Five days had passed. Hoped the Adapts hadn't moved to the summer city yet.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzSoIG3O2v
She started to scratch her back and stopped; the healing scab stung.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqheNMKy7P
Was it morning or evening? She took out a sun shard from her pouch, holding it in her palm. The shard turned an orange yellow. Morning. So many leagues left to travel. Why couldn't they have let her use a portal? She didn't care about authenticity, meh.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0O9AMgXT4H
She stretched and stood, a glint behind a bush and the shaking of the leaves. Bushes don't glint. It moved again. She pushed down a shout.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRMqZKfutT
Daggers in hand, she padded toward it. It's over there in the thorn bush.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPIdXhYssc
The something was tangled in the bush and thrashed about. With smooth red fur or skin? There was no head to be seen.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndtX8Cj9Lt
She went over and poked it with a jiggling dagger handle.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydSl5cZRH1
The creature straightened and became taller. An appendage ripped free of the bush. A hand. Huh?
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmvxCQKNsp
She leaned in closer, just a silly human with a cape pulled over his face.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAALiPxhgMv
Even more the fool was she, not him. Being scared of such a thing, shameful.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8x3MD5vrNc
Her shoulders slumped. "Don't move."
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfmj4DzUs8
Leaning over, she worked free the cape. It took a while to cut though the bush, and she tossed several sticks behind him.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyAniHlZuQ
"Wandering hero, you don't belong out here; go home." Did this guy listen to anyone?
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡth1HEkZte8
"I didn't mean to follow you."
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTjCwWT8XL
Parcival yanked a jerkin leg still stuck in the bush and toppled backwards on his butt hard. His eyes widened as he cocked his head like a lost puppy. Her long ears twitched. She repressed a smile, while holding out a hand.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyvJdhNeTg
He grasped her hand and stood up, dusting off his jerkin and bottom.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQKj5R9mia
She straightened, while glaring at him.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sa0QFUrDG
"Leave now." Her voice sounded far too cold, even to her. He'd be far safer away from me. Everyone would.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUNkBj2QlN
His face became drawn, and the smile vanished.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0pjXZaz5V
"My most humble of apology's."
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNxqWvBXRx
Formality or sarcasm? "Well?" Was the man daft?
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9FzPmJzLe
Her stomach gurgled. Ticking her off when she was hungry and annoyed just ... pehh.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qCvdOKSz5
He held out his hands out and moved them as he talked.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08sbTH0e7L
"This is the fastest way back home for me. I can't allow any women, even one, as..."
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsutgfh4aT
Parcival paused.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6OWZXbgZu
"Dangerous as you are, traveling on your own with The Corpus Outlaws reported in the area, isn't wise."
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43jG9VwMTB
She grinned when he referred to her as dangerous.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5WgpK8qRO
"I've no trouble with bandits, but plenty with would be heroes. "I can take care of my self." Most of the time. It's just the blackest luck that the few males left are all children; so few had the powers.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GDPJS9uTB
She spun and went towards the clearing; she had spotted before resting. He walked along beside her. She speed up as did he.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODLEaaEtFQ
"I've about had it."
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtN5nSOlFWC
She put her hands near her hips and put on a serious face.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWpegw0C85
He turned, and with slow, exaggerated moments reached out and held her shoulders.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzK2eTPfBqG
"Stop. My oath of truth can't be broken. Olenus punishments are swift. Have pity on me. If you wish it, I'll leave when we reach a town, but not before."
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD465KBFKS7
What was he trying to pull? She tugged on a ear-lobe. Still, the rumors of Paladins were generally good. She arched an eyebrow and gave her best steely glare.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPX0KgkjeCW
"I warn you; one betrayal and I will kill you." Have to let him come with; it wasn't smart to risk Olenus fury. For now, once back in a town, however ...
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBI8PdrmEj
"Not everyone is out to get you."
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7x6CbPI6Th
Parcival stretched an arm towards the pathway.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupicznnT8j
"Let's go." His features were smooth, and his eyes held no darkness.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuifGG42Ub
He walked up beside her again. After a while, she stopped peeking at him and relaxed a fraction. The forest floor and the trees slowly changed to dry dead grasses and leaves; they crumbled under foot.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeHUEKyr1G
The shadows and light cleared away to an open area littered with stumps. Off to the right, a large crumbling building, all but an arch doorway of stones left. Steam rose from inside the stone encircled ruins. Of what once was a carving of a great fish, all that was left was the tail fins.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtXywVUMcY
Past that, where the head should have been, a jagged stump. It must have broken off and crumbled to dust long ago. An ancient spring bubbled. She went closer and bent down. One unbroken bench at the bottom; a carved metal rune sat caked with rust.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrliuABKMG
"Odd."
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mQ8HjwVxb
She jumped a little as he was close beside her.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcQuAPeMn0
She straightened up and rubbed her neck. The scratch was tender, and her neck and shoulders were stabbed with a hot needle, then it went away as fast as it came. As that stopped, the vines on the back of her neck thrummed. In a haze, she leaned over it with her fingers dipped in the water.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErO2DzD3Hm
The rune pulsed a purple light. Each pulse was like a shock that traveled up her arms. It didn't hurt, but her hands and feet became numb.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGI9LDaGWdO
"I'm stuck." She managed to muddle out.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZDMubD84A
He came over and pulled on her arm and again. On the third try Parcival planted his feet on the rim of the bath and yanked on her. Pain flared though her arm.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1t4RNTFlr
"You're pulling my shoulder out!"
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNq7JlCXYeS
Sweat trickled down her spine and itched on the edges of the leather.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ322D16MxPs
The rune glowed again. Another shock this time, it hit straight on her chest. Her back arched, and she screamed. It stopped as quickly as it started. She clamped down and bit her tongue; a metallic taste of blood pooled in her mouth. She spat it out. This day sucked. Come on, think.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MbruVmJyA
He came over to her right side and tried to pull her arm out.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSh9ngLtHj
The ground rumbled, a hungry beast intent on swallowing them whole.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pTJL2H5ts
"Get out of here!"
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Pp2x7QyII
The lines of energy thickened and wrapped around her arm, numbing it. Oh, gods. She pitched into the water, grabbing a stone from the bath.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvcN0ImcMa
"Forget I said that."
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyiwEassSi
"I can't leave you to die; quit saying absurd things."
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2t3KggwiRK
He stumbled back as the ground shook again; water splashed out of the bath soaking them both. He sputtered and started kicking the stones.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRTa9rQFcN
The ground split a foot in front of her. The crack zagged and ran into the tree line on the left. Water lapped over the edge of the bath, and the rune fell off the bench, sinking until it hit the bottom.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFU3TsqpDW
"Iyeee! Kind gods, spare your wrath!"
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2bKQiTvpk
He fell backwards as the earth pushed up then slanted.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUg6H9KRMZ2
"Are you bewitched?"
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs30Ii1Nm0j
A yanking of her arm from behind, along with several mild curses.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxN3iewTYc
"My apologies."
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMnv10qxm8
From behind, he wrapped his arms around tugging hard, flattening her chest.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iCw6gzB09
The ground cracked and split again. The arch doorway on the left a few feet away fell apart. This knocked into other parts of the ruins and fell into a gaping sinkhole. Light flashed from the bath. She turned her head and scrunched her eyes.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsElQuSJg8f
A vast black sinkhole with the doorways stones sticking at all angles looked more like that of an almighty maw intent on swallowing her whole. Her heart slammed in her chest to the point that her body shook with it. Grab it, grab, it come on. The stone she reached for crumbled to dust in her hand.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgssZevjie
Another quake reduced the last of the stones to broken fragments. Another tug from him with more force. The strain of it pained her shoulder and side.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVa3UaN2ZJ
"Stop, you'll break it."
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5Wskbzdo7
Parcival worked his way in front of her. His hands on the top of his head, gripping his hair. "What the hell am I to do?"
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8X3fYxizQ
Her stomach flip-flopped, and acid rose into her mouth. She swallowed it back down.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1v0Um6ilhJ
"I don't care what you do, just do something," she yelled.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPnUfErh0B
The rumble of the falling earth increased and blotted out her voice.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOBdStWoTt
Earth crumbled and fell away on all sides. The bath tilted and slid, stopping on a large root that stuck straight out.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9dVIYlnDO
She slipped closer to the edge. "Yaaa!" Clawing at the dirt did little.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8VjqZx391
He leapt over onto the remaining stones, pulled out his sword, his hands wrapped tight around the handle. Jumping into bath, he rammed the sword into the water, piercing the rune. It shot out another bolt that spit and encased both of them. She ground her teeth and clamped her jaw from the fresh spike of pain.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNRqjFSZKc
Parcival strained against it and stabbed at the rune. There was no change. His brow sat deep, and his lips tightened.
Is this a sick joke? Tell me! She screamed this in her head.
I had no cause in this, child. I'm not to blame for every misfortune you go through. I do find this humorous you would let yourself become caught so easily. Unnamed chuckled.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTkY4gppSb
You will not confuse or trick me. You're a monster. I know you did this.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQobjx9MyL
Don't anger me, or this will become so much worse.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EyfkjA3lN
A rolling wave of heat roared up her back and boiled into her arms. Just as it started to intensify, it disappeared.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsi9eqxUJJ
I do you more good than, you know, but continue to anger me ... With that he became quiet.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHPG9MveP7
Thoughts floated up and back down again as did warnings from her mother. There wasn't much time to dwell on this, as the ancient bath dragged her further towards the hole.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QDZU0ax6D
Her hair fell over the sides of her face, and several of her bags unwound and spun into the depths. Laboring now, she fought to grab the edge of the bath with her left hand. Her arm quivered though still locked in place.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduHyRq790B
"We. Are. Going. To. Die! Do something!"
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoqrS23heS
Parcival, with effort, turned his head. "If we make it out of this, you owe me an ale."
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48UOPO3tPO
He leaned back and pulled on his sword. His muscles bulged, and his face turned red. Sweat streamed down the sides of his face and dripped off. He gulped in deep breaths.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXndrPTinK
"Now is not the time for jokes."
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecu7bw57A5
Parcival straightened his shoulders and again fought with the sword.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKw6EOqkjt
"Garwaaahhhh!"
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0N8hXDIvC
Water became like of glass. Fine cracks appeared across the surface and spread. Light streamed from the cracks, blinding. She tilted her head further away on her right side. Squinting now, she wasn't sure what was worse, the light from the pool or from her bag. Wait.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1C5M345K4
She strained and flipped the flap. The pear inside was as bright as the light from the pool. After a while, she managed to pull it out.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PeYc1cPfJ
Come on, stop being stupid. The merchant did say it wasn't for eating. On closer inspection. It had lines that separated the top and bottom half. A device of some kind. It fairly hummed with magics too.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLCdcudRWJ
Really, stop stalling and do it. She hefted it in her palm and tossed it into the pool.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOIxAU07tI
It drifted down in the water. Hope it does something. Exploding, however, wasn't on the scroll today.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ijrPaVW9U
"How is that going to help?"
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyv1KzTW8iw
He leaned back. "Is it supposed to bubble?"
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2g21BPkFMN
"I don't know."
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NY4nMVhee
"How can you not know? What if it explodes?"
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsooMPx5TF
Light streamed out from all sides. The bubbling water swelled and overflowed and steam cooked the back of her neck and ears. Hells dogs, it's hot.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOuUnAXRSW
"Try, again," she said. The words were like an embedded burr and hurt speaking them.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEGfY3E2AI
The bath tilled further.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60woYl2j4d
The pear spun about, and at the same time, split into shards of ice that now floated on the water.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnKl6e5aKn
He repeated the effort from before, this time lifting the weapon past his face. Water frothed about and shot upwards. He pulled back.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5GqjHKXw8
"Now. Do it."
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGnYFmZowF
Her arm was turning red and blistering. The lines of energy worked towards her shoulder and then around her torso, numbing it further. Her arm slackened, and she was pulled towards the water; it went over her wrist.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdUKFzez52
Unable to brace her feet on the root, she dangled from the edge of the bath. Out of the water, one ice shard burst and dragged the water onto it. It turned to steam that froze and arched down to the ground.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3uCk5r2bU
If I get out of this. I'm hunting down that merchant. That lying sack of scorpo-dung!
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXirA3zeqc
He slammed down again.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLC5vBzZQEb
She closed her eyes and whispered a prayer.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGylMhEUKEV
The bath rumbled, and most of the remaining stones fell into the sinkhole. Instead of falling, the stream of water carried her with it.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbXxLNP2sf
Parcival dropped the sword and dived at her. The expression stamped on his face as his mouth pulled back into a soundless yell drowned out by the caustic water.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfJIJfs7bg
"I'm sorry," she mouthed.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52YSGlKeUc
An odd breaking and hissing above, looking down the water frozen and extending into a curve, Parcival dived at her and grabbed her wrist, and they collided onto the ice and were launched over the treetops.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXO1gPPMfV
He landed on the edge of the sinkhole and dug his free hand into its edge. She grabbed the edge with her left, while he pulled them both up. He rolled on his back, gasping.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVrPApkkI2
"See? You need me. Ha. High and mightily Elves." He shook his head.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLbhcC4IMK
"I've had a lovely time. Next time, can we book a getaway that doesn't involve death? He makes a terrible travel companion."
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrV2ELOmTs
He stared at her then started to chuckle.
907Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcgaZCpC1H
She laughed with him until her cheeks hurt. Sometimes, you just have to laugh or go mad.
####
Thank you for reading!
It'll be a while though. Please tap like on the chapters if you enjoyed it. I appreciate both positive comments along with negative; if worded politely.
ns3.15.223.236da2
