Chapter 9: Unwelcome Guests

Once we had left the small water hole alongside the dirt road Lilith seemed to be in better shape, and looked like she wanted to discuss something. She glared at me as we walked, and finally she came out with it, "Master I hate to say it, but the next town may be incredibly dangerous for both of us." This made me raise my eyebrows since I was hoping for a peaceful trip at least in Ribbuk. I said, "Danger? What could be so dangerous in Ribbuk I haven't heard any bad stories related to it?" Lilith spoke again, "Ribbuk is not that dangerous, and anyone can enter, but I have heard rumors that they are not particularly kind to outsiders, and especially aren't fond of races other than their own." I didn't like how that sounded, "What is the primary race in Ribbuk?" Lilith said, "I have been there only briefly before, but Ribbuk consists mostly of beastmen, and when I was there I felt their gazes all over me."

I shuddered and asked, "is there any concealment magic you can do even if it's just for yourself I would like to hear about it." Lilith seemed to ponder for a second, but then stated "there is only one method I can use, but I would rather avoid using it if possible." I nodded and said, "I understand you have concerns, but if possible I would like to at least know the method you speak of." Lilith cringed but stated, "I can do it right now if you wish, and it doesn't cost much of my energy to do so it will recover quickly, but it is incredibly invasive magic." This peaked my interest, "Invasive? What kind of magic would even make you cringe?" She let out a sigh, "Well since you won't leave it alone the magic is called soul castle it is contract magic that combines both the master, and farmillars soul for as long as my energy can hold out. This magic is invasive in that it shares memories, and the longer you use this magic the more dangerous this effect becomes." Surprised, I decided to ask, "How long should we use it for before it becomes dangerous?" Lilith said, "We should only use it for a few hours, buy what we need, and then quickly make our exit from town, or we may stay connected forever."

Lilith, and I decided to use this method, but to be careful about the adverse effects once the town was in view we decided to get started on casting soul castle. Lilith pulled out her journal, wrote some symbols down down, and made me sign my name on the bottom of her enchantment. Lilith slowly transformed into what seemed like pure white light, and entered my body after a few seconds. Once she was inside she spoke directly into my mind "Master it seems I have entered. We should stop for a bit since the effects will begin to take place right away." I stood in place, and waited for memories to come flooding in soon I began to feel a slight tingling on my forehead.

I began to see a vision of a little girl playing with what seemed like her mom. She happily said, "When I grow up I am gonna be just like you mommy, and I will make sure to make the rest of the Duskfall family acknowledge me including big brother." Duskfall? Wait that was a name I had said very recently, back at the cave I had mentioned Pyra Duskfall. I connected the dots, and I quickly realized that must be her mom that I am seeing right now. Pyra was a beautiful woman with red hair flowing down her shoulders, and dark skin like her daughter, but she seemed unlike the usual dark elven woman. She practically glowed, and seemed to be a kind caring Mother unlike the image of dark elves that I had pictured in my mind. She also shared her daughters red eyes, and seemed to love talking with her daughter just like this. Pyra started saying something to her daughter, but just as she opened her mouth the memory ended abruptly as it started.

I snapped back to reality, and in a surprised voice said, "Duskfall is your last name Lilith? I wasn't aware you were the daughter of the famous Pyra Duskfall known for her kind, but confident stories." Pyra seemed to shake a bit in my head she said startled, "Pretend you didn't see that boy, I do not wish to relive those moments." She called me "boy" hm guess her mother really was a touchy subject I wouldn't bring her up again unless she wanted to talk. Instead I was more interested in what she saw in my memories so I asked, "What did you see in my memories than Lilith?" She said briefly "I saw a blonde haired boy, and you playing in a forest, and in his hand was something I am sure you don't want me to talk about." I was now confused about what could have been in his hand that she thought I wouldn't want to talk about, but I decided that it was more important they make their way into town. I said, "Lilith as much as I am curious about what exactly you saw I will have to ask later since we are on a time timit, I will make my way into town."

Lilith seemed to have understood since she didn't protest, and so I began heading into Ribbuk, the small town we would hopefully be using to resupply. I walked into town since their security didn't stop us, and as I wandered around I noticed that people were giving me cold looks. The people here were mostly beastmen, and I saw many people walking around with bushy tails, and little ears poking out of their heads. They seemed to frown upon seeing a regular human wandering around, so I just tried to find a shop as quickly as possible, so I could leave. I started to realize most of the places that seemed to be shops had their lights off, and this fact had started to quickly anger me.

Lilith was the first to speak up, "Master I sense you are getting angry might I suggest that you talk to one of the locals, and ask for directions to a shop that's open?" I calmed down at the suggestion and said "Yeah I will give that a try hopefully someone is willing to talk." I saw an old beastman walking with what I assumed was his daughter. I called out to them, "Hello could I maybe get some directions to a shop of some kind? I really want to just get something quickly, and go." The old man was the first to respond "Little pest how many of you will come and-" His sentence was quickly ended by his daughter who shouted, "Grandpa!" She proceeded to look at me, and gave me a kind smile "You need directions? Well we get enough visitors here. I will pull out some directions I have prepared for newcomers." She seemed excited to pull out a small piece of paper from a bag on her side. She thrust the paper towards me, "I hope these directions will help you find what you are looking for." Admittedly I did find it weird how nice she was now being towards me, and it did strike me a bit odd that she had premade directions, but I gracefully took the paper with the directions. I quickly gave her a word of thanks, and started following the new directions.

One of the main oddities was also the fact that the directions had no need to be translated, and furthermore those two seemed like they could communicate with me witn ease. I voiced my concerns with Lilith, but she didn't seem too concerned, "What is there to be worried about master even if they ganged up on us they would not win despite having a higher social standing beastmen are notoriously weak." I didn't say any more than that, and continued to walk through the labyrinth of lodgings until I reached one at the back of town that looked out of place. For one the place was practically falling apart, and I wouldn't be surprised if the fall gave out on me when I went in. I spoke up, "Lilith if this doesn't say please don't enter I don't know what does." I could practically hear the irritation in her voice, "Master I understand you are unable to fight to any standard, but please just bare with it we need the supplies."

That last remark stug a little, but I shook it off, "Understood I will head inside." I made my way in, but immediately felt the desire to walk right back out since the inside was worse than my imagination. The old wood creaked with every step I took, and worse yet it reeked of the smell of iron. I just hoped that smell wasn't what I thought. I walked towards the smell, and I boldly headed up the stairs occasionally calling for any signs of life. The wooden walls seemed to be oozing a pungent scent which led to the room on the first floor. I stood in front of the door, and could hear something squishing around inside almost like the slimes I had encountered in the caves. I didn't want to bother Lilith anymore, so I just decided to man up and enter. The knob barely turned, and almost fell off the handle. The door was also stained in a corrosive liquid. I opened the door, and what awaited me shook both Lilith and I to the core.