Ages Are Shifting

"Heart of plight, one filled for delight, empty upon the bastion of wayward knights; be wary not to be the one the gods smite."

~~~

Clarence's hand stretched to reach his sword, but it was kicked away by the cloaked vagabond before his fingers could even reach the hilt.

"Don't even try it human... Now what did you do with my liege, tell me!" Snarled the shadow veiled vagrant while pressing the curved dagger against Clarence's throat, drawing some blood.

"I'm not saying shit, I may not know what I'm talking about; but I'm determined to make your life as hard as possible for you." Growled Clarence stalwartly as he punched the shrouded figure in the stomach, cracking his fist in the process.

"You remind me of someone... stubborn, but that matters naught now; so tell me human, where's Imogen!" Demanded the hooded itinerant while punching Clarence in the face, spattering blood upon the sand.

This was soon followed by another punch, and another; until Clarence finally managed to catch the shadowy creature's fist. Clarence then shattered the creature's left arm that was holding the knife, and lunged for his blade; but he was cut short as the snarling individual kicked him in the stomach.

"You bastard!" "I'll have to tie you up this time, to think things could've been simple if you just complied to my simple request; where's Imogen!" Snapped the creature as he took out a rope, and sat atop Clarence before he could get up.

"I thought you said you were going to kill me if I didn't comply, are you afraid... Well, I'm not!" Threatened Clarence while the masked creature tied his hands, and legs together; doing well to ensure the knot's survival.

"I changed my mind, you know something, and I'm going to find out what; even if it costs me to rip out every last tooth of yours." Frowned Auden as he took out a crude, and rusted pair of 'pliers' while opening Clarence's mouth.

"I imagine this is going to hurt… a lot. So do you feel like telling me where Imogen is now, human?" Questioned Auden while sticking the 'pliers' into Clarence's mouth, and latching onto a tooth.

"Rot in the aether!" Spat Clarence as Auden, without warning, tore the pliers out of Clarence's mouth.

~~~

"Okay... note taken, don't use charred books to clean a halberd; it doesn't work in the slightest." Sighed Imogen while tossing a blood stained book behind her into a pile of several others.

"I really need to find out how to properly clean my halberd, because for some reason; dealing with a rebellious halberd doesn't sound very fun." Frowned Imogen as she slowly pushed herself off the shredded library floor, and stretched her neck.

"I have about a half a day left before my mission of finding Auden fails, so I need to find my way out of here stat; and maybe then I'll have a chance of finding him before the deadline." Hoped Imogen while taking a book off a shelf in case she needs to clean Execratus again.

"And so I've three options here, beg the system for another key, bargain with the system for another key; or worship the system in the hopes of another key."

"Hm, what a hard choice; I bet I'm going to sit here for hours just contradicting myself." Jested Imogen as she laughed to herself before a metal key just so happened to fall on top of her head.

"Catch!" "This is my gift to you lass, I expect great things from you in the future, not many a youth can take down an Eyelor; and still live to tell the tale!" Shouted the old man whilst he leaned back into a hidden balcony, one that seemed to blend into the library itself.

"Hey!" "You can't just go from being a total dick to a decent guy just like that, there's more to it; I swear I'll have your head one day!" Cried Imogen as she tried to flip the old man off, but somehow her only free hand got stuck under a bookcase.

"You must've seen one of the caste, my caste, we're all unique in our ways; even if sometimes those oddities are a bit... extreme." Chuckled the old grey haired man while tapping the railing of his balcony in succession.

"To be honest, lass, I didn't even know you existed until I sent out those eyelings to rid this place of any leftover survivors... after our project was ruined by some imbecile; we're still trying to find the happy fool that did it." Suspired the man as he rubbed his wrinkly old face before continuing to talk.

"Well lass... I've wasted enough time talking to ya, I've got to share some more rumors to the poor folk; make them think they found entry to a special race that all the young prodigies attend!" Laughed the old man while pressing a button, and having the whole balcony vanish like it was never there in the first place.

"Wait... system, I thought you said these dimensions were part of some grand race, one made to house the legendary Cursed Blade; things don't feel like they're adding up." Drawled Imogen as she scratched her head in confusion after pulling hand out from under the fallen bookcase.

𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐀𝐰𝐞: You really didn't know that I made that up on the spot, or even at all?! I knew you were stupid, but I didn't know you were this stupid; I'm quite frankly awed

"What!" "You're supposed to give me actual information, it's your only fricking job system; your only one!" Fumed Imogen while angrily ripping the key off her head, and snarling at the air.

"Oh okay, don't answer then; it's not like I was going to care about what you said anyways!" Vexed Imogen as she furiously jammed the key into a blue door that had appeared just seconds before.

"Sometimes, just sometimes, I think I would've done better in this world without you; because most times... you do more harm than good!" Cursed Imogen while slamming the door open, nearly knocking it off its non-existent hinges.

"Why did I get a faulty system, just why couldn't I have gotten a system that was compliant! Like in those novels... but I don't know; maybe I deserve you!" Raged Imogen as she purposely knocked down a bookshelf before stubbing her toe, and accidently hopping backwards through the door.

~~~

"We've arrived at Nodgein boy, a respectable dock has agreed to hold our boat for now; make sure to bring all the things you'd like to keep!" Yelled Craigen while barging into The Rebellious One's room only to see him already packing.

"Oh, you already knew... sorry for disturbing you then; just pretend I was never here." Coughed Craigen as he slid back out the door, and shut it soon after.

~~~

"Oh, heh; it seems I won't have to rip your teeth out anyways." Smiled Auden while putting away his crude pliers as Imogen fell out of a blue door, and onto the desert's floor.

"I almost thought you ripped my tooth out there, thank god Imogen's here; she'll end you right quick." Claimed Clarence whilst Auden walked up to Imogen, and offered her his boney hand.

"Oh, is that you Auden; what a surprise this is!" Grinned Imogen as her sour mood suddenly switched to that of a more pleasant one.

"What's going on... Imogen, do you know him!" Exclaimed Clarence while fighting against his binds, and plopping over onto the sand.

"Ahahah, what happened to you Clarence; did Auden tie you up!" Chortled Imogen as she completely ignored Clarence's question.

"... Yes, but that doesn't have anything to do with my question; who is this guy!?" Inquired Clarence while trying to wiggle closer to Imogen, and Auden.

"Oh, I forgot, this is Auden; he's a Lich... and also my servant." Yawned Imogen as she pointed to Auden, of which pulled down his black hood to reveal an ancient skull with pieces of flesh barely clinging onto it.

"Sorry for tying you up, and threatening to rip out your teeth... but in my defence; I would've killed you had you not known anything about where Imogen was." Apologised Auden while flipping his hood back on, covering his rotted face.

"Well that makes me feel a lot better, thank you Auden for your pleasant insight." Scowled Clarence as Auden untied him from his binds.

"You're welcome, I'm not sure why it was so pleasant; but I may never understand you humans." Lowered Auden while looking at Clarence with disappointment

"That's not what I-"

"-Anyways." Interrupted Imogen as she covered Clarence's mouth with her hand.

"We need to get out of this desert, today preferably; so... any suggestions?" Asked Imogen while looking at her two compatriots with a bemused smile on her face.

~~~

"Is there something wrong with that boy, he's wobbling; did he contract yurvy?" Questioned a dock hand as he tapped Craigen on the shoulder.

"Oh no, he's just having a bit of trouble carrying all the ships rations; and battle axes." Twinkled Craigen while watching The Rebellious One stumble off the dock.