Chapter 22- Friend!

The night was strange, he heard sharp screams in the dead of night. He didn’t know anything about the forest, so he decided to not go out and check.

You have levelled Mind Magic Resistance Level (4)

‘Must be a monster then’ he thought when waking up. He dug into orc meat and a tasty pastry to start his day.

Morpheus packed up his new home, it was very comfy, it was just a pity that the strange monsters ruined a nice sleep.

He was off again, sprinting through the forest feeling free. He parkoured around fallen logs, swung off low hanging branches, doing multiple back flips.

You have levelled up Flow of the Valkyrie Level (16)

You have levelled up Taste of Talaria Level (14)

He was surprised to find that spinning and bending his body in different ways improved Flow of the Valkyrie. He kept practising his flips until he reached the bottom of the mountain.

It wasn’t a big mountain, no snow covered the top, he could see others in the distance, hundreds of them. He understood that this was why roads couldn’t pass through the Bording Mountains. Paths were blocked with either a mountain or dense woodland.

He climbed up the mountain to get over to the other side. He dropped down into a dense woodland, with his axe out. The young chimera could not be so sure what he would find.

His nose picked up a familiar smell, like an orc but more clean.

Morpheus jumped up into the trees, using the branches as his stepping stones until the smell became stronger. What he found scared him. A war orc, black skin, nine feet tall and packed with more muscles than Drakon.

(War Orc, Warrior, Level ???)

(Scout, Level 196)

(Scout, Level 186)

You have levelled up Fear Resistance Level (5)

Morpheus didn’t breathe, these were out of his league and he stood no chance. They were grunting to each other, and Morpheus could understand them. ‘Why is one of them a war orc and the others aren’t’ he thought.

“Ilot already killed lion, we do not need another.”

“Stop thinking about food, think mate.” Another replied with a sarcastic grunt. Morpheus was so confused how they could speak, ‘are they sentient?' he asked himself.

One sniffed the air and spoke to the others.

“I smell elf.”

They all looked towards him.

This was his cue to run, he sprinted backwards through the trees trying to not trip on a branch. He could hear them running and one of them shout towards him.

“Friend!”

Morpheus would not stop, it could be a trap. He kept running until he was at the base of mountain, a dead end.

“Stop Friend!” He heard one shout.

Morpheus brought his axe out while activating his buffs. The three war orcs finally caught up to him and he hissed, showing his teeth.

“Friend, no harm.” One of them said in Ervos tongue.

Morpheus spoke back in their tongue. “Why follow me, why speak Ervos language.” It was very strange, they spoke in grunts from their throat.

The war orcs looked shocked.

“How you speak war orc?”

“I have a gift, answer my questions.” Morpheus asked.

“We not monsters, Apollo blessed our people.” One replied.

Morpheus was shocked, they could kill him if they wanted to but they still haven’t.

“One has War Orc, you two have scout.”

“We can change it with will.” The warrior one said.

Morpheus was still silent.

“No human can pass wailers, how?”

The warrior orc hit the scout over the head and pointed to Morpheus.

“Stupid, he chimera, rare breed.” The warrior orc said.

“Chimera, come to home, dangerous for low level. We show no harm, you show no harm.”

All three war orcs put their weapons away, Morpheus was hesitant at first but did the same.

“You run fast, that’s good, follow.”

The three orcs began to run and waved Morpheus to follow them. He was nervous, was he about to meet a group of war orcs, he had orc meat, their special axe, and he even had that bone dagger. Could he offer the bone dagger to them, so they don’t eat him?

The war orcs plus Morpheus weaved in between the mountains, they clearly knew their way around them. One put his hand up and all of them stopped, the warrior orc whispered in grunts to Morpheus.

“Mountain lion, stay here, very strong, you die.”

You have levelled up Fear Resistance Level (6)

Morpheus just nodded violently, the war orcs shuffled forward keeping their heads down.

Through the trees he could see a huge lion, bigger than the alpha reckon he faced. Just its front leg was bigger than Morpheus.

(Adult Mountain Lion, Level ???)

The lion was strolling about, sniffing at some plants. Without even a signal, the three war orcs all dove towards the lion. It didn’t even stand a chance, their strength easily penetrated the mountain lions skin and it died quickly with a sword through its skull.

“Ha, we feast tonight.” A scout said.

“Elder will be happy.”

“I can carry it.” Morpheus grunted while waking over to the lion.

“No you are to we…” and the beast was gone, filling up his entire pouch.

“You mage?” The scout asked.

“No, space bag, easy transport goods.” Morpheus said holding up his pouch.

“Good item, you have more?” One asked and Morpheus shook his head.

“Expensive and rare, I found this one.” He replied.

They set off again, half an hour later they arrived to the biggest mountain he had encountered so far. The war orcs walked up a stone pathway and into a gap just big enough for them to fit in.

“Come, don’t be scared. We are not like grey orcs.” The warrior one said.

This barely reassured Morpheus, but he now was more interested in where the group was staying.

He walked out of the gap and into a huge area, the top of the mountain was missing, stone walls encompassed trees and fields of vegetables. He saw female war orcs and children playing around them.

(Infant War Orc, Level 83)

They were even higher level than him, the stories that Brevair told him about war orcs seemed completely different. They were meant to be vicious killing machines bred for war.

All eyes were on him as they walked through the fields. They eventually stopped at a wooden spike wall that he couldn’t see over, two war orcs with spears stood at the entrance.

“We speak with elder, this is reason.” The warrior orc said to the guard while pointing towards Morpheus. The young chimera expected conflict but the guard just complied and opened the wooden gate.

He saw war orc children running around a well, slightly crooked wooden houses, and people roasting meat in the centre of this village. He was in complete awe of this place.

The group then walked towards the largest building at the back, built into the stone of the mountain. They opened the large door and let Morpheus walk in first, and followed behind him. A female war orc was lying on a massive bed, covered in only thin cloth. A male orc sat across at a table to the left of the bed sharpening his sword. It was strange but Morpheus could feel a connection to him, like siblings.

“Elder, we found a chimera, passed through the wailers.” The warrior orc said.

The male orc got out of his chair and headed over to Morpheus. He was taller and bulkier than the rest and a circular symbol was on his right peck.

“Brother.” The big war orc said.

Morpheus’s Valhalla mark lit up and the war orcs did aswell.

(Alpha War Orc, Path to Valhalla, Level ????)

He gulped this orc was over level three hundred, a force to be reckoned with. He put his primary class as his title and returned by saying brother back.

The female orc got up, and all the orcs bowed to her. Morpheus followed.

(Elder War Orc, Follower of Apollo, Level ???)

“You are marked for Valhalla.” The elder said in the Ervos language.

“Yes, my primary.” He said.

“And a chimera.” She said.

It was now awkward, what was he supposed to say..

Morpheus spoke in their tongue. “I am honoured to meet you, the stories I have heard are not what I see.”

The elder looked shocked. “You speak our language?”

“Yes I have a gift.” Morpheus replied.

“Did you purposely come to find us?” The elder grunted at him.

“No, I am travelling to Citite.” He responded.

“You can pass through the forest since you are a chimera, but a low level would not survive the great beasts of the Bording.” She said.

Her grunts were a lot more detailed, she was obviously smarter than the orcs he had first met.

“I do not know much since I lost my memory. I thought it would be quicker.” He said.

“You are correct, but foolish.”

He just nodded and it became awkward again. But suddenly he had an idea.

“I have a gift, I’m not sure if it will offend you or not.” He said.

“We do not take offence.” The elder replied.

Morpheus took out the bone dagger he had found in the orc dungeon. He held it out in two hands and the elder picked it up.

“A treasure from our ancestors, how did you find this?” She asked

“An orc dungeon.” He replied.

“How many orcs did you kill?”

He was worried, but she said that they do not take offence.

“Many.”

“How many.”

“Fourty, and a boss.” He replied.

“Thank you for killing the grey orcs, they give a bad name to ours.” She said. Morpheus was shocked but didn’t show it.

“My tutor has battled war orcs before, they were not sentient. He said they were the strongest opponents he has ever faced.”

“We do not care for those who are not sentient. By nature we are savage, bred for war.”

He was silent. The elder turned to the giant man next to her.

“Nu, give me your arm.”

The marked orc extended his arm, and the elder cut into his skin with the dagger. A white aura engulfed him and a mark appeared where the cut was.

The marked orc looked very pleased, his muscles had gotten slightly larger. He willed the message to the elder and Morpheus.

You have been marked by the Bone Dagger of Ankorath, an ancient orc treasure. +20 Strength, +10 Endurance.

“This… Is powerful, it will help us greatly in battling the beasts of the Bording, I thank you.” The elder said.

“Please don’t thank me, I would rather help your village than sell it.” He slightly lied.

“Thank you, you stay and feast with us tonight. You are a guest.” The elder said.

“Yes that would be nice.” He said Morpheus really wanted to taste mountain lion.

The marked orc called Nu spoke up. “Why are you low level, why would a Valkyrie choose you.”

“I have other marks for performing feats.”

Nu looked confused so Morpheus took off his shirt and vambraces.

“Hercules and Isis.” Morpheus said.

Nu walked over to him and touched both his tattoos.

He suddenly kneeled down, the other orcs and even the elder did as well.

“I didn't mean to offend a marked one, By Apollo, I am sorry.” Nu said. Morpheus was getting kind of sick of this.

“Please stand, we are equals.” Morpheus said.

The elder got up first. “We are humbled to be in the presence of a marked.”

“I am just a chimera, please treat me as you would anyone else.”

The elder nodded respectfully and so did the others.

“I will train you, make you ready for Valhalla. Same as me.” Nu said.

He hesitated, what sort of training is he talking about, the last thing Morpheus wanted is to be beaten senseless again.

“What sort of training?” Morpheus asked.

“Training.” Nu said.

“Ok.”

‘Nice and detailed.’ Morpheus thought. He could do with levelling up some of his skills, even though he was probably going to get beaten to the bone.

“I will train you until I see fit, marked one.” Nu said punching his right shoulder, almost shattering it.

“This is our greeting.” Nu said.

Morpheus aimed his fist high and punched the huge orcs shoulder. His skin was tougher than marble.

“Marked one, what is your name.” The elder said.

“Morpheus, may I ask yours?” He responded.

“My name is Ela. As you see I am a follower of Apollo, the one blessed us with sentience.”

“Apollo is a fine god, you live up to his great name.”

“We try our best Morpheus, we can arrange a bed in one of our houses if you like.” Ela asked.

“I have a tent in my pouch I can put it anywhere.”

Nu spoke up. “Next to the training grounds, you will leave and breathe to train Morpheus.”

He gulped again. “Sounds good.”