Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

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  The---Gejan---watch---with---bated---breaths---as---they---see---Berosus---stride---through---thousands---of---flying---quills,---explosive---sacks---of---poisonous---gas,---and---even---a---massive---cloud---of---something---so---foul---that---all---greenery---around---the---impact---location---no---longer---exists.---Only---luck---and---possibly---forethought---allowing---the---commander---to---move---unscathed.

  Finally,---as---the---gas---settles---into---the---ground,---a---cheer---erupts---from---those---present,---only---to---stop---immediately---as---they---watch---Thoric---fall---on---his---knees,---hands---touching---the---ground.

  “What's---happening?”---Janie---is---the---first---one---to---ask.---Her---eyesight---allows---her---to---see---Thoric,---but---not---good---enough---to---see---what---is---happening.

  “Is---he---hurt?”---she---asks---again,---fear---and---panic---crossing---her---face.

  “He---is---crying---and---yelling---something.---He---does---not---look---injured,”---Tella---says---while---activating---one---of---her---scouting---skills.---One---which---allows---her---to---see---far---distances---as---though---they---were---close.

  “Maybe---it’s---the---poison.---Maybe---some---of---it---got---inside---him?”

  Her---statement---causes---many---to---take---a---grim---expression.

  Well,---except---for---two---of---them.

  Zorren---stares---at---the---direction---of---the---boss,---his---eyes---steeled---and---angry.---A---perpetual---frown---on---his---face.

  On---the---other---hand,---Darrow---is---smiling---and---nodding---as---though---he---understands---exactly---what’s---happened.

  “He---is---not---injured,---he---is---merely---upset.---Even---I---would---be---upset---over---that.”

  His---statement---attracts---all---the---eyes.---They---look---at---him,---surprised.---Darrow---had---been---right---about---many---things---when---concerning---the---commander.---He---had---predicted---that---Berosus---would---be---defeated,---that---the---Centaurs---would---fear---the---commander,---and---that---Threm---would---be---saved.---Out---of---everyone,---he---seems---to---know---best---what---the---commander---thinks.

  Silence---descends---into---the---clearing---as---they---all---look---at---Darrow,---waiting---for---him---to---explain.

  The---silence---extends---for---a---half---minutes---before---someone---speaks---up.

  “Darrow.”

  Darrow---moves---his---gaze,---latching---onto---Lilly---who---is---looking---up---at---him.---And---then---he---notices---the---stares---pointed---at---him.

  “What?”---he---asks---confused.---Taking---a---look---at---the---expressions---pointed---his---way.

  Lilly---kicks---him---in---the---shin,---his---leg---flicks---back---and---he---falls---on---the---floor---surprised.

  “The---reason---you---dung-beetle.---What---is---he---fucking---crying---about?---We’re---all---freaking---worried,”---She---says---with---a---glare,---her---fists---raised---and---ready---to---pummel---the---man---into---the---ground.

  “Wait,---wait,---wait,”---he---says,---quickly---standing---up,”---I---thought---it---was---obvious.”

  A---Direpanther---growls---behind---him,---accompanied---by---a---glare---from---Alba,---Janie,---and---Tella.

  Darrow---sighs.---He---then---straightens---his---posture,---puts---on---a---smile---and---points---towards---Thoric---before---they---hurt---him---further.

  “The---commander---is---crying---for---a---very---simple---reason,”---he---starts,---swerving---his---finger---towards---the---corpse---of---the---boss,---“The---boss---monster---died---too---easily.---Clearly,---the---commander---is---upset---over---how---simple---the---fight---had---been.---He---probably---had---all---these---complicated---plans---made---to---deal---with---the---boss,---but---in---the---end,---it---died---with---one---strike.”

  Darrow---shakes---his---head---with---a---frown,”---Truly,---I---can---only---imagine---the---pain---he---must---feel.”

  Darrow---takes---a---deep---breath---and---looks---to---the---others,---All---of---who---are---giving---him---a---look.

  Confused,---he---opens---his---mouth---to---ask---‘why’---but---is---stopped---as---a---petite---white---fist---slams---into---his---stomach.

  His---scales---crack---and---the---sheer---force---sends---him---flying.---When---he---lands,---he---inadvertently---hugs---his---stomach---and---moans---in---excruciating---pain.

  “Nice---punch,”---Alba---says.

  “Thank---you,”---Lilly---replies---with---a---smile.

  “Should---we---go---to---Thoric---now?”---Janie---asks---while---pointing---at---Thoric---who---is---now---standing---up.

  An---answer---is---given---not---by---those---living,---but---by---the---undead---horde---beginning---to---move.

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  A---bonfire---is---burning,---a---massive---one---as---monster---meat---cooks---over---it.---The---pit---burns---near---the---entrance---of---the---fourth---floor.---The---flames---dancing---mightily---to---the---night---sky---as---the---Gejan---talk---and---laugh---with---one---another.

  Thoric---is,---of---course,---the---cook.---Thus,---he---must---prepare---the---meat.---So---he---grabs---his---knife---and---begins---skinning---a---monster---known---as---a---artoran,---A---weird---raptor-like---monster---with---thick---fur.---The---monster---has---no---arms---and---has---feet---reminiscent---of---a---chicken---but---sports---a---rather---vicious---tooth---filled---head.---Sharp---teeth---too.

  With---experienced---movement,---he---opens---its---abdomen---and---begins---to---remove---its---insides.---Once---done,---he---orders---the---monster---to---stand---on---the---fire---pit.

  “Is---that---really---safe?”---Janie---asks---while---pointing---at---the---several---various---monsters---standing---over---the---fire,---allowing---their---bodies---to---be---cooked---for---consumption.

  Thoric---shrugs,---”Well,---undead---aren’t---alive---and---thus---they---don't---feel---pain.---I---see---no---reason---why---I---can't---use---a---bit---of---dark---magic---to---help---with---cooking,”---he---says---while---grabbing---a---rag---and---wiping---his---hands.

  Janie---looks---uncomfortable---and---confused---at---what---is---being---done.---Using---undead---to---cook.---Her---sisters---at---the---Monastery---would---have---very---little---positive---to---say---about---such---a---practice.

  Regardless,---she---still---takes---the---meat---on---her---plate,---walks---towards---a---place---to---sit---and---savers---every---bite---like---everyone---else---is---doing.---Even---Alda.

  Wait…

  “Alda,---I---thought---your---kind---can't---eat---meat?”

  Alda---finishes---her---bite---and---throws---a---piece---to---her---awakened---Direpanther---which---gobbles---it---up---happily.---The---Direpanther---is---currently---the---only---tamed---monster---she---has---brought.---She---pets---the---monster---with---a---smile,---“I’m---a---[Beastmistress]---and---one---of---the---skills---I---have---is---[Racial---Acquisition],---which---allows---me---to---permanently---borrow---one---of---my---friend's---traits.---Fang---here---is---giving---me---the---ability---to---eat---meat.”

  Janie---looks---towards---Fang,---slightly---jealous---of---how---little---the---monster---eats.---After---only---a---couple---pounds---of---meat,---the---Direpanther---is---content---and---happy.

  Janie---looks---to---her---right---and---the---little---spider---ripping---into---his---third---ten-pound---steak.

  “Thoric---was---right---Petyr,---you---are---quite---a---glutton.”

  The---spider---in---question---wiggles---one---of---its---legs---at---her---before---going---back---to---ripping---into---the---meat.---The---sight---confusing---her---so---much---considering---Petyr---seems---to---refuse---to---increase---in---size---unless---absolutely---necessary…---or---Thoric---asks.

  “Mmmm,---that---spider---scares---me.---It’s---the---smart
est---monster---I---have---ever---seen---and---none---of---my---skills---seem---to---bother---it---at---all.---What---is---it?”---Alba---asks.

  “Petyr---is---a---weaver,”---Janie---says,---scratching---the---spider---on---the---head,---”which---are---giant---sentient---spiders---the---size---of---buildings.”

  “Really?”---Alba---asks---unconvinced---and---confused.

  “Yup,---he---can---change---his---size.”

  Alba---opens---her---mouth---to---retort---and---explain---monsters---can’t---do---that---but---stops---to---reconsider---it---as---a---possibility.---After---all,---that---would---explain---why---Fang---is---so---utterly---afraid---of---the---little---guy.

  Janie---takes---another---bite---of---her---meat---before---swallowing---it---in---guilty---pleasure.---Monster---meat---tended---to---be---rather---expensive---and---was---never---bought---at---the---monastery.---It---was---more---of---a---fancy---restaurant---or---a---[Nobles]---kind---of---food.---Hunting---monsters---is---dangerous---work,---thus---prices---tended---to---be---far---far---more---expensive.

  Janie---takes---a---moment,---contemplating---her---next---question---as---her---mind---wanders---towards---Threm---who---sits---alone.---The---women---had---been---unfocused---and---refused---to---speak---ever---since---she---was---captured.---She---avoids---everyone---now---and---keeps---to---herself.

  “Your---thinking---of---the---one---named---Threm,---right?”

  Janie---frowns,---“Is---it---that---obvious?”

  Alba---nods,---“Yea.---She---looks---lost---really.---Lilly---and---Tella---told---me---about---her---situation---and---about---if---she---likes---him---or---not.---I---can---relate---to---that---a---little.---His---presence---seems---to---make---me---want---him---so---bad.---If---I---wasn’t---such---a---high---level,---I---think---I---would---be---rather---obsessed---with---him.”

  “You're---not---obsessed?”

  “Oh,---I---am---very---obsessed.---I---doubt---I---can---ever---find---someone---who---can---work---me---like---him.”

  Janie---blushes---profusely---and---takes---quick---peaks---towards---Thoric,---only---blushing---further---as---she---watches---him---slowly---clean---his---knife---with---a---rag.

  “Ha,---I---bet---you---like---him---too.---Too---bad---you---made---that---oath---or---whatever---it---is.”

  Janie---shakes---her---head,---annoyed---that---she---allowed---herself---to---begin---feeling…---like---that.

  “Um,---any---ideas---on---how---to---help---Threm?”---she---asks---but---only---gets---a---shrug---in---reply.

  “I’m---the---worst---to---ask.---Though---if---you---are---really---so---worried,---why---not---just---ask---the---Patriarch---to---do---something---about---it?”

  Janie---is---about---to---retort---but---stops---as---the---realization---strikes---her.---Thoric---would---know---what---to---do…

  “Thank---you,”---Janie---says---as---she---places---her---plate---on---the---side---and---stands---up.---She---walks---to---Thoric---who---is---in---the---middle---of---skinning.

  “Um,---I---wanted---to---talk---to---you,”---she---starts.

  Thoric---continues---skinning.

  “Ask---away,”---he---says---without---stopping.

  “Well,---it's---about---Threm.---Could---you,---um,---I---don't---know.---Talk---to---her?”

  Thoric---stops---cutting.---He---blinks---up---at---her.

  “Shit,---I---completely---fucking---forgot,”---he---says---and---stands---up---while---handing---her---the---bloody---knife.

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  “Threm,---Threm,---Threm,---we---need---to---talk.”

  Threm---looks---up---to---find---Thoric---walking---towards---her.

  “Nope,---stop---looking---away.---That’s---bad.”

  He---walks---up---to---her---and---frowns---as---he---watches---Threm---avoiding---eye---contact---by---staring---at---the---ground.

  “You---know,---you---look---like---a---depressed---puppy.---A---whiny,---bored,---depressed---puppy---that---needs---to---go---to---the---vet---because---it---ate---something---it---shouldn't.”

  She---doesn't---move---or---react.

  “What---it---ate---was---poop.---And---not---just---any---poop---either.---Oh---no,---that---puppy---got---the---giant---shitty---motherlode---of---bad---poop.”

  He---pauses---as---he---notices---a---movement.---Her---leg---shifts---slightly,---a---sign---that---she---is---listening---and---probably---confused.

  “Well,---what---do---you---have---to---say---for---yourself,”---Thoric---says,---smiling---confidently---with---his---arms---crossed---while---positioning---his---legs---so---that---her---eyes---have---something---to---stare---at.

  “I’m---sorry---for---being---weak,”---she---answers---softly.

  Thoric---raises---his---voice.

  “Weak!---You---better---be---sorry---about---being---fucking---weak.---But---that's---not---the---biggest---problem,---the---one---that---actually---pisses---me---off.”

  She---stays---silent.

  “You---walked---into---a---fucking---trap---and---got---captured---Threm,”---Thoric’s---words---echo---now.---So---much---so---that---the---conversations---behind---him---die---down.

  “I’m---sorry.”

  “For---what---Threm?---What---are---you---sorry---for?---Tell---me!”

  His---voice---is---loud---and---powerful,---so---much---so---that---his---words---cause---Threm---to---breathe---hard.

  She---opens---her---mouth,---“I-I-I---Don't---know,”---she---stutters.

  “Really?---You---don't---know---if---my---presence---is---manipulating---you?---If---my---shitty---aura---is---making---every---fucking---woman---want---to---ride---me?---If---you---may---or---may---not---be---manipulated?”

  She---balls---her---fist.

  “I’ll---leave,”---she---says---in---a---whisper.

  But---it---gets---drowned---out---by---Thoric’s---loud---voice.

  “And---what---the---fuck---will---that---accomplish?---Will---you---know---if---you---were---manipulated---by---me---if---you---leave?---Will---you---be---able---to---overcome---that---trap---you---went---into---because---you---left?”

  Finally,---the---tears---begin,---they---fall---on---the---ground.---Nothing---like---full-on---crying,---but---a---noticeable---amount.

  Thoric---lifts---his---hand,---stopping---Janie---and---some---of---the---others---from---coming---closer.---They---had---seen---the---tears---and---wanted---to---help----to---comfort---the---crying---Gejan.

  Thoric---stands---there,---giving---her---a---moment---to---cry.---But---not---too---long.---Afterall,---people---are---most---susceptible---to---change---when---they---are---most---anguished.---It---is---here,---at---the---lowest---point---of---a---person's---life,---the---tipping---point---between---despair---and---hope.---A---point---in---which---everything---can---change---in---a---heartbeat.

  “Well?”

  She---takes---a---breath,---the---tears---still---falling---but---a---bit---less.

  “W-what---sh-ould---I---d-o?”---she---asks.

  Thoric---smiles.

  “Get---stronger.---Much---stronger.---I’m---not---talking---about---a---couple---dozen---levels---either.---I’m---talking---about---getting---the---power---to---overwhelm---anything---and---everything.”

  Thoric---moves---his---hand---under---her---chin---and---lifts---her---head.---He---finds---her---scale-covered---face---in---tears.---The---liquid---dripping---down---the---cracks---of---her---face.

  “You,---Threm,---need---to---become---strong---enough---to---not---only---survive---a---trap,---but---to---dismember---the---entire---forest---for---even---having---one.”

  He---leans---forward,---eyes---glowing---a---powerful---purple.

  “Only---with---that---kind---of---power---will---you---truly---know---your---feelings.”

  His---lips---touch---hers,---her---eyes---going---wide---in---surprise.

  He---moves---away---and---turns---around.---He---begins-
--walking.

  His---smile---turns---into---a---frown---as---he---looks---at---everyone---staring---in---his---direction.---Most---smiling,---especially---Darrow.---A---big---goofy---one---on---his---face.

  But---then---he---sees---the---girls.

  “What---the---hell---are---you---ladies---staring---at.---Threm---is---crying---behind---me---and---you---all---are---doing---nothing.---How---can---you---four---be---so---insensitive.”