The Dreamer's Epilogue-Chapter 22: Old bones’s idea

Chapter 22 – Old bones’s idea

Emrys, Victoria and Old Navy stood outside the tribe’s big stony doors, sensing the approaching wave of monsters through the moaning of the ground.

According to a Tistis scout, these ones were nothing like the Red Spawns they had encountered on the shattered Earth.

These were true beasts.

They were lizards, with gleaming blue scales that shimmered like pools of water under the glaring sun.

They all wore armor strapped to their bodies and tails, made of steel at first glance, holding either a spear or a bow with an arrow already ready to rain down.

Each of their steps rumbled the ground. That, at least, Emrys could confirm by his own perception.

"We are only three." Emrys said, tightening his grip on his needle-like weapon, expecting the first sight of those lizards soon enough.

Old Navy stared at his weapon.

"Lad, interesting weapon you got, didn’t you?"

Emrys looked at him from the corner of his eyes, "And you have none."

Old Navy cackled, taking a deep puff on his smoking pipe, "Lad, you got eyes yet you do not see!"

Emrys scowled.

"We have fighters." Elder said, interrupting their squabble, pointing at three Tistis tribesmen standing beside her. They wore no armor, their bodies looking like a little gust of wind would send them high into the air.

Elder continued smoothly.

"They each obtained a class: Guardian Tribe, and could very much be of use. Maybe, climbers, you can find solace in it?"

Emrys spared them a curt glance, then turned his head away. Old Navy was still smoking, laughing wildly.

Victoria looked at Elder and the three class holders back and forth. She hesitated a little, then gave them a shy smile, "P-please go back inside." She said, "We w-will take care of this ourselves."

Elder frowned, "But—!"

"We are meant to protect you." Emrys said, "not the opposite. Besides, you can still help us in a different way. You know your tribe better than us. So tell us, Elder?"

Elder fell silent for a moment, watching them with a calm, almost embarrassed expression, before answering hurriedly,

"Poison." She said, "Our blood can be used as a paralysis poison. That’s how we hunt those who want to hunt us."

"Perfect, perfect, perfect!" Old Navy laughed. He looked at his companions,

"Sharp lad, shy lass, do tell me you have a mask?"

He grinned, letting his yellow cracked teeth shine upon Emrys and Victoria.

"This old sack of bones is going to take a deep smoke."

Emrys and Victoria — and even Elder and the three class holders — looked at Old Navy with puzzled eyes.

But soon enough, their eyes widened in surprise, listening to his plan.

Hearing it, Emrys couldn’t help but look at the old man with newfound awe, "Old bones, you are not all talk after all!"

"Call me historian, lad!"

"Old bones!"

Old Navy whirled upon Victoria, "Call me Historian, lass!"

Victoria, at his side, nodded repeatedly, giving a thumbs up to Old Navy, "H-Historian?"

The old man only barked a loud laugh, only to cough immediately after.

Thus, the trio began their plan.

...

At the same time, Princess Naja was standing at the top of the steel door of the Ape’s tribe.

At her left was Matt, now wearing a red armor with a big shield given by the blacksmith ape.

On the right stood the silent Océane, her golden eyes resting upon the approaching waves of strange beasts coming toward them high in the distance.

They were like bats, but completely white with eyes as red as a pool of blood.

They came in waves, the flapping of their wings causing a slow rattle of the air, their teeth sharp enough to sink deep into flesh.

"Oh, dear." Princess Naja muttered, her arms on her chest, "So numerous. However, aren’t they cute? Golden, sweetheart, tell me, would not one look good on me? As a pet, of course, I mean."

"My stunning black skin and the white of their skin," she giggled, "Do you see the vision?"

Matt on the right scowled at Princess Naja’s special attention on Océane. He spared Océane a nasty glare, his eyes clearly showing he wished to do more than just look.

However, Océane didn’t even acknowledge him, answering Princess Naja stoically,

"Everything will look good on you," Océane said, side-glancing at Princess, "Is that what you wanted me to say, Princess?"

"You know me so well, golden." Princess murmured, "But I know nothing of you. It saddens me."

Océane answered with silence.

The white bats were approaching faster.

"Are the apes ready, Matt darling?"

"Of course, Princess!" Matt nodded vigorously, fawning over her, "They are all waiting as you have instructed, weapons ready to be used. I made sure they respect your orders."

"Splendid." Princess clapped her hands. She paused for a moment, seeming to think of something before parting her lips once more,

"It’s been a while since I received any new achievement, sweethearts." Princess said, face twisted into one of sadness. "And to say such an event saddens me would hardly be enough to express my pain."

Matt listened with rapt attention, while Golden secretly rolled her eyes at such a dramatic performance from Princess.

"That’s why we need to achieve it at this moment." Princess continued.

"Do you know how?" Matt asked, not quite sure about what made one gain an achievement.

"Well, darling, what else?" She smiled, "we just need to do something worthy. So,"

She raised her slender finger, her nail perfectly manicured, toward the approaching monsters,

"Less than one hour." She said, "I want them all dead except one or maybe two in that time."

She smiled,

"Can you do that, sweethearts?"

Matt took his stance, "Yes!"

Golden didn’t answer, but she took her fighting stance, eyes narrowing dangerously.

Princess’s smile only widened.

"So let’s begin, sweethearts."

—End of Chapter 22—