Chapter 82 - Introducing The Shaman

After hearing about how Mcillian had met his love I wanted to hear more about it. Granted I was in the middle of doing something important but I was still a sucker for drama and love.

"Ok I understand, but before we go through another flashback why don't we finish up what we came here to do?" I said as I went over and patted Mcillian on his shoulders.

"You kept some things from me but I can pretty much figure out whats going on and what's going to happen. But nevertheless we have to get a move on and go meet this so called lord Drumos.

He only stared at me as he wiped his tears away. (Dammit if only he was a crocodile this would be so funny.)

"Do you really still want me to come with you?"

"Yea, it's not a big deal what you kept from me and I can feel that your heart's in the right place in wanting to do this so how could I refuse now that I've done all this hahahaha." I laughed before I continued letting Hannah lead the way towards the concentration of spiritual energy.

It wasn't but a few minutes uphill till we stood infront of a shabby overgrown forest hut that at first glance was in shambles, but upon closer inspection I could see that it was actually, literally made out of the surrounding forest. 

'Well, what did you expect, They are a shaman afterall.'

I shook my head with a smirk at that mental comment as I continued to walk forward but was instantly stopped by some kind of invisible barrier.

"The hell?" I said as I rubbed my nose to help ease the pain.

"What is your purpose here with our master." Said a voice before a bluish mist emerged from the ground and then started to mold itself and took the shape of an apeman with full plate armor like some kind of gatekeeper. 

"I'm just here to get some lessons for my daughter here. I heard this shaman was the best in the land." 

Before I could catch a breath I had a sharp looking naginata pointed at me almost touching my nose. I was startled for a second but then I got a bit offended.

"Your words are laced with deceit. Tell me your true intention with my master or you will perish and become another slave." 

I was a bit upset with almost getting my snout cleaved in 2 but at the moment I was more concerned with Hannah's little hand squeezing me tightly. I looked down and she was glaring at me as if trying to say 'don't hurt it'.

"Are you kidding me? What do you want me to do sweetheart? You know we gotta go see the Shaman but this guy is in the way."

"Just let me deal with him." Was all she said before she lets go of my hand and walks up to the barrier. The naginata is now pointed at her and the distance between it and her were closing at a fast pace but before I could take a step forward she stepped into the weapon..... but it did nothing but turn misty and as she walked through it, it would reform like nothing happened. I stood there confused until she stopped walking and looked back at me.

"As a Necromancer don't you think I would have some kind of resistance to spiritual attacks?" 

Ugh this damned girl, I could see the sparks of rebellion starting to flicker even now.

"You could have just told me instead of giving me a heart attack."

She only chuckled before turning to the stunned guardian.

"Take us to your master." Was all she said before staring menacingly at the spirit. Which to its credit it did bow slightly and run off in the direction of the hut. 

Moments later I heard a loud. "WHAT!!!" roar from within the hut followed by heavy stomping footsteps and what came out was a huge bellied orangutan looking apeman with a grass skirt around his waist and some animal teeth around his neck in the form of a necklace. He also had a staff that seemed to let off a dark aura compared to what I felt around here. 

"Who the hell do you think you are little girl? To come here and demand lessons from me? Lord Drumos, The master of spirits and Beholder of Gaia's grace."

I raised an eyebrow at that last part. I knew that Gaia had different meanings but to think that my parents named my brother after the actual Gaia was a bit shocking.

"Hey my brother's name is Gaia. What a funny coincidence." I said with a chuckle.

"YOUR BROTHER IS A BLASPHEMER THAN, YOUR PARENTS ARE BLASPHEMERS AND I HOPE THEY PERISH IN THE QUAKES OF DESTRUCTION!"

"Whoa, what the hell dude. I may not be on good terms with them exactly doesn't mean I'll let some jumbo sized pot bellied shit thrower just talk about them like that."

"OH REALLY? And what is a little Lizard like you going to do about it? I bet your whole family is nothing more than pond skimmers and eats whatever disgusting bugs they can catch. Once I'm done with you I'll send my spirits across the world and kill your family, AHAHAHAHAH!"

OH. MY. GODS. What in the world is going on with this guy? I didn't even threaten him before he blew his lid and went full crazy. 

"Daddy? I think that staff he has is causing him to lose his mind? I can feel dark, dark energy coming from it. I couldn't notice it before because of how much spiritual energy is covering this area. But now that I can see it in person, I can see that is is almost leeching off of him."

"What like it's got a mind of its own?" I asked with clear confusion. I didn't like the sounds of a sentient evil staff. In every thing I've read or watch, if there was ever an object that could think for itself you were in for a huge fight. I didn't really want to risk more lives but I promised Mcillian we would figure something out. 

Oh that reminds me. I was so focused on what was happening in front of me that I forgot Mcillian came with us. I turned around to look for him but he was nowhere to be seen. That was until I looked to my left towards towards a large stone slab and there he was on his knees grabbing the slab. That's when I saw him get up and turn around with pure rage in his eyes.

"You... BASTARD! YOU PROMISED YOU WOULD BRING HER BACK TO ME, NOT TURN HER INTO ONE OF YOUR SLAVE SPIRITS!" He roared as he started sprinting towards the Shaman. I would try and remember his name but with the way he was I didn't really care.

The shaman stopped cackling like a madman and looked over at the scaled train heading his way, 

"Oh, Mcillian, how nice to see you again. I never repaid you back for the last time your visited."

The shaman waved his hand and instantly 10 spirits appeared around Mcillian in a semi circle. I could see recognition in his eyes as he stopped in his tracks and slid a little.

"No... You bastard how could you take them from me aswell."

There standing in front of him were 10 apemen who all wore  similar looking armor. The armor had a sigil emblazoned on it that resembled an alligator with exactly 10 apes behind it. If I didn't know any better I would say that these guys would maybe, just maybe, be his old teammates from when he was a mercenary or something.

"Your old mercenary buddies were just dying to say hello." The shaman said with an evil grin.

'HAHA, called it.'

'Yea good job asshole.' The inner me said and I felt a mental annoyed head shake follow.

I knew I should maybe do something but Damn the drama..... The intrigue..... It was getting the better of me, and hey I haven't had TV in so long that I wanted to enjoy the drama a bit before I ruined this guys plans and then destroyed the staff.

"Please, Please just let them all go. My friends..... My Sherylla..... Please let them go and I'll do anything." Mcillian said as he slumped to the ground.

"Why the hell are you giving up now? Where was all that full steam ahead I just saw you do before those spirits showed up. What is up with the complete 180?" I spoke up and said. I hated that he was doing this. But than again if I was in his position I might have had a lapse of aggression aswell.

"These guys are my friends.... My family. We were called the Fighting Apes, I always got into fights but these guys..... these guys always had my back. THIS BASTARD TOOK THEM AWAY FROM ME AND KILLED THEM WHEN ALL THEY WERE TRYING TO DO WAS HELP ME RESCUE MY LOVE." 

There we go, and there's the rage again. Let the hate flow through you.

Mcillian was raising up from the ground but was forced back down as different weapons materialized from the spirits and pointed towards him. 

"Ah ah ah, I don't think you should be making any sudden movements. See I didn't want to waste to much of my magic on your little friends, so I gave them just enough to be considered guard dogs at best. Just enough magic and conscience to listen to my commands."

"Now my loyal pets..... Kill that rotten Alligator and destroy these worthless intruders!"