" The Towering Worlds : Hell's Chalice. ™"
A Story written By @mohhdude.
(Be warned, there will be references from other series in this book!!)
Alternative Names -
"TTW : HC.™"
"Protocol — Hell's Chalice. ™"
"End of Earth, Beginning of Hell. ™"
Chapter XIII :
" Tree of Hell. "
Act I : The Dungeon Tower of Hell.
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" He who plants a tree, Plants a Hope. "
— Lucy Larcom.
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The Four, now Five, are now exploring the forests of The Royal Capital of Kanónas. They have set up a camp as Leif & Victor were out Hunting. Gudo was managing the Fire with Sheri.
" .. Hey, Kalon, was it? Can you use any Abilities? "
Kalon looked over to Gudo who was sparking rocks, wondering why they're doing this.
" hey I thought you can just light this on fire- "
Sheri looked at him whilst crashing the stones together. Causing a small smoke.
" Nah, the old ways still work best. "
Sheri replied, Kalon looked down as the stump of their forehead had a small & dull horn on it. As he held it slightly, it grows day by day like a finger nail,
" No.. No I don't have magic.. Sorry.. "
Gudo Nodded, as He lit a spark from clashing the stones together, causing the wood to burn and make a campfire. Kalon looked at the fire.
" hey, Kid. Why don't I teach you how to use Magic? That way you can defend yourself and your friends. "
Sheri offered with a proud smile, Kalon's eyes lit up in joy as they nod.
" Yes! Thank you, miss! "
Sheri chuckled, rubbing Kalon's hair.
" I'm Sheri, sorry I didn't introduce myself. But it's good to have another girl on the Team. "
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" M-Miss Sheri.. I'm a boy.. "
Dead Silence, Sheri halted ruffling Kalon's slightly rough Hair.
" Ah. "
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" Let's get you a bath first, your hair is rough whilst it's long. "
Sheri took Kalon to the river since it was warm. Sheri sat on a boulder with a white long cloth in her hand that had black linings, along with white pants.
Kalon went into the river to take a bath as he came out with wet hair, his hair reaching his calves. Kalon walked back to Sheri and Sheri wiped Kalon's hair and dried it with a wave of heated wind.
" feeling better? "
Sheri puts on the White shirt on Kalon after Kalon wears the pants. As it reached his calves, Sheri scratched her chin looking at the cloth.
" How old are you, Kalon? "
Kalon looked at his fingers, counting as he exclaimed loudly and brightly.
" I'm Thirteen, Miss Sheri! "
Sheri nodded, looking at the dull horn on the right side of Kalon's forehead.
" You were born with a horn? "
Sheri looked at Kalon as Kalon spun a bit. The long piece of white clothing flutters out abit.
" mhm, I learned that it costs a lot of money, that's why those bad people kept cutting off my horn.. It grows every week so I need it to be clipped around Sunday. "
Sheri nods, as She leads Kalon to an Open Field, she keeps her hands on her waist. As she shouted with a bottle of Mana in her hand.
" Alright! Are you ready for The Training, Pipsqueak?! "
Kalon looked up at Her, Exclaiming again with excitement & determination filling his eyes.
" Y-Yes Ma'am! "
Sheri looked serious, kneeling down.
" I can't hear you! "
Kalon shouts loudly, He's looking up as he does so.
" YES, MA'AM!! "
" Good! Then we shall teach you the basics and fundamentals of Mana! "
Sheri got back up, as she got in stance. Forming a ball of Mana from, of course, Mana. Sheri threw the ball at Kalon; it squeaked as it hit his head, not hurting him.. Due to him not emitting any mana, he cannot catch it.
" Just uh… okay let's see.. Focus your body and think you're in a dangerous situation, just imagine the Mana flowing through you. Okay? "
Kalon nodded, rubbing his own forehead a bit. Sheri throws another ball of Mana to Kalon, focusing his mind on the ball, imagining he's in danger. Kalon then failed.
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" we're gonna be here for a while aren't we.. "
Sheri sighed, as Gudo was target practicing with the branches of a tree.
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Leif cut some branches down that were in the way, as he stepped on fallen leaves that crack with a satisfying crunch under his foot.
" It's taking a long time to find animals here, huh. "
Victor agreed, as he sweats a bit. Victor held a small dagger to cut down vines and spider webs.
" Yeah, I suppose that a lot of predatory animals live here in this forest. "
Leif chuckled slightly, as he glanced at Victor whilst walking beside him.
" We should tell Sheri to cast a barrier then. "
Victor flicked Leif's forehead, Chuckling as well.
" Shut up, you'll tire the poor woman. "
Both of them stepped into some sort of pond with one inch of depth, with a large tree in the centre. A Man wearing Armour stands there. With a sword stabbed into the ground, He was frozen still, glancing at the two with golden eyes behind the helmet.
" .. Foul Intruders. What is thy business with this Sacred Forest? "
Leif was a bit confused as he scratched his head, Leif looked at the knight.
" Sorry, but we're just out here trying to get some food. Do you know some animals we can eat? "
The Knight was shaking, gripping the Handle of his Blade. His armour clanged as he was shaking.
" Consume The Creatures of this Sacred Forest? I cannot permit such an Act. "
The Knight took his Sword out of the Ground. His Sword was a shiny Blade, the tree behind him was starting to glow purple.
Victor got in stance as he formed stone gauntlets made out of Mana. Leif gripped on the handle of his sword whilst getting in stance.
" Look man, we're looking for food. We don't want trouble, but if you won't let us get food to feed our friends, then fine. "
Leif says, as Victor crouched. His stance was like him holding a shield in his left arm and a spear in his right arm.
" Fine then. I, Who goes by the Name of Sir Einar, Knight of The Forest. "
He swung his sword to the right, stating his name as his Blade was imbued with Mana. His armour was imbued with Mana as well, boosting his durability and speed.
" May This Forest consume you and grow. "
Einar dashes forward as Leif quickly unsheathes his Blade. Clashing with Einar as Sparks fly everywhere. Victor hits the ground with spikes shooting out of it, Einar breaks the Clash by kicking the calf of Leif, Jumping up. Leif barely dodged the friendly fire.
" Watch where you're aiming! You could've killed me! "
Einar jumped high up, Slamming his sword into the ground. Causing a Magnitude around the Area, Leif grabbed Einar's sword, setting it ablaze.
" Leif! Hold him! "
Leif stabbed Einar in the Solar Plexus, Rotating himself to be around him. Einar was squirming around as Leif tilted his head to the right.
" Let go, I am The Guardian of The Sacred Forest! "
Leif constricts him as he grits his teeth. Leif struggles before Victor dashes forwards. Leif quickly flipped back, Victor hits The Knights Stomach with his Gauntlet, Causing Sharp Rocks to explode out Einar's back.
" … "
Einar's squirming had stopped, His Body fell limp as Blood trickled down his fingers, Dripping into the pure blue water below their feet.
" … oh, Knights of Kanónas… Please, Help this Knight one last time… "
Einar raised his hand, his eyes were never able to see the skies. he looked up at the clear blue sky above them, trying to reach it with his raised hand one last time.
" ah.. It's so beautiful.. as.. They said… "
Einar's hand now fell limp, freed from his curse to guard the tree and the curse of never seeing the Skies of Redlocnse.
Einar, The Knight of The Forest, has been Felled. Victor looked at the Knight, feeling some sort of pity. He looked at the emblem Einar had on his chestplate.
" .. He's a Knight amongst
The Round table of Caelum. A Group of Thirteen Knights that were blessed by their ancestors to protect Redlocnse, He was Cursed to be here instead of enjoying his own Life, Bound to protect the tree. "
Leif looked at the Tree, Touching it. As he had glimpses of a fleshy place with chains rattling and lava boiling. His eyes having a crimson red trail, he dropped to his knees, panting heavily, huffing.
He held his head, as if his head was about to split into two. Victor quickly rushes over after taking His Fist out of the Knight's Stomach.
" Leif?! Are you okay?! "
Leif fell on his back as the crimson trails in his eyes dissipated, snapping out of the visions. His heart beat slowly calms down.
" fuck.. My head hurts.. Don't touch the tree, I don't know why but.. It showed me a glimpse of a place made of flesh with lava and chains.. "
Leif got up, as a goat was dead from the vibrations The Knight had made. He picked it up and took it back to camp with Victor.
Leif unsheathed his sword as Victor had laid the Knight down, right beneath the skies outside of his curse.
" Shame that we can't take his sword, but alas, it would be disrespectful to the dead… I feel kinda guilty for killing him though. "
Victor nodded, as the carcass of the goat had stopped bleeding. Victor saw camp in the distance.
" yeah.. It had to be done to survive. "
Victor announced their return as Sheri & Kalon were still gone. Gudo turned back and looked at the two who returned.
" .. Oh, Hey, where have you two been? It's been two hours. "
Leif sat down in front of the campfire as he rubbed his hands and showed his palms towards his fire. Sighing in relief from the warmth.
" Sorry, we ran into a Knight in the woods while looking for food. Where's Kalon & Sheri? "
Gudo glances down, nodding his head as an Explosion was in the near distance behind Gudo.
" You asked your question, There's your answer. "
Leif rushed there as Victor just sat down after keeping the goat down. They started to skin the goat.
" What the hell are you doing..?! "
Leif shouted, as Kalon was panting, putting on a Mana Barrier that was weak.
" oh, just training him. "
Kalon waved joyfully to Leif, smiling widely. Whilst having dirt on his face and clothes that can easily be dusted off.
" Hi, Mister Leif! "
Leif sighed in relief and sighed back, looking at Sheri.
" Thanks for teaching them how to- Wait, Him? "
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" ah- I see. "
Leif walked to Kalon as he rubbed his head. Kalon had a slight glow of Gold in his eyes as he was able to see the organs and muscles of Leif & Sheri for a brief two seconds.
" … Good Luck, Okay Kalon? Don't push yourself. Be back before an hour is up, food is getting ready. "
Kalon understood, Kalon formed a Mana Barrier Sheri threw a ball of explosive Mana.
" .. Yamamoto. "
Leif was a bit surprised from the unexpected visit from Solomon.
" Wow, you're actually talking to me. What's the occasion? "
" .. That kid over there, The Blonde Child. Don't get too close. He emits an Aura that screams demonic. "
" Kalon..? But he's just a kid.. How can he be a threat? "
" He's not a Threat. But the Thing inside him is a major threat, He's clawing at the walls of his mind to come out. Slowly giving up as he looks like he's meditating..
i can't tell who, but it's a major threat to you and to your friends. "
" Did Kalon forge a Spiritual Pact with someone before we met him? "
Solomon nodded from the sanctuary he had built in Leif's Mind.
" it's a possibility that the spirit inside Kalon can be forced against his will to forge the Spiritual Pact. "
Leif thought for a moment, sweating a bit.
" .. I'll be careful, but it doesn't mean I have to threat Kalon wrong. Okay? "
" .. Do whatever. "
Solomon's voice disappears, Leif went back to camp as it was turning dark. Sheri looked at the exhausted Kalon panting, as he fell on his back.
He didn't get hurt really, just a small scrape on his knee that he didn't let anyone see.
" .. Let's continue tomorrow, you did a good job, Kalon. "
Sheri rubbed Kalon's hair whilst smiling. Walking with Kalon on her back. Placing Kalon down on a Blanket for Him to sleep comfortably.
" You seem to be great with children, huh. "
Sheri looks at Victor, as They were eating.
" .. Yeah, I did have sisters but.. They died in a battle. Since I was just a child back then, Sister Brünhilde took me in as her little sister and as The Last Lesser Valkyrie. "
Sheri placed her plate down. Covering it so that it can be reheated for Kalon tomorrow.
" I don't know how it was like but, I treated my little sisters with care yet they died.. "
Sheri sighed, she got up.
" well, I'll be going to bed. I'll wake you all up in the morning to keep travelling. "
Gudo nodded, Leif was starting to get a bit sleepy, wondering what that place he saw was. Was it hell? A Dungeon Tower? He doesn't know. But he leaned back, folding his cloak into a pillow as he rests.
" Goodnight. "
Victor laid down as well, using his coat as a blanket.
" good night. "
Gudo was the only one who stayed awake, He looks at the flames of the campfire.. His face was expressionless as his eyes reflected the flames.
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" .. Mother. "
Gudo whispered to himself.
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During that Night, Gudo had fell asleep after two hours, Snoring softly, As it turned into morning within Eight hours.
Sheri woke up as She formed an explosion spell to wake up the three men, Excluding Kalon.
" Morning, Ladies! How have you been sleeping?! It's time to walk! after kalon wakes up and has breakfast. "
Leif, Victor, and Gudo collectively thought…
" Favoritism… "
As Sheri and The others were getting ready, Kalon had a slightly faint red shine on his knee…
The Scrape on Kalon's knee was Healed.
— Chapter XIII, Fin.