FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 10

The illusionary world soon wrapped itself around Infinity within its grasp. The billowing fields of green with dots of red and yellow returned to her gaze. The breeze once again brushed against her cheek and pushed the white puffy clouds overhead that would block the sun every once and awhile. Infinity spent the rest of the day practicing her spellcraft, flying, and general exploring of the area. However despite the view going on forever, she does not seem to make any headway in exploring the place. She grumbled and reminded herself it was only an illusion after all.

She returned to her room hours later, opening the door with a soft creak. She found that the room was being lit by only several mana lanterns that bathed the small banquet table that had been lain out in a soft light. She padded in softly, closing the door behind her. She turned her gaze around the room to find Axton curled up in a corner, with a book in his lap. His hair looked rather ruffled, and he had large bags beneath his eyes. I was gone longer than I thought. She thought back to her time in the room. I guess time flies...

"Hello." He said with a smile, without lifting his eyes from the book.

"Hi." She replied, eyes looking to the banquet. She passed it without a thought, still rather full from the doe she had earlier in the day.

"Can you come here? I think I found something." Axton slowly stood to his feet, holding the book in one hand while extending the other to the open air.

She walked over to him. Her eyes fell to the bags below his and she wrinkled her snout. "Okay, but after this you need to rest Axton. You need your rest."

"Well I would have tried sooner, but you were gone." He yawned, covering his mouth. "The wizard kept me busy all day." Axton moves his hands in a circular motion, before smacking the center of it. He than takes his hand and pressed it against the runes carved into her neck.

Infinity looked down at his hand to find that the runes seemed to fade with his touch, as a soothing sensation ran along her hide there. She closed her eyes and let out a pleasured sigh, her tail twitching behind her. It was like a weight had been lifted from her entire body, almost like if she lost focus she would drift away towards the ceiling. It only lasted for a moment however, as soon she feels the weight return, as it if to pull her to the very floor. Her legs wobble as a spark of yellow light spring's forth were Axton's hand was placed. The boy was thrown back towards the wall, his head banging it with a dull thud.

"Owwww." Axton slumps to the floor, rubbing the back of his head. Infinity could see that the palm of his hand that had touched her was bright red, as if her scales had burned his hand.

"Are you okay?" She asked, her anxiety rising as she snaked her head down for a better look. She saw Axton breath in through his teeth as he clutched at the red hand.

"Yes... just... burns..." He looked up at her, and she could almost feel the desperation coming off of him. "Well how did you feel? Did I do anything?"

"You did." She said with a smile. Although she wrinkled her snout at the thought of what she had just tasted. Life without the runes weighing me down...Without hurting me..I need them gone...I need to taste that freedom again.

"But they are still there!" He gestured with both hands to the runes as he stood up. He threw up his hand and plopped down onto his bed with a large sigh. "What if I am not good enough?"

"You are." She said softly, padding over to him and laying down on the bed. "But you've had less experience."

"B-But...If I don't get it..." He spread out his arms and laid down fully onto his bed. "Don't worry, I'll get it right." He yawned, closing his eyes.

"I know you will." Infinity said softly, moving to wrap around the little human. I know you're trying Axton...You just have to be patient. She set down her snout so that it was pressed up against him. "Axton?"

"Yes?" he mumbled, as he grabbed her snout with his hands.

"I know you said it before...and the wizard ruined it..." She thumped her tail gently against the bed. "If there was anyone that deserved it....it is you Axton." She snorted against him. "My name is Infinity."

"I know....you lied to me." He mumbled softly. "Thank you Infinity."

"Your welcome Axton." She smiled, closing her eyes and letting sleep take her away.

• * * * * * * * *

The next week passes with each night pretty much going the same as it had done previous. Infinity is left to her own devices in the illusion room, free to hunt, fly, and practice her magic. Each day she finds herself having more control of her magical faculties. With joyous glee she enjoyed sailing across the fake sky, throwing lightning bolts as she went. Each night of hers was spent with Axton, who tried to remove the runes each night, not deterred by his previous failure. However despite his enthusiasm his efforts were met with the same outcome as before, with the sole exception the runes would fade away longer and longer before her eyes. She prayed the day would come when they would fade away forever, and weigh her down no longer.

One morning during her flight she spotted Axton running across the viridian field she had come to know. She swooped around to see a clear smile clearly trying to dominate his face as he ran.

"I got it! I got it! I got it!" He shouted out as she flew over head, his voice brimming with excitement. "Infinity! I got it!"

"Oh?" She laughed, passing overhead again with a dip of her membranes circling the human. She back winged to slow her descent, extended her hind legs, and with a few more flaps she landed softly onto the grass. She quickly strode over to the boy who stopped to hold his breath. His face was all red as he placed his hands to his knees.

"W-we just need to focus!" He gasps out, the smile still not fading from his face. He gave one last large breath before throwing his pack onto the ground. Unbuckling it, he reached around and pulled out a rather large necklace made of pearls. "See it involves these!" He held them out towards her.

"More treasure?" She laughed, striding over with her tail swishing behind her. "How is more treasure exactly 'got it'?"

"'For the runes!" he stepped closer towards her, holding them with both hands now. "If you...don't mind..."

"Well...okay." She smiled briefly touching them with her paw. They were nearly perfectly smooth to the touch, and slightly cold. She gazed at their opaque surface and was momentarily lost in it. She had never seen pearls before, and in that moment she decided she loved pearls. She lowered her neck, and stretched it out for him. "You may put them on me...If that is what you had in mind little Axton." She kneaded the ground with her paws. She could feel the anticipation radiating through her scales as she felt her heart beat a tad faster. This was it....She was going to be free...plus it was more treasure. She gave a pleased snort as the human slipped the necklace around her. I bet they look wonderful on me! She gave a pleased croon, refolding the wings against her back.

"Please let this work.." Axton mumbled, as she watched him perform the same hand movements he had done throughout the week prior. However, this time he finished the spell by touching the runes instead. From his hands sprouted a white brilliant light that made Infinity shield her eyes for a moment at it's intensity. Despite having spots flash in her eyes as she blinked them, she could feel the runes fade away to nothing once again, and this time the weight did not return.

"You did it!" She exclaimed, jumping for joy. She bounded around in a circle, and could not contain her excitement. She let out a joyous roar as she thrashed her tail onto the ground. "You did it!" She bound over, picked up Axton and pressed him close against her scales. "You wonderful little human you!" She nuzzled him with her snout. "YOU DID IT!"

"They moved!" Axton laughs, she feels him trace her scales, and move his finger to the pearls around her neck. She looked down to see that he was indeed correct. The runes that had been carved into her neck oh so long ago, were now engraved into the white surface of the pearls. She traced a talon over them, finding no weight, no pain, nothing. Just the smooth, cold surface of the beautiful pearls. She let out another pleasured noise as she pulled Axton closer against her.

"Thank you Axton." She said softly, her vision becoming blurry. "Thank you...Thank you.." She repeated, tears already starting to drip down her snout. "I--....Thank you." She pulled him tighter against her, "I never thought...never...thank you."

"You said!" He laughed.

"I know." She smiled then laughed. "I just...wanted you to know!"

"Although..." Axton frowned. "You might have to do what he says, at least to put on the illusion that you are still under his control...Otherwise he it might ruin the entire thing."

She did not think of that. She wrinkled her muzzle at the idea of doing whatever the wizard asked of her. She tapped her tail in irritation at that face before letting out a puff of air. Still it beats being hurt from it...or weight down from it.... She nodded slowly. "It is a small price to pay for being free I think."

"So....What do you want to do? The Master gave me the rest of the day off." He said holding up a finger and lowering his voice, and making it sound like the wizard. "Go have fun with MY dragon that you are so fond of. You two have been doing most excellent in your progress. You two might be my most successful experiments."

"Experiments?" She cocked her head to the side. "Are you sure he said that about you as well?" She felt a shiver run through her spine. Whatever the wizard had meant by that it surely meant nothing good. "This isn't good." She murmured, as Axton walked over to her

"I know....I'm scared....." His face brightens up, "But then I remember I have you!"

"Mmmhmm." She nodded, sitting down on her haunches, curling her tail around her. "Although....I wonder what his other experiments are." She pictured maybe other creatures stitched together, half formed monsters, and other various horrible images.

"Probably something terrible...Like singing dwarves or something...or beats....or orange juice....Or bagpipes!"

Infinity tapped a talon to her chin, and swishing her tail. "I wonder how we can use them....or free them..."

"Well...we would have to find them." Axton shrugged, "I have yet to see any of these so called experiments. It could be very well they are not even here, but instead somewhere else."

I never thought of that. She thought, thinking back to her time in the tower. She had always assumed that he kept everything here within this tower. She wrinkled her snout at her arrogance. Lich I wonder how far your grasp actually extends to.. She shivered at the thought. Will we be even able to escape far away if your reach extends outside this place?

"He had not mentioned anything either." Axton's face darkened. "Now that he mentions it...I think he kept me deliberately in the dark....I am just another experiment after all in his eyes."

"Probably." She moved in, pressing herself up against the human softly. "But that just means we have more in common now." She smiled, and to her relief he returned it.

"So how is the hunting going? I'm sorry I have not asked....I have been busy."

"It's okay Axton, I know you have been trying." She thought back to the past week, and how she could hunt now without even being heard. She did not have to rely on her invisibility spell to aide her anymore. "It's been going good. I have vastly improved!"

"And the magic?" He smiles, holding up his hands.

"Much better at it." She laughed, "My favorite is to throw lighting...Something about it...." She tapped her tail. "Just screams....Infinity.."

"So with the runes gone...I guess You just try to find an opening and go for it."

"WE." She corrected him, then moved a talon and pressed it softly to his nose. "Your forgetting the uncanny ability he has to know when I escape."

"But the runes!"

"That was your guess Axton...." She held up her head, imagining the vast outdoors. Not the fake ones that were currently around her, but the real trees, the real breeze, and the real sun on her scales. "We need to be certain before we make our move...You can bet if we fail." She let out small growl, imagining the lich's smug grin. "We will not get a second chance."

"Yeah, I forgot..." he said softly. Infinity watched him turn on his right leg slightly, looking a bit nervous. She cocked her head to the side, curious about what could be troubling him so.

"Infinity?" he asked softly.

"Yes?" She replied, suddenly feeling a sensation spreading from her heart. It felt strange, almost like an emotion that tingled out to her very claws. She tried to focus on it with her mind, trying to pinpoint the exact emotion that it could be. Nervousness. She thought quickly, and realizing it was not her own. Her eyes widened in sudden realization. I am feeling Axton's emotions....Why?

"Now don't laugh."

"I won't."

"Would you take me flying with you?" He asked suddenly, and quickly, the words practically running together.

Really? You ask me that? There was doubt in your mind Axton? "Of course!" She replied, her voice filling with excitement.

"OH REALLY!?" He exclaimed loudly, a giant smile on his face. He suddenly realized how loud he was, as he suddenly coughed softly. "I mean...oh really?"

Infinity just sat there, a smirk on her snout. She tried to hide her rising happiness at the thought. She had to stop her tail from wagging at the idea of her fling high. Axton on her shoulders with his arms wide, a smile on his face. 'Yes Axton really....If I had anyone share the joy of flight with me." She moved her head down to nose him in the chest. "It would be you MY little human."

"Thanks." He laughed, she felt him hold her head softly within his warm grip. "I thought you might have said no."

"Why would I say that?" She snorted, "Were you dropped on your head or something?"

"Oh I see..This is funny to you?"

"Slightly." She smirked, nosing him again.

"So....when do we go?"

"Whenever you want to go!" She broke away, and spread her wings wide so that he could get a good look of them.

"Are...you going to carry me or something?"

"You could always ride me." She lowered herself close to the ground. She shook herself slightly, letting her scales clink together. "Come on Axton, ascend with me to the sky...Well..close enough." She laughed.

"Are you sure? I have never ridden anything before....I won't fall?"

"Please Axton, I would NEVER let you fall." She rolled her eyes at him playfully. "Trust me." She shook her tail one more, fidgeting her limbs. "Now come one Axton, I am dying of old age!" She threw him an amused look. "Come on!" She watched the human gulp, then climb onto her back nervously.

"I can't believe it...I'm going to fly with you!" He suddenly cheered out, his voice loud.

"Alright, ready?" She grinned, arching back her head to get a glimpse of the human, who was grinning from ear to ear. She watched him gulp.

"I think I might literally die of excitement."

"Please don't do that." She chuckled, returning her gaze to the sky before her. She gave her wings a test flap, kneaded her claws, and flicked her tail. She felt Axton grab around her neck tightly, and she heard him give a deep breath.

"I am ready."

Infinity bounded into the air with a leap from her mighty legs. With her wing flaps she carried them both into the sky. She let out a roar of happiness as she felt Axton grab her tighter with the next pounding of her wings against the sky. She glanced back slightly as she dipped her wings, getting ready for a turn. She spotted that despite his smile, Axton had his eyes held shut.

"Open your eyes!" She shouted back to him. "There is nothing but freedom out here...and I won't let you fall." She flapped her wings, until she was hovering in mid air. She was mindful to not make any more sudden movements, as to not frighten the little human. She watched with bated breath as Axton opens his eye, his gaze looking around with a gasp. She noted he had not loosened his grip, but she could feel the happiness radiating from him, just like when she had sensed his nervousness. Why am I feeling your emotions?

"This....is.....amazing!" Axton shouted out, his words echoing out to the very heavens. "Ok, you can continue!"

"Good Axton!" She smiled, beating the air with her wings and carrying them swiftly across the rolling hills. She swooped, turned, and laughed the entire time alongside Axton. She can only let out more roars of joy, as Axton belted his own approval once again. She watched as he spread his arms out, hugging her with his legs. She wondered if he was pretending he was flying. She leveled out into a glide so that he could keep himself up. She returned her gaze to a vast field of crimson flowers, dotting the green hills.

"Infinity...did you ever imagine me as a dragon?" Axton laughs. "I know it's silly.."

You as a dragon? She smirked at the amusing thought. "No..I don't believe I have."

"Well I have.." He thumbed his chest. "Do you think I would look better with green or black scales?"

Hmmmm. Infinity flapped her wings again, smiling as the wind battered against her snout. "Why not a different color entirely?"

"Maybe....but black is my favorite color...followed by green."

Black your favorite? Infinity laughed, turning once she felt him grab her neck again.

"Oh you think that's funny too?" She imagined him crossing his arms as he laughed. "Well it's not my fault I thought about it....I do spend all my free time with a dragon...and you treat me like a wyrmling...so why not make if official?"

Infinity let out another deep laugh as she swooped down, readying herself to land. She circled the field she had chosen, smiling as Axton cheered out once again. She held out her hind legs and backwinged softly. She slowed her descent enough so that there was hardly a bump when her limbs touched down onto the soft earth.

"That...was...awesome!" Axton patted her neck softly. "Can we do that more often?"

"Of course!" She let out almost instantly without a thought. "We can fly whenever and how many times you want Axton." She held up her snout and gave him a tooth filled grin. "You may have been born without wings, but I will be your wings for you." She moved her snout and nuzzled him gently. "I will be the one who sets you free."

"Yes." He smiled softly."Infinity...Thank you."

"No need Axton." She laughed, "It was my pleasure."

"Maybe I can design a harness or something." He held a hand to his chin. "Maybe then we could do loops and spirals!"

"Maybe.." She replied, turning slightly away. The thought certainly did amuse her, and she loved his enthusiasm. It certainly was nice to share something with him.. Something she had not share with anyone ever before. There was a thought that suddenly popped into her head as she saw his smile, and she remembered with such glee he bellowed into the sky from above. Axton..Your mother traded you for some coin. She snorted, returning her snout to nose at him as he laughed. I would never do that. She nuzzled him, giving a pleased sigh. Son.