Tarot 2 vision of taro.., p.25
Dungeon Diving 104, page 25
Ami sat down with us. “It was really fast.” Her eyes shone once again talking about speed.
“It spooked all the Nekorians with how quickly it appeared above us,” I agreed. “Note to self. Do not try to scare the cat people. They respond with violence.” The Nekorian’s had over reacted when surprised.
“Lots of violence,” Fayeth agreed. “But then again, we are in the dungeon. Violence solves most problems.” She stabbed into her meal.
“Not all problems.” Elysara looked down at her crotch, her mind still in the gutter.
“Sex and combat aren’t that different, really. It’s kind of like sparing,” Ami spoke up, seeing her distraction.
We all looked at the butler who was cutting into her dish like she’d grown a second head.
“What? It is. You start slow, then it grows in intensity and you start pulling out your special moves until one of you is defeated. Then you go another round.” She went back to eating after explaining it so clearly.
“I can see it.” Fayeth blew on her first piece that was heavily coated in the mushroom cream. “Spicy,” she mumbled around the piece.
I took my own first bite. The phoenix tasted like spicy chicken, cooked very well.
Chapter 24
Elysara and I didn’t end up tumbling in our tent. After a heavy make-out session that included Fayeth, we all had to agree that we were just too tired to make it memorable.
Even in that conversation, it was clear we were beginning to experience harmony as we instead moved to sleep together in a small pile.
We continued through the dungeon floors for two more days before we finally began to see Nekorians in the forties. We slowed down to let word get back to their people, and we didn’t have to wait long. When we reached the safe zone on the fortieth floor, there was a small army of Nekorians arrayed loosely within the space.
The Censors shifted a little anxiously, and I realized it was the first time I’d really seen them get nervous. They were currently out numbered and while many of them were powerful, so where the Nekorians.
“Miriam, stay up front,” Neldra ordered.
The strong elf rolled her eyes, but she moved to the front of their formation. “I hope there’s a big, strong lion of a man here.”
Elysara rolled her eyes.
The Nekorians in the safe zone shifted and opened up to a small group that walked forward.
I spotted Felin among them immediately. “Actually, mind if I step forward?”
Neldra spotted Felin as well, letting out a sigh. “Fine. Lady, go with him. This is an Elven group, and we don’t want to be represented entirely by a human.”
Elysara happily grabbed my hand, and we walked out of the group with smiles on our faces.
“Hello.” I waved with my free hand. “Felin, I hope you haven’t forgotten about me.”
Felin’s ears perked up immediately, her nose going higher into the air as she breathed in and turned, her eyes locking onto mine.
A fanged grin spread across her face. “Ah. It’s Ken.” She skipped out of the group without a sense of propriety.
The one at the front of their group made a prolonged growl that undulated, clearly their language.
Felin turned and grimaced at the speaker with her own growling before whipping back to me and closing the distance. She wrapped me in a hug before she started to rub her face on my neck.
“Good to see you too, Felin.” I rubbed her back.
When I pulled away, Elysara had a faint pout leaking into her smile. The woman was jealous, despite how she had previously teased me about the Nekorians.
Part of me wanted to prod further and see what the jealous woman would do, but the other half won out, and I squeezed her hand to reassure her.
“Felin, you can meet another of my Adrel. This is Elysara, the future leader of the elves,” I made the introductions.
Elysara caught my introduction and did a double take at me.
“What? Are we not in harmony? Feels like it,” I teased. “Or would you prefer Fieore at this point?”
Elysara blushed slightly. “Pleasure to meet you, Felin. I have heard a little about you from my Adrel.”
“Smelled me too.” Felin let out a little soft meow that was most certainly a laugh. “But I’m afraid I do have to ask why you have Nekorian prisoners?” Her eyes lit with a bit of fire.
“Not prisoners,” I corrected her. “There was a faction of elves that recently were found to be keeping people against their will, including these Nekorians. We have freed them.”
“It would be best if you let them reunite with their people,” Felin advised me with a cautious look over her shoulder. “Otherwise, there will be a contest of strength.”
I figured easing the tension would come first, but that was Elysara’s gesture to make not mine. Raising an eyebrow at her, she nodded, in sync with me.
“Neldra, please allow our guests to return to their people,” Elysara spoke up.
The invitation was apparently all they needed. The nervous Nekorians behind us practically sprang into action and threw themselves into the arrayed Nekorians. A cacophony of growling filled the area as they quickly reunited.
“Thank you.” Felin bowed.
Several of the other, clearly important, Nekorians joined Felin, approaching us.
“You have my thanks as well.” The Nekorian that spoke was another woman, though older with silver strands in her hair.
“Actually, I doubt I could have done it without Felin.” I pointed at the tigress, getting a cute, surprised expression out of her in return. “When we met previously, she found me curious. I used those clothes with her scent on them to convince these Nekorians that I was an ally. Without that, I don’t know if they would have been compliant enough to make the journey.”
The older woman glanced at Felin briefly. “So I see. It must be fate for such a thing to lead to the return of our people. Maybe I should give you more freedom.”
Felin gave a big toothy grin to the older woman. “I am a grown Nekorian. It is time to stop coddling me so that I may gain my own strength and expand the strength of our tribe.”
The woman nodded slowly and sniffed. I got the feeling she was scenting me, much like Felin had, only without being all over me. “You reek of potential.”
“Thank you,” I answered. “It is partially due to this woman.” I held Elysara closer, feeling her being a little left out.
“She has power, but you have the greater potential. You will make a good pair at times.” The old woman spoke like she was prophesying. She sniffed again. “For your two’s assistance, would you allow us to honor you?”
“Absolutely,” Elysara jumped in. “The elves and the humans have only just begun to work together, but both parties have been very interested in the Nekorians for quite some time.”
“Our ways are not casually shared.” The old Nekorian glanced at Felin, whose tail flitted back and forth nervously. “Little Felin, would you be interested in drawing out their power?”
Felin’s tail went rigid, and she stuttered, “T-truly, Elder?”
“Yes. I think we should invite them for a meal here in this safe zone, and then you may prove to me that your heart is in the right place. For these people have aided ours and it would only be right to offer something in turn.”
Felin suddenly seemed like a bundle of barely contained kitten energy. “Of course. We should hold a feast for those returned.”
“Yes.” The older Nekorian nodded and stepped back, growling at the gathered Nekorians.
The surroundings suddenly erupted into deafening roars that sounded more than a little intimidating, but at the same time, none of the noise seemed to be directed at me.
“They are happy. Those are cheers of victory and thanks to The Great One.” Felin smiled, but the fangs in her mouth always made the smile seem predatory.
“The Great One?” I asked.
Felin pointed around them. “The one who provides all the beasts to hunt and the power to hunt them.”
“The dungeon?” I asked.
Felin scowled. “Do not use that word. In your language, it is… a prison. A place you keep the unwanted.”
I wanted to argue. But that was one use of the word. I hadn’t actually tied the two together in my head, but I could see her confusion. “Ah. I meant no disrespect.”
Elysara bowed her head. “He did not. So, the Nekorians worship The Great One?”
“Yes. It has several names depending on how it is interacting with us, but why wouldn’t we worship it? It is a powerful being beyond our comprehension. The Great One saved our people.” Felin smiled. “Come with me, and bring the rest of your group, we’ll set our fire, and hunters will come back with food quickly.”
Already, there were Nekorians racing away.
“Should my people hunt?” Elysara asked.
“No. You are guests. Our people will roam as deep as they can to come back with the meat of powerful beasts and then share it. I’ll be your host.” Felin smiled again and pulled at a little pouch around her waist before removing some sticks and starting a fire.
Elysara motioned to the remainder of our group, now just Censors, Ami and Fayeth. Fayeth was at my side in a hurry.
“Ah. Fayeth.” Felin smiled at her. “I had thought for a moment that he traded out elves.”
“Fat chance.” Fayeth held my other arm. “Though he is dangerously expanding past his ability to hold a party.” She narrowed her eyes on me.
I rubbed my nose. “I don’t know what you are talking about. Ely is going to stay in her world; she can’t just come to Earth.”
“Uh huh,” Fayeth said and glanced at Felin. “It is good to see you again, Felin. Can I trade some of his dirty clothes for a spellbook?”
The Nekorian blushed and folded her ears. “I’m not sure what you are talking about. No self-respecting Nekorian would steal dirty clothes.” She glanced over her shoulder to find the older Nekorian further away before turning back.
Ami was there staring at the Nekorian, a silent conversation passing between them.
“Well met again, Ami.” Felin nodded to her. “Would you join us for a fire and meal?”
“It would be our pleasure.” Ami bowed at the waist.
I pulled a set of camping chairs out of my CID and sat down to talk with the Nekorian to swap stories. This time, she was much more open about her people. Having freed some of her people had lowered their caution.
“You were in the important group, care to share?” I asked.
“Ah. I am a shaman of my people. That means that I carry one of the spatial pouches.” She tapped her hip. “It also means that I help empower our people after a vigorous hunt, calling on The Great One to assist their growth.”
“Like what you’ll do to us tonight?” Elysara was quite curious.
“Yes and no. You’ve never had it done before, and I should mark you as a friend to the Nekorian. Beyond that, The Great One will acknowledge you. Well, the two elves.” Felin sniffed. “Ken has already met The Great One, and it has personally assisted his growth.”
I was now staring at Felin with wide eyes. “Wait, you can tell that?”
“Yep. You are marked by The Great One. It pays attention to you. What did it give you?” Felin asked.
“An ability. But I don’t fully understand it yet,” I told her.
Felin gave me another toothy grin. “I can assist with that. This must truly be fate.” Her head picked up and her ears swiveled before the crowd of Nekorians returned from their hunt. They held mostly meat over their shoulders and were doing a sort of dance as they returned.
The Nekorians growled with their arrival.
Fayeth cleared her throat and tried to join them in growling.
Felin laughed. “Deeper, like this.” She growled, picking up into a low roar.
Fayeth and Elysara joined her, and I shook my head, doing my best to growl with them.
The hunters came back and started to show off their meats. Felin turned her head away at the first few and started to show interest at the others. It was an interesting ritual. We enjoyed ourselves, observing and working to not do anything to mess up the ceremony.
Eventually, Felin picked out several pieces, and they were quickly skewered before Felin seasoned them to barbecue next to the fire.
I pulled Fayeth tight to my side and watched everything with a big smile. “Think we are the first to receive this?”
“Maybe. It doesn’t matter, though. This is pretty awesome.” Fayeth just watched as the hunters celebrated and congratulated some of their numbers while the other Nekorians were all split up into campfires and enjoying themselves.
The Censors had made their own space and campfire and were being served by a Nekorian.
“A celebration just does something.” Felin smiled. “We were all meant to enjoy life, and when the spark for an event like this is formed, it grows into a great blaze. We’ll have to get you all good and drunk before we do the tattoos.”
“They are going to hurt, aren’t they?” Elysara asked.
“Don’t worry. With enough alcohol in your system, it’s not that bad.” Felin’s smile seemed a little extra predatory. “We’ll need a private space for it though.”
“Shall I set up a tent?” Ami asked from the side.
“Please.” I nodded to her, still not used to having someone on hand to help me so often.
Ami moved quickly, getting to work.
***
I put down my dish. I was completely stuffed, and unfortunately still quite sober. As were the two elves.
Ami had set up the tent and a massage table that Felin would use for the tattoo. I was picked to go first.
“This is so cool.” Fayeth grinned like a loon while rubbing her stomach that stuck out like it was pregnant. She was currently exaggerating it after all she’d eaten.
Elysara had reigned herself in better, but still held her stomach and leaned back in her seat. “To be the first humans or elves to see this is an honor.”
Felin wobbled a little, the alcohol having affected her far more. “Don’t worry. I got this.”
“For the record, that does not make me feel more comfortable,” I muttered into the massage table. My shirt was cast aside and promptly stolen by Felin.
I had a feeling I was not going to get that piece of clothing back.
Felin rubbed something over my shoulder blade with a little wooden spoon before it went back in a small jar. Ami stood nearby, holding a tray of items for Felin, who picked up a sharpened bone needle and a little mallet.
“It’s going to hurt a little,” Felin told me, pressing the needle to my back before tapping lightly over my shoulder blade. I could certainly feel the pain, but it was manageable.
“I’ve had worse.” I put up a little bravado, it just couldn’t be helped. There was something ingrained in me to deny that there was any pain.
“Oh good. I can go a little faster.” Felin started moving the needle quickly to new spots and did a few small double taps along my back.
When she got right over the bone of the shoulder blade, I had to bite down on the cloth of the massage table. That hurt like getting stung by dozens of bees without pause. The worst part was that I couldn’t do anything about it. I had to remain still. The inaction was almost the worst part.
An itch like ants crawling under my skin turned into a faint burning.
I hissed. “Felin. Is it supposed to burn?”
“Hmm?” The woman looked up from her work. “Yeah, there’s some acid in the ink; otherwise, it doesn’t set in adventurers very deeply.”
“Maybe I’ll pass,” Fayeth murmured.
“No. We’ll do this together,” I growled through the growing pain.
Felin worked quickly as I twitched under the needle and mallet. Soon, the pain began to build and become nearly unbearable.
“Alright. Almost done. Ami, you can burn the incense now.” Felin started tapping quicker and humming a tune under her breath. “O’ Great One. We call for you, seek your guidance and guiding hand towards our strength and a better future.” It sounded a little strange, but that was probably the translation’s doing.
“Yes. Great One, gaze upon us, give me insight unto the ability you bestowed on this one. He doesn’t understand the tool he’s been given.” As she spoke, she started to stomp her feet and wipe off my back.
Felin growled in her strange Nekorian language.
A felt something, far less intense than last time, but a feeling that prickled the hairs on the back of my neck like someone, or something, was staring at me.
Felin swirled her fingers over my back, and magic danced off of me, pouring over my side and down to the floor.
“Come see his back.” Felin waved to the two elves. “Ami, I’m unsure which language it will be in, so please come and help interpret if needed.”
“Language?” I asked and felt a strange sensation starting at my shoulder where the tattoo had been made.
“Whoa.” Fayeth gasped.
The cool sensation flowed down to my spine and then scattered along my back.
“What’s happening?” I asked.
“The tattoo just melted and flowed down your back, and a bunch of words are showing up on it now,” Elysara told me.
“Wait? Really?” I craned my neck, and Ami held up a mirror for me. There were words in English written all over my back. “Ami, can you take pictures?”
“Already on it.” She put the mirror down.
Felin ran her fingers along my back. “Show us the skill you’ve given him.”
“Portal,” I added.
“Show us Portal, Great One,” Felin chanted, and once again, I felt the sensation of ink moving through my skin.
“Pictures taken,” Ami confirmed.
“Now bless him.” Felin stomped her feet and poured more magic over my back.
I felt the ink crawl back up to my shoulder, wiggling through my skin. It felt like a thousand little droplets of cold water racing along my back, all gathering back up at one point.
“Oh. A dagger, very cool,” Fayeth squealed.
“It’s a dagger?” I asked.
