Once again, giggling at their idle chatter, Esra finally nods and allows them to relax. It is not long before she prepares them a rich elven meal before helping them mend their once again torn and worn armour. Afterward, while our two Heroes chat amongst themselves, Esraniel notices Locke's quiver case, which holds a meager number of arrows. With a soft smile, she removes ten of her own arrows from her quiver, placing them in Locke's. Finally, she turns to our Heroes and slightly bows her head.
"I cannot thank you enough for all you have done for my people and for me. Rest well tonight, and I will show you the way to the Tuli Desert at dawn. For now, I bid you goodnight,” She announces before giving our Heroes a slight wave and retreating out of the tree house – no doubt to stand guard once again at the village limits. After a few minutes, Locke rests back against the many cushions and pillows that are scattered on the floor around himself and Lil before he yawns softly and slightly stretches out his limbs.
He takes a look over to Adiel's stone form and stares at it for a few moments, before looking over to Lil and saying softly, "You know, I didn't mean that crack that I said earlier when we talked about Adiel."
Casually, extending her palm in front of her as she observes her nails, Lil simply responds, "Which crack was this? You make so many of them, that I tend to forget."
"The one where I compared her gentle features to your face. I suppose it was a trifle offensive."
Lil now places both arms at her sides as she leans back on her elbows onto a soft cushion behind her, "Well, I suppose I also say things to you that are a trifle uncalled for."
Locke nods and cracking a slight smile, says, "Well, just as long as you know."
Lil simply wiggles her toes as she stares down at her feet which lay extended in front of her, as Locke once again glances back at the statue of Adiel.
"This Basilisk seems like a piece of work," Locke announces. "Some overgrown lizard that can turn anything it wants into stone. . . It even climbed up here! What are we getting into?"
Lil smiles, "The same kind of thing we always get ourselves into: a stupidly dangerous situation which will only get us in more trouble."
"Ah, I like it," Locke announces as he looks to Lil with an evil grin. "The danger of a situation is what makes me feel truly alive, as the spirit rushes within me to survive for yet another day. Our expedition is everything I hoped it would be."
Lil looks to him with a blank stare, "Oh yeah? Breathing makes me feel alive. But you're right – this expedition has been nothing short of interesting so far."
"Yes, it has," Locke agrees. "So, now we've agreed it was worth the countless years of discipline, arduous training, and self sacrifice, let me ask you, Lilanei – why did you want to come along anyway?"
"I imagine for the same reason you set out."
"To get away from it all?" Locke asks.
Lil wiggles her feet back and forth in front of her, "I guess you could say that."
"How did your mother feel about it all? Did you ever tell her beforehand, or did you just drop it on her?"
Lil grins, "Well, of course I told her ahead of time! Explaining why I kept coming home blood stained and bruised would've been quite interesting if I didn't. Why? Didn't you tell your family?"
"Yes," Locke answers. "About one hour before I left home."
Lil's eyes widen as she looks over to him and says, "But your dad must've been furious! What did he say?"
"That I was no longer his son for fraternizing with a Half-Elf and a Dragonborn behind his back for so many years. I graciously took that as a sign that I could leave Illias and start my journey with you."
Lil's gaze saddens as she asks, "What happened after he said that?"
"Not much," replies Locke. "I went to my room, retrieved my essentials, bid a tearful farewell to my mother and Zelsa before I left. My father wouldn't even look at me as I left. He just slammed the door behind me."
"Then where did you sleep those two nights before we left?" She suddenly looks away and with a frown says, "You should have told me. There was room in my house."
"Well, you know that alley behind your house?" Locke asks.
Lil raises an eyebrow before looking back at him, "Um. . . yes?"
"I made camp there," He announced. "I felt I had some company there with you not too far away, and besides – the drunkards who stumbled back from the tavern after closing time made their way down that way every night and they were always good for a laugh."
Lil frowns again, snapping, "You still should have told me! Besides, that's just creepy."
"Sorry," Locke says apologetically. "But my mother told me the next day that she and Zelsa couldn't plead my quarry to the old man as he felt I stepped too far over the mark. They miss me, but sadly my mother stands by him, which I can understand. I don't want my mother or my sister out on the streets like I was! You're really the closest thing I have to family now – you and Akorinn, and maybe. . . your mother?"
Lil thinks for a moment before grinning and stating, "Well, the day I told my mother we were leaving, she said you were cute and that I should settle down with you! Isn't that a laugh?"
Locke's eyes widen for a moment before he asks, "Does that means she likes me? After everything I used to put you through when we were little, she actually has something positive to say about me?"
"I know it isn't something that you're used to, but my mother is forgiving. She recognized that you were my friend and that you would never hurt me – and so she accepted you."
"That eases the pain somewhat," Locke quietly says as he looks up at the ceiling of the tree house. "When this is all said and done, and we go back home, I hope Akorinn's still in town. I suppose I would have to make my abode there. . . if I even decide to go back."
Lil's eyes widen is surprise as she inquires with a somber tone, "You mean, you're not coming back with me?"
"Don't worry; I'm just considering all my options," Locke replies. "Thinking out loud, I s'pose. I dunno; I just always thought there was more to life than Illias Upon The Sea, and if there really is and I find it – maybe I'll stay there. You could always find it with me and stay there with me."
"You know," she begins quietly, "I've always thought the same thing. Despite my mother wanting me to come back, if we find a better place – then I would be happy to stay there with you."
"We could open up a school of our own," Locke says with a chuckle. "We could take some foolhardy or misguided children in and teach them some discipline through the ways of Warriors and Magic, and to live off the land like Akorinn does. It's a better prospect than working in some dumb old mine."
Lilanei rolls her eyes and smiles, "Or working in a general store."
Locke lets out a laugh, before finally asking, "Speaking of the old lizard. Did your mother ever meet Akorinn?"
Lil remains quiet in thought for a moment before responding, "I really don't know. She always threatened to chase the 'old lizard' down and turn him into a pair of lizard-skin shoes, but I think she just did it to make herself feel better."
"If she doesn't like him, how is it she wasn't furious with you for learning under him and learning with me? And why wasn't she sore with you for leaving?"
"She didn't like that I was training to be an adventurer under him, but that didn't mean she didn't like him or you," she pauses with a hint of a smile before continuing, "and plus, I think she may have been the same when she was my age."
"Makes sense," Locke answers. "Heh, my old man was nothing like me. He was raised with a firm hand and grew into the shadow of his father – the harsh but hard working man he is. I would actually admire his no nonsense, hard working attitude, but his prejudices towards other races and his narrow mindedness to everything that isn't done his way drives me up the wall. Because his mother stayed at home and took care of him and his six siblings, he felt my mother shouldn't pursue what she wanted to do and instead stay home to make sure everything is right in the house and take care of Zelsa."
"Well, at least he wanted to make sure you were well taken care of. I suppose that may have been one good thing about it," Lil replies.
"Yeah," sighs Locke. "You know, if we ever do go back to Illias, I'm going to make my old man sit down with your mother and order him to make peace with her. If we can survive the unknown of this harsh world that we never saw beyond the Grotto, then surely that could say to him and all other ignorant peasants of the town that different races can prosper and survive together."
Lil simply stares ahead, taking in what Locke has said. Locke's gaze meets her eyes for a few moments before he then turns his head and looks back towards the statue of Adiel. He runs his fingers through his long hair before he begins to fully lie down against the pillows.
"This has been a most entertaining conversation. We should do it more often."
Lil gives a small smile as she glances over at Locke who has now laid down.
"I agree," She perks.
"So tomorrow," Locke begins, "we'll make our way to the desert and find that walking shoe-and-pouch supply and slay it to bring the life back to this village. Let's make a pact – we come back together, or we don't come back at all."
Lil nods, now smiling widely, "It's a deal."
"Okay," Locke says as he begins to close his eyes. "For now, I'm going to get some rest. Goodnight, Lilanei."
"Goodnight, Locke."
With his eyes shut and his body resting on his side, Locke rolls over, rolling further into the cushions so that his body may be comfortable during his slumber. He lets out a small sigh before he curls up slightly and begins to drift off into a deep sleep. Lil, watching him fall asleep for a few brief moments, finally curls up against her own cushions, giving her hand a slight wave which instantly snuffs the candles which light the room – blanketing it in darkness.
It is not long after that the sun dawns on a new day. After their peaceful rest, our Heroes feel more powerful and rejuvenated than ever. They are met precisely at dawn by Esraniel, and after quickly gathering their things, they make haste to the Tuli Desert. The journey is long as they trek through the thick growth of the forest and as the temperature begins to raise slightly. Soon the trees become scarcer and scarcer, as they find themselves no longer in the forest but in a grassy and hot savanna. Fortunately for our Heroes, the savanna is not vast, and soon they come to the edge of its limits – the grass ending rapidly and instead replaced by a fine, light brown sand.
"I fear that this as far as I may take you for now. I cannot with good conscience leave my village alone for much longer and must make haste to return and guard it. Fear not, however, as your journey to Anole's lair is almost complete."
"Well, expect us back at Adiel's just in time for dinner tonight," Locke says with a wink. "Tell your sister after she no longer resembles a tombstone that I'll have double helpings of whatever it was you made for us last night."
Lil elbows him in the side, although more gently than usual, "Ignore my friend; he's a bit of a moron. But in any case, how do we reach the Basilisk's lair?"
Esra nods as she explains, "Our people in the past had set up a system of wooden markers which lead just outside its lair. We had hoped that the markers would warn anybody passing by about Anole's lair and would prevent another attack like the one long ago. Now they can guide you to finally slay the beast.'
"Anole, eh?" Locke notes. "What a name. But it's always good to know the names of my enemies before I slay them. It always gives me a chance to think up some witty material to say as they die."
As Locke rambles on, Esra and Lilanei hold their own conversation.
Esra speaks, "Take this, Lil. When you have slain the beast, you may collect its blood with this vial."
She then cups Lil's right hand in her own as she gently places a glass vial in her hand. Lilanei gives her a reassuring smile.
"We'll do our best."
"We'll see you soon, Esra," Locke says to the elf, giving her a polite smile and wave as he notices she is about to take her leave. She bids our Heroes farewell and then quickly darts off, disappearing into the waves of hear emitted by the savanna behind them. On their own, they must now traverse the Tuli Desert.
As the two begin their venture into the humid desert, Lilanei soon stops in her tracks, hands resting on her knees as she pants heavily. Locke only notices she has stopped when he looks over his shoulder to see her standing motionless.
He walks back over to Lil, places his hands on her shoulder before pulling her upright, and looks at her eyes before asking, "Are you alright? Is the heat getting to you?"
Lil simply nods, suddenly too overcome by the heat to properly respond.
"I know the heat's awful," Locke begins. "But listen to me. We came here with a job to do, and we've got to see it through. One way or another, you've got to carry on and that Basilisk must be slain. You'll feel better once we get under the shade of its lair. Can you keep going?"
Gaining strength from his words, Lil gives a quick nod before reaching into her bag for her waterskin and then taking a large swig of the water inside; with an exasperated sigh, she finally answers, "Okay. Let's keep going."
Slowly but surely, step by step, Locke and Lilanei continue on their way through the desert – their feet kicking up large doses of sand which swirl around wildly and take snake like forms as they wisp in the desert wind. They shelter their eyes with their forearms and press on, determined that the only time they will turn back is when they return with the blood of Anole. The wind bellows, and now with each second, the wind becomes stronger and stronger, picking up more sand that their feet kick off the ground – until the wind becomes so strong that it begins to pick up the sand off the desert floor under its own power. Locke and Lilanei's sense of hearing becomes distorted by the deafening howl of the wind as their vision begins to deteriorate from the sand that wildly flies around them; they have unwittingly found themselves in the middle of a sandstorm.
Having passed just one of the Elven warning signs and approaching another, our Heroes continue before they notice something strange in the distance. A few shadows seem to dance in the heat waves of the desert just about fifty feet in front of them.
"THIS SANDSTORM ISN'T CEASING!" Locke bellows, trying to make himself heard over the gale force wind. "WE NEED TO FIND SHELTER, AND FAST!"
Lil screams back as she looks ahead, "YEAH, BUT―"
Suddenly she cuts herself off as the sandstorm begins to slowly die down until it is merely but a whistle, blowing a trivial amount of sand past their faces. During this time, the shadows continue to dance ahead of them, seemingly growing closer.
"Did you do that?" Locke pants, grateful that the sand storm has dissipated.
Lil frowns as she shakes some of the sand from her hair, "You know I don't have that kind of power. It must have just ended."
"Well, thank goodness for that!" Locke says with a sigh before he announces, now paying full attention to what's ahead of him. "Hey, what is it with those shadows?"
Lil squints, cupping her hands over her eyes as she looks straight ahead in the blaring sun, "Is it just me or do they look like they're moving?"
"It's not just you," Locke announces in a grim tone.
Our Heroes stand poised for a few moments, and suddenly with a gasp, Lil exclaims, "They're coming right for us!"
Before our Heroes can run or hide, four creatures appear just over the distance above a nearby sand dune. They are two decrepit old skeletons and two vicious Troglodytes. The creatures immediately spot our heroes and begin a quick rush toward them. The armoured Troglodyte in the pair slowly steps to the right a couple of paces before slowly making its way down toward our Heroes. The second Troglodyte, clad in a brown loin cloth, follows suit, instead moving in the opposite direction of his ally. A one-armed skeleton then begins to move forward, making its way around one of the warning posts.
Immediately noticing that they're being surrounded, Locke quickly reaches for his crossbow and pulls an arrow out of his quiver, surprised now to notice that he now has ten extra arrows from his previous encounter. Wasting no time in wondering how the arrows got there, Locke loads his crossbow, and once the arrow is clicked and locked into place, Locke aims the arrow at the one-armed skeleton and fires it – sending the arrow flying towards the creature's head. The arrow cuts through the wind as it makes its way towards the skeleton's head; however the arrow begins to sway until it starts to go into a tailspin and simply flies away from the area as it is caught in a heavy gust of wind.
"Darn!" Locke cries. "This wind is too unpredictable to use any arrows in it!"
Lil, seeing Locke's arrow thwarted by the desert wind, is undeterred as she takes aim at the one-armed skeleton as well, holding her palm forth as she begins to chant. Suddenly, her hand palm begins to glow, and without notice a silvery bolt of forceful magic shoots directly from her hand, colliding directly with the skeleton's torso. The bolt of magic engulfs the skeleton for a moment causing it to turn into a black silhouette as the silver energy entirely engulfs its body. The magic then begins to die down, the skeleton's form simply shivering and then disappearing as it turns to dust that blows away in the wind.
Unmoved by its ally's destruction, the second skeleton makes his way forth, sand dribbling from its half shattered skull. He slowly approaches Locke, drawing his long sword and preparing for a deadly slash for his face. However, as he swings the sword down to take a slash at Locke's face, he shifts his weight into his right foot and leans to the side, causing the sword to swipe past him. Both the lightly armoured and brown-clothed Troglodytes then continue to approach our Heroes – their reptilian forms struggling slightly with the deep sand which therefore causes their speed to be diminished. While they struggle, Locke withdraws his sickle, the blade of which glints in the harsh sun, before he makes an attempted strike at the remaining skeleton – making a sideways slash for the skeleton's vertebrae. However, as he makes his move, sand is kicked up from the ground into his eyes by the wind, causing him to stumble back as he wipes his eyes with his finger, trying to expel it.
Lilanei, wanting to aid her partner, unsheathes her dagger as she dives forth towards the skeleton and takes a sideswiping slash at its head. The blade of her dagger flies into the remaining half of the skeleton's skull, piercing it, and on impact the skull simply shatters as if it were made of weak, dry clay. As a result, the rest of its body begins to shatter and turns to dust in a domino-like effect. By this time both of the Troglodytes have made their way to our Heroes, each creature flanking a different adventurer. The lightly armoured Troglodyte strikes first, attempting to slam into Lil with a swing of its massive club. Seeing the Troglodyte prepare its assault by drawing the weapon back, Lil guesses what the Troglodyte is about to attempt and simply leans backwards, allowing the club to swing in front of her and catching nothing but sand against its wooden body. Meanwhile, its brown-clothed ally makes his own attempted swing at Locke, thrusting its club downwards with both hands in an attempt to make a blow at his head, but likewise, Locke is able to determine its attack and simply evades it. Our Heroes, now back-to-back and facing their respective adversaries, begin to notice a distinct aroma.
Lil shrieks, "Ugh! What is that smell?"
"Well, considering it smells like something that has died or hasn't bathed in countless years, I'd say it was our scaly friends here!" Locke answers. "And Lord, do they ever pong!"
Lil turns her head quickly to look over at Locke behind her, "Well hurry up and kill it, before I start tasting my breakfast again!"
Locke complies, tightly grasping his sickle as he draws his arm back. His elbow brushing back against Lil's side, he violently extends his arm and thrusts the sickle forwards, allowing the tip of the curved blade to pierce the brown-clothed creature's chest, and with a loud puncture, black blood spurts from the hole in its chest – Locke obviously striking the Troglodyte in its, no doubt, black heart. The Troglodyte does not shriek, nor does it emit any sign of pain; instead it simply begins to dribble black blood from its mouth as it falls to the sandy ground, dead.
Lil, extremely disgusted by the smell emitted from the Troglodite in front, grits her teeth as she grips her dagger tightly, and placing her palm against the end of the handle, gives it a hard push forwards, attempting to stab straight into the Troglodyte's chest. However, this time Lil is subject to the desert's unforgiving ways as sand now flies into her eyes, causing her calculated strike to swing wildly as she misses the Troglodyte. Her blade simply points up towards the sky before she drops it to her side and begins to claw the sand from her eyes. A deep chuckle emits from the evil reptile's snout before the young woman. He makes no hesitation as he once again swings his club at Lil, who is too busy clawing at her eyes to defend herself.
During this time, Locke has turned to see Lilanei miss her attack, due to being blinded. His eyes widen as she fumbles around on the spot, trying to get the sand out of her eyes while the Troglodyte attempts to deal his comrade a heavy blow. Without thinking, Locke shoves Lilanei to the left, now coming into the range of the club. He dismisses it by cupping his hands together, allowing the club to land in his palms. His arms shake slightly as his muscles tighten and struggle to comply with what he wants to do. Finally, with a burst of strength, Locke throws the club up into the air, causing the Troglodyte to stumble back a step from the shove. Locke takes his sickle from its sheathe once again, and as the Troglodyte stumbles, Locke thrusts the sickle forth. Despite his calculated thrust, his strike misses as the Troglodyte has stepped back a bit too far, causing Locke to almost fall from imbalance – but he quickly regains his footing and returns to a defensive position.
Finally clearing the sand from her eyes and realizing what has just occurred, Lil rushes at the Troglodyte's side with a growl, attempting to stab it with her blade; but, as she charges at the Troglodyte, she accidentally catches her foot under the sword that one of the skeletons had been wielding, causing her to fall face first into the sand which she now begins to spit out of her mouth. Noticing a very vulnerable woman lying on the ground, the Troglodyte thrusts his club into the air as he holds it with both hand, and with all of the strength that it can muster, attempts to slam the club down onto the back of Lil's head. As he prepares to deal Lil another attempted blow, Locke simply rushes forth once again and barges the Troglodyte in the side with his shoulder, forcing it back another step. Locke then takes his sickle and attempts to jab it into the side of the Troglodyte's throat. Again, however, the creature evades the strikes by stumbling out of the way of the blow. As Locke makes his attempted attack, Lil makes her way up to her knees before she notices the action going on in front of her.
Now thoroughly frustrated with herself, she makes one last attempt to stab the Troglodyte with her dagger from her kneeling position. The dagger cuts the air before landing in its target – the Troglodyte's lower abdominal area which houses its intestines. With its intestines pierced, septicemia quickly sets in and that, combined with the shock and utter pain of the wound, causes the Troglodyte to drop to the sandy ground slowly as its body goes into shock and spasms wildly, before it finally dies.
"Good shot," Locke says to Lil before he offers her his hand to help her up. Lilalei gives Locke her hand and once his hand tightly grips hers, Locke exerts some strength and pulls Lil up to her feet.
Lil swipes the dust from her knees as she says, "I just couldn't bear the smell of that thing any longer."
"Ha, well, I suspect the smells will only get worse from here. That may have been a guardian of Anole. If that's bad, what's Anole going to smell like?" Locke asks.
Lilanei sticks her tongue out from her mouth as she pretends to gag, "I don't want to think about it."
"I don't blame you," Locke answers with a smile before he turns his head and looks towards the horizon which they must follow to make it to the Basilisk's lair. "Anole's lair is yonder. Let's make haste."
With a nod, Lil follows Locke through the desert. Although hot and difficult, their journey does not last much longer as they eventually reach the final sign post.
Upon reading it, Locke announces, "Beware! The Basilisk of the Stony Glare, Anole, rests within the cave. Dare not enter, lest ye desire an early grave."
"Well," Lil begins. "That definitely sounds like our Basilisk."
"It does indeed," Locke agrees with a grin of determination. "Now, let's go in there, drag that thing out here, and make it know who its masters are. Let's turn that sucker into a new pair of boots!"
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