Headed by a Snake



Tycondrius broke the water's surface, emerging in a cool, humid cave. It was a rather peaceful area, illuminated by light-blue moss and smatterings of green and pink crystal formations. 

However... that peace was likely secured due to Tycon's form: that of an ivory-white Sea Serpent, longer than a corvette-class sailing ship. 

A trio of armed sentients with lobster-like qualities hurriedly dove into the waters, swimming down and away. 

One of them might have been crying.

If Tycon's supernatural ability remained consistent, he felt it safe to assume that the crying one was a woman. 

But, anyroad, the cave-area was safe from hostile forces. 

Pale emerged next, dramatically splashing at the pool's edge while dragging a waterlogged Kimura Taree onto the rocks. 

The silver-haired whelpling was sobbing miserably. As soon as her hands and knees touched the cave floor, she began to retch up water. 

It was... disheartening. 

'Pure' water from that place had great value, bottled and sold. Tycon had a half-dozen bottles in his spatial ring... it still irked him to see the waste. 

Pale kept his bearing, though his strain and exhaustion were quite clear. Haggard as he was, he massaged Kimura's back as she continued to vomit away theoretical coin. 

Neither had anything to say. 

And, admittedly, Tycon appreciated the silence from the usually loquacious Martialist. 

(He mentally added the notion of drowning the child as an effective punishment, should she choose to incite his ire.)

Hero. Martialist. And... the other? 

For a moment, Tycon wondered where Troia had gone. 

--but that was foolish of him. 

He slithered onto the shore and opened his mouth. 

The relatively-dry Holy Princess gently rolled onto the soft moss. 

Even with Dawnbringer's assistance, Troia was too mana-exhausted to swim for so many leagues. Thus, Tycon chose to carry her. 

The protections of her Divine Armor allowed her to slow her body's functions while traveling inside Tycon's Sea Serpent maw. 

It was an excellent form of transportation, both safe and efficient. 

If Tycon could have jammed Pale and the Kimura-child into magic, protective balls to summon at will, he would have absolutely done so. 

He'd keep the little monsters in his pocket. 

Anyroad-- 

The young lady stirred awake, sitting up as the translucent wings of Dawnbringer fluttered softly behind her back. She swept back her purple hair before rubbing at the dirt in her eyes. 

She seemed rather... radiant. But Tycon dismissed it as a trick of the light combined with the reflective nature of the crystalline waters. 

[Good morning,] she signed, [Have we arrived?]

« System, cancel Sea Serpent Form. »

⟬ Sea Serpent Form Cancelled. Returning to Human-Form. ⟭

Tycon went through the troublesome process of smashing all his organs together into a tiny meat and bone cage. 

"We have indeed arrived," he said aloud. 

He then took a moment to check his effects. 

His two most valuable items, his Ring of Holding and Leomund's Ring, remained on either hand, just where he left them. 

Mercy remained on his hip. 

Hm. Most adventurers had more items to keep track of... 

Everything seemed to be in order. 

Activating his spatial ring, he brought out a series of fuzzy, cloth towels. 

⟬ Ring of Holding. Third-Circle Conjuration. Opens into a nondimensional space of 10 cubic yalms and up to 250 ponze. ⟭

Troia was still somewhat sluggish, so, towel in hand, Tycon pat down the young lady's hair, himself.

...then he forced her to lie down so he could wrap the towel around her hair properly. 

Wet hair and the cool climate put her at risk of sickness. He couldn't have that... 

[You're skilled,] she signed.

"You're shivering," Tycon replied. 

He wrapped a second towel around the young lady's shoulders. 

That would do for the interim... 

After taking a deep breath, he turned to address the other two. 

"Take your time to recover, children," he said. "But make yourselves presentable. We'll meet with the others soon."

The Kimura girl looked to him with a rebellious glare. 

She offered no words. However, when she opened her mouth, she... offered more water to the ground. 

That rude child... 

In the past couple of years, Pale had properly grown into a young man. Troia, too, had grown taller and approximately more ladylike. 

Kimura... she showed *some* signs of maturity-- mostly in the sharpening of facial features and the toning of her musculature. 

However, her height hadn't seemed to change. And her expression remained... frustrating to look at. 

With that, Tycon still considered Kimura a child. 

And for a child, best practices dictated he not scold her-- but, instead, guide her with her best interests in mind. 

"We shall set off only when all of us are ready *and* confident," Tycon smiled. "Well done, thus far, everyone. A well-deserved rest awaits us very soon... but for now, I ask for your patience... for there is more to be done." 

Troia nodded her head, a soft smile adorning her lips. 

Then, she tried to hug him. He nearly escaped it using his ⌈Shadowfang⌋ Movement Technique... but, ultimately, he stopped himself from following his instincts. 

Considering what she'd done for him, he could allow at least a hug... 

Tycon mentally counted to five before prying the child off of him. 

He walked toward Kimura, haphazardly tossing a towel at her forehead before patting her head affectionately. 

"Miss Kimura... I still have need of your strength and courage," he said, "What say you?"

⟬ ⌈Inspirational Surge⌋ conditions met. Activate? Y/N? ⟭

"I'm tired, Boss," Kimura groaned.

"Hmph. Are you trying to rebel?" Tycon teased. 

"Tch. Of course not," said the pouting child. "Sol Invictus, all the way."

⟬ Activating... ⟭

Tycon turned to the Hero of the Realm, offering his hand, "And you, Master Pale?"

Pale clasped Tycon at the wrist, standing up to match his gaze. 

"I hear and obey, Boss."

...

⟬ Two and a half bells later... ⟭ 

Tycondrius was at the cusp of reaching Adamantine-Rank. 

He was full of energy-- so much that he feared that a lapse of concentration would result in a breakthrough. 

The impossible level of progress likely had to do with the recent efforts of Troia and Jægerin. After emerging from Lulu's ⌈Domain: Vignette Lock⌋, his mind, body, and mana circuits had essentially been destroyed and rebuilt.

--and with both divine intent and devilish efficiency. 

Some moons prior, he had chided his good friend, Krysaos, for doing something similar. 

How either of them had survived the process was baffling. 

Anyroad, Tycon and his companions' arrival to the Abandoned Forest was not as daunting as in his previous experiences. 

The Tree God was dead, leaving the enchanted woods without its protector and caregiver. 

And because of the high ranks of Pale and Kimura Taree, clearing so many sections of the moderately dangerous Trap Path took hardly any effort. 

...or perhaps such logic only applied to him. 

He carefully knelt down, allowing the Holy Princess in his left arm to stand on her own power. 

She brought her hand to her lips, then pushed the back of her palm forward. 

[Thank you.] 

Tycon tilted his head back, waving a hand downward. 

[It was nothing.]

Turning back to observe the other two, Tycon steeled his expression to hide his disappointment. 

Pale was hunched over, breathing heavily and supporting himself with his spear. He was drenched in sweat and nursing a dislocated shoulder. 

Kimura was worse off, sprawled on the ground, arms and legs spread like a common whore. 

Also, a series of vines were wrapped around her neck and right bicep... 

The thorns drew no blood, thanks to her ⌈Stone Body Art⌋. However, they continued to writhe and constrict, despite having been severed from the Grasping Plant's main body. 

Tycon recalled that it was their first time experiencing the Trap Path. 

But really... their individual reflexes should have not been tested so thoroughly. 

"Get up, you two," he commanded, "we're nearly--"

"Hrrkkk... hh--grkk."

Tycon paused to remove the interrupting vines from Kimura's person. 

"As I was saying," he continued, "if you want a hot meal and a bath, you'll need to pull yourselves together."

"I'm up!!" Pale exclaimed, standing as straight as an arrow, "I'll do anything for a hot meal! Even murder!"

That... was not something appropriate for a Hero to say. 

Tycon wondered if such diction was due to his influence. 

It was somewhat embarrassing, but it couldn't be helped. Pale was raised amongst mercenaries, not court nobles. 

"Can we have something with A LOTTA PROTEIN??!" Kimura roared. 

Tycon subconsciously evaded to the side, adopting a defensive stance as he faced the child. 

The wild, silver-haired youngling looked like she was about to attack. Her eyes were aflame and she was salivating profusely. 

"Right," Tycon answered. "Of course."

[Can we have vegetables?] Troia signed.

"I'll have you eat some meat to aid in your proper recovery," Tycon replied. 

The Holy Princess returned a weak smile but nodded her head. 

With the children properly motivated, Tycon waved his left hand, the one wearing Leomund's Ring. 

⟬ Leomund's Ring. Sixth-Circle Conjuration. Allows the caster to freely manipulate a Dungeon under their command. ⟭

He outlined the shape of a door in the sheer rock wall. The stone faded away, replaced by a soft and welcoming light. 

Then, as per decorum, he ushered his companions to enter before stepping through, himself.