7 Three Morons

About two hours had passed since the previous mission with Savux, and in that timeframe, Seyber finished the only job she needed. With nothing else to do until evening, she tried to start teaching Kita self-defense combat strategies. However, she waited until Leiytning returned, because she wanted his help on account of greater experience.

Still, the only result of this all was a disappointment.

As it turned out, Kita was hopeless with her pitiful toothpick of a weapon. She was a natural at avoiding attacks, but fought worse than a one-legged bear when it came to counterattacks.

Seyber discreetly sighed, "This isn't going very well."

Leiytning was irritated, but tried to hide it. 'This is what I get for trying to train a mortal.'

Kita, who was out of breath from dodging Seyber's sparring attacks, was desperately trying to catch her breath once more. She still held her small dagger in her right hand.

"Sorry," Kita said nervously. "I don't think I'm a very good fighter."

"No, you're terrible," Leiytning replied. "But if you'll be doing our kind of work, there's a place for bad fighters."

"Really?" Asked Kita.

"The grave," he answered bluntly.

Kita laughed a bit. "I think you can consider me its newest resident. I can't fight, and I've made that obvious."

"If these idiots can learn, then so can you," said Leiytning. "Now get a grip of yourself."

Seyber laughed, "Compared to us, she's as strong as you."

"What?" Asked Kita. "All of you could easily-"

"No, I mean way back in the day," Seyber explained.

"The problem was that most of you were lazy," Leiytning muttered. "If you actually listened to a word you were being told, instead of gossiping like a bunch of children, you wouldn't have been so utterly useless."

Seyber only shrugged her shoulders. "Fair enough. Anyways, Kita, the point is that most people can become fighters, and anyone can learn how to defend themselves. It just takes finding the right inspiration, learning the basic rules, then practicing a lot. You already have a pretty fair ability to dodge, so let's focus on the attack." She glanced at Leiytning. "Is that right?"

Leiytning just nodded.

"I just don't know what to focus on," said Kita. "What do I need to fix, specifically?"

"Well..." Seyber shifted awkwardly. "A-All of it?"

Leiytning rolled his eye. "We'll start with addressing the worst of it and work from there."

"What's that?" Kita inquired. She paid close attention to his words and gestures.

"First off, you clearly panic when the attack gets close. Don't do that; panic is always the worst vulnerability you can give yourself. Instead, at least for now, focus solely on your opponent's movements. Don't try to counter the incoming attack, and don't block. Dodge, then only if you see an opening can you attempt an attack from an indirect angle."

"You're also new to this," Seyber remarked. "It'll take some time to get used to it. Just remember, whatever your strength is, it's not raw power. It's easy to lose focus and just try to demolish whatever you're fighting. You need to be a lot more strategic."

Kita clutched the dagger. "Alright. Let's try that last one again."

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Zin quickly swam upwards, avoiding the glowing death that charged at him. The water that surrounded him was dark. Neither the surface nor the bottom of the River of Shadows was visible. All there was to see was the demon, in his blue-gray wolf form, and the few beasts that swam here and there. The large, savage fish that pursued him charged again.

"Not me!" Zin snapped, his voice barely traveling through the water. "Get the other one, you idiot!"

The large fish spun around and checked its surroundings. The glowing death saw more of its kind beneath and around it.

Glowing deaths looked like carnivorous fishes that were bulky, ranging between eight and twelve feet. They had large pointed teeth, and the glowing lure protruding from their heads was covered in black spikes. Their eyes had a milky appearance, and were almost white.

"Go! Go! Kill it!" Zin shouted at it.

The glowing death rushed forward, clamping its huge jaws around another one of the large fish.

Zin groaned, "Not that one!"

Just as he said that, another massive fish zoomed by, just under him.

"See?!" Zin yelled. "Get the one attacking everything!"

The glowing death released the innocent fish, then charged at the one in the shadows. Zin swam further out of the way, trying to keep his distance without losing sight. The glowing deaths acted like savages. Huge teeth chomped on fishy flesh, and their weaponized lure hit the opponent around mercilessly.

"That's it!" Zin chanted. "Kill the brute!"

The demon spotted another glowing death swimming beneath him. It snapped at him once, but he avoided the sudden attack.

"Hey, watch where you're aiming those things!" Zin spat. "As a matter of fact..."

Zin shifted back into his demon form, then swam in front of the new fish, kicking it to make it stop.

"Oh, it's you, Fangs!" Zin remarked. "Alright, you get in on this fight, got it? This new territorial bastard thinks it's alright to attack everyone else, so he needs to be taught a lesson."

Fangs tried to snap, but another kick redirected it at the aggressive fish. It then charged into the battle. Blood was clouding the water, but Zin saw through it. The abilities that came with being a water elemental helped in situations like these. He could see better through dark or murky water, swim at very low depths, and speak and breathe in water.

Suddenly, there was a loud 'ripping' sound. Zin looked closer, and saw that the enemy fish had been brutally torn in half by Fangs and the other glowing death. Zin didn't have a name for the new one, though.

"Hah!" Zin yelled. "It didn't stand a chance!"

He swam over to the new one, while Fangs swam away.

"You've got potential," Zin remarked. "From now on, I'll call you..." His ears perked. "Shredder!"

The glowing death snapped at him, but Zin darted back out of the way.

"No!" Zin scolded. "Bad monster-fish!"

"Zin!"

After hearing his name being called from the surface, Zin looked anxious. He using his magic to help, he very quickly swam up, until he was able to burst out of the water. He landed on the riverbank right after, where the sand was black and the lush forest started about twenty feet off. The eerily dark water stood still, behind him, after just a few seconds. Jem and Scorch were at the water's edge.

Jem crossed her arms. "Were you playing around with the glowing deaths again?"

"Judge me!" Zin argued. "What do you two want?"

"There are a few pests in the cavern," said Jem. "We need you to replace Seyber."

Zin pouted. "Can't you just get Leiytning or Timbur? I'm busy."

"Because playing with a bunch of savage fish is work?" Scorch muttered.

"Yes!" Zin insisted. "Who else is going to take care of the rogue glowing deaths? If we let the savage ones roam free, then they'd all be dead!"

"Or you're just making them fight for your amusement again," said Jem. "Anyways, Seyber and Leiytning are trying to help train the mortal, and Timbur's busy on another mission. That leaves you, so let's get moving."

Zin grunted. "Fine, but you owe me."

Jem ignored him, turning back and leading the way through the forest. Scorch and Zin both followed. Meanwhile, however, it didn't take long for those last words to click.

"What the hell do I owe you for?!" Asked Jem, as they walked.

"I didn't have to be a part of this group, so you owe me," Zin explained. "You know our rules!"

"There was nobody else!" Jem argued. "When there's no one else, then the rule doesn't apply!"

"Yeah, but I was in the middle of my work," said Zin. "You could've picked either Leiytning or Seyber. The mortal doesn't need two trainers."

"Actually, yes she does," said Jem. "I don't owe you anything."

"The rule was reinforced by the leaders," Scorch remarked. "I'd just take it and leave, Jem."

"No, it was not!" Jem argued. "When we talked about it, Thundur told us to go away, and Leiytning just ignored us."

"And sicked Echo on us when we didn't leave him alone," Scorch muttered.

"Good enough for me," said Zin.

"You're just saying that because it helps your own case," Jem retorted. "Last time, you would've agreed."

"Nuh-uh," Zin taunted. "I'd like to know why the mortal needs two trainers, and why Timbur's task is so important."

"Timbur's taking down a forest behemoth, so that's pretty important," said Jem. "Kita needs Seyber since she's the only other lightweight, and Leiytning because he's better at explaining the technical stuff."

Jem had lost track of where they were, and realized that they were already at the portal. After years of the same routine, it was as if her own feet knew where to take her. She opened the portal and leaped through, intent on finishing the mission so that her work would be done sooner. She wasn't as lazy as her brothers, but she still liked to get things done.

When she, Zin, and Scorch landed on the mountainous stone terrain, they continued along the path until they reached the entrance of the Raven's Cavern. Though the sun was shining, this place was always dark, no matter how much light was let in.

"Let's get this over with," said Jem, as she and the others hopped inside the pitch-black crevice.

"What's in here, anyway?" Asked Zin. "Or were we sent on another mystery mission?"

"It's nothing big, I think," Jem replied. "Probably just too many kuros, or araneas, or something like that."

Zin shuddered. "I hate kuros."

"They're small, though," said Jem. "Can't be any worse than a kumodin."

"Kumodins are tough, but there's only one at a time," Zin replied. "When we fight kuros, there's usually a whole swarm!"

"That's what buckshot's for," Scorch remarked, showing off a brass shotgun shell. even though his shotgun used fire magic, he would carry normal shells as well, just in case.

"Classic debate," said Jem. "Lots of little enemies or one big enemy. A whole swarm of kuros, or one kumodin..." She paused to think. "Call me crazy, but I think I would fight the kumodin, if the swarm was too big. What about you, Zin?"

"Easy," Zin replied. "Bats are slightly less creepy than spiders, so the kuros."

"I could fight either," Scorch remarked.

"We just thought of a new trivia for the others," Jem remarked.

Finally, the dark path led down. Between the stone walls of the sloped trail, there was the lit entrance of the crystal garden. The large room still had glittering gems sprouting from the roof, walls, and some spots on the floor. Some of them, particularly the yellow and white ones, glowed, which provided a light source. They all stood out amongst the drab gray stone from which they grew.

The demons started looking around, trying to see if there were any clues to guide them.

-Grrrrrr...

Suddenly, however, a hideous being crept from one of the paths. It almost looked like a walking, rotting corpse. Its skin was nearly see-through, and its sickly yellow eyes were glazed. It stumbled forward, eying the demons. Its mouth looked like a gaping, circular hole in its face with four large fangs.

"Huh," Scorch grunted. "A toxic ghoul. They look repulsive, but at least they're weak."

"I haven't seen any in a while," Zin remarked. "This'll be interesting."

"Yeah," Jem agreed. "Let's just exterminate these pests before they wreck anything."

Scorch drew and cocked his shotgun, then aimed it at the ghoul. He fired just once, and the ghoul flew back, writhing on the ground. Zin rushed over, unsheathing his sword, and dealt a decapitating blow.

"One down," said Zin. "And oblivion knows how many to go."

"Yup," Jem muttered.

"Let's keep looking," said Scorch.

The three of them went down the same path the ghoul came from. There were fewer crystals, which made it darker, but the demon's eyes could still see.

"Nothing so far," Jem remarked. "Maybe there was just one."

"I doubt it," said Zin. "If there's one thing I've learned about toxic ghouls, it's that they never travel alone."

"He has a point," said Scorch. "Where there's one, you can be sure there's another nearby."

All the demons saw was the twisting trail before them. Every few feet or so revealed some smaller crystals that sprouted from the walls. The trail soon opened into a large, very dark room. Ebony shadows reduced the demon's eyesight even more, to just about five feet.

Scorch whispered, "Isn't this the room that the gloom's in?"

Zin groaned quietly, "Dammit. Why won't Leiyt just let us kill that thing?"

"I don't think there would be any ghouls in here," said Scorch. "Also, we probably shouldn't be in the same room as a beast."

"Agreed," Zin muttered. "Let's go back."

Scorch was the first to leave, and Zin followed closely. While her brothers left, Jem stayed at the entrance, peering at the veil of black before her. Her animalian ears were pricked. She had a bad feeling, knowing something was off. She glanced at the path that led back to the cave, but then back at the dark room.

Though hesitant, Jem made her decision. She stepped into the dark room, but having to be so quiet, each step seemed to drag on forever.

'I've been in this situation before.'

Jem could practically see the memory. A place from the distant past; one that still haunted her. The small ditch where she had just woke up, after being thrown aside by an enemy. The smoke and orange hues of fire tinted the sky. She was usually quite fearless, but knowing what horror was waiting for her, all she wanted to do was run. When she would get the strength to look over that ledge, she would find the burning corpses of almost everyone she knew.

Jem flinched, blinking hard. When she looked around, she had barely moved a few feet into the room. By the time she realized what happened, she sneered and rolled her eyes.

'Ugh, stop the drama. Pull yourself together. We're still alive, that's what matters now.'

Quickening her pace, Jem continued through the darkness. It wasn't long before she noticed a small flash. Jem froze, silently unsheathing her mace.

The flash came from a patch of several small, dark crystals that sprouted from the ground. Something was on the crystals, though. Another step forward revealed that the thing was none other than a gloom; a large two-legged beast. Razor-sharp claws were at the end of its small arms, its entire body was covered in dark blue feather-like scales, and a long tail draped behind it. The beast was breathing in an unnaturally hard, labored way. Jem saw that white froth was coming out of its mouth, and its only movement was a small twitch in its digits.

Someone hissed quietly, "Hey!"

Jem flinched, spinning back to face the exit. Both her brothers had come back, but they kept their distance from the gloom.

"What are you doing?!" Zin whispered. "Get out of here before that thing wakes up!"

"It's alright," Jem spoke quietly. "I think it was poisoned. That temporarily solves the gloom problem, and also acts as evidence."

Suddenly, a loud 'crack' came from behind them. Jem grasped her mace tightly, looking around. Zin and Scorch were both on edge. Scorch cocked his shotgun, while Zin unsheathed his sword.

Jem's gray eyes narrowed. "Evidence that there's a ghoul or two in this room."

-Grrrrrrr...

A low growl came from the left. This ghoul was not the only one, though. When Jem looked to her right, there were two glazed yellow eyes. Another set was hardly invisible in the distance.

"Three," Jem remarked, smirking. "One for each of us."

One ghoul growled and stepped closer. The other two ghouls copied.

Scorch aimed the gun. "No problem!"

Triggered by the shouting, the ghouls rushed forward. Their disgusting figures became more visible as they closed in on the demons. Scorch fired at one, but missed. He moved to the right, avoiding the ghoul's attack as it tried to leap and bite him. He slammed the edge of his shotgun into it, then punched it down. With it down, he fired again, right at its head.

Jem watched another ghoul come at her. As the speedy ghoul came close, it lunged at her, mouth agape and ready to bite down. Jem held her mace out, blocking the attack by letting the ghoul's teeth clamp on her mace. She kicked it up, hard enough to launch it up a bit. As it fell back down, she slammed the mace into its head, finishing it.

The final ghoul closed in on Zin. When the ghoul tried to lunge at him, he swung the sword up, successfully slicing the ghoul's hand clean off. The ghoul stumbled back, then Zin shoved the sword through its neck. Once the ghoul dropped dead, Zin pulled his sword out and flicked the dark crimson blood off of the blade.

Now, there were only three ghoul corpses, and the poisoned gloom.

"Is that all of them?" Asked Scorch.

"I think so," said Jem. "We should still keep an eye out. Scorch, keep your gun ready. Just in case anything jumps out at us."

Zin and Jem both sheathed their weapons, with Zin leading the way back out of the room. He only glanced back once, but didn't stop. They took the path back to the main cave.

"What about the gloom?" Asked Zin. "Do you think it's going to die?"

"I don't know," Jem replied. "Glooms are built for this. I think it'd easily get over toxic ghoul venom, if you gave it enough time."

"True," Zin agreed. "That thing hunts araneas, kumodins, muldarchs, and other poisonous cave pests. It actually kind of helps us, as irritating as it is. Its poison resistance is probably incredible."

The main room was in sight, as was the very dark exit of the crystal garden. Nothing was there, now. Only the corpse of one ghoul. Zin stopped, which prompted Jem and Scorch to do the same.

"What?" Asked Scorch. "Is something wrong?"

"I thought I heard something," Zin answered. "Maybe there are more ghouls?"

"Are you sure?" Asked Jem.

"Not in the slightest," said Zin.

"Let's vote," Scorch insisted. "In or out; I vote out."

Jem crossed her arms. "In."

"Out!" Zin insisted.

"Cowards," Jem muttered.

"It's probably nothing," Scorch argued.

"What if it isn't?" Asked Jem. "They'll just make us come back later."

"So we deal with it then," said Scorch.

"Better yet!" Zin chimed. "It gets worse, and Leiytning has to handle it."

"We can't just give all the work to Leiyt and Timbur," Jem insisted. "I don't mind goofing around, but that's just lazy. Do you want to be like the maggots in Sybilius?"

Scorch sighed, "Fair enough. C'mon, Zin, let's just get this over with."

Zin groaned, "But I don't even-"

-Crack!

Jem unsheathed her mace and spun to face the threat. To her surprise, it was just another being that lived in the Raven's Cavern. It was the goblin that lived, usually hidden, in the cavern.

"Ah!" Griffon squealed. "No hit, no hit!"

"Griffon!" Zin snapped. "Don't sneak up on us!"

"H-He was not sneaking," Griffon stammered. "Griffon was not sneaking up on anyone. He heard demons come back, and assumed that it was safe to leave his hiding place."

"You knew ghouls were in here the entire time?" Jem interrogated. "What the hell?! What are the twins paying you for?!" That's one of the only reasons we let you stay in the cavern!"

"Griffon will do better, yes," Griffon insisted. "He came out to ask demons a favor. Would demons mind sending message to leaders?"

Jem sneered, "Fine. What is it?"

"Ritin and Griffon go on mission together, yes," said Griffon. "She use wings to help Griffon get closer. He heard sylphs talk about weapons. That is all we were able to find, yes, but must mean trouble is near."

"Sylphs?" Zin remarked. "No good? Isn't that a surprise?"

Jem looked uneasy. "Corelia's probably trying to give her army, or at least the more dangerous members of it, the same weapon she used to defeat Thundur. If that happens, he's right. We are in trouble."