In the reddish brown interior of the dungeon, a gigantic serpent was wreaking havoc on its surroundings, causing total destruction and earning the annoyance of the people inside.
They all had fear and frustration written all over their faces as they ran helter skelter from the chaos-causing sonovabitch.
Grace was panicking seriously. "Lord Novem, please snap out of it!". She begged
"No! Elizabeth!!". Novem groaned, tears streaming down his face as he looked down at the Elizabeth laying on the floor.
"Novem! You need to get it together!". Mathias also panicked
"This 's a mess". Felix scratched his head
"Pull yourself together!!". An irritated Nathan came forward and slapped Novem right in the face
It was personal…
"No, Elizabeth is, she's... No, why!!". Novem broke down again
The princess: "... ".
"Novem, you'll bury her later! For now, let's face this. That thing is coming for us!!". Kelvin shouted ahead as she, Sebastian and Reo kept the serpent busy.
"No! He broke Elizabeth!! She's dead! What will I do!?". He used the cloth part on his shoulder to wipe the tears off his face, but it clearly wasn't doing its job well. "What am I going to do?".
"Lord Novem!". Nathan shouted at the top of his voice
"What!!!". Novem's eyes glinted a faint green as he slowly turned his head towards the cause of Elizabeth's death. That damned serpent.
Novem released a dangerous aura that made the others shudder in their breath. He stood up and walked towards the rampaging reptile. On his way, he picked up a different sword than he had used earlier. It had a curved green handle and a very pointy edge. "You'll pay for this". Novem mumbled to himself. "You'll pay for her death...". He commenced his seventeenth round of attack
Exactly sixty-one minutes ago...
Novem launches himself off the ground and charges straight for the serpent. It used its armored tail to force Novem back to the ground.
Novem gritted his teeth and strengthened his grip on his sword. "That armor". He squints his eyes.
The serpent's full back armor glowed emerald green in the fairly lit place. "It's as tough as it looks".
Novem stood up straight and flung his sword. He stared dead at the serpent. "I'll go for the head next".
Clunk!
The sound of metal falling sounded from the other side of the hall.
"What was..?". He came to a realization "The princess!".
Novem turned in an attempt to run towards the source but in the most swift of strikes, the large serpent lunged straight for Novem with its widened mouth and revealing a damned set of fangs that smelled death and snapped it.
Its fangs were dripping a lethal purple fluid which evaporated into a poisonous gas suspended in the air. It was a close call, and Novem barely dodged that!
As the Serpent's fangs snapped shut, the air seemed to cut and give way. Novem felt the wind from the creature's strike buffet him and he stumbled backwards, his heart racing. He looks up to find the serpent recoiling as it prepares to strike again.
Novem knew he had to move, he had to think, and take the privilege of attacking first this round.
"I am the almighty Valtor, what is your name, you mere mortal". The serpent hissed
Novem eyed it from up to down. "I'm not so inclined on giving my name to a potential enemy with a death certificate in my hands. But it's Novem". He smirks
"Hm. You seem to have a lot of courage, oh you human."
"Can't give justice without courage." Novem shrugged
The Serpent, "... "
It thought for a moment
"Ah. You must be a leader". It cackled "That's quite amusing. I wonder, what will your people say when you don't return to them in one piece?". A hint of oppression in its cracking voice.
"Then I also wonder... What will your neighborhood say... ". Novem rushed forward and leapt in the air. "When their little pest doesn't return home!".
Novem, with his sword, crashed down on the head of the large serpent. "I'm sure they'll cry with joy". He nearly bounced back from the repercussions.
It's harder than I thought. Novem broke a sweat
He opened his purple black portal and pulled out another sword with a curved green handle outside. Almost immediately, he lunges it on the head of the serpent.
The Serpent violently whips its head around in an attempt to shake Novem off.
"Woah". Novem lamented and quickly clashes his swords down again.
The serpent successfully managed to shake him off.
"I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't step on my head". The serpent looked down on Novem "You filthy human".
"Look at this idiot talking?". Novem mocked
It struck a nerve
"Out of all the humans I've come across and eaten, you're the only one I'm going to have a good time tearing apart. Your death will definitely not be so simple". The serpent bared its fangs
The Nathan, who was already done with his battle, was sitting on the floor with his legs folded. "Even I can tell you're pouting". He said with an indifferent expression
"Oh, you can see that too, Nathie". Novem laughed as he flinged his swords mm around
"Yeah, look at her pouting like what I don't know". Nathan picked his ear
"I Am Not A Her!" The Serpent fumed in anger
"Is that big head just for show?". Mathias who was almost sleeping asked in wonder, "And don't shout, I'm tryna sleep" he layed his head on Grace's shoulder
"Looks like a her to me". Kelvin pointed
I'm being picked on by kids... The serpent resigned to reality
"Now that I think about it, it just might not be as menacing as it looks". Grace raised her shoulders in a shruggie. "What do you think, Sebas?".
Sebastian was nowhere to be found
"Sebas? Sebastian!". Grace called out again
She looked towards where Novem and the snake were having another scuffle
"Novem, Sebastian is missing". Grace spoke with a hint of panic
"What-". Novem roughly blocked another attack from the serpent. "Sebas is missing?"
"Well, I don't see him around". She looked about
"Don't worry." Novem assured, "He's probably doing something useful"
"I'm here". Came the blond's reply
All heads turned towards Sebastian. He had beside himself a burnt-orange-haired lady with shoulder length hair which she proceeded to roll into a bun. She wore on a plain shirt and trousers, a much too casual outfit for the occasion over here.
As if a long forgotten memory had suddenly popped up out of nowhere, they all shouted.
"The princess!!"
The princess, "..."
Novem, "Uhh"
The princess posed and introduced herself with her hand on her chest. "I am Oren Mei-ying, from the honorable Oren Kingdom". She spoke maturely, "And something about those expressions tells me you forgot about me".
Everybody, "..."
"You know what, I'm not going to ask". She sauntered to Mathias' side and sat down. "Aren't the agents supposed to come find me? Why is Lord Novem and his humble Vassals here?". She asked Grace
"Oh, about that... ". She scratched her hair
The princess slowly looked up from where she was sitting, "You know what, you just might be the only agent I can trust my life with, Lady Grace". She squints her eyes. "The others are just pretty faces with no work to show-"
It seems females from the Oren kingdom had quite the sharp tongue.
"Now will you shut your pretty mouth, princess". Novem had a vein bulge by his temple. "Who are you to belittle my agents".
"Just saying". She shrugs
"It's those same agents that spend sleepless nights patrolling the city and suppressing lone Specters on a daily basis". Grace thought for a moment, "Our efforts might be equal to that of our Emperor, Novem's Vassals" She explained
"Like hell!". Mathias protested, "We Vassals are nothing like you agents.. ". He looked at both the princess and Grace with a scrutinizing gaze. "We Vassals are third ranking in hierarchy in case you don't know. We're the emperor's right hand men".
"It's exactly your type I hate the most. Just because of your ranking you think you're all that?". The princess sprang up from where she was sitting, "Prove it". She said with an icy tone, "Prove to me you're useful to my Novem". She pointed her magnificent sword embedded with rare ornaments directly at Mathias' face
"Your Novem?". Mathias moves the sword from his face. "Alright, bring it on, princess". He single handedly cracked his fingers
"I'll wipe your confidence down with my sword". The princess snorts
Novem was in an intense battle with the serpent, neither side was winning, but nor were they losing, and from the side he yelled, "No fighting!".
"Oh, this is more of a little scuffle". Mathias smirks
The princess clicked her tongue, she had only taken a step forward, and swung her sword backward when she suddenly stopped moving, her arm and sword hanging mid air, while her legs fixed to the ground.
"W-what ". She tried moving her arms but was surprised when her movement only drew blood and brought forth tingling pain.
"I'd rather stay in place if I were you". Came Mathias' calm voice.
Invisible strings wrapped around her entire body that each movement she made either tore her clothes or broke her skin.
The princess laughed, "And here I was thinking how a commoner would have an ability..". She raised her head up revealing bright orange eyes, "Who would have thought a Royal would have such dull black hair like that of a commoner".
"I'd say the same of that ugly coloured hair of yours". Mathias laughed, "It's not blonde, and neither is it orange. Just what exactly did your ancestors do to earn God's wrath".
"My hair colour is a signature of my bloodline to the Oren family". She frowned
"I know, it's like I said". Mathias smirked. What did your Oren ancestors do to earn God's wrath.
"I never really liked black hair to begin with." She turned to Novem, "Well of course except you, Lord Novem". If not for her title, she would have spat all sorts of profanities at Mathias.
"So they're fighting about hair colours now". Kelvin turned to Grace and sighed
"I think they'd be better off if we left them alone". Grace shrugged, "We should be leaving". She looked towards Novem who was still struggling with the colossal serpent who didn't seem to budge with any strike.
"Don't you think we should help Lord Novem with that". Reo suggested
[It was only when they were in the presence of other royals or commoners, in other words citizens that they made sure to refer to Novem as Lord as a sign of respect which the people expect]
"Might count as a mission fail for him if we do". Felix spoke logic!
But everyone knew it was just so he could avoid stressing himself out
"I guess". Sebastian answered vaguely, "We might still join if it takes too long". He took a stone piece and moved it forward
"Alright then". Reo moved a stone piece forward also
"When did these three start playing chess!!". Grace screams internally and thinks to herself, 'So this is why Lord Novem calls his Vassals stupid, and we agents, annoying'. She sighs and looks towards the other side where Mathias and the princess were still arguing
"Your hair colour is totally not my type". The princess raised a red flag
"Great, I never liked short haired girls to begin with". Mathias showed his own disinterest.
"Are those two serious". Grace couldn't be more confused
Clang!
She looked back to see Novem still fighting with the serpent. "We need to get out of here as soon as possible, do you think we could call for Marl? If you can still use your portal, Lord Novem. We don't know what's going to happen in this strange place again".
Her question caused a momentary pause in everybody's movement. They all had their jaws drop, each and every one of them looking at her with eyes that spelt disbelief.
The chess piece Reo was holding fell to the ground
"Who sold her such courage". Nathan clicked his tongue
"I almost forgot, she's from Marl's generation. A vassal for that matter!". Kelvin wiped fake tears
"Even those from his generation don't take him lightly". Mathias broke a sweat
"Only you can do that, Lady Grace". Sebas said
"I'm afraid if we call him without a valuable reason, he's gonna kill us". Novem said matter of factly
"That is true" Felix pushed a stone piece forward
"Don't play for me". Reo squints his eyes at him
Grace sighed, "Let's fight, Sebas" She turns to Sebastian
Sebastian nodded
After several rounds of attack and defense, Novem rushed towards the Serpent head-on but with its armored tail, it lashed at him.
It was a very heavy blow which Novem proceeded to block with his green headed sword. It was hard breathing under such pressure from just the tail alone, so he let go of his sword and jumped up. He did a refined three-sixty and landed on the back of the snake, running up to its head.
Now of course the snake wouldn't just stay still, it violently twisted it's body to shake Novem off but he only jumped off and on to another part to avoid falling. Finally, he reached the head of the serpent and raised his only sword up and-
Whoosh!
He just had to fall at that moment!
Nevertheless,
Zoom!
Mid air, Novem threw his second sword so hard it cut through the air and landed straight in the Serpent's eye. Immediately, using his air ability, he pulled the sword back outside. "I wish it would burst through" be said
His eyes changed into different arrays of mesmerizing colors.
Then the serpent's eye burst.
Screech!
It lashed about with its iron-like tail as it screamed in pain and agony.
Novem came back to his senses and found the serpent writhing in agony. "Yeah". He smirked, "That's what I like".
One of its violent blind swings came at Novem. In an instance, he brought his sword down and shielded himself with a slight frown.
It was quite the impact, and Novem crashed to the ground, spurting blood out of his mouth.
"I'm not done yet". He was just about to stand up when he heard the familiar sound of hard metal cracking.
A discernible tink came about with a loud shatter as the sword broke.
Novem looked down at the sword in his hand. It had taken a heavy blow after the collision with the Serpents wild swing and was now on the verge of No Use.
In order words, it was Useless..
"No". Novem had the hope in his eyes extinguished in a flicker. "No!" He yelled at the top of his voice
This startled the others,
Grace and her fight with Sebastian paused,
The chess piece Reo was holding fell.. yet again,
Mathias and the princess paused mid arguing
All of them looking at one person,
"What's the matter, Lord Novem?". Kelvin asked
"Elizabeth is, she's..". Novem held the sword up in his hands
"Lord Novem". Grace was a bit worried "Who is Elizabeth?"
"She (the serpent) broke Elizabeth!". He had tears streaming down his face
"Calm down, Lord Novem". Sebastian strolled to his side
"But Elizabeth,". He accused
"I know". Came Sebastian's reply
"Elizabeth and I have been together since forever". He started crying again, "She's gone now!". Sniff, "What am I going to do?" He asked, snot hanging out of his nose
"You have plenty of swords, Lord Novem, you could just use a new one". Kelvin suggested
"... "
Two minutes into this,
Grace was panicking seriously. "Lord Novem, please snap out of it!". She begged
"No, Elizabeth!!". Novem screamed, tears streaming down his face as he looked down at the sword below him.
Grace was panicking seriously. "Lord Novem, please snap out of it!". She begged
The serpent's wild rage was getting closer and closer and they couldn't just leave it alone.
"Lord Novem! You need to get it together!". Mathias also panicked
"This 's a mess". Felix scratched his head
"Pull yourself together!!". An irritated Nathan came forward and slapped Novem right in the face
It was personal..
"No, Elizabeth is, she's... No, why!". Novem threw his hands down
The princess: "... ".
"Lord Novem, you'll bury her later! For now, let's face this. That thing is coming for us!!". Kelvin shouted ahead as she, Sebastian and Reo ran ahead and kept the serpent busy.
"No, she broke Elizabeth!! She's dead! What will I do!?". He used the cloth part on his shoulder to wipe the snot and tears off his face, but it clearly wasn't doing its job well. "What am I going to do?".
"Lord Novem!". Nathan shouted at the top of his voice
"What!!!". Novem's eyes glinted a faint green as he slowly turned his head towards the cause of Elizabeth's death. That damned serpent.
Novem released a dangerous aura that made the others shudder in their breath. He stood up and walked towards the rampaging reptile. On his way, he picked up a different sword that he had used earlier. It had a curved green handle and a very pointy edge. "You'll pay for this". Novem mumbled to himself. "You'll pay for her death...". He commenced his seventeenth round of attack
It was as if the dungeon forbade the thought of revenge because as soon as Novem stepped right in front of the rampaging reptile, everywhere turned black.
The fires were extinguished
The Serpent had vanished into thin air
And there was an odd silence
"What now". Although everywhere was dark and they couldn't perceive a thing, they didn't need to see his expression, just from Novem's tone of voice alone they could tell, he wasn't very pleased.
Once again came that eerie melody...
Once again, came that dim purple illumination..
And once again, came the sounds of scribbles on a wall.