Monsters and Angels

by Erik Weir

  Lily looked to Victor, seeing the darkness under his eyes growing. “Want to talk about it?”

  Victor’s back stiffened a little before he walked with a more natural pace. “I was just thinking about your new ability. Can you use it to find Vonn and Yimer,” he deflected.

  The succubus closed her eyes as they walked. Lily reached out and Victor took her hand, guiding her as they continued on. Lily’s brow scrunched up a few times before it smoothed away. A minute later, she opened her eyes, defeat written in her expression.

  “I tried to get a sense of either of them,…but the moment I had an idea, it faded away. I think they might be here in Eddor but I’m not sure.”

  “That narrows it down a bit I suppose,” Victor smiled.

  “I’ll try again soon, after I regenerate some of my power.”

  Victor nodded, still holding Lily’s hand, “I didn’t know you can still gain powers. For some reason, I thought you were already maxed out.”

  Lily squeezed his hand as she walked and looked forward. “Champions have a certain limit to gaining powers and abilities. I have some but I have plenty of room for more. The acolytes will also gain powers and abilities the stronger Vala becomes.”

  “What happens if we go over that limit?”

  Lily looked to Victor and shrugged lightly, “I don’t know. Cassandra told me Champions can reach a higher level of power, but even she wasn’t sure. So much of Vala’s teachings were lost hundreds of years ago, she will have to teach us again when she returns.”

  Victor looked on as the conversation died. Thoughts rising up, he called on his stats. They glowed in the corner of his vision and he quickly noticed he had three divine orbs he hadn’t used yet. Since he could only spend two at a time and he was in the Eddor Realm, now was the perfect time to see what new ability he could gain. Spending two of his remaining three divine orbs, the Blade opened himself to a swirling power. Energy snaked in from the very air around him until it caressed his spirit, letting a bit of itself stay within his chest before fading away.

  You have gained “Transmutation”.

  Victor’s right eyebrow rose as he wasn’t exactly sure what it meant. Thinking it over, he vaguely remembered a similar ability from one of his games he used to play all the time. Looking down to the stones in the dirt road, the young man bent low, scooped up a stone and held it in his hand. Lily looked over as the Blade closed his fingers over it and spent a point of Wisdom. Energy swirled around his hand and glowed from between his fingers. Opening his hand, Victor smiled as a gold coin lay in his palm.

  “I’m going to be rich,” Victor laughed.

  Lily smirked and shook her head, “I have seen that effect performed by mages here in Eddor. It is temporary. With time, the coin will change back to the stone it was once before.”

  Victor’s smile melted into a frown, “I just wanted to dream a little.”

  Lily tried to contain her smile and failed. “Vala’s religion doesn’t condone riches or wealth. The freeing of your spirit is the reward for worship.”

  Victor grumbled to himself a little before he saw he had two points to add to his Spheres of Influence. The Blade quickly assigned a point to Constitution and another point to Wisdom. Power surged under his skin as he felt himself grow a little stronger. Victor called up his stat screen once again.

  Victor Hobbs

  Acolytes Unlocked- 21/77

  Divine Orbs- 1

  Powers to Unlock-0

  Spheres of Influence

  Str (Gaia)- 6

  Con (Nano)- 6

  Int (Abyss)- 3

  Will (Holy)- 3

  Wis (Mind)- 5

  Cha (Shadow)- 3

  Swords

  Iron Sword

  Elemental Sword

  Gun Blade

  Sphere Abilities/Powers

  Mind

  Speak/Read/Write Languages

  Transmutation

  Gaia

  Increased Strength/Speed

  Animal Tongues

  Jump

  Animal Shapeshift

  War Form

  Summon Monster

  Nano

  Heightened Senses Upgrade

  Shadow

  Holy

  Abyss

  Impulse Control Touch

  Victor eyed the numbers. Having 5 points and over in his Strength, Constitution and Wisdom meant he could create a greater effect over a lesser one. Mentally filing it away, he would take any edge he could when it came to overcoming the odds. With so many gods wanting Vala to remain dead, it seemed like everything was stacked against them. It didn’t take long before Victor felt things would get harder before they got any better.

  Warmth touched the back of Victor’s head and without thinking, his hand rose up and touched his hair. Turning his head, he looked to the forest to his right. Green leaves fluttered in the small wind, sunlight bathing all. Victor continued to eye the forest as they walked. Dropping his hand to his side, he found he couldn’t look away.

  A green face appeared deep in the forest. It smiled and a second later, the face disappeared in the thick, peaceful forest.

  Victor was about to open his mouth to say something but he stopped himself. Seeing how disturbed Lily was about seeing the cylinder, he didn’t want to add another thing for them to think about. The Blade knew he saw a face, but why it appeared and disappeared seemed to only add to the oddness of the realms. It could have been a monster or maybe some entity trying to distract them. The Blade mentally shrugged to himself, refocusing his thoughts to the quest before them. Dawn was in trouble and so were Vonn and Yimer. Maybe when they had saved their friends, he could bring it up to Lily and Cassandra.

  “We’re almost there,” Lily pointed to the town further up the road.

  Victor nodded as they walked along, smoke rising from chimneys and people moving about at the edge of town.

  ***

  The town of Runon was bustling with activity. Townsfolk moved about, running errands and chatting with one another. Victor and Lily stepped into the town as sunlight gave the wooden and stone buildings a yellowish tint on the bright morning. No one gave the two newcomers a second glance as they made their way down the main street. Victor drank in the medieval buildings, side streets, and shops. A small smile crept into Victor’s cheek as a pleasant calm caressed his nerves.

  Lily looked to her partner and smiled. “It’s just a town.”

  Victor eyed the succubus with a smirk. “I know, but I like small towns. They’re peaceful and have a certain air about them. Plus, this place reminds me of starter towns in Final Fantasy, a sense of grand adventure on the horizon.”

  The demoness kept her smile as she shook her head. “I wish I understood what you were talking about some of the time. The Earth Realm must be a magical place if you have towns such as these.”

  Victor nodded. “It depends on who you talk to. Earth is mystical, but it has its troubles too.”

  “Do you miss it?”

  Victor opened his mouth to answer, but no words came out. He missed aspects of it but in truth, he didn’t miss it as all. It had become a distant part of his life, even in the last number of weeks. Memories floated along of what Baaldir offered before he attacked Vala’s mountain, the offer to return if he wished. Victor knew the god only wanted him out of the picture, but deep down he knew he had made his choice and would see it through to the end. Victor’s mind wandered for a second, wondering what would be his choice once Vala had returned. Would he stay on as her Champion or find some small, out of the way place in the realms to live out the rest of his life, if he survived the crusade?

  “We’re here,” Lily said as she looked on a shop window.

  Victor turned his attention to the shop. Arcane runes filled a hanging sign. Potion vials filled the window in a kaleidoscope of different colors. The morning light touched the vials, cloudy smoke swirling within each one. Thick curtains were pulled aside and beyond the glass, a woman with muted red hair was leaning
against a counter, a thick tome open before her. A red robe covered her body as her eyes moved from side to side, reading quietly to herself.

  “Are you sure she’s in there,” Victor asked.

  Lily nodded. “I sensed her again. I can feel her down below, just like in the vision.”

  Victor stepped to the side of the small building, Lily following. When they were no longer visible, the Blade turned to his Shield.

  “We should come up with a plan. I don’t want to go in there and start smashing stuff. It looks like a nice little shop and we shouldn’t be dicks.”

  “We should demand her immediate release,” Lily said with a hard edge.

  Victor closed his eyes and rubbed the space where his nose and eyes connect. “That’s exactly what we shouldn’t do. If she is in the basement, we just have to get by, find her and get her out.”

  Victor let his hand drop as he called up his abilities again. Words and numbers appeared in his vision as he gave the lists the once over. An idea formed as he remembered what he did back at the Tusk Tribe’s mountain.

  “I have an idea…,” Victor began.

  “You should turn into a small animal while I distract the woman at the counter,” Lily finished.

  Victor blinked. “How did you…”

  The succubus reached up and gave his cheek a slight pat with her hand. “You’re not that complicated.”

  Victor smiled, “I would have been okay if you said we make a great team.”

  “We are. I’m the leader and you’re the muscle,” Lily said with a razor smile.

  Victor raised an eyebrow, “I thought…”

  “It doesn’t matter what you think. Change into something and I will open the door,” Lily said with a wicked grin.

  “So mean,” Victor chuckled.

  Lily winked before turning and looking out to the street. Victor decided on a form, but before he spent a point he reached up and touched Lily’s shoulder. The succubus looked back to his series expression, concern filling her purple brow.

  “To answer your question before, I don’t miss it because then I couldn’t be with you,” Victor whispered.

  Color touched Lily’s cheeks as Victor spent a point of Strength. Keeping an image in his mind’s eye, Victor’s body began to collapse into itself. Lily turned from the shrinking Blade and surveyed the area as people went on with their day. White fur sprouted along Victor’s body as his clothes melted and disappeared. Seconds passed and before he knew it, whiskers twitched and he looked up to Lily’s gigantic form.

  The large mouse stood up on his hind legs and looked himself over. Victor ran pink paws over white fur. A bare tail moved behind him and the world around him was that much bigger. Looking back up, he couldn’t keep his eyes from the bottom view of Lily’s ass in her tight leather pants. The mouse’s heart went pitter patter just as Lily began walking, her tail snaking behind her. Victor squeaked and followed. With a small jump, he was on the bare wooden entrance while Lily stepped up. The succubus made her way to the door and opened it. Victor was quick, staying on her heels as she let go of the door. The mouse jumped through the entrance just as the door closed behind them.

  Lily put on a pleasant smile as she sauntered over to the counter. The woman with red hair looked up from her big book and smiled at the lilac colored demoness, horns glinting in the few stray rays of sunlight entering the shop.

  “How can I help you today,” the woman asked as she stood to her full height.

  “I’m just travelling through and thought I might pick up some supplies,” Lily said when she reached the counter.

  Victor moved along the bottom counter edge. Furry body skittering along, red eyes looked around to any door that may lead to the basement. Stopping when he reached the edge of the counter, the mouse listened as Lily made small talk with the shopkeeper. Victor hoped she should keep her busy long enough so he could scout out the area. Moving from the counter edge, the white mouse ran along until he reached a bookshelf. Sniffing and looking around, he wasn’t sure where to go next until a thin door opened next to the bookshelf. A woman with long silver hair and a dark blue robe stepped out of the doorway, a silver tray in her hands.

  Victor spotted the stairs leading down and bolted for the doorway just as the door swung closed. The mouse jumped at the last moment, his tail just in when the door locked behind him. The mouse high-fived himself with pink hands before jumping down a step at a time as lantern light illuminated the musty basement. When he reached the bottom, red eyes caught several wooden pillars dotting the basement and a body slumped against one. Food and water lay on the ground next to the figure.

  Victor skittered closer, seeing Dawn’s pointed ears, glasses and dark blonde hair. The elf moaned, rune clasps on her wrists and ankles. The mouse made his way closer, looking up into Dawn’s dazed expression, salvia dripping from her partially open mouth. Letting go of his form, the mouse pulsated, grew larger and shifted. Dawn didn’t move as the small mouse turned back into Victor.

  The Blade knelt at her side, delicately lifting her face up by the chin. Dawn stared into nothing as she didn’t react to Victor’s touch.

  “What did they do to you,” Victor whispered as he grabbed a rune binding and tried to unlock it.

  ***

  The shopkeeper grabbed a few potions from the wall behind her. Lily looked on until a woman with silver hair and a long, thick blue robe walked up to the counter and placed the empty silver tray on it. The succubus gave the silver-haired woman a pleasant smile. The woman smiled back, eyes darting from the demoness to the redhead and back again.

  Lily noticed a strange tension when the silver-haired woman’s gaze fell on the succubus’s firm chest. The redhead turned around, witnessing the exchange. A fire slipped into her eyes before it was quickly extinguished. The woman placed several potions on the counter a little too hard. Lily kept her expression pleasant as she noticed something odd was going on.

  “Are you finished restocking the shelves,” the woman asked the silver-haired one.

  She nodded. “The shelves are fine,” the woman said awkwardly.

  Lily could see them speaking without actual words and decided to stir the pot. “I’m obviously not from around here. Is there any…places one can get a drink?”

  The silvered-hair woman’s smile brightened along her thin face, but the redhead was the one to speak.

  “There are several taverns here in Runon. Take your pick, they are all same,” the redhead said abruptly.

  Lily looked to each one in turn. Leaning over the edge of the counter, she was sure to give them an eyeful of her deep, light purple cleavage.

  “The road can get lonely. I could use some company…maybe this evening?”

  “You will find plenty of company at the local places,” the redhead said sternly.

  Lily gave them a sickly-sweet smile. “I must apologize, I’m being rude. My name is Lily.”

  The redhead gave Lily a sharp look before giving her best fake smile. “My name is Skye and my partner is Kira. We are the owners of this shop. Is there anything else we can help you with?”

  Lily watched them, something needling her senses. The energy in the room was guarded, but the succubus noticed there was something there. She couldn’t put her finger on it. It went beyond knowing Dawn was in the basement. The warm energy seemed to glow brighter, even if they were trying to hide what they were doing. Lily’s eyes narrowed as Skye kept her steely gaze. Kira looked away, almost fighting a need to talk. The air took on a charge before a realization struck the succubus and the silver-haired woman.

  “Skye…I think…,” Kira began before the door to the shop opened.

  All eyes turned to the entrance as a man and woman stepped in. The pair wore leather armor over their travelling clothes. Black boots thudded against the wooden floor. The man’s face was hawkish with a pointed nose. His hair was shaved along the sides while the top was long and pulled back tightly into a small, dangling ponytail. The woman at his side was un
remarkable except for her pinched face, hard eyes and brown hair tied in a ponytail.

  Lily gave them the once over, seeing that they had no weapons. Runes were burned into their leather armor, symbols she didn’t recognize. Skye and Kira stayed their ground behind the counter, but it was Sky’s expression that hardened in anger.

  The man’s eyes were that of bird bearing down on its prey. The pair stopped about ten feet away, the man turning his eyes on Skye while the woman kept her gaze on Lily. The electric energy in the shop glowed hotter as a second of silence seemed to last a lifetime.

  Skye broke the silence, “We have nothing to offer to your people. Leave our shop.”

  The man’s expression didn’t change as he spoke, “Where is the elf and the man that changed into a mouse?”

  Lily’s body tensed as Kira’s eyes widened.

  Skye remained unfazed. “We have no idea what…”

  The man raised his voice, cutting off the redhead. “Where is Dawn Dreamweaver and Victor Hobbs? We know you have the elf here. We have been watching your establishment for weeks. The demon here entered with another fugitive. He changed into a mouse.”

  The man turned his hard gaze to Lily, “We know who you are. The Authority has a bounty for your capture, dead or alive.”

  “There must be some mistake,” Skye said as she moved closer to the counter.

  The man’s eyes closed, “There is no mistake. The Authority knows about your worship of Vala.”

  Skye’s brow formed a hard V. “The Authority has no power over Vala, Spell Sword!”

  The man’s eyes opened and a wicked gleam filled his eyes. “The Authority is the ultimate power here in Eddor. They control everything. You have been allowed to worship your dead goddess because it was harmless.”