WARNING!
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As Auns sprinted through the dense forest, panting and sweaty, he suddenly stopped to catch his breath. That's when he heard a strange noise behind him. Just as he was contemplating his imminent death, Blackey pounced on him, knocking him over.
Blackey wrapped his arms around Auns tightly and exclaimed, "Mommy! Blackey missed you!"
Auns let out a surprised scream and immediately started scolding Blackey.
"Blackey, please don't do that! You scared me half to death. I thought something was attacking me!"
Blackey's tail hung low, a clear sign of guilt. "Mommy..." he said softly, a hint of remorse in his voice. he whimpered, his ears drooping, his sad eyes pleading for forgiveness.
Auns rolled his eyes, still feeling a bit shaken up.
"Yeah, yeah, real funny. How about you use some common sense and give a guy some warning next time, will ya?"
Auns grumbled to himself, shaking his head in annoyance.
"Great. First, Blackey scared the crap out of me, and now you damn voice, did you lost your sense of direction. Why can't I even fucking see a damn town that you were talking about? This is not the adventure I signed up for." he added, gesturing around the densely forested area.
The voice tried to defend himself, but Auns cut him off,
"No! You don't get to say anything! My feet are screaming in pain, my patience is wearing thin, and if I have to keep following your lead, I might as well roll over and play dead. I can endure your ability to keep me alive, but I can't endure being led astray." And it's all because of you and your terrible sense of direction. I want answers, and I want them now!"
The voice replied with a casual tone but a hint of annoyance.
"Oh come on, can you quit griping already? It's really not that much further, we're probably only about twenty kilometers away. Let's save our breath for walking instead of complaining, shall we?"
Auns huffed in response, crossing his arms in frustration.
"20 kilometers? That's ages away! I'm not just gonna shut up and walk like a mindless man. And what do you mean by wasting my breath? I'm expressing my discomfort, not singing an opera! Can't you at least throw me a bone and provide an update on the distance every once in a while?" he grumbled, his annoyance still evident.
The 'voice' sighed, its tone becoming somewhat irritated.
"Look, I understand your frustration, but your constant complaints are not helping the situation. We're getting closer to our destination, just 20 more kilometers to go. And as for updates on the distance, I'll do my best to keep you informed. Now, can we please focus on the task at hand instead of bickering like children?"
Elrand rolled his eyes, his irritation not fully subsiding.
"Fine, fine. I'll keep my mouth shut and my legs moving. But if we end up lost in the middle of nowhere because of some cryptic directions, I'm blaming it all on you, 'voice."
The 'voice' remained silent for a moment, clearly not amused by Elrand's continued attitude. After a few beats, it simply responded,
"Just walk."
With a resigned sigh, Elrand reluctantly did as instructed. He continued marching, although his displeasure was evident in his expression. He muttered under his breath,
"This had better be worth it,"
For a few minutes, Elrand kept silent, his eyes fixed on the path ahead. But eventually, the need for conversation overcame his annoyance.
"How much farther, Expert Navigational Maestro?" he asked bluntly. "Are we almost there yet?"
The 'voice' answered with slight annoyance in its tone,
"I've told you before, we're still about 20 kilometers away. I'll let you know when we're getting closer, alright?"
Frustrated by the response, Auns grumbled to himself,
"Seriously? 20 kilometers feel like a lifetime. Can't this 'voice' find another way to keep me occupied besides walking and complaining?"
Elrand scowled at the voice's suggestion.
"Great idea. Because singing a song in the middle of this wilderness sounds like a great way to get help from the animals. How about you try giving me a more useful suggestion instead?"
Auns just keep walking even though he felt like he was being scammed while constantly making complain about his situation.
Next day , at dawn, he arrive at the city called Aetherwind safely. When he saw the places filled with the din of people all around, sounds of horses and carts rushing.
He look ahead to the market spread out in front of him and trader have set up stands to displays their wares. The smell of spices and exotic goods fill up the air. He can also heard the laughter and banter of the people going about the days.
The road was also were well decorated with flags, banners and bunting. Additionally, lanterns, candles and flower wreaths can be seen all around the building.
"This place seems far different from previous town. It peaceful and the people are much more friendly." Auns said with expectation and confused .
"Of course it is, this place is protected by the Church of The Eternal Eclipse. It is a well known church that always devoted to the safety of human. While The cultist before worship The Goddess Of Aria.There are many other cult that did the same and worse but worship another god." The voice said.
Then Auns continued to walk slowly down the road, seemingly lost in thought. The road appeared peaceful and serene like a perfect place to relax and clear one mind. Yet despite that,something felt... off.
A subtle sense of unease hung in the air. He couldn't quite put his finger on it,but there was an unsettling presence that seemed to be lurking just beneath the surface.
As he continued to walk, he recognise a familiar face.
"Isn't that Elrand?" Auns said while squinted his eyes as to make sure what he saw is right.
Auns thought long before decided to not greet him. He felt it is unnecessary and might just become worse if his identity was discovered.
while he on his way to an inn to rest, he spotted a priest at a narrow alley who was seem to already passed out. The alleyway was dim as its only source of light came from street light. He approached the priest,curious as to what he might need help with.
The priest's fancy clothes and cloak covering a majority of his appearance caught his attention, as it had an eclipse symbol on it. He wondered if the priest belong to the Chruch Of The Eternal Eclipse.
After a brief thought, Auns decided to bring the priest with him to the inn. He believe that it would be much more easier to help him there, as well as provide him with a more comfortable setting. And a few information^_^.
" Hey Blackey, take him" Auns said.
Then Blackey open his mouth as wide as a people can fit. It was a frightening sight, as his mouth could easily swallow a person whole.
" Wait.. wait a minutes! What did you just try to do, Blackey! Auns said as he was so surprised by Blackey appeareance.
" Ermm... eat?" Blackey said with a clueless face.
" What! I told you to just keep him as we need to bring him to the inn. Ughh! " Auns said while rubbing and pinching the bridge of his nose.
"I mean... ughh nevermind. I just give him a piggy back." He said while clenching his jaw.
Some of the people in the street watching them from afar were confused and watching the pair cautiously and speculating the priest had some sort of medical issue.
After a few minutes, Auns was clearly huffing, puffing and suffering under the load. The priest seemed like a skinny and frail individually and yet so heavy.
The pair eventually arrived at the inn located on a busy street. The people were still watching them as Auns who was carrying the priest finally felt relieved to put down the load. The priest was still unconscious when they entered. The innkeeper looked concerned but also curious as to what was happening.
Once Auns arrived in the room, he quickly setting the priest down on the bed, he took a few steps back, not sure what to do next. Auns was still breathing heavily and sweating little. Auns kept glancing at the priest every once in a while, seeing if he had woken up in any way.
But eventually the exhaustion caught up to him. He fell asleep within moments, sitting in the corner of the room while the priest lay unconscious in the bed.
After few hours, Auns woke up feeling a bit more rested and energised. He found the priest still lying in the same position he had been before.
Auns looked over at the priest and notice that his chest was moving up and down slightly as he breathed. He quickly got up from his corner and went over to the priest, trying shake him awake.
"Hey! Hey are you alright? Mister priest!" He said while gently shaking of the shoulder in an attempt to wake him up.
The priest slowly started to open his eyes, looking around the room bit as he seem to be trying to figure out what was happening.
" Where am I? Why am I here? What happen to that monster just know!" He said with a hoarse voice while trembling in fear.
"I am the person who bring you here. I saw you faint on the alley. For the monster, I don't see anything like that." Auns answer while trying to figure out what he meant by monster.
"Is he fighting with it just now, and lost, so that's why he fainted? Fuck! I shoudn't has help him!". Auns thought.
As the priest was lost in thought, Auns try to peek and get a closer look to what the priest look like. His skin is pale and translucent, as if it were made of wax. Red eyes that glow with a faint, red light even though his face was covered with the hood.
The priest carries himself with a certain air of confidence and authority. His body is hidden by the robe but Auns certain that he had a muscular frame.
"He's so dang perfect" Auns thought while drooling thinking about his body.
" Ohh, I am sorry. I seems to lost in my own thought. I should have said thank you first thing first. Thank you so much. My name is Cyrus Oure. A priest should never revealed their name but I make an exeption for you as you are my benefactor." He said.
"It's my pleasure to help you Lord Cyrus" Auns answered with pride as the priest refer him as a benefactor.
" I am sorry but I think I need to go now. But this is the only thing I had on my body now but I will make sure I will paid you back for your help" Lord Cyrus said with a sad face as he was unable to paid him back while past a little paper to him.
"No its find, it doesn't matter but what is this" Auns said with a confusion.
"its a ticket for the auction, you doesn't know? Ahh! You must be new here, then you will have a fun day there." Lord Cyrus said with thrilled.
"Then I will leave first." he ask.
"Please let me lead your way out." He answered.
Ohh before I forget, what is your name?" Again he ask.
"My name? It…" he hesitant either he should or not.
" Hey voice can I revealed my real name to him?" Auns ask as he was reluctant.
"Of course you should! He seem to be qualified to be sitting "there". The voice said with excitedly.
"My name is Jeremy Auns. You can call me Auns" He said while confused with what the voice mean "there" but decided to ignore it.
"Thank you again Lord Auns" He said with a smiling and grateful face.
As they both walking down the stair and saying goodbye to each other, Auns quickly go back to his room and taking bath.
After he done bathing, he wanted to sleep back again but the innkeeper was calling him to eat as it was one of the services that was provided in this inn. After he done eating, he went back to rest with Blackey under his armpit.
"Hihihihihi... MOMMY" Blackey mumbling while giggling.