A warrior's fate
Commission for a Sofurry client
The wind was frigid in Northrend; one didn't expect the climate to be generous for those that dare cross it, but these days, it was worse than one could expect it to be. Storms and hail greeted those that wandered on the land, sapping the morale of those that didn't steel themselves for the journey ahead.
He didn't know why he was here; he didn't even know who he was, nor what he had to do in life. What did really happen to cause such a thing in the first place? He had no clue, but he knew that he could find the answer here since he was unable to find in the other areas...
But, he did hear rumours about beings with wondrous powers residing here, powers that could perhaps permit him to regain the memory that always escaped him. He just hoped he wouldn't have to slay a divinity to gain such favor.
He was a warrior, good with the sword, but his talents and skills weren't exceptional; he was able to keep up with the bandits and monster in the area, but he feared that any mythical monster could have the best of him.
But again, there was always a way for him to deal with them; he could always bargain with the intelligent beings, bribe them with the money he gained doing activities he didn't want to remember, although he had to admit his time with some taurens made it better. He could always embrace the darkness and steal whatever item he needed, even though it could lead to him being pursued for quite a while.
Or there were always others thing he could do, but he didn't want to think about them; the possibilities were open, but they weren't the first ones that came in his mind, for he wanted to purify his mind.
He could see a cave in the horizon; was it the area he searching or just a natural formation? Either way, he could always investigate it; it could hide treasures and other potentially powerful items that could help him on his quest.
Every item could help, after all; although, there could be a chance that one of these items could be cursed. Being cursed and trapped with an item; that was a fate he wanted to avoid, like being robbed or massacred...
But was it wise to enter the cave? He didn't carry many supplies with him, meaning that the exploration would be either fast or a peril. It was a difficult choice; either choice would bring something positive to him, but they would make him doubt at the same time.
He looked at the cave; it was rather tempting to enter it, but would be able to exit afterward or would he be lost forever? It was a gamble, one that he wasn't that was truly worth it. But again, if he didn't take risks, then he would never be able to find the solution to his problem...
He took a torch from a bag that he was carrying, wondering if he should spare it for the deeper part of the cave or if he should light it on at the start. He decided to wait a bit, to manage his supplies.
He wasn't in a rush to enter the cave anyway; what would be the point to face danger when he wasn't able to remember who he was anyway? He could always follow the example of the great adventurer Carlos, the one that wasn't afraid of danger. He had a strange reputation in some cities, but for the people, he was a good fellow, just prone to some questionable act when he was under the influence of the liquor.
He wondered a moment where that person could be; last time he heard about him was in a tavern he lodged in for the night. There were tales of that brave yet strange adventurer crossing the land, leaving its mark on all it was seeing. Why he was doing such a thing was beyond his comprehension, but he knew that in the long-term, it could provoke some changes in the world, like his quest could also do...
He looked at the cavern; he wasn't sure why, but he had the feeling that this place wasn't so unfamiliar to him, as if he already went here before. It was impossible, for he had no memory of such a place...
But it was memories that invaded him; no, it was more a feeling of déjà vu, as if, in another life, he had the chance to be here. It was probably impossible that such a thing even happened, but again, how could he judge such a thing? After all, he did witness things that would have made people question if he was sane or not...
It wasn't possible that these were memories; how could he be able to remember being here without remember his own name? Perhaps this place had a significance that was beyond the one he knew about, but again, it wouldn't explain why he wouldn't be able to remember something in a clear fashion.
Perhaps it was indeed true that he was indeed here in a past life; but that didn't tell him who he was or what truly awaited him in that cave. He could always enter the cave, but he had the feeling that he needed to explore the surroundings before, to make sure that he wouldn't forget something.
He could always run forward, ignoring everything, but that could ruin his chance to gain back his memory and identity. He wondered how he would be able to face the mysteries and the wonders of that cave without being able to know who he was truly. It's not like it was an element some monsters could use against him, after all...
He could rush forward, without caring that sort of thing, like any good adventurer would do, seeking the treasures and the possible chance of plundering, but he had the feeling that there was something much more important than a mere treasure inside. Something that could help him realizes who he was...
He took his time to look at some of the glyph on a wall near the entrance of the cave in question. He couldn't understand what was written, but he had the feeling that it was important, for a reason that surpassed him. He had to look at them again, to make sure that he wasn't forgetting something...
Under the glyph, he remarked that there were small carvings, as if someone wanted to leave a message to those that traveled here. He had to bend down, nearly scrapping his knees on the ground as he was trying to read the nearly erased message on the stone wall. It seemed ancient, but he had the feeling that it was meant for him, for the one that was seeking his self and identity.
``Beyond this point lies the answer for those that seek either salvation... or damnation. For you who lost everything, steel yourself and pace forward, for only the path forward can enlighten you on your true identity''
That was a weird message indeed, one that was inciting him to delve deeper in the cave. Should he really listen to the voices of the past or should he just advance toward his destination, without caring about anything else than his own future; there were so many questions that were haunting him...
He gathered his courage and entered the cave, not paying any attention to his own fear; he had the feeling that this wasn't the first time he was walking in this place, a sensation that getting stronger, but this was probably just an illusion, produced by the residues of magic in the air.
He had no clue how magic functioned and he had little to no care on knowing on how it was made; there were things in the world that he needed to know and that wasn't one of them, unless it proved to be necessary.
Maybe, one day, he would have a higher knowledge of the arcane world, but for now he only needed the basic understanding of it; each time he heard a mage talk, he swears it was a powerful narcotic, numbing his mind, but leaving his body untouched. He was always wondering why his body was resisting this powerful effect; perhaps he had more resistance than he thought, although he had the feeling that this wasn't the real explanation...
But this wasn't the time to let his mind wander on such a thing; he had to reach the end of this cave, without falling for a trap or a monster. Maybe he would be lucky and find nothing in his path, but he had the feeling that this sort of thing would be impossible, for the time being, unless some sort of divine being would give him a blessing.
The cave was dark, darker than what he was used too; he had to reach for a torch and light it, to make his path lighted. With this help, he was now able to see around; there weren't much to see for the moment, but he had the impression that this wouldn't be the case for very long, as he would continue advancing...
The tunnel was widening, as if the room it was leading to was huge, or at least a larger corridor. Perhaps it wasn't a natural formation anymore, being the remnants of an ancient civilization that used to be there long ago.
He had no clue if this was true or if that was just a natural formation, created with the forces of water and time, combining to carve the rock to create such a path. Anyway, that wasn't his main objective, for now; when he would be back, he could take the time to go back and seek more info on it, to tell a glorified story about his perilous quest.
He looked around, curious to see if there was a trap awaiting him; even though he had the feeling he was the only visitor for a long while, there could still be active traps lying on the ground, waiting for a fool to activate them.
He had no desire to be that kind of fool, but since just looking didn't provide any negative results and he didn't know any other ways, he decided to continue advancing, bracing himself for potential consequences.
He was a lucky fool, for there were no traps awaiting him, unless he triggered an alarm that he was unable to hear. If that was the case, then he would deal with the consequence later on; there was no point in being afraid of a potential future, after all...
Was it him, or were there light coming from the end of the tunnel? But this wasn't a natural light, the one he could have expected from the outside world; this reminded him of fire... and the glitter of gold.
It was a stimulating sight; he had to press forward, to be able to reach that room, to fulfill a part of his quest. It wouldn't help him find out who he was, but he could always help him in this particular quest.
The sight of the gigantic room that was in front of him was breathtaking; it was beyond anything he ever saw in his life, although he had the feeling that he already that before. Perhaps he did come here before, in a past life, but that was a far-fetched theory that he wasn't able to prove, unless he would possess skills to do so...
It took him a moment to realize that he wasn't alone in this room; in front of him was standing a huge blue dragon, one that seemed to be sleeping, although it could be a ruse, to lure him into a false sense of security. At any moment it could arise from it slumber and strike at him, dispatching him without problem...
He could always run away, to a safer area, to regroup and recruit some people, so he could deal with this foe, but he had the feeling that he had to deal with this one alone, although... there was this feeling in him that he had to stay here, to face it himself, without the help of anybody else. Perhaps it could even help realize who he was, or why he was attracted to this place, in all of the places...
``You again? It must be fate that brought you here, once more; It's always a mystery to see you struggling, but I suppose that you are bound to do so, time after time...'' said the creature, looking at him from the pile of gold he was lying on. It was quite the impressive pile of loot he accumulated throughout the years, from defeating champions and anti-heroes alike; for him, they were all the same.
How was the beast able to know about him? It was a terrifying prospect to hear about his own identity being in the hands of a being that had no worries about the consequences of holding such important knowledge. Maybe he could try bribing him, to get the chance to learn more about his past and himself before engaging in battle, or at least having the chance to run away, for this didn't seem a fight he could really win...
It was a gigantic blue dragon, his wings larger than anything he ever saw; from head to tail it was covered with sporadic spikes, finished with deadly looking claws. Even the tail looked dangerous, with the end finishing as with looked like a spiked mace; he wasn't totally armored, but since he didn't possess a lot of skill, this was close to a suicide mission.
But didn't even include the possibility that this dragon could use magic, which could make everything incredibly harder for him; he wasn't made to wave a wand, but to strike with a sword...
``Who are you? How do you know about me?'' he asked to the reptilian figure, not sure that this would even bring a response from him, but at least he had to try, to make sure that all options were on the table.
The dragon looked at him for moment, grinning as the prospect of an answer was amusing to him. He could always toy with the human for a while, but this one was different from the others; it was better to just tell him then to give him some false information...
``I am Malygos, foolish mortal, aspect of Magic. I protect life and magic from those that seek to destroy it or disrupt the natural flow of it'' the dragon answered, not fully telling him what he wanted to hear. He didn't enjoy that sensation of being toyed with, but he knew that he had to press onward, to uncover the truth...
``You still didn't tell me how come you know about me'' he yelled to the dragon, wishing that it wouldn't upset it. The last thing he needed was an angered dragon pursuing him until the end of the world...
The dragon looked at him again, as if the demand was nothing more than a mere child play; perhaps there was something to it that he ignored, that he shouldn't be against, but again he couldn't live in ignorance all his life. Although it would be bliss, there was still a chance that he wouldn't be able to get this idea out of his mind, poisoning any chances of having peace in the little paradise he would try to create. He needed to know, even if it would cost him his sanity, his life...
``As I told you, I am supposed to protect the natural flow of life, to make sure that nothing unnatural would come and disrupt it. I have done this duty for over centuries, making sure that nothing would ever threaten the delicate...'' tried to say the dragon, only to be interrupted by the adventurer, annoyed by the diversion he was hearing.
``Cut to the chase, will you? I don't care about your life story; I want to know about the knowledge you are hiding from me'' said the adventurer, knowing that he was taking a lot of risks doing so; the beast could always turn around and tail swipe him onto oblivion, as a punishment for his insolence.
The dragon growled for a moment, as if what he heard displeased him, but he didn't move; perhaps it was something else than anger that motivated that expression, but since he wasn't able to understand what it meant, he had no desire to dwell deeper in it.
``Settle down, little mortal, you are playing in a field that could get very dangerous for you. You know, a single swipe and it could be the end for you... But again, I suppose I have to applaud your courage, or should I say, boldness, in this case'' said the dragon, pausing for a moment, looking around, pleased with the effect he was creating.
``As I told you, I am the defender of life; you could think that getting rid of you would be against my duty, but you see, you are an anomaly. You are not supposed to be here, again. It is not the first time that you come here, confronting me; each time, you seem to be having problems with your memory, not knowing who you are or why you are here, and I have the feeling that whatever I do, you will be still be coming back. It must be something tying you here, something that must be done...'' said the dragon, looking pensive.
Again? This wasn't the first he was here? That dragon must be kidding; such a proposition would mean that he found a way to defeat death, to reincarnate over and over, or that he was a trapped spirit...
``I remember your name; Jack Norminguer, the impervious adventurer, as you called yourself back in the days. Perhaps that name will help remember these days, before you started that infernal cycle'' said the dragon, looking at him, waiting for an answer.
Jack Norminguer; that name was familiar to him, as if it was truly his real name, and not just a title he fancied for himself. It seemed filled with adventures, something that he could relate; he was always on the road, oblivious to everything that could stand in his way.
As the name rang again in his name, images started to flow; he could see himself braving danger, climbing step cliff, gathering treasures and loot, while whistling on his merry way. It seemed so far away and yet, it was so familiar. He was close to a bandit, pillaging villages and nomads, but he could also see bravery and nobility at times, making him wonder what sort of person he truly was. Maybe amnesia was truly bliss, for it could permit him to reshape himself into a better person...
When he thought that it would be over, other memories started to flow him; scenes of pleasures twirled in front of his eyes. With himself, with ever changing strangers, in groups, genders and races mixing, not always being the same; it was dazing, but beautiful at the same time...
Then other scenes appeared, making him realize that what he saw was nothing compared to what he truly lived before. But it wasn't only scenes that assaulted him, but also sensations; he could himself being devoured, sliding down warm, wet throat as he served as food for several huge creatures, including the dragon standing in front of him.
Could... could he be able to relive this sort of sensation? Was it possible? Or was the beast beyond that possibility this time? It's not like he wouldn't much a challenge to devour; he would offer himself...
``Did that name help you with that little quest of yours? Or do you still need some information to make the light shine on your past lives?'' asked the dragon, unsure of why the human was standing in front of him, his eyes staring blankly in the air.
``Oh, be sure that it helped a lot more I ever could I have asked for'' he told the beast, looking at it with a grin; he wondered with it could feel like, to be swallowed once again by it. But he had to be careful; he couldn't just ask that sort of thing up front or the dragon could refuse and use his magic on him, to do unspeakable things...
``So you regained your memory, or at least a part of it; that's always... a positive thing, I suppose. Now leave this place before you defile it further with your unholy presence'' said the dragon, not looking too pleased with his presence anymore.
Such a change of attitude, like it was a new person he was talking to; perhaps it was due to the fact that his duty was now done and that he didn't want to deal further in unneeded discussion, although it didn't seem like it. Or perhaps it was due to the fact that he was a violator of the natural order; but even so, why didn't the dragon strike him? Wasn't it his duty to destroy those that could put the balance of life in jeopardy? Then he had to act against him, not simply let him walk away...
``Why are you letting walk away? Shouldn't you... make sure that I trouble the natural balance anymore? You said it yourself; I am not supposed to be here; it would be... betraying your purpose to let me go...'' he said to the dragon, wondering if it was too bold of him to say such a thing without fearing another fate then the one he desired...
The dragon looked at him for a moment, scratching at the ground; it seemed to be hesitating, as if it was facing a possible contradiction in his own action. It was true that this situation wasn't common, but still, to have a mortal dictate him what he was supposed to do and how to do it was not easy to hear. But it had a point; how could he let such a situation untouched? Especially since he already intervened in the past...
``You might be right, but you do realize that you I simply set you on fire, crush you or dispatch you to another universe. There is so much possibilities, and yet, I know you must have some sort of plan in mind, if you insist in staying here, risking your life. I suppose you will enlighten me on how you are planning this, for you keep silent, I'll have fun picking something that will enlighten my mood...'' said the dragon, grinning at the adventurer, not sure of what he had in mind, but sure that this would scare him away.
He looked at the dragon, unsure of what to say next; he had to be careful with the words he was going to say to the creature in front of him, for the wrong words could indeed trigger the wrong fate and that wasn't what he seeks...
``Indeed, you could burn me, stomp me or even send me, but what would be the pleasure in doing in such a thing? And I would be back, once again, and again, without my memories, asking the same questions... don't you want to help me break the circle?'' he told the dragon, wondering if it was enough.
The dragon looked at him, wondering how he should react to such a proposition; on one side, he had to follow the duties that his title gave him. Without following them, he would be without purpose, a simple monster, no different from he was supposed to battle, to vanquish and banish from this land.
On the other end, if he followed the path that the human proposed, he could fall in some sort of trap. He had the feeling that his human wasn't really seeking to end the cycle he was trapped in, although he could always be surprised. He had to learn that sometime, there were no malovent schemes hidden behind the actions of people. Sometime, they could just act out on their own, without anything motivating them...
``I wonder if I should really follow your path; there is always a chance that you are trying to manipulate me into doing something else, but I'm willing to believe that you are of good faith...'' said the dragon, looking at the human in front of him, wondering if he was doing the right thing. But again, he had to follow his duty; this wasn't the time to be suspicious, allowing doubt to make betray that oath...
The adventurer grinned; he knew that he shouldn't let his feelings show that easily, but there it was, in front of him, success. He would be finally able to relive the same sensations, the ones that he saw in his past lives; he just hoped that it would be as wonderful as he remembered, for some time memories could be treacherous...
He advanced toward the dragon, unsure of what was going to happen next, but confident that the present would be sweeter that the quest that haunted him. He had to be patient and yet, his mind was filled with the desire of the possibilities that were presented to him; how he wanted to hurry it up, feel it now, but he could risk everything by doing such a thing. Patience is a virtue, after all...
He stood in front of the dragon, waiting for something to happen; he couldn't just jump in his mouth, but if he could, he would, for it would be rather tempting to do, to hasten the waiting time he was now facing. Perhaps the dragon was now toying with him, once again, to test if he was really going to follow that path.
There were always a chance that he could just turn around and walk away, but this wasn't the time to give up; he was so close, so close to the goal he was now seeking, although it wasn't his original goal...
He could see the dragon advance his head toward him, breathing the air heavily around him; he could smell the harsh, wild smell that surrounded the creature. It wasn't overpowering, but it was enough for him to realize that he was closer to the beast then he thought, so close that he could share the same... odor.
The dragon opened his was and wrapped his tongue around him; this wasn't the sensation he was seeking, but it was a good start. He felt the warm, slick and humid flesh surround him, wrapping around him as if he was nothing else than a mere treat, to be savored, licked and devoured later on.
The smell wasn't the same now; it was as if time stopped the progress of decay, leaving only the sweet aroma of flesh. It could have been sickening, but it wasn't strong enough for that; maybe his mind was too focused on the experience he dreamed to let anything disturb him or it was really the case...
When the tongue left him, he felt the cold air surround him; he was now wet, trembling as the temperature was upon him, trying to get rid of him. But he couldn't let nature dominate him; his quest would go on, no matter what...
The dragon looked at him, somehow satisfied of what he did; the human wasn't resisting the fate that was going to befall him, which was always a good thing. There were things that mortals had to understand, so they could follow the natural order of the world. But he still had the feeling that he was being used, manipulated by that adventurer for a scheme that wasn't exactly pure of heart and intentions.
But he had to continue, for it was his duty; sure, it was also pleasant, but he couldn't shrug off his responsibilities from the entire picture. Perhaps, one day, there could be a way he could just have the fun without having the burden of his title following him, but until them, it would follow him until the end.
He wrapped his tongue around the human again, feeling the cold metal brush against his flesh; it was a strange sensation, but at the same time it was titillating, putting him in the mood to continue. He wondered what it would feel like to swallow a set of armor whole; this was the time to see, to feel such a thing, although he could predict that his digestive system wouldn't like it too much...
He felt the tongue of the dragon wrap around him once again; was the creature tasting him once again or was he going to follow the next step? He hoped that it was the second choice, but he couldn't control the will of such a beast; he didn't possess other worldly powers... yet. But one day...
When he felt the tongue lift him from the ground, he knew that this wasn't a simple lick anymore. He could see the opened maw coming closer; it was his destination, the place he was supposed to be.
He could smell the same aroma coming from the maw; it was welcoming him, for it was the one and only that he would be enjoying until the end. There was always time for him to escape, to stab the tongue and run away, but he didn't want to do such a thing; this was the object of his quest, what he waited for...
The tongue dropped him in the maw; he could the sharps teeth, the flesh of the inside of the maw and the tongue itself; it was a sight to behold, one that only a few rare lucky people could brag about.
The teeth were sharp, but not as sharp as they used to be; some of them were chipped by the passage of time or by accident. But their color made him forget about that sort of imperfection; of the purest white he ever saw, he wondered how he was able to maintain that color without tainting them.
It contrasted with the color of his inner flesh; light blue, like the sky, before he was trapped in this situation. He could stand here for hours, watching how the bright ivory colour was in harmony with the pale blue; this was a sight that he could have lost himself in, if it wasn't for something caught his attention.
Placing his hands on the soft, humid, warm flesh he started feeling a contraction, as if it was trying to push toward the throat. Perhaps it was it was only his mind playing tricks, but he had the impression that it wasn't the case.
He could tell that the dragon was trying to swallow him; he didn't want to leave this place yet, for it still had wonders for him to see, smell and even feel, but he had the feeling that he wouldn't be able to resist it for long.
But why did he want to resist the natural order? Sure, the sight was something to behold, but he had to feel other things; this was just a step before the grand finale he was seeking, the one that took over his temporary quest.
Without hesitation, he stopped his struggling and let the muscles surround him, making him travel toward the destination he was dreaming about. He just hoped that the pressure wouldn't knock him unconscious, for he wanted to feel it, to live it, before everything would fade into darkness once more...
With a movement, the tongue moved him toward the throat; it was dark and seemed frightening, but he had to let the body of the dragon guide him toward his destiny, toward what he desired.
He was now in the throat; he could feel the muscle contracting around him, trying to make him go toward the stomach. The muscles were massaging him, making him wonder why they weren't crushing him.
It felt... unique to be trapped in such a situation; the muscles were applying a soft yet constant pressure on him, as a strange, yet reassuring smell was surrounding him. It was a strange, yet pleasant situation he was in; he knew that he couldn't stay in such a place forever but, for the moment, he wanted to enjoy his position.
It was warm, warmer than in the mouth; the constant present of the muscles and the stomach made this area a very special one, for at any moment he could fall deeper, losing the chance to enjoy this particular place.
He could feel saliva surround him; it was warm, bearing the same smell the mouth did, reminding that it he wasn't so far away from that place that gave him wonderful sights. He knew it was impossible to crawl back; he just had to try to carve those memories in his mind, so when he would back, he would be able to enjoy them...
The muscles pushed him deeper, forcing him to give up on his position; he could feel them massage him as he was falling down. It was getting warmer, for the friction and the heat coming from the body made his trip perilous, but so exciting.
After a long fall, there he was, in the area he wanted to be; he was in the belly of the beast, where he was supposed to be so long ago. He could the excitement rise in him as he looked around, trying to figure out where he could go before... his time would pass, as this wasn't an eternal resting area.
The smell was stronger in here then it was in the mouth; it was acidic, strong, almost choking him, for he could also sense that death was around. But also live, for both of them were never too far from each other...
He could see puddles of acid surrounding the position he was now; this wasn't time for him to jump around too much, for he wanted to live the longest he could, before the acid would deal with him.
He could feel the flesh pulsating around him; his presence in this area was known, but it didn't seem to disturb the creature, for now. He wasn't sure that it would always be the case, but in the moment, he had to enjoy his time, before he would rejoin the circle of life and begin his life anew once more, on another side of the world. Would he be the same? Would he even be able to reach the same places again? It was a mystery he would have to face...
He felt the muscle churning, as his presence on this isolated island wasn't desired anymore; he knew that this sights, this smell, this warmth would be the last thing he would remember before fading away...
The dragon caressed his stomach, pleased with the meal he just had; it reminded him of the other time he swallowed that strange fellow. It was pleasant, but a part of him had another plan in mind.
This wasn't the first time this human was coming back, breaking the laws of life and death; he had to find a way to make sure that he wouldn't come back... or at least, not in the same form, so he would be bound by the rules again.
As the dragon mumbled words and incantation to himself, caressing his stomach at the same time, he could feel a strange surge in his stomach; the spell was going to be a success, although it would take a while for that human to come, especially since it was involving radical transformation and... rebirth.
He just hoped that the newborn would look like him...