Chapter 3: The Escape of the Machine

here is chapter 3 of the other story, i plan to have botched posted in the next few days, the chapter is a bit longer then expected, i am also taking organic chemestery this samester and that is a job in it self,

 


 

“Shadow…” I called hoping for a response from my lost friend but none came; only silence was the response. My anger flared hot over my lost friend and I walked out of the room, deciding that I had enough of this place and wanted out, to be anywhere but here.  I walked out of the room to the black door in the hallway and making up my mind to deal with this in a violent fashion, I slammed my fist into the center of the door, and with a groan I could see a dent in the large black door and looking at the frame of the door I could see small cracks. Hitting the door again, I could see the door bending in its broken frame. After a few more hit on the object that I had decided to take my rage and sorrow out on, the door made a loud cracking noise, followed by a loud groan as it fell out of its frame. Now, I was able to move further down the hallway.

Walking down a short hall, made of the same green metal as all the others, hoped to find a way that opened up to the outside. Walking out of the hallway into a large dome I looked up.  It was not the blue sky that I was expecting above me, but a dark blue roof of water. It was at that moment that I was noticed, that I was not alone.

“O crap!” someone yelled, “He’s loose in the main dome”

With that shout, loud noises started to blare around me. Commands, in a language I did not know, were being shouted and I could hear the boots of many people moving toward me. I decided that the second note might be the more reliable one and I headed back the way. Running down the hall I reached to my side to get the sheet of paper from under my new metallic skin. Pressing against it, the metal flowed to create a small opening. Reaching in, I grabbed the sheet of paper. Quickly glancing over note I got to the blue door. With a running start I rammed myself into the door, but the door proved to be the stronger. Reeling back at the failed attempt at going through the door, I thought to myself, “What does this guy think I can do?” calming myself down, I pulled back my black and blue fist and rammed it into the door. The walls seemed to rattle and water started to flow through the cracks in the door. Right before I can get in my second hit I hear a voice.

“Stop what you are doing Therin, you will kill us all if you do that” the voice said from the walls.

Swinging around, I shouted, “Where are you? What am I doing here?”

“I am in the control center in the second dome, and you are here to host a suit. Come here and all will be explained.”

“No, you might kill me if I go there, like you tried with the door.”  I yelled.

“What do you mean try to kill you, we need your help.”

“I don’t believe you; I am leaving in three minutes and figuring things out myself. Do what you must to not to be killed, if that is the truth.” With that I started counting. Upon reaching 180 I slammed my fist into the door and water started to flow through the large cracks in the door. Slamming into the wall once again the door made a large screeching noise and the frame broke and water started to stream in flooding the halls around me.  The metal skin surrounding my form protected me from the relentless assault of flowing water but it could only do so much to protect me from the biting cold of the water. After a few moments the water’s assault lessened as the hallway was completely flooded and the feeling of warmth suffused my body driving away the cold of the deep ocean. Going to the hole I made in the door, I tried to swim out but found I was unable to swim in this heavy metal form. So I decided to walk following the second note, I set out into the cold dark outside the door.

 

************************************************************************

 

After walking for a while in the cold sandy depths of the sea, I felt the pressure on me start to lessen on my shoulder. Continuing further I noticed that the water surrounding me was slightly warmer. After hours of walking in the dark depths, another lancing pain occurred, that forced me to my knees. I felt just exactly the same as at the base, with the pain receding I heard Shadow,

“What happened…? Where are we?”

“Shadow you’re alive! I thought you had been destroyed with the new suit’s creation.” I shouted joyfully, as bubbles streamed all around me.

“I don’t know what happened but, I’m back. So, again, where are we?”

“Well, after you did not respond, I waited for a few hours. Then getting tired of waiting I broke through the door and found myself in a big dome underwater, just like the second note had said. It was at that time the people holding us noticed that I had gotten out.  Noticing me they sounded an alarm. So deciding that the second note had proved more reliable, I went and found the blue door. Breaking it down I started walking into the cold ocean depths and here we are now.” I explained.

“So let me get this straight. After I blacked, you broke through a few walls including the water lock and walked outside the door. And now we are under water somewhere, and have no idea where we are going.”

“No I know where I am going, the note said just keep going forward, otherwise that about sums it up.” I snapped.

“Well… nothing we can do now just hope you get somewhere before we starve.” Shadow mockingly replied.

“At least I won’t die of thirst, right” he joked while walking under several kilometers of ocean.

With that brief exchange of words we went the rest of the way in silence but I was happy that Shadow had returned.

After a few more hours of trudging through sandy ground, I started to see light filter through the water. Over joyed that I had finally reached land, I ran the rest of the way to the shore. Coming out of the water I surveyed a broad beach with trees further inland. Finally reaching the shore I jumped down embracing the dry sand. I withdrew the suit back into my own body and just rested amongst the warm yellow grains. Enjoying the feeling of the warm sand, “Shadow, I am tired you won’t go away again will you?” I asked.

“No,” shadow stated, “I will always be with you.” With those words I fell asleep on the warm sand.

 

*************

Awakening to the angry sound of my gut, I realized that I had not eaten anything in at least 2 days. Deciding on finding something to appease my hungry gut, I set out into the forest. Going over my sparkly clothed frame I could see some of the changes that metallic skin had done to my body. Not only had it made me very pale, almost transparent. My gaunt frame exposed with broken lines of color showing on my skin almost like a spider web,  but the suit had destroyed the clothes that I had been wearing up to this point, leaving me with only a simple silvery cloth to surround my loins. Thinking on that I also needed to find something to cover myself.

After walking in the woods for some time, “Someone is coming towards us.” Shadow warned.

wondering around the dark forest I saw the faint outline of a rather large man in the distance. Quietly I moved into the trees, hoping to hide myself from this unknown person. Crouching behind a large palm tree I watched the person walk closer. After a few moments I could make out details and saw it was nothing but an old man with bleached white hair, wearing a pair of shorts and a white t-shirt and a pair of dark sunglasses. It is at that point that the soft wind that had been blow in from the sea shifted toward the old man and with that he called out, “Who is there?” i hid behind the tree and said nothing.

“I know you are there. I could smell you, so come out. I won’t harm you”, the man called.

“I mean no harm”, I called; “I was just passing through this area and will soon be on my way after I get some rest.”

“I don’t smell any fire, and you reek of the sea. Why do you not join me at my house about a mile from here and I can get you some food. I don’t get many visitors around here and would enjoy the company.”

“I think he is blind”, Shadow said in my mind.

“What gives you that idea?” I thought back.

“The language is all about smell not sight and the dark colored glasses. I think we should take up his offer.”

“I would like that.” I responded to the man, “but I am not in the best condition to be going to people’s house.”

“What do you mean?” he responded.

“I just woke up here today with only a loin cloth for covering and not much else. I have nothing to repay your kindness.”

“I own a farm and could always use workers.  I am blind so you not having any clothes on won’t bother me, but we should find you some stuff to put on.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, how do you work a farm if you are blind?”

“I have a Sight-Visor at home that allows me to see, the only problem is that it does not work in the dark. So it is useless now, but it lets me farm and be in peace.” The farmer stoically replied.

“I don’t know much about farming but if you will have me I will work.” I said.

“Well… all I need to know now is your name stranger.” he said with a laugh. “I am Kraal.”

“People call me Therin” I replied.

“Well let’s get going before some mean creature gets us.”

With that exchange of words we walked through the dark forest of palm trees and oaks for a few miles. We walked into a clearing in the woods, and in the center stood a large stone brick house. The house stood like a silent guardian over the glade, vines clinging to the solid stone reaching towards the bright moon hanging in the sky. Walking up to the house I could see several fields of trees that I could not identify but the fields seemed to stretch over the horizon. Reaching the house, Kraal placed his palm on the door and a click could be heard as the door unlocked. Stepping into the door I walked into a small blue room with round ring on hook in front of me. Kraal grabbing the ring put it on his head and turned saying, “Well it’s good to see again. We should start by getting you some cloths. Then we will cook supper; you look like you haven’t eaten in at least few weeks.” he said. Walking through his blue walled hallway, we enter into a large room with a large table and chairs with plates and silverware set as if for a high end party.  He led me down a green hallway connected to the room into the back of the house. Along the walls hung not only old photographs but had some newer holographs depicting three dimensional people that I could only guess were his relatives. We turned half way down the hall into a red colored room with only a bed, a dresser, and a closet contained within. “Something in here should fit, my nephew is about your size just not as thin.” he said. “Put these on after you take a shower it is further down the hall on the right.”

“Nice place.” Shadow said, “We were lucky that he took us in it gives us time to figure out what is going on. We should also try to hide the ridges on your skin; we don’t want to have to answer questions about the suit.”

Well I guess you are right, but I don’t think we have to worry about him asking questions. He can’t see very well as you pointed out and if things get bad we can always leave. Well… let us enjoy a shower and get all this salt off of us shall we?

Walking down the hall with the new cloths in hand I go into the small bathroom setting my new cloths on top of the sink counter. I took off the smooth silvery loin cloth that I had been wearing up to this point. Placing on the counter I stepped into the bathtub and turned on the shower.  I proceeded to wash off all the salt and sand from my trek at the bottom of the sea. “Shadow, do you remember anything from before a few days ago?” I asked.

“No I don’t. The first thing I remember was being woken up when they pulled me off a table and dragged to the cell we were put and realizing my body was not my own but yours, now ours. I figured out my body was not my own when I heard your thoughts, while you were in a dream… I know it is not that helpful, but there it is first thing I can remember. Also when did you pick up the name Therin?” Shadow asked.

“While escaping the base the commander, I guess, he yelled: ‘stop Therin you will kill us all’, I guessed he was referring to me so I took the name.”

“We will figure everything out don’t worry, but now you might want to get out of the shower and go get some food.”

Getting out of the shower I clad myself in the new cloths. Taking the silvery cloth, so I can wash it later, I left the bathroom, as I was walking down the hall, I started looking for Kraal in this big house. After 10 minutes of searching I came into the kitchen and fond Kraal leaning over a pot of what looked like some kind of stew. “Have a nice shower did ya?” he asked.

“Yes thank you very much for your hospitality; I hope to repay you with my hard work tomorrow” I replied. “What are you cooking? If I might ask it very smells good.” the moment I said that my stomach growled.

“It is venison stew. It promises to be very good if the buck it came off of is any indication, I killed the thing myself. It will be ready in a moment why don’t get us some drinks, they are down the hall in the pantry.” Walking down the hall I open the door to a mid-sized room lined with cans, dry goods and other food stuff and in the corner I grabbed two glass bottles of beer of the shelf and get back to the kitchen.

“Are you sure drinking is the best idea? If you get too drunk, I will take over to prevent you from doing anything silly.” Shadow remarked.

“It will be fine it is just fine a beer.” I replied.

“Do you even like beer?”

“I don’t know, well we will find out won’t we?”

“Hope these are fine I grabbed them off the shelf” I said to Kraal.

“That will be great; you know how to pick a brew.”

At that point a loud gong rumbled through the house. Kraal got up and started walking to a hallway. Saying “Wow two visitors in one day, just stay here I will get it and be back in a moment.

“Do you think they found us Shadow?” I asked.

I don’t know but we will find out in a few moments, won’t we ? and there is not much we can do about it. She replied.

After a few tense moments Kraal walked back into the room san said, “There were some strange people out there. They kept saying that someone in a metal suit was seen by satellite walking on to the beach this morning and wanted to know if I had seen any metal men walking around. I told them I had met a traveler today, but there was no metal on him then they left. Do you know anything about a metal man?”

Shadow took over saying “Yes, I saw a man made of metal today but he ran off into the woods as soon as tried to talk to him.”

“How and why did you do that?” I thought to shadow

“So you would not have to lie, and on ‘how?’, I have always been able but it is very hard to take over while you are awake, along with judging that if you were to lie to him you would be caught.”

“Well they will figure it out in time I guess so let’s eat.” Kraal stated.

I started eating with the thought that he did not believe me totally and commented as much to Shadow. After dinner I was showed to the guest bedroom and after I wished him a good evening and confirming the time that we will start working I got into bed.

Shadow, do you sleep? I asked.

“No I do not think I sleep but I do other thing to occupy my time while you sleep, so do not worry about me.” She replied.

Well good night and we will see how tomorrow goes. I said while falling asleep.

 


 

i just realized that this is a 3k chapter… it happens

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chapter 55

another chapter has been written, rouge is still trapped but he makes a break for it this weekend and will come save me from my grammar mistakes then, as some of you might have noticed i put the first few chapters of the other story i have done on my blog. tell me what you think.
without further ado, chapter 55 – post checkup
————————————–Fafnir POV—————————
            “Well I have good news and bad news.” The healer said as he entered Therin’s study.
            “What is wrong with my brother?” I instantly asked the dark elf.
            “The young human is suffering from acute mana poisoning, and I must say I am impressed. I haven’t seen a case this bad since that elf that tried to hook up with a Crystalin.” The doctor chuckled.
            “So is that the good news or the bad?” I asked worried for my brother.
            “The good news is that I knew what it was, the bad news is that my treatment is only temporary he will have to seek the great sage at the top of the mountain for a permanent cure, or form a pact with a greater demon or something like that.” The doctor replied as he pulled a sheet of paper from his bag. “Here is the bill as he is not a member of your family it is an extra fee of 10 gold.”
            “so what was the treatment that cost ten gold?” Therin asked skeptically
            “do you know how hard it is to drain mana from someone who has too much mana, if I’m not careful all of his mana would be released at once destroying the surrounding area, and as there is great risk 10 gold is the minimum I would charge.” He replied.
            “Ok so where is the excess mana?” Therin asked while raising one of his eyebrows, “because I know for a fact that there was no large spells cast that would bleed it off so I can only assume that you charged a crystal and I know that a fully charged mana crystal is worth a pretty to any respectable mage.”
            “What are you talking about; you said that mana crystals were useless.” I asked with a little irritation.
            “I said they were useless for you, other people can work wonders with them.” He nervously chuckled.
            “We will talk about this later” I said in a low tone of voice promising punishment.
            “So would you like to keep the mana stone as compensation?” Therin said barley composing himself.
            “I think that will be acceptable,” the healer replied before he ran out of the room.
            “So your brother is gonna be ok isn’t that good news.” Therin said as he tried to change the topic, “though I didn’t know there was anyone at the top of the mountain.”
            “Well we can pay him a visit right now.” I said as I jumped off the chair.
            “You do realize that It almost sunset?” Therin replied as he stood up, “how about we head out first thing in the morning and this will also give Azazel some time to recover after casting her first spell.”
            I took a deep breath realizing that Therin was right.
            “Also it gives us the perfect opportunity to follow an ancient dark elf tradition.” Therin said with a smile.
            “Knowing how screwed up your traditions tend to be I don’t think I want to subject Azazel to any of your traditions.” I shuttered as I remembered the bloodbath that was their new year’s celebration.
            “Come on, don’t be a lizard in the mud, we need to celebrate Azazel’s first real kill, it is a glorious thing when dark elf children make their first real kill, it should always be celebrated.” He replied as he grabbed a small pouch which I somehow knew contained 15 gold coins, “it will also help you relax.”
            “Only if Azazel is up to it,” I sighed.
            “Great let’s go get her now, you have no idea how important the first real kill is to dark elves.” Therin grinned
            “I’m gonna check on Ryan first; I want Azazel to nap a little while longer.” I said, jumping from the chair I glided towards the door right before I left I turned around, “are there any insane practices that I should be aware of?”
            “Na, It’s just normal dark elf festivities,” Therin said with a wide grin.
            “That’s what worries me.” I sighed as I left the room to go check on Ryan.
            I walked down the hall and entered one of the new guest rooms that ryan is using.
            “I’m gonna go on a limb here and say that living with a walking ‘mana’ source is not the best place to stay.” Ryan said as I entered the room.
            “So you’re feeling better?” I asked
            “you remember that time I had to have my stomach pumped after eating one of dads ‘experiments’” Ryan said with a smile, “it felt kind ‘a like that.”
            “Ok, good to know, did the doctor tell you the long term treatment plan?” I asked; curling up on the floor.
            “No, the only thing that creepy elf said was ‘wake up you wyvern sucking, orc loving, son of a half breed kobold.” Ryan dryly replied, “Then he swore for a bit more making reference to various anatomical structures and left.”
            “Good, you are my brother as it seems you also inherited the predisposition to piss people off.” I chuckled, “in regards to the treatment, well I don’t think you or mom will like the requirements.”
            “Why…” he asked; his face turning pale.
            “It is a horrid procedure to remove magic cancer; it took up residence in the worst of places…” I said gravely barely holding in my laughter.
            “No, No, No! I don’t want to lose that, why did it have to be magic cancer!” Ryan despaired.
            “wooh Ryan I think you are jumping to conclusions, we have to shave your head and then learn from some old elf on the roof my lair.” I laughed.
            “My… hair?” Ryan asked
            “Yes we need you bald so you don’t look like a fool in front of the magic teacher dude.” I barely managed to say between laughing fits.
            “You stupid over evolved chicken, You did that on purpose.” He huffed with a scowl
            “also you need to get dressed as we are celebrating Azazel’s first real kill.” I said as I started to leave, “also, as a reminder this is a dark elf celebration so be prepared for an interesting time.
————————————————Atheros POV——————————————————
            “What did I do to deserve this?” I screamed, dodging another hungry wyvern. I jumped back, barley avoid the snapping jaws of the baby wyvern. I took a step back and bumped my heel against the hard stone wall of the nest.
            I watched the oversized lizard tense up. “I got you now” I smiled. Right as the thing jumped I dived to the side and with a roar the oversized lizard smacked right into the cave wall and fell limp on the floor.
            “ha, who’s the alpha now!” I shouted as I went to wake up the beast.
            “Who would have thought that all my time with Fafnir would trick these oversized lizards into thinking I was one of them.” I chuckled as I knelt over the ex-alpha, “now I just need you to take me to Fafnir.”
————————————————————————–
i know there are mistakes in this but be gentle… rouge will be here soon

Chapter 2: The Birth of the Machine

 

“Where am I?” I thought to myself as I woke up. “What happen… Ahhhhhh!” I cried out, it felt like daggers were cutting along my body. After what seemed like an eternity of sheer agony, I felt the pain lessen.

“What the hell was that?!” I shouted.

“That was a side effect of the bonding I guess.” Shadow responded.

“What bonding, what is that, and where am I?” I looked around the spartan metal box i was in shining green in the light of the glowing sphere of a lumen orb. A simple cot was the only other object in the room. “What is this place?” I thought.

“This is a holding cell” Shadow said, “We were brought here while you were unconscious and I couldn’t do anything to stop them from moving us.”

“Wait, what is going on?,” I yelled “I can’t seem to remember anything and… wait, what do you mean by our body?”

“Do you not feel different?”  Shadow whispered, “Look at your arms, or legs or any other part of our body, do you notice anything different?”

I pulled the lumen orb from the sconce set in the wall and I looked at myself under the cool light of the orb. Everything seemed normal, but I felt something was off. Drawing my arm closer I saw lines, raised bits of flesh along my arm. Frantically, I looked to my legs and saw the same raised lines of flesh, though unlike my arms these are growing and I could see them progressing down.

“What is this?!” I screamed, starting to claw at my arms and causing bloody furrows along my flesh.

“Stop!” commanded Shadow, as blood started to run down my arm, “You are hurting both of us. Just calm down and think for a second.”

“What do you mean I am hurting both of us? YOU are not even here, are you? You are just talking from some other room through speakers.” I yelled at the walls. “Come, face me, and explain what is going on.”

“I cannot unless you call for me.”

“What? You want me to say, ‘Come forth Shadow’?” I gruffly replied. At that moment my skin started to writhe. A dark gray metal started to seep from the ridges on my skin, in small patches all over my body. Accompanying it was a feeling like ants crawling along my skin. “What is this stuff?” I called out, “and where are you ?”

“I am here inside of you; at least I think I am.”  Shadow said in a whisper, “I am metal and more growing in our body. However I do not know much more than you do. I only know a little that I have been able to deduce from the people around here and the brief flashes of memory that touch me from time to time. Though I can take the pain away.” Saying this the crawling feeling vanished in an instance.

“What is this metal,” I asked, “and what are you and what have they done to me… I mean us?”

“I do not know anymore then you do. I have only heard snippets from the men that dropped us here before lowering this wall around us. Though it made no sense to me… but it is bound to be interesting.” Shadow replied.

I touched the cold smooth patches of metal before it sank back into the ridges of my flesh. Strange sounds of creaks and groans started to filter in from my metallic prison, as time wore on I watched the ridges of flesh spread to the rest of my arms and legs as the thing under my skin grew. It was then that a thought came to me. “Shadow,” I muttered, “do you know how long we are supposed to wait in this cell?”

“No clue.”

“Well that is just great.” I said, before lying back down on the cot.

 

*****************************************************************************

 

“Oh… well I am getting out of here.  Shadow, how do I make the metal skin come out?”

“Why should I know, do exactly what you did last time?” shadow responded

“What did I do last time?” I thought to myself.

“You said, and I quote, ‘come forth shadow’ and, I might add, not in the most pleasant of manners” shadow quipped.

“Stop reading my thoughts!” I yelled.

“I cannot help it, your thoughts and your words are the same to me I cannot differentiate between the two.” Shadow angrily responded, “it does not matter just continue with what you were saying slash thinking”

“Well anyways let’s try to bring the metal skin out now. Come forth shadow.” With that phrase, my skin started to itch as I saw patches of black metal flow out like water, just like before, but there was a new color added to the twisting flow, a dark blue flowing from my forearms to take up residence along the top of my hand flowing into a honeycomb of blue metal that extended from the middle of my forearm to cover my whole hand. When the metal stopped flowing I noticed that there are still patches of pink skin on my arms and legs where the metal did not cover, the skin stood in stark contrast to the black and dark blue metal flowing over most of my slender frame. I stood up from the cot that I have been resting on and moved to one of the smooth walls of the room, which were imprisoning me, and pulling back my fist I threw a punch at the wall. That punch, which seem of its own volition to spring forth like a snake striking its chosen prey, slammed into the wall where the metal flexed and tore before my assault. Then using my hands I tore open a hole revealing a hallway of the same green metal that seemed to stretch in both directions stepping into the hallway I looked see the ends of the hallways both end in turns. “That was easier than expected.” shadow stated, “well we should go left, that is the way they dragged us from before they dropped us in the room maybe there is a way out there”

I started walking down the hallway as shadow suggested peering cautiously at every turn, but everywhere I look all I could see is more of the green metal and sconces with lumen orbs in their cradles. After walking for what seemed like a half an hour I came up to a solid door made of a stark black metal with silvery streaks running down the door. Walking up to the dark door I saw a slip of paper stuck on it. I picked it up and it said,

Congratulations on figuring out some of the abilities of your suit and for making it this far. Now here comes the hard part. As you might have noticed there is no one in that section of the base, this is on purpose while you figure out the specifics of your suit, it changes based on the person and could turn out very dangerous for anyone in the area, so this door will not open till you have the suit fully grown in your body. That being said you are probably very hungry and I am guessing you look rather gaunt. We have left food laced with different metals that the suit can use down the hallway to the left and through the door marked with dining hall. We will tell you over the base intercom when we wish to meet with you and where you should go from there. Have fun.

P.S. Don’t break any more of the base’s walls, someone has to fix them.

“Well that is why no one is around.” Shadow stated, “But this note makes me wonder if they know about me. Well, nothing we can do about it now. How about we go to get something to eat?”

After a short walk following the directions on the sheet, we made our way to a room with a black door that had an etched brass plate that was crooked on the door. The plate read: “Dining hall”. Just as I was about to open the door, “Wait! I don’t like the look of this, Shadow spoke up,  Take a closer look at the plate it seems off.” Taking shadows advice, I look closer at the plate and notice that the plate is just stuck on the door. I pulled off the plate and underneath etched in the black metal itself the words, “Reactor fuel storage: mag suits required in room” were revealed.

“Good job for noticing that, that could have ended badly.” Moving to the side of the door I wanted to check if there was some mistake, so I punched the green wall and unlike before the metal only had a small dent. “Well this tells us that you are right; there must be a stronger metal behind this wall. So, let’s go back down the hall to the other door.” Going back down the same hall I come up to door made of polished bronze. I look at it closely and notice that there was a square indentation of metal that was missing, which, I guess, is the plate I ripped off the other door, should have gone. Opening the door I see a table with a platter of different foods set on a wooden table.  “Shadow, what do you think, is this also a trap like the door down the hall or was that just some mistake?”

“I don’t know so we should be careful, maybe it was a mistake on their part, but I feel there is more going on than they are letting on.” She said gravely, “but there is no sense staying here so let’s move on.”

Carefully I crept up to the table going to inspect the food and, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a sheet of paper hidden in the plate of fruit. This sheet of paper had a different handwriting than before, written in a spidery script was,

They are trying to kill you, so they can have the suit growing in your body. Go back the way you came to the door and break through the wall on the left. There will be a pile of metals that you should be able to absorb into your armor to complete the rest of the systems. After that go down the hall and you should see a blue door, you need to find some way to breath underwater, because I want you to break through, you need to just keep walking forward and you should reach the shore.  Good luck.

-The Bug in your ear.

Pondering this turn of events I ask shadow, “What do you think, should we trust this note rather than the other one?”

“I do not know whom to trust, but the last note tried to kill us. Let us see if this note is any better.   So let us go see if this pile of metal exists.”

Walking back to the black door, I walk up to the place indicated in the note and I easily punch through the wall. I created an opening for my metallic self. On the floor I see a pile of different metals laid in the dark room. I walk to the pile and I reached out to touch the metal expecting, the metal to rush up my arm and nothing happens. “Now what am I supposed to do?” I called out loud. I stared at the metal for almost an hour trying to figure out what it meant by absorbing the metal.

At that point Shadow piped up saying, “Do you have the note from the door?”

“Yes.” I replied.

“Did it not say something about food laced with metals to finish the suit? Maybe you have to ingest the metals for it to be used.”

Looking over the note I saw that shadow was correct “How am I to eat all this metal?” the thought flittered through my mind. “Well,” I said loudly,  “why don’t I do the crazy, and probably not correct thing,  and just take a bite and see what happens? What is the worst that could happen?”

“Our insides could be torn apart and we would die…” Shadow stated bluntly.

Ignoring Shadow’s comment I tried to take a bite out of the black metal in the pile, but no matter how hard I tried I could not even put a scratch on it. Giving up with a sore mouth, I finally withdrew the suit into my body and sat back in the metal room. A few minutes later from exhaustion, I fell into the quiet embrace of sleep.

I woke up a few hours later. In that dark room no closer to finding out what was going on than before I fell asleep

“Have a nice nap?  ”Shadow asked.  “I have been busy as you might be able to tell”

Looking around I noticed that the metal was gone “What happened?” I asked in amazement “Did you figure out how to absorb all the metal?”

“Well eventually it got inside us… with some help from me.” she muttered.

“How I could not put a scratch on those bars what did you do it?”.

“I’ll tell you later… now bring out the suit I want to see the improvements” Shadow eagerly stated.

“Did you use the suit while I was out cold?”

“Yes, but I recalled the suit about 20 minutes ago, right before you woke up.”

“Come forth Shadow.” I called at that moment something strange happened, the last few times it itched over my body but this time something different happened. Instead I felt a pressure under my skin wanting to burst forth. I looked down and I saw the metal flowing over my skin, the black and the dark blue and now with wisps of orange and red, the metal started to harden around my body. Then feeling something moving by my ears, I felt the metal slowly trickle and creep down over my eyes and mouth I started to panic! The metal was not the black or the other colors of metal that was slowing flowing over my eyes, but this metal was clear like fine crystal and then after the flow of metal consolidated over my face and the rest of my body, then came the pain. The lance like pain that made me fall to the ground in sheer agony, my ears started ringing, and the feeling of fire over my skin as my vision started to fade. I felt that death itself had come to take me. Then it stopped as suddenly as it started and I could see again then I noticed what it had done to me. I could see as plain as day in this once dark room. “Shadow” I called “what just happened to me… Shadow are you there?” there was no response, “Shadow !” and with that I felt an emptiness that I could not remember feeling before , I felt alone.

 

 

here is the last of the chapters that i feel are worth pushing out as i have not really proofread the other chapters that i have written

Chapter 1: Waking from darkness

 

Pain. The first thing I remember is pain, and the feeling of emptiness.

“Wake up, wake up!” a voice said loudly, as my mind started to stir

“The bonding was a success there is no need to worry”

“Then why won’t he wake up?”

“He will, don’t worry, but don’t get your hopes up, remember the consequences of the bonding” was the last thing I heard as the world started to fade around me.

 

Starting link… Testing connection… Is anyone there?

“Who is where?” The thought flittered through my pain filled mind.

I am your shadow. “The Voice responded.

“Who is my shadow?”

“I am. I am a shadow, who is created from your mind and I will be with you until the day you die.”

“What do I call you, shadow?” I asked through the haze

Whatever you wish,” That Is the last thing I heard as the world once again faded into blackness.

 

<last chapter | home page | next chapter >

The coming storm (working title)

          “So this is a suit user candidate?” stated the hawk-eye man dressed in general’s regalia.

          “Yes,” stated the doctor. “He has the gene marker required to bind to the suit we managed to liberate from the Aliere Confederation.”

          “Will he survive the process? This guy looks like he should be buried instead.” The military man replied with some skepticism.  “Though, compared to some of the other people in this hospital ward he is not so bad off.”

          “Well yes, he did smash into a mag pylon. I think he is rather good shape considering. Though we will need to do some of the patch job, the suit will fix the rest. Though there is not much point a lot of the internal organs will be taken over by the suit.” the doctor replied.

          “Well, Adjunct see to it that he has the best chance of surviving the process. We will need him, if we ever want to be counted as a full member world of the LeÁslic imperium.”

          “Though sir, I must ask… why you are moving him to another facility?”

          “Sorry, but that is classified.” The general replied. “Also, Adjunct, I heard that this corpse had some family in town, Could you please pull the information so that we could contact the family?”

 

 

 home page | next chapter >

Chapter 54 (non PRED)

sorry for the long release time as i have not only been sick the past few weeks i started classes. i hope with class starting i will have a more stable schedule. the other issue is that rouge has gone rouge, and is still busy with thing IRL so this also has not been PRed.

side note, would anyone be interested in me posting some of my other work?

without further ado Chapter 54 – sickness

———————–Fafnir POV—————————

            “Daddy, it time to get up.” Azazel said as she jumped on my snout.

            “Azazel, how many times do I have to tell you that it hurts when you jump on my snout” I chastised as I picked her up with my tail.

            “I’m sorry” she replied, “but it is time to get up so you can help Aesthyra finish her lair and I can get my room back.”
           

            “Is Aesthyra even up yet?” I asked knowing Aesthyra proclivity to wake up at noon.

            “No daddy, it’s your job to wake her up” Azazel replied with a smile.

            “Yes, I’m goanna to teach you how to be a real dragon by dumping my daughter on you” I grumbled as I got up and headed to wake up Aesthyra.

            “Time to get up!” I shouted as I stumbled into Aesthyra cavern

            “Five more hours,” Aesthyra mumbled as she buried herself deeper into her silver hoard.

            “You better get up or I will dump hoard beetles over you” I said

            “No don’t do that, I’m up” she quickly replied as she jumped up spilling silver coins everywhere.

            “Why you do that every morning.” She complained as she started to gather up the coins.

            “Because it works,” I replied as I left to get some breakfast.

            “So are you goanna finish Ase’s lair today?” Azazel asked when I entered the kitchen.

            “I’m sorry dear but I don’t think it will be finished today as we still need to finish the tunnel from her lair to mine.” I replied as I took out a chunk of meat from the larder.

            “Oh.” Azazel replied with a frown.

            “Azazel have you seen Ryan this morning?” I asked as I took a bite.

            “Yes, Ryan was doing a funny dance on the floor of his room this morning.” she replied as she ate some jerky.

            “What do you mean by a funny dance?” I asked with a bit of concern

            “Well he was wiggling around all over the floor like a worm.” She replied between bites.
 

           I quickly got up and ran towards Ryan’s room. I entered his cavern and found him collapsed on the floor, his limbs splayed everywhere. I lifted Ryan up with my tail and as I ran out of my lair I had Azazel jump on my back we left to head towards the elven city.

             It didn’t take long before we arrived above the forested city, I looked for the familiar broken trees that I had broken around Therin’s house. I dived through the hole in the caponey and landed in front of the door scaring the same two guards as before.

            “Greetings, lord dragon, Lord Therin is inside.” One of the guards said as he opened the front door to let me in.

             I quickly rushed inside shrinking myself just enough to fit inside, I found Therin sitting at his desk surrounded by a large stack of papers.

            “Therin, Ryan collapsed please help him.” I stammered as I placed Ryan on one of the recliners

            . “What did the little human do this time?” Therin asked as he lazily got up and walked over. He started to examine my brother with a serious face and after taking a deep breath he looked up at me and said, “I have no idea what I’m doing.”

            “Excuse me?” I asked barely contain my anger.

            “I am an alchemist not a healer.” He gruffly replied as he stood up, “but don’t get your tail in a twist I will call for one.”

            “Can I go explore?” Azazel asked as she pulled on one of my spines.

            “Sure,” I replied as I set Azazel down and she quickly dashed out of the room.

            “I’ll have one of my guards summon him.” He said as he left the room.

            “How could you have possibly gotten sick?” I wondered as I stood over my brother.

            “Good news, Grith will be here in a few minutes.” Therin said as he walked back into the study, “so let’s move the little human to one of the guest rooms.”

            “Ok,” I replied as I carefully picked my brother up. I followed therin through his manor an laid him on one of the guest beds.

            “By the way could you collect your daughter before she eats all the food in my larder.” Therin said right before he left.

            I curled up next to Ryan’s bed as I waited for the doctor to arrive.

————————————–Azazel POV——————————————————————————

            “I wonder if uncle Therin has anything good to eat” I mumbled as I left. I ran through the house almost knocking over one of uncle Therin’s guards as I ran towards the kitchen.

            “Look at all the yummy food.” I mumbled as I entered the larder, I could see various foods from meat to fresh fruit. I grabbed several strips of meat and a large apple and took them into the kitchen. I tossed my delicious goods over the table and sat down just like Lilith told me and dug in. I was almost finished eating the meats when I saw one of uncle thein’s helpers run past the door.

            “I wonder why daddy was so worried over Uncle Ryan?” I asked myself as I finished my snack. I left the kitchen and wondered around his lair. I walked down one of the many halls when I found a silly looking man wearing a black cloak.

            “Who are you?” I called causing the silly looking man to jump.

            “No one mentioned there would be blasted children here.” I heard the man quietly swear as he looked at me before sighing. My scales went cold when I saw the scary looking smile on the man’s face.

            “I’m sorry kid but today’s not your lucky day.” The man said as he took out a black dagger.

            I could barely move as the man lunged towards me. I clamped my eyes shut. I just stood there shaking, wishing that daddy was here and the scary man would go away, when I felt something go pop deep inside me, it felt like a warm river ran through my body. I heard a loud thump right before I blacked out.

            “Azazel, Azazel are you ok?” I heard daddy yell as he picked me up.

            “Five more minutes,” I mumbled as I tried to go back to sleep.

            “Oh thank god, you’re alright.” Daddy said causing me to fully wake up.

            “Daddy,” I cried as I hugged daddy’s warm scales, “I was so scared; there was a scary man and he ran at me like the scary guards and I was so scared. Then I felt something warm and then fell asleep, and I just wanted my daddy.”

            “It’s ok I’m here” daddy said as I cried on his shoulder.

            “Hey squirt, did you say you felt something warm?” uncle thein asked

            “Yes, I felt something warm and then I fell asleep” I replied as I calmed down.
 

            “Well that explains the new paint job.” I heard uncle thein mumble as I hugged daddy tighter.

            “Come on, do you want some of the blue stuff?” Daddy asked as he nuzzled me with his snout.

            “I like the blue stuff,” I sniffled feeling a bit better.           

            “Come on let’s go outside.” He said as he used his tail to place me on his back.


 

i know there are errors in here so if you could point them out that would be helpful.

another side note, no important characters were harmed in the making of this chapter though we did lose a poorly trained assassin/intern…

Chapter 53 – (non PRed) 

hello this chapter came out later than expected as i was hoping for rouge or mejinzs to PR it but they were unable to so i am releasing this in an unedited state as it has been a while since i released a chapter. i will replace this when they have a chance to fix it.

 

so with out further ado, Chapter 53 – Bathing \

————————-Fafnir POV—————————————-

            “I’m not going to like this am I?” I asked Aesthyra who was edging away from the bathing hoard I set up in the corner of bathroom.

            “It’ll be fine… ” She nervously replied still staring at the pile of coins.

            “Well, I will just get it over with.” I sighed as I moved toward the bath hoard.

            “Ok, I’m… gonna go find mom,” she stammered as she quickly ran from the room.

            “Well that fills me with confidence.” I mumbled as I steeled myself for what’s to come. I laid down on the coins and shifted around as I had read. I heard a loud hiss causing me to jump up. I looked the pile and watched as the beetles starting to move about. I took a deep breath and against all reason I laid back down and waited as the small murder bug got to work cleaning my scales. After what seemed like an hour the constant hiss of the beetles died down. I jumped up and quickly got out of reach of the vile bugs.

            “There has to be an alternative, there are things I can handle, but that is not one of them.” I sighed as I eyed the infested hoard. I turned and headed towards the main cavern. Where Tanixathera was reading a book entitled, “Teaching Your Hatchling to Build A Liar; for the New Mother.

            “Where do you keep getting these books from?” I asked after reading the title.

            “From the interdimensional library,” She offhandedly replied as she turned the page.

            “I see…” I said worried what the book meant.

            “Now that you are properly groomed we can begin.” She said as she dog-eared the corner of the book.

            “What about  Aesthyra, shouldn’t we wait for her?” I stuttered as I started to walk back.

            “She started on your project earlier so that she had somewhere to sleep.” she replied before she ate the book, “while this lair is nice, there are several flaws that need to be addressed.”

            “Like what?” I asked thinking about my nice home.

            “Well, for starters, there are no wards to prevent unwanted company, there is no access for lesser minions to bring you tribute, and you don’t even have rooms available for guests.” She explained

            “first, I have no idea how to make ‘wards’, second why would I need tribute, and u have rooms for guests.” I huffed

            “Aw, look at the little self-confident wyrmling.” She sarcastically replied, “the only rooms available are two human sized in the back, hardly a place where a dragon could say. You are also a god who will eventually, if you want, have a domain of his own. Having a minion entrance make it easier for them to come and give you offerings, like delicious food; I mean why hunt yourself if sad little lesser beings will feed you?” she said with a large toothy grin.

            “Ok…” I replied not wanting to get on the bad side of a psychotic dragon, “so what is the lesson?”

            “You are going to be helping my daughter design and build her wyrmling lair and when it is complete she will help you redesign yours.” She replied as she stood up and stretched.

            “What are you going to be doing…?” I tentatively asked

            “I need to go back to my own domain and deal with mortal problems.” She replied right before she vanished in a flash of light.

            “Why do people keep appearing and telling me what I need to do.” I grumbled as I head back towards the bathroom to deal with a minor pest problem.

——————————————————-  Aesthyra POV —————————————————

           

            “Hello,” I heard a small voice call out.  

            “Hello, little one,” I replied as I tried to get a better look at the small creature which I couldn’t identify, “who might you be?”

            “My name is Azazel, are you here to see daddy?” the little girl asked  

            “Fafnir is your father?” I asked more than a little surprised.

            “Yes,” the little creature replied proudly.

            “I see…” the dragon muttered before looking me over again.

            “I see you found the littlest one.”  I heard mom say as walked towards us, “now introduce yourself.”

            “Sorry, my name is Aesthyra; it is nice to meet you.” I said as I tried to Identify the small creature.  

            “Azazel, why don’t you go with Aesthyra and show her around.” The mom suggested

            “Sure, I can show her lake.” She replied as she ran into the other caverns.

            “What type of creature is that?” I asked my mother

            “That would be Fafnir’s daughter.” She said with a grin

            “Isn’t Fafnir a bit young?” I asked drawing on my inherited knowledge.

            “Well she not his daughter in the traditional method.” My mother said I could hear the sadness tinging her voice.  “Azazel has been drinking the liquefied mana from Fafnir’s breath and one of the grater goddess rebuilt the little ones body after an accident.”

            “What kind of accident?” I asked with a little trepidation. I watched as mother seemed to space out for a few seconds.          

            “I will tell you when you are older; and don’t mention this to Fafnir or you will be punished,” Mom replied with one of her terrifying smiles, “so why don’t you let Azazel show you around so you can choose where your new lair will be.”

            “Yes mom,” I quickly replied now wanting to draw her ire. I started to move towards the cavern that the little Azazel entered

            “I’m ready.” Azazel squealed as she ran out of the cavern straight towards me. It only took a few seconds before she had launched herself into the air and, despite all expectations, landed softly on my back.

            “Let’s go to the lake,” she happily declared as she pointed toward the front of the cavern.

            We left the lair and Azazel guided us towards a crystal clear lake hidden under the canopy. I guided us through a break in the canopy and landed right at the edge of the water. It didn’t take long before Azazel launched herself from my back and landed in the lake with a loud splash.

            “Come in it is nice and cool.” The Azazel shouted after surfacing.

            I watched the wyrmling play in the lake for a few minutes before I decided to join the fun.

            We played for over an hour when i saw Fafnir land right outside the lake. “So this is where you were,” he chuckled, “let me guess azazel talked you into going for a swim?”

            “yes, the little wyrmling insisted that she show me the lake and before I knew it she jumped in.” I replied as I exited the lake.

            “I see, so where are you sleeping tonight?” Fafnir asked

            “I am going home with my mother soon.” I tentatively replied wondering where this was going.

            “Well oh mighty mama dragon left to go deal with ‘Mortal problems’ about an hour ago and I was told to help you make a lair.” he gruffly replied  

            “Why would mom leave me here?” I asked myself and then everything clicked, “she left me here to be with Fafnir.” I took a deep breath and looked at Fafnir, “do you mind if I stay at your lair until I make my own?”

 


 

as this is not PR i know that there are a few errors hiding in there so let me know what you think and comment.

Chapter 52

early release for next week’s chapter as i will be busy most of sunday and will not get the chance to post then. rouge was able to take time from his family and do a proof read so don’t worry about poor grammar. i also want to thank mejinzs who was also able to take some time to look over it.

also on a side note the following weeks chapter might be a bit late as i have finales for summer classes this coming week and i don’t know if i will have time to write it.

also if you are Entomophobic you might want to skip this chapter… you have been warned.

Without futher ado,  Chapter 52 – Aesthyra

            ——————————————Aesthyra POV—————————————-

            “Thank us that that crazy lady is gone,” I thought to myself as I snuggled into my little hoard of silver coins.

            “Aesthyra, we are leaving in a little bit, don’t forget to pack a hoard.” My mother shouted from the other cavern.

            “I don’t want to go anywhere,” I groaned.

            “To bad dear, both you and Fafnir need to know how to be a proper dragons and I would be a failure as a mother to not prepare you.” Mom replied as she poked her head into my cavern.

            “Can’t he come here instead?” I asked not wanting to leave the comfort of my hoard.

            “No, he is only a little older than you and can’t use the paths to travel yet,” my mother replied as she entered my cavern, “so you need to pack up your hoard and get ready to go, I will not repeat myself.”

            “Yes mom.” I grumbled as I got up. I stretched my long serpentine body as I started to feel for the strange bump near the back of my throat that would allow me to access  my hoard stomach. After readying myself I stretched my jaws open and started to shovel the mound of various coins down into my stomach.

            “Ok mom, I packed my hoard” I yelled as I entered into the main cavern.

            “Did you have your scales cleaned?” My mom asked from the kitchen.

            “But mom, it feels weird when I have my scales cleaned.” I said while a shiver ran down my back.

            “You need to have your scales cleaned, you don’t want your scales to fall off, do you?” She replied.

            “That’s not how it works.” I responded, tapping into my inherited memory.

            “You only inherited a fraction of my knowledge, now go get your scales cleaned, wyrmling.”  She snapped.

            “Yes mother,” I sighed as I headed to the bathroom. I entered the small cavern and stared at the pile of coin which hid the creepy flesh eating beetles. “I can do this,” I said to myself as I moved towards the coins. I laid down on top of the pile and shifted around a bit to awaken the beetles just like mom had shown me. The clinking of coins and the soft chittering sounds let me know that they had begun.

            “They’re just cleaning my scales.” I reassured myself, holding back to urge to scream and murder them all. Minutes seemed like hours while they crawled over me removing the debris stuck to my hide. I waited patiently until the chittering sounds finally died down.

            “They’re finished!” I smiled as I stood up and took a few steps away from the pile of coins containing the terrifying bugs before examined my now shining scales.

            “It’s time to go!” Mom shouted.

            “Coming,” I replied as I left the creepy flesh eating murder bugs behind. I entered the main cavern where mom was waiting. “What’s in the sack?” I asked looking at the brown bag sitting next to mom.

            “It’s for Fafnir, now come on we have to go.” She replied as she extended her wing to cover me and the sack. I braced myself for the strange falling sensation that accompanied interdimensional travel. I moved my head to peek out and see the strange multicolored bubble that surrounded us.

            “Dear, stay under my wing or you’re liable to accidentally fling yourself into an unfriendly god’s domain.” My mother cautioned. A few more minutes passed as we traveled the path when the strange weightless feeling singled our arrival. I poked my head from behind my mother wing and saw that we were in the middle of a forest.

            “Where’s Fafnir’s lair?” I asked as I looked around.

            “It’s about a five minutes by wing, that way.” Mom replied as she pointed towards the north.

            “Why did we end up here instead of in his lair?” I asked wondering what my mother was up too.

            “It’s rude to teleport into another god’s domain without expressed permission.” She replied as she picked up the sack in her front claw.

            “But aunt Tene just pops in and out of your lair.” I complained.

            “Aunt Tene helped me carve out my lair and has my permission to come and go as she pleases, now come on I have lots to teach the both of you.” Mom said as she jumped up and started to fly off.

            I quickly took off and followed my mom towards a large mountain covered in large trees. I enjoyed flying over the sea of green and noticed a large crack in the cliff face.

            “Does he live in that cave?” I asked, pointing towards the cave.

            “Yes dear,” she replied as we approached the mountain.

            “I want to remind you that Fafnir doesn’t have parents and we’re here to teach him how to be a proper dragon, so be nice.” Mom said as she gave me one of her scary looks.

            “Yes mom.” I replied wondering what she meant about Fafnir not having parents.

            I watched my mother descend and land on the ledge right outside the cave. I glided around the ledge while my mother entered the cavern. I waited a few seconds before I folded my wings and dropped towards the mouth of the cave. I snapped my wings open to slow me down so I could land on the ledge. I looked into the fairly well-lit cavern as I landed and right in the middle of the cavern I saw a dragon, who I assumed was Fafnir, holding down a small human with his front claws, and dark elf kneeling next to him, leaning over the human.

            “See, that wasn’t so bad was it.” The dark elf stated as he stood up.

            “Yes, because forcefully getting holes put into your ear is your idea of a good time.” The trapped human snapped.

            “Suck it up, whiner; just be glad you can understand him now.” Fafnir replied as he released the human.

            “Excuse me while I go clean up.” The human huffed as he stormed off deeper into the cavern.

            “Ahem,” my mom said drawing attrition to us.

            “Come on! It hasn’t been a month yet!” Fafnir mumbled to himself.

            “You’re right it hasn’t, but I came early as there is more than just biology you need to know.” My mother replied, “Now I want you meet my daughter, Aesthyra.”

            “Nice to meet you, my name is Fafnir” Fafnir said giving a little bow.    

            “Nice to meet you Fafnir,” I replied as I studied the dragon. He was a bit bigger than me with sharp fangs, sturdy looking horns and and covered in the same milky blue scales as the rest of our kind, but where my scales were shiny and clean, I could see some dirt and other debris stuck in between his. Despite his dirty appearance he seemed a hidden strength.

            “Now that you have been introduced I have a few things that every dragon needs.” Mom said as she pushed the sack towards Fafnir.

            “What is it?” He asked as he used his fore claws to open the small sack.  

            “If you are on track for completing the book I assigned you, you should recognize them.” My mom vaguely replied.

            “Wait, are these those flesh eating bugs?!” He shouted as he pushed the sack away.

            “So you have been reading, good.” My mom smiled with her scary smile, “I want you take them and have them clean your scales as they are filthy. When you have finished I will explain what the other things are in the sack. Got it?”

            “What this about flesh eating bugs?” The elf interrupted.

            “I will explain later.” Fafnir explained as he carefully picked up the sack and headed towards the back of the cavern. A few seconds passed when my mother turned towards me:

            “I want you to go help him; he did not get much from his draconic inheritance.” My mom said with a sad look in her eye.

            “Ok,” I reluctantly replied not liking the bugs, as I moved to follow the interesting dragon.

 


 

as always me, mejinzs, and rouge are mostly human let us know if we missed anything, and let me know what you think in the comments below.

Chapter 51

here is the chapter for the week, rouge was able to take some time and PR this.i also want to thank mejinzs for his proofread.

Without further ado, chapter 51 – The Earring

 

————————————Fafnir POV————————

            “Why would I want murderous beetles in my bed?” I shouted at the book.

            “What’s this about murderous bed bugs?” Ryan asked from the kitchen.

            “According to this lovely book, most dragon species will form a symbiotic relationship with a type of large beetle, these beetles are hard to distinguish from coins and dragons places these in their hoard to have them clean off various parasites and keep the scales healthy and clean.” I recited from the book, “Why would I want flesh eating beetles anywhere near where I sleep?”

            “I’m not surprised considering how long you take in the bathroom!” Ryan shouted from the kitchen, “When are you going to heat the lake-tub by the way? I hate taking cold baths.”

            “Excuse me, I’m not a plumber. We’re lucky that there is running water at all” I grumbled as I continued to read the assigned materials, when the welcome interruption of a ringing bell reverberated throughout my lair.

            “Uncle Therin’s here!” I heard Azazel squeal from her cavern. I gingerly placed a small slip of paper to mark my page and laid it next to my hoard. I stood and headed to meet with my elf.

            “Can I get a hand here?” Therin yelled from the top of a loaded cart.

            “What are you talking about, I know you can get all that stuff up there by yourself,” I joked as I landed next to the cart.

            “Ha, ha, you overgrown lizard, this is all your junk, so take it away.” Therin grumbled as he jumped off the cart.

            “That’s master overgrown lizard to you,” I teased as I started to ferry supplies up to my lair.

            “Why is it that that you always take me in your claws?!” Therin screamed as I snatched the elf as I passed, leaving the empty cart and horse behind. With a few strokes of my powerful wings I dropped the screaming elf onto the ledge and entered my lair.

            “Why can’t you make an easier way to get into your lair?” Therin grumbled as he pick himself off the floor and dusted himself off.

            “Because I don’t want random vermin coming into my lair and breaking or stealing my stuff.” I replied.

            “I have good news for whatever that human’s name is, I managed to get my hands on a translation stone.” The elf smiled as he pulled out a large earing.

            “Wow,” I started to laugh, “wait until Ryan sees this.”

            “That what the brat gets, after his last little prank.” Therin replies with a sadistic looking grin.

            “You should let up on the kid though, it’s not his fault that he was accidently teleported here and every time a god comes around they leave before he can ask to be taken home.” I said looking at the elf.

            “You seem to have a god or some other divine beast here every other day,” Therin replied as he grabbed one of the sacks and took it towards the kitchen. “How has he missed every single opportunity? You had that creepy guy here for over a week and Ryan could have asked then?”

            “You have a point…” I mused, thinking of the sheer amount of deities that had invaded my lair as of late.

            “Uncle Therin, did you get it?” Azazel asked as she ran into the kitchen.

            “Get what?” I asked hearing about this for the first time.

            “Well you’re in luck,” the elf smiled as he reached into one of the bags of food he dug around and pulled out a covered basket. Azazel dashed forward and snatched the basket out of the elf’s hands and ran into her room.

            “What’s in that basket?” I asked, staring at the elf.

            “It’s just a treat that Lilith would make every once and awhile.” Therin replied.

            “Ok, so what’s the treat?” I asked not letting up on the point.

            “It’s wyvern jer…” Therin stopped realizing what he just handed her, “Why would Lilith let her eat that?!”

            “Probably for the same reason that Azazel has several outfits made from wyvern leather, to get under my skin.” I sighed wondering what that Nephilim was up to.

            “Oh, speaking of Lilith, I had a most interesting conversation with a nephilim that failed to sneak into the city the other day” Therin said as he grabbed several large chunks of meat from the larder and places them into the stone counter.

            “And by conversation you mean interrogation.” I replied as Therin started cooking.

            “You know me too well,” he laughed as he grabbed a pot and filled it with water from the stream flowing along the wall of the kitchen.

            “So what lovely information did you find out?” I asked with a grin.

            “It seems that not all of the bird brains are good at direction.” He chuckled as he tossed some bean like things into the pot. “He got lost trying to confirm if you had returned.”

            “This might be a chance to get Lilith back” I mumbled to myself, “though it might be more work than it’s worth.”

            “Don’t bother,” Therin said as he placed the pot on the stove, “she’ll probably come to you Remember? Her original mission was to find and have you help the nephilim, and they don’t take failure well.”

            “Well then,” I smile, “why don’t you tell them what they want to know, and then I can get my babysitter back?”

            “You can’t fool me,” Therin laughed, “you grew fond of her didn’t you.”

            “Not even close, Ryan is terrified of Azazel and just about everything else so he would not be the best of choices.”

            “Right…” he replied with a smile, “speaking of Ryan, he has been trying to talk to me in the language you and Azazel speak in and I have no idea what he’s saying.”

            “Yeah, I just learned about that a few days ago, he’s trying to get you to teach him magic.” I nervously chuckled.

            “Oh right, I forgot that you have the translation brooch…” he replied as he stirred the pot on the counter.

            “So do you think you could teach him?” I asked.

           “I’ll see what I can do, but I don’t even know if he can use magic.” He replied as he put a lid on the pot.

            “Just give it a try! I mean, he has been living with a giant mana source and he’s not dead so he just might be able to use it.” I replied.

            “I could give it a try but can’t promise that it will be pain free,” he replied with a wicked smile.

            “If he can’t learn magic then I will let you take him for sword training instead as I don’t know how long it will be until either I remember to ask one of the other’s to take him home or he works up the courage to ask them himself.”

            “Dang, you almost sounded like me.” Therin replied with a large grin on his face, “I knew I was rubbing off on you.”

            “It’s not so much that as he keeps waking me up freighted over small mammals.” I sighed as the smell of the stew started to permeate through the cavern.

            “He’s your brother.” He replied stirring the stew.

            “I know.” I sighed wondering what to do with my brother.

            “Is dinner ready?” Azazel asked as she enter the kitchen.

            “Almost, go get Ryan.” Therin replied as he took the pot off the improvised stove.

            “Hey Ryan, good news Therin picked a translation stone,” I said as Ryan and Azazel entered the kitchen.

            “Really?” he asked as he perked a bit.

            “Yes though there is only one small problem.” I said as I picked the earring off the table, “You need to get your ear pierced.”

 


as always me rouge and mejinzs are mostly human let us know id we missed anything.

chapter 50

woot!, today i release chapter 50! so as you might realize i am giving an extra chapter for the week, now i have some bad news. rouge will be going away for a few weeks as he visits family and will be unable to PR my chapters, so i will still release chapters though i will put a message that they are not PRed and will be subject to slight changes. rouge did manage to PR this one before he left so this chapter is not included. as always i want to thank both rouge and mejinzs for their proofreading support

 

so without further ado, Chapter 50 – a Draconic Conversation.

———————————Fafnir POV———————————————————

         “What happened and why do you look like you bathed in some weird creature’s blood?!” Ryan shouted as I entered the cave.

         “Well… there were a few demons that tried to come seek revenge for my supposed murder of their leader, so I took care of them.” I calmly replied.

         “So, let me get this straight, you went and slaughtered a bunch of demons, because of a crime you didn’t commit?” Ryan asked as he paled.

         “I will deal with anyone that tries to hurt me or my own.” I growled as finished folding my wings.

         “I see… could you please clean up, I don’t want to get AIDS or something” Ryan said as he started to back away.

         “That’s not how that works, and you know it.” I replied as I slapped the back of his head with my tail.

         “Ow, that hurt.” He complained as he rubbed the back of his head.

         “Is Azazel asleep?” I asked as I started to walk to the bathroom.

         “Yes,” he replied as he walked back to his cavern, “though how anyone could sleep with a giant roaring dragon is anyone’s guess.”

         I chuckled as I headed toward the rear of my lair. The faint sound of trickling water greeted me as I entered the bathroom; I smiled as I looked at the small subterranean lake that I created. I quietly slipped into the slightly chilled water and lazed in the water. I watched the pool gain a slight red tint as the dried blood dissolved off my glittering scales.

         “I really have to find a way to heat this pool.” I sighed as I shivered a bit, and went to work attempting to scrub the blood away.

         “You look like you’re having fun.” I heard someone say, I snapped my head towards the voice, and standing in the cave’s mouth was another mana dragon.

         “Where are you all coming from? You are the third mana dragon to wander into my lair in the past month.” I complained, “Can’t I take a bath without some cosmic entity bursting into my house.”  

         “I see you’ve met my sister and ex.” She chuckled, “that’s about the reaction that I expected. I’ll wait in the main cavern until you’re finished.” She said as she left the bathroom.

         I hurried up and attempted to finish scrubbing the blood stuck to my scales when I finally give up and use my draconic breath to dissolve away the last of the gore stuck to my scales. I crawled out of the lake and shook off the rest of the water.

         “Well I guess I should meet the only sane-seeming member of my race.” I sighed as I left the bathroom and headed towards the main cavern. I walked into the main cavern and saw the dragoness laying down reading a book, entitled ‘Raising Divine Children, for the New Parent’.

         “Hello,” I called out to the dragoness.

         “Aw, you’re finished.” She said as she folded the corner of the page she was on and swallowed it, “let me introduce myself, my name is Tanixathera, young wyrmling.”

         “My name is Fafnir; it’s nice to meet you…” I hesitantly replied while watching the dragoness.

         “You have no need to fear come lay down, young wyrmling. Unlike the other two, I am a bit more level headed.” She beckoned with a smile on her face.

         I walk over towards the dragon and lay down a little bit away from her. “To what do I owe the pleasure of a visit?” I asked still carefully watching the dragon.

         “I wanted to meet the new member of our spices,” she replied, “and from what I hear you weren’t inducted the normal way.”

         “Something like that. If you want details just talk to the goddess of the area.” I replied still wondering what her plans were.

         “I heard what happened from my sister; I just want to know what kind of soul gets placed into one of our glorious forms.” She said as she examined me.

         “Daddy, is that my mommy?” Azazel asked as she walked into the cavern still dressed in her pajamas carrying a blanket and pillow.

         “No little one, I am just a friend of your father’s” Tanixathera replied looking at the little demoness.

         “Oh,” Azazel replied with a frown, as she walked over and curled up along my ribs.

         “What an adorable daughter you have.” Tanixathera said looking at the demoness nuzzled up beside me, “well now that she’s asleep why don’t you tell me about yourself.”

         I spent the next hour telling story to the dragon leaving nothing out; she just looked at me without saying a word.

         “Wow, I am impressed, young wyrmling, you even managed to find a great location for your starting lair. Now what are your plans?” She asked with a toothy grin.

         “Well I apparently have to deal with cosmic court, eventually, I also have to find a friend for my  daughter and break that whole demon lord streak out of her, and deal with the humans before they die of old age.” I huffed and felt a load had been lifted off my shoulder.

         “So you do have a plan, good. But there are things you need to learn first.” She replied as she stood, “First you need to control your magic as you are leaking a lot of it, second you need to learn about yourself and your abilities, we can’t have an immature wyrmling crawling about destroying the fabric of the universe now, can we?” she said as she reached into her gullet and pulled out a book. I leaned in closer and paled at the title, ‘Basic Anatomy and Physiology of The Order Draconis; For The Lay Biologist’

         “Why do you carry a book on dragon biology with you?” I hesitantly asked.

         “I have an entire library in my hoard stomach,” she casually replied as she placed the book in front of me, “you need to read the book up to chapter… I’ll say twelve, by the time I return in about a month’s time, and when I will bring my daughter as she needs to learn everything as well.”

         I open the pages and surprisingly I can read the strange markings covering the page. “Why can I read this?” I asked astonished

         “You’re a dragon, why wouldn’t you be able to read draconic?” she replied as she got up, “Also you should contemplate what it means to be a dragon, you might find other hidden gems of knowledge locked away in your genetic memory.”

         “See you later,” Tanixathera said before she left in a flash of light.

         I grumbled as I picked up the book and I gently picked Azazel up with my tail and headed to my cavern ignoring the morning sun.

 


 

as always the three of us are mostly human so let us know if we missed anything and tell me what you think in the comments below.