187 Corpse

Thomas wanted to say something, anything to retort Doevm, but as always, his mind was no help. He just muttered under his breath and he stormed out of the camp. When he returned later, with armfuls of sticks shoved into his spatial ring, the camp was cleared of everything. The rocks and sticks were placed back at the center. The string had been wound back into its spool. So after the hour or so they had spent, they set off towards the sun, which was retreating behind the distant mountains.

Shadows lengthened behind them. For once, Thomas was grateful for the fog and vegetation, for it blocked the sun's rays from assaulting his vision. The first fireflies were beginning to flicker a blue light, as if saying goodbye to the brief visitors. It all faded away as they went deeper west. "My plan is simple," Doevm said. "Just grow strong enough to beat those assholes, take their points in any way possible (preferably without incurring the wrath of an army), and win."

"Is this really the only choice we have?" Frey asked. "I know hunting the Bullfrogs didn't work out, but can't we just keep hunting those in secret or at a different time? They are worth a lot of points and we know their weaknesses. Or maybe we can just hunt the bobcats instead."

"Cut the crap and say what's on your mind," Elero urged.

Frey sighed: "If we go in a cave, those artifacts won't work. Sure we can activate them, but the generals won't be able to see into a cave, right? Thomas, aren't you concerned about that as well?"

"Now I am," Thomas halted before saying, "But Doevm, you've got a plan, right?"

"Of course I do," Doevm smiled. Elero and Frey sighed and shook their heads. "Don't worry about it. Just trust me on this one."

"That's a little hard," Elero muttered just out of Doevm's range of hearing.

The further west they got, the further the sun traveled until it hid behind the mountains. They could still see light above them, but the entire swamp was cast in layers of dark shadow, with not even the starlight to guide them. Doevm pulled out light crystals, which everyone was a little nervous to take. Then the noises of the swamp's many nocturnal creatures came at an even greater volume than last time.

A bitter cold assaulted the group, who all brought out extra layers of clothing. When Doevm brought out his extra set of clothing, Thomas gasped at its state. Tiny holes and tears had been ripped along it. If he didn't know any better, he would have thought it to be bandages instead of a piece of clothing.

"What happened?" Thomas asked, recognizing the blue color of it. "Didn't my father give you three of those shirts before we left? How did it get like that so fast? How did you get those strange holes?"

Elero's eyes, which were affixed to the holes, narrowed. She put a hand to her chin. "I've seen those before. I just can't put a finger on it. Do you mind saying what happened? Who fought you?"

"A group tried to mug me," Doevm shrugged. "In the process of me resisting, they hit me with a lot with strange weapons. And all I wanted was a book. After I killed them, I escaped and got healed up."

"You almost died?" Frey nearly shot up from his silent stupor, his eyes widening at the holes. "Where was I during all of this?"

"Back at the Colosseum," Doevm replied. "I wanted to know where the people outside of the Colosseum were going, so I left. Then I got shot by some strange weapons. I barely got away but the matter is over and done with."

"Who healed you?" Elero asked. "I think I remember where I've seen those marks before. Was it someone with a skull mask? Was someone like that with you?"

Frey glanced at Doevm, who tried his best not to meet his gaze. 'I can't take the risk in resetting.' He shrugged. "It all went by so fast. I just ran and everything blurred. In the end, all I remember is a single blue flame, but it was like it was staring at me. Why do you ask? Do you know this healer? I would like to thank him if I can."

"N-no he's…I don't know him. I just ran into him," she let out a nervous chuckle before staring straight ahead. "And I don't know if I'll ever see him again." A hint of regret ate the volume of her voice until it was a whisper. "I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing."

…

The trees common to the northern side of the swamp began to thin out. In their place wasn't water, mud, or even very much vegetation, for there was very little good soil in this part of the swamp. Instead, there were sunken, broken structures scattered throughout the area. Walls had long since crumbled. The inhabitants made the pieces their homes. Rusted over weapons and arrow shafts were common. Inside a tangled mess of roots, Thomas thought he saw part of a cracked skull. The trees that the did find held deep scars that not even time could heal. The group always paddled away from the structures. Thomas could have sworn he once saw a group duck into a broken building.

Doevm seemed to slow down at each of the buildings and stare at them, a glint of recognition in his eyes. Thomas couldn't see the rest of his expression in the dark. Not even with the light from the stars and moon helping him.

"What happened here?" Elero seemed to ask what everyone but Doevm was thinking.

"This place," Frey said. "I remember now. My grandfather fought here, in the war when a demon hoard came through. It was his first fight, when he was first truly tested as a…" his voice trailed off. "Even though he won, is this really all that's left?"

"You can still lose much, even if you have won," Doevm added. "That battle, it wasn't a war. It was a mere scuffle compared to everything the world went through." He didn't add on anything after. He didn't need to. It was fact, which everyone in the world knew. For the weakest race, humanity, it was a threat of extinction. Even if one was so fortunate to be able to wipe that tragedy from their mind, no one was allowed to forget. No child was spared the story as old as time itself.

Then, as they got closer to the mountains, a light penetrated through the fog. The group drew their weapons and got into stances. Frey jumped in front of Thomas with such speed that he nearly fell off of his Amphiboard. His spear hovered over his shield. Although Thomas was directly behind him, he could see a fury in his eyes, built up ever since the fight with Gregen and waiting to be released on the unfortunate individual that had just come into view.

However, that fury dissipated upon seeing the view of the person who had crossed their path. It was the same boat which Mr. Quinn had: a long, thin, wooden boat floating just above the surface of the water. A light crystal dangled over it. A paddle hung over the side to push it forward. Instead of Mr. Quinn however, in the center there was now a rag-covered corpse, rotting away with a stench that made the group cover their noses. She looked to have once been a woman in her late forties. Her uncombed black hair dapped over her shoulders, which were so skinny that one could see the bone struggling to get out of the flesh. Her entire, thin body was lay down over the side. White eyes stared through here thin eyelids, partially opened. Her jaw hung down. Frey may have relaxed upon seeing her, but Elero and Doevm kept their weapons at the ready.

"What are you guys doing?" Frey asked. He paddled over and poked it with the other end of his spear. "it's just-"

"I'm not dead!" The corpse shrieked. She grabbed the end of Frey's spear with a bit of copper life essence around her hand. She shoved him off his Amphiboard before jumping out of the boat. She seemed to float on the water with each step, heading straight towards Thomas.

"Thomas roll out of her way!" Frey yelled over. He cursed at himself for letting his guard down.

She let out a cackle as she neared Thomas, who shrunk back too late. Her skinny, cold hands grabbed Thomas's. A wicked smile went across her cracked, decaying lips.

"Nice to meet you." She said as she shook his hand. "Young master Virility, right? I can't believe that woman had a son. I've been waiting to meet you for a long time." Thomas, caught off guard by this strange series of events, just looked at Doevm, who shrugged.

The corpse scratched the back of her head and flakes fell down. "Sorry," she chuckled. "I'm just so happy to finally meet her son and I haven't talked with a person in…" Her eyes rolled back a little as she paused, her hand still fastened around Thomas's. "I forget. Oh, I should probably introduce myself. I am Miss Vessa, a shopkeeper." She gave a small curtsy.