Realm Walker Omnibus

by Erik Weir

  Dawn’s fingers clenched into tight fists before she spun around with a furious gaze, “Why are you following us? Haven’t you done enough?”

  Skye’s expression solidified into an angry gaze. Kira’s eyes saddened as she stayed to Skye’s side.

  “I should be saying that to you,” Skye shouted. “You destroyed everything!”

  Victor looked to the two women and then to Dawn before putting his hands up, “Emotions may be high right now. Maybe we should take it down a notch.”

  Dawn’s eyes never wavered as she glared at Skye, “Victor, you would be angry too if you were drugged and kept tied up in a basement!”

  Skye took a step forward, rage filling her eyes, “You manipulated us and stole from our shop! You’re lucky we decided to protect you or those Spell Swords would have carted you off to the Authority!”

  Victor looked to Lily as she stood with crossed arms and an annoyed look in her eyes. “Calm them down while I calm Dawn down.”

  The succubus exhaled in annoyance as she turned and stepped to Skye and Kira. Victor turned and walked to Dawn as she stood, nearly trembling in rage. The forest around them grew silent as birds looked down, heads cocking to the side in curiosity.

  Victor approached the elf, trying to keep his demeanor as calm as possible. Dawn’s gaze shifted to him and her rage cooled slightly. When Victor stood before her, she rushed him, circling her arms around his waist and pressing her head to his chest. Victor couldn’t help himself as he hugged her close.

  “Thank you for saving me,” Dawn said in a low, sad voice.

  “No thanks needed...but you’re welcome,” Victor smiled.

  The two held each other while the murmurs of Lily, Skye, and Kira filled the background.

  “What happened,” Victor asked.

  Dawn was silent before she uncoiled her arms and stepped away. “I was trying to make amends. I broke into their shop and left a pile of gold for them until they attacked me. They kept me in the basement and drugged me so I wouldn’t try to escape.”

  “Tell them the whole story or I will,” Skye shouted as Lily put her arm out to stop her from advancing.

  Dawn looked down but remained silent. Victor turned to Skye, Kira, and Lily with a confused raise of an eyebrow.

  “I’m okay, but if you are her friends, you need to know what happened,” Skye said to Lily.

  The succubus let her arm drop to her side. The redhead bowed her head to Lily before stepping closer to Victor. The Blade stayed his ground as Dawn took a few steps away, not looking in their direction. Kira stood, a backpack over her shoulders and a gloomy darkness in her eyes.

  Victor waited as Skye was about to speak when a deep warmth washed over him. Skye’s expression changed from fury to warm confusion as she stood before Victor. The play of energy between them was overwhelming and Skye hesitated. Victor knew this feeling, but kept his expression neutral so not to add to the already confusing start of the day.

  Skye blinked as she steadied herself, “You...you belong to Vala.”

  Victor said nothing.

  “I felt it too,” Lily said from the background, “We all felt it in the shop.”

  “Let’s start from the beginning before we begin talking about Vala,” Victor said diplomatically.

  Skye’s eyes closed slowly as if she was regaining her balance. When they opened, a new fire lit her spirit.

  “Your friend seduced us and then took many items from our shop weeks ago. I placed new wards in the shop and when she broke in, the wards alerted me and I subdued her. I was ready to call the magistrates when two things happened. One, she felt…like family. Two, she was being hunted.”

  Kira stepped over to Skye’s side, head bowed. “Skye tells the truth. We noticed strangers eyeing our shop. We didn’t know their intentions so we decided to keep her locked up until they moved on…but they didn’t move on.”

  Dawn looked to the two women and frowned. “You should have just let me go. I would have handled them.”

  Skye crossed her arms against her stomach, “Like you handled us? They would have killed you or taken you prisoner.”

  Victor turned his attention to Dawn as she stood. The elf glanced to him, her frown deepening before turning away.

  “Dawn, it will help your spirit feel lighter if you just come clean to them,” Victor said.

  The elf’s head leaned forward before she turned around, darkness under her eyes. “Fine, yes, I seduced them. When we needed ingredients for Night’s potions, I knew I could get them at their shop. While they were out one night, I introduced myself and we started to talk. One thing led to another and we ended up in their bed.

  “Afterwards, when they were sleeping, I snuck down and took what we needed for the potions. I had full intention of returning and paying them back.”

  Skye’s brow grew softer, but her gaze remained hard, “If you told us you worshipped Vala, we would have come to an understanding.”

  Even Lily looked to Dawn with hard eyes, “You didn’t have to steal from them. We all could have worked to some kind of agreement.”

  “Time was not on our side and I made a decision. The proof was there when I broke in to pay them back. As for the seduction, we were all willing partners.”

  “And because of you, our shop went up in flames,” Skye growled.

  Kira stepped from Skye’s side and walked up to Dawn. The elf with glasses stood with a blank expression until the silver-haired woman reached for her hands, took hold and held them up. Warmth played between their fingers as Dawn’s demeanor seemed to ebb from the woman’s touch.

  “I never had a chance to thank you for that night,” Kira said softly.

  Lily moved to Victor’s side as they both watched Dawn and Kira.

  “I…,” Dawn began before Kira spoke up.

  “Skye was going to leave me. We had been together for years and I knew it was only a matter of time before she left me for good.”

  Skye stepped closer, her rage washing away to sorrow, “Kira…you don’t have to say anything.”

  Kira nodded. “I do. They should understand what happened.”

  The silver-haired woman continued to hold Dawn’s hands. “We toyed with the idea of opening our relationship. When you arrived and we spoke, it seemed like Vala herself was guiding our union. The night was wonderful. I knew our hearts felt better for it. When we woke and saw that many items from our shop went missing, it made our bond stronger. We realized, we didn’t need anyone else to complete us, we were already complete.”

  Dawn’s demeanor grew softer as she squeezed Kira’s hands. “I meant no lasting harm. I was going to return and pay…I just didn’t have enough gold at the time. After returning the payment, I would have come to you both…to apologize.”

  Skye marched over and put her arm around Kira’s slender shoulders while looking to Dawn. “You showed us what was already there. We simply needed a reminder and for that we are thankful,” Skye said begrudgingly.

  Dawn looked down before pulling her hands away. “I’m sorry,” she said simply.

  Skye and Kira nodded, accepting her apology.

  Victor leaned in to Lily. “It’s like a soap opera,” he said out the side of his mouth.

  Lily crossed her arms, “If a ‘soap opera’ is anything like an opera…then yes, it is long, drawn out and boring. We don’t have time for this. Vonn and Yimer are still out there somewhere.”

  Victor nodded. “We should find a place to sit down and talk. If they are acolytes of Vala, we should discuss before…,” Victor was cut off by the sound of clapping.

  “It is a fine day to put the past away,” a man said from above.

  All eyes turned to a tree where a man stood on a branch, his shoulder leaning into the trunk of the tree. Victor’s hand opened as his gun blade slid into his palm. Spending a Constitution point, he charged his blade as a staff appeared in Lily’s hands. Skye and Kira took a step back as Dawn drew a dagger and looked up with a hard gaze.

 
The man stopped clapping, a hand taking hold of a branch and hanging from it. Victor noticed the leather armor on his body was covered in black runes, similar to the Spell swords in the shop. A thick leather-bound book was chained to his hip and a pleasant smile painted his face. The air took on a stillness as the man and the group studied each other for any hint of aggression.

  The stranger spoke first. “No need to brandish your weapons, I come in peace.”

  “That’s not what we’d expect since your fellow Spell swords attacked our shop,” Skye growled as she pulled Kira back with her.

  The stranger closed his eyes and tilted his head forward, “While I may be like them, I am not one of them. I told them it was foolish to rush in and attack, but Arthur’s ego was too big for his body to carry. Amber was just as foolish so they deserved their fates.”

  Victor lifted his gun blade and aimed at the stranger in the tree, “And what fate do you deserve?”

  The stranger opened his eyes and gave an impish smirk, “A fate where my goddess can have a moment of your time.”

  Victor smirked, “It’s been a pretty busy day so far. How about we reschedule and just be on our merry way.”

  The man leapt off the branch, somersaulted through the air and landed at the base of the tree, palms facing out. Victor kept a steady aim on the Spell sword as Lily and Dawn stood to each side of him. Skye and Kira moved behind them to stay out of the way.

  “I believe this is a conversation you must have, Champion of Vala.”

  Victor’s eyes took on a steely gaze. Lily kept her stance loose while Dawn was still as a statue in a cemetery.

  The Spell sword leaned against the tree; his body relaxed. “My friends call me Nebb. I hope we can be friends.”

  Victor studied the Spell sword. Short brown hair covered his head as a small braid hung from his right temple. His features gave him a normal, everyday man look, unremarkable except for his leather armor and the book at his hip. Victor could swear the man could blend into a crowd and disappear without a trace. They didn’t even hear him coming or knew he was there in the tree. If he wanted to hurt them, he had plenty of moments to cripple them.

  Victor lowered his gun blade and let it slide back into his wrist. The succubus and the elf glanced over to Victor with question marks in their eyes.

  The Spell sword bowed slightly before leaning back against the tree. “I see you are a man of intelligence. I am happy to call you friend.”

  “Friendship is earned,” Victor said with a cool edge. “You mentioned your goddess wants to speak to us and we don’t have a lot of time.”

  Nebb nodded. “Time is a resource many of us don’t have, that is why our introductions must be brief. Forgive my sudden appearance but I have been watching you since you arrived in town. Where my cohorts wished for your capture or death, I was instructed by a higher power to gain your attention. Now that I have it, my goddess will want to speak to you personally.”

  I don’t like this.

  Victor remained silent as Nebb stared at the group. Victor gazed on the Spell sword, eyes growing wider as the bark along the tree began to shift and move. Nebb grinned as bark crawled onto his body like a swarm of brown insects. They shifted over every part of him, becoming rough scales over limbs and the trunk of his body. Lily and Dawn kept their stances, all of them watching as the Spell sword was consumed by the tree. When the bark crawled over Nebb’s neck and then face, he was covered from head to toe with bark as he became one with the tree. Vines emerged and crisscrossed over the humanoid lump. Bark fell away from his face and Victor’s eyes widened a hair.

  A green skinned face emerged from the falling bark, eyes closed and mouth a thin line. Green hair flowed, taking on a mossy texture while the vines tightened. Shards of bark fell away until a womanly form pulled from the tree. She stood seven feet tall, skin and hair an emerald green while brown bark covered her body in patches. Oval eyes opened and a smile formed.

  Victor stared with unblinking eyes. “I saw you,” he stated as he remembered the face in the forest on their way to Runon.

  The green woman knelt to her knees, a cheery smile on her green lips. “I wanted you to see me.”

  Lily stabbed the end of her staff into the ground, her face a hard mask. “Nyphy, Goddess of Plants, Seasons and Life.”

  Victor looked to Lily and then to the big green goddess kneeling before him. “You know her?”

  Lily nodded. “She is a powerful goddess here in the Eddor Realm. Many of the lesser gods look up to her.”

  Nyphy’s smile broadened. “Then you know I took no part in Vala’s murder.”

  “You didn’t do anything to stop it either,” Lily sneered.

  The green goddess’ smile dimmed but only for a moment. “True, I remained neutral but her death weighed heavy on myself and many others. It is part of the reason why I am showing myself to you through one of my Champions. There is some regret in the pantheon, but I wish to personally extend my hand in friendship.”

  “So, you can slit our throats with a friendly smile,” Lily said with a hard edge.

  Victor turned to Lily with wide eyes, “She’s a goddess. We should hear her out.”

  The succubus shook her head, “She may be a goddess, but she is just as flawed as all the others. Don’t let her power fool you into thinking she wants to be our friend. Vala called her friend even when she did nothing to stop Vala being hacked to pieces. She will try to manipulate and use us for her own designs.”

  Nyphy’s shoulders deflated as her gaze shifted downward. “I understand your anger and if I was one of Vala’s followers, I would feel the same burning protective passion. You are trying to right a great wrong, but you are not the only ones who wish to see a brighter future. Vala’s death left a void and it is something many want to see rectified.”

  “But not all,” Victor said in a low tone.

  The green goddess nodded. “While we speak, forces are aligning to cause great harm to many here on Eddor. Trust, much like friendship, is earned. I wish to personally give information to show I desire what you desire, Vala’s return. If I tried to pass it through one of my Champions or followers, I know it would be a mistrusted source. By showing myself, I want you to know the information is valuable and a first step to bridging the chasm of darkness across the six realms.”

  She talks a good game, but I’m with Lily, we can’t trust any of them.

  “It doesn’t cost us anything to listen. Let’s hear her out,” Victor smiled.

  Fine, don’t come crying to me when she betrays us!

  Nyphy eyed Victor with an amused smile. “Thank you, Blade of Vala. To begin, my influence is connected with plants and living beings from insects to dragons. Not too long ago, I felt the presence of two Warp Spawn entering Eddor.”

  Victor and Lily’s ears and attention perked up.

  Nyphy continued, “While the Kurggoth occasionally appear in the mystical cities across Eddor, it was strange to feel their presence so close to the Forsaken lands to the East. They show no interest in those lands and tend to stay away as do many others for shadows are attracted to those lands.

  “I was further surprised when they vanished. Even with my power, I would only gain slight whispers of knowing they remained on Eddor but their location eluded me. I have no ill will toward them, but most of the Pantheon do keep a watchful eye on those who cross realms. But a curious thing happened; the Slingers to the East began to move toward the border, not many but enough for the Mage Authority to take note.

  “My spies within the Authority prayed to me, telling me of the storm stirred by such illegal actions. They have dispatched Casters and Spell swords to march on the border town and arrest all who dwell there. I have felt the connection of the warp spawn to Vala and know you are searching for them from the whispers across realms. I have no desire for more bloodshed and only wish to see the Kurggoth reunited with Vala’s Blade and Shield.”

  Victor rubbed the back of his head as he took it all in. There was no
doubt the two warp spawn were Vonn and Yimer, but why they appeared here in Eddor instead of Vala’s realm was beyond him. Looking to the green goddess as she sat on her ankles, Victor couldn’t deny the feeling she was telling the truth. Glancing to Lily, the succubus kept her stony gaze on the goddess. Victor knew he didn’t know much, but his gut gave an approving nod and he decided to go with it.

  “What’s the name of the town?”

  “Blackwood,” Nyphy said simply.

  “I know where it is,” Dawn said in a low voice to Victor.

  The goddess looked into Lily’s red eyes, moved to Victor’s green ones and stared at Dawn’s brown eyes. “For now, I can assist with information. The Mage Authority has bounties on all of your heads and they already have a lead on you. I suggest you move like the wind to Blackwood.”

  A vein throbbed along Lily’s forehead as her demeanor became sharp edges, “Do you think helping us is going to get you in Vala’s good graces, after everything that has been done?”

  Nyphy focused her attention on the succubus and gave a warm smile. “I believe this is the first step to healing all our hearts.”

  The goddess turned her attention to Victor, “Be brave and know Vala has an ally in these uncertain times.”

  Cracks appeared along Nyphy’s body, snaking up to her smiling face. Peaceful eyes closed as the cracks covered her entire body. A moment later, the outer shell fell away in pieces. Victor and the group watched as the pieces of bark and green skin covered the ground, Nebb kneeling. The Spell sword looked up, giving a smirk before standing up.

  “See you around,” Nebb smiled before turning and launching himself into the air.

  The group watched as he landed on a tree branch before vaulting to another and another. Victor gave the fleeing Spell sword a small nod while noticing the man moved through the trees like a ninja from Naruto.

  It’s a shame we won’t be able to finish the series now.

  “I don’t want to talk about it,” Victor whispered to himself before turning to the small group.

  The young man clasped his hands together, “Alright, it looks like we have a hike ahead of us.”