The sound of the sword man's body hitting the floor, life escaping its lips, blood feeding the forest floor. Signal the battle to start. The last remaining swordsman charges at Mia, blocking her path. The halberd and great sword user came to support their front-line tank. The crossbow man took a couple of steps back as he readied to shoot. The mage stayed in place as it aimed its wooden wand at the party. Mia clicks her tongue as she stops her charge to block an overhead attack by the halberd user.
The greatsword user came from the side, ready to strike at Mia’s exposed right side. But Fren was already waiting for him, aiming his left hand at the soldier's chest. Frenley shot his last magic bolt. Piercing through the armor, flesh, organ, and bone. Blood poured out of the wound as the man fell to the ground face-first. Light illuminated the area around them, originating from the tip of the mage's wand. The light envelops the other soldiers, their muscles bulging up, golden light pushing through their veins. The sound of wind being cut enters their ears, followed by the sound of flesh being pierced.
Frenley took a few steps to the side; Mia’s and Risa's voices could not reach his ears, and neither could air reach his lungs. The taste of iron filled his mouth as warm red liquid rushed down his neck and stained his blue robes. Thankfully, Frenley didn't take long to realize what was going on, as he took out one of his healing potions and drank it. The healing started to work over time as it healed the bolt wound on his neck, closing it and pushing the crossbow bolt out of his body.
The crossbow man notices the recovering Fren, clicking its tongue, it aims its weapon at the confused Frenley. But from the corner of his eye, he noticed something flying towards him, a piece of the pale moon. Flexing his muscles, the man jumps backward, dodging the attack as it lands where he had stood. Dirt and rock jump into the air, covering the line of sight to his prey. This gave Frenley enough time to recover from his pierced neck and lack of blood. With sword in hand, he rushes to the swordsmen, who, with the halberd user, were pushing Mia back with hit after hit.
His raptly approaching figure made the swordsman turn his head to look at him, and that was all Mia needed to deliver a strong kick at his shield. Forcing the man to take a few steps back so he would not fall. Grabbing his sword with both hands, Frenley delivers a strong attack at the swordsman's shield. With a flurry of attacks, Frenley attacks the swordsman, trying to make him take a step back. The mage behind the swordsman also took a couple of steps back as it pointed its wand at the swordsman.
The shield started to glow with a soft silver light, and when Fren landed his attack, it bounced like he was hitting a stone wall. The force got transmitted to his arms, making them shake and his muscles contract with pain. But that was not all; the sound of the wind being cut reached his ears as Frenley ducked down to dodge the attack. But the crosbowman was a step ahead, as he aimed for the man’s leg. The crossbolt pierces his left thigh, blood flowing out, as heat radiates from the new wound.
But no rest waits for the wicked, as the swordman aims to cut Frenley's head from his shoulder. Frenley rolled backward, dodging the attack, but such things didn't stop the man from taking another step to end his life. In the process, leaving the mage exposed, enough for a shard of moonlight to hit the head of the mage. Causing it to explode like a firework of gore and blood. The light dissipated from the soldiers and the swordsman's shield. The sudden change in strength and speed caused the swordsman to miss his attack by a few inches, cutting a small line across Frenley's neck, not enough to draw blood.
Frenley shot up, grabbing the man's shield and pushing it to the side, leaving the man's body exposed for Fren’s sword to pierce the man’s heart. Blood filled up the man's mouth and throat, spilling out of it like a macabre painting. Fren pushes the man to the side as he looks to join the battle. But it was already over, the crossbowman's head was blown apart, and the halberd user lay on the ground, its arms cut from the elbow down.
Frenley breaths in relief as he looks at his pouch, debating if he should drink his last healing potion. A rushing, large woman brought his attention back to reality.
“You okay, love?”
“I am good, dear.. just debating if I should drink my last potion or save it.”
“Drink it, I am sure there is a resting site close by.”
Risa said as she got closer to the duo; her eyes carried a bit of worry, but it washed away easily.
“You really need to get better at dogging love, you're taking more hits than I am.”
“I know, I am just not good with range attacks.”
Frenley answered back as he drank his last potion. The potion closed the wound and pushed the crossbolt out of his leg. It didn't take long for him to regain his movement, and with a hand from Mia, he stood up. Fren looks at the girls before speaking.
“So what is our stock?”
“I got two healing potions still left.” Mia responded.
“One healing potion left, three magic attacks left.” Risa said softly.
“Nothing left over here, so let's move forward and hope to find a resting point.” Frenley said last, answering his own question.
“Agree,” The two girls said at the same time, their voices melting together in a way Fren found quite relaxing. The trio started their walk once more. As they walked, Mia broke the silence with a soft and somber voice.
“That was quite scary, Frenley.”
“What was?”
“Your neck is getting pierced by a crossbow. My heart dropped for a second there before you drank your healing potion. Make no sense, I knew that you would revive and not die, but it still felt quite scary.”
“That feeling is something we will never lose,” Risa said behind them. “The fear of death and watching someone die is ingrained into our biology; not even our brain can overwrite that.”
“Maybe that is for the better, even if the old veteran says to give up on my self-preservation skills. Mortality is what makes us human, and losing that would leave us forever changed.”
Frenley looked back at Risa once he finished talking, the silver-haired kitsune nodding her head with a soft smile.
“Makes me wonder.” Risa said as they walked, her ears twitching, “Maybe that is what drove these guys crazy. As the voice said, we are tasked with ending the madness. Immortality is never a blessing.”
“But I haven't seen enemies respawn, so that can't be.”
"But what she says makes sense, they don't react when we killed one of them," Mia answered while walking.
Frenley was about to speak again, but Risa cut him off.
“Shh, we can speak about this later. I hear lots of noise.”
Risa's warning made the other two shut up, and they got down on their knees and walked close to the floor. Brushing as little as they can against bushes and leaves, trying not to break any fallen branches. The group soon reached the edge of a clearing. Man-made clearing, but a clearing nonetheless.
A couple of yards away was a large encampment. Makeshift tents were set up throughout the camp, with hundreds of figures moving about. Some without armor or weapons, mingling among the common man. Looking like normal people, if not for one big thing. In the center of the camp was a pile of bodies. Covered in yellow and orange flames. The soldiers could be seen throwing bodies into the fire. But no matter how long the bodies were in there, they didn't burn. It was quite hard to make out from their position, but the bodies seemed to be getting better, not worse, under the flames.
Their suspicion was confirmed when a body rose from the flames, alive, breathing, like nothing ever happened. His clothes were fixed, and he walked to join some followers as they ate.
“Well, looks like I was right.”
Fren and Mia looked at the girl for a few seconds before meeting each other's gaze.
“What? I was right, they can't die.”
“Are you gonna say it or am I?” Ask Mia as she looked at Frenley
“Thank you, Captain Obvious,” Frenley said as he patted the head of the silver-haired kitsune. Causing a small, cute yelp to escape her pink lips. That made the woman blush deeply at the unexpected noise.
“Oh my, what a cute noise. I bet your moans are quite lovely to hear.”
Frenley could not believe someone's face could get that red. He chuckled softly as he brushed his hair to the side. Trying to hide his own blush, for Mia's comment has painted quite the image in his mind.
“Ah, even Frenley is imagining.” Mia said while looking at him.
“No, no, I am imagining how a certain someone else moans instead.”
“Ah- touche. Well fucking played. Keep talking like that, and I would have an extra surprise for you after dinner.”
“You're saying that like it is a punishment.”
Mia closed her mouth and opened it. Trying to fight a small blush creeping up her face. Their small banter gave Risa enough time to recover.
“Be sure to send me the video when you shut her up, Frenley.”
“Wow- gosh damn that was forward..Okay, there has to be something wrong with us. We are literally seeing someone raised from the dead, and here we are making sex jokes.” Frenley said as he shook his head.
“Haha, won't be the only thing rising.” Mia's dirty joke drew a small laugh from the silver-haired kitsune. Frenley bit his own bottom lip, trying to calm himself down.
“Okay, girls, can we please get back to the point at hand?”
“Getting comfortable there, love.”
“You know what, Risa? How much are you gonna pay for that video?” Frenley turns to face the kitsune.
“I will take it over the 20 dollars.” The kitsune responded with not an ounce of joke in her tone,
“Deal.”
Frenley said as he shook Risa's hand. Mia once more was at a loss for words. The fey giggle softly before he spoke.
“Let's get away from here. I don't want to be seen.”
The girls nodded as the group moved away from the edge of the clearing. They found a nearby clean spot to talk. Frenley got down on his knees and drew a circle on the ground with a stick. Risa sat down to his left, and Mia sat to his right. Frenley made shapes of X’s inside the circle before putting a smaller circle in the middle of the large circle.
“Okay, so this is a rough sketch of the emcampment. Seeing how they are eating and the position of the moon, it should be around ten pm. Give them an hour or two more, and they will be asleep. I say we sneak in when they are sleeping and start a fire and kill as many as we can.”
“Sound plan, love, but how are we gonna start a fire?” Mia questions.
“And how am I gonna kill people?” The kitsune asks soon after.
“Great questions. We will pick up one of the soldiers' weapons and give it to you, Risa. We will move together and kill as many as we can in their sleep before the fire.”
“What fire?”
“I am getting there. They were cooking, and we would get the fire from there. Grab a torch from the dungeon and light it on fire before throwing it at the camp.”
“Sounds as good as any plan, taking it, we're going back to the dungeon to rest and grab the torches?”
“Exactly as you said, Mia. Risa”
“Um?” The kitsune perk up at the mention of her name.
“When you used your power, did it tell you what the boss was gonna be?”
“Nope, just that the militia camp will give us a clue.”
“Gotcha..alright, let's get the show on the road.”
“Yes, sir.”
Both girls said at the same time as the group stood up. Frenley erased the drawing he had made before following the girls.
“Hey Risa, you were joking about wanting that video, right?”
“Oh, I was not.”
“Neither was I when thinking of giving you a blowjob after the dinner.” The tall woman said while giving the male a look.
“Didn't you say it was a surprise?” Risa said as she looked at the tall woman.
“Ah, you are right, sorry for ruining the surprise, love!”
“…..”
“He looks quite cute when he is flustered like that.”
“No need to flaunt your boyfriend, Mia.”
“He ain't my boyfriend….”
“You're missing a keyword there, but I am not one to put words in people's mouths.”
“No, you look more like the type of girl who gets stuff put on her mouth.”
“This is the kind of training video they show you at work, not to do!” Frenley said as he walked next to the girls, his face tomato red.
“Never pay attention to that kind of shit, we ain't at work either way. Plus, none of you had said anything about it. So y'all must have liked it.”
“How can you be so sure?” Frenley said while looking at Mia.
“Look me in the eye and tell me I am wrong- no one? That is what I thought. Not like y'all are any better.”
“Lord Almighty, grant me strength.”
Mia laughed with her whole chest as she wrapped her arms around both Risa and Frenley's shoulders.
“This is the start of a beautiful friendship.”
“With benefits at this rate.”
“Atta girl, that's the spirit.”
“Losing my V card in a threesome was the last thing I expected.” Frenley said in a low tone.
“Ye- hold up. You are a virgin!?”
“No fucking way!”
Both girls said loud enough to scare a bird away, and both looked at Frenley like he was prime meat. Frenley nodded his head, scratching his cheek and trying not to blush anymore.
“Yeah, still a virgin at my big age of 25.” Frenley said.
“Wow… there is no way. You are good-looking in real life.”
“Wait, you have seen him in real life, Mia?”
“Yes! We work in the same building, and we went to the gym together today.”
“Wow..wait, what gym do you guys go to?”
“The one that is right next to the park and donut shop.”
“Oh, I go to that gym as well, but mostly in the morning.”
“Risa..did you go to the gym last Friday?” Frenley cut into the girls' conversation.
“Yes, why?”
“Did someone open the door for you, guy with semi-long black hair. Wearing a suit and tie?”
“Yes…”
“Ah, so my guess was correct, that was you.”
“Wait, you were the guy who opened the door?!”
“Yep”
“Fuck! I wish I could have gotten a better look. When are you guys going to the gym again?”
“For me, it's Thursday.”
“If he is going on Thursday, then I will go as well.”
“Okay, I will meet you guys then, in the afternoon, correct?” Risa ask while looking at them.
“Yep, around 4pm,” Frenley said, hoping the conversation would move on from him being a virgin.
“Always good to have another gym buddy! Ah, we are here.”
“Man, time goes by fast when having fun.”
“Haha, tell me about it,” Risa said as she broke away from the grip of Mia.
The short fox lady walked down the stairs.
‘Threesome wouldn't be bad.’ Risa thought
Following Risa was Mia, a soft smile on her face as she walked down the stairs.
‘I should start texting Risa some more, it seems. What a cute and fun girl.’ The tall woman thoughts brought a smile to her face
Frenley was the last to walk into the dungeon, his thoughts a bit different from the girls'.
‘Okay, what the fuck is wrong with me?! Flirting with Risa when you have a crush on Mia is fucking frat boy behavior. I need to get myself back to Earth. This is just friendly banter between friends…banter between friends… no thoughts, no emotion ,no hope.’