“No snacks for a week,” Mateo barks angrily.

  “A whole week, I’ll die!” Natalia protests.

  “Don’t be so harsh on her, pixies can only use the powers you are willing to let them,” Okami explains.

  “We lost days, maybe even weeks traveling,” Mateo says squinting his eyes.

  “It’s about the journey not the destination,” Natalia replies innocently.

  “She’s not wrong, you did get to see and experience a lot of things you wouldn’t have if we had been teleporting around,” Serenity adds seductively.

  “Fine, I’ll overlook it this time,” Mateo says with a sigh.

  “Does that mean I get snacks?” Natalia snipes hurriedly.

  “No, no snacks.”

  “But I made cookies,” Stitches interjects.

  “Cookies!” Terror yells.

  “Cookies!” Jade also yells.

  “I promise I won’t teach anymore of your familiars to call you daddy,” Natalia says with a sweet smile.

  “Fine, but if I hear Kobold or Furioso make even an off comment about me being a loose father figure I’m re revoking your snack privileges,” Mateo argues.

  “Oh, should I not refer to you as daddy then?” Azul asks.

  “Damnit Natalia!” Mateo scolds as she disappears.

  Cheerful laughter fills the air of the Brilliant Hare tavern in Heroldin. As one of the more desirable taverns, it is well known for its beast-man staff who have ears and a tail that resemble that of a rabbit. Stitches, being a Neko, pounces on one herself before disappearing with him to a private room.

  The band of bards are excited to have company. Life on the road can be lonely. Especially when you’re a nine talon about to transition to ten. A lot of adventurers have either exceeded that rank and moved to more dangerous lands or aren’t close enough to be worth sharing revelry.

  “So, your healer just ascended to eight talons,” Yetsu says raising his pint of mead.

  “Yeah, I’d let her tell you about it, but she seems to have run off, I myself haven’t even ascended to six talons,” Mateo replies.

  “I’m glad we have your company then, not everyone is so keen on approaching a higher talon party, and parties above our rank look down on us,” Yetsu says taking a drink.

  “That sounds like some bullshit, adventurers should be excited to share experiences and meet up,” Mateo says taking a bite of his roasted cowlligator leg.

  Azul fidgets in her seat. For an ogre she seems young, perhaps a few years older than Jade. Mateo turns his gaze to her, and she looks away blushing.

  “Is she ok?” He asks.

  “No, she saw you use an ice spell, and it piqued her curiosity,” Yetsu replies.

  “Perhaps you have a new admirer, your harem grows,” Okami says with a sly wolven grin.

  Mateo rolls his eyes as Natalia takes a seat by his plate pulling a sweet-salt roll nearly her size from it. She takes a bite out of it chewing forcefully as if she hasn’t eaten in days.

  “You should talk to her, she might give you more insight into your ice element abilities,” Natalia says with a mouth full of sweet-salt roll.

  Mateo smiles seeing his mischievous pixie devouring a roll the size of her small form. He teases her a lot out of good fun, but it never fades from his mind that she’s the reason he’s alive. They share a bond. Intertwined in destiny they walk this realm together.

  “Azul, would you join me in the light of the full moon, I’d wait for you to ask, but I doubt you would,” Mateo says standing.

  She looks flustered, but her curiosity overtakes her timidity. She stands, takes a bow, and bolts out of the tavern brushing shoulders with a few bunny girls as she exits.

  “She’s a bit timid, but when it needs to be, her resolve is unbreakable,” Yetsu says with a smile.

  “Don’t do any ‘interspecies research’ on her,” Serenity says jokingly.

  Mateo shakes his head before pursuing the young cryogre. It isn’t hard to find a blue skinned girl with curled horns in Heroldin. Though it may be one of the more diverse cities, there aren’t a lot of ogres of any type that are civilized so Azul stands out. Mateo catches her hiding by a small fountain in one of the town alleys.

  The fountain itself is filled with coins offered to Heroldin for good luck. More a myth than a legend after centuries of absence, Heroldin still instills hope in the city named after her. Mateo sits on the fountain beside the young cryogre Azul.

  “Hey, I heard you wanted to speak with me.”

  She looks up and her icy blue eyes lock with his. Her breath shows as a cold mist even on a warm night. Her head adorned with long black hair she runs her fingers over one of her curled horns nervously.

  “I saw you cast cryosheet, but you aren’t a cryomancer, I just thought, I haven’t met a lot of people that use my element, most want to be pyros, or swift like the wind, even using earth powers is preferred over,” she pauses, “making things cold.”

  Mateo places a hand on her cheek and her eyes grow wide. He runs his fingers up to one of her horns before pulling his hand away. Azul grabs his hand pulling it back to her pressing it to her chest. Mateo closes his eyes as a low thump pounds against his palm. Not the regular beat of a heart, but the cold drum of a heart of ice.

  “You want my advice?” Mateo asks.

  “Not quite what I was thinking,” she replies.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  “Stop looking for guys that are too hot, and stop being so cold to guys that aren’t,” Mateo says patting her shoulder.

  “What the void is that supposed to mean?” She asks.

  “Find someone who is just the right temperature for you, someone who will keep you warm, but isn’t so hot that they melt you, relationships are about trust and compromise, you’ll have to warm up to someone at some point otherwise you’ll be a scared girl forever, not that your timid nature isn’t cute, but you’ll have to get aggressive eventually,” Mateo says with a sincere smile.

  Azul stares up at him with a crooked smile.

  “I think I understand, I need to take the initiative.”

  “That’s a good start,” Mateo replies patting her shoulder.

  Azul grips Mateo’s hand kneeling.

  “Mr. Ryusane, will you marry me?” She asks.

  “Absolutely not!” Serenity yells rescuing him.

  Beatrice shoves Serenity out of the way glaring at Azul.

  “You want some of that hot realm-walker-,” she coughs, “get in line sweetie.”

  “She doesn’t want what I have to offer, she’s just confused,” Mateo says pulling his hand away.

  “You won’t marry me then?” Azul asks.

  “I will not, you are a beautiful young woman, but I am currently seeing someone,” Mateo says turning to Serenity.

  “I’m not seeing anyone,” Okami says joining them in the woods.

  “Damn, why not bring the entire tavern to the woods,” Mateo complains.

  “Fine, I’ll return to the tavern,” Okami replies suspiciously.

  The air breaks as Rayo pummels the ground with his form and Azul stares at him in wonder. Rayo nudges Mateo’s shoulder with his snout seeing the young cryogre looking distressed. Mateo returns to Azul grabbing her hand.

  “This isn’t a date, but have you ever ridden a dragon?”

  “N-no, are you, I would,” she pauses as he smiles, “ok, I’ll ride your dragon.”

  Mateo and Azul soar high into the sky on top of Rayo.

  Rick and Beatrice speak up at the table with the rest of the bards.

  “Fill us in, what is the status of the hellbent,” Rick asks Yetsu.

  “That word, ‘hell’, Mateo used it, and we didn’t understand, where does it come from?” Okami asks.

  “The Hellbent come from the Cult of the Abyss, they are creatures summoned from a realm known to the Cult of the Immortal Father, a cult formed by a recent realmwalker preaching about a ‘one true god’,” Rick explains.

  “Terror thinks they worship the Broodmother then.”

  “No,” Beatrice says moving closer to him and wrapping an arm around his large bicep.

  The familiar look of desire covers her face as she grabs Terror’s drink taking a sip. Jade scoffs giving her a disgusted look.

  “Ew, you’re not supposed to drink after other people it’s gross,” she says with a disgusted look.

  “I’m afraid not, the Cult of the Immortal Father worship Yahweh, the one they claim is the only true god, their forces are led by saint Christo, the supposed son of the father, we have little information on him,” Rick replies.

  “You’re not concerned about Mateo flying around with the young Cryogre?” Serenity asks.

  “No, her innocence is a good distraction, he has not been in this world long so none of the information we discuss will hold much weight to him,” Accipiter says brushing his brilliant hawklike feathers.

  “I wouldn’t be so sure,” Stitches chimes in.

  The amber scaled ruksha, Ruby Noir, stands taking a bow. She then takes her seat placing her large talons on the table.

  “Ruby does not find the neko’s response without reason, not all realm-walkers are callous to their new environments, this Mateo, seems to think of this realm as a new home, as a realm walker yourself, what conclusion have you come to, sister Noir?” Ruby asks turning her gaze toward Stitches.

  “So, you too have the death essence, I was curious as to why your lead could cast death magic, but I suppose he was only chanting the spells you were casting,” Stitches replies.

  Ruby smiles answering her question without a response. The tavern shakes as a large creature slams into the ground outside it. The group scurry to the door to find that Rayo has plowed his way into the ground outside the tavern. Mateo scurries off him limping as he cradles Azul in his arms. Both are bleeding, Mateo from a barb in his thigh. Azul, from a barb in her left shoulder.

  “What the hell happened!” Yetsu yells.

  “Some kind of abomination, like a pile of human corpses screaming for their horrid existence to end, then it just started firing jagged barbs at us, they couldn’t pierce Rayo’s scales, but Azul needs a healer,” he says falling to one knee.

  “An abomination, I think I might have just the thing for that, ready the town, this isn’t just some random monster attack, we are under assault,” Stitches says raising her staff.

  Bits of flesh and scales piece themselves together as the group look on in horror.

  Harvester of Gore ability activated: Gore Golem Abomination- the harvester of gore allows the user to combine the severed extremities of the fallen into a mass creating an abomination avatar/avatars to fight for them.

  Ability used: flesh abomination- user can summon a flesh abomination familiar. This abomination is not a mindless avatar, but a sentient familiar. Once destroyed the resurrected abomination may be inhabited by a different soul.

  The mangled limbs and corpses of a tyrant and several razor talons combine to create a hideous four-armed six-legged reptilian nightmare with three tales and five heads. Only one head seems sentient as the other four gnash their jagged maws ferociously.

  “Stitches, what the hell is that thing?” Mateo asks.

  “That ‘thing’,” she replies squinting her eyes, “is Monica.”

  Guards defending the gate to Heroldin shoot past Mateo and his group as a loud bang sends the gate doors hurtling into the central courtyard of Heroldin. A massive creature seemingly composed of hundreds of human corpses forces its way into the courtyard. The stench of death and misery fills the air as the abomination of fused corpses encroaches upon them.

  The group stare in horror as over a hundred heads open their mouths crying out in agony upon the creature’s approach.

  “Killing this monstrosity would be a mercy,” Okami says.

  “Don’t worry, the mercy of death is my specialty,” Stitches replies.

  Stitches’ abomination steps up to the encroaching abomination letting off a tyrant roar as its one sentient head focuses on the mass of humanoid flesh and limbs. The two nightmarish creatures stare each other down before engaging in horrid and gory combat.

  Stitches’ abomination begins ripping arms and eyes off of the creature as it is sprayed with blood and puss. The opposing creature launches its own assault ripping shallow wounds into the flesh of its assailant with the fingernails of the recently deceased.

  The monstrosities plow through town damaging homes and businesses. The townspeople flee in search of asylum from the gruesome conflict. Stitches pours her mana into her abomination, and it bears down on its target like the will of death.

  Flesh puddles into the street as it runs red with blood. The horrid stench of a popped bloated corpse fills the air as Stitches’ Abomination leaves its opponent in ruin. Through streets filled with gore and the stench of death Stitches turns to Mateo.

  “Destroy it,” Mateo says meeting her gaze.

  Like a putrid pimple the enemy abomination erupts into a mass of puss as Stitches’ abomination tears through it. The streets littered with gore, Mateo’s group seeks refuge in Chrissima’s shop.

  Warm water runs over Mateo’s soft flesh as the door to the bath creeks open. Natalia, who wasn’t watching Mateo shower at all, vanishes into thin air. Startled Mateo turns to find that a large chested Lamia has him naked and cornered.

  “Um, who are you?” Mateo asks.

  “My apologies, I am Chrissima’s sister Medusa,” she hisses with a crooked smile.

  “Oh, so do you turn men to stone?” Mateo asks.

  “I find that when men gaze into my eyes they often become rock hard,” she hisses cunningly.

  “Here’s a towel, I’ll handle the lamia,” Okami says tossing Mateo a towel.

  “Um, thanks?”

  “Okami, don’t pull me away from my prey.”

  “Sorry, he’s not available.”

  Mateo steps out of the bath and pulls some comfortable clothes from his inventory.

  “Well that was awkward,” Natalia says.

  “Were you watching me bathe?” Mateo asks.

  “Someone has to have your back, especially when you are most vulnerable,” Natalia replies feigning innocence.

  “I’m glad it’s someone I trust, someone I,” Mateo pauses giving Natalia a smile, “someone I love.”

  Natalia blushes landing on his shoulder in her pixie form. She rubs her cheek against his neck and he pats her on the head gently.

  Retreating to his bed for the night he finds that Serenity doesn’t join him. Instead, Stitches warms him. Her soft ears and tail give him comfort while Serenity spends the night hunting for blood with the hoaram.

  Mateo closes his eyes for a moment to find his mind filled with words from a familiar tome.

  “Blood is to be spilled, prove to me that you are worthy of my light, and I will pull you from the darkness.”

  -Heroldin