"You hear that, Mother?! No one messes with the Corrupted Prin-... No... The Corrupted King!"copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJDecTlz1C
"Oh, mother hears you loud and clear, dearie." the queen muttered as she stared into her all-seeing crystal globe. She grinned. "It's so adorable when they think they have control, isn't it Acantha?"copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡKirwu4gSC6
" Yes, my Queen." her assistant replied.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSYdcYtI1L
"It's a shame he took down my giants. But, if they were defeated so quickly, then it just shows how unworthy they were to serve me."copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡQduusHoNgp
She stepped away from the orb's pedestal, turning to a dusty bookshelf behind her. She grabbed a large, leather-bound book with ancient letters across the cover. She enveloped it in her purple glow, allowing it to hover in the air as she telekinetically flipped through it. She landed on a page that instantly caught her attention.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1IRycWO5y
"Oh~! Now this seems interesting..." she said to herself. Then, she turned to her assistant. "Acantha dear, as the humans say, when you want something killed, set it free."copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXrUbDTEmU
"Your loveliness, I think you may have gotten the phrase wr- Ack!" the queen wrapped her clawed hand around the slender neck of the panther-python.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡqc7UGzC4nS
"My point being, I think it's about time I gave my dear son some freedom. Or at least, the illusion of freedom."copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNUcFspBgv
On their way down the cliff, Ryn started explaining how she had escaped the fire which separated her and Ren, but both his and Leliana's attention were mostly focused on warily watching the other. Even though Leliana's machete was in it's sheath by her hip, her hand rested on it's hilt.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bsA6EeZiA
"Must you treat me like a prisoner?" Ren asked through gritted teeth.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJM1EtAgyY
"That's what you are, until you prove yourself trustworthy." Leliana replied, calmly.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83L2gruF2L
"Could you two please keep from glaring at each other until we get back to...camp...?" Ryn trailed off.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcXEM3i02A
She noticed that out in the distance, fallen trees were parted like dozens of bulldozers had gone through them. In the middle was a half-evaporated corrupt corpse, the fog it was turning into had blanketed the area. It was too hard to tell from how high up they were, but she could swear she saw a human shape on top of the corpse.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWknXYRyep
"I'm just curious as to why you had to ally yourself with such raggedy ruffians?" Ren said. Leliana unsheathed her machete, and had it pointed at his throat in just seconds. Ren didn't so much as flinch, or slouch from his proud, dignified posture. "Is that butter knife supposed to intimidate me?" he teased.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡwntiqJJUoM
"No. It's supposed to slice your head off if you say another word." Leliana growled.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzYEdLHvLK
"Both of you, stop and look!" Ryn barked out, gesturing to the destruction ahead.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mHrKEpBdD
Leliana sheathed her weapon and Ren stared ahead, both looking out at the carnage with widened eyes.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1K0u2qdMlC
"D-Did Jin do this?" Leliana said.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2cxGpioV4
"The halfling either has more skill than I thought or more luck." Ren said.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92rRtbvSNJ
"He might still be down there! We have to find him!"copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOtxjwYxjk
Not waiting for the siblings, Leliana took off down the side of the cliff in big leaps, making her way down safely, despite nearly tripping and falling a great distance twice, and swiftly. With a sigh, Ryn started to follow behind her, but Ren grabbed hold of her in his arms. He unfurled his wings, leaped down, and began gently soaring over the cliff edge, keeping up with Leliana as she vigorously ran on.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Smmq3MIsH
Not looking up at the two, Leliana muttered under her breath. "You could've done that the whole time, couldn't you?"copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCKetepZ7d
"Wouldn't have wanted to lose track of my warden, now would I?" Ren teased.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡID1calI9S1
"Up ahead!" Ryn yelled out.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2UQokTb3m
The fog coming from the corrupt corpse was only getting thicker, making it almost impossible for the trio to see two feet ahead of them. Ren increased his wing speed, flying in place as the flapping of his wings worked to clear out the haze. Soon, they could just make out the shape of Jin's body, flopped on top of the beast's dead body. There was a slight twitch from him.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRYD5rRvqY
"He's alive!" Leliana said, letting out a breath she didn't realize she was holding in.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9CKlM53WY
Ren descended, letting Ryn down onto the ground beside him. The girls reluctantly started to climb up the corpse, helping lift Jin to his feet. His eyes fluttered, before he slowly blinked them open. He still seemed a bit out of it, looking at his surroundings in confusion. His eyes focused on Ren. He suddenly broke free of the girls' arms, and darted towards him.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5p10gqlaBo
"Jin, wait!" Ryn yelled out.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡwugu8lWZRm
He didn't seem to hear her, unsheathing his claws in an effort to strike out at the Corrupted assassin. Ren had grabbed the hilt of his blade by now, and pulled it out of it's sheath. He slammed the blunt end of the sword into Jin's stomach, stopping him short and making him stumble back a bit with a grunt of pain. Before he could launch himself at Ren again, the girls held him back.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzvAjRmpUj
"He's with us. We're taking him to camp to find out whether he can be trusted." Leliana explained. Ignoring the glares from both of the twins, she added. "He knows better than to cross any lines."copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0Jq0ZRl9t
Jin gave a low growl, but eventually sighed, retracting his claws. "D-Did I do it? The Giants are gone now, right? Everything was kinda a blur. How long was I out?"copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFX0a5l65c
"Yes, you did it. We're safe now. As far as we know, you haven't been here for long. We think the fight stopped around an hour ago."copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3MZD6Q0wL
"Heh. A new record. It usually takes me hours to wake up after…my royal side takes over." Jin said. He shrugged off Ryn and Leliana's arms, and tried to walk.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUL2lL1d7a
"Careful! You might have over exerted yourself earlier." Ryn pointed out.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRQER1Kd7P
Ren snorted. "He seemed perfectly fine when he lunged at me."copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBTcBwjswP
"Pretty boy here's right. Every minute we waste here gives mother another chance to send out more hazards, an- where's Anubis?" Jin stopped, looking around in confusion.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQKZT5LUiT
"Ah… We got sidetracked when we ran into Re-" Ryn started.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZKWDCXnP5
"You forgot to find Anubis?!" Jin yelled. "He could've gotten crushed under fatso here!" he gestured to the almost completely dissolved Ragnarok.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgH6tiCML9
"We'll go back for him! Knowing him, he got out unscathed." Leliana said, putting a hand on his shoulder.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZZlZSrLNJ
Jin shrugged it off. "Forget it! You guys get back to camp, and I'll find him myself!"copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡETIpPm2NJS
With that, he unfurled his wings, going airborne before soaring away from the others.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡSW8z2BSFoE
"Fantastic, now what do we do?" Ren groaned, rubbing his temples.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZEOlDHMpv
"You heard him, he wants us to go back to camp, then we will. It's not like there's anyone in the forest besides us anymore, so he won't get into any trouble." Leliana said, shrugging.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4ofueBw2l
Ren chuckled, before speaking in a condescending tone. "Is that how you do things in your little…rebellion? No wonder it's taken you so long to get out of this hell hole. 'Anything our precious princeling says, goes!' 'I'll just sit here, twiddling my thumbs until h-'"copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUhwuk8n0w
He quickly pulled his sword up, sheath and all, effectively blocking the machete strike aimed at his neck.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OvFDRjlDJ
"Can't you two go five minutes without trying to kill each other?" Ryn yelled, clenching her fists in frustration.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9NfohuZNw
"Ask the violent human." he replied.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbrCIVXQiX
"Tell your 'brother' to be quiet until we get to the base." Leliana growled.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkMS0qJjLn
Jin had hit the ground running as soon as he reached the cliff entrance. Wasting no time trying to actually figure out where he should go, he took off through the cavern. His senses screamed at him that there was a presence down deeper into it, and that could only mean Anubis was near. Then, he saw something move past him in the corner of his eye, before it hid behind a boulder.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BwPRV7lVV
"Anubis?" he called out.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡRg6iTPeQFx
The thing seemed to perk up, and he could now see a long, hairy tail poking out. "You know Anubis?" it asked, still hiding behind the big rock. Slowly, it stepped out from behind it. There stood a mole corrupt, with innocent, hopeful, open arms.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2RBVR1FbN
Naturally, Jin rushed forward, grabbing him by the throat, and pinning him against the cave wall. "What do you know about Anubis? Why are you still here when all of the others evacuated?"copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dpz3gubBq
"Oh! Those can be answered in one! Anubis is a...a friend of mine... Wow, it sounds weird to say tha- Ack!" Jin tightened his grip. "We...hid from...Giants together..." the corrupt gasped out. Even as he choked, he reached his clawed hand out for Jin to shake. "Name's... Tak..."copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sGcLz1ZqH
Jin's eyes showed shock for a split second, before he regained his focus. He let go of Tak, leaving the corrupt to take in dramatically deep gulps of air. "My apologies." he said, placing his hands behind his head. "You know where he is, then?"copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfKoRFfTlq
"Oh, yes, absolutely!" Tak replied. He grabbed Jin's arm, and excitedly led him further down into the cavern. "Anubis'll be so happy to see one of his friends again!"copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoE5XHmsSX
Jin was practically dragged through the wide, deep caverns, as Tak led on. The deeper they went, the darker the cave got, until Jin could barely see anything. Still, Tak moved on confidently and with a chipper attitude, until he finally called out into the darkness.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZqzbc9dbA
"Anubis! I found one of your friends!" Tak announced. "It's...!" he turned towards Jin. "I didn't catch your name."copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIQF6HlmAH
"They call me Jin. How can you tell where we a-"copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡMh5rn39Jw2
"It's your friend, Jin!"copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡHp18Zdk8rw
Jin heard the sounds of cautiously slow footsteps that seemed to be heading towards them. He instinctively unsheathed his claws.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmez2lgoHR
"Jin? You... You did survive." The voice undoubtedly belonged to the jackal corrupt.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5u9bVxe4gL
"Anubis!" Relieved, Jin dashed forward, arm outstretched. Then, promptly ran into a cave wall. If he didn't know any better, he'd thought he heard a chuckle escape from his old friend.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ya869lriM
"I'm over here." Anubis said, manually turning Jin to face him. "Where are the others?"copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡX19cBbxSAe
"If they followed my orders, at the base, waiting for us to get back." Jin turned to where he assumed Tak stood. "Would you...like to come with us? The base always has room for one more member of the team."copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGJTREq6JH
"M-Me? Really? I've never been a part of a team before!" Tak rambled on. "I've always wanted friends! I can't wait to meet them! I bet they sound just as friendly as I thought..."copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQG2YNcjeu
"You trust him enough to join us?" Anubis whispered to Jin.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bweo7qVZ1
"You trust him, don't you?" Jin replied.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKHTDyy4Fh
"Yes, but you just met him."copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡMx7sz5fLot
"But, he's harmless?"copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡguFNJ4VaZV
"He's a pacifist, yes, bu-"copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9FS3jrBn6
"Then, that's all I need to know! Any friend of yours is a friend of mine!" Jin said with a shrug.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9D0Bd6RZv
Anubis's expression was blank. "…I'd say you're much too trusting for your own good, but in this case, I suppose you're right to be."copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfZ03J4YT4
"Besides..." Anubis could tell Jin had a smug grin on his face, despite his blindness. "It seems you mean a lot to him."copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5ezXhSpTf
"Oh, of course! He's the best! We're closer than the siren sisters!" Tak said, appearantly having heard the whole conversation.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMp9M0mSRl
Anubis said nothing, ignoring the warmth rising to his face. "The others are waiting." he mumbled, pushing Jin back towards where he and Tak came.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡncBndE6iD0
"How far away is this camp of yours?" Ren asked, impatiently.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡnx6B64TZtM
"It shouldn't be far now." Leliana replied. "It feels like we should've been there by now, though."copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYzE8mFuex
Ren felt Ryn tap his armored shoulder. "What is it now?" he said, not bothering to turn and look at her.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCJq0X56gI
"Do you...remember anything about yourself?" Ryn asked.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Dfdemi8mL
"No, and quite frankly, I still don't trust you, whether you' re telling the truth or not."copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBKufSQVm5
Neither said anything more. Before long, they reached the base, and Leliana's mouth dropped open in shock at the sight of it. In the center, where there was usually a small clearing around the camp's main fireplace, the was a dark purple vortex that seemed to be sucking in the ground like a black hole. The vortex was slowly expanding.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡscIcCI9HPp
"We need to turn back!" Leliana yelled back at the siblings.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡqW3Fai2sqo
But, there seemed to be a gravitational force coming out of the portal. No matter how much the trio tried to fight against it, regardless of Ren trying to fly away from it or the girls attempting to cling to a tree, the pull was too strong. It all happened in a matter of seconds, Leliana and Ryn's grip loosened on their tree trunk, Ren's wings were pulled back like a hurricane wind hit them, and all three were sent spiraling down the portal.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡem0YQgQHbd
"Do you have any tunnels at your base? Are there any caves near? You did say your teammates were nice, right?" Tak's relentless questioning had lasted from up on the cliff, all the way down to the tangled undergrowth of the forest itself.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDpvP1dZJ2
Regardless, Jin answered his questions fully and with great care. "None other then the ones Ragnarok made as he came through. Yep, all filled to the brim with death traps. Oh sure, they'll all really nice...as long as you don't touch them, talk to them, or stand anywhere near them." Anubis subtly jabbed his elbow into Jin's stomach. The halfling laughed. "Don't worry, Tak, everything's perfectly safe the-"copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9ZsP9LSCb
"Stop!" Tak suddenly yelled out.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQxhPoxG6I
"What's wrong?" Anubis asked, perking his ears up to listen for possible danger.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTmiockBb4
"Don't you feel that? The wind changed."copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBeC43MPVp
"Is that it? I'm sure it's fine!" Jin reassured him.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dgyu5X1L3
"No. This isn't a natural change. It's being...manipulated."copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEW7XkjiWv
"By what?" Anubis asked.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡmA6BdbE00A
"Um...would a magic portal be enough to cause it?" Jin asked.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1NFAiLxkw
"Yes! That must be it! How did you know?" Tak asked.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5bxc8SvrO
Jin looked out at the deep purple magic pool in the distance up ahead. "Lucky guess." he said. "That thing's swallowed up half the camp!"copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Oo8pCj4Ck
"You don't think Lily and Ryn...?" Anubis trailed off.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1msHWLsu5
"Only one way to find out."copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5a9CmiuSJ
Jin ran forward, not listening to Anubis frantically calling out to him to wait. He didn't stop to think, he knew enough about corrupted portals from his mother's lessons to know that if he waited too long, he might land miles away from where the others did. He didn't fight the gravitational pull, he used it to get to the portal faster. Reaching the edge, he leaped up, falling right into the middle of the swirling pool.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUyH2Xjm1V
Tak grabbed Anubis' arm. "You're not going to let him go through this alone, are you? Let's go!"copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGX29FZU7t
"Wait, you're going?"copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6yagawyFp
"Well, I'm not abandoning my new friends! I'm not gonna let you abandon them either!"copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYjQFmOZIP
Tak, still holding onto Anubis, turned to look behind him, as if he could see the home he was leaving. Taking a deep breath, he turned back around and dashed towards the vortex, Anubis keeping in pace behind them as they jumped down the portal together.copyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡVovTrEyqzF
TO BE CONTINUEDcopyright protection78ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyMsI2CfBh
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