EFB Book 5: Chapter 69
Book 5: Chapter 69
Book 5: Chapter 69
Mr. Skelly stood in the middle of a square. He was stroking his chin with his right hand, his left hand resting on his hip bone. Ahead of him, there was a cage with a pale man inside of it. Along with the pale man, there was a woman wearing black armor. The pale mans arms were outstretched, clawing at the woman, but the womans gauntleted hand was on the mans neck, holding him firmly in place. The woman raised her free hand and swung. There was a crisp slapping soundlike a slab of beef dropped onto a cutting board. Bloody marks were left on the pale mans face, and his arms dropped to his sides. His legs went limp, and his head lolled backwards. The armored woman released her grip on the mans neck, and he dropped to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut.
What are you doing!?
Mr. Skelly and the woman in the cage turned their heads towards the direction of the shout. The woman stepped out of the cage, leaving the door open behind her, and placed her hands on her hips. Mr. Skelly jogged over to the newcomer. Alice! he said. There was a clunking sound, the one his skull made when it detached from his spinal cord.
Alice lowered her outstretched hand, her fingers still curled up into a fist. No matter how desperate you are, you cant recruit people to kill these berserkers for you! She glared at the woman in black armor. And you, Mary, just because youre strong doesnt mean you can kill people without consequences. I might not be able to do anything to you, but that doesnt mean Vur cant.
Mr. Skellys body turned around and walked towards his skull. He spoke while his head was still on the ground. I think youre misunderstanding something, Alice. She didnt kill the berserker; she cured him.
Alice turned towards the cage. The pale person inside looked very much dead. His body was crumpled up, and from what she could tell, there werent any movements: his chest didnt move up or down indicating he was still breathing, and his limbs didnt twitch. A dark expression appeared on Alices face. Killing sick people and turning them undead is not curing them.
Mr. Skelly picked up his skull and twisted it back on. Thats not what happened, he said and glanced at the cage. It certainly looks like it, but Mary here was helping us cure these people with her anti-magic abilities. It turns out they were berserking because of a magical spell.
Mary nodded. I thought the undead were imprisoning these people, but after I freed them from their cages, I realized I was wrong. As an apology for disassembling so many skeletons, Im helping them cure people.
Alice furrowed her brow. She walked over to the cage and crouched down, taking a closer look at the pale man inside. No matter what angle she looked at him from, he seemed to be dead. She frowned and reached her hand between the bars of the cell, placing her fingers on the mans neck. There was a pulse. Alice exhaled and retracted her hand before glaring at Mary. Cant you cure them in a less violent way? Anyone would misunderstand if they saw what I saw.
Youre not going to apologize for punching my skull off? Mr. Skelly asked with a grin.
Alice blinked. And you think Vur will just let you do that?
Mary snorted. I dont need Vurs permission to do anything.
If you say so, Alice said and glanced at Mr. Skelly. The skeleton didnt look like he was going to say anything. Just make sure all the berserkers are dispelled before you embark on what may be the last adventure of your life.
I was already going to do that, Mary said and wrinkled her nose. I dont need you telling me what to do either.
***
I dont think its a good idea for you to fight with your mom in front of Ramon, Leila said and placed her paw on Grimmys head. White light flickered from her scales, illuminating the cursed dragons face. There were two bumps on his head, but when the light shone on them, they retracted. What if he learns from you and fights me? I dont have the heart to beat him like your mother beat you.
She didnt beat me, Grimmy said and snorted. I let her win on purpose. I saw how disappointed Ramon looked when it seemed like I was going to win. He glanced to the side where Ramon was bouncing Kozabokget up and down with his snout. If a world-ending disaster happens because of that goat, Im not going to lift a single claw to help.
Leila lowered her paw and nuzzled Grimmys neck. Dont be like that, she said. Do you really want our children to live in a destroyed world?
Were living on a destroyed continent now, arent we? Grimmy asked and raised an eyebrow. Dont you think the peace and quiet is pretty nice?
Leila rolled her eyes. You know what I meant.