The Vengeful Tide-Ch. 24 (Patreon)

Hey everyone,

Sorry this came out so much later than I had planned. However, I had a lot of fun writing this one as it details the price Eric had to pay for his revenge and just deadly Delverhold could still be, especially to those who can't rein in their nerves.

Anyway, with this, I believe that's all of the Roadmap done. It's been a great month of September with all of you, and I hope for so much more! I've already begun chapter 25!

-WttW

Edit: Once again, with the help and editing of Ilfenis, fixed up a few glaring issues with the chapter.

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Despite investigating for a little bit, Ellen and I couldn’t find the source of the noise. When we couldn’t find anything, we decided to get dressed. I stared back at the pond once more before we decided to head back.

As we walked, I updated Ellen on where we stood so far. We climbed over thick branches and traveled through the grassy ground floor. “To be honest, I don’t think we’ll find everything. The circumstances surrounding Delverhold have proven more dangerous than we… I thought. When you have the time, help me take stock of all those who still have spells in their scrolls. While I doubt they’ve used them all up, I’d rather know for myself what we’re working with. Also, when we’ve gotten to the third portal, I want you and mother to take everyone to the fourth island. I’m going to stay here,” I said.

I didn’t have to turn around to know Ellen was looking at me like I was crazy. “You’re staying here? Why?” she asked.

“To get what I am fucking owed!” I answered.

The memories of Boreli’s escape still angered me. I thought of breaking his damned legs. However, that was far too lenient. Even now, his escape made me wonder if I shouldn’t bother rounding up my past crew again. What did it matter? They were all gonna die in the end.

Perhaps because of my mood, Ellen didn’t respond further. We continued our trek through the underground forests, the many illuminating lights providing us with beautiful scenery. If I were a painter, then I’d probably make a fucking fortune selling the shit to some stuffy noble prick.

When we returned, we noticed the members of Raven’s Shadow sat in a circle. “While Daen and I draw its attention, Hannath and Racaell will fire from afar. Truon, find an opening, any that we can use. Once we’ve found one, then Rieth and Gurok will go in for the finishing blow with the essence of fire magic. If it’s not down, then we shall switch to the Second Ilvian Battle Tactic. How does that sound?” Brant asked.

“I wish I had time to craft more fire rounds. If that’s the case, then I’ll have to supplement the rounds with the elemental scrolls given by the captain,” Racaell said.

Hannath grabbed her bow and quiver. “Hmmm, the captain said it was very windy from the troll’s club. I might have to get closer to land a shot. Rieth, can you carve some runes that will help increase the flow of my arrows?”

The Forsaken-Priest nodded. “Indeed, I can. Now can we please hurry? There are too many precious materials here that I’d like to collect instead of talking about strategy!” she replied. They all then took notice of me as Ellen and I entered the field.

“You know, it would help if you joined this meeting as well. This is your supposed fearsome troll after all,” Gurok said with folded arms while I shook my head.

“Trust me, you’ve not seen what you’re about to face. For now, worry not of Yrmindle. He shall come at a later time. Anyway,I need your element scrolls. I’ll be taking stock of all of them,” I said.

“Taking stock? What for?” Truon, the Rogue, asked while the others began handing me the elemental scrolls I’d given them.

I frowned as I stared at the demon still attached to my wrist. Even now, I was aware of Liara’s intentions and emotions. At this moment, she’s inquisitive. The nature of her mana kept changing. Sometimes it was hot, sometimes it was cold. Either way, I felt a boundless pool of it around me, as if I was drowning in it with no hope of swimming to the surface or sinking to the bottom.

It was as I assumed. Liara was partaking of the knowledge sources within Delverhold. She was already a powerful figure in the world of D’orn before now. I wondered just how  frightening she’d become if we left. However, there was still Maeloson. I had not felt any presence of him despite the fact that I saw him and that decrepit old man enter the portal here those days ago.

I thought of making a Xanghul for Maeloson, but we were not the closest individuals. I’d kill whoever this fucker was that took him to know that he could track me as well. Despite her steadfastness, I could see in Aesteal’s eyes that she worries for him greatly. I would not wish to lose him here either.

“Because, truth be told, we ain’t gonna be able to take everything here. This isn’t a place that can be explored in the time that we’ve got. Remember that I desired to go through these islands one at a time from the first to the last. Unfortunately, the circumstances have made us hurry. Naturally, there is still plenty of stuff to be found and collected, but we won’t be collecting everything. Fate gave us quite the middle finger for that one. Naturally, we have to pass by Yrmindle anyway, but for the other creatures some are still powerful in their own right. You’ll still need the scrolls for the fourth and fifth island. I don’t want anyone running out since the materials I’d need to make more are on my ship. Unfortunately, I don’t got an endless supply of the witch’s hair to do that,” I said.

Truon was the last to hand his scroll to Ellen and I. We then spent time together going through the rest of people’s scrolls. Unfortunately, this took more time than I thought. In addition to the scrolls, I had to constantly deal with people bringing me shit to ascertain its potential value. Of course, I understood their excitement. For these men and women who’d hardly opened a book their entire life, I suppose anything on these lands was worth a mountain of gold coins.

With time, Ellen and I finished the stock of the scrolls and the spells. Most of them were still in good condition. I must admit that I thought some fuckers would blow their own damn arms off toying with the stuff I’d given them. I was indeed glad to be proved wrong.

Once Ellen and I were done, she leaned back in the grass. It didn’t take long for her to fall asleep. “Wake me up when something’s trying to kill us,” she mumbled. It was clear to me the many hours of failed magic training and our fuck had left her exhausted.

I draped my coat over her in the form of a blanket and left her alone.

WIth my time freed up, I quickly made my way back to where we came. On the way back, my harvest was bountiful. No longer concerned about the safety of my quartermaster, I collected anything that my eyes were set upon. Silver grass, Dewed Flower Petals, Honeyed Thistles, and Ruby Thorns; all of them and more were collected by me. The excitement within me about what I could do with such items moved like a small child.

That said, I don’t think I was the only one. Now, I might have been overthinking it, but I was sure I felt some inklings of curiosity come from An’raie. For a woman such as her who, while not as powerful as Liara, had deadly alchemist talents of her own, I wondered what could still surprise her. Then again, I suppose for mages and those scholarly types there’s always something to look for.

“You seem interested,” I said as I cut some sharp grass from the ground and placed it in another small jar.

“I am not. Nothing of the Betrayer would spark the edges of my mind. Mine thoughts are not focused upon his endeavors,” she replied while I… stopped to reach for some dragonroot leaves.

“Yuo really fell for the fucker hard, didn’t yuo?” I asked.

Suddenly, my soul was overwhelmed by a large aura of anger and hatred. The trees, grass, and vines around me instantly withered away and died. Even the seal which kept her soul bound to mine nearly broke as I doubled over in pain.

“Dare thee to not speak of matters too large for thine own understanding! I shall not put up with this mockery! I have no need of such worthless attachments!” An’raie screamed at me before the aura stopped and I experienced a feeling of deep sorrow.

The Lonely Wail spoke no more to me and I caught my breath, once again trembling at her might. Indeed, she earned her title of the Witch of Boiling Stone. Not much was capable of living when her full fury was laid out. Then again, I suppose in some regards, I was the same way.

I decided to leave the witch to her own devices while I stepped out of the field of death that surrounded me. I picked luscious fruits from the trees, eating some of them and feeling them strengthen my body, tempering it in ways many would think ridiculous. When I picked up a stone in my hand, I broke it between two of my fingers. When I found a boulder forged from black stone, I punched it and its face cracked.

Clearly, my strength had grown. I’d have to give some of these to the others. I could sell this to many nations and empires. Hell, if Lady Knight proved good on her promise then I wouldn’t mind giving this to her empire. However, I’d have to do this carefully. I still had no idea of my true enemy, the one who caused my death to end the world. Somehow they’d used my crew to strike me down. If I hand these materials to other nations, I could also strengthen my enemy as well. Then there were those other three said to be just like me. If there was one thing I didn’t like, it was prospering my enemies. Perhaps when Ellen awoke, I would need to speak with her about trade and business. There was a reason I left the numbers to her.

Of course, I would try not to push all the work onto Ellen. I would have to learn this stuff for myself.

I stared back at the black stone boulder I’d punched. It was tough, rich, and beautiful. Whether for a weapon or for armor, this could become part of the material in a worthy set. I sealed up the enter black boulder in the scroll I used for myself and continued on my way.

My return back to where Ellen was practicing took longer than I thought, but I blamed my natural curiosity for that one. I think with Liara’s memories melding into mine, I’ve discovered some curious tendencies from her as well.

Anyway, once I entered the area. I noticed the waterfall. The water from above crashed down into the pond below. When I stared at its surface, I saw nothing in particular. Indeed, it was the most beautiful, most pure spring of water I’d ever seen, but I saw no hints of anything living in it.

I placed my hand in the water, its coolness wrapped around me like a wet glove. I thought that if I placed my hand within the pool, something might bump into it. Unfortunately, that also wasn’t the case. There was nothing but cool, mana-restoring water.

I took out my hand, very confused. Curiously, I decided to pull out my waterskin pouch. I dipped it into the water, letting it fill up. If this could restore mana, then it was of great use to me. It would also be of great use to everyone else. I’d bring them here to fill up their own water sources. Of course, if they found other ones then I wouldn’t seek to complain.

Suddenly, I felt something brush against my left knuckle. It was something rough and scaly, almost like the fin of a fish. I almost thought I imagined it. I thought it could have been a wayward stone or a branch, but it didn’t feel like either of those. It just felt like something that could only come from a living creature.

When I looked back at the water, I saw tiny ripples. They were so tiny I almost lost them in the ripples of the water from the waterfall crashing into the pond. I think I saw about two… four… five of them swimming around before the ripples ducked underneath the water.

Then, one of the ripples appeared at the other side of the bank. It swam closer and closer to me before it touched my finger and then swam off.

Another swam up to my right hand and brushed against my index finger before it swam off too. I couldn’t tell if I was being studied or toyed with. I continued to keep my hands where they were, allowing these… ripples to have their fun. While I had absolutely no idea what was happening to me, I think An’raie did. Her spirit was suddenly much calmer, and I think I detected a hint of relief.

When another moved closer to me, I swiftly moved my right hand. I definitely caught a fistful of something. It squirmed in my hand frantically, almost like it was scared. I called it an ‘It’ because I didn’t even know what the fuck I was holding at the moment. Whatever it was, it had a body that kept tickling my fingers as it tried to escape.

Remembering that this was a neutral zone, I desired to bring whatever I had in my hand no harm. So, I slowly took my right hand out of the water. I opened my palm a little, hoping that this… thing took my gesture as a non-aggressive one.

As the water slowly drained out of my right hand. I turned it over and slowly opened it. For a moment, I thought myself insane. There was nothing there, even though I could undoubtedly feel the weight of something living on my palm. I knew because something tiny kept touching the little cracks of my fingers. It was only when all the water was drained that my eyes widened.

In my palm, there laid a very tiny half-woman, half-fish being with beautiful multicolored scales and vibrant, tiny wings that seemed to every color beneath a rainbow. The woman-creature looked at me, her eyes blinking at me. It seemed she was just as confused about me as I was about her. For once, I was at a total fucking loss for words. I’d never seen such a woman before.

Well, actually let me correct that. She was a mermaid, obviously. I’ve definitely seen those as well as sirens. However, I know not mermaids nor sirens that hold tiny wings.

“This is no mere mermaid. This is a fairmaid. They are a creature born from the soul of a mermaid and the orbs chests of fairies. I… had mentioned such an idea to the Betrayer once. I had not thought he’d ever… complete them,” An’raie said, her voice almost like a whisper.

I turned back to the fairmaid. Her tiny hands explored my palm, her confidence growing as I proved to be no threat to her. I suppose to her I was as unusual to her as she was to me. I was probably her first human.

I turned back to the pond and I saw the other four fairmaids remove the cloak of the water from their bodies. They stared at me, almost waiting to see what would happen.

“That crazy bastard actually created a mix of a fairy and a mermaid?” I asked.

What would he do this for?

From what I know of fairies, they usually align themselves to the spirits that best suit their wishes. Just as there are some good fairies, there are also evil fairies. Each of them, and all those in-between, were proficient in magic. However, for what reason would he make them mermaids? That was basically forcing them to have an affinity for water magic.

“What would he make them for?” I asked.

“I am unsure. When I referred the idea to him, he thought it a waste of time. For mine own research, I held thoughts that a fairy’s natural ability to merge with any primary element might be such a characteristic that found itself in another unlikely creature,” An’raie said.

…What?

“Aye. I’ll just pretend I knew what the fuck you just said,” I replied before I looked back at the fairmaid. She was now crawling on my arm, her wet fish tail slapping me sometimes.

The others drew closer to us and the one on my arm made it to my sleeve. She touched the material, holding and pulling it with lots of inquisitiveness. I found it rather funny. I swayed my arm up and down, amusing myself at her alarmed stares. Her head and wet, blue hair swaying back and forth, wondering what was happening to her.

Having had my fun, I set her back down to the water. She looked at the water and then she looked at me. She hopped back into the pond and, before I could pull my hand out, the other four wanted a turn. I wondered if one could be amused and annoyed at the same time. Intrigued by them though I was, I wasn’t some damn ship ride!

They crawled all over me, two were on my arms while another climbed all the way on top of my head. The last rested in one of the pockets on my shirt, her body getting my clothes wet. I felt like a grumpy orphanage fucker taking care of a bunch of little bastards and bitches. The one on my head kept pulling my hair sometimes trying to fucking swim through it like it was water.

“That ain’t water, lass!” I exclaimed while she pulled. Annoyed, I wondered how much they’d sell for, but somehow I didn’t have the fucking heart.

“So this is where you were, Sir.”

A voice came behind me, frightening the fairmaids. I turned my head and noticed Aesteal coming through the trees, amusement on her face at my predicament.

“Not a fucking word, Aesteal,” I said as my Bonded came over to me, staring at the tiny creatures while one of them looked at her.

“I felt so many emotions from your aura that I got worried. I see that you have been invaded by ferocious beasts,” she said, chuckling.

Oh, I’d give her something to fucking chuckle about if she kept it up. I wonder how I went from pirate captain to plaything of female fish fairies.

Aesteal held out her hand and the one on my head touched her palm. It then slid into her hand, its wings flapping every now and then. I noticed the one back in the pond glaring at the others, its tail flapping left and right.

“What’s wrong with you?” I thought to myself before I felt the presence of intense mana behind me. I turned around and noticed Aesteal and the fairmaid staring at each other. Suddenly, the fairmaid’s hair turned from dark blue to silver. Her fish-like ears elongated themselves like Aesteal’s ears. Finally, some kind of green rune lit itself on my elf’s right hand.

The glow didn’t last for too long, but the fairmaid quickly climbed Aesteal’s clothes and settled into the pouch of her shirt. I could only look on in confusion. “What the fuck just happened?” I asked.

“‘Tis simple to explain, Drakclaw. That fairmaid contracted itself with the elf. ‘Tis rather unusual that because of the contract it took on some of her characteristics. There must be something about thy Bonded that appealed to it. However, I am unsure why it would contract itself so readily to someone it just met,” An’reie answered while Aesteal opened her chest pocket. The fairmaid poked its head out for a moment, curiously taking in its surroundings. Its wings flapped happily, changing colors every so often.

The other four just watched curiously while Aesteal stared at me. “What happened?” she asked.

“Apparently, that fairmaid likes you. You got contracted,” I said while one of the three creatures patted my face.

I noticed a strange look in Aesteal’s eyes. Her aura seemed unsettled by the idea that she’d been contracted. I wasn’t sure why. As I’m aware, most warrior elves make contracts with various spirits in their aligned kingdom. For one from Fgg’rial, especially such a powerful one like Aesteal, it should’ve been normal.

“‘Tis not that surprising. For those of her blood, there are only certain types of spirits that would make a contract with her. It seems that fairmaid was one such type,” The Lonely Wail answered.

Those of her blood? I had no idea what that meant exactly. As usual, though I was curious, I decided not to push the issue too much in regards to Aesteal and Maeloson’s circumstances. I figured I would know in my own time. I could tell there were things she didn’t wish to talk about.

Anyway, once I was done having my face experimented on, I grabbed the other three and placed them back in the pond. Unfortunately, the fourth, the one who got on me the first time, took that time to quickly jump out of the water. It grabbed my hand and, in a speed that surprised even me, crawled into one of my pant’s pockets.

Annoyed, I tried to grab it, but it was a slippery fucking thing. It was also feisty as well. To avoid hurting it, I tried to pull its tail, but its tiny fingers clenched the material of my pockets, unwilling to let go.

“Seas-damned piece of shit. I ain’t a walking ship for stowaways!” I exclaimed before I heard Aesteal chuckle.

“It seems you’ve found one that enjoys your crassness, Sir,” she replied.

Fed up with how this all went, I grumbled like the old fuck I knew I was. I released the fairmaid from my grip and I felt her wiggle around before she finally settled. It didn’t take long for the other three to join her in different pockets. I could feel the side of my head pulse as I rubbed my temples.

“And just how the hell am I supposed to take care of water creatures without any containment for water?!” I exclaimed. I would love an answer to this question because clearly these female creatures were used to the peaceful, serene water of this zone. Where we were going, I had no doubts they wouldn’t like it.

However, true to form, Aesteal had an answer. “Well, there is your urn, Sir. We could fill it up with water from the pond and a few vines with sticks of leaves. All it does is gather dust anyway. We could have some of the mages in the group draw a rune barrier around it like the one of the ship. It’s big enough for all of them to swim comfortably,” she answered.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. How the hell was I supposed to refute that?

“‘Tis not a terrible thing, man-spawn. For one with such command over the lands of Poseidon, there is much for you to gain should you also form a contract with one of these fairmaids. Besides, care thee not for the gold shouldest thou sell one?” An’raie asked.

I grunted. “Do not take me for a trader of slaves. I’ve no interest in the business,” I said. An’raie remained silent after that.

Finally, I just sighed. I opened my left pant’s pocket and the fairmaid poked her head out. She then dipped back inside. I inhaled and exhaled. If I had one, I’d smoke a damn cigar. I really fucking needed it.

“Aye, fine. Let’s head back to camp,” I said. Aesteal nodded, following after me. I could tell she was insufferably pleased with herself.

Following that event, one full day passed.

As Aesteal suggested, I wiped off Kavtha’s Urn. I had some men take it to the pond to be filled with water. I helped enchant some of the foliage and vines before placing them in the urn as a sort of makeshift pool for the fairmaids. I then paid some of the mages to craft a barrier for it. Once that was done, the fairmaids were allowed inside. They seemed to enjoy it.

Well, three of them did. The one Aesteal made a contract with seemed quite taken to her. It was with her almost all the time. Mine was no different. The one I’d picked up first had all but attached itself to me even though we had yet to form a contract of any type.

However, I wanted someone to ram a pistol up my ass and pull the trigger. Mine seemed to enjoy tormenting me. It was a curious creature. It always went off to places to explore, which led to me having to cease my studies and follow after her. I couldn’t tell if this was a child or a naive adult creature. An’raie told me that they were all indeed adults. I didn’t fucking see how!

There were only two times where she’d stop moving; if she was either eating or sleeping. She always slept with me. When I put her in the urn and fell asleep, I woke up with her on top of my head. To that end, I just decided to let her do as she liked. I don’t know what about me appealed to her, but I let it go. I tried to look through Liara’s memories to see if she’d encountered these creatures when she arrived on Delverhold, but unfortunately she hadn’t.

Also, as I expected, the crew started gawking over the fairmaids. Some already wondered how much they would sell for. Unfortunately, I had to burst their bubble. I was the one who found them so they were my belongings so to speak. Naturally, that got a few jealous looks from some people before they started venturing off to find animals of their own.

I shrugged. They could go fucking nuts for all I cared as long as they did it nonviolently. Aye, crazy talk coming from a pirate, but I ain’t losing my life to the hundreds of unspeakable horrors down here cause someone got greedy.

I thought about what to do with the fairmaids and the urn. Aesteal, my mother, Ellen, and I couldn’t carry it. We needed to lead the way for the rest of the group through the tunnels. I was sure that if I let some of the crew hold the urn, I’d no doubt be missing three beautiful water creatures.

Don’t take this to mean that I didn’t trust my crew. I really didn’t fucking trust them. I hadn’t forgotten that most of the men and women here were from Draegnar. We’re a people that are more likely to stab you in the back than help you. Good times though we had, I wasn’t about to let my guard down. I’d have my head blown off otherwise. I’d probably have to make Ellen, Aesteal, and my mother carry one while I carried two. However, there was a slight problem with that.

I looked over and chuckled when I saw Ellen grumble as she dropped the fairmaid into the urn. “And fucking stay there this time. Shit!” she growled before she walked away. I shook my head as I watched one of the water maids stare at my quartermaster with heavy interest. Meanwhile, Ellen sucked her teeth and grumbled as she continued going over some reports.

It seemed Ellen wasn’t as taken with one of the fairmaids as it was with her. Ever since we brought them back yesterday, one of the three immediately gravitated towards her much to her annoyance.

I understand when they say misery finds solace in others. I was a bit glad to see that I wasn’t the only one finding difficulty handling our new guests. Mine was currently on my shoulder, twirling with my hair like it was a rope for her amusement. Of all the things I expected to find and face upon the horrors and mysteries of Delverhold, this was not one of them.

“You’re fucking lucky you’ve got a beautiful face, Nei,” I thought as I watched the fairmaid smile as her fish-like tail slapped my shoulder.

Aye, to not refer to her as ‘it’ the entire time. I decided to give the one that seemed fond of me a name. I gave her the name Nei which was known in Draegnar as cup of alcohol known for giving many a man a fucking headache. She didn’t seem to mind the name so that was what I addressed her ass from now on.

I pondered this dilemma for a little while before my mother dropped a brown sack in front of me. I looked up. “Guess all that shit about alchemist materials paid off. I think I found some good stuff!” she boasted.

“You mean like that clump of dirt you picked up last time?” I asked.

She blushed. “Shut up and help me value this stuff. Your mouth’s been getting more unruly lately!” she replied as I laughed. She watched Nei toy with my hair.

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t ask. I’ll take this over what I’ve fucking dealt with today,” I replied before I untied her sack and stared inside. Indeed, my mother had returned with quite the haul for herself. A lot of precious materials. Sure, there was the occasional useless thing, but she’d clearly done well for herself.

Once I finished helping her appraise her stuff, I patted my legs and stood to my feet. “Alright mother, you and Ellen gather everyone up. We’re leaving,” I said.

“Got it,” she said as she grabbed her bag and sealed it into her scroll. She then walked off.

In the meantime, I expended a bit of my mana to reach Aesteal who was gone. “Aesteal, it’s time to continue. Head back from your ventures!” I called.

I received no answer.

“Aesteal!” I called again.

There was still no answer.

Worried, I quickly searched out for her aura with mine. Thankfully, it wasn’t hard to find. When it wrapped around mine, I was suddenly overwhelmed by intense feelings of lust and passion. It felt oddly similar to when I kissed Liara for the first time. Her aura felt very warm.

While this did concern me, I was at least comforted with the fact that she was alive. Although, I wondered what was happening to her that she couldn’t even respond to me.

Eager to find out, I decided to head off with Nei in search of my Bonded Elf.

I think it was by the third hill I crossed that I realized this was not to be a quick journey. I told my mother and Ellen that they could give the crew two more hours of free time. I walked across massive vines and trudged through large blades of grass. Nei looked around like she’d never seen the place before, constantly annoying me by climbing up and down my head and shoulder. For an adult, she had the curiosity of a child. Though annoying, it was actually funny as well. She reminded me of myself when I first started out on adventures.

After about five minutes, I was brought to a cave where Aesteal’s aura seemed much stronger than from where I started out. Nei sniffed the air and pointed to the cave, further confirming my suspicions. “Aye, let’s go see what my studious elf be up to,” I said and we ventured forth to the cave.

When we were a good distance from the cave, I smelled something sweet and pleasant. I was also sure I heard Aesteal’s voice. I must have been right because Nei’s aquatic ears started moving in response to the noise.

Her voice grew louder as I got closer. I quickly discovered that, just like her aura, her voice was filled with lust and passion. The orchestra of a woman in the throes of ecstasy rejoiced in my ears. The smell got stronger in my nose. It was a wonderful smell filled with honeysuckle and milk. Had I not had An’raie with me to guide my senses, I might have fallen prey to its blissful trance.

That said, though my will was strong, I couldn’t say the same for my body. The sound of Aesteal’s voice and the smell of whatever was in the cave made my cock hard. I even heard Nei’s breath getting rougher.

When we entered the cave, I noticed my Aesteal, her clothes scattered around the cave, her fingers deep in her pussy. “Ooooooh! Ooooh spirits! Mmmmmnh!” she wailed in pure joy, not caring who saw her.

As I watched Aesteal pleasure herself, my thoughts rather conflicted about either stopping her or joining her, I took notice of the aroma again. A few feet past her, I saw the problem. There was a red flower surrounded by bedded crystal. The smell came from that flower and even I stumbled against the wall.

That brought Aesteal out of her stupor, but even I could see the flames in her eyes hadn’t subsided. “S-Sir,” she panted. She quickly got up and crawled to me. For one so studious and filled with the pride of the elven people, I had never seen her so ripe with desire.

“S-Sir, please fuck me! Grant me your cock and let its mighty girth cool the flames within me. Fill my body with your hard, wonderful dick that all spirits might know how blessed of a woman I am to receive it!” she exclaimed, already undressing me before I could even stop her.

“What the fuck’s wrong with her?” I asked, grabbing her shoulders to pry her off my falling pants. Unfortunately, my own body fought with me, desperate to have me fuck my elf for all we were was worth.

“‘Tis the flower. The petals within it release a powerful stimulant for sexual desire. Even the most devout follower of the prophetic way will succumb to its touch. That thine spirit hath not fallen proves a testament to either thine own will or thine own regular lifestyle. The Betrayer studied the asexual creatures and wondered if they would awaken the ability of reproduction should the desired need be strong enough,” she replied.

“He could have just used a Eunuch Monk instead,” I replied which got a bit of a melodious chuckle out of the Lonely Wail.

I then groaned in pleasure and looked down to see Aesteal had already swallowed my cock down to my pelvis. The warmth of her mouth was intense and her sucking was fucking desperate. Her long tongue wrapped around the length of my shaft, her teeth gently scraping the upper side. Her head bobbed endlessly, a thousand jolts of wonderful pleasure soared through my brain.

“Fuck, it’s like she’s trying to suck my damn soul out of my body!” I thought, the wonderful feeling of her mouth clouding my brain.

“I-Indeed. Thou shouldest ease the flames of h-her body. The effects do not d-d-dissipate easily. If thou cannot satisfy her then I fear no man aboard thine ship will be safe,” An’raie said to me.

The Lonely Wail’s words shook me. Whether she intended to or not, I was reminded of Leah. I was reminded of what happened to me. I was reminded of the number of men that groped her, pleasured her, and kissed her lips, their cocks lodged deep within her.  I wonder how powerful my rage might have been had I my powers.

Regardless, I threw my head back at risk of being taken away by my wonderful elf’s mouth. “There’s no need for that. I shall take care of her,” I said to her with a heavy sigh to steady my shaking legs.

“‘Tis not a loss for you if you should take the flower as well. It contains many effects depending on how it shall be cultivated. One might make it into a potion, a magic spell, or even a tool to practice the illusion arts. One could even use it to properly commune with the Incubi and Succubi. For one that desires to stand next to the Eternal Witch, this should prove valuable to thee.”

Marking those words down for later with what little sanity I had left, I managed to find the strength to pry Aesteal off my cock. She panted, eying me like a prime piece of meat just ready to be devoured. Her eyes stared into mine hungrily. Her aura sought to drown me in her lust and never let me resurface.

If someone told me that my elf would turn into such a horny, cock-loving slut before me, I would have thought them more insane than I was. Yet, here my dignified, bonded woman sat, teasing her nipples and her fingers plunging into her cunt. I saw her juices staining the floor. Even her fairmaid was affected, though in a more unusual way. The small water woman seemed to be experimenting with touching herself just like Aesteal did back on Hilvir.

When I looked down at Nei, she was curiously rotating her sizable breasts as well. She squirmed and wiggled, her tail brushing against my cheek tenderly. It seemed An’raie was right. They were indeed adults filled with curiosity about what they were witnessing.

I turned back to Aesteal and grabbed a hold of my cock. “You want this?” I asked.

“Yes, Sir,” she said, her breath sharp and uneven.

“I don’t think you do,” I replied, my voice not harsh, but rather a whisper as if I was toying with her. Naturally, I enjoyed doing so.

“Oh E’faleme, Sir! I desire it! How shall I show you that I desire your mating tool that can soothe the flames of lust within me?” she asked.

My mind quickly began to fill with the lust from the red flower, I stepped back and found a rock that I could sit on. I didn’t bother pulling up my pants. I wanted Aesteal to feast her eyes on her prize. I desired for her to know exactly what she could do to me. She oozed such a natural sexuality that no woman could compare to.

“Good question. Then, how about you spread those beautiful, trained legs of yours. Show me the tides which flow from your cavern. Show me that elven grit,” I said.

I still remembered the first time Aesteal had tried to pleasure herself. Her fingers were clumsy and her posture was a mess. Even her face showed great discomfort as if she wasn’t enjoying the act at all.

Now, none of that hesitance was here. Aesteal shamelessly leaned back on her blanket and spread her legs to me. She allowed me an uninterrupted very of her beautiful cunt, flowing with a waterfall of female lust just waiting to be lapped up.

“Look at my elven pussy, Sir! It desires to hold your cock! I try to pleasure myself with my fingers, but my body can only be satisfied by that hard dick of yours! Fuck me so that my body might always remember the feel of your cock. May the spirits know that no other man shall understand the crevices of my body! I desire you so much! Please ravage me as I’ve been led by you into the realm of lust” she exclaimed as she fingered herself. Her middle finger and index finger ruthlessly plunged inside her pussy.

“Had this been the Aesteal from about a month ago, I doubt she could have done this,” I thought to myself. I watched her take her sleek, wet fingers from her snatch and lick them like a sweet candy. I wonder how her order’s members might feel if they saw their most devout warrior enjoying herself in such a manner.

Nevertheless, I was reminded that she was doing this for me. She did this neither for her kingdom nor her order. I was the only one in her eyes, worthy to see her unprideful self. Only I was worthy to see her face in the purest form of rapture and ecstasy. Her chests heaved up and down as she stared at me with desire and love, her aura mixing with mine. This made me completely helpless before her.

“Come here,” I said.

She quickly crawled to me slowly. She took my cock in her hands, but before her lips could get to it, I pulled her up and kissed her. She kissed me back hungrily. The flower’s smell infected all of us. My eyes were closed so I couldn’t see what was happening, but I was sure I heard some pleasant sounds coming from Nei and the other fairmaid.

When I opened my eyes, if not for all the lust being poured into my body, I would have laughed at the sight of Nei making out with the other fairmaid. They were very uncoordinated, but they seemed to be watching us, mimicking our union.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t focus on them for very long because Aesteal’s hands cupped my face and moved me back to her. If I didn’t pace her to enjoy this with me, I think she might have tried to pull my tongue out of my mouth.

Instead, I drew her into my arms. Her slim body fit into mine. When her hands tried to grab my erection, I swatted them away. We simply kissed, sharing this wonderful feeling that a fucking flower had pushed onto us. In exchange, I would take that flower and use it for my own purposes.

I pulled Aesteal up to me. She sat on my legs, my cock just inches away from her sleek lower body. Her fingers moved through my head and my hands touched one of her tits. “Mmmmm! Yesss!” she sighed, throwing her beautiful silver hair back.

I fondled and groped her breasts, enjoying her movements and her sweat. My tongue slid over her scorching flesh, her hands cradling me to which spots pleased her the best. Her mound rubbed against my leg. She grabbed my shirt and pulled it over my head. I then latched my mouth onto her tits and suckled on them.

“Nhhhh! Oooooh yes! Ooooh fuck!” she wailed.

My hands moved down her body, teasing and tickling wherever they pleased until I came down to her pussy. I wasted no time and stuck my hands inside. Her slick, slimy insides clenched to me while my thumb rubbed her clit. “Oooooooh! Oh Hg’nah! Yes, Sir! All of my body is yours!” she wailed before I silenced her with a kiss.

Aesteal’s arms wrapped around my shoulders. Her body humped my fingers, eager for them to reach deeper. I pushed and pulled my fingers in and out. Her breath against my ear, her body shivering against mine, I didn’t stop her when she grabbed a hold of my cock this time. The lust around us moved our bodies, seeping into our skin.

“Your cock is so hard and virile, Sir. It pulses in my hands just waiting to explode,” she breathed out, arousing me greatly. Her words were sweeter than the richest honey and creamier than milk. Her tongue licked my earlobe while I stuffed three fingers into her.

“Hnnnnngh! Y-Your fingers move with such haste, Sir. Does that thought excite you? To release the life within your cock into my body and make me carry your descendants? I shall return to Fgg’rial that all might know I have broken my vow and laid with a mighty man. My elven body, once trained for warriorship, now desires every piece of your cum flooding into it. I shall sing to the spirits that… ooooooh… your cock is all I want!” Aesteal proclaimed.

My brain was filled with such fire that I didn’t even remember taking my fingers out and slamming my cock inside her. All I remembered was the sheer sound of my grunts and her screams. Her legs wrapped around my waste, her pussy coiled around my cock, we both fucked like animals.

“Ooooooh! Oooooh yes, Sir! Fuck me with your hard cock! Sh’riel! Falmir! Erkelskel! Nhhhhhhh! Drive your spear as deep as you desire!” my elf exclaimed. The wet smack of our hips made us throw our heads back.

“Aye, I’ll fuck you all the days of my life. I’ll father all the children that come from you. Our children shall train in the ways of the bow and the blade. One day, that shall be a reality. Your people shall know that you’ve had the cock of the greatest pirate stuffed into your cunt!” I replied back. Her walls got even tighter.

My dick slipped in and slipped out. Positively drenched in her fluids, the smacks were filled with wetness. Hell, I couldn’t even tell one of Aesteal’s orgasms from the other. “Oooooooooh!” she groaned and came again, my cock thoroughly hitting just the right spots to make her feel the best.

Without even losing a break, we switched positions where she faced away from me. I was treated to the sight of her jiggling ass. She grabbed my knees and slammed her cunt down on my shaft. The wind and storms which struck my mast were exquisite in every manner of the word. The many weeks in Aesteal’s sexual understanding culminated in this act. She expertly massaged the entire length of my cock like she’d been doing it for years. I tried to hold onto her hips to pace her, but she was not to be controlled. She just bounced and bounced, panting like a female dog begging for my ripe seed to flourish within her.

“Uuuugh!” I groaned as I threw my head back, not ready for my cock to suddenly cum inside her like it did.

“Nnnnnngh! Yes, it feels so hot! It burns with the strength of divine fire!” Aesteal said, her hips gyrating on top of me. However, when she tried to get up, I grabbed her hips and slammed her back down.

Surprised, she stumbled when I leaned up and pushed her against the wall. She turned back to me, her eyes completely succumbed to lust and debauchery. Yet, despite this, I still saw that fierce elven will within her. She would only do this for me. She would only act like this in front of me. She’d sooner kill herself than allow any other fucker than I to lay eyes upon her sensual desires like this.

Each strike of my pelvis against her ass made the both of us tremble. “Haaaa… ooooh gods! Oooooooh yes! Fuck me as long as you want, Sir! Hnnnnnngh! Mnhoooooo!” she said before she came again.

I then lifted her leg over my shoulder. I licked the sweat off her thighs while her long arm cupped my balls, massaging and fondling them. When my fingers got close to her mouth, she took two of them and sucked on them. Her tongue swirling around them almost exactly like how her cunt was cradling my cock.

To try to describe the thoughts running through me would be impossible, I could only cum inside her again to sate my own understanding that she would indeed only do this for me. She, my mother, and Ellen, they would only be like this with me.

At some point, I think my hips slowed. I slid out of Aesteal and gently moved back in. She sighed blissfully. I nibbled on her ears, spreading her ass cheeks that I might drive in even deeper. “I love your cock, Sir. Your hard, manly, strong cock! I have no other desire than this, to sail wherever you might go,” she said.

“Then that is where you shall be. Aboard my ship, the ship of Eric Drakclaw,” I said.

Aesteal leaned her head back and kissed me before we sensed each other’s impending orgasm. My cock hardened and my legs locked as I fired another stream of cum into her eagerly waiting body. In turn, she doused my cock in more of her fine elven juice as we fell to the ground.

We panted, our bodies exhausted but fulfilled. Because of the aphrodisiac from the plant, I felt my cock harden inside her. I offered her a few non-committed thrusts which made her sigh happily.

“Naaaaah! Hnnnnnngh!”

Started by the small sounds, Aesteal and I turned to see Nei and the other fairmaid moaning to each other as they kissed, fondling their tits. The wings on Aesteal’s fairmaid flapped rapidly, her face and cheek flushed with a sea of red. Meanwhile, Nei’s tail slapped against the rock they were seated on repeatedly. The joys of their sexual awakening became apparent to the both of us.

“It seems we’ve corrupted them,” Aesteal said.

I laughed. “They don’t seem to be complaining,” I replied.

I allowed Nei to have her fun while I walked over to the red flower, tiny kissing sounds moved behind me.

I stared at the red flower. With such a powerful aphrodisiac effect, it was indeed worth its salt in making even a highly trained elf a bundle of lust. With it, one could commune with Incubi or Succubi, or any other lust demon without falling into the state of depravity. While I didn’t believe there would ever be anything I would personally need from those realms, I understood An’raie’s point.

To have Liara aboard my ship was to meet with many creatures, demonic and divine alike. I’d need to combat them for that was Liara’s existence, a constant bridge between the realms of men and gods. Who the hell knew what I’d encounter if she stayed next to me.

I broke the flower from where it rested and placed it, along with some roots and soil, in another jar. I then proceeded to store it away in my scroll. Perhaps this would indeed go a long way in my voyage to reclaim my throne on D’orn.

I walked back to Aesteal. Nei and her partner were done. However, I noticed the blissful confusion on her faces, almost like they weren’t entirely aware of what they'd just done. Either way, Aesteal picked up her fairmaid, watching it pant in joyous bliss. Her wonderfully nude body, a pleasant sight for my eyes.

She noticed my gaze and smiled. “My people would damn me for getting involved with a vicious beast like you, Sir. Your lust is so strong that even naive creatures fall prey to it. How could such a devout and dutiful elf such as myself fall for such a man? Truly, I have become depraved,” Aesteal said while I smacked her ass, making her jump.

“If I recall, you were the one who seduced me. I was ready to head back into the tunnels for my treasure, but lo and behold I found an elven slut working her cunt like she’s in front of a crowd of bastards. It be not my fault,” I told her.

She grabbed her clothes. “You’ve led me down this path, Sir. I was innocent, blissfully unaware of how depraved you made me. Be sure to bear the consequences of this,” she said as she got dressed.

Once I finished dressing myself, I grabbed Nei. It seemed her first sexual experience had tired her out. It didn’t take her long to fall asleep. She curled up in one of my pockets as Aesteal and I returned back to the camp.

With my little… distraction finished, I gathered everyone around. While she slept, I placed Nei in the Urn. It was rather amusing to watch her sink to the bottom. The others looked at her curiously. They giggled to themselves before they went about their business.

Either way, with the fun times behind us, I got everyone’s attention.

“Alright, ya bastards! We’re heading out of the zone. I hope you found a lot of good shit. You best protect it because it ain’t gonna get any easier for us. Steel yourselves for gods shall not redeem us if we fall here,” I said.

I saw some people nervously swallow the fear in their gullets, but they each nodded all the same. I then decided to lead them all away. The journey to the far end of the zone took more time than I’d admit, and I couldn’t help myself picking up a few more things.

When we reached the exit tunnel, we all stared into the darkness abyss. “Alright, keep your eyes and ears sharp. Ain’t no safety to protect ya this time!” I warned.

Then, we all entered and left the safety zone behind.

One would think that our spirits would still be high after leaving such a place filled with fun and rest.

Unfortunately, that was not the case. After what I assumed to be half an hour of us moving through the case, the monstrous sounds of creatures no one wished to see moved through the darkness. Once again, we heard the creaking of the corridors and tiny sounds of plucked rock upon the ground.

The dark wrapped around us like a thick blanket. Even if there was nothing to see, I certainly felt like there was. Without my powers, never had I felt so vulnerable, so unsure, and so tested. No, let me correct myself, I had felt this way once, maybe worse before. I felt worse when I was here even with my command over the sea.

The feel of the uerantite sucking away mana, the way the dark forms moving shadows, and the way the voices echo around, could make a man go mad. Even now, I thought I felt something breath down my neck. The primal instinct of fear and uncertainty moved through me. Even more so when An’raie advised that I not turn my head to look at my sides. I asked her why, but she merely told me that my mind would not be able to comprehend what was next to me.

All the Lonely Wail told me was that my crew should be thankful for the darkness. If we didn’t have it, then staring upon what seemed interested in us. As I walked, I told everyone else to just look straight again, constantly aware of An’raie’s words.

“Dare thee to not show equal interest and curiosity to those whose gaze shouldest thee not meet. Equal curiosity begets investigation and investigations begets one's own demise.”

As a woman who had a hand in crafting some of these creatures, I wasn’t about to argue with An’raie. It was very true that there were creatures here I’d never seen. Most of them I wished I’d never see, valuable resources or not. They weren’t worth the effort.

Once An’raie told us we no longer held this darkness’ interest, we still didn’t feel safe. I could feel Ellen, Aesteal, and my mother behind me. Everything seemed so abundant in my ears. If I was carefree, I wouldn’t have noticed these sounds. Yet, now that my ears are heightened to the danger, I heard everything.

Aesteal’s arrows knocked against each other, Ellen’s pistols clattered one or twice, and my mother’s breath shook. They all sounded like a boom of thunder in my ears though their actual sound was probably so small, nothing ferocious heard it.

It wasn’t even just them. I heard the rapid breaths of a few members that remained of my group. Their fear laced itself in every step they took. If I was feeling the weight of the black void around us, then I wondered what some of them felt.

I also wondered how the fairmaids were doing. This was their first time out of the neutral zone which had been their home for so long. Unfortunately, I couldn’t stop the group to check. While I was hesitant to bring them along, I was responsible for them now. It wouldn’t sit right with me if their first venture out of their home ended in death.

That said, they seemed aware of the situation upon us as well. They all stayed out of trouble. The only thing that told me they were even still with us was the swishing of the water in the urn. I suppose I should be surprised. Though they’ve only stayed in the neutral zone, they’ve been here for probably thousands of years. They’re sense of danger must have been way stronger than even Aesteal’s.

After some time, An’raie alerted me that we’d come up to a crossroad of tunnels. It seemed that no matter which way we went, there was a monster just waiting to rip us to pieces. In the left tunnel, we heard the sounds of two breasts clashing. The feel of dark magic being fired off, shaking the left side of the tunnels.

On the right side, I heard a lot of skittering noises, a thousand legs crawling up and down the ceiling and walls. Both ways sounded promising for different reasons. Naturally, I consulted An’raie. I felt her spirit leave me for a few minutes. She then returned with her decision.

“If thee should desire to make it to the fourth island and seeketh what thou wants the most as quickly as possible, then I shall recommend the right passage. If not, then the left shall bring good fortunes to thee,” she said.

“What I seeketh most, what do you mean by that?” I asked.

“For the integrity of the bonded magic which holds our souls together, I shall not say. Thine thoughts have all come to their conclusion,” An’raie said to me.

My body trembled as I stared down the right corridor. I don’t know how my body produced any mana with the circumstances I was in, but I gave no regard to anything around me. My teeth clenched together and my fingers dug into the skin of my palms. The ground beneath my feet trembled and cracked like a small earthquake moved below me.

Boreli, one of my best friends.

I remembered the times we shared as we laughed over piles of gold and shiny trinkets. I remembered the time when we cackled as we fired our way out of a barrage of cannonfire. I remembered the silly dances he’d make as Granden placed on his violin. I remembered the tears he shed and the wise words he left me when I felt defeated. I remembered my friend, my best friend.

Then, I remembered the blow to my skull as I was dragged out of my quarters, powerless before my entire crew. I remembered the many blows I’d taken to the stomach. I remembered the breaking of my fingers, the pain nearly drowning out not only his laughter but the laughter of the rest of my crew.

Too weak, too beaten to even walk the plank, the jeers of everyone around me seemed like a constant torture. No, a cornucopia of noise and pain that seemed to stab through my very own chest. I couldn’t even tell if I cried or not. Does a man even do that when too much pain falls upon him?

My eyes swollen, vision flicking like flashes of light magic, I watched Boreli place his cock inside Leah. She moaned for him, louder than she ever had for me. Every man aboard my crew had his way with her and she welcomed all their advances. While most of them took turns, spraying her down with their cum, I was only allowed to watch, humiliated. Every insecurity I shared with Boreli and Barren, my First Mate, was thrown back at me in front of everyone.

Astell stomped on my head, my teeth breaking from the impact against the wood. All that pain, all that humiliation, all of it cast down upon me like I was naught but a bastard man sailing for his own demise. Then, as if to mock me further, I was pushed into my kingdom, everyone laughing at me.

Behold the Son of Poseidon! May we return him to the depths where he belongs! To his mother and his father, the prince of the seas! Fucker of fish and sea dwellers!

Even now, I’ve not forgotten the smirk on neither Leah’s face nor Boreli’s. Their lips touched as they kissed one another.

A hand on my shoulder startled me. I noticed I was still in utter darkness. Like a massive chill ran through my body, I felt cold. I heard the creatures around us shrieking as if they’d heard or felt something not of the world of D’orn.

I don’t know who it was, but I shoved their hand off my shoulder. “We’ll head to the right,” I said to everyone within their minds.

I walked off, uncaring if anyone followed me. My eyes only stared into the darkness, envisioning what I’d do to Boreli once I got my hands around his fucking throat.

As usual, the walls were wet, slimed with sticky residue of something I didn’t know.  My entire focus was on moving forward.

“Pray thee to take head. Where thy goal lies is within the belly of ferocious beasts that not many would care to tread. The creatures thee shall encounter are not as simple as most,”

“Nothing on this damn island’s been simple,” I replied, the sting of rage on my tongue.

An’raie stayed quiet after all.

Our path led true. We started moving down a slanted slope of the caverns. The uneven rocks made walking rather awkward. Some of the group slipped a couple of times, but thankfully no one lost their brains to the stones.

“Sir, are you alright?” I heard Aesteal asked.

“I’m fine. Now’s not the time for concern! Just make sure no one behind you dies,” I replied, not seeking to continue the conversation. I thought that maybe I had been too heated in my response, but I was too focused to care.

As we walked down, the slope suddenly trembled with great force. The group stopped walking.

Out of the darkness, we watched a grotesque creature with the body of a bear, and the face of an eagle’s skull scream out at us. From its open eye sockets, worms drizzled in some kind of sludge slathered onto the ground. Void worms latched onto its decomposing skin. When it opened its beak, a tongue like some kind of long boiled serpent slapped around the walls.

“Another of the Betrayer’s creations. Dare thee to not let it touch thine skin. For it shall rot all and leave thee a puddle of human skin while still conscious, forever stripped to its body, feeling unwaving anguish for all eternity,” An’raie said.

I heard Ellen curse behind me.

“Fucking shit! Fall back, you dumbasses!” she hollered.

As everyone began to make their way up the stairs, the frown on my face deepened. I didn’t have fucking time for this.

I held up my finger and chanted an earth spell. While everyone was busy running away, a large stone slab appeared between the creature and us. I then weaved another earth spell which sent the slab into the creature. The large piece of rock slammed into its corroding body, pushing it back down. It crashed into the wall that waited for us within the darkness at the bottom. The ground beneath my feet shook with such force that it nearly split in two.

I then held up my hand. In my palm, a ball of lightning magic formed. I added water, fire, earth, wind, any of that other elemental bullshit that I could use. The ball spiralled in so many different collars before I threw it into the void. When it reached its target, the screams of the creature easily drowned out the screams of my crew.

A myriad of elements from the backlash came upon us, but I quickly pulled up a magic shield and blocked the onslaught. The elements passed over us without fault.

“By the Great Heavens of Nnmel,” someone behind me said.

Once the magic stopped, I continued onward. Boreli had enjoyed his freedom enough. I would not let him enjoy it anymore. Even now, the thought that he might get away angered me so much that no one came near me. They all just trudged silently behind me.

When we all reached the bottom, no one could see the destruction I caused. It was too dark. However, they could smell and hear the dripping blood from the corpse. A sickening orchestra of crumbling flesh made us all move quickly.

“Hurry up. If the stench don’t kill you, the infection will,” I said as I continued down the passageway. No one argued with me.

After that incident, I lost track of the time. Truth be told, I wasn’t really keeping it. I was too preoccupied with my own thoughts, thousands of unsavory acts flooded my head.

My musings were only disrupted when someone spoke quietly. “Take care laddies, we be in the house of demons,” a man said, his daggers making small clanging noises in his hands from his nervousness.

I wasn’t sure why this statement caught my attention specifically, but when I became aware of it, I noticed that all the monster sounds stopped. There wasn’t a growl. There wasn’t a roar. There wasn’t even a thud of steps. There was only the smell of blood and a lavender light from a tunnel entrance far in the distance.

“Captain, didn’t you say the light attracts unsavory monsters? What creature has such pride that it’s allowed to keep the light in its chambers?”

“M-Maybe it’s another neutral zone?” someone asked hopefully.

“Nai, whatever it is, it ain’t safe. Nothing neutral about this stench. I smell blood, fresh blood. Nastier shit than the foul beast the captain butchered two hours ago,” another whispered.

Ellen ordered them to be quiet, but I kind of didn’t mind the talk. It kept my mind off things. However, it didn’t keep my mind off the thing that my foot knocked against. In the dim light, I saw the skull of an unusually large beast.

In a place like this, it’s not so unusual. What was unusual were the symbols etched into its skull. I scanned what I had from Liara’s memories, but I found no mention of these symbols. There was rapid splashing behind me. Something spooked the fairmaids.

The fluttering of wings and Aesteal’s comforting words made me realize that even her contracted creature was worried.

“Sir, I think we should head back.”

When I turned to face her, that was the first time I saw a fear spread through Aesteal’s face. “If you wish to turn around, then I won’t stop you. However, my path lays forward. I will not turn away from it!” I said and continued on my way.

I felt Aesteal’s aura try to mix with mine, but I didn’t search it out. There was no fucking way I was going to let this happen. If they wanted to head back, then they’d be doing it alone.

“Sir, we won’t survive with you,” she replied back.

“Then fucking keep up!” I responded, cutting off the conversation. Aesteal’s aura departed from mine. We continued.

“In the cool mist of the night, I created that which I regret. For them I have locked away that none might find them. Even for one such as I, in the quiet night, do pray to Zeus that none might know their gaze. ‘Tis wise to not pursue too much, for the hand of evil wisps shall guide the hand through the long endless dream. ‘Tis my hope that none will find them. For the light, it deceives. Beware… Yḿdg’el, the Fearful Shadows,” An’raie said, her voice a solemn whisper in the back of my mind.

Once we made it to the end of the tunnel, I looked inside.

What I immediately saw was not what I was expecting. The lavender light which lit up this dome-like structure was from an illumination stone. The rock was etched deep into the ceiling of the room, casting down a pillar of light like a divine spirit had just been summoned.

Surrounded by that light was tall grass, a lot of it. One might think it looked like a farmer’s field, crops lining the ground just waiting to be dug up for the harvest. However, in the farmer’s field, I also saw scarecrows. There were about six of them spanning the entire field around the glowing light. All of them faced the light’s direction, bound by what I thought were planks of wood. However, I didn’t see the wood which kept their arms up.

At the center of the light, sitting with his head in his arms, was Boreli. His body was littered with scars. Some of the blood from his wounds seeped into his torn up clothing. A sense of unease grew within me when I saw he wasn’t moving. Astell was an active bastard. You’d have to knock him out and chain him down to keep him still. For him to not move was… eerie.

I looked around the room some more. When I looked to my left, I noticed there was a passageway. It seemed to lead around the outer rim of the dome and to the other side. “Scarecrows? An’raie, what mnnaer of creatures are these?” I asked.

“‘Tis not known to me. They must have been forged after the Betrayer confined my soul to the Second Isle. However, I would recommend thee leave. ‘Tis a most unnatural and odd evil that I sense from them. Though mine mind doth not recall them, these eyes can see that they observe not just the one at the center, but also all of thine group,” the ghost witch replied.

That worried me greatly. I stared back at them. They didn’t flinch. They didn’t move. If not for An’raie, I would wonder if they were even alive.

“Scarecrows? The thing which made us tremble was scarecrows? They be sacks of hay stuffed into a poor man’s dirt shirt! What are we scared of?” someone, a man with a light build, asked.

“No, there’s something more down there. Something vile. I’ve been an adventurer for five years, seen beasts that liked to feast on children, and monsters that’ll sever your head from your neck and use it as a drinking cup, but… I’ve never felt the presence of death more than now,” Reith said, staring down with fierce eyes.

Her words rippled through my crew like small waves from a skipping stone. They all continued to stare into the abyss of deadwood, long grass, and unmoving scarecrows.

“Well, Captain, I think I speak for us all that we can leave the poor sod to his own fate. Ain’t willing to risk life nor coin for the bastard since he made us wait on that third island! I bet ‘cha don’t got a high opinion of the bastard anyway. Never understood why yet let the fucker walk the ship when you glare at him like he fucked yer woman and shivved your cock. Poor bastard’s a dead man walking,” someone said.

I spoke not a word. Instead, I found myself entering the dome, everyone staring at me like I was stupid. Truth be told, I knew I was.

Aye, he would die. However, he would not die by my hands! I would not allow Astell to die to anyone other than me! I could not allow it. I pictured that fucking smirk on his face as he escaped me, laughing at me, taunting me, berating me like I was naught but a damnable child.

I felt my arm pulled. I turned back and saw Ellen glaring at me. “Have you taken leave of your fucking senses? The fucker’s already dead! He ain’t no better than those shriveling shits I dealt with back at the tavern. Just leave the fucker here!” Ellen said.

“Let go, Ellen.”

“If you go down there, I ain’t saving your fucking ass again!” she seethed.

“I don’t need saving,” I replied, my tone getting heavier and my anger getting hotter. My eyes never left my traitor of a crew mate.

“Oh sure, ya didn’t need to be saved from a gigantic frost troll, ya didn’t need to get saved from a pool of hot mud! In case you’ve forgotten, but you ain’t some god of the sea right now! You’re a fucking baby used to suckling on its mother’s teat throwing a temper tantrum! Let it go!”

I didn’t remember a lot after that. I just remembered seeing the shocked looks of everyone as Ellen laid on the ground, clutching her bleeding arm. The look she gave me was one I would not forget for many years. I saw the anger, betrayal, shock, and hurt on her face. When someone tried to help her up, she shoved them off.

“Fine, go die for all I care. You can sink your ship in whatever seabed you like, but I won’t be fucking on it! You want my honesty, Sir? You might be wearing the damn garbs, but you ain’t no fucking captain!” she said as she pushed through the people and made her way quietly through the outer reaches of the dome.

One by one the others followed after her. Even the members of Raven’s Shadow followed her, none of them meeting my gaze. In the end, the only ones who stayed with me were Aesteal and my mother. Both of them looked at the retreating members before they looked back at me.

“Sir?” Aesteal asked.

I turned around. “Go with them, mother, Aesteal. I’ll do this alone,” I said.

I didn’t have to turn around to know they looked at me with disapproval. Instead, I just focused on my task. I made my way down into the dome, everyone clearly watching me as I slipped off a rocky cliff and landed on a slippery ledge. A few small pebbles, kicked up from my feet, fell into the grass, making it shiver. The silts of hanging arms didn’t move.

My way down wasn’t as graceful as I wished, but I soon made it to the very bottom of the dome, my feet touching the gravel on the ground, my body being surrounded by grass taller than any man should be. I pushed a handful of grass away. It was heavy against my palms. The only place I could look towards without grass in my eyes was up. I barely saw the gleam of the light over them, a sense of walking somewhere I shouldn’t overwhelming me.

Nevertheless, I remained steadfast in my goal, or my stubbornness. It was one of the two.

While I walked, I needed An’raie to guide me. The tall grass and broken sticks seemed to form a type of maze that I couldn’t navigate no matter how hard I tried. The movements of disturbed grass that I made unsettled me. As I stayed here, my mana draining faster and faster from the uerantite around the dom, I tried to focus on what I’d do to Astell when I caught him. It was the only way I kept my nerve to continue going forward.

“Have they moved?” I asked.

“They remain. Thee would do best to turn back. Mine fears dictate that something else is at play here,” she replied.

If I didn’t even have the confidence of An’raie, then I knew that I best make haste. Had it not been for Boreli, I would have ignored this room all together. Death, unlike anything An’raie’s done, filled the room.

For the next I’ll say ten or fifteen minutes, my thoughts were jumped and unfocused. Aware of Ellen’s words and confused about what I’d done. I constantly turned my head behind me, an odd sense of worry and paranoia surrounding me. I tried to connect my mind with my mother’s or Aesteal, but I found myself blocked off from them. I hoped that if they could keep watch over the creatures then An’raie come back into me and help me navigate this darkness of dense grass.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

I stiffened when I heard something crack below me. I looked down and noticed my boots had crushed what looked like the rib of some creature.

I stepped off the bone and continued. I then came across another, and another, and another. I was surprised to see so many bones lying in the grass. Some were small, others were large. I wondered what happened to all these creatures that left them without even a shred of skin.

It didn’t take me long to think up a reason why. In front of me, stabbed into the ground, was a wooden pole. My eyes trailed up to see one of the scarecrows hanging before me.

“Do not cast your gaze upon them for too long. I sense the Realm of P’hjun upon them. ‘Twas rumored that if one landed in that realm, unspeakable horrors await them. It seems the Betrayer studied that realm as well,” she replied.

“You hvae shiet taste in maen!” I answered back while turning my head down quickly.

I walked past the first scarecrow. It’s coat and grungy shirt flapped, but I noticed there was no wind to make it move. I thought to turn around and observe, but An’raie’s soul screamed for me not to.

“It moves. Dare thee to not rouse its curiosity with acknowledgement!” she claimed.

I followed her advice. I moved without looking at it, but I could feel its gaze behind me. I imagined demonic eyes beneath its hat, glaring at me. I thought of a twisted grin filled with bladed teeth. Red, beady eyes stared my form down, constantly walking, stopping when I stopped.

I shook my head of the thought and returned to my task, only to find myself faced with a stone wall. In front of it,  broken tree branches and bones laid on the ground.

Had I gone the wrong way? That shouldn’t be possible. An’raie had been guiding me the whole time.

“Wail, what’s going on? Why am I at a dead end?” I asked.

Unfortunately, to my horror, I received no reply. I called out to the Lonely Wail again, but there was nothing. No matter how many times I called, my voice seemed to only hit the air around me.

A bit of frustration moved in me. I casted the haste spell around myself, but I noticed there was no magic for me to use. In fact, all of my mana had been thoroughly drained. I had none to call upon for even the most basic of spells.

This knowledge rattled my mind like a barrel of bullets being tossed in a rough, stormy sea. I took a shaky step away from the wall. I hoped there was anything in Liara’s memories that could aid me about what was happening to me but, to my horror, there was nothing.

Something seemed to be blocking her memories from my head. Like a dense fog just waiting to wrap around me and devour me, I felt like I was walking in every direction except where I was supposed to.

Unnerved and worried, I reached for my two pistols. Without Liara or An’raie to guide me, my mind was in disarray.

How? How had I lost so much mana so quickly? I hadn’t even felt it leave my body before I realized it. It couldn’t have been the spells I used before here to wipe out that creature! Such spells were hardly enough to make me feel winded, even with the uerantite around us.

Could it have been me trying to use An’raie to see where to go? It was possible, but I wouldn’t bet my damn soul on that one.

I slowly took a step back, edging away from the wall, the tall grass starting to become visible again. However, I didn’t get very far. My back hit something hard, something long, and… something wooden.

At that moment, a bead of sweat fell down my face. I knew that in my walk to get here, I had not maneuvered around a piece of wood so early. In my ears, I heard the sound of flapping garments… with no wind to push them. If I turned around, I was sure I’d see a wooden pole with a being draped in cloth behind me.

Without turning around, I point my pistol to the back of me. I then fired it. A gunshot rang in my ears, nearly deafening me with its blow. My legs staggered a moment, the situation making me feel weaker than I’d ever been.

My breath hot and my mind in disarray, I stepped to the side and then walked backwards, careful to not let my eyes meet with the monster I knew was behind me. At this time, I once again experienced another side of the pirate life. Aye, there be the adventure, the passion, the glory, and the thrill of the unknown.

However, there also be the fear, the danger, the thought you might not live to see the sun fall or rise the next day. I feel that now. In fact, it became a constant reminder of my haste and my folly. I could only grit my teeth that Ellen was right. I was no captain right now. I was a mortal man stupidly believing in my pride and the powers which I had not learned or been granted authority to own.

As I stepped back, still staring at the ceiling, remembering An’raie’s words of warning. Don’t stare upon them for too long. I continued to step back, the dark coat and dreaded form of that figure shrouded in darkness and lavender light appearing within my view.

It stood perfectly still, its ominous presence somehow filling me with a sense of disconnection with my surroundings. My ears picked up on the gravel moving beneath my feet and the ruffle of bushes behind me. However, I didn’t feel like I was walking on solid ground. I felt like I was walking through the mud of the worms from before.

Since the scarecrow’s back seemed to be in my view even when I looked up, I decided to look down. I counted my steps, watching my movements disturb the grass, pushing blades to the side. With nothing to really distract me, I pondered a thought, a cruel thought, a thought that only made itself clear when my back hit something wooden again.

Had my… arrogance left me at the mercy of Delverhold once again?

The ground at my feet became dark. A horrid shadow loomed over it as if to answer the question I just asked myself. Something was telling me to turn around, to confirm the truth of whether I was right or not. However, I didn’t need to. I knew if I did, the foundation upon which I built myself on this voyage would come crashing down.

I calmed my breath, once again stepping to the side and turned to the right. I walked backwards, but I didn’t get very far because I hit another wooden pole. I closed my eyes. I placed a hand to my forehead. Beads of sweat poured down endlessly. Thump of my chest like drums in my ears, I could only chuckle. Once again, even with all my knowledge of future events, it didn’t matter. I was, once again, left a mere child before the mystical might of the Lost Isles of Delverhold.

I truly entered the realm of Haganthar.

After that, I continued walking backwards in a bit of a daze, wondering if I was just being toyed with at this point. I ate a few pills to try and recover my mana, but it didn’t seem to matter. The mana left my body faster than I could refill myself. After the fifth pill, and second bottle, I just stopped trying. At this point, I was insane enough to think maybe the grass was siphoning the mana from my body. Either way, I was just a mortal man now. I had not the protection of An’raie. I had not the knowledge of Liara. I had not my abilities of the sea. I had not my ways in the mystic arts. All I had was a rapier, no better than any other blade without ice flowing through it, my pistols, and my desire to get to Boreli.

I would make him pay for this. I had to. It was the only way to prove that I was still right, that I was still in control, that I… had not made a mistake!

Unfortunately, that thought and my confidence got smaller and smaller. I found myself bumping into one of them again. When I tried to turn a corner, I bumped into another. It took me about three more times to realize that I was surrounded on all sides. My eyes panned the ground. Wooden poles stuck into the gravel all around me, the shadows looming over me, laughing at me just like how I imagined my former crew would.

I still dared not to look. I knew not to play games. I thought about how I could get out of this situation that I’d put myself into.

Fortunately, I noticed something. Through the little cracks in the grass, I saw the light move the shadows of the standing humanoids. When I moved left and right, the light seemed to move as well, lighting up other areas with the shadows darkening others.

I grinned. Even in this dreadful situation, I had still not been forsaken. For some reason, whenever I looked up, despite seeing the light, I couldn’t progress to it. Perhaps, like these monsters, I needed to not look at the light directly. Perhaps seeing it crawling on the ground was enough.

Taking a chance on this, I weaved through the encirclement. I managed to make it through while continuing to stare at the ground.

My discovery must have made the creatures anxious because they started fucking with me a lot more now. I felt something sweep my feet off the ground. My face crashed into the ground, dust and dirt filling my mouth. I coughed and groaned painfully. Turning over in agony. My eyes flickered open. I wished they hadn’t.

Almost immediately, I could see about three of the human-like statues standing over me, their arms longer than I remembered, unnaturally so. They also looked more demonic in nature. Their clothes were lined with shit and grotesque material. I didn’t see much, but I know I saw a mouth lined with crawling centipedes, each of them dropping some type of red fluid onto the ground.

I turned over and stood up. I was hurt, but it was nothing I wasn’t fucking used to. It seemed that unless I gazed upon the creatures, then they couldn’t mess with me too much. I racked my brain for anything related to them, but I came up short. The closest thing was the Gyillenmew, a beast that was said to infest your mind should you gaze into its cruel visage.

As I trudged, the light getting stronger, the creatures getting angrier, I thought about why I was doing this. I thought about how I could have avoided all of this if I just killed Astell right when I laid eyes on his traitorous face. Even as I felt something strike my skin, I thought of my best friend.

I wanted to know why! What had he been promised that he could forsake everything we’d been through? What had I done wrong that he would turn against me? I wanted the reason to that question before making him feel as I felt. Yet, here I walked, slowly dying, being cut away by the demons behind me.

A lash there, a strike there, blood seeped from my wounds as I tried, looking down when one of them tried to appear in front of me. Or had it always been there? I wasn’t sure.

As I walked, I thought of Aesteal, my mother, and Ellen. I wanted to look at the open domes around me, but I didn’t want to take my chances. I couldn’t afford it. I wondered how I must look to them. I wondered if Ellen was even watching me. I wouldn’t blame her if she walked off with the others. I thought of her hurt expression, wondering if that was how I looked when my crew betrayed me.

As the lavender light engulfed me and the strikes stopped, I wondered… how would I make it up to Sothshore? Nay, how would I make it up to my crew? Of course, they wouldn’t want me to endure this. If I died, there was almost no guarantee that they would survive. Everything they risked their lives for would become as useful as an empty barrel to starving strays.

I stared up at the lavender light, its glow making my eyes squint. I cautiously turned around and noticed six unmoving scarecrows, all of them at different spots in the field of bones and tall grass.

I looked down and saw Boreli. My lips curved upwards. I made it. Once again, I survived. Fortune had not forsaken me. I survived my crew’s betrayal, survived the Taker of Voices, and survived the Father & Son spirits. Now I made it to another of my goals once again. All of that done with the strength I’d mustered for myself.

“You be a real bastard to get to, Boreli! Don’t think your death will be an easy one!” I panted, trying not to stumble from the numerous wounds I’d suffered. I wanted to see the unease in my former best friend’s face when he realized that he would only die by my hands. He would only die when I permitted it.

I noticed Boreli didn’t move. I also noticed there was something in his hands. I thought that maybe he was in shock from the horrors he’d witnessed and gone numb. It wasn’t impossible. Someone like him, who's never left C’ula, wouldn’t be able to handle all of this alone. In fact, that he survived this long amazed me.

Unfortunately, my amazement didn’t last for very long. I was tired, hurt, and irritated. I definitely didn’t feel like I walked half a dome’s length. It felt more like I just walked from one part of Draegnar to the next.

I grabbed a hold of Boreli’s shirt. I yanked him up, hoping to see his fear-stricken eyes. All that I had endured, all that I had done, it would all be worth it just for that brief glimpse of glory for myself. I was a pirate. That was my treasure. That fear and that despair, I wanted to claim them as my own.

…Aye, I wanted to. That was what I wanted. That was the treasure I hoped to claim for myself. However, I could only watch as Boreli’s head fell back from my yanking and rolled off his shoulders.

I felt like I had been hit by a time spell, everything around me moving so slowly. Astell’s young head bounced off his shoulder blades. It then struck his back. After that, the light provided me with an undaunted look at it rolling along the ground like a ball in the street. My eyes followed it as if in a trance, my lips feeling something wet on them.

When it rolled to a stop, I noticed its eye-less sockets. They’d been plucked out like one would pluck an apple from an apple tree.

In front of me, Boreli laid dead at my feet, my hands the only thing holding his headless body up.

I became aware of my rapid movements in my chest. My vision became blurry. A sea of red covered my eyes. Air escaped through my mouth in rapid, but unequal bursts. All the strength in my legs disappeared. The clouds I’d been standing on suddenly released me and my legs crashed against hard pavement. My knees buckled and I dropped to the ground, the bright lavender light of the dome making me see spots of varying colors as a sea of sweat fell down my face.

As I held Astell’s lifeless body, a horrifying realization soon came upon me. Unable to stop myself, my mind and will snapped in two like a band pulled too much, I turned around and stared at the scarecrows.

My breath hitched in my throat, my broken pride forcing me to fully accept that Ellen was right. I wasn’t a pirate captain. I wasn’t the Son of Poseidon. I wasn’t even a man.

…I was just a toy, prey that fell right into an obvious trap.

When I looked back, I saw an evil grin filled with sick, twisted teeth upon the lips of one of the crows. The hat it wore covered its eyes, but I knew it could see me. It smiled at me, applauding me for making it as far as I did.

No, maybe applauding was the wrong word. I’d have to be worthy prey to be applauded over. It was probably smirking at me, knowing thoughts of my pride that I could tame Delverhold again only to be proven wrong. Everything I was. Everything I wanted to be, it all seemed like a moot point. Like a man on the verge of insanity, I found myself right back to where I was before my crew threw me to the tides.

“Heh… hehehehe… hahahahaha!”

I wasn’t sure about why I laughed. I just did as I continued to stare at the crows, no longer caring of the fate that fell before me. At this point, it was hardly better than the shit beneath my boots, or the ash in my pockets.

Then came the pain, and the screams.

There were so many screams.

I looked down. I wish I hadn't, for I saw a claw pierced through my right rib cage. A goblet of blood poured out of my mouth, my vision growing hazy.

As I fell to the ground, pain coursing through my body, my consciousness fading, the last thing I saw was Boreli’s head. It would be the memory to mark my failure as a man, a captain, and a pirate.