For what had felt like hours passed as Aridean followed her new companion through the uneven, moist terrain. Panting loudly, the minotaur was quickly reaching her limit from over-exertion as it had been entirely exacerbated by the humid and hot climate. Even still, her hooves continued onward, following the footprints that the lizarian warrior leading her deeper into the swamps had pressed into the marshy ground. Her guide, however, seemed entirely unbothered by the relative heat and travel conditions as he seemed almost lost in a trance on their trek through the swamplands. Both reptile and minotaur followed the trail left behind the enormous bear marching across the trail, splashing both feet and hoof into the murky water that pooled in the center of each massive paw print.
Dried mud had caked her pants and clung to her fur; not all of the journey had been made along the dirty road. More than once had the reptilian guided Aridean through both shallow and deep pools. Insects swarmed the space by the minotaur’s ears and buzzed in circles about her eyes. Beneath the cover of her fur, leeches had found their way under her clothes during the many dips into the swamp and had latched onto her skin. Both nuisances had demanded all of Aridean’s willpower to simply ignore the pests as she waved her hand through the mass of small, black and buzzing specks in front of her face.
Allowing herself a loud groan of discomfort, Aridean observed that her companion had not even slowed his seemingly autonomous advance through the swamplands. Had the lizarian even heard her dissatisfaction with their current state, he had not given any indication that he had heard her. If anything, the lack of communication between the two was disconcerting to a degree that Aridean had not thought possible. Normally, she would find herself in the company of more talkative individuals and would only speak when directly spoken to. Her latest companion, however, had only turned back once every ten or so minutes to ensure that the minotaur was still following him on this seemingly endless road of mud.
Unease had settled into her stomach as she continued to follow in line with the uniformed lizardman. Aridean continuously would glance up from the slick mud her hooves tread across to her scaled companion. Although he had invited Aridean to perform this lizarian ritual, he had not spoken a word in all the time the two had been mucking about through the swamp. Walking behind her guide, the minotaur could not even catch a glimpse of the scaled features upon his face as a means of determining what might be running through his head. The only thing that spurred Aridean along the muddy trail was the thought that perhaps this method of satisfying the high shaman’s request might still lead to her success as a supposed ambassador to the swamplands.
Merely the thought of Mikali’s task and of Stonehaven had caused the minotaur’s mind to wander elsewhere. Trying to avoid thinking more on the humid climate that pressed down upon her, Aridean had taken to daydreaming what she might do when she returned to the underground city. In her head, she had already finished with a shower and was reading a book on magic theory on the rooftop of the mess hall. It was only as her physical self nearly collided with the scaled form she followed through the swamp that the minotaur snapped back to reality.
Taking a nervous step back to allow her companion some space, Aridean observed that the lizarian warrior was staring up toward the thick canopy overhead. Following his gaze, the minotaur noted that the few streams of sunlight poking through the verdant roof of the swamp we beginning to change hue; now somewhat of a darker orange color instead of the natural light gold of mid-day.
It's getting late… how far away is this place we’re going? How far have we come already? Aridean pondered to herself. Shifting on her hooves, the minotaur’s eyes refocused on the lizardman in front of her as he shook his head. Both ears fell flat into her mane as slight hiss escaped the lizarian’s throat.
“Sheera, rahp’ta,” bellowed the lizarian’s deep and guttural voice. Both of Aridean’s ears perked up at the sudden command. Looking beyond her guide, the minotaur observed as the bear leading the both of them through the swamp had turned its head back toward the two bipedal members of the group. It let out a soft cry before turning and charging through some nearby brush. Some branches and limbs within the foliage it had just barreled through snapped clean off and fell to the ground while others simply rustled just the same as if a strong breeze had blown through.
“Night soon, still long way left… rest here,” the reptilian man had finally announced, much to Aridean’s unspoken relief. He then turned to face Aridean with an unreadable expression upon his scaled face. The minotaur could not help but feel somewhat anxious by the blank stare her companion was now giving her. It almost seemed like he was holding himself back from something, though Aridean could not tell what that might be. Both of the furred ears atop her horned head perked up as the lizardman spoke in a calm, if deep, voice, “Sheera collect wood. Gav’tuu make fire.”
We’re setting up camp out here? Will it be safe in this swamp? Even during the day, the very flowers here have been a challenge! Aridean thought to herself as her gaze began to wander. It had only just occurred to her that the two had walked many miles away from the lizarian town of Miahnn’uli; there would be no shelter from any monsters of the swamplands or the rough humidity. Thinking back to her visit of the town, Aridean had also noted that none of the trees in the immediate area grew with an irregular framework of roots over the marshy soil or murky waters. Not that such a thing would have been useful for the two unless the lizarian warrior traveling alongside Aridean could move the muddied earth into place within the space between the tree roots using his magic.
“We’ll be out in the open all night then… Hmm… I’ll be sure to keep watch over you, my dear,” the familiar and deep voice whispered in the minotaur’s ear. Startled somewhat by her guardian spirit’s sudden appearance, Aridean could not help but let loose a quiet gasp. She thought that she had been growing accustomed to the spirit’s random and spontaneous input as a disembodied voice that only she could hear but perhaps the long trek had left her more mentally and physically drained than she had previously believed. Allowing herself a moment to recover from her sudden fright, the minotaur had not even noticed that her tangible companion was staring at her with furrowed brows.
“Oh, t-thanks, Vici,” Aridean said aloud with a relieved sigh. While her body yearned for a night’s rest, preferably in a comfortable bed, the muscles in her furred shoulders visibly tensed as her eyes met those of her reptilian acquaintance. His expression, though Aridean had not known lizarians prior to having traveled to the Wiir Swamplands, told her everything despite still being mostly unfamiliar with the exact meaning behind how his scaled features moved. His piercing and intense gaze sent shivers down the minotaur’s spine, the fur on her tail standing on ends as the appendage itself had stiffened from the anxiety.
“Gav’tuu speak something?” the lizarian warrior finally asked. His otherwise simple question had driven Aridean’s heart into a panic as the muscle thumped the inside of her ribcage both rapidly and forcefully. Somewhere beyond the minotaur’s sight, she could hear the amused laughter of that spirit teasing her for the display of unease in front of her temporary ally. Although the deep chuckle reverberated against her eardrums, Aridean’s mind had gone blank.
Vici was a strange being that had just appeared before her one day, claiming to have once served her late father. Aridean had already attempted to reveal the cause of her seemingly random fits of shock and discomfort to the companions that she had known only for the beastly spirit to vanish. Even then, it was here in the swamp that Vici had revealed himself to Aridean while others were around and yet none seemed to recognize the spirit’s presence.
“N-no, sorry,” Aridean finally managed to hastily squeak out. The ghostly laughter that echoed throughout the swamp slowly faded as the entertainment finally died out. Although the statement was a bold, paper-thin lie straight to the lizardman’s face, Aridean silently watched, her face burning with embarrassment, as her companion’s eyes scanned her from horn to hoof. Although the reptile did not speak a word, he turned his back to the minotaur with an audible grunt of annoyance.
“Warmbloods… nallahk zhi tashni,” the lizarian muttered aloud to himself. Even with the slight being in an entirely foreign tongue, Aridean could not help but feel her ears fall flat against her horned head in a mixture of frustration and embarrassment. As the minotaur attempted to mentally recompose herself, the penetrating glare from her reptilian acquaintance only served to exacerbate her unsettled nerves. The intense stare bore into her very being and only enflamed the discomfort she felt.
Whatever agitation Aridean had been experiencing quickly receded behind the growing unease and anxiety. Her tense shoulder muscles slumped downward as she huffed quietly. Unable to maintain eye contact with her companion any longer, the scaled man shook his head with a grunt before turning toward the nearest body of water. Without hesitating, the lizardman bent his knees, entering into a near crouching position, before leaping forward and angling his upper body down toward the water. With his hands together in front of his face, the scaled digits broken the surface of the murky swamp and were quickly followed by his body which entered with a more audible splash.
Aridean watched, somewhat stunned by the rather daring action given just how shallow the waters seemed to be in the swamplands. Instead of plopping down into the mud that lay just beneath the surface, the lizarian warrior began to swim through the muddied pool with ease and speed. Quick but rhythmic wave-like motions traveled the length of his body as he swam across the marshy water. Still standing on shore, Aridean had begun to silently contemplate what her associate was doing prior to witnessing the scaled figure dip below the surface.
Bubbles rose to the surface from where the lizarian had dove into the depths. Eyes wide with modest concern, Aridean observed as waves and ripples began to cascade from her acquaintance’s dive point. After a moment, all was still and the only noise that met Aridean’s ears were those of swamp’s ambient distant splashing and croak of frogs. It was only as the scale-covered hand emerged from beneath the murky waters that the minotaur exhaled the breath she had not even been aware she was holding in.
With his fingers wrapped around a rather small fish, the lizardman’s task for setting up camp for the evening had become apparent. However, one single fish would not have been nearly enough for that behemoth of a bear the lizarian was so fond of. Aridean could only watch as her acquaintance changed course and proceeded to slip through the muddy swamp with ease in search of other prey. Eventually, the figure that practically slithered through the water disappeared again as he continued to seek out prey.
Standing alone on the embankment that dipped into the water, Aridean’s tail swung lazily behind her. Left to her own devices in the middle of a painfully humid swamp, the minotaur simply found herself with nothing to do but await the return of her unusual companion. All around were the cries of both birds and insects, yet locating the singing creatures was somewhat of a challenge given the dense canopy overhead and slowly darkening surroundings. Aridean unconsciously let loose an anxious groan as her right hand reached across her body to nervously rub up and down her left arm.
I haven’t even been left alone for five minutes and I’m already questioning if I made the right decision coming out here… Not just to help him, but to the swamp in general. I wanted to help Mikali, but… is it really okay for me to be doing this? the minotaur internally began to ponder. A gnawing sense of dread and concern had begun to take hold of her mind. Barring the animal cries and occasional splash of water, the otherwise silence had left Aridean in a bit of a confused and worried state of mind. Even though he had spoken little, the mere presence of the lizardman had served to hinder the rising anxiety in the minotaur’s heart.
“It is not too late to turn back, my dear. Something about that skink is giving me a bad feeling… I just can’t place it yet,” called Vici’s voice from somewhere nearby. Startled back to reality by the spirit’s sudden suggestion, Aridean turned her head both left and right in search of the bizarre behemoth that claimed to reside within her heart. The minotaur let out a quiet but shrill gasp at the sight of long, sharpened claws reaching out from behind one of the many trees.
From behind the tree emerged the same spirit that Aridean had been forced to associate herself with. Its skinned muzzle, free of any skin or tissue or even streaks of blood, made it difficult to even guess what might be going through the monster’s mind. The beastly shape’s muscled body slowly came into view as Vici slipped out from behind the tree he had appeared behind. Although her heart continued to race at the sight of the behemoth, Aridean had managed to compose herself enough that the half-skinned creature looming over her appeared to have little effect on her.
“He’s agreed to help us. I think we should at least go along with what he says for now. Especially given that he’s survived the swamp by himself for as long as he has,” Aridean stated, her reasoning for working alongside the exiled lizarian directed toward herself just as much as it was her especially unusual companion. Although she had managed to hide any uncertainty or surprise behind a somewhat insistent fa?ade, the minotaur felt her shoulders tense slightly at the low rumbling growl Vici emitted while turning in the direction that the reptilian man had departed.
“Hmph. I still don’t like this. I’ll be keeping close watch on—,” Vici’s deep voice had begun to rumble through his somewhat vicious-sounding growls. The spirit had only paused his thought at the sudden, far louder and even deeper rolling growls coming from directly behind where Aridean stood. The animalistic threat by itself had prompted the minotaur to seize up in fright, but the puff of hot air blowing down her back and whipping her mane into a slight dance had turned her legs weak with fear.
Both Aridean and Vici turned to find that the lizarian’s bear had returned, several thick logs pilfered within its mouth. Having caught the minotaur’s attention, the impossibly large ursine snorted forcefully, blowing a wave of hot air into Aridean’s face, before taking one step forward. The beast snarled ferociously; lips had curled back to reveal enormous, pointed teeth held within a jaw that oozed saliva and carried whole tree logs that had clearly been splintered within the animal’s mouth. A single gasp escaped Aridean as the humongous bear bit down on its seeming toothpicks before her breathing began to grow more and more rapid.
Backpedaling on shaky hooves, the minotaur stared wide-eyed into the large orbs that reflected her frightened visage. Although Vici stood next to her, his presence could not be seen reflected in the bear’s feral gaze. Even if the spirit had appeared in the ursine’s eyes, however, Aridean could not focus on anything other than the frantic pounding of her own heart within her chest and how she felt as though she were unable to simply catch her breath.
“S-stay back…” Aridean whispered meekly to the bear as it took another step forward. Standing by her side, Vici turned to the minotaur with his half-skinned head cocked to one side in confusion. The spirit glanced between Aridean and the bear before heaving an annoyed grunt.
“My dear, it’s just an animal. Would that I could, it would be scorched to cinders already,” stated Vici, his tone sounding overly frustrated with Aridean’s apparent horror. However, as if she had not even heard him, the minotaur continued to backpedal away from the imposing creature that loomed over her. Every hoof step backward was met with one enormous paw being brought forward as the beast of an ursine let loose its threatening, rumbling growl.
Within the minotaur’s chest, her heart pounded rapidly and forcefully to the point that the inside of her ribcage felt as though it were being battered. Breathing had become entirely erratic as Aridean struggled to fill her lungs with much needed oxygen through her dry, tightened throat. Wide eyes maintained firmly fixated upon the imposing animal though, with a single blink, the whole world seemed to shift. With her terrified, beating heart drumming her eardrums painfully, the minotaur had not even recognized that she no longer stood inside of a humid swamp but instead she appeared to be traveling a forest trail.
Her ears twitched in the directions of the multiple different snarls that slowly approached her. No less than four wolves, each frothing at the mouth as they glared up at the tall minotaur, took slow and methodical steps forward as they skulked closer to their prey. Standing on weak legs, Aridean could not even bring herself to turn and flee as she merely watched the starved predators drew nearer to her. Eventually, she felt her back pressed against the thick trunk of a tree she had stumbled into. Too panicked to think or move, the minotaur slowly slumped down the bark at her back until she was curled up into a fetal position.
Still advancing upon their supposed supper, the wolves continued to growl as drool dipped to the forest floor and bark with spittle flying from their muzzles. Strangely, however, the mortified minotaur watched as the four wolves in front of her began to seemingly melt where they stood into a black colored fluid. Fur and flesh had liquified before Aridean’s very eyes and the amorphous blobs that remained undulated in place for a brief moment. After several billowing motions of the strange substance that had been her assailants, the minotaur watched as the four individual masses of glossy, black fluid coalesced into one singular entity.
This new collected mass of darkly colored fluid slowly began to take shape. From the massive globule, a cylindrical protrusion began to form to the right side of the entity. As the newly sprouted addition rippled and swelled, it continued to enlarge itself while extending further from the primary glob. Mere seconds had passed and the peculiar component had ceased its growth whereupon a jointed bend formed about halfway between the tip and the primary body. Two more odd growths began to emerge from the mass of melted wolf in a similar fashion to the first structure.
Just the same as the first now bendable length growing from the central body of the peculiar fluid, another elongated cylindrical growth took shape on the opposite side from the first. In similar fashion, the growth elongated to the approximate same length as the first where it then earned its own bendable joint-like component. Finally, as the second growth had formed itself, the third came from the center of the strange globule. Unlike the previous two appendages to have sprouted from the entity, this one seemed to flow and swirl into a smaller body of sorts. Watching closely, the speechless minotaur observed as the rippling waves that flowed down the monstrous entity rode the length of its arms and body as a familiar head took shape.
Aridean’s panicked gaze watched as the strange blob of fluid that was once her attacking wolves began to refine the shapes that had grown from it. Left utterly speechless, the minotaur had begun to realize as she remained rooted in place that the amorphous globule of strange fluid was a titanic-sized bear, looking down and growling loudly at her.
“My dear, what is the matter with you?! This beast has gone feral! Wake up already!” a deep and commanding voice, Vici’s voice yet lost to the confused and scared minotaur, seemed to echo in the back of Aridean’s mind. With a gasp and blink of her eyes, the minotaur was returned back to the present in the Wiir Swamplands. Although it had just been a memory, or rather, her own memory’s interpretation of events, Aridean found herself pinned to a thick tree where the alarmingly tall ursine snorted both heavily and loudly down upon her. Every puff of hot air was suffocating though there was nothing to be done as the ursine growled and leaked massive globs of threatening drool upon the unfortunate minotaur’s head. Trying to catch her breath through erratic panting, Aridean had once again found herself frozen in place.
“Sheera! Kolya ravvask!” a different, yet still somewhat familiar, deep voice called out. Turning her attention in the direction of the individual who had just called out through the swamp, the incomprehensibly large ursine followed suit. As its gaze followed Aridean’s own, the abnormally large bear’s incessant growling had suddenly abated.
Water splashed around muscled, scaled legs and thin streams drained from the furred poncho that the lizardman wore. Droplets plopped back into the murky depths that the lizarian had been swimming in. In one hand was his catch of several weakly flailing fish, each one bleeding profusely from wounds on their bellies. The red liquid had formed a faint stain in the dark water that the fish had lived, and then ultimately died, in that slowly faded away as ripples and waves rolled along the surface.
With a grunt of exertion, the lizarian climbed out of the swamp as he reached the bank. Despite the overgrowth of tall reeds and brush, he seemed to have little difficulty actually scaling the slick, muddy terrain hidden beneath the dark green carpet of foliage. Having returned from collecting what would eventually become dinner, the massive bear that loomed over Aridean whined toward the reptile that commanded it. Although the large ursine seemed reluctant, a piercing gaze and low growl rumbling from the back of the lizarian’s throat seemed to compel it to back off from Aridean. Turning from the confused minotaur, the bear slowly walked over toward an open space just off the trail the group had been traveling. It took a moment to flatten some of the grasses and weeds before dropping to its rump and depositing the tree logs it had brought back.
“W-wha--… What was that about?” Aridean stammered quietly, heartbeat still assaulting her eardrums. She choked on another raspy inhale as the bear let out a gentle cry in the direction of its master. With a glance to the minotaur, the lizarian grunted annoyedly before moving over to where his beast sat waiting. Still processing the sudden encounter with the enormous ursine and trying to calm her nerves, Aridean caught Vici staring down at her. His eye sockets, filled only by that yellow glow within the otherwise empty voids, and half-skinned face gave no indication of what he might be thinking. Nevertheless, the spirit shook its head before squatting down next to Aridean so that the two were eye-level.
“I would like to know just what that was about myself, my dear! Just what happened to you?!” Vici seemed to scold forcefully. Alarmed by the spirit’s authoritative and demanding tone, Aridean was taken aback. Although she was still unclear on how the spirit had come to ‘reside within her heart’ as he had put it, Vici had demonstrated a relaxed and care-free personality in their short time together. His apparent anger at Aridean’s inability to defend herself from the large bear had caught the minotaur entirely off guard. Finally managing to recompose herself enough to silence the hyperventilating pants, the young minotaur’s gaze fell listlessly to the wet ground.
“I-I… I t-thought it was going to kill me…” answered Aridean, stuttering as she mentally revisited the Konarch Forest and its welcoming committee. Although the memory was now over two years old, she failed to shake the overwhelming terror she had experienced at that time and it had simply made itself known when the lizarian’s pet had approached her as it had. Once she had finished reflecting on her past trauma, both ears fell back as they finally registered the audible rumbling growl coming from the spirit at her side.
“And you’d just let it like that?! My dear, I cannot protect you without you willingly giving control over to me,” snapped Vici as his outraged growl persisted. The ghastly-looking entity’s furious scolding had caught Aridean off guard. Being reprimanded by the disfigured, beastly form had sent a chill down the young minotaur’s spine. Her throat had tightened slightly as she tried to process what was happening.
Where… where is this coming from? Vici, I don’t even know where you came from, how can I understand anything about you? Why are you so interested in my wellbeing? Think… has anything about his behavior stood out recently? He hasn’t been ‘dwelling within my heart’ for that long… but I have noticed he seems entirely uninterested in anyone I associate with, especially this lizarian, Aridean had only managed to think to herself after a moment of recomposing herself. Seeing that the minotaur had at least calmed down, Vici snorted annoyedly. Both of their heads then turned, however, at the light squish of mud signaling someone approaching. Standing next to Aridean and apparently oblivious to the white-furred and mutilated spirit was the lizardman that she traveled with.
“Sheera angry with gav’tuu,” the lizarian outcast stated, his voice blunt and forward. Narrowing her eyes in confusion, Aridean leaned forward to look beyond her companion to the large bear that now rolled in tall, wet grasses trying to either scratch an itch or get comfortable. The minotaur could not help but find the sight, not unlike her beloved cat basking in the sunlight back on the farm, wholesomely adorable despite the ursine’s intimidating size. Snapping her back to reality was the deep voice speaking, “Gav’tuu need prove strong to Sheera.”
“W-what? What do you—,” stuttered Aridean, now a bit fearful of what her acquaintance might be implying given what little she knew of lizarian customs and culture. Vici had returned to growling angrily at the minotaur’s side yet the spirit refrained from voicing any opinions or objects as a green scaled hand snatched Aridean’s furred wrist. Dragging her along over to where the bear continued to roll and play, she had turned her horned head back to find that Vici had disappeared once more.
Although the sight of the strange spirit was not ordinary nor was Aridean entirely sure where Vici had come from, the idea of being alone with the lizarian and bear had started to sink in. She had not even realized that her hooves were dragging through the mud as the lizarian warrior continued to lead her over to where the group would camp for the night. At their approach, the extremely large bear initially let loose a playful cry. Having spotted Aridean next to its master, however, had sent the ursine into a fit of feral growling once more. The sudden hostility coming from the bear had only furthered Aridean’s desperate bid for freedom from the lizardman’s tight grasp.
Standing just mere feet from where his pet sat growling, the lizardman turned back to the minotaur that he dragged along behind himself. Feeling the resistance against his pull to bring Aridean up to Sheera and witnessing the panic painting the furred face that stared slack jawed at the massive ursine had brought forth intense irritation. Growling low alongside his pet, the lizarian gave one forceful pull on the minotaur’s hand; he watched with arms crossed impatiently as his acquaintance stumbled on her hooves slightly before regaining her footing upon the slick terrain. Having drawn too close for Sheera’s comfort, the bear snapped its jaws at the minotaur with a ferocious growl.
Her mind blank and heart once again trying to desperately punch its way out from within her ribcage, Aridean flinched before uneasily looking up to Sheera. For a brief moment, she fretted over whether or not she might relive her experience in the Konarch Forest once more. Staring in shocked awe of the behemoth that once again loomed over her, Aridean could recall that same spine chilling and mind-numbing sensation she had only recovered from mere moments ago; distress she had not even known had been lying dormant in her for two years. However, rather than have her own mind subject her to previous trauma, a green scaled hand appeared in her peripherals.
“Hold out hand; speak ‘si’putath’,” came the low, gravely voice of her reptilian companion. Snapped to attention despite still visibly concerned by the imposing ursine that bared its massive fangs at her with lips pulled back and snout wrinkled in pure rage, Aridean managed to direct her attention to the lizarian warrior at her side. The lizardman stared back at her, silent and appeared unexpectedly patient with his more relaxed, though still more stern than the minotaur was comfortable with, expression offering non-verbal instruction. His right arm had been lifted up, fingers spread and palm out, directing his scaled hand toward Sheera.
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Weak legs only barely managed to hold the minotaur up, her hooves sinking slightly into the cold, wet mud. Aridean felt her throat running dry, her quiet panting had brought on a slight ache in her lungs. Swallowing the anxiety that welled up within her was a struggle that left her somewhat breathless despite how rapid her lungs worked to pull air in. Trepidatious eyes glanced between her calm, scaled companion and his behemoth, intimidating and unusual pet. Although Sheera kept about a meter of distance, the incessant snarling and growling did no favors for alleviating Aridean’s worries. With her mind having run blank from the stress, the minotaur desperately wished for some sort of assistance.
Seeing Aridean falter in the face of trying to tame the overgrown ursine, the lizarian warrior merely narrowed his eyes as a slight hiss now began to work its way out of his throat. Growing increasingly frustrated with the minotaur’s hesitation, the lizardman used the hand he was not holding up as demonstration to snatch Aridean’s own. Lifting the furred arm by its wrist, much to its owner’s surprise, the reptilian directed the appendage toward Sheera and only released his grip to open the anxiously balled up fist. Forcing the unwilling warmblood to do as he instructed, the lizarian snapped, “Speak, gav’tuu!”
Aridean had merely watched as her new acquaintance manipulated her arm in such a manner as to get her prepared to order the monstrous bear to stand down. Even as her wrist was set free and now open palm was trembling slightly, her mind failed to process what was the purpose of this. Only as her companion snarled at her in a fit of frustration and annoyance did the minotaur snap back to reality long enough to focus on simply practicing what the lizarian had told her to do.
“S-Sheera… s-see p-poo ta-ah?” Aridean meekly stuttered. The ferocious bear’s snarling only grew louder at the command. Aridean’s already wide eyes had only further bulged from their sockets as she thought she counted another wrinkle of anger crossing the hostile ursine’s muzzle. Fur stood on ends for both her and Sheera as the latter opened her massive jaws wide and lunged forward. Aridean recoiled with a quiet shriek, drawing her hand back toward her body and closing her eyes shut tight. Hot, and frankly putrid, air from the enormous bear’s growling throat blasted her face even after the jaws snapped shut.
“Sheera!” shouted the lizarian warrior, sounding just as annoyed with his pet as he seemed to be having to teach Aridean. The minotaur reluctantly opened her eyes to the sight of a green scaled hand pressed flat against the titanic nose. Muscles in the arm had become visibly tensed as the reptilian pushed back on the bear. Snorting his own festering rage with the situation and quietly cursing in his own tounge, the lizardman turned back to Aridean, “Si’putath, gav’tuu. No back down. Sheera need know gav’tuu strong. Sheera listen.”
Swallowing hard on the anxiety building in the back of her throat, the somewhat frightened minotaur wordlessly nodded to her scaled companion. Although her heart continued to pound the inside of her chest with force, Aridean took a deep breath and slowly began to lift her arm from her side. Presenting her hand to the impossibly large bear in the same manner as the lizarian had shown her previously, she focused all of her willpower into simply uttering the phrase.
“Sheera, s-si’putath,” Aridean spoke out loud despite the slight hesitation to her voice. The response from Sheera was near instant and left the minotaur speechless. That rumbling growl echoing in her ears dissipated into single whine before the massive animal turned and lumbered off to find a place to lie down for a rest. Standing next to Aridean and silently watching his unusual pet with an unreadable expression upon his face, the lizardman nodded to the minotaur before moving to join Sheera. All the while, Aridean was simply left in awe at how simple it was to quell the beast’s inexplicable rage, “W-wow…”
“Not how I would have handled the situation but I suppose it proved effective enough,” came Vici’s disembodied voice, resonating within the back of Aridean’s head. Ignoring the comment, the minotaur recollected herself after the encounter just in time to catch the lizarian warrior’s hands begin to glow a brilliant green. Her ear flicked as the familiar glow of channeling magic surrounded the lizardman’s scaled hands.
Spreading his feet out shoulder-width, the lizarian brought both hands together and directed them toward the muddied terrain only about two meters in front of himself. Opening both palms, his chest began to grow and shrink with every cycle of breath going deeper and deeper. Aridean approached cautiously only to stop upon noticing the ground seemingly shift in undulating wavelike motions; the magic acting on the damp soil would rise as the lizarian inhaled and sink with every exhale. Finally, with one forceful expelling of the air he had collected in his lungs, the lizardman watched as his magic forced a circular depression in the ground, about one foot deep and one meter in radius, to form at the command of his very breath.
Initially confused by the display, Aridean quietly examined her associate’s work. Upon further inspection, she noted that any grass around the dip in the ground had been moved away from the edge or uprooted and collected in the center. It was only as the lizarian turned to pull mostly dry tree limbs and leaves from Sheera’s fur coat that Aridean understood the purpose of the hole. After a moment of yanking a number of wooded limbs from his bear’s fur and breaking any too large into smaller pieces, he deposited the organic fuel into the pit he had created. Looking toward Aridean, the minotaur nodded her understanding and bent down to collect a single stick with just a couple leaves lying upon the soaked ground by her hooves. Closing her eyes and concentrating for a mere second, the twig had spontaneously caught fire in her hand. Stepping closer to their fire pit, Aridean dropped the burning mass into the piled-up sticks.
An orange glow quickly began to build within the bottom of the pit as the flickering flames rapidly spread along the rest of the wood and grasses. While the fire quickly began to consume its available fuel, a thin stream of black smoke began to billow up toward the now darkened canopy overhead. The black vapors had grown observably in size by the time the rest of the pit had been caught in the controlled inferno. Though unseen through the thick ceiling of leaves overhead, the sun produced limited light left in the day but the campfire would give the two sufficient illumination and warmth for an evening.
Standing opposite her scaled associate, Aridean lifted her gaze from the dancing flames. Initially, she felt as though had just broken a spell or freed her mind of a trance. Despite her spell casting prowess that gave her control over these flickering embers, the minotaur could not help herself but remain hypnotically transfixed when her gaze lingered for slightly too long. Whatever force had overtaken her mind had vanished as quickly as it came upon her as the lizarian began to remove some smaller sticks that had become tangled in Sheera’s fur. Aridean now watched as her companion moved over to a bundle of fishing net packed with several large, out of breath fish from the swamp. Although her ears initially flicked in curiosity at the find, the minotaur reasoned that the net of fish must have been dropped by the lizarian as he intervened to put an end to Sheera’s spontaneous fit of rage.
“Do you need any help with that?” Aridean called out, her hooves already carrying her around the fire. Some meters away now, the lizardman knelt down and collected the net with his catch. As he rose up again, he swung the filled fish net upward and across to the opposite side of his body. It looked as though her companion was attempting to swing a massive weapon at an invisible foe before him. Having secured dinner for the evening, the lizarian turned back and began advancing toward the fire pit the two had prepared. He had paused briefly to wave a hand in a dismissive gesture toward Aridean’s direction.
Somewhat deflated by the rejection to her offer of help, Aridean turned and retook her place on the other side of the fire pit. No sooner had she sat down had her associate made his way over to the fire. Kneeling down before the flames, the lizarian retrieved the largest fish he could find still weakly squirming with the fishing net. Grasping the gasping marine life in one hand, one of his twin blades was drawn from the sheath around his hip using his remaining hand. Careful and precise, the slightly dulled blade was used to fay the fish of its scales and the unfortunate creature’s crimson essence poured forth like a waterfall onto the muddy ground at the lizardman’s bare feet.
Aridean did not even bother asking if she could be of help in her companion’s current chore. Although she already assumed the lizarian warrior did not hold much respect for her, the minotaur refused to besmirch whatever goodwill the cold-blooded reptile might be willing to spare. For a while, Aridean simply watched as the lizardman slowly and meticulously prepared the fish for cooking. The flames in the small pit that had been magically carved out crackled and snapped as, aside from the perpetual ambiance of the swamp, otherwise silence had fallen over the lizarian, minotaur, and enormous ursine.
Watching closely to how the lizardman worked, Aridean’s eyes became fixated upon the motions of those dark green, scaled hands. He moved with haste yet never missed a step; despite his large cutting tools and the miniscule size of the catch, the lizarian worked deftly with skill and precision to slice off the tender flesh. The minotaur was utterly amazed at just how many aquatic creatures the reptilian had managed to seize with just his bare hands in such a short span of time; the small mound held within the netting had not seemed to shrink despite how many were removed and prepared. Every third fish the lizarian had pulled from his net was tossed over to the colossal bear to which Aridean pondered if a few measly fish would be enough to sate such a beast.
Whatever sunlight managed to break its way through the ceiling of lush green leaves had finally been snuffed out. The sun itself had descended and only the campfire remained to provide any adequate illumination. Aridean caught out of her peripherals some groups of fireflies dancing over the swamp waters. Even in the darkness, the splashing of something either entering or exiting the murky pools surrounding the group continued to echo out at odd intervals. Something about each individual splash sent a chill of worry down Aridean’s spine, her tail restless on the wet ground behind her as she attempted to stare through the abyss of night to find whatever it was making the sounds.
Beyond the reach of the campfire’s light, however, was nothing but pitch-black void dotted by the blinking of fireflies. Only as the lizardman across the firepit stirred was her attention pulled back into the light. Having shifted from his sitting position to a squat before the flames, the warrior had skewered some of his catches on his own blades. His hands began to glow with that same emerald colored brilliance as he focused his thoughts and energy. Aridean’s ears flicked at the sound of stone grating against stone and watched curiously as two short pillars began to grow vertically from the soggy earth on either side of the fire. After reaching only a few inches over where the flames danced, the lizarian exhaled deeply and the tips of the pillars suddenly began to grow sideways over the fire.
Her eyes remained transfixed upon the strange structure her companion was preparing but the reason dawned upon Aridean as the opposing towers finally connected. The glow surrounding the lizarian’s scaled hand faded away with another breath before he collected the blades he had use to make fish skewers. Laying the fish-carrying weapons across the two stands and over the open fire, the lizarian turned. As he moved to reclaim his seat next to his pet bear, his scaled hands undid the clasp on his belts that held his two blades’ sheaths to his sides. Carefully resting his equipment upright against Sheera’s flank, the lizarian sat down upon the muddy ground and leaned back into the bear’s side with a deep breath. Aridean could not stop her tail from from flicking with curiosity; she could not even begin to imagine just how soft and comfortable it must be to be able to rest against something like Sheera. The rather childish notion instantly left her mind as her eyes shifted over to the two sword sheaths her reptilian companion had discarded for the evening.
A brow quirked, Aridean scanned the lizarian’s gear and was somewhat surprised by how ragged it appeared. Both sheaths had been stained with mud and scratched heavily. There was obvious cracking in the leather, a sign of overuse and age. The minotaur was somewhat surprised that the lizardman had not retired these pieces some time ago and replaced them. Although she knew she was not one for conversation, the nighttime swamp noises calling from the dark and otherwise silence from her companion were slowly driving her mad.
“It’s only now that I notice all the dirt and scratches on your sword sheaths. How long have you had them? Have you thought about getting new ones?” Aridean asked as she adjusted her posture. She scooted slightly closer to the fireplace where the warmth of the flames licked at her furred limbs and face. The lizarian, initially quiet and perhaps caught off guard that he was being addressed at all, merely glanced upwards to the minotaur.
“No.” replied the lizardman with a shake of his head. He folded his arms over his bare chest and stared, seemingly mesmerized, into the dancing fire. Aridean felt somewhat deflated by the blunt response and closed off gesture coming from her associate. Ears fell flat atop her horned head as her eyes listlessly drifted back toward the fire.
“I… I didn’t mean to upset you,” Aridean apologized, her voice meek and eyes unable to meet with the lizardman’s across the campfire. Ears flicked at attention once more though her gaze had not lifted as the lizarian began to move. She could hear the tread of his scaled feet squishing the muddied ground as he drew near the fire.
“Can’t get new. No place in Mihann’uli, no place in lizarian people,” the lizarian said, his tone surprisingly calm. Aridean blinked at the explanation and lifted her head to find that her associate was inspecting the fish he was cooking. Although she felt somewhat rude for finding relief in that she had simply failed to understand the reptile’s lacking speech, whatever comfort she had felt immediately turned into a cold wave of regret.
“Oh… I see… I-I’m sorry,” the minotaur again apologized to the lizarian. Having brought up his excommunication from his own people had thrust a special discomfort upon her, she felt as though someone had just punched her in the chest and her throat felt dry and tight. Squatting in front of the dancing flames, the swamp warrior’s focus shifted over to Aridean. He had cocked his head to one side with a quirked brow, apparently confused by the apology.
“Why gav’tuu… ‘sah-r-reh’? What mean?” the lizarian asked, clearly struggling to simply pronounce the word ‘sorry’. Ears perked skyward with a curious flick at the question. While somewhat perplexed by the question, Aridean had collect herself enough to catch the sword that the lizardman had tossed in her direction. Almost dropping it, she had managed to grasp the hilt and brought the weapon to her lap. The fish fillets skewered upon the blade were still warm, a very slight black having crawled across the surface of the meat.
“Are you asking me to tell you what the word ‘sorry’ means?” Aridean asked slightly confused as she carefully pulled the first fillet off the pointed edge of the weapon she was currently using as an eating utensil. Her companion had claimed his own dinner and only just turned while standing before his loyal ursine. He then lowered himself onto the wet ground beside of the bear’s side and sat with legs crossed and tail wrapped around in front of him. Aridean waited for some sort of response but all she had received was a silent nod of the head in her direction as the lizarian bit his own fish straight off the sword-skewer.
“Careful, my dear, the skink is thinking. It might wear itself out or go on another rampage,” Vici’s voice resonated from somewhere within the darkness. Aridean’s eyes had drifted over to where she believed the ghastly spirit was currently hiding. Unfortunately, she could not discern Vici’s location through all the black of a moonless night. Instead, all the minotaur had managed to catch outside the reach of the bright fire were the blinking of bioluminescent insects.
“Well, the word ‘sorry’ just means you feel bad for someone else, generally when you want to try making up for something you did to them,” Aridean hesitantly explained with nervously driven haste. The scaled warrior and swamp native still stared with silent confusion as he bit into one of the fish skewered upon the blade he kept for himself. Aridean was somewhat surprised to see that her companion had even bitten down on and broken the bones within the fish; he so casually munched on that bite as though the crunch of bone was nothing unusual.
“Hmm… why gav’tuu ‘sah-r-reh’ though? Not understand,” asked the lizardman after a moment of contemplation. Even as he spoke, small flecks of spittle and chewed fish flew from his maw. His persistence to understand Aridean’s apology left the minotaur feeling in an awkward panic. Instead, she quickly sunk her own teeth into one of the cut fillets upon the sword she held. Unlike the lizarian, however, she merely pulled the meat from the bony skeleton and chewed on the slightly crisp meal.
“I-I’m just… I-I don’t know. Uh, a-anyways, I was wondering: how did you meet and tame Sheerah?” Aridean eventually managed to stutter after swallowing her first bite of dinner. The fish was surprisingly good but that could also be that she had not eaten anything all day and only now realized just how hungry she was. Bringing her sword-skewer back up to her lips, the minotaur took another bite and carefully pulled the meat off the now exposed bones. As she savored the food, the lizarian had grown somewhat quiet across the campfire. Looking to her companion, Aridean had paused herself at the sight behind dancing flames.
With his sword resting on the muddied ground despite there still being one more fish left, the lizardman brushed his scaled fingers through the long fur coat of the massive ursine he leaned into. He had not moved a muscle even as the enormous bear lifted its head, stretching the muscles in its shoulders as it yawned loudly. Aridean watched curiously, her unique associate gazing toward the bear’s head as it lowered back to rest within its paws upon the wet swamp floor. She could be certain how to discern what it was the swamp native was thinking from the unfamiliar features upon his face but she felt the look of longing in his eyes was somewhat familiar. After a lengthy moment of silence, the hand gliding through the large ursine’s fur returned to the fur poncho draped over his shoulders.
“Gia rahn Sheera,” the lizarian warrior finally said as though that answered the question. At the mention of her name, the bear’s eyes shifted over toward her owner before an audible snort escaped her nostrils. Curiosity only deepened in Aridean’s mind as the minotaur’s ear flicked with interest.
“Uhm… I-I’m sorry, but I don’t know what that means,” Aridean replied before taking another bite of her swamp-themed dinner. With a slight groan, the lizardman returned his gaze to the minotaur as his arms folded over his chest once more. His expression had changed by her one comment, Aridean was almost certain that he appeared confused for some reason.
“Gia… hmm… what warmblood word for gia, uh, hmm…?” the reptilian survivalist mused aloud.
‘Gia’? Why does that word sound familiar? Aridean pondered internally as her companion continued to contemplate the translation for her. Her focus shifted toward movement she caught in her peripherals as the reptilian man continued to think to himself. A large, white furred form entered the light of the campfire from the black void of night and stomped over to where the minotaur sat.
Initially startled by the sudden appearance of another, Aridean had jerked back slightly as Vici sat upon the ground next to her. Her sudden movement had caught the attention of the lizarian warrior, an inquisitive look of his own now painted his scaled features. It was clear that Vici was not visible to the lizardman and his stare was almost anxiety inducing by itself. Aridean merely offered an awkward smile and slight laugh as she waved dismissively in the direction of a sudden splash in the unseen swamp water. She could hear the rumbling hum in the lizarian’s throat even over the crackle of the fire and nightly sounds but her companion returned to his own thoughts. What neither reptile nor minotaur had noticed was that Sheerah was glaring in Aridean’s direction with fur atop her massive back standing on end.
“My skink-speech is a little rusty but I believe he said that his poncho is all that remains of that beast’s mother,” Vici explained after a brief chuckle of his own at Aridean’s attempt to play off her, to others, sudden and inexplicable fright. The explanation behind the lizarian’s response to having tamed Sheerah had caught Aridean wholly off guard.
“Y-you’re wearing your bear’s mother?” the minotaur blurted out suddenly, her voice filled with shock. Her sudden exclamation had caught the lizarian warrior’s attention as he refocused upon the flustered minotaur.
“Muh… thur?” the reptilian man carefully and slowly sounded aloud while locking eyes with Aridean. Leaning forward, his muscled, scaled arms unfolded and hands were set atop his knees. With a rumbling hum and flick of his long, forked tongue, the lizardman asked, “What gav’tuu mean?”
“Uh… ‘Mother’ is the, uh, warmblood word for a female parent,” replied Aridean, feeling somewhat nervous at having to explain something so common to herself. It was not uncommon for her to have to take a moment to help the children back in Stonehaven with understanding something but even then she still struggled to confidently describe or detail topics in a manner the kids would comprehend. Here in the swamp and with an entirely new audience, her already shaky confidence might as well have jumped into the murky swamp and disappeared into its depths. Her anxious nerves only flushed her whole body with warm embarrassment as the scaled head of her companion shook back and forth.
“Not what ask. Ask gav’tuu know ‘gia’? Why ask if know?” the lizarian clarified. Aridean let out a slight gasp; her mind had entirely blanked on how was she meant to explain that Vici, a guardian spirit the lizardman could not even see, was the one who translated the meaning for her. Seeing the minotaur in such a state of shock prompted a more boisterous laugh from the spirit seated next to her. As Vici’s deep laughter met Aridean’s ears, so too did the audible growl coming from Sheerah. Both minotaur and lizarian turned to the bear that had shifted its massive head only slightly in Aridean’s direction. Barking some command in his native tongue, the reptilian beast trainer had immediately silenced Sheerah’s sudden aggression.
“O-oh… s-sorry. I-I just remembered someone had helped teach me some lizarian speech before coming to the Wiir Swamplands,” Aridean had finally answered uneasily. She rationalized her statement as not technically being a lie given Vladimir had been sharing his knowledge of the lizarian people on the wagon ride to the swamplands. With Vici at her side to translate, it would be the same as picking up where the absent nobleman left off. Her answer was met with an uncomfortable silence from her scaled companion, only his tongue flicking in and out of his mouth a few times before he leaned back into Sheerah’s furred side.
“Gav’tuu sleep; Sheera keep watch. Go when light come back. Proving grounds not far,” instructed the lizarian warrior. As he spoke his arms folded over his poncho-covered chest again and eyelids fell shut. His massive ursine pet gave another, less aggressive snort as though confirming that she would remain the night watch while the two slept. Aridean simply watched as her associate settled in for the evening before setting aside the blade she had been loaned with nothing but the bones of her dinner still clinging to the metal.
“This brute allows a mangy beast to act his guardian as he sleeps? Bah! Fool makes a mockery of my current position watching over you!” Vici commented, clearly annoyed that his job was being delegated to an overgrown bear. Turning his half-skinned head to face Aridean, the minotaur stared into the empty sockets to spy those yellow glowing orbs in the back of the skull that made up his eyes. She offered a slight smile at the imposing entity that followed her wherever she went before shifting over onto her side. Facing the warm campfire, Aridean’s eyes slowly closed as Vici’s voice echoed in the back of her head, “Sleep well, my dear. I shall wake you should something happen.”
“Thanks Vici,” Aridean whispered just before the grasp of sleep took the last vestiges of consciousness from her.
It had felt like mere seconds had passed before Aridean opened her eyes to a smoldering campfire. Ash and wisps of black smoke ascending into the green, leafy ceiling overhead filled the pit that the lizarian had prepared. Across the firepit, her companion was re-equipping himself with his twin blades and Sheerah was no where to be seen. Rubbing her aching neck, the minotaur sat upright whereupon Vici informed her that the bear had been sent off to hunt for its own food.
After noticing she had finally awoken, the lizarian silently offered a leftover fish from dinner as breakfast. Grateful for something to eat, Aridean accepted the meal. Her companion, though stoic and mostly quiet had insisted they move out the instant she had finished her food. Although the minotaur would have relished a shower or more comfortable resting place, those were not luxuries that the swamplands provided and she followed behind the lizarian with only internal bemoaning of the current situation.
The two had marched through the swamplands, mostly keeping to the muddy and wet terrain but occasionally having to drop into the cold waters themselves. Fortunately, they did not happen to cross paths with any dangerous wildlife such as another dragolia bloom. Over the course of their trek, the most intimidating creatures that they happened to stumble upon were the uncommon Wiir spiders, arachnids that stood two feet tall. Although she insisted on keeping her distance, the lizarian seemed entirely uninterested in the abominably large spiders. Aridean was both shocked and somewhat embarrassed to hear from Vici that these particular spiders were without venom and entirely harmless to humanoid creatures despite their imposing appearance.
“We here,” the lizarian warrior finally stated as he pushed through some thick brush. Past the dense foliage blocking the way forward, the two had muscled their way into a large clearing within the swamplands. It had taken about three hours from the time they had left camp to arrive but they had finally arrived at the lizarian proving grounds for the rite the unnamed lizardman had brought Aridean for.
The minotaur took a moment to scan the scene, somewhat surprised to find such an open space within the swamp given how the surroundings had been the entire hike over. Grasses were still damp with dew but the mud had dried and there was a clear view of the lightly clouded, blue sky through the canopy overhead. Thin streams of swamp water flowed in a moat-like formation around what appeared to be some sort of arena in the center of the clearing. There were dried blood stains painted across the grounds and irregular rock formations indicative of someone having used magic here. What caught Aridean’s attention the most, however, was the lone lizarian standing in the center of the supposed arena.
“I can sense something… strange. There’s something off here. Keep your guard up, my dear,” Vici’s voice suddenly instructed from within Aridean’s own head. Alarmed by the spirit’s spontaneous warning, the minotaur could not help but jolt with surprise. She felt fortunate that her scaled companion must not have noticed as he merely stared toward the other lizarian waiting within the proving grounds.
Apart from the obvious signs of battle, this looks weirdly serene compared to the rest of the swamplands. Perhaps that’s why they have their rites here? Hmm… I don’t know; that shaman was anything but serene when we last spoke, Aridean thought as she followed the unnamed lizarian’s gaze out toward the grounds again. She waited for her companion to speak or move but the lizardman seemed almost rooted to the ground he stood upon. Hesitantly, the minotaur lifted a hand where her anxious fingers hovered over the scaled shoulder just in front of her. Swallowing her anxiety, Aridean allowed her hand to fall upon the reptilian man’s shoulder which seemed to stir him from whatever thoughts he had been ruminating on.
Aridean was somewhat astonished by the look her associate gave her. He did not glare back at her with anger or dismiss her with indifference. The minotaur’s jaw fell slightly agape at the look of worry in her companion’s gaze. Steeling her own resolve, Aridean gave a gentle squeeze to the lizarian’s shoulder before nodding in the direction of the proving grounds. Seemingly reluctant, the unnamed warrior turned his attention forward once more where he heaved a weary sigh.
Although she felt the scaled shoulder’s droop slightly in despair, the lizarian Aridean had come so far into the swamplands with began to slowly trudge forward. He barely seemed to be picking up his own bare feet as he led the minotaur to where this other lizarian waited. Upon reaching the moat that surrounded the proving grounds, Aridean’s ear flicked as her associate stopped again. He glanced back at her once again with that same look of uncertainty before something else caught his attention. Both reptile and minotaur turned to face the lizarian in the center of the proving grounds as he shouted at them in his native tongue.
Curious, Aridean’s ear flicked with intrigue though a feeling of worry began to settle in her mind as the reptilian at her side groaned uneasily. Without a word shared between the two, the unnamed survivalist leapt across the moat with Aridean following suit. The instant her hooves touched down upon the dry terrain of the proving grounds, she was directed to follow along and sit upon her knees before this strange lizarian. Her companion lowered his head in a deep bow with hands upon his knees. Before mimicking the unnamed lizarian’s gesture, Aridean glanced up to the stranger; dressed in some sort of tribal robe of feathers and leather straps, this lizarian’s scales seemed to shine like perfectly cut emeralds in the sunlight.
Silence fell over the group for but a brief moment as this presumably high-status lizardman inspected the duo before him. Speaking the language of the lizarians, he addressed Aridean’s companion who answered in kind. Unable to comprehend the conversation, Aridean felt more and more self-conscious about the situation.
“Vici? D-do you know what they’re saying?” the minotaur whispered under her breath to the unseen spirit. No sooner had her near-silent question been posed had the familiar clawed toe appeared on the ground next to her.
“Strange… That one is angered that your companion brought you here? Normally they would just insult him for bringing an outsider for this,” Vici spoke as the two outsiders listened to the lizarian’s conversation. The high-status reptile was clearly angered by his tone, something Aridean could tell even without understanding his language, but the faster he spoke the more of a headache it became to even try making sense of.
“W-what? I-I know I’m an outsider b-but isn’t it okay for me to be here?” Aridean again whispered to the guardian spirit looming over her. After a few seconds of back and forth between the two scaled males, there was a brief silence. The otherwise stillness of the proving grounds was suddenly broken by a boisterous and authoritative declaration from the strange lizarian.
“‘You wish to prove you’ve grown strong? Kill it. Kill the weakling and claim your name.’ Wait, what the hell is going on here? This isn’t how these asinine rituals are meant to go,” Vici translated, clearly perplexed by the instruction that Aridean’s companion had just received.
“What?!” Aridean quietly snapped, her voice a little more than just a mere whisper now.
“My dear, this is bad! Your skink—,” Vici had started to warn.
The spirit’s voice sounded as though it were hundreds of miles away as something strong and powerful slammed into Aridean’s side. The minotaur was immediately taken off the ground and sent hurtling over the ground several meters. With a pained groan, she felt herself skip off the terrain before dropping back down and sliding along the dirt for a few inches. Somewhat aching after the sudden blow, Aridean slowly began to pick herself up to find that her associate’s hand was glowing that bright green color and where she had just been was now a mass of stone pulled from the ground. Having realized that the lizarian she had come here to assist had attacked her, the minotaur felt paralyzed, only able to let out a shocked gasp.
“Gav’tuu… s-sah-r-reh,” the lizarian warrior quietly muttered without looking up to Aridean. Beside of him, the stranger flashed a most sinister and wicked grin.
