Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  A---smile---crosses---Janie's---lips---as---she---listens---to---Thoric---attempting---to---explain---fire,---telling---them---it's---hot---and---it---can---burn.

  And---then---a---blush---crosses---her---face---as---he---explains---the---concept---of---hot---as---a---women's---pussy.

  Idiot!

  Sighing---out---loud,---Janie---shakes---her---head---and---position’s---her---body---towards---the---light,---allowing---the---warmth---to---touch---her---exposed---skin.---It---had---been---a---while---since---she---had---been---able---to---open---her---robe,---forced---to---have---it---constantly---on---due---to---the---rather---chilling---air---of---the---floor---before.

  Eventually,---moments---start---to---pass---by,---the---warm---light---caressing---her---skin,---soothing---her,---allowing---sleep---to---quickly---take---its---hold.

  Chapter---Twenty---Three:---Minotaur

  To---Janie,---the---sound---of---other---people---talking---or---yelling,---or---just---making---noise---is---something---that---happens.

  Talking---signifies---the---presence---of---people,---of---a---group---communicating.

  And---such---things---are---quite---normal---for---her---to---hear.

  Whether---she---lived---at---the---monastery---alongside---her---brothers---and---sisters,---or---even---in---a---military---camp---alongside---[Soldiers],---sounds---of---communication---were---always---present.

  Even---her---short---life---as---a---slave---had---been---filled---with---sound.

  Thus,---when---she---sleeps,---she---finds---herself---able---to---sleep---through---anything.---The---sounds---around---her---are---unable---to---wake---her.

  But---now,---for---the---first---time---in---a---long---while,---Janie---finds---herself---awakening.

  And---when---her---eyes---open,---the---first---thing---her---awakened---mind---notices---is---the---complete---absence---of---vocal---sound.

  Only---the---telltale---crackle---of---flames---strikes---her---ears,---quickly---followed---by---the---realization---of---a---lack---of---light---and---then---followed---by---the---smell---of---cooked---meat.

  Confused,---but---not---necessarily---scared,---Janie---blinks---several---times,---wiping---her---eyes---before---getting---up---from---her---lying---position.

  Lifting---her---arms---over---her---head,---Janie---stretches---before---turning---towards---the---only---source---of---light,---immediately---finding---a---massive---bonfire---with---a---skinned---bird-like---monster---atop---it.

  Only---then---do---her---eyes---realize---that---the---Gejada---are---surrounding---the---bonfire,---completely---and---utterly---silent,---even---the---strips---of---meat---in---their---hands---do---not---move---to---their---mouths,---all---eyes---and---mental---capability---focused---on---an---individual---next---to---the---fire,---seemingly---at---the---center---of---attention.

  Janie's---mouth---opens---in---utter---astonishment.

  Threm,---a---[Blader]---of---a---level---close---to---one---hundred,---is---dancing.

  Janie---watches---as---Threm---moves---quickly,---her---sharp---curved---blades---whipping---around---her---body---as---she---twirls---and---spins---at---incredible---speeds.---Her---scales,---a---magnificent---red,---twinkle---from---the---firelight,---seemingly---illuminating---her,---making---her---dance---all---the---more---captivating.

  Every---Gejan's---eyes---are---on---her,---unable---to---stop---staring---at---the---captivating---display.

  Everyone's---eyes---except---Thoric's,---who---is---glaring---at---Petyr,---a---black---furred---spider---the---size---of---a---human---head.

  And---for---reasons---unknown,---a---weird---sense---of---satisfaction---comes---over---Janie,---though---she---can't---pinpoint---why.

  With---a---confused---frown,---Janie---gets---up---and---finally---notices---the---rest---of---her---surroundings.

  Walls.

  Massive---wooden---walls---of---at---least---ten---feet---in---height---surround---the---clearing---in---a---circle.

  And---at---the---center---of---the---clearing---is---the---bonfire.

  “Wow,”---she---says,---realizing---the---sheer---speed---at---which---the---Gejada---work.---She---remembers---dozing---off,---and---now,---after---some---time,---a---wall---has---already---been---built.

  Unfortunately,---her---parched---lips---and---rumbling---stomach---distracts---her---and---her---gaze---turns---towards---the---bonfire...---and---the---meat---sizzling---over---it.

  __________________

  “Goddammit---Petyr,---stop---begging---for---food!”---I---say---to---the---gluttonous---spider.

  The---spider---shakes---his---front---legs---before---seemingly---pointing---at---his---mouth.

  “You---ate---thirty---pounds---of---meat.---You---don't---even---weigh---ten---pounds,---where---the---heck---do---you---even---put---it?”

  The---spider---chitters---in---response,---stomping---all---of---its---legs---in---mock---anger.

  I---shake---my---head,---adamant---about---not---giving---more---meat.

  Normally,---I---would---have---been---fine---letting---Petyr---eat---his---fill,---but---we---only---have---one---giant---bird---and---a---lot---of---very---hungry---Gejada.

  Who,---by---the---way,---are---amazing---workers.

  And---amazing---idiots.

  I---turn---my---head,---staring---at---the---insane---deforestation---that---had---taken---place.

  Apparently,---without---proper---supervision,---the---Gejada---will---compete---with---one---another---over---who---can---down---and---bring---back---more---trees.

  Which---would---be---something---I---would---be---quite---proud---of,---except---for---the---fact---that---a---third---of---the---[Gejan---Guard]---group---is---now---injured---in---some---way---or---another,---all---because---they---set---an---insane---pace.

  And---the---idiots---refuse---to---disclose---those---injuries---to---me,---willing---to---endure---the---cracked---scales---and---wounds---because---of---some---weird---Gejada---honor---system.

  At---Least---the---sound---of---falling---trees---seemed---to---have---deterred---any---possible---monsters---from---coming---near---to---add---to---those---injuries.

  Thankfully,---I---didn't---need---to---wake---Janie---up---for---healing---since---the---[Gejan---Guards]---are---so---resilient---to---damage…---In---the---form---of---falling---trees.

  Regardless,---they---exceeded---my---expectations---significantly---as---I---had---planned---for---a---wall---to---be---made---in---a---couple---days,---or---cycles---as---the---Gejada---call---it.

  I---was---not---expecting---it---to---be---built---in---six---hours.

  Heck,---If---I---allowed---them---to---continue---building,---even---into---the---night,---we---could---probably---have---some---proper---wooden---homes---built.

  And---I---would---have,---if---the---trees---deeper---in---the---forest---weren't---so---much---bigger.

  I---mean---really,---what---kind---of---a---leader---would---I---be---if---I---lost---a---part---of---my---army---to---falling---trees?

  Moving---my---hand---to---my---second---crystal---plate,---I---rip---a---piece---of---bird---meat---and---move---it---into---my---mouth,---allowing---the---tender---meat---to---dance---with---my---tongue,---squeezing---it---slightly---with---my---teeth,---enabling---the---juices---to---pour---out---before---swallowing---it---whole.

  I---suppress---a---moan,---the---food---tasting---extremely---good.

  If---I---didn't---cook---the---massive---bird---myself,---I---think---I---would---have---thought---the---meat---drugged.

  ……

  Now---that---I---think---about---it,---all---the---food---I---had---eaten---had---tasted---much---better---than---I---expected.

  …….

  “Can---I---sit---with---you?”---a---voice---calls---out---behind---me,---slightly---starling---me.

  Turning---around---I---find---Janie---standing---over---me,---her---eyes---looking---down.

  I---give---her---a---smile---before---patting---the---stone---ground---next---to---me.r />
  She---smiles---in---return---before---sitting---down---next---to---me---and---folding---her---legs,---mimicking---me.

  As---she---sits---down,---I---take---my---plate---and---place---it---on---her---lap.

  “Eat---up.---Did---you---enjoy---your---nap?”

  She---blinks,---momentarily---surprised---at---the---amount---of---food---I---placed---in---front---of---her.

  “Sorry,”---she---says---after---a---short---pause,---momentarily---looking---away---before---a---blush---forms---on---her---face,---”I---couldn't---sleep---yesterday---night.”

  I---doubt---anyone---could---sleep---through---Anathema’s---obnoxiously---loud---screams.---The---women---has---some---fierce---vocal---cords.

  “Err,---yeah.”---I---whisper,---unsure---of---what---to---say.

  She---gives---me---a---long---look---before---turning---to---her---plate,---a---smile---returning---on---her---lips.

  Janie---looks---at---the---food---before---her---and---grabs---a---piece---of---meat.---She---smells---it---first---before---putting---it---in---her---mouth.---An---expression---of---bliss---forms---on---her---face,---immediately---followed---by---her---hand---grabbing---for---more.

  I---snort---at---her---unladylike---behavior,---enjoying---the---sight---of---a---woman---who---could---even---make---a---[Soldier]---blush---at---how---fast---she's---eating.

  Luckily,---the---Gejada---seem---to---have---no---manners---when---it---comes---to---food.

  As---she---finishes---a---bit,---her---hand---moves---and---points---towards---the---bonfire,---at---a---certain---individual.

  “Did---you---know---she---could---dance?”---Janie---asks---before---immediately---putting---another---piece---of---meat---in---her---mouth.

  Damn,---she---must---have---been---hungry.

  “It's---not---actually---dancing,---she---is---just---practicing---her---forms.”

  Janie---gives---me---a---weird---look,---lifting---an---eyebrow.

  “Alright,---don't---look---at---me---like---that,”---I---say,---scratching---my---ear---as---I---focus---my---thoughts.

  “So---I---wanted---Threm---to---get---the---[Soldier]---class---and---eventually---upgrade---it---to---the---class---[Captain].---The---girl’s---a---born---leader.---She's---good---at---caring---for---those---under---her---and---very---decisive---in---her---actions.---So---I---asked---her---to---take---the---class,---and---she---became---very---upset.---Apparently,---she---was---less---than---ten---levels---from---getting---over---one---hundred---in---her---[Blader]---class,---which---would---upgrade---to---[Blademaster]---like---her---father.”

  I---stop,---frowning---as---I---remember---the---story---she---told---me,---”She---really---looks---up---to---her---father…”

  Janie---swallows---the---meat,---”He---died.”

  I---nod.

  “He---was---killed---on---the---fifth---floor…---she---doesn't---know---the---details.---Her---father---was,---like---her,---very---respected---for---his---strength---and---wisdom."

  A---sigh---manages---to---escape---my---lips,---"But---I---needed---her---to---become---a---leader…---so---I---offered---to---train---her.”

  “To---dance?”

  I---roll---my---eyes---at---her,---”No…---well---technically---yes.---She---demanded---I---teach---her---my---most---powerful---fighting---style…---which---is---called---‘Blade---Dancing.”

  “So---you---taught---her---how---to---dance,”---Janie---voices---with---a---smile,---enjoying---my---annoyed---expression.

  “Ughhh.---Alright,---I---guess---I---should---explain---my---past---a---little---bit,"---I---paused---to---put---it---into---words---for---her,---"So,---I---have---been---summoned---as---a---hero---to---different---worlds,---sometimes---human,---many---times---not.---It---was---my---seventh---summon---that---I---was---summoned---into---the---body---of---an---eight-year-old---humanoid---female,---similar---to---humans---but---with---green---skin---and---four---eyes.”

  A---smile---forms---on---her---lips---as---she---listens---intently.

  Probably---imagining---what---I---would---look---like---as---a---female…---God,---I---hated---that---summon.

  “Anyways,---the---clan---I---was---summoned---to---was---feared---by---all---others---for---having---a---combat---style---called---‘Blade---Dancing’,---which---utilizes---any---and---all---forms---of---edged---weapons,---combining---it---with---spins,---twirls,---and---some---of---the---most---complicated---footwork---ever---known.---On---top---of---that---you---needed---to---be---double---jointed---and---extremely---flexible,---which---is---why---only---the---females---were---even---able---to---practice---it.”

  “And---you---know---quite---well---that---the---Gejada---females---are---quite---flexible,”---Janie---voices---out,---chuckling---at---my---expression.

  I---roll---my---eyes,---failing---to---hide---my---growing---smile.

  “I---hated---everything.---I---hated---the---goddess---who---put---me---in---that---body.---The---damn---mistress---who---was---always---stronger---than---me.---The---fact---that---they---fight---practically---naked.---The---fact---that---the---men---constantly---stare---at---me---like---hungry---animals…---and---I---really---hated---the---periods.---My---god---do---they---hurt.”

  *Sigh*,---I---scratch---the---side---of---my---ear,---where---my---exceptionally---long---hair---used---to---be.

  “But---still,---as---much---as---I---hated---it---all,---I---have---never---found---a---combat---style---that---was---better---or---even---stronger.---Which---is---why---I---taught---her---it…---and---goddamn---did---she---learn---fast.---An---entire---year---of---advanced---training---and---she---picked---up---the---movements---so---naturally.---Even---gained---two---levels---on---the---first---day---apparently.”

  “Do---you---think---she---will---get---a---class---that---is---different---from---[Blademaster]?”

  I---shrug---my---shoulders,---”I---have---no---idea.---I---only---have---information---on---all---tier---one---classes.---Tier---two---classes---completely---allude---me.”

  She---gives---me---a---smile,---moving---her---empty---plate---on---the---ground.

  Holy---crap---she---ate---fast.

  “Want---me---to---explain---the---basics---to---you?”---she---asks---with---a---smile.

  Might---as---well,---not---like---I’m---doing---anything.

  “I---would---love---that.”

  For---the---next---several---hours---I---listened---to---Janie---explain---classes,---abilities,---how---they---work.---Everything---I---should---have---asked---before.

  All---while---a---certain---hairy---spider---was---stealing---food---from---distracted---Gejada.

  ____________________________________

  “How---the---fuck---does---this---happen!”---I---yell---in---the---morning,---staring---at---the---formerly---cut---down---trees.

  “How---have---they---grown---back---already!---What---the---hell!”

  The---trees,---the---literal---deforestation---of---yesterday,---have---completely---grown---back.

  “Oyyy,---Zorren,---what---the---hell.”

  Zorren,---who---had---slept---through---the---whole---night,---just---shrugs---his---shoulders---next---to---me,---”Everything---here---grows---quickly.---It---is---the---reason---why---we---cannot---live---on---this---floor.”

  Really?---Did---you---ever---wonder---about---living---outside---the---forest,---near---the---edge---like---where---I---had---the---camp---made?---Probably---not.

  I---don't---voice---my---thoughts,---instead---turning---towards---the---Gejada---leaders.

  “Alright,---I---want---you---all---to---do---the---exact---same---thing---you---did---yesterday.---Cut---the---trees,---bring---the---wood---inside---the---walls,---and---wait---for---my---return.---I’ll---show---you---how---to---start---building---homes.”

  I---turn---back---towards---the---tree’s,---ordering---my---undead---to---take---flight,---”In---the---meantime---I---will---be---going---deeper---into---the---forest---with---Zorren---and---Janie---to---scout---and---get---more---in
formation.---Threm---is---in---charge---while---I---am---gone.”

  The---red---scaled---Gejan---nods,---none---voicing---discontent---at---her---having---been---given---authority.

  “Now---go,---and---please---avoid---getting---hurt.”

  The---Gejada---leaders---turn---and---start---yelling---orders---while---I---start---heading---into---the---forest,---Zorren---Janie---and---Mule---at---my---heels.