by Jackson Bale
And---then---he---remembers---his---mistake---and---frowns.
“Zoteal,---don't---beat---yourself---up.---We---all---thought---it---was---proper---to---show---him---respect.---How---were---we---supposed---to---know---that---he---would---get---angry,”---his---cousin---says,---shaking---his---head---while---carrying---a---huge---relieved---smile---on---his---face.
A---smile---that---Zoteal---can't---blame.---Everyone---thought---they---were---going---to---die.---The---numbers---were---endless,---but---he---had---saved---them…---and---even---berated---them---for---being---careless.
“Well,---I---can't---blame---him.---We---should---have---looked---towards---the---wounded---first.---I---was---so---amazed---by---the---situation---that---I---hadn't---realized---what---I---was---doing,”---Zoteal---explains,---getting---a---nod---of---understanding---from---his---cousin---who---runs---beside---him,---matching---his---speed.
“Still,---I---would---like---to---find---out---his---name---and---what---he---is---or---why---he---is---even---here,”---Zoteal---voices---his---thoughts,---a---frown---forming---on---his---face,---“and---how---am---I---going---to---explain---to---Dragken---that---so---many---of---the---council's---herds---are---dead.---He---is---already---disliked---by---the---council.---This---failure---will---just---give---them---a---reason---to---try---to---replace---him.”
Holistos---looks---up,---“Well,---clearly---he---won't---be---the---only---one---targeted---by---the---council,---though---I---do---wonder---what---the---council---can---even---do---to---someone---like---him.”
Zoteal---looks---up---and---a---smile---forms---on---his---face,---understanding---that---things---may---be---different---after---all.---The---council---is---rather---lenient---towards---outsiders,---especially---since---half---the---former---council---was---annihilated---by---a---single---kitsune.
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Within---a---couple---minutes,---the---city---of---Equus---finds---itself---quickly---on---guard---after---a---[Guard---Captain]---with---the---[Longsight]---skill---finds---a---swarm---of---volare---approaching---from---the---forest.---Over---twenty---of---them,---seemingly---with---something---in---their---claws,---but---the---[Guard---Captain]---cannot---make---out---what---it---is.
The---city---is---quickly---manned---by---centaurs---who---find---themselves---atop---the---walls,---bows---ready---to---be---released.---Alongside---them---is---Dragken,---wearing---a---thick---bone---plate---and---chainmail---which---had---been---dyed---black---while---an---enchanted---bone---halberd---sits---on---his---muscled---back.---A---useful---and---expensive---enchant---which---allows---the---treant---wood---to---extend---the---massive---bone---blade,---giving---him---far---superior---range---than---is---expected.
Minutes---go---by---and---the---[Guard---Captain]---supplies---more---information,---getting---a---clearer---picture---of---the---situation,---including---several---centaurs---running---through---the---forest---and---a---figure---standing---boldly---upon---a---female---volare---which---is---many---times---larger---than---the---males---which---followed---in---perfect---formation.
An---unnatural---formation,---leading---him---to---believe---that---those---monsters---are---being---controlled,---probably---by---the---being---standing---atop---it.---Which---would---make---sense.---After---all,---his---great-granddaughter---is---a---[Beast---Mistress].
Moving---his---hand,---he---signals---the---[Archers]---and---[Bowmen]---to---hold---fire---while---yelling---towards---a---[Guard]---to---open---the---gates.
After---all,---if---those---flying---monsters---are---a---threat,---then---the---gates---and---walls---are---useless---anyhow.
______________________________
Speeding---up,---Zoteal---flashes---past---his---brother---with---impressive---speed,---outpacing---him---by---several---times,---allowing---him---to---run---ahead---of---the---flyers.
A---moment---passes---and---he---rushes---through---the---open---gates,---yelling.
“Do---not---shoot.---He---is---an---ally.---They---are---carrying---injured”
Zoteal---turns---around,---looking---and---finding---Dragken,---the---old---centaur’s---eyes---trained---on---him.
The---centaur---nods---before---turning---towards---a---guard---and---telling---him---something,---which---causes---the---guard---to---run---down---the---ramparts---and---towards---the---inner---city.
But---Zoteal---doesn't---get---to---find---out---what---the---message---is---about---because---the---monsters---arrive,---flying---over---the---wall,---gently---gliding---towards---the---ground---before---depositing---the---injured---centaurs---with---impressive---delicacy.
Once---the---bodies---are---on---the---ground,---lined---up---perfectly,---the---monsters---take---flight---and---land---upon---the---wall,---startling---many---of---the---centaurs,---but---none---of---them---shoot.
Then---his---brother---and---the---other---centaurs---arrive,---but---Zoteal---gives---them---no---mind---as---he---watches---the---great---one---descend---from---the---sky,---standing---with---a---truly---impressive---posture,---one---which---none---in---the---council---could---ever---reproduce.
Rigid,---imposing,---a---bearing---of---a---leader.---The---great---one’s---monster---lands---at---the---side---of---the---wall,---near---Dragken.---The---monster---latches---on.
The---great---one---strides---forward,---each---step---seemingly---perfect---and---calculated.---He---walks---off---the---monster---and---stops---in---front---of---Dragken.
“I---am---Thoric---Elum,---a---[Hero]---outside---of---this---dungeon...”
The---words---are---loud---and---imposing,---powerful---and---unyielding.---All---hear---him---as---clearly---as---though---someone---were---next---to---you.
“and---I---have---come---here---to---rule---the---world.”
His---words---ring---loud,---none---can---deny---they---have---heard.---And---none---can---deny---what---happens---next.
Dragken---steps---forward---and---lowers---his---knees,---bowing---his---head.---Hand---moving---to---his---chest,---halberd---placed---upon---the---ground.
“I---am---Dragken---of---herd---‘Black---Rain’,---and---I---pledge---myself---to---you,---Thoric---Elum.”
Chapter---Thirty---Two:---Story---Time
I---pace---quickly---back---and---forth,---three---pairs---of---eyes---looking---at---me---differently.---One---is---looking---at---me---confused,---the---second---with---reverence---while---the---other---stares---at---me---with---expectation.
All---three---of---these---are---centaurs,---each---dwarfing---my---size---when---standing.---Luckily,---they---are---sitting---on---soft---furs---so---I---don't---have---to---look---up---to---them---when---I---talk.---But---that---gives---me---little---relief---considering---what---Dragken---has---told---me.
“Why---does---it---matter---that---we---do---not---eat---meat?”---the---[Guard---Captain]---asks,---confused---with---the---whole---situation.
He---isn't---the---only---one.---My---entire---plan---is---fucked---up.
I---stop---and---look---at---the---three---centaurs,---sitting---calmly---in---a---room---which---is---Dragken’---home.---Each---of---them---have---muscles,---and---I---do---mean---muscles.---Like,---muscles---that---would---make---bodybuilders---squeal---like---a---little---girl---in---ecstasy.---I---never---noticed---it---before,---I---figured---it---was---just---the---class.
But---no,---every---freakin---male---centaur---has---bulging---muscles.---Muscles---that---make---no---sense!
“Meat---has---protein.---Protein---makes---muscles.---You---shouldn’t---be---so---buff---eating---goddam---leaves,”---I---say,---rubbing---my---head.
As---if---to---mock---me,---Dragken---grabs---a---weird---pear-like---fruit---and---bites---into---it,---completely---relaxed,---as---though---a---great---weight---had---seemingly---been---taken---off---his---shoulders.
Annoyed,---I---call---up---his---status.
Dragken
Level---157---[Heavy---Halberdier]
Level---52---[Herdmaster]
Dragken---is---the---current---leader---of---the---Black---Rain---herd,---a---herd---which---has---been---almost---completely---killed---off.---Those---members---which---survived---had---left,---leaving---Dragken---as---the---only---centaur---to---keep---the---herd's---name---alive.
Currently,---Dragken---is---the---leader---of---the---city---Equus,---a---city---whose---sole---purpose---is---to---cut---down---the---trees---from---the---second---level---of---the---dungeon---and---to---transport---the---wood---to---the---third---level.
Strength
87
Dexterity
46
Stamina
110
Perception
63
Endurance
38
Vitality
175
Mana
140
M/regen
.9
Affinity
1
Intelligence
73
Willpower
370
Soul
270
Yup,---this---guy---is---another---Zorren.---Which---means---fighting---him---is---probably---a---bad---idea.---I---then---call---up---the---status---sheets---of---the---other---two.
Damiar
Level---81---[Guard---Captain]
Damiar---is---a---herdless---centaur---who---was---kicked---out---of---his---herd---after---refusing---his---[Herdmaster]’s---order---to---marry---the---[Herdmaster]’s---daughter.
After---his---exile,---Dragken---had---heard---about---what---happened---and---had---taken---Damiar---in,---training---the---young---centaur---while---protecting---him---from---the---influence---of---the---other---herds.---Unfortunately,---joining---a---herd---is---only---possible---through---marriage.---Thus,---Damiar---cannot---become---a---part---of---Black---Rain.
Strength
41
Dexterity
31
Stamina
71
Perception
105
Endurance
26
Vitality
93
Mana
125
M/regen
.7
Affinity
1
Intelligence
31
Willpower
260
Soul
195
Zoteal
Level---93---[Ranger]
Zoteal---is---an---up---and---coming---centaur---whose---level---nears---the---second---tier.---He---is---in---charge---of---his---herd's---hunting---group---as---well---as---under---the---authority---of---Dragken.
Strength
32
Dexterity
67
Stamina
105
Perception
83
Endurance
21
Vitality
87
Mana
110
M/regen
1.0
Affinity
2
Intelligence
34
Willpower
210
Soul
197
At---least---the---other---two---seem---to---not---be---as---bloated---stat-wise.
“Ughhh,---whatever.---I’ll---stress---about---food---later,”---I---say,---pulling---my---hair---back---before---looking---at---the---individual---who---easily---fucked---up---my---plans.
“Why---the---hell---are---you---swearing---goddam---loyalty---to---me---on---our---first---meeting?---That---shouldn't---happen!---We---were---supposed---to---have---a---long---talk---about---who---I---am,---what---I---am---doing---and---we---were---going---to---come---to---an---agreement---to---allow---me---to---speak---with---your---leaders!”
The---black-furred---centaur---chuckles,---a---relaxed---smile---still---on---his---face.---Seemingly---more---relaxed---after---every---word---which---comes---out---of---my---mouth.---Annoying---really.---I’m---used---to---manipulating---people.---Tricking---people---into---doing---what---I---want.---How---the---fuck---am---I---supposed---to---do---that---if---they're---going---to---do---whatever---I---want---anyways.
“My---decision---is---based---on---a---long---story.---Would---you---like---to---hear---it?”---the---centaur---says,---seemingly---asking---and---hoping---at---the---same---time.
Immediately,---the---[Guard---Captain]’s---eyes---widen---as---they---turn---to---Dragken,---who---only---nods---to---the---centaur.
*Sigh*
“Fine,---whatever,”---I---say---as---I---move---towards---a---corner---of---a---room,---sitting---down---upon---a---soft---leather---blanket---that---smells---of---old---people---hair.
One---thing---that---happens---in---my---summons---is---that---I---get---old.---Sometimes---it---takes---forever,---other---times---it's---actually---pretty---short.---And---when---I---get---old,---I---find---amusement---in---the---same---way---most---old---people---do.
We---tell---stories---about---our---lives---and---experiences.
It---is---what---we---have,---who---we---are,---and---we---like---to---talk---about---it---to---the---younger---generation---or---even---anyone---who---would---listen.---And---one---thing---that---I---have---learned---quite---well---is---that---older---people---tend---to---master---the---art---of---storytelling.
By---which---I---don't---mean---that---they---are---good---at---it.---Very---rarely---are---they---good.---What---I---mean---is---that---they---are---able---to---tell---a---lot---of---stories.---And---this---tends---to---show---in---the---form---of---length.
Making---sure---I---am---properly---comfortable,---I---fold---my---legs---and---place---my---hands---upon---my---lap.
“Alright,---I’m---ready---for---story---time.---Hopefully,---it---doesn't---take---half---a---day.”
*Buahahahahahaha*
The---[Guard---Captain]---starts---to---laugh---loud---and---obnoxiously.
“He---knows...haha…---he---actually---knows,”---the---centaur---says---between---laughs,---his---legs---pounding---on---the---floor---with---little---control.
Dragken---groans---before---shaking---his---head.---“Shut---it---Damiar.”---he---yells---through---allowing---a---smile---to---grace---the---old---centaur’s---lips.
The---old---centaur---sighs---before---giving---me---a---critical---look.
“I---guess---I---can---shorten---it---this---once.”
“Um…---should---I---be---here---to---listen---to---this?”---asks---the---rather---silent---member---in---this---meeting.---A---centaur---by---the---name---of---Zoteal.
The---same---one---who,---barely---covered---in---bandages,---was---forced---to---accompany---me---to---Dragken’---home.
“Bah,---it---matters---not.---Most---who---actually---care---will---already---know---my---story.---So---just---stay---and---listen.”
Zoteal---nods,---though---is---still---unsure---if---it---would---be---right---to---stay.---After---all,---Dragken---had---already---heard---Zoteal’s---explanation---about---what---happened---with---the---herds---and---why---they---were---injured.---At---this---point,---it---would---be---proper---for---Zoteal---to---be---sent---back---into---the---barracks---to---mourn---the---dead---and---to---properly---treat---his---injuries.
But---Zoteal---is---extremely---curious,---as---is---probably---everyone---else---who---saw---Dragken,---a---centaur---that---has---never---yielded---to---anyone,---to---yield---in---complete---submission---to---someone---or---something---they---have---never---seen---before.---Thus,---Zoteal---straightens---out---and---wiggles---his---ears,---turning---his---full---attention---to---the---centaur.