User blog:Olatheij/The Ballad of Calice - Chapter 2

(Currently being edited)

Calice didn't remember much from last night. His mind was too busy melting in the hold of the mindflayer to make any lasting memories. When he is not having sex with her, she is serving as a maid to her as she got him ready for him to make the journey to Royal Makai. First things first, she had to get him on board, somewhat using a few of her tricks to bend his mindset.

Just a few.

After a week of this cycle of sex, food, and mind easing, he agreed to go to Royal Makai during the afternoon of the 5th day. The mindflyer smiled, satisfied with her work of fully convincing him. After another quick round of intercourse, They packed his essential belongings, his tools, his clothing, his favorite books. But most importantly and sentimental, the necklace with the order emblem, and a framed picture of his past to always remember. The mindflayer warned against it, saying it was not wise to bring an orderite necklace into a demonic territory. Still, Calice stashed it in the corner of his woredrobe chest despite warnings of it being destroyed, or corrupted. After he had packed everything, he closed his suitcase and went outside of his house, looking at his place one last time before most likely leaving it forever. "Are you set? If we go now we can make it to the first part of our journey by sundown," Said the mindflayer, waiting by the carriage that will take them. He nodded, pushing his chest along the ground and lifting it onto the back of the carriage with a grunt. He still couldn't believe he had agreed to such a journey as the one that was laid out before him.

Since the war between factions was still ongoing, the best and safest way to go was along the coast of Zipangu, then taking a shortcut through the sea straight to the collection of demon realms past the mist. Coincidentally, this route also took them near some important, already established places that could easily be visited along the way. As the unicorn pulling the carriage yawned and start pulling it along. For one creature, it was strong enough to trot along leisurely as the carriage was towed along behind her. He watched his house as it got smaller in distance, fading into the backdrop of the trees that began to fill his vision. "Aren't you excited? You see less enthusiastic than I would think you would be," the mindflayer said as she looked at the woods along with him. "You know, I had a family once. A lethal bunch, they were. Especially my father. He was the best abyssal creature I ever knew. I was pretty sad when I had to leave, but I was happy to, because I was on a new adventure, with a new oppurtunity."

"I probably don't even have a family to count on for support," Calice said, turning around and slouching in the chair. "My father was pretty fine with me going out on my own, but with all the letters I've sent them, they probably think I'm dead at this point. I don't blame them; I would think that I is dead to if I kept getting things talking of how he was in danger."

"Well, you have me for support, right?" She offered, holding her hands out in a hug. He shrugged, turning to his side to stare out at the scenery that they pasted on the dirt road. Time flew by as he got lost in his thoughts, some out of sheer boredom, and others out of uncertainty. He didn't notice anything happening around him until he saw sand pass his eyes, taking a moment to register the new sight.

He asked as he looked around now confused how they had gotten so far, when in reality he had just been in his own head for a lonng while. They were right beside an empty beach that the path they were on came on to. The sound of a carriage going along sand and slightly rougher gravel replaced the silence that was here before. Soon after that sound started, the carriage suddenly came to a slow halt. "What happened Bella?" The mindflayer said as she hopped out and moved beside the unicorn. "This place leads into the Mist. We were supposed to turn here right?" Bella responded, pointing to the land beyond. "You're right, the general aura changes here. Calice!"

"Yes?" He said, hopping out and walking up beside the two mamono. "A priest with a mermaid tail will be here for you if you wait here with the carriage. I must take this unicorn here through the mist so she isn't kidnapped by some humans or dark elves."

"Wait, what if someone kidnaps me?" Calice asked, worried about being stranded on a beach alone. "You have survived up to this point. Between your memories and the fact that you still have the knife from when I first met you hiding on your person, I am sure you can handle yourself. Sadly, I will not be able to see if you are alive or not after."

"You're leaving!?"

"Yes Calice, but if you make it to Makai, we can be together again! Or me, you, and a wife if you get one." She winked and started walking, taking Bella the unicorn with her. Dumbfounded, Calice watched as the Mindflayered walked away into the plains. He did has he was told, fiddling with the stuff in his chest as he waited for the mermaid priest to show up. Rainclouds started blowing in overhead as he re-sorted hiss stuff for the 5th time and played with the crab-girls. Faster than the clouds came, rain started poring down on the shore line and he had to retreat into the still carriage, taking his stuff in with him and getting in the main compartment. He let the two cancer that he hung out with in too so they could stay dry as well. They all huddled together on the floor of the carriage, the muffled rumble of thunder and pitter patter of rain making for a soothing noise to fall asleep too.

He woke up to knocking on the door of the door of the carriage. Yawning, he crawled out from the pile of crabs and opened the door, letting it swing open. A blue-haired woman was "standing" in front of him on her matching blue tail. Fins came out from her waist and wrists, the beginnings of each hidden by her white uniform jacket. In her hands, she was holding a slab of stone that had writing on it's surface. "Are you the Priest that the mindflayer was talking about?" Calice asked.

"Yes, but I will prefer it if you call me a Bishop instead if you won't ask for my name," she said, pointing to the shore. "I have gotten permission to take you through the ocean to meet up the your normal escort." She said. "It will be a long journey, so we will be making a quick stop into atlantis to recoup your energy, then we will continue on our way. Would that be fine sir?"

Yes, but I can't breath underwater, and my stuff will get wet, and-"

"No worries, all those problems will be taken care of if it helps. Now let's go shall we?" She said. He nodded and came outside yawning. The rain had stopped, the clouds just hanging overhead now. Calice followed the Bishop back to shore, pulling his chest along with a bit of struggle. "For us to travel, we also must give you the fins of a merman, unless you happened to have swimwear and fins and flippers."

<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">"Don't have that really..." Calice replyed, stopping once he felt water brush along his shoes. "Then we must do a tome ritual to morph you for travel," If you would just undress, then we can get started...

<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">as they both got up and walked up to the sandy beach. A few crab girls were playing and waved to them as the approached the water. Calice waved back then realized something. "Wait, what is your name?"

<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">"That is irrelevant to you or whoever is watching this, but you can call me whatever you want," She said smiling. As if on cue, a Sea Bishop came and welcomed them. After exchanging greetings and chatting for a while, the Bishop agreed to help Calice breath under water. "By the way, it would involve quite a lot of energy to pull it off," She said giggling as the mindflyer and bishop looked at Calice. He looked back, confused about what was about to happen. The Bishop noticed this and took out a scroll. "Beforehand, I would have taken blood or something, but now...we mostly get our power through intimacy," She said. The Mindflyer was already moving her tentacles inside his ears and calming him. "I think he doesn't mind now."

<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">"Great! The let's begin..."

<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">They swam under the ocean, Calice now having small fins on his arms and legs, pointy ears, webbed feet and hands, and blue pupils instead of his usual brown. The explored the seafloor interacting with everyone there, the mindflyer trying to show him the good parts about all the new creatures, and the healthy relationships everyone was in. He got to drink milk from an Aspara, Help some mamono with some inconveniences, and even pat a mimic on her head. They did this for hours, going around and exploring everywhere. Eventually, this lead them to the edge of the abyss where the famous demons of chaos resided. "Oooh," He said, peering over the edge into the darkness. He looked for a while, then saw three sets of giant eyes look back at him, causing him to jump back a few feet. "Don't worry Calice, that's just my masters saying hi," the mindflyer said, waving down. "Didn't they wage an ent-tire war?" He responded, clearly distraught.

<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">"Yes, they did. That's why they are now stuck in the abyss," The sea bishop responded, patting Calice's head. "Now, we go to our last spot. You see, I rank a little higher than most bishops, high enough to be in Poseidon's castle."

<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">"Wait, you mean..."

<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">"I do mean that," she trailed off, swim off in the direction of the god herself, the mindflyer and Calice following behind.

<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">The castle looked grand, surrounded by underwater gardens and towers. as they swam to the entrance, armored Nereids blocked their passage with spears. "Who goes there?" They asked the trio. The bishop came forward and nodded to each one of them, getting them to lower their spears and allow them to pass. Pass they did, Calice getting kissed at least twice by each of them before finally being let go. As the entered the hall, all the maids and male servants immediately bowed, saying welcome as the walking through the entrance corridor. They then went up the levels, seeing more and more of the castle until reaching the top - Where Poseidon resides.

<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">"I'm getting nervous again," Calice said stopping right before entering the room. The mindflyer smiles and put her small tendrils in his ears. "Sssh, you will do great. Now, let us go," She said, holding his hand as they walked into the room, seeing Poseidon seated on her throne, surrounded by more Nereid and Undine guards. "The famous blacksmith, he arrives. Did you enjoy the tour?" She asked, patting her lap as a sudden rush of water took him into the goddess' arms, seating him on her lap. The bishop and mindflyer simply smiled and left the room. "I heard that you were still unsure about traveling to the heart of our new kingdom," She said softly as he nodded in response, the sheer power airing from her making him wanting to cower and kneel in her presence. She noticed this and hugged him. "It's ok blacksmith, I am no longer the god I used to be, nor the mythical creatures from my kingdom that have tried to hurt you. One of them is here right now," She finished, pointing to one of the Undine. She Wore purple armor instead of the blue he usually saw and had a particular golden crest on her chest. The same one that one of his clients lost when he died in a fight. "I'm sorry for trying to kill you that time ago. I just got so upset when I heard you were the one who made the powerful thing..." She simply bowed her head and kneeled to him.

<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">"I, in particular, had my servants request special items made by you. To this day I'm satisfied, and surprised at the small cost." Calice finally relaxed in her embrace, those words of praise of his work seeming to calm him. "Thank you Poseidon," He responded.

<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">"Glad you are more relaxed now because before you go, I have a special request for you." She clapped her hands as a smaller throne and a large case was laid in front of the throne. "I was thinking of a new design for our clothing and my trident, and I wanted you to take a gander at it. As common of your request, everything and more is in the case." He went to the box and looked inside, seeing shiny lapiz-colored fabric(if not made of lapiz) and the golden disassembled pieces of a god-worth trident. He looked at everything, smiling brightly, then looked back.

<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">The goddess caught on immediately. "As much time as you need, and every one of your requests would be tended to by the staff." He simply swam up and hugged her. "I would be honored to, your highness."

<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">"Honor is all mine. In fact, if you don't mind you will be working in the Coliseum. Your presence here had attracted an audience. Of course, your off-work time would be kept private."

<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">"No, I don't mind at a-"

<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">"Great!"

<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Suddenly, there was a flash and boom of thunder as he closed his eyes and covered and closed his eyes. When he opened them, he saw that he was in the center of a large stadium. the seats were slowly being filled with spectators, mostly underwater creatures with their husbands and children. He kept looking around, then seeing a set of seats a different color. "I wonder what those a-"

<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Suddenly, the sound of cheering rapidly filled the cavernous area. The red seats were starting to be filled by the gods themselves. Poseidon in lead, followed by Hel, Bastet, and lastly the fallen god. After them, four seated, some lower deities and high powered mamono leaders started filling the seats. He just stood in silence as they all sat and looked at him while conversing with each other. At last, Poseidon's voice boomed through the stadium.

<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">"I know you seem confused, but one does not simply be acknowledged by the Demon Lord herself and expect nothing else to happen. We have all gathered here today to watch you try your hand at more godly material. You may begin at once."

<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">With that, all noise stopped as thousands of eyes all stared at Calice, eager to see how such quality is produced. He started sweating from the nervousness, especially from the stares of everyone's expectations. Hoping no one will see, he took out his necklace from his pocket and stared at it, being called down by it reminding him of pleasant childhood memories. Now calm, he put the necklace back and opened the box. Inside were the disassembled parts of the trident, the golden metal pieces already shaped but needed to be connected together. He took one out and tossed experimentally and softy, and was surprised when it floated like there was no gravity. He took another piece that looked they fit together. They snapped together like magnets and sealed with a blue glow, looking like it was one piece the entire time and not apart. Whispers started going through the crowd, words like "Worthy" and "Amazing" going about. He didn't get it but he kept looking and found materials for a dress fit for a God.

<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">"Hmm..." Suddenly, a light bulb went off in his head. He gathered all the pieces and tossed them up, letting them float around in the stadium. He then started swimming and zipping around, connecting each of the spreading apart pieces as he flew by faster and faster. Finally, he had one last piece to attach. He kicked as hard as he could at Poseidon herself, then flew after it. Gasps and screams went among the crowd as it flew straight for her face, her eyes widening a little as it got closer and closer. As it was within 5 feet of impact and still going fast, Calice suddenly had caught up and reached the trident out, it's incomplete middle prong closest to the piece. The flying piece suddenly stopped an inch from her nose and started gliding back to the trident, snapping into place as the entire staff started glowing brightly in his hands. Eventually, it grew down, now showing a gem-encrusted trident in perfect form.

<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">"Your trident, my lord," He said, presenting it to her and kneeling as much as he could while hovering in water. The crowd went wild with applaud and relief as Poseidon took it and place it beside her, unfazed. "Thank you for the show. And the close call..." She trailed off as Calice looked around, starting to see guards watching from secret positions, ready to attack if that piece as even so much as booped her. "Thank you," he said, going back and creating the dress afterward. After, the show ended, with him staying in the castle for the night before continuing in the morning. He had dinner in the dining hall, talking and chatting happily with the staff before going to bed and falling asleep, ready for the next day...