“Do you know if anything lives in this river?” he asked while treading water.
“I don't know for certain there is, but then again, I don't know for certain there isn’t. I think we should just keep moving forward because we're way past the halfway point now. Going back would take a lot longer than just finishing the journey to the end of the river. And then you can catch your breath. Hey, maybe all the swimming will help you level up!”
With the fairy sounding undaunted, Kek started to feel better. He just had to keep himself from imagining something grabbing him, or he would start to shiver and not be able to swim properly. So, he began to move along and found that he could move at least as quickly as the raft had been going with his new swimming skills. Actually, he could go much faster. Faye had no trouble keeping up with him. Soon, he was enjoying himself, and he remembered how he was meant to be able to hold his breath for longer than usual.
Taking a deep lungful of air and ducking his head underwater, he was delighted to find out that he could last a very long time before he had to come back up. When he did return to the surface, he was confronted with a disgruntled looking with her hands on her hips, making a pouting face.
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“You scared the life out of me! I thought you were drowning. Yes, I know it's silly because you just got that swim skill. Nevertheless, can you please try not to scare me like that?”
“Okay, sure,” Kek said, feeling too good to let himself feel bad about it. He started doing a backstroke stroke without thinking and splashed water up into the air.
“Woah!” shouted the fairy. “You almost got me just then, and then I would be in the drink with you. Believe me I cannot swim as fast as you, mister kobold. It's good to see that you have overcome your fear of water, but we really need to take this seriously. I, as a young fairy, hate taking anything seriously, so please understand just how serious this is!. I don't mean to scare you, but well, don't make me wet!”
They continued along the way with Kek being much politer with his splashes. However, Faye flew much higher up so that she was nearly at the top of the cave. The rays of her light orb spread out farther, but it didn't shine as brightly on the water surface immediately below her. That left Kek somewhat in the dark, but he supposed that he deserved it for being so careless and inconsiderate. Suddenly, it went completely dark again.
“Hey, what's the deal?” he asked with fear in his voice that he was ashamed of. “Are you there, Faye?”
“Yes,” she said. “Just try to keep your voice down, okay.” She had brought her own voice down to a hushed whisper that could almost not be heard. She flew down close so that she could communicate without making too much noise. “I can sense something up ahead: evil, not particularly strong, and probably coming from some dungeon minions. Maybe creatures that lurk in the water. But as I said, it's not a particularly strong evil, so you shouldn't be too worried. If it was a giant squid monster or something, you could bet your buns that it would be a great evil, right?” It was easy to tell that she wanted to chuckle but just didn't have the heart to do so in such a dire moment. “Just remember that this is the primary entrance of the dungeon proper. Creatures are going to come and go. It's probably just a few minions leaving the lower levels, perhaps to go to the surface and do whatever evil it is that minions do. Or, it might be some adventurers trying to enter the dungeon on a raid, which is more common than you think. If that's the case, maybe we will find their corpses up ahead when we catch up with them. Right?”
Kek noticed that Faye seem asked more questions when she was scared.
“Okay,” was all Kek said. He wasn't in the mood for making any excess noise now that he'd been reminded just how many various creatures could be lurking around. “What should we do?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be able to detect them if they stop and come back for us, like if they maybe find our raft and want to look for its owners. We don't have to worry about bumping into anyone unaware though, okay?”
“Does your detect-evil skill work through a lot of water?”
When she mumbled something and didn't reply properly, he was too afraid to question her further on it. He didn't think he’d like the answer. They continued on their way after that, but they were much quieter. Moving through the pitch black was terrible, and every little sound Kek made as he went through the water seemed to echo a thousand times louder now. He could even hear the beating of Faye's wings, or so he thought. It seemed like they were in a wind tunnel with all the noise and displaced air washing around. Although, he knew perfectly well that it was just his nerves getting to him.
He tried to bury his fear with idle chitchat. “I don't remember any of the mercenaries who enslaved me having boats at any time.”
“Really? Maybe they turned back when they got to this river. Or they could've found an abandoned watercraft like we did. Maybe something in the water ate them and—oh, never mind. Hey! Why don’t we move a little faster? I can’t sense that evil up ahead anymore, so they must have had a faster boat than we had.”
“Sounds fine to me,” replied Kek. All he could think about was whether they would be able to detect evil coming at them from deep below in the water. He was just about to ask her again, so he could get a clear answer this time when something reached up and grabbed him by the ankle. Immediately and without thinking, he tested his dexterity. Yes! He slipped free of whatever had grabbed him and spun around in the water so that he good move away from it. He started to swim as quickly as possible in the way they had been going. Then something splashed up out of the water, and he heard Faye scream.
She had let herself come down too low to whisper to Kek. She continued to scream, and it turned to a gulping sound as she went under.
“Cast light!” Kek shouted to her, but he wasn't sure if she heard him or if she was even able to do so at that moment.
Kek dove after her, but without any light, he had no way of knowing where she was. He thought he could feel the movements of her and whatever had grabbed her in the water, but there were currents still carrying them along that made it hard to tell. And he was not comfortable tracking in water. The kobold scrambled, diving at random places and trying to feel around. And he prayed whatever gods would listen that Faye hadn't already been eaten by some sort of giant squid or man-eating fish. It was lucky that he didn't have a better imagination, because it would've only made his terror worse and the situation graver. And as a secondary prayer to the gods that probably weren't listening, which he could hardly blame them for because he didn't even know most of their names, he hoped that he wouldn't be the next thing on the menu.
As he dove down again, a light orb suddenly pierced the blackness. He could see where Faye was as the light orb followed behind her. A humanoid creature had a hold of her! They were a good twenty feet horizontally from him and at least five feet lower. The captor had a head that looked like a fish, with gills on the side and spikes sticking out from its back and running all the way down his back. It's hands and feet were like flippers, with long fingers sticking out of them. The thing was completely naked but covered in gray-brown scales that gave the appearance of armor.
It was holding a net that trailed behind in the water, and inside was one incredibly terrified fairy. She didn't seem to be struggling a lot, as though she was too short of oxygen to have enough energy to do so. Hopefully she could hold her for a long time. Kek gave immediate chase, taking his knife out and getting ready to stab the thing as many times as he could to teach a lesson about trying to steal his new friend. As he bolted after them, the fish man noticed him and swam to the side.
It disappeared into the entrance of a cave. As they went through, Faye’s light orb lit up the entrance. Kek was trailing close behind now, but the light showed him that there were many more of these fish-men in there. They also looked the same and appeared to be males. They were brandishing tridents and nets.
Kek wanted to go in and try to get Faye back, but he was nearly stabbed several times while d
oing so. He had to dodge many trident thrusts, noticing that he gained XP, which he now knew were experience points, as he made successful dodges. He didn't want to back away, but he had to. And finally, at least a dozen of the fish-men came after him. He was sure that Faye was doomed and now felt he was too. At least they had given all they had.
Something else penetrated the water, but this was a sound that moved through his very being. Looking around at the fish-men, it was clear that it was moving through their beings too. In fact, they had all stopped trying to attack him. Kek had heard the saying “like a stunned mullet,” and it had never seemed more appropriate.
He wasn't going to wait around to see what was happening, so he headed toward the cave. However, Faye came bursting out of the underwater cave with the orb of light that followed her. She came darting through the water frantically and made gestures to Kek that they should head back to the surface. The fish men were slowly moving toward the surface themselves, but they seemed to have completely forgotten about the kobold and the fairy. They were just focused on something on the surface, probably what was making the strange and eerie sound. Kek wanted to start stabbing the fish-men in the back, but he decided to follow Faye's lead and rush toward the surface. Of course, they gave the horrible aquatic men a wide berth before heading back to the top.
What they were confronted with was a totally nude woman. She had golden skin that glistened, and what looked like some very light scales on the sides of her arms and her thighs, both inner and outer. Kek could not help but look at her crotch because it was completely exposed, much like beautiful perky breasts were. They seemed as though they were as big as his head, but much rounder than his long snout. He felt quite immature staring at her naked body in such a life or death situation, but this strange woman had a definite hold over him.
Her face was the very definition of elegance, the classic kind of beauty that couldn’t be described by mere words. It was almost painful to look upon, knowing that he would never be able to completely possess such beauty and raw feminine energy. His life felt like an empty void, and nothing else mattered but getting closer to this woman.
That was very good look for him, because as soon as she saw Kek and Faye come to the surface, she started beckoning to them to come toward the boat she was standing on. She had a lantern at the front that was lighting up the area, and with Faye’s light spell, the area was brightly lit. It also made it easy to see that there were now dozens of the fish-men right there in the water. If this strange sound of hers were to stop mesmerizing them, they would surely all be doomed. They would be fish food for the fish-men. Faye probably would've enjoyed that joke if Kek had set it out loud, but he knew it was not the time or place. He wanted to die with a little dignity, at least.
“Put your eyes back in your head!” said Faye. “It's just a siren.” She seemed irritated at the woman's presence. "No male can resist the song, so I guess we’re lucky that you’re not scrambling to get to her. Maybe it doesn’t work as well on kobolds?”
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Without warning, the naked siren let out a terrifying shout that could have only been a war cry. She pulled a spear off her shoulder, which been slung there with the coiled line, and threw it in one fluid motion. It sailed into the water and ripped through one of the fish-men's throats. The siren yanked the line and ripped his whole jugular out with the barb on the hefty steel tip of the spear. It was a modified fishing spear, clearly meant for larger types of aquatic creatures like. She continued her ethereal song, giving her a clear shot on many more of the fish-men. She must've killed six or seven of them before she gradually stopped singing. Kek saw that she was out of MP. But it didn't matter because the fish-men looked stunned as they noticed so many of their brethren floating dead in the water around them. They fled quickly back in the direction they had come from beneath the inky depths.
H could not resist this time, and Kek lunged toward the nearest fish-man as the creature fled and caught the thing in the upper back with his knife. He felt the tough penetration as the small blade went through a layer of scales and tough fish hide. The humanoid quickly stopped moving and floated beside the rest of his dead friends. Kek’s HUD flashed. He’d learned the very basics of the Back-Stab skill, which allowed him to do such sneak attacks and even use it on sleeping enemies to get instant kills. He liked the sound of that. Although, it wasn't exactly the kind of skill a true hero should use.
Faye seemed to notice this change in his skill, but she didn't say anything, because of the strange siren woman who was staring at them with a flabbergasted look on her face, spear in hand, covered in fish-man blood and guts.
“Nicely done, dog-man. Now, get out of the water already! Both of you. My magic is too low to sing again until I let it regenerate,” said the siren.
She didn't have to say that twice, and the two bewildered adventurers climbed upon the boat. This particular boat was propelled by some sort of enchantment, which was a lot better than moving along with a single oar. And she had a light attached to it, which was also a magical item that must have cost her quite a great deal. “I suppose you're wondering who I am? Or maybe what I am, right?” said the siren after she clearly grew tired of the kobold staring at her with slack joy, and the muck fairy sitting on the boat with her arms crossed, looking annoyed.
“It would seem that your fairy friend has been struck by the typical jealousy that fills practically all females who find themselves in the company of a siren. It's not her fault.”
“Thank you so very much,” said Faye with sarcasm.
“And believe I will put my clothes back on for your benefit, my furry friend,” she said to Kek. “It seems even your species is unable to control themselves.” She took a robe from a chest and dressed herself with it.
Kek was more disappointed than he'd been in his entire life, even though he'd been a slave for his entire life. There was a powerful kind of magic in that womanly body that was almost terrifying. Once it was covered up, though, he was again able to think clearly. “What are you?” he asked without meaning any offense.
“It’s already been said more than once,” said the woman. “But I suppose your mind was occupied with carnal thoughts.” She grinned. “I am a siren. More specifically, I am a siren and a treasure hunter.”
“Well, a siren who wants riches. That's so unusual.” Faye was being overly sarcastic. “Your kind is usually out helping people and doing good, not at all leading men to their deaths so they can steal their treasures.”
The woman was silent for a long time. Eventually, she said, “Yes, you are right. That is what my species is typically known for. And I do utilize my power to get treasure, as many of the places I find the best things are quite dangerous. As long as there is water, or I am faced with aquatic creatures, my siren song has never let me down and never will.”
“Why did you save us?” asked Faye in a way that made her seem almost angry that the siren had dared to save their lives. It was so strange to see the muck fairy speaking cruelly and showing contempt.
“Why don't you like sirens?” Kek was trying not to be defensive of the beautiful woman, but it was difficult. He felt such a strong urge to protect and own her.
“They are monsters!” Faye put her hands on her hips and tilted them slightly to the side. It was clear she wanted to yell at Kek. More so, she wanted to yell at the siren. “Why would you help anyone at all?”
“My name isn't she, by the way, fairy. My name is Selena, and you can use it if you must talk about me like I’m not here. And what might your names be?”
“Kek. And this is Faye,” said the kobold.
“What the hell is your problem, Kek?” reprimanded the fairy. She made a scoffing sound and threw her hands in the air, before sitting back down in the boat with her arms crossed, not making eye contact with either of the other two.
“She's right to be upset,” said Selena sadly. “Most of my sisters, in fact I would wager that possibly all of my sisters, are horrible monsters who
use their power to do evil. I have personally wrecked many a ship just for the pleasure of seeing the men drown. But now I must tell you that I only do good. I use the treasures to help those in need, and I keep only enough for myself to fund my further philanthropy.”
“Oh, a siren who's a philanthropist. Now I really have seen everything,” Faye said without turning around.
Ignoring the vicious remark, Selena continued to tell Kek, “Like I was saying, I donate most of the things I find to the sick and poor throughout these nearby lands. I hope to tip the scales so that I have done more good than evil. My reasons are my own, and I don't go sharing them with strangers. I only tell you this much at all because I don't think you're going to let me help you if you think I am an evil monster.”
“But you saved our lives…” Kek was still quite slack-jawed.
“You are a very cute, furry little man,” said the siren salaciously, edging over toward him and moving her divine hips with such precision that it made Kek’s loins twitch and burn. He had never found the human female form very attractive, which was natural for a kobold—and this siren had basically human form—but he was thinking of countless things he would love to do to her and have her do to him, and none of them involved clothing.
“You shouldn't patronize a hero by calling him cute!” shouted Faye. When she was angry like that, it only made her seem more adorable.
Selena came up dangerously close to Kek, flooding his olfactory glands with her natural scent. It was the most heavenly fragrance in the world. She whispered loud enough so the fairy would also hear her. “Perhaps your friend is just jealous, hmm?” and smiled wickedly at him as she moved back to where she'd been standing beside the chest. “No matter what you think my intentions are,” Selena continued, “I do intend to help you if you will let me. You must've come down here for good reason, right?”
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