Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  “If---you---are---able---to---stay---sane---until---the---poison---wears---off,---then---I---will---have---forgiven---you.”

  The---[Grand---Chancellor]---moves---his---eyes---away---from---Bernard,---slowly---walking---out---of---the---room,---leaving---everyone---behind.

  Bernard---looks---at---the---others,---his---eyes---pleading---for---help,---but---they---all---shake---their---heads,---leaving---the---room---shortly---after.---Only---Orethon---stays,---his---eyes---looking---at---Bernard,---frowning,---“Painbreaker---is---a---nasty---venom.---In---low---concentration,---it---is---a---good---punishment---against---disobedient---[Slaves].---But---in---higher---concentration,---it---is---a---living---hell.---Can't---sleep,---can't---think,---can't---do---much---of---anything---but---endure...---I---wish---you---luck---Bernard,---and---know---that---there---is---always---a---chance...---After---all,---I---have---gone---through---the---same---thing---as---what---you---are---going---through---now.”

  After---that---Orethon---also---leaves---the---room,---his---boots---striking---the---floor---in---a---steady---rhythm.---The---door---opens---and---closes---a---moment---after.---Minutes---pass---by,---and---then---the---pain---intensifies,---so---much---so---that---sleep---is---naught---but---a---dream---now.---All---is---pain...

  Chapter---Fourty---Eight:---Another---Boring---Meeting.

  One---of---the---largest---buildings---in---the---city---of---Tradefoot---is---currently---being---used---for---a---meeting.---But---not---just---any---meeting.---It---is---a---meeting---of---leaders,---of---one---army---to---another.---Centaurs---sit---in---a---circle---on---soft---furs---while---a---single---Gejan---sits---on---a---crudely---made---chair.---That---Gejan---is---Threm---and---she---looks---extremely---unamused.

  Frowning---with---her---arms---crossed,---she---glares---at---the---Centaurs---sitting---down,---watching---as---the---[Herdmasters]---from---one---army---stare---directly---at---those---in---charge---of---the---other---army.---Her---animosity---rising---from---the---fact---that---such---a---meeting---is---even---required.---They---surrendered.---The---loser---must---accept---the---demands---of---the---winner.---It---should---be---that---simple.

  But,---she---is---quickly---figuring---out---that---it---is---far---from---simple.

  “First,---before---our---meeting---begins,---I---would---like---to---thank---Ferran---here---for---sounding---the---horn---of---surrender.---Thanks---to---you,---much---fewer---lives---have---been---lost.---Thank---you---for---that,”---Doreson---voices,---taking---note---of---the---angry---glares---originating---from---Gordon---and---Heliotrope---and---aimed---at---Ferran.---Apparently,---the---surrender---was---not---unanimous.

  Ferran,---surprisingly,---ignores---the---stares---directed---his---way,---instead,---he---nods---slowly.

  “What---was---that---monstrosity?!”

  And---as---expected,---the---hotheaded---Gordon---can't---seem---to---wait---for---the---meeting---to---properly---begin.

  “That---was---Berosus,---the---boss---of---the---second---floor---and---the---Patriarchs’---minion.---I---believe---I---already---explained---to---you---all---that---I---am---abandoning---the---floor---because---the---Boss---is---now---immune---to---the---poison---we---had---been---feeding---it.”

  Dragken---voices---from---his---seat,---relaxing---as---though---this---meeting---is---of---little---importance---to---him.

  Even---so,---Dragken’s---words---have---weight---as---Doreson---watches---the---frowns---forming---on---the---mouths---of---the---[Herdmasters].---They---were---there,---they---saw---the---monstrosity,---they---felt---the---ground---shake---and---the---bodies---flying---through---the---air.---They---saw---their---arrows---merely---bounce---off,---halberds---unable---to---rend---its---skin,---even---the---[mages]---could---do---little---since---their---range---put---them---within---striking---distance---of---those---tentacles.

  If---that---is---the---boss---of---the---second---floor,---then---few---could---truly---blame---Dragken---for---his---decision,---especially---when---said---proof---had---single---handedly---defeated---their---forces.

  “Now---then,”---Doreson---starts,---wanting---to---get---this---meeting---underway,---“You---have---sent---armies---against---us,---suicided---thousands---of---forces,---all---without---waiting---for---the---[speaker]---to---call---a---meeting---of---Herds---as---the---rules---dictate.---Thus,---I---will---be---moving---the---commands---of---your---herds---to---Dragken.”

  “You---can't---do---that!---This---is---our---herd,---you---cannot---simply---take---them---from---us!”

  Both---Heliotrope---and---Gordon---yell---in---outrage---but---are---forced---to---quickly---shut---their---mouths---as---several---[Guards]---and---Oregan---unhitch---their---weapons.---Though---those---seated---are---without---armor---and---lacking---weapons,---those---surrounding---the---room---are---not.

  “I…---must---agree---with---Gordon---and---Heliotrope,”---Ferran---starts,---his---voice---soft---and---reasonable,---“We---can---not---just---give---up---our---leadership---just---like---that.---We---must---at---the---very---least---find---a---replacement.”

  Gordon---and---Heliotrope---look---at---Ferran---with---rage---and---disbelief.

  “You---would---give---up---your---leadership---so---easily---Ferran?---Have---you---no---honor?”---Heliotrope---voices---in---outrage---before---turning---to---Dragken,---“and---you,---why---isn’t---the---Patriarch---here?---Does---he---believe---himself---better---than---us?---That---this---whole---meeting---is---beneath---him?”

  Dragken---takes---a---moment,---thinking---about---Thoric’s---personality---and---the---time---he---had---spent---with---the---man.

  Then---Dragken---nods,---“Yes,---more---than---likely---he---believes---himself---better---than---all---of---us---here,---though---he---would---have---come---for---this---meeting---if---he---did---not---have---more---important---business---to---take---care---of.”

  “He---is---arrogant---and---a---fool,”---yells---Gordon---with---a---snarl.

  Ferran---turns---to---Gordon,---“This---Thoric,---the---Patriarch,---single---handedly---destroyed---our---army---and---forced---our---surrender.---I---do---not---believe---he---is---arrogant---but---very---capable.”

  Gordon---anger---rises---but---is---stopped---as---Heliotrope---speaks.

  “Ferran,---why---are---you---taking---their---side.---Have---you---lost---your---honor?---They---want---you---to---lose---your---Herd.---Are---you---truly---ok---with---that?”

  Ferran---frowns,---seemingly---saddened.---He---takes---a---breath,---one---laced---with---sadness---and---anger,---“---As---you---know,---my---herd---is---known---for---having---the---best---and---highest---Level---[Healers].---It---is---my---herds'---pride...---I---have---already---lost---half---of---them---to---the---female.”

  Many---eyes---turn---towards---Ferran,---confused,---while---Dragken---and---Threm---share---a---knowing---smile.

  “What---female?---What---are---you---talking---about---Ferran?”---asks---Doreson---surprisingly.---He---was---not---informed---of---such---things---nor---of---what---is---happening.

  Ferran---takes---a---moment,---“The---Female,---the---one---that---looks---like---the---Patriarch.---She---is---able---to---mend---wounds---in---mere---minutes,---reposition---bones---as---easily---as---molding---clay---while---commanding---with---impressive---authority.---Those---who---follow---her---wear---the---colors---of---the---Red---Cross.---Half---my---[Healers]---wear---the---color---now,---and---I---fear---even---more---will---follow---her.”

  Ferran---licks---his---lips,---“They---call---her---the---Tyrant---Healer.”

  “Tyrant?---Why---Tyrant?”---Heliotrope---asks.

  Ferran---shakes---his---head,---“The---building---currently---used---to---treat---the---wounded---after---the---battle---is---not---far---from---here.---Stay---silent---and---try---to---listen.---You---will---hear---why.”

  To---his---words,---everyone---at---the---table---attempts---to---listen,---their---ears---flickering---as---they---focus---upon---any---and---all---noise.r />
  “No,---please,---don't---[Heal]---me!”

  “Hold---him---down!---His---thigh---is---crushed.---He---won't---walk---without---my---help.”

  “It's---ok.---I’m---ok---without---walking,---please---no.---No,---wait,---please---put---that---dagger---down.---Don't!”

  “Ahhhhhhhhhhh,---HEEEEELLLLLPPPP---MEEEEEE.”

  “SILENCE”

  “Mhmmmmmhmmmhmhm”

  The---centaurs---listen,---wide-eyed---at---the---cries---of---pain---escaping---the---man.

  “Why---does---she---do---this?---Can---she---not---use---poisons---to---numb---the---pain?”---Doreson---asks,---very---confused.---Apparently,---he---had---not---been---properly---notified---of---the---situation---regarding---the---[Healers]---and---the---woman---named---Janie.

  “I---asked,---but---she---told---me---that---it---wastes---time.---Apparently,---if---you---can---take---life---by---cutting---someone---open,---then---you---should---be---able---to---handle---the---pain---of---being---cut---open.---I---don't---understand---that---philosophy,---but---apparently---half---the---[Healers]---do.”

  “Done.---The---bones---are---arranged.---Send---this---one---to---have---his---wounds---healed.---Bring---me---the---next---injured.”

  “Fast...”---Oregan---exclaims---with---a---nod.---Questioning---eyes---quickly---turning---to---the---fully---armored---[Lieutenant---Guardian].

  Oregan---smiles,---“You---all---have---never---lived---your---life---as---a---cripple,---nor---have---you---ever---had---to---deal---with---them.---[Healers]---have---to---deal---with---wounded---all---the---time,---in---many---cases,---they---are---forced---to---tell---people---that---they---will---never---walk---again.---It---is---a---heartbreaking---feeling,---one---which---every---proper---[Healers]---can---relate---to,”---Oregan---chuckles.

  “And---then---this---woman---appears---and---starts---fixing---these---problems---that---[Healers]---had---been---unable---to---deal---with---for---decades.---They---revere---her---and---respect---her---for---what---she---is---able---to---do---that---others---cannot.”

  Silence---descends---upon---those---at---the---meeting,---digesting---his---words,---listening---in---to---the---woman---as---she---works.

  “Send---in---the---Next---one.---No,---not---that---one.---He---only---has---a---flesh---wound.---Just---shove---his---organs---back---inside---and---[heal]---him,---that---wound---does---not---require---me.---Send---me---the---one---next---to---him---instead,---the---one---with---the---twisted---spine---sticking---out---his---back.”

  “Pick---him---up---slowly,---I---can---only---fix---what---is---alive.---If---he---dies---from---blood---los-”

  “YYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS”

  Those---at---the---meeting---immediately---widen---as---a---slightly---louder---sound---is---heard---from---the---complete---opposite---direction.---They---look---at---each---other,---confused.

  “Yes!---Harder!---Thoric---harder!---HARDEEEERRRRRRRR.”

  “Oh---no…---Tella.”---Threm---starts---to---speak,---her---face---turning---a---very---obvious---crimson.

  “Pound---ME!---MAKE---ME---SCREAM!---AHHHHHHH”

  Every---eye---in---the---room---turns---to---Dragken---who---can---only---smile---in---reply.

  “How---is---having---sex---instead---of---being---at---a---meeting---to---discuss---what---will---happen---to---several---dozen---Herds---more---important?”

  Unexpectedly,---the---question---is---asked---by---Doreson,---who---is---looking---just---as---confused---and---upset---as---the---[Herdmasters].

  “Thoric---is---an---ind-”

  “QUASSSSSSIIIIIIIIIIII---AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-”

  The---feminine---scream---returns,---this---time---several---octaves---higher,---before---seemingly---stopping---all---at---once.

  Dragken---takes---a---moment,---making---sure---that---there---is---no---more---noise---before---coughing---in---his---hand.

  “As---I---was---trying---to---say,---the---Patriach---Thoric---is---a---being---of---immense---power---and---knowledge,---one---that---only---the---Kitsune---can---even---compare.---You---have---seen---the---monstrosity---he---commands---but---you---do---not---realize---how---powerful---such---an---ability---is.---The---Patriarch---has---the---ability---to---raise---anything---that---has---died---into---his---minion,---and---that---includes---any---champions---from---herds.---Every---loss---against---him---would---merely---strengthen---him---further.---It---is---why---the---patriarch---does---not---need---to---be---at---this---meeting,---because---in---the---end,---he---alone---can---combat---anything---our---floor---has---to---offer.”

  Moments---pass---as---they---digest---Dragken’s---words,---fear---slowly---forming---on---the---faces---of---the---[Herdmasters]---as---they---start---to---realize---that---they---are---insignificant---in---the---large---scheme---of---things.---That---neither---they,---nor---their---armies,---are---a---threat.

  Of---course,---the---[Tactician---Captain]---is---unconvinced.---Thoric---is---clearly---powerful---and---capable,---but---not---nearly---as---overbearing---as---Dragken---is---making---him---out---to---be.---Mana---is---not---infinite---and---as---strong---as---the---minion---may---be,---the---caster---is---still---weak---and---capable---of---being---killed,---especially---if---focused---down.

  “So…---why---is---he---here?”---Ferris---asks,---breaking---the---silence---that---had---quickly---engulfed---the---meeting.

  Dragken---frowns---now,---straightening---his---back,---becoming---far---more---serious,---“Well,---he---came---to---sav-”

  *SQQQQUUUUEEEAAAAKKKK*

  The---wooden---door---to---the---room---slides---open.

  “Ow,---that---is---quite---loud,---but---I---guess---it---can’t---be---helped---if---the---door---joints---are---made---of---wood.---Metal---with---a---little---bit---of---oil---would---have---made---this---door---rather---silent,---too---bad---this---dungeon---seems---to---have---a---racist---thing---against---those---elements.”

  All---eyes---gaze---towards---the---door,---but---more---precisely,---the---human---male---which---enters---the---room…---with---nothing---on---but---a---rather---small---towel---around---his---waist.

  A---towel---that---is---barely---covering---the---enlarged---girthy---erection---standing---up,---creating---a---partial---flag.

  Now,---centaurs---have---much---less---focus---on---nudity---compared---to---other---species,---but---that---is---mostly---due---to---their---body---mostly---covered---in---hair.---So---someone---naked---does---not---phase---them,---but---if---the---naked---individual---has---a---very---noticeable---erection,---then---that---is---something---to---be---heavily---frowned---upon.

  Of---course,---the---subject---of---such---nudity---cares---little---for---the---thoughts---of---others.

  Thus,---the---human---waltzes---into---the---room---with---little---care---and---takes---a---quick---glance---at---all---those---present.---He---frowns.

  “Wow,---the---[Herdmaster]---class---sucks.---Leveling---it---doesn't---seem---to---even---increase---intelligence,---only---a---barely---noticeable---increase---in---willpower,”---Thoric---looks---to---Dragken,---“man,---no---wonder---you---said---all---[Herdmasters]---are---idiots.---Their---decision---making---must---be---outright---crap.”

  Thoric---shakes---his---head---while---the---[Herdmasters]---look---at---the---man---dumbfounded.---This---is---their---first---proper---meeting---with---him---and---they---feel---very---insulted---and---confused.

  Thoric---quickly---turns---and---faces---Threm,---whose---eyes---are---currently---focused---on---his---barely---hidden---erect---member.---Her---face---is---bright---pink.

  “Right,---Threm,---I---need---your---help.---So---I---was---banging---Tella---really---really---hard,---and,---well,---she---passed---out---before---I---can---finish.---Apparently,---her---endurance---is---too---low,”---Thoric---explains,---shrugging---his---sweat---covered---shoulders.

  “Uhhhh.”

  “Yes,---yes,---I---know---I---asked---you---to---go---to---this---meeting---and---wha
tever,---but---I---need---help---now!---Granted,---I---would---have---asked---Lilly---since---she---has---even---more---endurance---than---you,---but---she---also---has---over---a---hundred---strength---now.---I---don't---want---her---to---orgasm---and---then---break---my---hips.”

  *Shudders*

  “Last---thing---I---need---is---to---have---to---explain---to---Janie---why---my---hips---are---broken.---She---would---probably---cut---me---open---just---to---spite---me.”

  Thoric---turns---around---quickly,---waving,---“Anyways,---let's---go---Threm,---my---bed---awaits,”---Thoric---exclaims---as---he---walks---out---of---the---building,---his---naked---butt---in---full---view.