse can come here nightly, and either seek advice from us, or just play with us as well. As long as we hold a place in your heart, even IF you give the locket to her parents, she'll still be here."
Tyler wrapped Sylvia in his other arm.
"We'll get to play together a lot. AND I'll get to brag."
The two girls giggled. The Sylvia looked at him.
"Tell Wolfy The grave was nice and all, but traveling with you is MUCH more fun."
Tyler smiled, as he had a thought.
"hey, it's not possible to, oh say, wake him to join us out here, is it?"
They laughed.
"He really IS a mad genius."
"Why I like him so much."
They looked at him.
"if you wish for others to join us, they need to care about either US or YOU to the extreme that you did for us."
"It won't hurt them will it?"
"They'll be granted their Path's version of this ability as well."
Tyler then looked to Sylvia.
"Before I do so. Sylvia, I'm am sorry you met the WRONG members of my family. But, you got me now."
She hugged him again.
"And you're easily the best one."
Tyler smiled,
"Be right back."
He walked into the tent, and shook Wulf awake. The Ranger blinked as he saw Tyler looking at him.
"We under attack?"
"Someone wants a word with you."
Confused, the elf left his spot and walked out of the tent,
"Papa Wolf!"
HE froze as Sylvia came running at him to hug him. Wulf went white as he looked at Tyler.
"What did you DO?"
"That skill? Holy Muse? Long as you care about me like I did her, things transferable. Oh, and she's our newest party member. Same with this cutie."
Tyler scooped up the small Sallie into his arms as Wulf got to see his god-daughter again. Wulf was crying as he looked at Tyler.
"Thank you."
"Sure thing Wulf. Oh, and long as you still give a damn, this is a nightly thing."
Sylvia giggled.
"Papa! I'm an adventurer now!"
Tyler looked at Sallie.
"Mind if I invite one more to our circus?"
She smiled.
"She IS going to be my mother! Well, once you two get there o course!"
"Wait here."
HE walked into the tent, and shook Kaori awake. As she was laying on his chest, feeling the shaking coming from behind her made her round on him, only to see him smiling at her.
"Welcome to a spirit walk. Our girl wants a word with her future mother."
Kaori gasped as he took her hand and led her outside. There, Wulf was playing with Sylvia, and Sallie was waiting by the tent flap.
"Momma!"
She jumped as Sallie leapt into her arms and snuggled into her chest. She looked at Tyler.
"I'm not pregnant, am I?"
Sallie giggled.
"Not yet. Remember his new skill?"
Kaori gasped as she looked at Tyler, who shrugged as he smiled.
"my feeling her pain like it was my own attached her soul to me. So, now I gave the power to see her to you. Long as you care about her, you can see her nightly."
"And you'll feel well rested no matter WHAT we do in here!"
Tyler came and held Kaori in his arms as she cradled the smaller girl against her rack.
"We have a family, Kaori."
She shuddered, and hugged the small girl tightly.
"And our daughter is beautiful."
Sallie giggled.
"Just like her mother!"
Tyler rubbed her hair.
"Question. You gonna look like that when you come out?"
Sallie giggled.
"Maybe. Maybe not. Can't tell you EVERYTHING."
"Long as you grow up looking kaori, you'll be just fine. Last thing you'd want is to look like my ugly ass."
She laughed as Kaori sighed.
"An infuriating prick even in the spirit world."
"But that's why we love him!"
Tyler smiled as he gestured to the fire.
"Wanna tell stories of our travels to our girl?"
Sallie squealed.
"Please! Please please please!"
Kaori laughed and they all took a spot by the fire as Wulf was hugging Sylvia again. Tyler had Sallie in his lap.
"Hmm, let's see. What's a good one?"
kaori leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Tell her about the Tower."
Tyler, Wulf, and Kaori spent that night playing with the spirits of the two fallen girls. As the light of dawn appeared, Tyler sighed.
"Sorry, Sallie, we got to get back to it."
She smiled as Kaori and him hugged her.
"We'll see each other soon."
"Damn straight we will."
As they released her, a low rumble was felt in the ground. They looked to see the green dragon Furiosa rising from the ground. Tyler smiled.
"Thanks for watching over us this night, Furiosa."
The dragon looked at him.
"In all my years, human, I have never met one such as you. You wield abilities normal humans cannot even fathom like you were merely breathing. You walk amongst the spirits themselves like you are one, you made ME fear for my life, and you have forged such strong bonds that you were able to grant he Muse ability to TWO other people. ALL of the Dragonkin are watching you now. Let us see what you do with it."
She flew off as Tyler looked to Wulf still hugging Sylvia.
"Sorry, Wulf. We need to return to our bodies."
The ranger sighed as he looked into Sylvia's eyes.
"We'll see each other again, soon."
The elven spirit girl smiled.
"I'll be waiting."
Tyler smiled then looked to Sallie.
"Soo, how we turn this off?"
Wulf and kaori groaned as Sallie and Sylvia laughed.
"Go lay in your bodies. That'll do it."
"Nifty. Good day ladies. Enjoy the show."
Tyler and his friends waved to the small spirits as they returned to their lives. As the flap closed, Sallie hugged her spirit friend.
"We'll get to travel with WARRIORS! Real Warriors!"
Sylvia squealed happily as she hugged her back.
"It's amazing! I can't believe that man is those evil people's Son!"
The two girls walked into the tent and laid on the boy that had allowed them to travel with the Warriors they had always longed to.
"Sallie."
The small girl looked at her elven friend.
"Yeah?"
Sylvia took her hand as Tyler opened his eyes.
"Let's be sisters in our next lives, as well as now."
"Of course. If I recall right, we WILL be."
The two girls smiled as they closed their eyes and slept as the Warriors woke.