There is No Epic Loot Here, Only Puns

125: Branching Paths

Wyin swept the mist back as if brushing a loose strand of hair behind one ear. The veil rushed into hidden holes around the island of paradise that was Wyin's home. A rush of air that vanished with almost musical notes.

A plucky lot, aren't they?

Nu's bluish-form was distracting as he stared down at the panting adventuring party. A young man that looked to be growing an afternoon shadow with a tasteful business suit, if Delta's memories were correct. Nu's one concession was that his jacket was undone and his tie was loose like a noose. His ruffled hair seemed to be growing longer each time Wyin looked.

His smile, however, was so shark-like it belonged in the cut-throat world of stock markets and liquifying both corporations and people. Which one depending entirely on his mood at the time.

In the light, Nu was handsome, but Wyin wouldn't ever fall for him. In the dynamics of power, the tie between two beings... she could never truly love a dangerous beast that was too like herself. Wyin very much enjoyed being the one in control.

"Plucky... well they are looking plucked," Wyin said, enjoying the way Nu's smile changed to anguish at the wording. Wyin didn't like wordplay or puns, but she'd love them just enough to use them against Nu.

"She's... mocking us," the little boy, who tried to smother his light with death, gritted out. His various bone instruments laid about the boss arena, shattered, but even in pieces... even in dust, the boy proved to be clever. Between snake skeletons turned into whips or that little trick where he almost grew bone segments over her eyes with chalk dust.

Wyin would have to keep him down... he was too clever at times. At first, she was worried, but the boy lacked the... the true affinity for death. But the way he struggled to keep something contained... something powerful made her want to poke him until he snapped like one of her small branches.

But Wyin would behave. Children were in bad taste to traumatise, even if it made them stronger in the long run. Thankfully, Delta had less pity for stumbling buffoons, so Wyin would always have grown men and women to break physically and mentally... even spiritually if she had time.

Next to him, the girl who burned with a bestial rage stumbled to her feet.

"Why the angry face, dear? Did I do something to upset you?" Wyin asked, innocently like a naive Dryad emerging in spring. She absentmindedly shook the case in her other 'hand' making the snoring boy inside roll about.

Another scary child, if Wyin was honest. Still, for all her drake breathes and flame goliath fire auras? Wyin had tasted stronger. Not that she let herself get too cocky. The fire mage who burned her very 'self' was merely fifteen minutes away from the Dungeon and into the town...

Even if he didn't seem to recognise her now.

Someone put a hand on the girl's shoulder and Wyin tried not to avert her eyes. The... thing shook his head.

"She's trying to make you rush," the golem said, his blond hair and petit features too perfectly to be natural outside years of selective breeding. Just before the extra toes started showing up... Wyin both glanced over the golem and tried to avoid looking too long. It was a frustrating feeling.

Magnetically drawn, and yet, instinctually repulsed.

Some part of 'was-her-now-him' flowed inside that aura the golem called a soul, but it was mixed with so many things... like a beautiful tapestry that was set on fire with glee until it lived with confused flailing.

It was the work of a master. A dark and twisted master who delved where no mortal should.

"My name is Vas and I would like to negotiate for the release of our comrade," the boy began and Wyin saw a shrewdness that was so like her own for a moment before it was replaced by foolish brightness.

"I accept. I would like you all to submit and give up. Do so and your 'friend' is yours, whole and alive," Wyin offered, in what she thought was quite a generous deal.

"If we refuse, will you kill him?" asked the shifty one with the cat summon. Grommet or something. Wyin would learn his name later when she cared. Wyin thought about it but after a few seconds of manipulative wording, the image of Delta rising up from the dark abyss of Wyin's conscious glowed orange.

'Imagine they were your children' the spiritual Delta said benevolently.

"Like a toad under both feet," Wyin said bluntly. The kids froze and the mental Delta screeched and Nu shot her an odd look.

'Every child you save gives you a loyalty point on this stamp card that allows you to traumatise one person that I don't care about!' Conscious-Delta argued, waving some card about and Wyin hastily took back her words.

Wyin didn't know if she was developing a conscious or Delta was speaking to her through some veil of consciousness, but Wyin wasn't letting that deal go!

"I'm joking! Looking at his..." Wyin stared at the boy, Deo, and hesitated.

"His... pinchable... meaty cheeks that flow with hot warm bloo..d?" Wyin said, smiling as if nails were being inserted into her eyes.