Chapter 25- Wings and Steel Skin

“Shit, what are we gonna say to the boss?” A man in a cloak said, while sipping an ale.

“It’s not like we can influence anything, it was by his own choice.” Another cloaked man said

“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” He shouted, startling everyone in the Tavern.

“You better pray to his father he doesn't turn you into a rug!”

—————————————————

The young chimera’s slowly opened his eyes to a wooden ceiling.

“Morpheus, can you hear me.”

He looked over to see Ela kneeling next to him.

“What the fuck happened?” Morpheus said.

“I apologise, it seemed to have taken a different effect than I thought.” Ela said, bowing her head.

“What do you mean I feel fine.” Morpheus said.

Ela handed him a broken mirror. “No Morpheus look.”

His skin colour was darkened, to the same skin colour as when he was before a chimera. His hair changed to a deeper black, less red streaks ran through it.

He ran his hand across his face. “Tusks!” He shouted, they were not showing on his face, only twice as large as his other teeth, but still hidden into his mouth.

“What the fuck happened then.” He asked.

“After I cut your arm, very powerful shadow magic engulfed you. Even Nu couldn’t get through it.”

‘Loki must have intervened .’ He thought.

“And after it dispersed, Nu checked you with his skill, you have become part war orc Morpheus.”

“How?” He asked.

“I do not want to ask but that tattoo near your chest seemed to interact with the bone dagger. It was accepting it.”

“It was my creator.” He said. Morpheus pulled his notification up.

War Orc transfusion in progress.

Transfusion successful.

10% War Orc- Skin has been enhanced. +10 Constitution.

“I really am part war orc.” He said. Morpheus was slightly happy except a warning would have been nice.

Nu walked in. “Blood brother you are awake.”

He let off a small chuckle. “You’re not wrong.”

“That shadow magic, it was god worthy. I have never encountered something so strong.”

“My creator. He is very powerful.” Morpheus said.

“I will not pry, are you well enough to start your journey?” Nu asked.

“Yes, I feel better than usual.”

“That is the orc blood in you chimera.” Nu said, the first sort of joke the giant orc has told.

“I think it’s time for me to leave anyway, is all my stuff by the training grounds?”

Nu nodded. Morpheus got up, off the made up bed and stretched, he felt slightly taller.

“Am I taller?” He asked.

Ela nodded. “As I said, it has changed you.”

He had grown two inches, levelling off at six foot five.

“Well getting taller is always a bonus.”

“Indeed.” Ela said.

He bowed to Ela, and left with Nu to the training grounds.

“Chimera, I would like to thank you for letting me train you. My Valkyrie has rewarded me.” He said, holding out his hand, brandishing a tattoo of an axe.

“Skeggjöld spoke to my Valkyrie, it seems you are more than worthy.” Nu said.

“That is good to know.”

He packed all his stuff up, and felt slightly sad. It was time to leave friends again. He extended his hand towards Nu.

“Is this an Independent greeting?” Nu asked.

“Yes, if you are to trade with the people it is standard, or you bow.”

“Interesting chimera.” The orc said breaking his hand as he shook it.

“Maybe a little less strength.” Morpheus added.

Nu nodded, a man of not many words.

“Well, please send my regards to the village and Ela. You have given me a lot and I would like to repay you in the future.”

“I will chimera.” Nu said.

Morpheus put on his black shirt and draped his cloak over him. He was ready.

“Let me give you my map to the edge near Citite.” Nu said.

His interface downloaded the map and he now knew the path he would take.

“Avoid the areas I have marked.” Nu said.

He nodded. “I still have the mountain lion from when I first came here. Should I put it near the well?” He asked.

“No, keep it, it is good meat.” Nu said.

Morpheus smiled, and he was soon off. Towards the crack in the mountain. He waved to women and children in the fields and they waved back.

Finally he reached the crack, he walked through and the sunlight hit his eyes. His eyes refocused and he could see the expanse of mountains and trees, a truly magnificent view. He had gained a lot from staying with the war orcs, ‘Wings and steel skin.’

Archaic wings spread from his back and he took off, following the path while flying. He turned slightly and crashed into a nearby tree.

“Fuck!” Morpheus shouted, a branch had gone through his leg. ‘It’s harder than I thought.’

For the time being Morpheus used his wings to hope from treetop to treetop, careful to not exhaust his mana. He still could control the space around him but he still wanted to get used to his wings.

Three days went by as he travelled through the Border Mountains, staying far away from any beast he encountered. He would hang his tent on the highest branch of the tallest tree to stay as far away from danger as he slept.

Archaic Wings levelled up very slowly only twice in three days even though he used it constantly. Mana usage was decreasing and he began to fly for a few minutes before he went back to jumping between trees. Morpheus found it euphoric to fly, it was anyone’s dream.

He was getting closer to Citite now and he wanted to get a clear view of the city. He scaled an enormous mountain to achieve this.

His nails dug into the stone as he pulled himself up, using his wings to launch him towards the peak. The view was stunning.

Citite was built up to the cliff face, he could see the sea gently flowing behind it. The walls were one layered yet thick like Ervos. To the left of Citite towards the North was a wall stretching from a mountain to the edge of the cliff face. He heard people speak of it, it was a choke point used when the Independent faced off between the Empire.

It was truly a choke point. To the right, the south, was vast fields with stone roads leading to Southcross. It was a very strategic placement of a city.

In the center he could see a castle with long thin towers sprouting up from the main body. It reminded him of many fantasy castles he had seen before.

He didn’t hesitate and leapt down from the mountain peak, he reduced the weight of his body and glided down to the edge of the forest. It wasn’t really a glide more of a fast sloped fall, he landed face first, dragging it along the hard ground.

He got up and checked if anyone saw, thankfully no one did.

He ran for the entrance into Citite, excited to see another city. It was much smaller than Ervos probably half the size, yet he debated if Citite would last longer in a siege. The walls were higher and thicker than Ervos and the watchtowers were made out of stone. They would definitely be able to stop a ball of shadow magic.

He approached the little booth.

“Name and business, taxes included if goods brought from the North.”

“Morpheus, adventuring and I have some monsters to sell.”

“Monsters are fine, no other goods?”

“No.”

“Fee is five coppers.”

“Why so high?”

“Have you been living under a rock?” He rhetorically asked.

Morpheus just stared at him, he placed the five coppers on the table.

“What’s happened?”

“Eh, move along… Chimera?”

“Yes, I don’t know who made me and I’m not willing to speak to anyone.”

“... That’s fine, be on with you.”

‘Rude bastard’ he thought as he walked under the enormous gate. Morpheus hadn’t noticed because he was excited but the mood seemed very gloomy, like a dark cloud was hovering above.

He looked to the sky, but the sun was shining down. The young chimera would have to ask someone.

He found out where the guild was, and headed there straight away. It was midday and he still had a lot of time to check out the city.

He had arrived at the guild, it was magnificent. Greek style pillars supported the stone roof, and the entrance was big enough for a giant. There were not that many people hanging about the entrance which surprised him as well, he would definitely have to ask about what’s going on.

He walked in to find only a few people drinking around tables, all low level.

He walked up to the desk to find a very young blonde girl writing things down.

“Hi, I’ve got some monsters to sell.” Morpheus said, displaying his badge on the table.

“What, aren’t you with the army?” She asked him.

“The army? I’ve just got here from Ervos, travelled through parts of the Border Mountains.”

“You don’t know?” She said.

“Well no.” He bluntly stated.

“All reds and above have gone to meet the Ditorians.”

He was shocked. “I thought there were just a few of them left and they all got wiped out after the attack at the coronation.”

“No, a few days after the attack, an army of ten thousand attacked SouthCross.”

“The fuck! Where were they hiding?” He asked.

“East area of the Border Mountains.”

“Shit I was close.” He said to himself.

“Southcross survived, but forty thousand Ditorians are now coming here.”

“What! Why?”

The young girl sighed. “Their whole goal was to take Citite.”

Morpheus wanted the girl to elaborate.

“Citite is strategic, they can defend this place against Ervos when they arrive. They disrupted the Southcross army so they could take this place.”

“Fuck. So where’s the army now?” He asked.

“They’ve gone to meet the Ditorians, we have twenty five thousand men, including adventures and vets.”

“When did they set out?” He asked.

“Early morning. They’ll meet with them in four days.”

“Can’t they just defend this place?” He asked.

She shook her head. “They have strange magical weapons, they can easily destroy our walls.”

Morpheus panicked, he couldn’t just run. He grabbed the commutation crystal out of his bag to see lots of messages from Brevair. Why hadn’t he checked it, he was always on his phone.

‘Morpheus, Ditorians have attacked Southcross. Do not go anywhere near the city.’

‘Morpheus, you need to tell us where you are Sophia is having a breakdown.’

‘Morpheus, Ditorians are aiming for Citite, get out of the city right away.’

‘Morpheus, me and Sophia have been mobilised into the army, we will arrive in Citite in two weeks.’

‘Morpheus you need to reply.”

“Fuck.” He quickly sent a message back.

‘Sorry Brevair please tell Sophia I’m ok. Forgot to look at the crystal. I just got into Citite, The army left his morning. What should I do?’

The girl looked away at Morpheus panicking.

“Where’s the bar?” He asked.

The young girl pointed to a corner. He briskly walked over.

“Strongest spirit please.” He said to the barman

The barman nodded and handed him a jug of foul smelling liquid.

Morpheus downed it and asked for two more.

“You ain’t gonna run out on me are you?” He asked.

“No, I just need a drink.” Morpheus replied handing him a whole silver. He quickly scooped it up.

The green crystal glowed and vibrated.

‘Morpheus, by what I’ve been told,they will definitely take Citite. You need to get out of the city within a week. Their army should have been mobilised this morning. Did you say you met a group of War Orc’s?’

‘War Orcs!’ He could ask them, but they were peaceful. Morpheus replied.

‘I could ask them, they want to trade with Citite in the future. Their Alpha, Nu is three hundred, how many men would that be worth.’

He got a message back instantly.

‘Boy, a three hundred war orc could face five hundred men. They were not given the name War Orc for no reason. If you could ask even one of them, they would be given trade rights and would be recognised as citizens.

“Fuck me.” He said to himself, downing the second jug of strong spirits.

‘I’ll leave now, can you relay a message to the king or tell someone. I don’t want people to attack them.’

Morpheus downed the third jug and sprinted out the huge doorway. He spread his wings and flew over the city, guards shouted at him as he shot straight over the wall. He got a message after a minute of flying towards the Bording Mountains.

‘Message sent to Cavet, he will notify the king of Citite who’s in the army heading to meet the Ditorians.’

Morpheus reached the peak of the mountain he previously looked out over. It was surprisingly easier to fly in a high stress environment.

You have levelled up Archaic Wings Level (E) (4)

He bit into an orc skewer as he took off again, leaving a streak of red lines behind him.