by Jackson Bale
“Mhmmm,---she---is---very---capable.---If---I---am---not---wrong---of---her---age,---then---she---is---a---level---[42]---mage---at---the---age---of---sixteen.---I---can---only---imagine---how---many---levels---she---can---obtain---in---several---more---years.”
Kasandra’s---tail---slowly---extends,---her---fear---slowly---abating.
But---that---doesn't---last---long---as---Henrietta---looks---to---the---fox,---who---immediately---goes---back---to---becoming---scared.
“I---can…---though---I---do---find---it---confusing---that---she---only---has---a---[mage]---class---instead---of---[Fire---Mage].---She---is---clearly---a---fire---type.”
Rathic---hands---come---to---his---lips,---thinking.
Indeed,---all---fox---demihumans---have---an---element.---By---the---color---of---her---tail,---she---should---have---been---offered---the---[Fire---Mage]---class…---unless.
“Kasandra!”---Rathic---yells,---causing---the---fox---girl---to---jump---slightly---at---the---call---of---her---name.
“Were---you---ever---offered---the---[Fire---Mage]---class?”
Kasandra---nods---quickly,”---Yes---master.”
Rathic---waits---for---the---explanation,---but---Kasandra---just---continues---to---look---at---him---hopefully.
Luckily,---Henrietta---is---always---there---to---take---charge---of---his---blunders.
“Kasandra---dear,---please---explain---the---reason---in---which---you---refused---the---[Fire---Mage]---class.”
The---fox---kin---moves---her---head---away---from---Henrietta,---unable---to---make---eye---contact---with---the---older---lady.
“My---master…---my---old---master…---he---told---me---to---take---the---[Mage]---class.---He---did---not---ask---what---classes---were---offered.”
Rathic---nods,---now---understanding---the---situation.
Her---master---was---an---idiot.
“Well---then,---as---of---right---now,---you---will---be---joining---me---as---my---servant.---Henrietta---here---will---be---responsible---for---your---training.”
Rathic---turns---to---Henrietta,---”But---before---that,---we---will---go---back---to---the---inn---and---have---the---[mercenaries]---accompany---you---to---her---masters---former---home.”
Henrietta---curtsy's---before---turning---towards---her---other---[maids]---and---[Guards].---”Pack---up,---we---are---heading---back---to---the---inn.”
Immediately,---the---two---[Maids]---start---to---pack---up,---placing---all---the---supplies---on---the---carts---while---Rathic---himself---moves---towards---the---horses,---using---his---aura---to---reel---them---in.
All---of---this---happens---while---a---crowd---of---people,---both---[slaves]---and---[slavers],---gawk---at---the---sheer---brutality---of---the---situation.---Of---how---their---own---town---leader---was---so---easily---killed---off.---None---dare---come---any---closer,---all---waiting---and---hoping---that---the---corpses---are---not---searched---for---items.
Unfortunately---for---Rathic,---not---searching---the---corpses---will---spill---even---more---blood---when---he---leaves.
_____________
Several---hours---pass---as---Rathic---finds---himself---sitting---in---an---Inn.
“I---would---have---preferred---that---that---man---lived,”---Alfonso---explains,---sitting---across---from---Roth,---an---exhausted---look---on---his---face.
Apparently,---feeding---and---cleaning---an---entire---company---of---[Mercenaries],---[Maids],---and---[Butlers]---is---not---an---easy---task.---The---only---saving---grace---was---that---the---[Maids]---and---[Butlers]---under---Rathic---were---happy---to---assist---in---the---task.---It---was---surprising---and---greatly---appreciated.
Even---more---so---was---the---fact---that---his---[slaves]---were---never---mistreated---by---any---of---the---[Mercenaries].---That---was---quite---surprising---for---Alfonso---as---his---slaves---have---been---roughed---up---many---times---before.
“As---much---as---I---hate---the---man’s---guts,---he---actually---gave---this---town---some---organization.---He---paid---off---the---[Bandits]---and---left---the---business---alone---as---long---as---he---got---payment.”---Alfonso---continues,---explaining---to---Rathic.
But---Rathic,---though---he---takes---pity---on---the---man---and---this---town's---situation,---he---cannot---risk---leaving---anyone---alive---that---could---stab---him---in---the---back.
Sighing---loudly,---something---he---seems---to---have---been---doing---often---lately,---he---grabs---the---drink---in---front---of---him---and---gulps---it---down,---looking---around---the---Inn,---barely---any---[Mercenaries]---were---left---here.---Apparently,---looting---a---town---leaders---estate---is---far---more---interesting.
“Sorry,---but---I---do---not---take---kindly---to---being---robbed,”---Rathic---explains,---placing---the---cup---back---down.
Alfonso---places---his---hand---on---his---face,---rubbing---it,---”I---understand---that---you---wish---to---leave---early---in---the---morning,---but---I---would---very---much---prefer---you---stay---for---a---couple---of---days---here---at---the---town.---I---am---even---willing---to---waive---the---fee---completely---for---your---stay.”
At---those---words,---a---curious---look---crosses---Rathic---face,---”Waive---the---fee?---What---exactly---are---you---expecting---to---happen---in---a---couple---of---days?”
Alfonso---tightens---his---hand---in---a---fist,---taking---a---deep---breath.---His---senses---telling---him---that---lying---would---not---be---beneficial---to---him.
“A---[Bandit---Leader]---by---the---name---of---Karron---will---be---coming---to---this---town---for---a---tithe.---He---will---demand---payment,---and---if---he---finds---out---that---the---town---is---leaderless,---then---we---all---will---be---sacked.---Your---[Mercenaries]---would---be---very---useful---in---driving---him---off.”
Rathic---nods,---understanding---the---situation.---It---seems---that---Gen’s---[Mercenaries]---know---how---to---keep---their---mouths---shut,---apparently---not---having---divulged---any---information---about---himself---and---what---had---happened---on---the---trip---here.
“You---don’t---need---to---worry.---We---met---Karron---a---couple---of---days---ago,---he---attacked---my---caravan---and---failed.---He’s---dead---and---so---are---all---of---his---men.---None---were---left---alive.”---Rathic---says---matter-of-factly.
Alfonso’s---eyes---widen.---Karron---was---the---main---reason---that---his---town---was---never---able---to---grow.---The---town---was---constantly---forced---to---pay---coin,---never---allowed---to---fully---grow.
But---now,---with---him---dead---and---the---town---leaderless,---everything---changes.
Alfonso---quickly---stands---up,---his---eyes---glazed,---thoughts---going---everywhere,---”I…---I---need---to---speak---to---several---people.---I---thank---you---for---this---information.”
And---like---a---man---bursting---with---newfound---confidence,---Alfonso---runs---out---of---his---own---Inn,---leaving---Rathic---rather---confused…---and---slightly---upset.---He---really---wanted---to---get---more---information---about---the---situation---deeper---in.
He---sighs---and---grabs---his---cup---again,---finding---that---it---was---empty…---and---there---was---nobody---now---to---refill---it.
_________
Morning---came---and---Rathic---finds---his---caravan---ready---and---waiting---to---leave---in---front---of---his---inn.---All---is---ready---and---the---[Mercenaries]---are---mounted.---His---daughter---is---safely---inside---the---carriage---with---Henrietta---and---Kasandra.
But---before---he---enters---the---carriage,---he---is---interrupted---by---Alfonso---who---runs---out---of---the---inn,---looking---very---different,---as---though---a---skill---like---[Brave---Heart]---was---activated,---improving---his---confidence---and---looks---significantly.
Alfonso---stops---before---Rathic---and---extends---his---hand,---”Roth,---I---want---to---thank---you---for---staying---at---the---inn.---You---may---not---realize---it,---but---you---have---changed---this---town---signi
ficantly.”
Rathic,---though---not---sure---what---the---man---means,---takes---Alfonso’s---hand---and---shakes---it.
“I---am---happy---my---presence---was---helpful.”
As---Alfonso---retracts---his---hand,---a---frown---comes---to---his---face---right---before---asking---a---question.---”I---understand---you---are---leaving,---but---would---it---be---possible---for---you---to---do---me---a---bit---of---a---favor?”
“Depends---on---what---it---is.”
Alfonso’s---hand---comes---to---his---face,---stroking---his---beard,---”Well,---I---have---a---daughter…---her---name---is---Scarlet---and---she---left---possibly---twenty---years---ago…---she---was---a---[soldier],---and---last---I---heard,---she---became---a---[Lieutenant].---But---that---was---a---couple---of---years---ago…---If---you---see---Scarlet,---tell---her---that---I---miss---her.
Rathic---nods,---the---request---rather---easy,---though---the---chances---he---will---even---cross---her---path---are---slim---to---none.
“If---I---see---her,---I---will---tell---her,”---Rathic---says,---turning---around---and---mounting---the---front---of---his---carriage,---taking---the---reins.
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Several---hours---pass---and---the---town---is---no---longer---within---sight.---The---road---is---rather---barren---with---few---trees,---but---if---what---Henrietta---had---explained---to---him,---it---will---become---filled---with---trees---eventually.
At---this---moment,---Gen---shows---up---on---horseback,---moving---next---to---the---carriage.
“Are---you---sure---you---don't---need---us---a---bit---longer?”---Gen---asks
Rathic---shakes---his---head,---”No---Gen.---Where---I’m---going,---there---will---be---little---money---for---you---to---make...---and---thank---you---for---escorting---me---out---of---town.”
Gen---laughs---and---shakes---his---head,---”Ha,---you---say---that---but---you---gave---us---all---of---the---loot---from---that---building.---Granted,---it---wasn't---very---good,---but---my---men---are---still---happy.”
Rathic---nods,---the---decision---to---let---the---[Mercenaries]---keep---what---they---found---at---Antos---estate---was---a---good---choice---considering---none---spoke---of---himself---actually---being---a---[General].---A---truly---impressive---amount---of---self-control---for---a---company---so---large.
“Well---then---Gen,---this---is---goodbye.---Please---circle---around---and---avoid---the---town---if---you---can.”
Gen---nods---and---flicks---the---reigns---of---his---horse,---turning---and---accelerating---quickly,---his---[Mercenaries]---following---behind---him.
Rathic---sighs,---his---mind---thinking---on---what---he---will---do.---Hopefully---he---can---get---an---easy---job,---something---that---doesn't---involve---combat.
“Hmmm,---maybe---I---can---become---a---[Shopkeeper]”
Chapter---Twenty---Two:---Descending
You---know,---it's---funny---really.---My---life---that---is.---At---least---for---me.
See,---I---have---lived---several---different---lives,---all---through---being---summoned---by---gods---from---earth.---The---exact---number---is---28,---though---I---guess---it’s---29---now.---Anyhow,---I---think---it---started---after---my---17th---summon---that---I---started---getting…---well,---bored---with---the---summons.
I---mean,---don't---get---me---wrong,---they---are---fun---and---I---do---meet---interesting---people---still,---but---by---then---I---have---lived---over---6---thousand---total---years.---Eventually,---you---gain---so---much---life---experience---that---many---things---don't---surprise---you---anymore.
Magic,---monsters,---gods,---eventually---it---all---becomes---very…---predictable.---It---all---meshes---together.
But,---and---a---big---but,---I---can---safely---say---that---this---summoning---is---utterly---amazing.---A---world---modeled---after---a---gaming---system…---or---is---our---gaming---systems---modeled---after---this---world?
Which,---surprisingly,---is---a---possibility---considering---there---is---so---much---mythology---of---monsters---and---gods---that---are---actually---present---in---this---world---that---is---also---present---on---earth.
Makes---you---really---wonder---what---the---connection---is.
But---enough---about---that,---it's---this---world---that---is---so---much---more---interesting.---Gaining---classes,---levels,---diving---into---an---actual---dungeon,---and---that---type---of---stuff.
I---mean---come---on!---It's---such---a---new---experience.---And---my---situation---right---now,---well,---it's---funny---when---you---think---about---it,---especially---as---I---hadn't---expected---to---be---in---this---situation.
I---straighten---my---legs---over---my---mount,---relaxing---to---the---sound---of---my---monsters---wing---beats.
Yup,---I’m---flying---on---a---monster.---But---not---just---any---monster,---instead---it---is---a---giant---bat-like---undead---with---glowing---purple---eyes,---all---escorted---by---another---thirty---of---them.---But---that's---not---the---weirdest---part.
I---lean---over,---looking---down.
And---on---the---bottom,---I---have---an---army---of---giant---lizard---people---walking---in---an---organized---march.
Granted,---300---ish---is---not---that---big---of---an---army---really,---but---that’s---merely---the---start.---I’ll---need---much---more,---especially---since---my---task---of---destroying---the---world---will---require---a---truly---formidable---force.
Luckily,---I’m---currently---in---an---extremely---dangerous---dungeon---heading---deeper---into---an---even---more---dangerous---part---of---the---dungeon.---A---perfect---place---to---raise---an---army---and---get---stronger.
And---at---just---this---moment,---the---entrance---to---the---next---level---of---the---dungeon---finally---comes---into---view.
It’s---a---small---hole---in---the---wall---going---down,---a---hole---that---I---so---fervently---wish---was---bigger.---Many---a---night---I---have---lost---sleep---because---of---its---small---size.---I---have---even---been---forced---to---dismantle---a---new---friend---I---had---created---for---this---very---reason…---It---was---a---terrible---time---indeed.
But---that's---the---thing---about---life.---It---may---offer---you---lemons,---but---those---lemons---could---be---the---size---of---minivans---with---poisonous---internal---acid---spraying---from---its---orifices...
“What---kind---of---fucking---analogy---am---I---thinking---off.”---I---say---to---no---one---in---particular,---scratching---the---side---of---my---neck.
“Uhhg,---whatever.---Damn---you---Anathema---and---your---voluptuous---ass…---and---surprising---stamina.”
I---wish---I---slept---more.---Damn---woman---can---last---forever…---and---that---ass,---I---never---knew---scales---can---feel---so---smooth.
“Nothing---I---can---do---now,”---I---say,---getting---up,---mentally---ordering---my---mount---to---land---me---next---to---the---entrance.
____________________
“Alright,---here’s---the---plan,”---Thoric---starts,---standing---before---everyone---as---the---commander,---”Me---and---Zorren,”---he---points---at---himself---and---then---at---a---large---lizard---man---with---a---missing---tail,---several---scars,---and---an---unmoving---arm,---”will---be---heading---down---first,”---he---then---points---at---me,---”while---Janie---here---will---be---following---behind---with---my---minions.”
I---move---my---head,---looking---at---Mule,---a---very---useful---and---loyal---undead---which---dwarfs---my---size---by---almost---two---feet,---and---then---I---look---at---the---others,---30---giant---bat-like---undead---monsters---Thoric---had---beaten---down,---killed,---and---raised---into---his---undead---minions.
“And---you---all---will---come---after---with---your---squads,”---he---says,---waving---at---the---organized---line---of---[Soldiers]---standing---behind---the---[Lieutenant]s.
At---his---orders,---five---of---the---Gejan---Leaders---salute,---their---hands---moving---to---their---forehead---before---moving---away.
&n
bsp; Thoric---turns---around,---gives---me---a---quick---smile---and---starts---heading---down---into---the---tunnel---with---Zorren.
I---quickly---follow---behind,---all---the---undead---immediately---start---to---follow---me,---the---giant---bat-like---undead---called---Desbats---barely---able---to---fit---through,---even---with---their---wings---folded.
As---I---walk---down---the---long---tunnel---I---order---mule---to---stay---closer---to---me,---allowing---the---glowing---fungi---on---his---body---to---light---the---way---before---me.---As---the---only---person---with---a---lack---of---night---vision---seeing---anything---more---than---ten---feet---is---close---to---impossible.