Dragon Sorcerer 2- Interlude 12- In the Open (Patreon)

So this interlude ended up going long... like as long as 3 chapters. But, I wrote it all in 3 hours this morning, because it was just flowing.

I'm not going to split it, because I don't want back to back interludes and I very much want all these parts to come at this point in the book.

I hope you enjoy it- as it moves some things forward and opens up other things.


Interlude 12- In the Open

Cami could feel Nico’s excitement through their bond. In order for it to be this obvious, he must have gotten something which really excited him. She chuckled, probably just a bag of gold. Having grown up on a ranch without much in the way of money, she knew it was important, but Nico’s interest bordered on an obsession. It was one of many things she didn’t understand about Nico.

Understanding wasn’t necessary, though. She cared about him. She’d determined not to let it go the wrong way. He simply didn’t see her like that. Maybe Modessa had been right and it just couldn’t be. Speaking of Modessa, she had been very talkative initially after the meeting.

Cami wasn’t surprised by that. What Nico had done wasn’t very nice. Cami had been secretly hoping that Modessa and Galbrecht would get together. There was a romantic within Cami, and she wore her heart upon her sleeve, as did many girls her age. She fantasized about what love was like. She knew the reality of what it was to love as a child and a sibling, but romantic love was just an idea to her now.

Not that she minded Modessa’s silence. She simply followed her mentor. She had her own things to ponder. During the meeting, there had been a moment when she found herself standing up. Her hands had transformed, and she had felt such hostility. It was all she could do not to attack. Nothing else in the world seemed to make any sense.

Cami tried to break down those feelings. It wasn’t something she thought she was capable of. As she thought about it more, she realized it had struck her a few other times. Back in the alley when they were attacked by those thugs, she had not hesitated to attack and even ripping a man’s throat open hadn’t bothered her. It almost made her sick to her stomach now at how easy it had been for her then.

Then once again, when the colossal squid had attacked their ship, she had felt the desire to leap into the fray. Fighting wasn’t exactly something she was afraid of. She knew it was going to play a part in her life, and killing monsters meant saving the lives of innocents. It just wasn’t something she looked forward to.

Certainly, she didn’t relish it the way that Nico did. Sometimes, she could feel his urges. Often times, he would rather have transformed and bit the head off of one of various professors and other humans he interacted with . It was a bit comical to feel his emotions in that way.

Now though, she realized just how powerfully, his emotions and tendencies were affecting her. This was after only a couple of months. What would it be like after a couple years or a couple of decades? Would she cease to be herself? Would; she ceases to be a normal human? These thoughts were swirling around in her head and then she had another question pop up.

Was she affecting Nico like this? Did he have to suppress impulses that he got from her? He did seem to be getting along with the adventurers better, even if he was still being snarky with them. Hmm…

That thought was pushed out of her head when she realized where she’d been led to. “Modessa, is this what I think it is?”

The rogue shook her head as though shaking away bad thoughts. “What… oh yeah, this is the exotic stable. They wanted me to introduce you to Matilda, but I thought since your bears are here that you might like to see them, too.”

Up to this point, Cami had only seen the cubs a couple times since she arrived at the university, and each time it was because Modessa brought the cubs to her. They were quite popular with the girls in her dorm. Apparently, beast tamer was a rare class, but a popular one. That was easy for her to understand. Who didn’t like cute animals?

Of course, in this case, the cubs were growing rapidly and were fairly close to full grown bears now. Cami wanted to make sure that they started getting more outside time. “Will we be able to bring them with us when we go hunting monsters?”

Modessa squinted. “That sounds like a lot of work.”

“Please.”

“Really… I guess I should have expected this. I did promise to treat you like a little sister and you’ve got the annoying pleading thing down pat. Fine; I’ll make it happen. I’ll just have to get some appropriate collars for them since you don’t have a beast tamer class.”

Cami jumped up and down and clapped. “Thank you, thank you. I don’t care what Nico says, you’re the best mentor.”

The last statement wiped the smile off of Modessa’s face. “Well, I’m gonna go let you play with your bears for a bit. I need to do something quickly. Just don’t leave the stable and don’t go upstairs without me. I need to take care of something first.”

Cami nodded along, already excited for seeing the bear. Modessa quickly got her past the guard and gave them instructions that Cami could come here anytime she wanted to visit the bears.

“She’ll need to go to the administration office and get a magical mark, which will open the door for her. But we’ll try to help her out until she gets that done.”

Modessa nodded but didn’t reply, and then left Cami as she went in. Cami noticed that her mentor seemed distracted but her excitement about seeing Rollie and Patch was too great for her to worry about it for long.

Once inside the stable, she saw the various other creatures which were contained. Many of them seemed very fascinating, but she’d been cautioned against trying to feed any of them. Many were quite fierce and only responsive to their tamers. The guards had also reiterated the command that she was not allowed to go up the stairs at all.

Cami followed the directions to the portion of stable where Rollie and Patch were housed. When she got there, they were both just lying around. Her heart sank. Had she done wrong? Captivity didn’t seem to suit them. But then the cubs noticed her, and both stood up, stretching before moving to the gate which kept them contained.

It had been more than a week since she’d seen them and they had already grown more. Calling them cubs now almost seemed wrong. They probably still had more growing to do, but they were both nearly full-grown Kodiak bears. They licked her hand through the gate, and she quickly went to open it. She figured she could at least join the bears in their cell, even though she wanted nothing more than to let them go outside and work off some of their energy.

Cami stepped into the spacious enclosure, feeling the rough straw beneath her feet. The bears lumbered toward her, their thick fur brushing against her skin as they greeted her with gentle nuzzles. She giggled, the sheer size of the bears both intimidating and awe-inspiring, but she felt no fear. The bond she shared with Rollie and Patch had only grown stronger since their rescue.

"Hey, you two," she said softly, stroking their massive heads. "I've missed you so much. I'm sorry I haven't been able to visit you. I've been really busy."

Rollie and Patch looked at her with their deep brown eyes, as if to say they understood. Cami took a deep breath, inhaling the earthy scent of the bears mixed with the faint smell of hay and the animals in the other enclosures. She could hear the distant chattering of some of the other creatures, but her focus was solely on the two bears before her.

"Let's play, you two. I know you must be bored in here," she suggested, spotting a large ball in the corner of the enclosure. She rolled it toward the bears, who instantly perked up.

Patch batted at the ball first, sending it rolling back towards Cami with surprising force. She caught it and tossed it back, laughing as the two bears clumsily chased after it. The sound of their heavy paws thudding against the ground resonated through the stable, and their playful growls and huffs filled the air.

Cami felt a warmth in her chest as she watched the bears play. She loved the way their muscles rippled beneath their thick fur, and the way their powerful bodies moved with such grace despite their size. She felt a connection to them that seemed to have something to do with her bond with Nico. It wasn’t that she could sense their emotions or read their minds. She certainly couldn’t speak to them telepathically, but the connection was undeniable. The cubs seemed far smarter than just bears, not that she had any experience with other bears.

"Rollie, you're getting so big," she said, scratching the bear behind his ears. He tilted his head, clearly enjoying the attention. "And Patch, look at those claws! You're both going to be so strong."

The bears seemed to respond to her words, puffing out their chests and strutting around the enclosure with pride. Cami laughed, clapping her hands.

"Alright, let's see who's the fastest," she challenged. She opened the gate and  pointed to the far end of the enclosure. "Race you there!"

With a burst of energy, Cami took off running, the two bears bounding after her. Their powerful strides kept up with her. She realized that but for the stats she gained from Nico, they would have been faster than she was, but as it was, she was far stronger than she had any right to be.

When she arrived at the finish line, she fell to the ground, laughing and rolling around. Rollie and Patch nudged her affectionately, their breaths heavy and hot on her skin. Their noses tickled her, and their rough tongues made her laugh. Her Tough Hide perk made it so their tongues might as well have been the softest silk.

"You win, you win!" she conceded, leaning against the cool stone wall of the enclosure to catch her breath. The bears seemed pleased with themselves, their furry chests heaving as they, too, caught their breath.

Cami gazed into the bears' eyes, and for a moment, she thought she could see their souls. There was an undeniable intelligence and depth of emotion in those eyes, a connection that transcended the boundaries of species.

"I promise," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion, "I'll find a way to make things better for you. You don't belong in a stable.”

Cami meant every word, even if she wasn’t sure how she was going to make it happen. For now, she was just content to lie there cuddling with the overgrown cubs.

_____________________________

Modessa sighed as she watched Cami walk into the stable. She wished she could be so carefree. Her like has always had complications, but since Cami and obviously, Nico came into it, things had gotten far more complicated. Thinking about the dragon made her want to strangle Nico.

How could he have said what he said right in front of all the others? No, she shook her head. She knew how he could. If she was honest with herself, she realized she deserved it and more. She hadn’t treated Nico fairly, seeing in him a threat. Well, again, being fair, he was a threat. He was powerful and didn’t think or act in expected ways at all.

Modessa really hoped that Serius and the emperor knew what they were doing. Serius was one of the smartest men she knew, but everyone could make mistakes. Only time would tell. For now, she realized she’d probably be dodging pranks and petty attempts at revenge from Nico.

If that was all she had to worry about from him though, that would be a good thing. She was confident that she could take him in his human form, but as a dragon, she didn’t really like her odds. She sighed. She was thinking about Nico to stall a minute more.

Galbrecht was great at many things, but tailing was not one of them. She’d noticed him following them as soon as they left Lisella’s building. A faint hope flickered in her heart, but knowing her dear Brechie, she doubted he was here to give her good news.

How was she supposed to say to the man who saved her when she was just a girl of eight that she’d loved him her entire life? Sure, there had been a few flings, but those were just ways to try to take her mind off of him. She’d never really had feelings for any man other than her.

She could just picture how it would play out in her mind. He was going to tell her that he was too old for her. She scoffed. He was only forty-eight, but sometimes he acted like he already had one foot in the grave. Or he’d insist she only had feelings for him because of how he had saved her from the wild mage as a child. Heck, he might even insist that it would be bad for the team if they became romantically entangled.

But then Modessa realized that she didn’t care. She was going to speak her mind. If he rejected her, then he did. Dang. She shook her head again. It had taken that freaking dragon to get her to this point.

She looked around and saw him waiting near a tree a few hundred feet away. No other buildings were built too close to the exotic stable. It would do to have dragons land on the wrong building and crush it, after all. Now all that separated them was a grassy field and twenty-two years of her crushing on him.

She cursed at herself, “Woman up, Modessa. He’s just a man. He still puts his armor on one leg at a time.” She pinched her arm, took a deep breath and then made a beeline for Galbrecht.

As Modessa approached Galbrecht, she could see the worry lines etched into his face, his silver-flecked hair catching the sunlight as it gently swayed in the breeze just like the long grass which brushed against her legs. He stood tall and broad-shouldered, clad in his gleaming armor that bore the symbol of Miseria. His deep blue eyes, usually so full of confidence and purpose, now seemed clouded with uncertainty.

"Brechie, did you get lost?" she called out, her voice wavering slightly. She bit her tongue. Why did she always have to go to humor when she was uncomfortable? She could face down a raging baloth but had no courage at all when it came to this man.

He looked up at her, his eyes searching her face for any sign of what she was thinking. Modessa could feel her heart pounding in her chest, the weight of the words she needed to say pressing down on her.

"Modessa, we need to talk," Galbrecht said, his deep voice filled with concern. "There's something that's been on my mind for a while now. I’ve been fighting guilt over it and pretending like it didn’t exist, but Nico’s words sorta pulled the curtain back. We need to talk about this, whatever this is between us.”

Modessa's heart raced, her palms sweating as she clenched her fists. She had dreamed of this moment for so long, but now that it was here, she found herself struggling to find the courage to say what she needed to say. She took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the freshly cut grass beneath her feet and the faint odor of dragon musk that still lingered in the air from the stables.

"I know, Galbrecht," she replied, her voice barely more than a whisper. "I've been wanting to talk to you about this for a long time, too. I just didn't know how to say it."

Galbrecht's expression softened, and he reached out to gently take her hand in his. His touch was warm and reassuring, and Modessa felt a wave of emotion wash over her. She looked up into his eyes, and for a moment, she thought she could see a hint of the love she felt for him reflected back at her.

"Modessa," Galbrecht began, his voice filled with emotion, "I've watched you grow from a frightened child into a strong, capable woman. You're an incredible adventurer and a vital member of our team. And over the years, I've come to care for you deeply."

Modessa's heart swelled with hope as she listened to his words, but she could still sense the hesitation in his voice. She knew he was holding something back, and she feared it was the same doubts and worries that had plagued her for so long.

"But, Galbrecht," she interjected, her voice trembling with emotion, "that's not all, is it? I can see it in your eyes. There's something more. Please, just tell me."

Galbrecht hesitated, his grip on her hand tightening. He took a deep breath, his chest heaving beneath the weight of his armor, before finally speaking. "Modessa, I'm afraid that if I let you love me, then I’d be taking advantage of you. How would you ever know if your feelings for me were real and not just induced by what happened when you were a child? I was there. I saw all that emotion. You’d just experienced something so horrific that no child, no person, should ever have to undergo it. Then I appear. The goddess heals you through me and you were snatched from the jaws of death. I must seem like a new lease on life for you, but I worry that your feelings for me are born out of gratitude and not true love."

Modessa could feel the tears prickling at the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She had come too far to back down now, and she knew she needed to be honest with Galbrecht and with herself. She felt a type of anger rise up in her. How dare he question her devotion? How dare he try to tell her what she was feeling?

She bit her tongue as she wrestled to gain control of herself. Snapping at him wouldn’t get her anywhere. She needed to attack this like she would any monster. She’d look for the weak spot and then strike.

"Galbrecht, I can't deny that I'm grateful to you for saving me," she said, her voice firm with conviction. "But my feelings for you go far beyond that. I've loved you for as long as I can remember, and it has nothing to do with you saving me. It's because of the man you are – honorable, compassionate, and devoted to your duty.” Then she winked at him, “Not to mention, hot.”

He started to speak, but she cut him off. “Basically, I've never met anyone like you, and I can't imagine my life without you in it. My class, my missions call for me to do things sometimes that I’m not necessarily proud of, but they’re always done for the greater good. You thought, you’re always pure. You always do what’s right, even when it’s hard to do. You give me hope for a better world. You give me hope that I can be better.”

Galbrecht stared at her, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Modessa," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion, "I've never allowed myself to believe that you could truly love me. I've been so focused on my duty and my responsibility to Miseria that I've ignored my own heart. You know the old saying, ‘duty is as heavy as a mountain…”

Modessa cut him off again. “No, don’t go there. Life can’t be all duty. As the words left her mouth, Modessa could feel the dam holding back her tears finally break. These were tears which she hadn’t cried since that fateful day in her village. She’d walled up her heart and not let herself feel that bad. In some ways, she and Galbrecht were so much alike. She could see that now. They were both living life, going through the motions of duty.

Now those tears streamed down her cheeks, hot and cathartic. Galbrecht reached up to gently wipe them away with his thumb, his touch tender and loving. He had such power, but feeling his touch now she knew there was more to him than the shield and armor.

"I love you, Modessa," he said, his voice barely audible over the sound of her own sobs. “ I suppose that I’ve always loved you in a way. At first it was as that brave little girl who tried to save her little sister from a baby. I knew even then that you were destined for greatness. But I need to know that you're sure about this, that it's not just a fleeting emotion or something you'll come to regret."

Modessa took a shuddering breath, her heart aching with love for the man standing before her. "Galbrecht," she choked out, "I've never been more certain about anything in my life. I love you, and I want to be with you. I know it won’t be easy. I’ve dreamed about this long enough to know there will be obstacles to our relationships. Our various duties, our teammates, even our different ways of looking at the world may all cause issues. But don’t you dare try to tell me what I’m feeling isn’t real. This is the truest thing in my life. You are my rock.”

For a moment, they stood there, their eyes locked together, as if searching each other's souls for any hint of doubt or uncertainty. And then, as if drawn together by a force stronger than either of them could resist, they moved towards each other, their lips meeting in a kiss that was at once tender and fierce, filled with the pent-up longing of two decades.

As they broke apart, Modessa could see the love shining in Galbrecht's eyes, and she knew that they were finally ready to face whatever the future held together. "We'll take this one step at a time," she said softly, her heart swelling with hope and happiness. "We can go slow."

Galbrecht nodded, his face filled with determination and love. "Together, I like the sound of that." he agreed, his voice firm and unwavering. "You know me Dessa…”

She cut him off then. “Dessa? You have a pet name for me?”

He shrugged. “What you call me Brechie, why can’t I call you Dessa?”

“No, I like it.”

He sighed with the weight of words he needed to get out. “Dessa, you know me. I don’t do things halfway. I still want you to think about it for a while and I appreciate that you’re willing to take this slow. I could fall too hard. Once I take this first step though, know that I’m committed to finding a happily ever after for you."

“And for you,” she whispered as they both slid to the ground, sitting. His back was braced up against the tree and her head rested against his armored chest. Hope filled her heart, but one stray thought crossed her mind and threatened to taint it. Dang, she owed that stupid dragon once again.

_____________________________

Lisella closed the door behind Nico and walked back out to where Serius was waiting. “I don’t like any of this. I don’t like you keeping secrets from me.”

“We all serve at the pleasure of the emperor. I don’t have to like it to obey orders,” Serius replied.

“You may serve at the pleasure of a man, but I serve a goddess. Don’t forget I am a grand priestess in the church of Miseria.”

“How could I ever forget? You, lord that over us in a hundred little ways, princess. Oh yeah, and you never let us forget that you’re a princess of Forlay either, do you?”

The two stared at each other. Lisella refused to blush or give Serius anything. They got along very well, but you couldn’t work closely with other people with strong personalities and not butt heads from time to time.

“Fine, I concede that my goddess has asked that Galbrecht and I help whatever plan this is, but I still don’t have to like it. What aren’t you telling us, Serius?”

“Nothing that I’m allowed to tell you. What we should be discussing though is where you’re at with Nico’s training. I see that you’ve given up on the attempts to bed him. Or was that always just a ploy for your uncle?”

She gave him a wry grin. “You know how politics can be.”

He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “All too well, sadly. But let’s not make this political between us. Do you have any intentions towards the boy, and yes, he may be older than you, but emotionally, he is little more than a child?”

“You don’t think I’ve realized that. He helped me more than he may understand, but I won’t forget it. Don’t worry, I won’t make him do anything he doesn’t want to do.”

Serius closed one eye as he squinted at her.

Lisella threw her head back and laughed. “Fine, I most likely will never lay a hand on him like that. I admit I was rather freaked out and intimidated when I found out he was a dragon, but I can also admit there’s a portion of me that wonders if that human form of his is fully functional. It’s pretty easy on the eyes, and I’m not the only one to notice. Would you rather that he was broken in by someone with an experienced hand who can guide whatever instincts he may have or by innocent little Cami?”

“Neither.” Serius frowned. “Can we just move on? I need you to see if he can learn a spell from spell scrolls. The initial reports are that he is clueless when it comes to magical theory, yet he can see magic in the air as it’s cast and even on enchanted items, apparently. That isn’t even to mention the ridiculous way in which he can see a spell one time and then cast it.”

“Fine, he probably needs to add a few more spells to his repertoire before we go hunting monsters. Do you have anything specific in mind?”

Serius reached back into that same spatial pouch and pulled out three spells. “Try these.”

“I should have known you’d have something planned.”

“Let’s just hope that we can keep this ship on course.”

_____________________________

Liam was conflicted as he left Lisella’s apartment. He truly liked his companions. Even Modessa, as petulant as she could be and Galbrecht as much as he had blinders on, were great companions. No, it wasn’t that. He also found himself liking Nico. Yet duty was not the sole province of paladins.

He made his way to the gates of the university and then kept going. He moved as quickly as adventurers were allowed to run through the streets. When he reached the city wall, he flashed his token and was quickly allowed through. Then he kept going. Once he was a mile from town, he let out a long, high-pitched whistle. Within the whistle was a magic which bound him to his beast companion. He wasn’t a true beast tamer, but he did have his one companion.

Urek and he had been through many things together of the past three decades. The sage stag would only live another couple of decades, but Liam didn’t want to think about his passing. It was always hard.

Liam stood at the edge of the ancient forest, his keen eyes scanning the shadows beneath the towering trees. The air was cool and damp, the scent of rich earth and decaying leaves filling his nostrils. He listened to the distant rustling of leaves and the soft whispers of the wind as it danced through the branches above. The quiet murmur of a nearby stream added to the symphony of nature that surrounded him.

As he waited, Liam could feel the anticipation building within him, his heart pounding in his chest as the bond between him and his magical companion pulled them ever closer. And then, without warning, Urek burst from the cover of the trees, a vision of strength and grace that took Liam's breath away.

Urek, the sage stag, was a magnificent creature, his massive body covered in a luxurious pelt of silver fur that shimmered like moonlight against the dark backdrop of the forest. His powerful legs propelled him forward with an easy grace, his hooves barely touching the ground as he bounded towards Liam.

But it was the stag's impressive rack of golden horns that truly set him apart from any other beast Liam had ever encountered. They rose like a crown from his noble head, each intricately curved tine glinting in the sunlight as they seemed to stretch towards the heavens themselves. Each was sharply tipped and Liam had seen more than one predator die upon those same horns.

As Urek approached, Liam could feel the magic that radiated from the beast, a tangible force that filled the air with a sense of awe and wonder. There was an intelligence in the stag's eyes that surpassed even the most cunning of creatures, and Liam knew that Urek was a being of power and wisdom who he was proud to have at his side.

As the sage stag came to a halt before him, Liam reached out to touch the silken fur on Urek's broad neck, the bond between them resonating like the thrum of a well-strung bow. Words weren’t needed between them. Urek knew his master’s needs. He waited patiently as Liam hopped onto his back.

Then they made a beeline, taking the fastest path toward the coast. It was quite a distance, but Urek’s pace at the miles up and spit them back out. When they reached the shore, Liam could hear the sound of surface beating against the rock at the bottom of the cliff. He looked out over the sea with a wistful expression.

Liam whistled again, but this one had a different note. One of the sea birds broke off from its flock. Its white feathers glistened in the sun and its powerful wings carried it straight to Liam. The bird landed before the ranger who had dismounted from Urek.

Then Liam knelt down next to the bird. He pulled up a spell and mumbled the words of it as he willed the magic to take hold on the bird. The bird's eyes glossed over as the message was imprinted into its mind. “Go, carry your message. You know your destination.”

The bird didn’t make a sound but instead leapt up into the air. Its wings carried it not back to its flock as they circle around riding on the thermals. Instead, it headed for open ocean and a long journey.

Liam sighed. He only hoped he was doing the right thing. The world mattered, after all.

_____________________________

Deep within the cold darkness of an underground cavern, a monstrous form began to stir. The baloth, a fearsome creature bred for war and destruction, twitched as it slowly awakened from its magically enforced hibernation. Its senses, dulled by the long slumber, began to sharpen as it became aware of the earth that encased its massive body. The darkness was absolute, but the creature's deep-set red eyes, accustomed to the gloom, flickered with malevolence as it prepared to claw its way to the surface.

The baloth's body trembled, the earth around it shuddering as it started to rouse. Its massive muscles strained beneath the thick, armored hide that protected it from harm. Coarse, brittle fur akin to porcupine quills sprouted in patches across its monstrous frame, adding another layer of deadly armor to its already formidable bulk. The earth pressed in on all sides, cold and unyielding, but the baloth's immense strength allowed it to begin pushing its way upward, each movement shaking loose clumps of soil and rock.

As it inched closer to the surface, the beast's nostrils flared, inhaling the stale, damp air of the underground chamber. It could taste the lingering scent of decay and the remnants of ancient battles long past. It was a familiar scent, one that spoke to the very core of the baloth's being, reminding it of the purpose for which it had been created.

The creature's head was a horrifying fusion of rhino, bear, and lizard, with sharp teeth that could easily tear through flesh and bone. Its powerful horn, a lethal weapon in its own right, gouged through the earth as the baloth continued its ascent. The soil that clung to its horn crumbled away, revealing a gleaming, deadly point.

With each movement, the baloth could feel the weight of the earth above it lessening. Its powerful legs, ending in wicked claws that easily tore through the rocky soil, propelled the beast upward with increasing speed. The earth groaned and shuddered around it, unable to contain the monstrous force that was now fully awake and hungry for destruction.

Finally, the baloth breached the surface, the ground trembling beneath its colossal bulk. It stood ten feet high at the shoulder and stretched twenty-five feet long, its body a testament to the cruelty and malice of its creators. As it emerged from the depths, it shook the dirt and debris from its hide, the brittle fur quills rattling with a sinister, metallic sound.

Disoriented, the baloth took a moment to acclimate itself to the new world it now found itself in. The sun had long since set, but the creature's red eyes pierced the darkness, taking in the unfamiliar landscape. The scent of the earth, fresh and damp after a recent rain, filled its nostrils, mingling with the cool night air. It could hear the rustling of leaves in the trees and the distant murmur of a river, but these sounds were foreign and held no meaning for the creature. Its purpose was destruction, and it had no interest in the beauty or serenity of the world above.

The baloth's senses, now fully attuned to its surroundings, began to search for the scent of humans. The beast's creators, the dark ones who had lost the war and seeded the baloth and others like it into the ground, had programmed it to seek out and wreak havoc upon the world of humans. It was a living weapon, designed to spread chaos and suffering wherever it went.

It was not long before the baloth caught the scent it sought. The faint, tantalizing aroma of human habitation wafted through the air, carried on the gentle breeze. The creature inhaled deeply, its massive chest expanding as it savored the scent that promised destruction and carnage. The baloth's wicked claws dug into the soft earth, eager to begin its mission.

As it lumbered forward, the creature's senses continued to gather information about its environment. The ground beneath its feet was uneven and covered in grass, which whispered and bent under the baloth's considerable weight. The air was cooler outside the underground cavern, and the baloth could feel it swirling around its hide, rustling through its fur quills and causing them to emit a soft, unsettling sound.

The baloth's hearing, though not as sharp as its sense of smell, picked up on the distant sounds of the human village. It could hear the murmur of voices, the low rumble of laughter, and the faint crackle of a fire. These sounds only served to fuel the creature's hunger for destruction and pain.

As it drew closer to the village, the baloth became aware of another sound, one that caused a primal rage to well up within its monstrous form. The high-pitched laughter of human young, their voices filled with innocence and joy, reached the creature's ears. The baloth, a being of pure malice and darkness, could not abide such a sound. It was a stark reminder of the life and love that it could never know, a life that had been stolen from it the moment it had been created. A universal truth exists in that it is easy to hate that which others have, but we can never know.

As the baloth closed in on the village, its powerful body tensed, its muscles coiling like steel springs as it prepared to unleash its fury upon the unsuspecting humans. The scent of their fear and the sound of their screams would soon fill the air, a testament to the devastation the creature had been bred to wreak upon the world.

The baloth's mind, though not capable of human-level intelligence, was filled with a single-minded purpose: to destroy, to bring suffering, and to spread chaos in the name of its dark creators. And as it heard the laughter of the human young, it knew that its mission had truly begun.