Realm Walker Omnibus

by Erik Weir

***

  A brute of man yelled as he charged. Victor sighed as the large man was nearly on him. When his meaty fists came down, Victor punched upwards, striking the brute in the chest and launching him into a cavern wall. The large man whimpered as he slid down and passed out.

  Victor looked around the large cavern, men and women groaning across the ground as torches flickered along the walls. Lily brought the end of her staff down on a skull and the savage hit the ground. The succubus turned around and wiped sweat from her brow, her tail waving back and forth behind her. Victor eyed the tail and smiled, knowing the succubus was feeling better.

  The succubus noticed Victor eyeing her tail and gave a wicked smile, “You’re right, getting back in the field does feel good.”

  “A little exercise always helps,” Victor returned her smile.

  Lily looked down to the scattered bodies, “Should we tie them up?”

  Victor turned his attention to the iron door not far away from where he stood, “I don’t think we have to. That door looks pretty sturdy and I can feel the acolytes just beyond it.”

  The Blade crossed his arms, gaze still on the door. “How come they don’t use iron for their weapons? I see stone daggers and spears, but clearly they know how to fashion iron.”

  Lily moved to Victor’s side, “Baaldir prefers nature versus technology. I have heard it more than once from those who have visited the Tempest Realm.”

  Victor nodded. “I wonder what ole horn head is up to since the attack on Vala’s realm?”

  Lily stepped past the Blade, making her way to the door. “He is probably recovering. It takes a lot of energy to enter another god’s realm uninvited.”

  Victor followed the succubus until they both stood in front of the iron door.

  “I hope it takes him a long time to recover,” Victor said as he looked down at the keyhole.

  “I hope you picked up the key while you were cracking skulls?”

  Lily shook her head. “I didn’t know there would be a door.”

  Victor inspected the door. A small barred portal opened at eye level. Beyond it, a long corridor continued on, torches lining the walls. The Blade turned and pressed his back to the door as if in deep thought.

  “Can you rip it open,” Lily asked.

  Victor shook his head, “We need this door intact to slow down the tribe when they start waking up.”

  Victor brought up his stats and power list. He eyed his new abilities and thought a new approach was in order.

  “I gained the ability to animal shapeshift and I have one Strength point left. I assume whatever I change into will be at cost so let’s get in there,” Victor smiled.

  Lily watched as Victor nodded to himself. Power surged as his body grew smaller, shifting and flowing onto itself. Feathers sprouted, and his body contorted. The succubus stared as Victor’s body shifted into that of a small sparrow. The bird fluttered to her shoulder, gave her cheek a peck before flying to the small barred hole. Slipping through easily, Victor saw that on the other side, multiple iron rods lined the inside of the door and stabbed into the stone. Judging from the way it looked, even with his strength, it could have caused the whole area to collapse if he tried to rip it off its hinges.

  Victor mentally commanded his body to change, and it obeyed. Body morphing, he grew to his full height. Looking through the hole, the Blade waved to the waiting succubus. Lily rolled her eyes.

  Victor began sliding bars across, and then turned the inside handle. The thick door opened and Victor bowed. Lily sauntered in and when she was in the corridor, Victor closed the heavy door behind them and slid the rods back into place. When it was locked, the succubus took her staff and slammed it into the locking mechanism, bending and destroying it.

  “I was going to do that,” Victor pouted.

  Lily gave him a sinister grin before turning and leading the way. The Blade followed, picking up the pace until they were side by side. The corridor was made of rough stone. The pair made their way along, senses alert. Victor could feel the small breeze flowing along the tunnel from unknown parts. For deep within a cave system, air flowed freely. Rooms opened up as they walked, beds and chains lining the walls.

  “I’m assuming this place wasn’t used for fun,” Victor said in a low tone.

  “The tribes in the Tempest realm can be brutal. It’s a place only the strong can survive,” Lily said as she continued to walk.

  “I hope the black eyes we gave them will give them second thoughts,” Victor said.

  “Maybe, but I wouldn’t count on it. Only Vala’s influence can tame so many damaged hearts.”

  The Blade looked to his Shield, “Is that what happened before? Did her love bring peace?”

  Lily nodded. “From what I have learned and what Cassandra has told me, her love was enough to bring peace for thousands of years. The six realms never recovered from the Rage War, not fully. It wasn’t just the people who loved her, the gods did as well. She was their mistress and she loved them the only way Vala could, with her heart.”

  “Do you believe her love will repair the realms?”

  Lily looked to the Blade and gave him a sly smile, “Don’t you?”

  Victor smiled. “I asked you first.”

  The succubus let out a small laugh as they continued to walk. The pair noticed an open entrance at the end of the corridor, light spilling out. The Blade and Shield stepped to the entrance and peered inside. Torches lined the high ceiling as thick patches of dried grass nearly covered the stone floor. A rack of torture instruments lined a wall, complete with tables stained red. Metal bars lined the entire large room at chest level, chains dangling every few feet. Further into the room, four women were on their knees, wrists chained to the walls. Bleeding cuts covered their bodies as heads hung down, hair obscuring their faces. The women were naked, bruised and cut bodies gently heaving as if they only had enough strength to breath.

  Victor stepped in, elemental sword sliding from his wrist and into his hand. Hardness filled his brow just as a wave of warmth touched his senses. Seeing them as they were, lit a match in Victor’s spirit, he could feel they were acolytes, but the cuts and bruises spoke of the madness consuming the realms. The hatred for Vala was apparent, but it didn’t excuse the vile brutality of their hatred.

  Pumping a point of Wisdom into his Elemental Sword, fire blazed along the blade. Victor stepped to one of the women, the swords’ flames glowing hotter. Slicing across, the chains separated into glowing broken links. Victor knelt down, catching the falling woman and cradling her to him. She barely moved, a moan falling from her lips.

  Lily bent down and took the woman into her arms, hands glowing, “Free the others. I’ll heal them.”

  Victor stood up without a word and moved to each acolyte before slicing the chains away and catching them in turn then laying them on the hay-like mounds. The Blade looked to some of the mounds around where the women were chained. A foul realization flowed through him as he noticed the hay on the floor was used to soak up the blood. Red painted the yellowing grass stalks.

  Lily moved from woman to woman, hands glowing. When she touched them, wounds closed and cuts sealed shut. Bruises faded from tanned skin as strong bodies began to stir. Victor let his sword slip into his wrist as he watched Lily finish her work. When all four women were healed, the succubus stayed on her knees, ready to help.

  Victor moved to one of women as she looked up to him. Warmth touched her eyes and the edges of her small smile. A hand reaching up, Victor bent a knee to take it, helping the woman to her feet while Lily assisted another woman to her feet. Soon everyone was on their feet, eyes focusing on the man and demoness.

  “Thank you,” one of the women said, her gaze never leaving Victor.

  The Blade smiled. “You’re most welcome. My name is Victor and my associate is Lily.”

  The woman nodded. “My name is Nerin,” and pointed to the other three women in turn, “Ida, Halisa and Lix.”

  The three women waved.
>
  Victor smiled before it faded away, “I don’t know how much time we have before the rest of the tribe try to break in here. This may be a little weird but unless there is a secret door out of here, we are all going to have to try and get some sleep.”

  The women looked to each other with concerned expressions before looking back to Victor and Lily.

  The purple skinned demoness stepped closer to the four women with kindness in her eyes. “Vala has led us here and we can take you home to her realm.”

  Nerin’s eyes grew a little wider, “Vala did hear our prayers. She sent you to save us.”

  Victor gave a confident smile, “She did, but our priority is to get everyone out of here.”

  The slyths might not be too pleased to see women from the tribe that killed their clan.

  Victor’s eyes widened before he looked to Lily, “Can we talk…in private?”

  The Blade turned and walked toward the entrance of the room. Lily followed until they were just out of earshot of the four prisoners. Victor smiled at the women before turning to the succubus with a sliver of panic. Memories of the Tusk Tribe attacking the slyth’s homes were still vivid in his mind.

  “We have a problem. The slyths might not be happy when we bring Nerin and the others to Vala’s Mountain,” Victor said in a hushed tone.

  Lily glanced to the women and then back to Victor, brow creasing. “They will have to get along. We can’t leave them here.”

  Victor nodded. “I had no intention of leaving them, but we may have to ease them into meeting the others. When we get home, one of us should run up and let the slyths know what to expect while the other one brings the acolytes up the mountain.”

  Lily tilted her head and gave Victor a warm smile, “Good idea. You’re smarter than you look.”

  “Har har,” Victor grinned. “I see you’re finally letting your hair down around me.”

  Lily gave him a sly smile, “Yes, only because you’re like a pet I have to save from time to time.”

  Victor’s smile faded, “You do know I’m getting stronger. That means you’re going to eat those words.”

  Lily’s eyes half closed, “I’d rather suck on something else.”

  Victor raised an eyebrow, “Naughty demon.”

  Lily kept her razor smile as she turned and walked back to the gathered women. Victor followed, heart a little lighter. When he reached the group, a heat touched his senses. The glow of their bodies sank into his mind and heart, the edges of Vala’s power caressing his nerves.

  Lily spoke to Nerin, “How did they know you were Vala’s acolytes?”

  Nerin nodded, “It has turned into a witch hunt for anyone connected to the goddess. Worship of Vala is forbidden, but…but we couldn’t help ourselves. The four of us kept it secret, but Luka was determined to find anyone who worships the goddess. There were rumors that Baaldir himself is recruiting Champions and gifting them with powers.”

  Lily and Victor looked to each other before the succubus continued, “Are there any more acolytes imprisoned in the mountain?”

  Ida stepped forward, “We are the only ones here. They tortured us...trying to break our spirits, but we wouldn’t give them the satisfaction.”

  Nerin nodded. “They wanted to know everything about us…so they could hunt others down. Vala spoke to us in our dreams, showing your faces. We knew she would help us, but we thought she would simply be waiting for us when we died. It’s…a relief to know we can serve.”

  Lily stepped closer to Nerin, almond shaped eyes taking in the woman’s sad expression, “Victor is right, the only way we can escape is if we fall asleep. Victor and I can take hold of all of you, and bring you to Vala’s Mountain. There, you can rest and acclimate to Vala’s ways…if you choose to come with us.”

  Nerin’s brow tightened. The three women behind her put their hands on Nerin’s shoulders.

  Nerin looked to Lily, and then to Victor. “The tribe turned on us. They spoke of loyalty, but when Baaldir commanded the hunt, Luka and the others betrayed us. Where once they spoke of companionship, they beat and whipped us. We have nothing left here, and would gladly pledge our lives to Vala’s crusade.”

  Victor clapped his hands and rubbed them together. “Great, now we have to get some sleep…if we can.”

  The Blade stepped past the beautiful women, turned and fell on a large mound of hay. Weakness crawled into his muscles as he felt spent. He wasn’t sure he could simply fall asleep, but after all the excitement he was more than willing to try.

  Nerin turned, crossed her arms under her large breasts and looked to the Blade. “I had thought Vala’s champion would be a little more…hungry.”

  Victor lifted his head as the gathered women stared down at him. A predatory glow sank into their collective gaze as they eyed him. Even Lily looked down, licking her lips. The Blade knew when she used her healing powers, she was often demanding when they had quiet moments but the same look seemed to infect everyone. Nerin stood with long flowing black hair, heavy breasts and thighs that looked like they could crush a coconut between them. Ida and Halisa were redheads, with bodies a little smaller than Nerin’s but almost just as strong. Lix was the thin one with long blonde hair and athletic limbs. The Blade couldn’t help but notice the defined muscle lines along their bodies.

  They have bigger muscles then you.

  “Shut up,” Victor barely whispered.

  Nerin stepped closer, “What was that, Blade of Vala?”

  Victor gave Nerin an innocent smile and patted the hay next to him, “Plenty of room for five more.”

  Lily stepped past Nerin, red eyes on the smiling man, “He can be insatiable and I’m hungry.”

  The succubus stood over the Blade, hands rising up and pulling off pieces of clothing. Victor smiled at the succubus before his eyes wandered to the other four women. The air took on a warm heaviness as the mood struck out with loving tentacles. The women began to shrug off their own clothes, hard naked bodies glowing in the torchlight. They moved closer; their intentions clear.

  Lily pressed her naked body to Victor’s side as the others knelt down to join the Blade.

  “Praise Vala,” Victor sighed as hands took hold, undressing him to the flickering torch light.

  ***

  Emerald green firelight lit up the fireplace. Vonn sat in a comfortable chair, eyes moving from left to right, a giant tome in her hands. The warp spawn’s mouth was a thin line, drinking in the words and knowledge like cool water from a stream. A black tentacle rose up, wrapping around a teaspoon and giving her tea a gentle stir on a small table to her left. Across from her seat, two large chairs were each filled with a companion. Yimer and Caasa flipped pages and read, hungrily taking in knowledge. The warp spawn enjoyed the silence, the electric heat from the magical fire soothing their bodies.

  Caasa looked up from her book, black eyes on Vonn, “We should visit Vala’s realm.”

  Vonn looked up from her book, black eyes blinking. “You have had the dreams too.”

  Yimer put her book down, “Caasa has been feeling guilty that we did not come to their aid…and so am I.”

  Vonn gave the two younger warp spawn a motherly smile. “You know we couldn’t be involved. If any of us died, others would have come searching. It is a delicate time for Vala’s crusade. We must be a safe beacon to others.”

  Caasa shook her head, “A beacon none can find.”

  Vonn gave the younger warp spawn a sad, understanding gaze. “The neboos are out scouting the city. They know the signs and will bring them to us. It is the safest way to ensure our secrecy.”

  Caasa’s tentacles trembled in annoyance, “It has been weeks and they have found no one. It could be that acolytes are in other cities. We should travel; see the other cities…even the dead city of Normir.”

  Vonn folded her hands over her book on her lap, tentacles writhing in thought. A long moment ticked by as Caasa and Yimer stared at the older warp spawn.

  Yimer broke the silence, “I m
iss Victor.”

  Vonn’s black lips spread out into a smile, “I miss him too. I’m sure we all feel the same. I don’t see the harm if we go to Vala’s mountain for a short time. I will need to research some spells to ensure none of our kind can follow us there. Give me some time and when I’m confident we can go, we will go.”

  Yimer and Caasa smiled.

  Vonn picked up her book and placed it on the table next to her tea. “For now, I do believe we should bed down for the night. We can pray to Vala so she may guide us to the answers we seek.”

  The younger warp spawn kept their smiles, tentacles writhing in excitement. Vonn looked down at their black tentacles and then back to their dark eyes.

  A knock at the door echoed through the stony home.

  The three spawn looked to the hallway before Vonn spoke, “I’m not expecting anyone. Perhaps the neboos have found an acolyte? Caasa, answer the door. Yimer, prepare more tea for our guests.”

  Yimer and Caasa rose up, their lower tentacles causing them to glide effortlessly. Yimer moved toward the kitchen while Caasa glided down the main hall toward the front doorway. Vonn glanced to her book, fighting the temptation to read and mentally prepared herself for guests.

  Caasa moved, the lower part of her robe rippling to tentacles. The young warp spawn smiled as she reached the door and opened it. The sounds of dripping water filled the area as a man stood. Drops dripped from the bottom of a long black trench coat. Wet bare humanoid feet glowed pale as clothes covered the rest of the man. Dark shadows covered his face until he looked up, dim light painting his face. Long black hair flowed from a widow’s peak to past his shoulders. Caasa noticed the hair was beyond jet black, almost as if light could not escape its darkness. The man’s face was triangular with a large forehead tapering down to the thin, pointed chin. Wide gray eyes drank in Caasa’s face as a smile widened a little too big for such a pointed jaw. The man’s hand reached up and he scratched at his neck while staring with unblinking eyes.

  “Greetings,” the man said a little too fast. “I hate to be a bother, but the trail led me here and I couldn’t stop myself.”

  Caasa gave a disarming smile, “Greetings. What can I do for you?”