The crew are relieved to see it is a Sea Dragon who helps them get into dock. It is not until the following morning they discover their rescuer was the son of the Legendary Hero of Fin. This makes one of the crew keen to not only see this hero, but also meet him. Through some investigation he discovers the best time to catch the legend is in the evening in the Central Market just after the sun has set. So, this is what the man does he waits patiently for the hero to arrive then he approaches him.
Raven is inspecting some fresh Puff Berries (a type of large black grape which pop in the mouth releasing a puff of purple smoke) when a man appears by his side and he can sense he is keen to speak to him, however now he is in presence he is unable to utter a word. The legend turns to him and decides to break the ice by asking, “Can I help you, Valley Elf? Or are you merely browsing?”
The sailor is a bag of nerves and blurts, “It an honour to meet you.”
The fruit seller shakes her head and says, “Breath, lad, before you faint. For that is the last thing Raven needs.”
The hero sighs and begs, “Please, please don’t faint.”
The Valley Elf takes a moment to calm himself and explains, “Your son, the dragon, did an amazing job rescuing my ship last night. The thing is, we shouldn’t even be in Longthorn… we were destined for Norven’s Gate when the storm hit.”
Raven slightly raises his hand and asks, “Why are you telling me this? I am afraid I cannot control the weather.”
The sailor emits a nervous laugh and is quick to respond, “Yes, yes, I know. It’s just that our cargo isn’t what we would normally carry and it has been glowing at night.”
“Glowing?” The fruit seller repeats narrowing her eyes at the Valley Elf. “Are you sure you weren’t hallucinating?”
“No, no, I swear I am perfectly well. Look I am just worried that it could be causing us all harm.”
Raven crosses his arms and shakes his head. “So, that is why you come to me because of some mysterious glowing cargo, hmm. Where did you sail from?”
“Emm, from Moonlit Cove,” answers the sailor watching both the seller and legend eye him suspiciously. Then it dawns on him that place, which lies in the deep south is classed as a no go area by Central Fin since a terrible outbreak wipeout an entire village of Valley Elves. “Yes, I know no one is meant to go there, but that is where our captain had docked the ship. We normally go from Buttervine Keep.”
The legend is not happy that the Valley Elf came from the constricted area and shouts, “GUARDS!”
Two Forest Elves who are dressed in fine armour carrying long spears come running over. They both bow and listen to the hero who orders the immediate arrest of the men and asks, “What is the name of your ship?”
“The Yulescissa. I swear, we are clean,” informs the Valley Elf.
Raven steps away from him and responds, “I am not about to take any chances until you have all been checked by a Healer. Aefaren, go to the dock, Payarus, take him to the infirmary, don’t let him touch you.”
Both guards bow and the one to the right runs off towards the gate which lies at the side of the marketplace, whilst the other one uses the blunt end of his spear to push the man away from the legend.
Raven shivers and the lady tries to reassure him, “He didn’t seem to have any symptoms. Hopefully the, whatever it was, has died out.”
“That is all we can do is hope, my dear. In any case I will still be issuing an alert.”
“I can’t blame you, Raven,” says the bread seller coming over to them. “I cannot believe they even went from such a place.”
The legend gives them in turn a pat on the arm and declares, “You know I will get to the bottom of it. Good day to you ladies.”
The women bow to the hero before they return to the stores.
Raven picks up his basket of Puff Berries before he vanishes to appear at the dock to hear a commotion is in full swing. He sighs and makes his way down the steps eating the berries as he goes.
“My men are going nowhere,” demands the captain shoving the guard away.
Okeabera points a hand at him and orders, “You are to do as ye is told. For ye could be contaminated with a terrible plague known as the Whisper of Death. One minute ye can be fine and the next ye lying on ya back with blue mist coming from ye mouth.”
“Hmm, not quite right,” comes a rough deep voice the dwarf instantly recognises.
“Uncle Raven,” she gasps turning to face him. “I wondered when ye would get here. You better talk some sense into them.”
“Oh, I doubt that, for everyone knows Moonlit Cove is off limits forever, what part of that did you, captain, not understand?”
“Not another one,” spits the captain, “I don’t have to explain myself to the likes of you, Dark Elf.”
The legend quickly raises his left hand to stop his family from hitting Valley Elf for his rudeness and clears his throat. “You have no idea who I am. You do realise even speaking to me in that ill tone could land you in jail. I am just any Dark Elf.” He goes on to hold up his hands so the Valley Elves can see his rings.
One of the men takes a step back and mutters, “Orb Master.”
A mix of horror and fear creeps into the captain’s face and he has to swallow the lump within his throat before he is able to speak once more, “What? No, there are not any of you left.”
Okeabera looks up at her uncle and questions in a soft voice, “Another one, who thinks ya been wiped out.”
Raven sighs and shakes his head. “You Valley Elves thinking in such nonsense, I can assure you us Orb Master Summoners are not extinct.”
“And brother is in charge,” comes a rough deep voice.
“Crimson, you’re the one in charge,” remarks the legend playfully tapping him on the chin.
The sailors cannot get over the shear size of the Vern for he must stand over seven feet tall with biceps as big as their heads. He is dressed in just a pair of trousers and ankle boots. His long horns are decorated with beads that reflect the illumination stones and his big hand, which grabs the Dark Elf’s shoulder is also decorated with rings and bracelets.
“Nope, I always say you are in charge of Central Longthorn. Anyway, that is not why I am here, Lady Méiguī, if you care to explain, my dear.”
The Head Healer comes out from behind him holding a document and expresses, “All we can do is quarantine them and that is all we can do until we can get permeation from the very Crystal Master who has signed and sealed this document.”
Raven takes a look to see it has been sealed by a dear old friend of his, who is not going to be happy about being awoken in the middle of the night. “Oh, dear, he is going to moan like crazy.”
Lady Méiguī cannot help but chuckle at the hero’s reaction and says, “Good luck, you don’t get things thrown at you.”
“Brother, once you have explained the situation, I am sure he will be fine,” insists Crimson trying to hide his smile as he knows all too well the Crystal Master in question, is an elder who does not like to be disturbed. Except by his favourite student Raven’s eldest son who he adores. “You could always send Jiéjīng.”
“Absolutely not,” replies Raven, “I will not awaken my son just to get his old teacher. I will handle him.”
The Vern raises his hands in front of his chest and declares, “It was just a suggestion.”
The legend pats him on the arm and leaves them to deal with the crew whilst he makes his way to the gate and uses a key that takes him to a stunning house. The entire wooden building has been carved with birds, flowers and trees. It lies on a hill above a small valley known as Yellow Valley because of all the yellow flowers which grow there and is home to a very rare house known as Yǔnxīng (Shooting star), that could be mistaken for a unicorn with them only having one horn protruding out the top of their heads. However, these creatures are nothing like a beautiful unicorn, they not white or have rainbow mane or tails. Instead they are as black as the night with white star like shapes around the hindquarters. They have jewel-like eyes that glisten from green, to blue, purple to flecks of gold and red. Yǔnxīng are classed as aggressive, territorial creatures who only care for Snow Elves.
Raven trots up the six steps to the front door and hesitates to knock on it knowing his dear old friend is going to be so grumpy. Suddenly the door opens and a silvery voice comes through the gloom, “Raven, what on earth are you doing here in the middle of the night?” Once the legend has informed him of the situation the teacher continues, “All right, I will just grab my bag and come back with you.”
“Thanks, Yè fēng.”
“Oh, no, my dear boy, do not thank me yet for I might not be able to do a thing if that curse… damn, I probably should not have said that.”
The hero is not normally worried or fazed by causes because most of them are old superstition. However, it is different when his dear old friend said it for he is an expert in dealing with real curses that were inflected on people by the dark mage. “I take it there is a way to left this curse?”
Yè fēng comes stepping through the open doorway dressed in his lovely white robe, he takes a moment to put on his message bag, shut the door and locks it. “I am afraid not, that is why it is off limits,” responds the Crystal Master moment later. “It is going to interesting to see if I find the kiss of death upon on them.”
Raven walks with him to the gate and questions, “Are we taking about an actual kiss or they awaken with bright red lips?”
“Now there’s a thought,” remarks Yè fēng, “Death going around leaving a set of red teeth upon the lips of the living.”
“Well, you never know, he might enjoy it.”
They both laugh and the Crystal Master explains, “No, it is I am afraid just a mark which appears upon the lips of the person, which starts off red and goes black, shortly before the person dies and from it comes the wisps of blue smoke from which the curse is named after. Perhaps I will refrain using the term curse around Valley Elves.”
“Well, according to these Valley Elves I don’t exist.”
Yè fēng gives him a playful shove and says, “What? No, you’re kidding?”
Raven slightly raises his hands in front of his chest and responds, “I wish I was. I am telling you the truth they had no idea us Orb Masters were still alive.”
The Crystal Master buries his face into his hands and emits a frustrated, “That explains everything.”
“Yep, it sure does, old friend.”
They step through the gate and continue down to the infirmary to meet Lady Méiguī in the entrance hall. She performs a deep bow. “Yè fēng, I am so pleased to have you here.”
The elder Crystal Master is too busy getting out his compass to respond properly to her all she gets is a grunt and Raven is rolling his eyes with a smirk upon his face. She is pleased he understands Yè fēng as his behaviour could be considered rude, however, he is just a little preoccupied.
“I am not detecting it,” mutters Yè fēng a moment later, exchange the yellow crystal in the centre of the compass for an orange one. “Nothing which is right and normally I would say, wonderful it looks like the curse has burned out. However, this is no ordinary curse.”
The head Healer giggles and remarks, “There are no such thing as curses.” She notices Raven is shaking his head and running his right index finger across the front of his throat. Then the elder Snow Elf is standing in front of her his stunning emerald blue eyes looking down at her. He says nothing just raises his neat eyebrows and gives her a pat on the head before he moves on.
The legend whispers to her, “Don’t forget he is an expert in curses.”
Méiguī collapses in the middle and sighs, “Oops! I really have made a bad first impression, haven’t I?”
“Yes, I am afraid so, that is why he gave you a pat on the head as if to say, there, there curses are very real. Don’t worry I know of ways you can make him happy.” He then goes on to trot after his old friend who is now looking at the crew of the Yulescissa and the captain is begging for their immediate release as they have cargo to deliver in Norven’s Gate. “Just what is your cargo, for I hear it glows in the dark. That is not normal.”
“Raven, I do not like the sound of that,” expresses Yè fēng swopping the orange crystal for a pink one that has white edges. When he gets a reading he takes a step back and emits a sharp, “Eww!”
Raven takes a look at the compass and his expression goes from happy to discuss. “Why are you collecting bio-waist from an insect eating plant?”
“Yuck! They have been collating Fuchsite Gems?” Méiguī questions watching them nod. “Disgusting that’s the plants waist… you Valley Elves really are just, disgusting.”
“Fuck!” Yè fēng snaps, making the legend quickly respond, “Hey, that’s not like you.” The teacher sighs and explains, “That plant is highly toxic which leaks into everything in and around it. They are covered from head to toe in toxic sap, spores, you name it. That entire ship of theirs needs to be set alight. First we need to grab all the documents as proof that someone sentence them to death.”
The twelve men all start to realise the situation they are in and they begin to mutter amongst themselves as none of them want to die and one of them asks, “Healer, surely there is a way to save us?”
The Crystal Master starts to workout how long it would have taken to sail from Moonlit Cove to the town. “Half a week,” he says softly as he goes through his calculations again. “So, by the new moon we should know if they are cursed. That is roughly five days time.”
The captain has been listening closely to the elder’s mumblings and he scoffs. “There are no such thing as curses.”
Yè fēng emits an angry sigh and explains, “You young ones theses days. The curse of Moonlit Cove is very real. For it is one of the worst of all curses, Kiss of Death. Real name is unknown. It is called that because of the red marks which appear always upon the left side of the lips. It causes the victim no harm. They are not even aware it is there. The reason they were targeted is because of the Fuchsite Gems plant. I have already pointed out it is toxic, highly toxic and that was leaking into other parts of Fin through their goods, making hundreds of people ill. You see, you Valley Elves are immune to it. So, they were completely unswear what the plant was doing to others, hence the curse which happened after a young child had died from ingesting too much of the toxin. Someone took revenge and within a week everyone on Moonlit Cove were dead and a strange blue haze hung in the air. A haze that never dissipated or got carried away on the wind. This is why it is off limits for that haze carries the spores which course the curse. A curse that is completely undetectable and I am afraid to say, if you all develop the Kiss of Death you will be made to leave Longthorn to return to that cursed place.”
One of the men grabs the captain by the collar of his shirt and snaps, “Fenric, you, bastard, you have killed us all!”
The captain pushes him away and shouts, “Calm yourself, Ianris, I have done nothing of the sort. This Healer has no idea what he is talking ab—” he is suddenly rendered unable to speak and the elder is staring him dead in the eyes.
“Let’s get one thing straight, I am no Healer, I am Yè fēng, High Crystal Master and Ink Summoner of the West Snow Elves. I am a master of curses and the unknown arts. I am just as famous as our dear hero here.”
Raven shakes his head and confesses, “No, no, you are more famous than me.”
The teacher chuckles and remarks, “We could debate this all night. That is why I am going to say, you brought an end to two Undead Armies and the Dark Time. Where I just helped to bring about an end to a war.”
The legend nods in agreement. “That is a fair point, all right I win. Now release him.”
Yè fēng’s eyes narrow at Fenric and warns, “I do not lie, I only speak the truth for lying gets you nowhere.” Then he waves his hand and says, “I have lifted the block you can now talk.”
The captain bows and apologises, “Forgive me, I didn’t mean to course offence. It was Prince Nazzuki who gave us the assignment.”
“No way, would Nazzuki send anyone to that deathtrap,” states Raven crossing his arms.
“How do you know that?” Ianris questions only to slapped by his fellow men. Until the legend slightly rises his hand which makes them stop.
“No, you all have a right to ask,” says Raven. “Nazzuki is a member of my dwarf family. I will get my lover Dusk to inform the prince someone is yet again copying his signature. I can tell you now Nazzuki isn’t going to be pleased.”
“Raven, he cannot go empty handed, however, Dusk mustn’t touch anything from that ship,” stresses Yè fēng. “In fact one of you can retrieve all the documents so that they can be presented to Dusk in the morning. That’s if he is wanting to take on the case… why am I even questioning that. Of course he will be chopping at the bit to get to the bottom of it.”
“You know him too well,” remarks the legend patting him on the arm.
“I do indeed,” answers the teacher and they both chuckle. “Right, you are the captain it is your job to present the evidence.”
“Yes, yes, of course,” answers Fenric performing a deep bow and reaches inside his coat to pull out a thick envelope. “This is everything. I was told to keep it on me at all times.”
Lady Méiguī hands Raven and Yè fēng a set of gloves so they can handle the documents without fear of becoming ill from the toxic sap that is glistening upon the captain’s clothes. They take their time looking at each sheet of stiff paper, the kind which is used by the Norven’s Gate royal family.
The teacher holds the sheet he is looking at up at the dull illumination stone to see the hammer and chisel watermark. “This was taken from his quarters for that watermark cannot be copied.”
“You are right, they must have taken this from the draw or the sock cupboard which you need a key for both and only the prince has that key. Now, we have the paperwork I will leave it in your hands so you can clean it and I will return to the dock to get the ship quarantined, for it holds evidence and check on my boy.”
“Even though I know you are right, Raven, I swear if the contents begins to seep out of it, I will be asking a Vern to set it alight.”
“I completely understand, old friend. What about them? Would a bath help?”
Yè fēng nods. “A hot bath will get the sap off their skin and hair. However, their clothes will have to be burned by Vern fire as that is the only safe way to get rid of it. I cannot stress this enough something really sour and ascitic needs to be used to clean this room and the dock.”
“Ah, in that case I recommend Saka fruit,” chimes the Healer, “it is what I use to clean the room.”
Raven gives her a kiss on the cheek before he vanishes.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnMjIMrb2n
✶✶✶564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHEBndI8jl
Dusk is in the dock watching a cargo ship being quarantined and a Healer is checking on Xiāo making sure he has no redness to his scales upon his paws or felling unwell. The wingless Vern is pleaded to hear his son and the rest of the family are fine and he is about to go to the infirmary when he sees his lover is trotting down the steps.
“Ah, there you are, darling,” he calls.
Raven grows concerned and is quick to enquire, “Dusk, you should be in bed, is something the matter?” Dusk just stands silently with his arms loosely crossed over his abdomen and the end of his tail twitches from side to side as he waits for his lover to remember what he said when he awoke. Then it dawns on the legend they were going to have a lunch, more-like a midnight snack and he apologises, “Sorry, sorry, my sweet, as you can see I got caught up.”
“It is quite all right, I knew something must have happened. I was not though expecting to find this,” stresses the Vern pointing his hand at the isolated ship. “Is that really carrying dangerous cargo?” He listens to his lover explain and when he hears where the ship sailed from he gives him a hug and informs him Xiāo is well, which Raven is also relived to hear. Then Dusk asks, “Are they really, really doomed?”
“Well, we will find out in four days time if they have the Kiss of Death or not. I just cannot believe they didn’t check first its authenticity.”
Dusk sighs and remarks, “Valley Elves never check anything.”
Raven cannot help but laugh as he knows all too well his lover just despises that race of elf as he just finds them to be too gullible and he is so right they very rarely check anything, and this is why they are always causing in his view trouble. The legend pats him on the chest and says, “You are quite right. My word I think we would faint if we heard they had tuck the time to check. Nazzuki is not going to be happy.”
“Yep, I can see him looking at the documents and doing a lot of sighing and moaning and wondering how could they believe it was, as you rightly said, darling, authentic, even though it is clear someone nabbed a load of his paper. Ooh, that is not going sit well at all.”
The hero sucks air through his clenched teeth and shakes his head. “Nope, not one bit,” declares Raven looking up at him. “I can deal with him if you like?”
Dusk’s eyes widen slightly at the thought of his love standing there half asleep and barely able to see a thing within that brightly lit meeting room. “No, no, I will take care of it first thing in the morning,” he replies as he starts to yawn. “Ooh, I need to get back to bed.”
The legend takes hold of his hand and says, “I just need to do one thing, then we can go home.”
“Don’t let me stop you, darling.”
They kiss before Raven continues over to tell his family what to use on the walkways to make sure no one becomes sick from the Fuchsite Gems sap and possible spores. Then he returns to his lover and they portal back to their tower where they go on to have a meal together. Once they have eaten Dusk heads up to bed leaving his lover to get all the necessary paperwork together which documents all the evidence for him to present it to Prince Nazzuki.
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and then Add to home screen.