10/07/337

Vasuki

“So this is goodbye, huh?” Izenia asked.

“Looks like it, at least for now.” Rahzel claimed.

“Been good being around people that aren’t trying to torture me.” Gord pointed out.

The five of them stood outside the monastery they had made their temporary home. The wind was silent, birds flew over the cloudy sky, as if trying to leave the proximity of Daemerall.

“I’m glad I got to meet you guys. Maybe we’ll see each other again one day.” Vasuki said.

“If you get a chance to come by Nevenal I’ll hopefully be working with your dad.” Rahzel responded.

“If...hopefully that will come by sooner rather than later.”

“I’m sure after all of your problems are done with you can return to Nevenal.” Liz said, patting Vasuki’s back.

“If they’re ever going to be done.” He thought.

“You sure you’ll be fine traveling alone, Rahzel?” Izenia asked.

“Yeah I’ll be fine, all of you...be safe out there.” Rahzel ordered, “See you guys around.” With that he turned and began to walk south west.

“What about you two? Will you be fine?” Izenia asked, looking at Liz and Vasuki.

“We’ll be fine, you two are splitting up at Larkinge, right?” Vasuki asked. Gord and Izenia nodded in tandem.

“Then I’ll continue east and she’ll go north to Gushe.” Gord claimed.

“Alright, good luck you two.” Vasuki said, with a shaky breath.

“Same goes for you, ice boy!” Izenia said as they waved and began walking east.

“Let’s get going.” Vasuki said, weakly, he had barely realized the knot that grew in his throat.

“You have troubles of letting people leave, don’t you?” Liz asked.

“I’ve had to let a lot of people go recently.”

They walked to the west, mostly in silence until Liz saw a bird or a deer, and reacted with the excitement of a child in a candy store.

“What did you go through?” Vasuki asked. Liz slowed mid-run.

“I’ve been through...a lot.” She claimed. “I’m a summoner, my life is tied to my familiar. As long as he lives, I can’t die...they exploited that, though I don’t think they understood why I wouldn’t die.” She paused. Vasuki could only imagine the things they put her through.

“If you don’t want to talk about it, I understand.” Liz’s face grew grim.

“There’s a lot out here I haven’t seen in...such a long time. I didn’t think I would. I have you to thank for this.” Vasuki waved her comment off.

“Don’t thank me, I just got lucky to have found you. Complete coincidence-”

“I don’t think so.” Liz said interrupting him, “Zaurah told me I’d leave, but told me I couldn’t leave before the time is right. I think it’s exactly what he wanted. Not a coincidence. We’re simply walking right into his plans.”

“But you have to admit that seems a little far fetched.” Vasuki pointed out.

“You have a good point, except for the fact that if there’s someone who has some kind of insight to his plans it’s me.” Vasuki was about to ask how before she shut down the question, “I’ll explain later, let me just enjoy the nature of the forest.” Liz demanded.

Enjoy nature she did, every single little thing, from the flowers and the random fox and singing of birds, to the skittering of leaves as the wind blew through the trees. The wind was a nice, and warm, northern breeze that seemed to dance around the trees and twirl nature around it. Vasuki seemed to be lost in a trance with the wind.

Soon the sun had begun to get close to the western side of the sky.

“I’ll go hunting, if you can get the firewood that’d be a huge help.” Vasuki claimed.

“No need to go hunting, I’ll handle that.” Liz responded. He had never seen her use any kind of magic, nor was she armed.

“Really? How so?” Vasuki asked. She smirked as she bent over to pick up a bit of wood.

“I was told, by a little birdie, that you noticed me silently thank Noelem.” Vasuki was silent, he was confused as to where this was going, “To avoid scaring the others he came with Noelem, remember the scratching at the monastery door?” She smirked and lifted her hand in front of her face, palm up. A small black substance appeared in her hand, the smell alone was enough to fire up every warning flare Vasuki had. He subconsciously took a few steps back, the hair on his arms and the back of his neck stood on end. A deep and low chuckle echoed from the shadow in her palm. She stood up and flicked the shadow away from her.

The darkness landed a few feet in front of him. It rose from the ground, easily coming up to eye level before beginning to shape itself. It didn’t seem to have any kind of structure, as if it were a shadow that decided to stand above the ground. It took on the structure of a tall quadrupedal animal, taking a step towards him before the fur appeared and the giant Hellhound stood over him on all four legs. A crimson pulse danced through it’s veins like blood-stained cracks through glass, vanishing just as fast. The beast panted, the red orbs in his sockets landed on Vasuki’s eyes, then a deep, smooth voice spoke up.

“Hello there, Skink.” The creature said, his mouth moved in an oddly human manner, before giving a grim smile.

“Vasuki, meet my familiar and my best friend.” Liz claimed walking next to the beast, “This is Erefus!” She said, giving him a hug and ruffling the fur on his head. Vasuki stood in silence, and fear, having no issues ignoring the fact that he was just called a Skink. Trying to decide what his next move should be.

Erefus began to walk around Vasuki, like a wolf stalking it’s prey, this motion also revealed his broad side. From the ground to his shoulders he was probably seven feet tall and double that in length.

“Tell me...child. Do I…frighten you?” Vasuki felt his hand twitching, a shiver went up his spine, “I tell you this, not to scare you, but to warn you.”

“Erefus, come on.” Liz said. Suddenly darkness seemed to swirl around them, darkening most of Vasuki’s field of vision, all except the crimson orbs that shown through the darkness.

“If you plan on laying a hand on my Master, I will personally see to it, that your arm comes off with that hand. As a skink, your arm would grow back, and I’d be there to” The crimson orbs moved faster than Vasuki realized, hot breath wet his face, “rip it back off.” Erefus snarled, almost happily. Suddenly the darkness vanished and Erefus sat down, his size drastically decreased to that of a normal wolf and his deep voice had a very posh tone to it.

“My name is Erefus, a pleasure for you to meet me. And as my master’s request I will be catching our dinner for tonight. Elizabeth, thank you so much for introducing me to the skink over here. It’s been an absolutely delightful time, I’ll be back before you know it.” And just like that, he vanished into a shadow and flew off.

Vasuki took deep breaths trying to calm his racing heart. He looked at Liz who had one hand on her hip and the other was pinching the bridge of her nose.

“Is he always like that?” Vasuki asked.

“He doesn’t get introduced to that many people.” Liz said, “Believe it or not, most people haven’t been very accepting of me being a Summoner.”

“What does that even mean? Summoner I mean. Did you summon him?” Vasuki asked.

“Well...it’s a bit of a story. Let’s just say this: When I thought I was going to die he appeared and saved me. He gives me his power as long as he has a companion to be with. He doesn’t like being alone, oddly enough. He told me he spent over a year trying to find me, when he felt our bind return he was ecstatic.”

“How did that cult capture you, if you had him with you? Seems like something extremely difficult to do.” Vasuki pointed out, grabbing a branch from the base of a tree.

“There was this man that came with them, he didn’t seem to be scared of Erefus at all, even bested us in combat. Oddly enough I can’t really recall what the man looks like. All I can remember is a green scarf flapping in the wind. If I remember correctly it was a western wind that day.” Vasuki froze.

“Felix Zephyr...he sent me to that cults hideout, well kicked me down a hole. I don’t know what he wants or what he’s doing, but he has his own agenda that’s for damn sure.”

“Felix Zephyr…” Liz said, as if engraving the name into her head.

Only after the two of them had gathered enough wood to set up a campfire, did Erefus return with a deer in his massive jaws. He breathed on the pile of wood to light the fire, and then skinned and gutted his kill. If someone had told Vasuki he’d witness a hellhound gut a deer in the future he wouldn’t believe you, but Erefus proceeded to shift his shape so quickly and fluidly that he could hold the deer in one spot, above the ground and wrap it’s shadowy body around it, cutting into it with blades that Vasuki was partially happy he couldn’t see. After the deer was cleaned he held up the beast on a rack made of his own shadowy figure, he then spun the deer over the flames to cook it evenly. Vasuki was both fascinated and terrified.

“How long have you two known each other?” Vasuki asked, after Erefus retreated to Liz, the deer was completely gone. They had eaten their fill and Erefus devoured the rest of the body, bones and all.

“We’ve known each other for a while...I’m not very keen on talking about my past, sorry. Noelem...how do you know that creature?” She asked.

“He’s a friend of an old friend. You know what he is?” Liz responded with a nod.

“The son of Runahera, Maker help us.” Liz said, “I’m going to get some sleep, Erefus can keep watch tonight.” Liz pointed out as she laid on her back and stared at the treetops.

Vasuki was left alone with his thoughts. He listened to crackling flames and the crickets that played their songs. Just as he was going to lay down to sleep he stopped.

“You haven’t forgotten our deal, have you?” Vistrata asked. Vasuki stood up straight, he did everything he could to control his body, cast magic, call his sword. Yet he remained completely immobile. He felt a frail hand on his shoulder, and hot breath on his ear. “Turn around and follow me.” Vasuki’s body turned to face the old man’s back. He then began to walk after the old man.

During their ten minute walk of silence, Vasuki fought for control of his own body, everything moved according to what Vistrata wanted. His face was neutral, even though his mind screamed in aggravation. Eventually they came to a small stream, before Vistrata let go of his hold on Vasuki’s body. Not expecting the sudden change he fell to the ground.

“Do you hate me? Do I piss you off?” The old man asked.

“More than you could imagine.” Vasuki answered.

“Your emotions are what’s holding you back. Remember what you said when Cabana told you, that you could Ascend? That you’d be strong enough to protect those that you love. Do you still think that? Or are you aware now that having the ability doesn’t make up for a lack of skill.” He turned to face Vasuki, as the dragon slowly stood. “Tell me, what are you going to do when you meet with Audra once again?”

“I’m going to beat the living hell out of her.” The old man chuckled.

“How? You could barely land a hit last time you fought. She has a powerful artifact, and now she can fully ascend. How do you intend on winning against her?”

“I-” Vasuki was interrupted by a punch to the gut, his recent dinner immediately came back up from the powerful force.

“There’s someone that wants to meet-” His voice faded away in the distance.