"Well... that was definitely something..."
The meeting had ended and war was just around the corner. Treyni had come to ask for help to deal with the orcs and their leader, the orc lord. Apparently she and the other dryads couldn't deal with the invasion on their own, and so they came to us for help, not that I could really blame them. After all, the dryads were powerful, sure, but they were few in number and would quickly be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the orc invasion.
"To think that the orcs have been eating their own dead..." I breathed, looking at the ground as I sat just outside the town hall. "This world truly is far darker than I was expecting."
(The idea should sicken me down to my very core... but... all I feel is a strange numbness in my chest.) I thought with a breathless sigh.
I had come out here to clear my head, to get some fresh air as everyone in Tempest began preparing for what was to come. We wouldn't be setting out for at least a few days; however, things were definitely in motion now. Either way, right now I just needed to think in private for a little while.
For a moment I just sat there in silence before muttering to myself. "You know, it's honestly kind of strange..."
"They're clearly my enemies; they probably wouldn't even so much as hesitate to destroy this place." That was true, they'd most definitely kill everyone here if they got the chance. "And yet, despite knowing this, I find myself sympathizing with them somewhat."
(I may be the only one in town who truly understands what it means to be driven by starvation to that degree.) I leaned back in my seat, letting that thought wash over me before continuing.
(I wouldn't wish that on anyone... and having to watch your loved ones go through that as well...) I breathed, a shiver of dread running through my form. (To watch them slowly die in a body that has become far too weak... trapped in a tomb of their own flesh, unable to even move or search for any kind of sustenance...)
"I... I can't even imagine that kind of grief..." A part of me believed it might have been better if I didn't know; after all, it would be easier to kill them if they were just plain evil.
"And to think that the orc lord would have a skill like that, one that actively afflicts such agony on those who follow them..."
The unique skill, Starved. There were skills I had heard of, or even skills I had myself, that made me feel uncomfortable, but none of them had filled me with the kind of dread that this particular skill did. According to Treyni, it was a skill that every orc lord had, one that granted the user and all their followers the ability to devour the strength of those they ate. It also created a kind of psychic link between the orc lord and their underlings, something that allowed the orc lord to consume the fear and pain of its followers.
But none of that was the part that had gotten such a reaction from me. No, the part that had caused me such internal distress was the fact that the Starved skill had a far darker effect. Simply put, it inflicts a state of endless starvation and extreme hunger upon all those who follow the orc lord, pushing them to devour everything, even their own dead. And the worst part? Their desire to consume can never be satisfied. Even when they have biologically consumed enough to be full, they'll still feel like they're starving to death.
(Honestly...) I thought as I breathed out slowly, turning my gaze upwards. (I can't think of a worse kind of hell.)
"Suu?" Just then a soft call came from my right.
"Huh?" I was so deep in thought that I hadn't even noticed Rimuru's approach; he was standing about a foot away from me. "O-oh, hey."
"You all right? You left pretty quickly at the end there." He mused, sitting down next to me.
I hesitated for a second before shaking my head slightly. "I'm fine, I... I just needed some time to think, as all."
"You can talk to me if you need to, you know." It was clear from the look on his face that he knew what was on my mind.
"I know." I nodded slowly at that. "But like I said, I'm fine."
(I shouldn't bother him with all this.) I mused internally.
Fortunately he didn't push the topic any further. "Alright... if you're sure anyway."
We sat there in silence for a while after that, the sound of the bustling town around us becoming nothing but muffled background noise. It was obvious he hadn't just come here to check up on me, and before I could break the silence and ask, he finally spoke up.
"So... erm... we need to talk."
"About what?" I asked simply without looking over at him.
"To put it bluntly, I think you should stay here when we head out." His words caused me to stiffen for a second, but of course he wasn't finished yet.
"It's not because I don't think you're useful or anything like that." He quickly added before sighing and explaining himself. "I just... I don't think it would be right of me to put you in that kind of situation. You may be powerful, but you're still just a kid."
For a moment I didn't respond, just sitting there lost in my own thoughts. (I guess that makes sense... he's worried after all... so maybe I should...)
"No..." I slowly shook my head, finally turning to look him in the eye.
"What?" He blinked, clearly taken aback.
"I said... I said no." I breathed, sounding far more confident now. "If I'm to survive in this world, to live in it, I need to be able to stand on my own two feet."
"I refuse to be afraid again, to be too frail to protect myself, to just keep my head down and pretend I don't exist. I refuse to be weak again." I let it all out as I continued speaking, my voice filled with both determination and conviction. "So no, I'm sorry, but I need to do this."
He stared at me for a while after that, surprise flashing across his face before he smiled softly. "You really have grown quite a bit since you first arrived here."
"Alright." He nodded, although it was clear that he was still somewhat reluctant. "Just promise me that if things get hectic and I tell you to pull back, you'll do so."
"Sure..."
(I guess that's the best I'm going to get.) I thought to myself quietly.
I was pulled back to the present, however, when Rimuru suddenly got to his feet. "Come on."
"Huh?"
"While I'm not going to stop you from going, I'm at least going to make sure you're prepared. And so until Zeref and Souei get back to report, you're going to get some flying lessons." He explained with an amused smile playing across his face.
"Oh right, I almost forgot about that." I mused, referring to the latter part of his words.
It was true: during the meeting, we agreed that aligning ourselves with the lizardmen to deal with the orcs was probably for the best. Instead of getting into contact with a certain loudmouth again, Souei volunteered to go and visit the lizardmen chief in person. Not wanting him to potentially walk into hostile territory alone, I suggested that Zeref go with him, and he, of course, agreed.
(They should be fine... hopefully anyway.) I thought as I got up.
_ _ _ _Zeref Pov_ _ _ _
"We're close." Souei hummed as he came to a stop.
"Yesss, they are just ahead now." I hissed low and steady as I partially emerged from his shadow.
Once my upper body had emerged, I asked curiously, "How are you holding up, my friend?"
"I'm fine, although without my Shadow Movement skill this place would definitely be difficult to move through normally." He replied flatly and stoically.
"Indeed, that is true." I nodded, taking in our environment and the sight that lay ahead.
This land was vast, made up of damp and flooded marshes that stretched out for miles in every direction, marshes that surrounded a great lake that was known simply as Lake Siss. The air here was moist beyond belief, with a stagnant smell that irritated the senses. Not to mention the way the squelching earth stuck to my scales with every movement.
I could most definitely see how attacking this place would prove immensely difficult under normal circumstances; the landscape alone may be difficult to traverse for most species. And that wasn't even considering the fact that the mud and waters here probably conceal swarms of poisonous and parasitic insects as well as various monsters and magic beasts that were all hiding just out of sight.
Our destination, however, was just ahead. Jutting out from the earth and surrounded by firmer-looking land was a mountain of jagged stone. It towered over the surrounding area, its shape casting a long silhouette in the mist. From our current position we could clearly see it, a cavernous opening where the visible forms of lizardmen occasionally entered and exited.
"So then, how should we do this?" Souei asked calmly, causing me to think for a moment.
"It is quite simple, really," I hissed, my eyes narrowing slightly as the memory of a certain lizardman flashed through my mind. "Let's go right through the front."
"Right. From what we've seen so far they're quite a prideful species, so we should make it clear that we out class them before they end up doing something stupid." Souei nodded in agreement, causing me to hum in response.
"Correct, my friend."
"Then let's get moving," he breathed out slowly as I slid back into his shadow.
"Indeed..."