[Book II Chapter 41] FILIA: Future Plans

------------------------------------------------

Filia wandered the halls of Jonathan’s Thornbridge Manor, slowly taking in the decor. It was a reward for Happy who had done a solid job over the last ten days.

The undermist was surprisingly vast, with multiple land masses at different elevations. With the map given to them by Jonathan Bark, they’d scoured one region after another for any rifts. This mainly mean accompanying Carol and guarding her as she probed their surroundings with her spiritual sense.

It’d a sobering experience. She’d been taken aback by the number of abandoned settlements, some the size of small villages. Combined they must’ve housed thousands. Some had been haunted in disturbing fashion, with faint cries of terror and agony piercing the quiet.

There weren’t any rifts, but Carol had located plenty of moonlit denizens, abnormally nasty ones. Since these would endanger innocents, Zentria deemed it necessary to dispose of them. First was the ogre at that farm, then there was the nightmarish carnival which sprung up in that field. The worst was an infestation of alien creatures which had built a city-sized termite nest. It’d had taken days to cull their numbers and kill the queen.

> Happy preened. >

> Filia responded.

Entering a hallway, she found the manor’s new guest, Raphael Lange, admiring the paintings. The unusually handsome young man had shown up shortly after their arrival, purportedly to visit his favorite author. He’d kept Jonathan company during their expeditions to the Undermist.

Spotting her, he smiled, “Are you also perusing these masterpieces?”

“Ah, yes,” Filia answered awkwardly. “They are certainly breathtaking.”

In frames around them hung visions of dark forbidding landscapes and nightmarish creatures, always against the backdrop of an ominous full moon. This same motif was present throughout the manor.

“I have been a lifelong fan of Bark’s work.” Raphael explained enthusiastically. “It’s amazing seeing his depictions brought to life so vividly.”

Personally I prefer cute sukemon, but to each their own. A door opened and Jonathan Bark walked out followed by Juda Hellspawn. “What are you two doing loitering here?” He asked.

“We were appreciating your masterpieces.” Raphael answered. “Could you tells us who painted them?

“T’was I” Jonathan declared to everyone’s shock.

“I knew you dabbled in philosophy.” Juda said. “But I didn’t know you were also an artist.”

“Nearly all immortals are, to a degree. It only takes a decade or two of playing around with a brush. Still, while I consider myself proficient, I pale in comparison to Razir Pearson, Gallea Yanser, and Robin Hades.”

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

No one can match the immortal painters. “Why are they all scenes from the Moonlit Lands?” Filia asked.

Jonathan gazed at the canvases. “These are sights I have witnessed with my own eyes.”

Really? Filia glanced at the form of a Maven, far more hideous and threatening than the version they’d vanquished.

“Nothing from there can harm me.” Jonathan chuckled. “I am the only one who can interact with them normally.”

“How…?” Filia stammered her confusion.

“Long ago, I was gifted with the ability to effortlessly travel back and forth.” Jonathan revealed. “I find that land, constructed from the bleakest fantasies, fascinating. It’s an unforgettable experience to meet beings born from your own imagination.”

“As you might’ve guessed, I recruited my staff through my trips. Unfortunately, I can’t bring back most of those I encounter without causing tragedies. So instead I capture them and their world with my art.”

Juda shook his head, “you really are more familiar with those monsters than anyone else alive.”

“Well, I did create a lot of them.” Jonathan laughed.

“What is this one?” Raphael asked.

In the middle of the hallway was a portrait larger than the others. In a barren field, two red pupils stared out from a deformed suit of armor covered by a cloak of black feathers.

“That’s the Nightmare King, the oldest primal of the Moonlit Lands.” Jonathan answered. “He’s an illusive figure ——as he should be—— which I rarely catch a glimpse of.”

“What did you mean by that?” Filia asked.

“As any good horror writer knows, fear is born of the unknown. Reveal too much and it fades away.” Jonathan peered up as he spoke. “The Nightmare King’s fleeting appearances preserve the ultimate terror he represents.”

“Isn’t Yondil the ultimate terror?” Juda objected.

“Yondil is the madness and paranoia which results from fear. The Nightmare King is a being which causes it.” Janathan explained. “That said, the two share a connection. Both are able to summon and command the Moonlit Lands’s legions.”

A fairy sparkling with destructive power zoomed into view. “Carol is up. Everyone is to meet in the living room.” After delivering its message, it disappeared with a bang.

As Filia and Juda left, she could hear Raphael excitingly asking more questions. What a weird hobby he has. She would never understand those who terrorized themselves for fun.

Once they were all gathered around the table, Zentrias began. “Barring surprises, we’re nearly done, which is why I wish to discuss our next steps. I propose exploring the Solfis Underground before leaving.”

Restricted to saints and below, the Solfis Underground remained unconquered. Adventurers surmised the dungeon was the endless sort, descending into ever more challenging floors. Filled entirely of Moonlit denizens, the place was a test of nerves as much as strength, famous for assaulting the psyche. As compensation for the added difficulty, the initial run provided a phenomenal exp boost. Many still chose to skip it.

Filia raised her hand. “Sorry, I can’t. The Sukemon International Championships starts in a little over two weeks. It might be the last major event for years, and I want to travel to Tulven ahead of time. I’ll finish our current quest, but then I must go.”

Zentrias nodded. “I expected as much. What about the rest of you?”

“I’m game, but I must return to the Demon World afterwards.” Juda said. “It something I can’t delay it any longer.”

They turned to Carol, who wore the sourest of expressions. “Do we have to?” She pleaded, shivering lightly.

“I have been avoiding this for years because of how you felt about the Undermist. Now that we are here and you have the Silver Moon pendant, there’s no longer any reason not to. Since the Solfis Underground doesn’t require a full party, I won’t push you, but we could really use your expertise.”

Carol mulled silently, rocking back and forth in her chair, before whispering, “I’ll go if you use your eyes.”

Zentrias was taken aback. “Why…?”

“If you do, we’ll reach much deeper and maximize the benefits.” Carol explained. “That would make it worth me coming.”

It was their leaders turn to look conflicted. Finally, he sighed, “Fine, but not against anything humanoid.”

“Deal.” Carol smiled charmingly. “This way it’ll be unpleasant for both of us.”

Zentrias will use eyes on living beings? This almost made Filia reconsider her decision, but her anticipation for the sukemon championships was too strong.a