Of the Worm's Scales

"Of the moonlit stars, shining ever so brightly... they pray, they pray for a new god to whisk all their weighted problems away into that glorious, gleaming sky."

~~~

"What're you looking at Auden, let's go; no point in us staying any longer." Frowned Imogen while turning to look at Auden, of which was still watching the giant sea worm in horror as it gulfed down Clarence.

"But what about Clarence, mistress; we just can't leave the poor bastard to die!" Cried Auden while staring at Imogen with a look of confusion, and disgust.

"For one, I told you not to swear, Auden! And for two... you don't like Clarence; so I don't see what the problem is." Shrugged Imogen as she met Auden's stare with an almost too casual face.

"You'll just leave him here to die, your only friend... that's fucking disgusting." Growled Auden while just missing the slight formation of a smile form on Imogen's face.

"He outlived his use, and would only hinder me further, but if you want to save him; I won't stop you." Smiled Imogen as Auden turned his face away in abhorrence, and trudged towards the lagoon.

"Oh, and do make it quick... my legs hurt from all this standing around." Grinned Imogen while sitting down upon the muddy, and somewhat sandy ground.

Auden trotted up to the calm lagoon with a menacing aura... one that had been practiced since life, but has since become a faint shadow of its former glory after being reborn under a new monarch; a sad mistress of pained smiles.

As water shifted, as tides lifted, a creature of flesh; and tooth arose from the despairing pits of water below... hungry for more.

In fashions of old, in memory of The Bedevilled Tyrant. The creature struck right; slashing her through the face.

The pain hurt, it hurt more than she ever knew could be true, but she had to press on... her soul was so close to forming; and her unborn child craved for more. The stars were finally aligning in her favor, all was almost done... but then they came, and her hunger couldn't hold out; her hopes of a soul were crushed slim at that moment.

Bone, and ice transpierced all along her body of hard tempering... and soulless dedication, but still; she trudged on. For life, for joy, and for hope of family; she persisted. Desperately fighting back against the devilish sorcerer, now in order to protect the only one that can make her see the joys of life; the only one who can bridge the gap of her unformed soul.

"But it wasn't enough, it would never be enough, she had to get stronger; to at least see her newborn child once. All of a sudden, she could feel them, their souls so close to her unformed husk, warming it with their aethereal bodies; slowly forming it with the last of their Life Mana before getting dragged back into the aether one by one.

As the last soul got pulled down into the aether by an abyssal tendril, her soul shimmered in an eerie light, and the last piece slid into place; completing the abyssal soul. Suddenly she felt like a whole new world had opened up to her, a life she was able to control, and enjoy in full light as her might skyrocketed into the third tier.

Her whole body morphed, and restitched itself, for she was experiencing the joy of a true evolution... finally. The shards of ice, and bone popped out under the hapless gaze of the surrounding pure mana; disintegrating as they touched.

The shards that couldn't be removed were absorbed, shifting her attitude more towards ice than that of a desert creature should be. Auden could only watch in horror as the giant sea worm morphed into something more, something with eyes no longer dead; a third evolution creature that had nearly doubled in strength since its second evolution.

She stared down at the small looking creature in silence, unsure if she should attack or not; scared of losing her new life so quickly after gaining it.

The sudden silence was broken almost immediately as Auden looked up to see the giant worm gagging, like it was trying to spit out a massive attack, so he instinctively met the threat with his own; shooting an ice spike directly into the back of Clarence as the worm spat him out.

~~~

The wind was harsh, and unforgiving, but still they carried on; through the freezing peaks of The Wyrm Tribes... to seek salvation. The land seemed to head them off at every turn, killing off the strong with beasts of ice; and the frail with hurricanes of snow.

Only those quick to adapt could survive in this ruined land, they needed to be fast enough to avoid the gaping chasms that swallow up any foolish traveler, but be strong enough to brave the endless frost bitten waves that plague these very mountains.

'Tis the way of these broken lands, the remnants of a once proud civilization... cast in two by one; and ravaged by the greed of many. One could say that this is no longer The Wyrm Tribes, for their people are all but gone, seldom remaining in these desolate crags... the swallower of men; and women alike.

~~~

Those in forested areas of The Rural Kingdom are almost entirely oblivious to the happenings of the world, blissfully carrying out their lives in peace... for the great messaging system of the capital still lies in disrepair, decrepit; and aged.

Only major cities have any clue what's going on, as the new recruits of The Royal Guard are sent out to escort The Royal Announcer on his path to the three great cities of the most renowned Rural Kingdom.

~~~

"No, no, boy... it may say that The Abyss Latchers are the top guild; but this year Pontiff's Left Slipper ranked in first... if you truly want to find a proper covenant; you'll have to form your own opinions, son." Advised Craigen while pointing at the Pontiff's Left Slipper guild on a covenant listing sheet.

"Sure, but why are the names so... different, you'd expect something more like The Warriors Of Saint Marissa; or The Knighted Sentinels... So why Pontiff's Left Slipper?" Questioned The Rebellious One as he looked down the sheet in confusion.

"It's a... religious thing, I heard the original guild master found Pontiff Avenga's left boot some hundred years ago, and went as far to found a guild after it; they've worshiped it ever since." Chortled Craigen while crossing a strange mark by Pontiff's Left Slipper, and handing it to a receptionist.

"People are strange, even going as far as to worship a boot, what a world we live in... but in all seriousness; it actually doesn't sound like that bad of a guild... we should keep it in consideration." Coughed The Rebellious One as he looked around for the signing sheet, to no avail.

"Good, because I just registered you for it... but don't worry, only trusted acolytes get to even see the boot; much less worship it." Assured Craigen while patting The Rebellious One on the shoulder.

"Wait what!?" Shouted The Rebellious One as all eyes in the room immediately shifted to him.

~~~

"So... you were accepted today, that's no simply feat you know... not many people of your status can get accepted into a guild of the royal capital; and first try at that!" Congratulated Craigen as he slapped The Enjoined One on the back before warmly hugging him.

"It was nothing, and only possible because of all your training these past three years Craigen, you took the unformed child I was so long ago, and sculpted me into something... no; someone." Beamed The Enjoined One while hugging Craigen back, tightly.

"Haha, more like one boy; you've been gone for two years at the least... the trials you faced were the true sculptors." Admitted Craigen as he looked up at the impressive man The Enjoined One had become.

"Nah... without you, I'd have never made it through the first day... so I like to think that it was you who truly trained me for all those years... still; it wasn't pleasant though." Sighed The Rebellious One while finally releasing Craigen, and smiling.

"Ah, I bet it wasn't... but it must've been better than being a prisoner of some cult fanatics; it still makes me sick that you were ever there in the first place... hopefully they've all but forgotten about you." Suspired Craigen as he patted The Enjoined one upon the back, and slightly turned to look out at the beautiful, gleaming sea.

"... Sadly, I'm sure they haven't, but it seems they've left me alone thus far, so hopefully it'll last a bit longer... although; I can't help but wonder why." Ruminated The Enjoined One while joining Craigen in enjoying the divine visage of the sea, and feeling as though his timeline had finally synced with another.