NBB3 - chapter 35: Three days left

"Is he always like that?"

Norg turned his gaze from the window and towards Oytach.

"Who? Laron?"

"No, Solus! Is he always invisible?"

"No, he is like Tirella," Norg said with a grin as he took a look at the other.

Ever since they had returned, he'd been keeping an eye on the Kaot Lord. The other had been reasonably calm and taking everything in stride. However, his few questions and remarks showed Norg he was likely overwhelmed by what was going on. Still, although he was a Kaot, he didn't act like one, and from what Norg could feel from his own body, Norg had a good idea why. The crystals on his own body greatly resemble those of Oytach, and they constantly drew in mana, changing it and purifying it. He hadn't attempted absorbing a Kaot Orb yet, but something told him he would be fine, unlike the other undead he knew. That meant, Oytach would likely not have the same insanities as the other Kaots had.

Besides this, he could also feel his body constantly growing stronger, much faster than he had before, even without absorbing mana-orbs. If Oytach had the same happening, he might be stronger than he let on.

"So, how long do you think they are going to be talking?" Oytach asked as he looked at the group behind them.

Norg glanced over to where Drys, Borl, Laron, Sumil, and Tirella stood. They had been talking for over an hour, mostly getting Solus up to speed, and seemed to be deciding on the proper course of action.

"They'll be done soon," Norg said as he leaned back and stretched his back.

"I hope so," Oytach rumbled as he leaned back in the stone chair. It creaked slightly under his weight but showed no other signs of trouble under his weight. "This is a fine thing," the Kaot Lord muttered before restlessly tapping the armrest.

"Solus made it. If it can hold him, it can hold anybody," Norg said with a laugh.

"He is strong?" Oytach said with a frown.

"The strongest I know," Norg said. Then he recalled the horrible thing that had attempted to get through the rift and sighed. "Well…"

"Can you show me around this city?" Oytach blurted.

Norg examined the Kaot Lord, noticing the other's covert and curious glances at the window. He remembered the first time he'd been to a large place with other undead. It had been exciting.

"Probably, but let me ask-"

"It's fine," Drys' voice echoed around them. "Just return in an hour or two."

Norg grinned as he pushed himself up. "You heard him. Let's go!"

Oytach returned the grin and stood immediately, following Norg out of the room.

--

"Was that wise?" Borl whispered as he followed the leaving Kaot Lord through the window.

“Solus says it's fine,” Laron said. "Besides, now that Oytach is gone, he-" Laron hissed as he looked at a spot above his head. "What? Why didn't you.. Yes, I know that! Fine!"

Laron turned to Drys. "There is a large change Oytach still has a mana-core with him."

"What?" Drys snapped while the others stared at Laron in shock.

Tirella's confused look disappeared quickly, and she burst out laughing.

"Show off," she said as she tried to contain her laughter.

"If he has a mana-core, that's even less reason to let him leave," Drys snapped.

Laron was quiet as a surprised look came to his face, then he turned pale.

"Even Drys?" he asked in a whisper.

After another second, he looked at the others.

"Solus says Oytach is much stronger than you all, and if you had confronted him here, he would have destroyed this tower with all of you in it. That's why Solus told Enthril and the others to search for Sig."

A thoughtful look came to Drys's face.

"If we can get that mana-core… Do you still think we should bring it to GD18?"

"Solus says we should. Even if you evolve, you won't be strong enough to stop the thing that's coming," Laron said.

"Then we need to get Galg back here. He is the only one that can get that mana-core there in time," Drys said, but he frowned, and the doubt was obvious in his voice.

"That's a bad idea," Sumil said. "He will most likely absorb it himself and disappear through a rift."

"Sig can move fast enough," Laron said. "We just have to find him."

"Then it's time I go and look around myself," Drys said. "We have three days left. That's plenty of time, but only if we can find Sig."

"I'll go help look for Sig too," Sumil said.

"I am leaving," Tirella said almost at the same time. She looked at Borl. "I'm going to see if that undead AI I spoke with found a way to stop it. If this fails, we need another way to stop that thing."

"The one with the mana projection skill? I wish I could come along," Borl said. "We haven't found another AI in years."

"It's too far, but if we survive, I'll explain where to go," Tirella said.

"Yeah, yeah. I know. I'll head back to the tower and work with the others to create a way to use mana-projection. That way, we can talk with Solus too."

Laron seemed to listen again, then looked at Tirella. "Solus says to be careful and keep that body in Drys's prison."

"Right, let's go," Drys said as he turned to the window. Sumil followed him, and the two jumped out of the window.

Tirella moved towards the prison without another word, binding bone manacles around her wrist. She sniffed when the material scraped across her hairs, dust, and scrapes drifting down. Then she turned around and looked at the spot Laron had been looking at while speaking.

"After this is done, we need to get more time to talk," she said, then her body slumped to the ground.

Laron blinked, and his mouth fell open as he gazed at something above his head, then his eyes followed it move towards the side, scanning the area above Tirella's body.

Borl had been walking away but stopped when he noticed Laron's odd behavior.

"What's going on?" he said, then he followed Laron's gaze and slowly raised his eyebrows.

"Solus is talking with Tirella," Laron said.

--

Solus gazed at the glowing brown and green version of Tirella, ignoring Laron and Borls excited chatter.

"So, we can see each other," she said with a wide smile on her face as she drifted towards him.

"That's good," Solus said dumbly, just gazing at her with a wide smile.

His mind was stuffy, and his thoughts slow as he looked into her eyes. Although he had just seen her real body in the chamber deep underground and spoken with her in her other form, seeing her true self was a whole different thing.

"What's wrong," Tirella said as her smile turned into a predatory grin. "Turned into a Lethargic one?"

Solus blinked, then barked a laugh as she shoved the odd feelings down. He saw the glittering in her eyes as if golden mana-particles were collecting and ready to burst out.

"It's a shame you can't join me," Tirella said. "You really can't move further away?"

"No," Solus said as he moved a bit closer towards her and immediately felt the connection with Laron strain.

Tirella let out a sad sigh, remaining an arm's length from him.

"Do you…" she began, then frowned. "Do you feel… this?" she stared at him intently and waved her hands between them.

Solus grinned back, then nodded. "I think I do. It's what Norg and Vingria have?"

Tirella sniffed and shook her head in mock disdain. "No, this is much stronger!"

"Probably," Solus said as he carefully stretched out a hand. "We are much stronger, so that makes sense."

Tirella laughed. "I don't think it works that way, but-"

"Solus?" Laron's melodious voice interrupted her, and they both looked down to see Laron stare up at Solus.

"What?" Solus snapped, annoyed by the interruption.

"Shouldn't Tirella go?"

"She will leave soon," Solus replied as he turned his attention back to Tirella and smiled.

"Careful with that one," Tirella whispered as she gazed down at Laron. "When he asked me if I had seen others of its kind, I lied… I have been to worlds with others like him."

Solus forced a smile to stay on his face as he slowly looked down at Laron. The undead was staring back, but after Solus stared deep into his eyes, Laron swallowed and looked away. Solus turned back to Tirella and raised an eyebrow.

"It's a long story, but all of the Cestodias I  have seen were dangerous. This one seems different, but don't let your guard down!"

Solus nodded after a moment and smiled at her. "It's great to see you again. We will talk more when you return!"

"I'll be back as soon as I can," Tirella replied with a warm smile. Then she changed into a streak of mana that shot through the roof.

Solus stared at the spot she had just been for a few moments longer, then sighed.

"Alright," he said as he gazed at Laron. "Let's go find some Lethargic ones and get me a new body."

"About time, time," Laron said. "As soon as you are ready, I'm going to leave."

Solus blinked in surprise, but Laron was already moving towards the exit.

"Where to?"

"I'm thinking of going to Zombra," Laron said as he frowned. "I want to talk with Ourlin!"

Laron had crossed half the square beyond the Patternhall before Solus recalled who Ourlin was.

Right, the leader of the cleaners, where I found Laron, he thought.

"Why?"

"Because he is the one that put me in this body," Laron said as he ground his teeth.

Solus' eyes widened as he gazed down at the slim, purple-eyed undead.

Laron didn't say anything more but moved through one of the gates and headed deeper into the city. He moved through streets and around corners, seeming to know precisely where he was going. Soon they were in a busy street, walking past a large building with open doors and windows. A familiar, thick, and aromatic scent wafted out of it.

Wyrm meat, Solus thought.

He turned his attention back to Laron, and as he watched him comfortably move through the crowd, he was amazed. The other had only been here for a few days and already knew how to move around the place. He was about to remark on it when he noticed someone staring intently at Laron. Focusing on the figure, he saw it was a Goliarn.

The massive figure was trying hard to hide behind a group of zombies, but his narrow eyes never left Laron's back.

Now what? Solus thought.

Laron moved left on the intersection, and for a moment, Solus lost track of the Goliarn. Then three tall skeletons moved around the corner, and the Goliarn moved behind them, his head bent low as he shuffled after the skeleton.

"There is a Goliarn following us," Solus said softly.

Laron jolted, a fearful look coming to his face.

"Don't look around," Solus hissed, but he was too late. Laron swirled around, scanning the street with his burning purple eyes. The Goliarn froze, lowering his stance.

Laron turned back around almost immediately, raising his head and sniffing the air. He grinned suddenly and moved across the street towards a building from which a strong scent of burning meat came. A double door sat in the middle, and through it and the adjacent windows, dozens of undead could be seen, sitting at tables, and talking.

"Smart," Solus said as he saw the Goliarn relax and cross the street as he followed Laron. "It's still following you."

"It's not the first one," Laron whispered. "They have been following me for days."

Solus was about to ask why when he sighed. He knew why. It was probably because of Laron's connection with him.

Laron entered the building, and a yellow, bulbous-eyed zombie rushed towards him with a wide smile.

"Dear valued customer! Have you come to taste our fabulous wyrm flesh? It is by far the tastiest in all of the majestic Skulltown!"

Despite everything, Solus grinned. It had been ages since he'd last seen or heard one of Borl's friends. Somehow, the odd speech made him happy, and he was glad to see they were still around.

"I'll take one mana-orb's worth," Laron sang softly, and without waiting for a response, he moved towards a table at the back of the crowded room.

He had to dodge and weave his way through as the tables stood so close that the backs of the chairs touched in many places. When Laron finally reached a free table, the zombie was still follwoing him, and he held out a hand. Laron put his hand in his filthy, wyrm hide belt pouch and retrieved a tiny mana-orb, placing it in the yellow hand.

"I'll be right back with your serving, dear customer," the zombie said before disappearing to the back of the room.

"That was my last orb, last orb," Laron grumbled, his voice skipping twice as he gazed at Solus.

"Don't look up!" Solus snapped as he floated down on the table in front of Laron.

The Goliarn hadn't come inside, and he couldn't see him through the windows, but that didn't mean they should draw more attention from the other undead here.

"How far is the nearest place with Lethargic ones," Solus asked.

"A few more streets. Not that long," Laron said.

"Alright. See if there is a back exit," Solus said as he looked around the room.

"No. I'm going to eat first," Laron sang as he leaned back. "This might be the last chance I can enjoy this for a long time."

"If that Goliarn comes back with help, they might just grab you," Solus said as he looked up. "Is that meat worth it?"

Laron didn't reply but waited quietly until the bulbous-eyed zombie returned with a roughly made bone plate. A fist-sized chunk of steaming white meat lay on it, a few bones poking from the side.

"Here is your meal, value customer! Please let us know if you want more."

Laron waved his hand as he gazed at the plate sadly. When the undead waiter left, he looked at Solus.

"The prices of wyrm meat have been going up since Skull disappeared," Laron said.

"How do you know?" Solus retorted, surprised at how much smarter Laron had become since his Cestodia form had fully integrated with the undead body.

Laron shrugged as he removed a sliver of meat and started chewing. "Gregor told me. He knows many things, many things he knows."

Solus nodded, wondering why Laron was slowly reverting to his old speech pattern. Then he focused on what Laron had told him. It made sense. Gregor had been living in the city for a few years now, and from what Tirella had told him, Gregor was a lot smarter than the average undead.

"And to answer your question," Laron said as he put another sliver of meat in his mouth, chewing with relish. "Yes. It is worth it."

Solus looked on as Laron finished the meat, slowly and methodically chewing each bit. The longer he watched, the more he wanted to try it himself. When Laron finally devoured the last bit, looking almost sad, Solus decided that one of the first things he would do after waking would be to eat some wyrm meat.

Laron pushed the plate away and got up while Solus looked around. The chatter in the small room, restaurant, a surge of information told him, made the place both bussy and calming at the same time. He noticed that many undead were quietly talking, and only a few were loud and emotional.

When they arrived at the back of the room, at a small counter, a different bulbous-eyed zombie, almost a copy of the first, looked up with a friendly smile.

"Valued customer, how may I help you?"

"Do you have a door in the back?" Laron asked as he pointed at the room behind the counter.

"We do," the zombie said with raised eyebrows. "Why?"

"Can you let me out from there? I've angered a Goliarn, and he might be waiting outside," Laron said.

I hope that doesn't cause trouble, Solus thought as he watched the small zombie's bulbous eyes narrow. As soon as they did, the eyelids pushed the eyes further back in the skull, and the open, friendly face turned conniving and sharp.

"Follow me," the zombie said, his normal friendly banter vanishing.

"Be careful," Solus said as Laron followed the yellow zombie.

They arrived in a large, hazy room with a dozen of the bulbous-eyed zombies standing around a device.

An oven, Solus thought as more images and concepts bubbled up.

Fatty smoke trickled up from the oven, and Solus took a quick look to see a massive amount of flesh inside. The smoke collected against the ceiling creating a swirling cloud of fumes.

"What is he doing here?" one of the other zombies asked as he stepped forward.

"Those Goliarn are causing trouble again," the conniving-looking zombie said as he moved without stopping. A door at the back of the room stood ajar, some of the smoke trickling out of it, and he brought Laron there.

"Wait," Solus hissed before Laron could move out.

He floated as far ahead as he could, barely managing to reach outside and into a small alley that went left and right. It was empty, and there was no sign of the Goliarn.

"It's save," he said, and Laron moved outside.

"Thanks," Laron said as he turned to the zombie in the door opening.

The yellow zombie quickly shook his head. "No need. Those large goons come here and eat our meat without having any mana-orbs. I hope a Wyrm eats them all!"

Solus grinned at the mental image the words brought to his mind.

Laron simply frowned, nodded, and walked away.

"Don't take the main roads this time," Solus said. "Let's try and get me a body before we draw more attention again."

"Alright," Laron muttered.

Quietly they moved down the alleys, Laron showing once again that he knew exactly where he was going. They didn't even encounter a street wider than two undead could pass through side by side.

Eventually, they arrived at a crossroads with a dead end to the left and a closed-door set inside a towering stone building. The stone showed they had to be deep into the old part, but Solus couldn't recall having built it, and that wasn't the first time. Either his memory was getting worse, or someone else had been creating stone buildings. But who? He only knew of himself and Tirella that could do that!

Laron moved inside, and Solus was pulled along. He gazed up at the building.

"This is the oldest of the buildings that they have Lethargic ones locked up. Nobody ever comes here, not even to check. The walls are thick, and the doors too strong for the weak ones to break free," Laron said as he snuck to the door and pulled it.

How does he know all of this? Solus thought as they moved into a dark, dusty, and empty hallway.

Laron closed the door behind him, and suddenly it was a lot quieter. The slight sounds from the city that made it inside were dull. The only sounds were Laron's soft footsteps.

The hallway led to a larger room with a staircase leading up and a few hallways leading away. A thin layer of dust covered everything except for the leftmost hallway, the staircase, and the path leading from one to the other.

"They haven't been here for a while," Solus said as he gazed at the staircase. "Let's check upstairs."

Laron nodded, sneaking forward and up the stairs. The next floor was a similar room, and Solus was about to ask Laron to move into one of the hallways when they heard voices and footsteps from below.

"Hide," Solus hissed, and Laron looked around in panic.

"Where?" he whispered back.

"Towards one of the hallways," Solus said as he pointed to the left. It was the only one that didn't have any dust leading to it.

Laron snuck into the hallway as the footsteps got closer. Closed doors lined it, and Laron quickly opened the first one. It led into a smaller room filled with undead. All lethargic, they hung from bone cords tied to bone rings that sat in the wall.

"Go inside and stay close to the door," Solus whispered.

Laron closed the door, and Solus heard him press up against it while he remained in the hallway. The footsteps came through the main room straight to the corridor they had taken.

"You are sure they went here?" a rough voice asked as a Goliarn stepped into the corridor entrance.

"Yes. That one said-" a small dark grey undead froze as he stared straight at Solus, his eyes widening.

"He is there," he screamed as he pointed at Solus.