Advent Noion

14

aufri cries out, narrowly avoiding all of the barnacle's attacks as he retreats back to the pair, "ahhhh! i got it!"

he holds up a small glowing tentacle, "i got the glowy-"

the barnacle's cirri wrap themselves up into a massive tentacle, recoiling into its shell, preparing for a powerful strike.

she looks in horror as it targets aufri, "aufri!"

he shouts to aufri, "watch out! aufri, jump!"

~crash~

the barnacle's thick tentacle comes smashing down as aufri leaps forward to safety, but it doesn't withdraw like before, rather it begins growing and expanding outward.

the force of the impact knocks everyone to their feet, causing aufri to accidentally release the glowing tentacle onto her, "ahh! what the hell!"

he backs away, staring in awe at the barnacle's transformation, "uhh..."

the slimy tentacle wiggles across her lap and under her frock as she panicks, kicking it into the dirt, "ahhhh! get it away!"

before it slithers away, aufri pounces on it, "gotcha!"

he starts running away from them, shouting, "retreat!"

she and aufri confusingly glance at the barnacle, before scrambling to their feet, "ahhh!"

the barnacle's tentacle, now larger than the barnacle itself, creeps forward to them, lifting the shell onto its back and sending out spiny tentacles intent on piercing aufri.

he leads the way, "run for the trees!"

they run full speed into the treeline, hoping to lose the snail, but it towers over the treetops, crushing with ease entire trees under the weight of its massive body.

she screams, looking back to the path of destruction it's leaving behind, "it's a fucking snail? ahhh!"

he shouts, "barnacle, snail... who cares! run!"

aufri shouts, narrowly avoiding the spiny tentacles embedding themselves into the trees behind him, "it's only after me!"

she looks at the glowing tentacle in his arms, realizing the cause, "aufri! it's after your pervert tentacle!"

aufri shakes his head, screaming, "noo! i went through so much to get it!"

he nods, stopping, "you're right, come over here!"

she detours to his location and they watch the enraged snail pass them by.

she screams to aufri, "aufri! lose the fucking tentacle already!"

aufri whines, disappearing into the trees ahead, "no, master!"

-

for the past hour they have been following the destruction left in the wake of the mad snail, trying to reach aufri at the end.

she whines, "ughhh, how can he run for this long?"

he stops for a break, panting, "ah... i'm... ah... out of shape-"

she grabs his arm, dragging him along, "look, i see the snail!"

he looks upward, confused, "it's... a barnacle again?"

at the edge of the treeline, at the start of a cliff, the transformed barnacle resumes its stance just like before at the bridge, its solitary glowing tentacle drifting above. keeping a safe distance away, they search through felled trees for any sign of aufri.

he calls his name, looking about, "aufri!"

aufri climbs out from below a tree, grinning, pointing to the cliff, "i'm fine, but look!"

the cave entrance.

she sits down, straddling a log, laughing, "haha! you led the snail here to block those bastards in?"

he claps, "good job. to be honest, i thought you just wanted to keep that tentacle of yours-"

aufri grumbles, "ugggh. i had to return it. it was so mad at me! did you see those spikey things?"

he grins, crossing his arms in satisfaction, "yeah, we both almost died today, didn't we?"

she turns away, "oh, what idiots you are. that's nothing to brag about!"

he smirks, nudging aufri, "uh... sounds like someone is jealous of our selfless display of courage."

she walks away, "go to hell!"

he yawns, "it's... what time is it? i'm tired."

she sighs, looking back, "can we finally go back now?"

aufri bolts off, "me, first!"

he laughs, "ha! how is he still able to run?

-

lepfnanbol glances down at the paper in his hands, "ya three demonstrated remarkable bravery in spoilin their plan and securin etla's precious bridge, so much that etla village has conferred titles onto each of ya, along with the lak reward i mentioned-"

she looks to lepfnanbol withgreed, "lak! did you say lak?"

he sits up with surprise, "we actually are being paid?"

aufri grins, "ha! aren't you glad i saved the day, master?"

she scoffs, "this was all your fault, it's only natural you fixed it."

aufri growls, "my fault! i saved master-"

he looks to lepfnanbol, curious, "what titles are they giving us?"

lepfnanbol clears his throat, glancing through the paper in his hands, "ahem... it seems to be: etlan escort."

he nods approvingly, "etlan escort sounds good."

she laughs, looking to him, "ha, how is that good? escort sounds like we are prostitutes."

lepfnanbol laughs, tossing the paper aside, "haha! well, anyways, it's an honor receivin somethin like that. ya can claim everythin tomorrow."

-

the man opens the door to their knocking, exclaiming with joy, "greetings, honorable escorts!"

she smirks, "honorable escorts... ha."

aufri grins, "master, he called me an escort!"

the man continues by introduces himself as well as the other man beside him, "i'm etla's mayor, yorn, and this is escort pomfrey."

he nods his head, acknowledging them both, and returns the introduction, "hello. we are escorts jfion, nisida, and aufri... here to claim our reward for-"

mayor yorn interrupts, ushering them in, "come in, come in! we have much to discuss!"

-

the pile of lak on the table between the two parties is only the appetizer for mayor yorn's oration.

mayor yorn continues, "...essentially monster hunters."

she sits up excitedly, "monster hunters!"

to continue reading the next section, click here:

http://www.royalroadl.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=21271

aan