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jellymellydraws · 8 months ago

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Astarion x Dark Urge Chapter 20 -- The Blade of Frontier's Guide to Goblins. Rating: E Tags: Angst, Fluff, hurt/comfort, slow burn

Chapter Summary:

In the dungeons of the Selune Temple, Rose's party prepares to save Master Halsin. Before they can charge in, they need to know what type of enemy they were dealing with. Wyll, The Blade of Frontiers, gives them a Monster Hunter's knowledge on goblinkind. Now, they were ready to save a druid.

The stench of rot and stench wafted from the depths below. Its fetor lingered in the corridor, greeting the guests who eased open the door. A parade of people dipped inside, assaulted by the horrendous odor.

"Even without a tadpole swimming in their heads," Wyll began, "goblins are a nasty thing to fight unprepared. Hells, they wouldn't be a terror on commonfolk otherwise."

Their eyes watered in the smog, but they successfully ducked into the nearest room. Once hidden from the nauseating air, Alfira went to work, shaving the remaining pieces of soap onto squares of cloth. With a few quick folds, a simple mask was formed. Once worn, it provided a pleasant odor for those who were desperately trying to keep their lunch down. Astarion snatched the first one, burying his nose and inhaling like it were his first breath of life. It wasn't much better, but it would do.

"First thing to remember: they're pack monsters. Like wolves, they'll fight in a group. Keep them separated. Don't let them run for help-- they will overwhelm you. A handful is trouble enough. A whole hive? We'd be lucky to make it out alive, even at our strongest."

Chop. Chop. Chop.

The butcher worked at a stubborn carcas. Stout, blocky, and thick with muscle. The cleaver parted flesh from bone, stopped only by the wooden surface. Juices seeped into the table cracks as it greedily drank every last drop.

"I could get used to all these raids," the butcher smirked as he separated body parts on a shelf along the wall.

"Yeh?" His buddy, lounging in a chair next to the cutting table, hacked a cough as he laughed. His filthy feet were propped up on the table, with little care for how close he was to touching raw meat. "I could get used to all the food. Best I've eaten in months!" He grabbed one of the cuts placed on the shelf behind him, and ripped a piece off with his teeth.

"Second: do not let them get those worgs out. They may look like giant mangy wolves but they're smarter-- more cunning. They don't need to take orders from their keeper to know there's an enemy to rip to shreds."

Two large creatures sniffed between the bars of their shared pen. Their coarse, patchy, fur barely covered their legs and chest. Their bald faces revealed a clever glint in their eyes. The promise of food was enough for them to whine oh so innocently. Less like wild wolves, more like domesticated dogs.

"Yer spendin' too much time with the worgs, Zurk. It ain't natural." The butcher eyed the intruding toes wiggling too close to the hindquarters he was working through.

"Ah, shut it Vrak!"

Vrak swung down, chopping the carcas's leg clean from the hip. Zurk jerked back, saving his dirty little piggies from an untimely separation.

"Never seen anyone take to eatin' raw meat like you. Sure you're right in the 'ead?"

Zurk cracked another laugh while he padded towards the begging beasts. "I'm just makin' sure the pups are eatin' good." He tossed the snack to the creatures, who eagerly scarfed up whatever bit they could wrestle from their penmate. ''Least the animals I hang about aren't dead."

"Third: they always have a hierarchy. Usually, a hobgoblin or other smarter goblinoids among them. In smaller groups, one of them rises up as the de facto commander."

A goblin woman stood in front of cold iron bars, arms crossed as she eyed the mass of brown fur circling within. The bear huffed, practically spinning in place with how little space was left for his mighty paws to pace.

"Hey Birka!" Zurk shouted across the room, "when we goin' to feed the pups a prime cut o' bear?"

A sinister grin stretched over her face, revealing a row of pointed yellow teeth.

"Whoever it is, they'd be the strongest and nastiest of the bunch-- barking commands and even using other goblins as shields if they need to. Take them out first, the others won't know what to do."

Wyll carefully laid out each detail he knew about goblinkind. All the while, scented masks were being made and passed around. After Astarion took his, Gale and Shadowheart partook in the remedy. Alfira covered her own face, lifting the last mask towards Rose. She shook her head, declining the offer.

"How in the hells can you breathe?" Astarion hissed through his mask.

"Through my nose," she shrugged a shoulder casually, "quite easily, actually. Lae'zel isn't having any issues, either."

Lae'zel smiled proudly.

His retort was choked out by sickly coughing and gagging. She couldn't help but snicker at his misfortune, but she offered a pat to his back to help him out.

"The poor fragile nostrils of our sensitive Art-starion," she cooed teasingly.

The Blade cut into the playful bickering, "Everyone take a minute to breathe, it's sure to be worse once we get down there."

"Ugh," the elf groan, "And I thought the mindflayer ship smelt bad..."

Up to that point, all Rose had was an idea of what she wanted to achieve: free the druid, kill the goblins, cover their involvement. They were goals, not a strategy. She felt the fragments of one start falling into place during The Blade's brief lesson on goblins, but it wasn't quite there yet. When Astarion steadied his breathing, she directed her attention back the Monster Hunter.

"They've made this place their home, is there anything we should keep an eye out for?"

"Small holes. They use them to burrow in and out of their hives for convenience, or to make quick escapes."

Free the druid, block the exits, kill the goblins, cover their involvement.

Could they manage that? Security in this place was scarce, but a druid captive had to be where their forces were focused, right?

Last thing they needed was to start an ambush, only to get swarmed and overwhelmed. The thought of being taken by surprise made the hairs on the back of her neck rise.

"Before we do anything, I want to know how many goblins we're dealing with down there, and I want eyes on Master Halsin."

Tucked away in a side room, behind toppled pews and tables askew, the party crouched in the furthest corner from the doorway. Shadowheart dragged a piece of chalk against the stone floor. Though her eyes were closed, her hand steadily drew connecting squares and marked the spots where they could expect stairs. A small flickering flame, illuminating the developing map, was held by Lae'zel. It was kept steady, and she knew how to hover her hand to control the light's direction. A bundle of bells were muffled by periwinkle hands, as Alfira held them in her fists; not even her breathing would risk a jingle. Wyll also kept his eyes closed, muttering under his breath. Gale was crouched beside him, scribbling whatever he could hear from their Monster Hunter. Rose, focused on the forming blueprint before her, immediately thinking of how it would affect her planning.

Hardly anything would keep them from the Druid, just a cell door and goblin guard. They had yet to be detected, and they could block the doorways if necessary. But without any other exits, they would need to explain to the drow how the druid escaped without anyone noticing.

"That went surprisingly well," Shadowheart smiled, pleased with her work drawn into the stone floor.

"For now..." Lae'zel hissed under her breath.

A gentle tap landed on Rose's shoulder, causing her to look back reflexively. No one was there. Regardless, she nodded towards Shadowheart, and the two adjusted where they crouched to create a small space between them.

Shadowheart lifted a second piece of chalk from her bag, handing it to the space beside her. When she let it go, the piece floated in mid air, then slowly pointed towards the ground as it was guided by an unseen force.

With the tadpoles, one of them would be able to transmit anything and everything they could see. It was exactly what Rose wanted before they committed their blades to a fight. Though Rose volunteered to scout, the elf insisted that he'd be able to get in, walk around, and get out without anyone noticing-- he promised he could hold his breath if the stench became too much. At first, he played it off as if scouting was more interesting than waiting around, but his tone was uncharacteristically eager. For whatever reason, he insisted, and what kind of leader would she be to turn him down? He seemed surprised that she could be convinced, but one casting of the invisibility spell later, he went off before she could change her mind.

It was Shadowheart's idea to draw out the map as Astarion clung to the walls and slipped by goblins. When Wyll started muttering his observations, Gale pulled out a piece of parchment and inkpen. The lit candle was a courtesy by Lae'zel, so their wizard could see what he was writing.

When he returned, the tadpole connection ended. A collective exhale released from everyone in the circle. The map was completed before them, barring a few minor details. The floating chalk was ready to fill those in.

"Bear here," a velveteen voice whispered behind the chalk, "worgs here. Three goblins. Here, here, annnnnd here."

A small 'x' scratched into one of the boxes representing the pens, then two more were scratched in the next pen over. Markings for the goblins were scattered across the map. Circles for tables, scribbles for light sources, and some adjustments to the sizing of rooms were made-- he even made sure to add a ladder along one of the walls that had been missed by the cleric's drawing.

"I don't suppose you could tell if any of them were infected by tadpoles, could you?" Gale asked with a troubled look on his face.

"Oh, of course I could Gale," even while invisible, Astarion's sarcasm painted a clear picture of his eyes rolling and hand waving dismissively in the air, "it's soooooo obvious-- I mean it's a wonder no one's caught on that all of us are dealing with the wiggly bastards. Tiefling company excluded."

"A simple 'no' would have sufficed, thank you."

Wyll tapped his finger next to the goblin marked directly in front of Master Halsin's pen, "I'd worry about this one, she looked the most capable of the group. Dressed in thick leathers and wore a hood-- like some executioner. No doubt in my mind about it, she's got to be the boss of this room."

"Yes, and with her standing right in front of the door, I couldn't get too close to the druid," Astarion said, "but I saw a lever by his pen. If she can be persuaded to walk away, I could get close enough to free him."

"A druid would be a strong ally, indeed," Lae'zel tapped the small 'x' that marked the bear. "However, if he had been caught by the goblins before, are we certain he wouldn't fall instantly to their blades, again?"

"I asked about that when we freed Liam," Alfira piped up, "according to him, their contract didn't mention goblins, so none of them had been prepared when they were ambushed. And remember what Wyll said, about getting overwhelmed? I'm sure that's what happened."

Shadowheart interjected, "he also said that they were all surprised the head druid wanted to join their party, without wanting pay if the treasure was found."

"Treasure, you say?" Astarion's cooed, "maybe after this, we can help ourselves? We've worked this hard, why shouldn't we get a bit of a reward, after all?"

"Was there a lever for the Worgs on the other side?" Wyll asked.

"I didn't check, but the whole place has a symmetry about it. I'm sure there's one for the balding hounds."

"One of the other goblins are sure to go straight for them once the fighting starts."

"Might I remind everyone," Gale tapped the side of his head, "we're not dealing with normal goblins."

Rose stared at the crude marks chalked into the stone floor. Brows furrowed in concentration as her party whispered around her. Any ideas around this alleged treasure would have to be set aside. Though it did intrigue her-- what purpose would a druid have for treasure? Furthermore, their chat with Nettie revealed that they had been aware of the goblin's presence for some time.

Would that matter if he surrounded himself with an unprepared party of treasure hunters?

Even after getting caught, she couldn't stop wondering what prevented him from leaving of his own accord.

Questions to ask, after they save him.

She eyed everyone in the circle, gauging how prepared they seemed for battle. Half of them already dealt with a strong foe earlier that day, and not all of them would be able to give that same amount of effort in another fight. Lae'zel hadn't done anything that day but rest, Gale and Astarion were on scouting duty all morning.

"Shadowheart," Rose spoke up, quieting the whispers around her, "what strength do you have left for this fight?"

"I can hold my own with a blade, but try not to get too badly wounded," the cleric eyed Rose, "I hope I don't need to tell you that."

The assassin began to roll her shoulder, as casually as she could. The twinge of pain had a lot to say in retort. Shadowheart wouldn't hide the smirk of vindication, seeing her leader's brow furrow tighter.

"It's tense," Rose excused, "but not unbearable. Alfira, what about you?"

"Not much magic besides cantrips, I'm afraid," the tiefling sighed, "but any little bit should help, right?"

As she suspected. Their healer couldn't heal, and their bard couldn't play. Her amber eyes turned to Wyll, who had almost as much energy now as he did that morning.

"I'm right as rain," Wyll answered, flashing a comforting smile.

"You wouldn't happen to know where any of the goblin tunnels would lead to, would you?"

"Nothing complicated, some could be to get to other rooms. Judging by how further down the pits are, I would wager one of them leads directly outside the door. If Alfira and Shadowheart block the entrance," Wyll dragged his finger to the marked doorway at the end of the hall, "we could keep the fighting contained."

"Shadowheart can also be on standby in case one of the damned things slip into a small tunnel," Rose nodded approvingly, quick to regain her composure, "no one comes in, and anyone who goes out can be dealt with"

"Should be easy enough," Shadowheart looked at Alfira, who nodded in agreement. The two quietly rose to their feet and took to their positions beside the only obvious exit. Alfira continued to hold onto her bells, lest they reveal her position to the goblins.

Rose grabbed the piece of chalk from the ground and tapped one of the spaces in the center of the room, "Gale, are these good spots for you to control the room with your magic?"

Gale, though skilled with magic, was not hardy. The space at the end of the long staircase would be where he is safest, and allow his magic to reach almost any side of the room.

"Yes but it leaves me a bit open, doesn't it?" The wizard cautioned, "I'll happily go where you need me, but a dead Gale does no one any good, does it?"

"Weeeelllll..." Astarion, again, couldn't resist.

"Lae'zel and Wyll can stay close to cover you," Rose cut off the teasing.

"Better, thank you!"

In the empty space next to her, she imagined Astarion mocking the way the wizard held an appreciative hand over his chest and offered a small bow of his head.

The faintest of smirks tugged at the edge of her lips.

"I can rush to block the Worg pen," Rose mused, "if we take them by surprise, maybe I can take out their master on the way."

If the worgs were as clever as The Blade said, maybe she would be better off killing them. But whatever they did in those pits would majorly affect how they avoid suspicion falling unto them.

She had to think further ahead. After.

After Master Halsin is freed. After the goblins are killed.

She had to report to Commander Minthara, and she better have a damned good story for why several goblins were dead and their prisoner was gone.

Leave too many blade markings, and it would be clear the druid had assistance. The same could be said with magic. Remnants of their spells could give away their involvement.

Then there was the risk of injury. Her shoulder proved to be more burdensome than she realized. She could push herself for short term success-- but further injury would be difficult to cover up. The same problem arises if any of them were to be severely wounded during this fight.

A group of goblins getting bested by a head druid, especially one shaped like a bear? Expected. Predictable. Believable.

A party of True Souls, however? Suspicious. Pathetic. Unworthy of The Absolute.

Whatever cover story they come up with, the Druid needs to be a part of it.

"Astarion," Rose looked into the empty space she presumed him to be, "can you release Master Halsin?"

"Easily! Shall I handle that now?" his voice carried the curve of a smirk on his lips, followed by the sound of his shoes shifting across the stone. "Yes, I think I'll go do that now!"

"Wait, Astarion!" Rose threw her hand in front of her, desperate to stop him. In her haste, her fingers smashed against his arm. She gripped the smooth leather, but felt absolutely no resistance. If he was running off, she'd be tugging against his sleeve. She'd be pulling him back. This...this was nothing.

He hadn't taken a single step, had he?

"Fuckin' Hells."

"You make it sooooo easy, darling," Astarion snickered, "I couldn't resist."

Yet, she had to resist the mounting desire to rip his arm from its socket. "Let's get into position."

"Dror Ragzlin don't seem to care what happens to the bear, he might be as good as worg meat." The hooded goblin woman flashed a smirk to Zurk. Upon uttering the words 'worg' and 'meat' in the same sentence, the beasts stuck their snouts through the bars of their enclosure again.

"Ahh, now you've got the pups' hopes up!" Zurk crossed his arms, unsympathetic to the begging of his pets.

Birka turned her gaze back to the bear, who continued to ignore her in favor of circling his pen. Her eyes narrowed, "But y'know, I'm not sure if the Drow's got other plans." Again, ignored. Her menacing grin faltered. Then, an idea. She put a hand on her hip and the other to her chin, feigning the act of thinking through another scenario, "on second thought, might depend on if Spike got the whiny one talkin' about where they came from." She half turned away from the beast, but from the corner of her eye she could see the mass stop. His head finally lifted, all attention on his captor. "Well now, that got your attention, didn't it?" Her evil grin stretched further, "Them thieves you was 'angin about are gonna 'ave what's comin' to 'em! An' when we know where your friends are hidin', we're goin to pay 'em a lit'l visit, too!" Each point, punctuated with another step. Step. Step. Step. Until she was inches from the bear's cold wet nose. His eyes held fear unlike she had seen from him in the days of his captivity. She relished in it. Finally, the mighty predator realized he had become prey. "Ya know, I think I likes the sound o' that. Too bad you won't be around to see what's left." She spat on his face with a laugh.

The bear slammed a paw into the cell door. Birka didn't even flinch.

"Ha!" Zurk crowed, "After seein' how Spike handled the dwarf, I'd bet my last gold piece he kills the lad today before gettin' anythin' useful."

"How serious are ya 'bout that bet?" She crossed her arms over her chest, crossing the floor towards Zurk with a glint in her eye. "I 'eard that halfling lass 'ad decent prices for 'er wares, and I got my eye on somethin' nice."

The chatter overlapped as casual conversation turned to friendly ribbing, then to coarse laughter. But the bear continued staring outside his pen. The scent of rosemary and brandy beckoned him towards the door. Each step, the scent grew stronger. Soon, the perfume mingled with a subtle musk of damp earth.

"Let's have some fun," a silky voice purred.

Ca-chunk.

Chains clanged together as the metal doors opened slowly. A mighty roar shook the room as the bear rushed out from his cage. The full strength of his rage turned towards his tormentor, who barely turned around before the giant mass of fur barrelled towards her.

"What the-- shit!" Her palm glowed with a yellow light as the massive claw swung towards her face. Inches from her nose, the air rippled as the bear struck an invisible force. Birka smirked triumphantly, flashing a glowing brand that rested in the middle of her palm, "ah ah ah, the Absolute's given me 'er blessin'-- you ain't gonna lay a toe on me-- agh!"

"How about a dagger?" Astarion's form faded into view, his dagger stuck out from the goblin's shoulder.

"Intruders!" was all she could shout before her full focus went towards surviving the attacks of a raging bear.

Lae'zel rushed around the corner, swinging her blade towards the butcher. Vrak narrowly jumped away, head firmly attached to his shoulders.

"Shit!" He shouted, ripping a cleaver from his cutting table. The gith towered over him, keeping him trapped in his corner of the room. Surrounded by nothing more than meat, his table, and a stool. "Alright, ya bat-faced bitch, ya wanna piece o' me?!" He kicked the stool into his free hand, handling it like a shield, "give it yer best shot."

While Lae'zel had the strength, Vrak had the agility. Her swings found no purchase as the goblin deftly dodged her blade. The clanging of sword against cleaver echoed in the dungeon as they were locked on to each other. Unafraid to get his hands dirty, the goblin would throw whatever pieces of meat he could grab. Whatever would give him enough edge to keep himself from becoming the new butcher's special.

Zurk frantically looked between Birka, Vrak, and the Worgs. The pups threw themselves against the bars of their pen, eager to freely rip the flesh from the strangers that swarmed in.

"What're ya doin, scratchin' yer ass?!" Birka lambasted, "get back up!"

"Shit, right! Back up!" He spun on his heel, dashing towards the steps. He ducked beneath the swinging sword as he passed Lae'zel. The large stairway was right there.

And so were two looming figures, blocking his path.

"Shit. Shit!" He skidded to a stop, scrambling to run back towards the worgs. "Shit shit shit shit shit!"

Flying daggers sliced into his arm as he leapt down the small set of steps. The worgs' barking began, their jaws snapping rabidly as Zurk made a bee line towards the release lever.

"He's going for the worgs!" Wyll shouted.

Gale raced for his position on the stone overlook, his spellbook's pages flurried open as he hands waves in practiced motions. Beneath the collar of his robe, a violet light began to glow. His voice echoed in the space around him, cutting a direct line from him to his target.

"Ad Lapide!"

Arcane circles appeared around Zurk's ankles and wrists, encasing his limbs in magic, until his whole body stopped moving. His hand was extended towards the lever. Oh so very close...and yet not close enough.

Gale held a proud smile as he lowered his hand, "that should hold him," he called over the stone railing.

"Hey wizard!" Astarion called, "little help over here?! This isn't a normal goblin!"

While the bear's hits managed to find purchase once or twice, Birka managed to deflect most of his blows. From his corner of the room, Astarion had thrown cantrip after cantrip, doing his best to aid the bear's hunt. But that damned woman managed to dodge or shield herself.

The wizard looked over the stone railing, watching the way the air rippled around the goblin woman, and how her hand glowed. It would appear as if she was using magic, but as an expert in the arcane, Gale knew this was not the case.

"Ah ha!" The wizard exclaimed, "I knew it! That one's got psionics--"

BOOM

Crashing through the stone railing and colliding into an unsuspecting Gale of Waterdeep, was the bear. As if he weighed nothing, he had been lifted and thrown through the air by Birka's Absolute Abilities. The beast groaned as he rolled off his back, revealing a nearly flattened wizard who slowly got up from the ground.

"Perhaps," he wheezed for air, "I'll keep my exclamations," he groaned again as he held what remained of the railing, "to myself, for now."

The bear grunted in agreement.

The glow on his chest flickered, as did the arcane shapes restraining Zurk.

Birka snarled towards the violin-playing elf, who had nothing to hide behind no that the bear was gone. Two translucent gauntlets had been formed on her hands. One of which, she blew strands of fur off the knuckles. She beckoned for the elf, calling upon her faith in The Absolute to force his obedience. Astarion felt himself pull towards her, pushed by an unseen energy. She reeled a fist back, grinning as his look of terror grew the closer he came.

"Dolor!"

A beam of crackling energy flew into Birka, forcing her off her feet and repelling her into the very wall she threw the bear over. Astarion stumbled backwards, now free from whatever force pushed against his back. When he looked for the source of his saving, he saw Wyll.

"The Blade's got you!" He flashed a smile to the elf as he drew his rapier and rushed towards the commanding goblin.

Just as before, she lifted her hand and blocked the Blade from striking her. Barely.

Birka took a look at her surroundings, realizing how dire a situation she was in. Zurk was still frozen in place, with an assassin abou to strike him down. The Worgs were trapped in their pen, desperately trying to break themselves out. From her spot, she couldn't see what became of Vrak.

Another roar from the bear shook the dungeon. The beast regained some of his strength, and he was eager to finish her off.

"You might do me in," she spat, "but I'm takin' your lot with me."

With the last bit of her strength, she eyed the lever next to the Worgs' door. The gauntlets disappeared from her hand, leaving only the mark of The Absolute glowing in her palm.

The Bear leapt off the overlook, crashing down with the finishing blow.

But it was too late.

Ca-chunk

The worgs raced out of the pen before the doors were fully opened, charging at Rose before she dealt the killing blow on their keeper.

"Shit!" She cursed, backing away from the two mangy beasts before they could take a bite out of her (already tender) arm.

Crash! Glass shattered at their feet.

"Ignis!" Astarion's voice echoed.

An explosion of fire engulfed the mangy monsters. Their cries eerily mixed the wailing of injured hounds with the pained shouts of something humanoid.

"Nice timing, Artiste," Rose smirked.

"I've only just begun," he winked. The elf ran his bow across the strings, playing a quick and light melody.

While the light from his fire subsided, another glow took over. It spread all over the bodies of worgs and goblin alike, illuminating them and the darkest corners of the room.

She hadn't realized how dark the room was until her targets become as obvious as the sun in a clear sky. Rose's daggers found purchase in the chest of one of the creatures. The wound sang to her. Each hit, another chord.

Music to her ears.

Still locked in combat, Lae'zel growled with frustration. How could a puny foe be so formidable?! Vrak took every chance he could to manipulate the room to his benefit. Chairs were thrown at the gith, his table was knocked over for cover. It was all he could do to survive. When the worgs exploded in flame, he got a glimpse at Zurk, helplessly bound by magic.

Gathering his strength, the bucher grabbed the table legs and shoved against it with all his strength. The gith, taken off guard, could do little more than be forced backwards. Unwillingly, she created the opening he needed. The focusing wizard was in his sights. Bruised and bleeding, it wouldn't take much to break that concentration.

Vrak flung his cleaver to the caster, then quickly ran down the steps to Zurk while the others were distracted with fighting. Lae'zel threw the table after him, shouting angrily that her charge escaped.

Another cry came from behind him, a pained sound from what he hoped was the irritating mage.

When the arcane circles disappeared, Vrak knew his aim was true.

"Come on!" He shouted, yanking Zurk by the arm, "get up!"

Pulled to his feet, Zurk quickly steadied his footing. This was bad. They were losing, and losing terribly. The worgs whined as Rose slashed into them, joined by Wyll who took turns attacking the glowing beasts.

The goblin hooked a finger in his lips, whistling loudly. The high pitch carried over their heads. Small pebbles around the gith's feet rolled away from her, clustering into a growing pile. The stone turned malleable, morphing together into a giant bulbous shape. From the sides of this form, eight pointed legs broke free. Eight tiny pebbles took on a polished look, like beady dark eyes. And finally, the fangs.

The giant spider screeched, spitting acid upon the gith.

Her skin sizzled where the droplets hit, but her blade was at the ready nonetheless. The monster dove towards her, fangs poised to sink into its fresh meal.

"Flagra!" Darkness launched into the arachnid. Swirling dark violet magic wrapped around the oversized insect, and a brighter violet light shined from the fleshiest bits. Its weakpoints.

Lae'zel swung her blade into them, viscera splurging out from the wounds as the spider squealed. She grit her teeth when the sight of chainmail entered her periphery.

"You said you were too frail to fight," she chastised the cleric.

"I said I couldn't heal," Shadowheart corrected, throwing her intricate ponytail behind her shoulder, "should I have left you to be eaten by the giant spider?"

The gith struck the spider again, wordlessly.

"I thought not." She ran around the spider, swinging her morning star into the creature while it was weakened by Lae'zel's blade.

Bells jingled behind them, as Alfira ran around the spider confrontation with a potion in her hand. She fell to her knees, skidding towards Gale as he bled out on the ground, cleaver sticking from his back.

"I knew it sounded bad!" The tiefling cried, pouring her healing potion into his mouth. "Gale, wake up-- here!"

His wounds began to close on their own as he swallowed the bitter liquid. He coughed raggedly, slowly getting to his knees.

The worgs fell to the ground, their dying wails harmonizing with the song of their wounds. The giant spider released its last screech before curling in on itself.

Rose turned her sights on the two remaining goblins, flicking the blood from her daggers to the ground at their feet. She approached the two with murderous intent.

As they shook in fear, her blood raced in delight.

"I can't tell you how much I'd enjoy this," she grinned, her shadow covering the both of them, "but you aren't mine to kill."

She sheathed her daggers and took a step back.

The Bear charged in, mauling the goblins before they could so much as scream.

No hesitation.

No mercy.

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alifalfarisy · 9 months ago

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Zhilla, she's my nicole.

I've done searching, I've done all the things I wanna do as what a teenager really wanna do. It was in 2023 where after my breakup with my ex, i chose to seek around. To see how the other half lives. Turns out, I met this one particular girl who really loves to talk about her adventurous life.

It was not what I expected. I thought she wouldn't swipe me right because I know how gorgeous she is. Most of this type of users won't give me a chance, but she seemed having it. So we started talking. She asked me;

"What is pinoy?🤔"

I was just a silly boy who like pinoys around tiktok who fool around and sing better than Indonesians (in my opinion). I explained who are they and she said, she likes some tagalog songs too! That was exciting. Since after, we started to talk about so many things where me and her get excited at.

I told her that I really love Sci-Fi, i am a real nerd of science, and many more. She said she didn't believe that I am a scientist lol. Because she didn't know that I went to the same Uni. She also shared some story about Turkey. She even knew that I went to ER frequently for no reason. Then we decided to be friends in Instagram which brought us to "Facebook friends".

"Wonder what's in the cards for us, maybe it's just to keep our distance, and stay friends on Facebook"

We stayed friends on Instagram for many months. We replied to each other's stories. Many things were shared through our dms which I really want her to get deeper. So I asked her number just to keep in touch.

We even met for once around March to April in Bogor. I asked her to go out from Padre to see me at the parking spot. She was giggling and shaking for no reason. And all I did is just talk with her. She couldn't believe it that she really met me lol. I love her giggly sound, her nervous face, and shy. Oh what a day.

We became penmate. She knew way too much about me and vice versa. I shared like literally everything even my dreams and her dreams. I told her about my favorite youtube channel who talks about science. She shared some horror stories which I wouldn't forget that I also shared about mine.

But after that, I suddenly felt like there is something that occupies me, especially my feelings. And she became my Anaheim.

"In a perfect world, I'd kill. to love you the loudest. But all I do is live to hurt you soundless"

To hurt her is never my intentions. I wasn't there. It wasn't me. It was the other me. I really enjoy her company but somehow, the pain is still there. Yes, I am lost, but not in you.

And the stupid thing is, I let myself get drowned in my feelings.

I was happy living all alone, no ribcage, no consequences, no regret. She was excited to me but I was not. And nothing was changed but I was just lost.

"But baby, I'm so sorry. I don't think that I'll ever memorize this route..."

I told you, hurting you was never my intention. It never was but I did it anyway. And I regret it. Even though regretting isn't my thing, I did regret this one. I admitted it. And she became a Backburner to me.

"The goo goo dolls are dead to me the way you should be too"

I would say yes, I would have been dead rather than leaving her hanging right there. We kept talking but sadly, I wasn't having it. I didn't have the excitement like used to be. I blame everything I did for what I have done to her.

Checking up on her frequently, talk to her, be friends with her, without her knowing that I have no more attachments to her. We're only a Milk Teeth but we choose Keeping tabs.

I believe that I was her Autumn.

"You said, "Don't fret love, someday I'll be my own man, I'll be free". Oh, but darlin' did you mean, did you mean from me?"

I didn't say this and I didn't do this. I believe that "us" was still a thing to us. Hours passed, days were skipped, year gone, I said happy new year and she did too. I remember that she once said she wants to visit the Holy Place. And her mother agreed.

I even told her to go to some places I use to visit. And suddenly...

Yeah. This is our Oceans and Engines.

"Fingers entwined and so were our minds, crying, I don't want you to go"

She just got selected to be the IISMA awardee which will brought her abroad. Australia, it is. I wasn't shocked tho it was her struggle that showed me that she is capable and deserved that. But, i didn't know that I don't have much time to see her. For at least, a month. She kept asking me whether I can see her or not but the answer were still "I'm busy". I tried to make time for her but this body can't help but to get sick.

I told her so many times that I enjoy this one particular singing bar that I regularly go for the nights. She said that she wants to experience this place for at least once with me. And we agreed to meet, suddenly, we chose that place.

I wonder why, after having beers, wines, and liquors with different friends, only with her I felt warm. I felt the sense of why do people took beers with someone they love. It is because you'll get a different experience with them.

We talked everything for what happened in a year and a half. We even discussed about our feelings too. I didn't asked her, but I said I wasn't ready yet. Tho to make it fair, she can do anything what she wanna do in Australia without thinking of me. Then, we chose to go home after.

I didn't know that this feeling would be back; I started to like her again. I thought it was just some effect of having alcohol back then but not that I felt that feeling until the next morning. We didn't talk that much too in the Saturday because she was capped with packing things. And suddenly sunday came.

I never knew that Airport goodbyes are the saddest one. I never knew that this temporary goodbye is huge to me. I went to Semarang, and she went to Canberra. Since then, she didn't replied my message for a couple hours.

I never, ever regret anything in my life except this one thing; denying the fact that I liked her since the first time I met her. It was her, always have been. But I was just denying that, I got so many scars that left behind in my past where I can see Anaheim in her. I didn't know Oceans and Engines is real to us. I didn't notice that Before is our start and Keeping Tabs is the one who kept us in touch. And I think, staying as a Facebook Friends is better than a Backburner after all. I love you, Zhilla. Have a great adventure over there. Always keep in mind that I'm here giving you these open arms for you to lay back.

#Spotify

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