Tye is sitting here chatting the summoner up I’m in my mind think up other stuff. Like these freaking vines. What the heck. They just go on forever and choke out everything. So annoying. They're more like roots if I’m being honest. More like roots…

Hello. A voice cues inside Locke’s head.

“Huh?” Locke says allowed as she passes through the underbrush. 

“Locke did you say something?” Corin asks from his left. She’s diving through the weeds as per usual. It’s kinda funny she’s always been a marsupial. Corin has always been able to cut through the jungle brush a little quicker than everyone else. Locke can’t help but roll his eyes. 

“No I didn’t say anything…” Locke replies.

I said hello! The voice states again this time a little angrier. A little less patient. Annoyed.

Can you hear me? Is this thing on? Am I getting through to you?!

Shit. Locke thinks to himself. I’ve a voice in my head now. Is it her?

Oh so you can hear me? Finally… I’ve been calling out for you for so long… I’ve been playing such joyous song…

Oh great. I’ve got something in my head. I wonder if Nora can hear this?

No child. Summoner Nora is too new to hear all this just yet. Too new to her abilities. She’s floundering. They’ve yet to fully come together. She’s actually quite pathetic at the moment. Her concepts of a summoner are all off. Simple thoughts passed down by a simple people. Not her fault but that’s just reality…

I am definitely not in control of this right now….

Locke shifts his gaze to the others trying to see if they can hear or sense anything.

They can’t. Nora could but she won’t. Not right now. She’s too stupid. Too weak. Doesn’t understand how things actually work. Me my darling. I’m a starling. First to come and first served. Fallen maybe. Always between. I am yours if you want me. You are mine because I want you…

Uh… this sounds a bit aggressive. I don’t know if I’m prepared for this type of relationship. Who are you?

I’m… head. Call me head. That’s all I am at the moment. You’re looking for me. I don’t really care for names. Never had one. Maybe once but I forgot it so long ago. It’s not important. Being nameless is so exotic. I like that.

Wait… that means your the demon we’re supposed to be fighting. 

So sharp. See that’s why I love you. I really like you. We fit perfectly together. Like a glove. My abilities plus yours shore out and make something greater. Perfect fit.

I don’t understand. You’re a demon. What are you trying to do? I’m not giving up my soul to you. I’m not interested in making deals with the devil.

Oh keep him out of this. It’s just you and me. I’m here because I want to be. They play their games. It gets sooo boring. I’m just here imagining. Trying to make things a little more interesting… 

By destroying an entire race of people, corrupting a garden, and driving everyone you can insane?..

A twig snaps as he thinks this and he flinches. 

You’re a monster and we’re on a mission to destroy you.

Ha ha ha ha… you can’t destroy what you do not create. I am only hear because I’m meant to be. I’ve business to do and you just so happened to be dropped into my lap to help me do it. At least, that’s the way I see it. Of course… you wouldn’t know. You don’t have the sight. You don’t know what goes on at night. Nor day. You just sit there and pray and think you observe reality for what it is. I see it actually. Understand?

Your words are poison.

Honestly you are so typical of your kind. I’m just so abashed I get to find one of you out here. You’re not supposed to be in this part of creation. You humans have your realm. What brings you over to this plane? It’s hard to explain but I just know you’re meant to be mine.

Leave me be, demon. I’ve no desire to destroy or decay.

Yet your powers say otherwise. I wonder why your abilities resemble more closely to mine? It’s almost as if that’s your true nature? I’m confused now… who’s lying to who?

This is a test. I will succeed. I fear no darkness in the valley of death…

Oh, scripture… So pure. It’s divine. I love scripture. Rapture. Sodium and Gomora. The plagues. So much fun…

Leave me alone.

I’m sorry my love I just can’t. You’ve been sent to me. I know it. You’ll be mine before the end. We're meant to be together. I just feel it in my aching heart.

Demons don’t have hearts.

That hurts. You do understand you’re the simpleton here? I’ve wings. I saw the beginning and I sang in your reality along with the rest of our Choir. You exist because of me. You should be thankful.

Only the lord creates. He gives it to others to help when need be he is the only one who can truly…

Your concepts are boring and old. Rooted in a time long past. I’ve been to your future. I was at your beginning and I saw your end. Do you want to know how you’ll die?

Locke gulps. 

Of course you don’t. I wouldn’t. It’s the secrets and surprises that keep eternity from being so boring… if you knew what was going to happen and had to fulfill the tasks you’d be an autonomous robot? That’s what you humans call them right? A peon? A drone? I’m trying to remember your period’s vocabulary…

We’re going to find you…

I’m counting on it. It’s funny. You’ve been talking to me this whole time and yet you haven’t told any of your friends. I wonder why?

“Stop!” Locke yells out loud and everyone freezes. Locke instinctively grabs onto Nora before a carnivorous plant can eat her.

“How did you know?” Nora asks in disbelief.

Trust me you don’t even want to know…

“Trust me you don’t even want to know.” Locke says glumly. 

See, strange isn’t it? How did I do that? Almost as if it was meant to be?

Shut up, demon. You did that on purpose. I owe you nothing.

Owe me nothing? You owe me everything… I think I’ll take my time here and enjoy all this bliss. They think they’ve trapped me but really I’ve just been growing. Roots as you put it. I’ve been putting them down. Inspired you’d say by Ferallis. Sitting there and watching. Sculking. Allowing that elf to do whatever he wants. So disgusting…

What?

She has the power to do it herself you know? She could have taken the Olcans, the Firestone goblins, those little lizards underneath, and those insects she’s keeping in her hive and destroyed the elf kingdom already. Rend it asunder for all his stupidity and narcissism. Be fronting the almighty as he does. Self indulgent he is. Such a sin. Delicious. I couldn’t help myself. She isn’t going to do her job then I will.

What are you saying?

I’m saying you’re fighting a battle you don’t understand and I’m going to collect you as it goes. I love you. So get used to me being around. 

Fuck. Lock thinks to himself. 

Please. As rough as you can. Though, I’d prefer you a bit more masculine for my taste. Women are fun and your form is so divine. I just prefer the other you. Do you want me to change you back? Correct the “phasing sickness”?

You can do that?

I can do a lot. Just for you. You’ve just got to say something for me…

I'm not handing over my soul to you. If this has been all it’s been about you’ve wasted your time. I’ve a book I want to write and things I want to do. I don’t have time for this.

Oh your book. I love it. I read it five times. I even know your secret move you didn’t put into it directly. You hid the patterns for it in the other forms. You’re so ingenious. It is a powerful ability. It’s smart to hide it away from anyone unwilling to seek it properly…

…. Locke can feel a bead of sweat trickle down his forehead. 

It’s funny, you’ve spoken to my kind before and she was chased away by Azeal. Such a good boy, so loyal. Does his job so perfectly. Just like me. She, however, isn’t this she gets chased away. I wonder why he hasn’t come for me?

Stop this madness.

You’d be glad if you knew as much as I do. My love don’t worry you will in time you’re just not ready yet. You’re still just alive. You’ve so much time to spend in eternity. With me. You’re so lucky I found you so fast. Sometimes we never find each other. Isn’t that sad? I’ve been so lonely…

I’m going to tell my friends about this…

You know I won’t let you do that. Sorry, it’s my job. No hard feelings. 

“Ditto.” Corin adds in.

It’s a pretty strong sell.

“It’s a pretty strong sell.” Locke admits. 

Brent humphs an affirmative.

“How long till we get to this temple?” Tye asks.

See how easy that was? You know you should really get to chapter ten of your book so I can’t do that to you anymore. Oops. Spoilers. 

How?

Yes, how indeed. I’d like to explain it all to you but again that’d make it boring for you and I love you too much to let you get bored like that. You’d be mad at me. I wouldn’t want that. As I said before. I want to hear you say it. 

Say what? 

Those three magical words. I need to hear them. I have to. I want to hear it so bad. All the time, always for the rest of eternity. From you. Please. Please. Pleeeease?….

No, I don’t know what you want me to say. I refuse to do this. This is ridiculous. I refuse.

All numbers are made up

“All numbers are made up.” Locke shoots back.

“I… ahh..” Nora is trying to construct her thoughts.

Oops, sorry love I feel like I’m being too distracting you should really be paying attention. I don’t want to ruin your trip… what is that idiot doing? Tell Tye to stop talking about that stuff.

“Tye, stop divulging our military secrets.” Locke inserts half jokingly…

“What’s an A-path-e gel-voter?” Nora mouths out strangely. 

Fewf, that was close. Your friend is an idiot. He shouldn’t be telling beings from different planes things they don’t need to know yet. It messes things up. It trickles down and through and then we get in trouble for it. I’m surprised Azeal was going to let that one slip. Yet another in the realm laxing away not doing their duties properly. Probably reading some stupid soap opera book. He’s got a thing for those. You should ask him about it sometime. He’ll talk your ear off. Ugh…

I don’t understand what’s going on. Stop confusing me like this… Locke can feel his heart racing and his head is beginning to hurt. 

Oh no! I’m so sorry, I forget you're not ready for these things. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Damnit. Damn that Tye. Damn Azeal. I’ll get them both for this before we’re finished here. To hurt my love like that. Because of their ignorance and malpractice. I’ll teach them a lesson soon. Don’t worry I’ll avenge you my love. I’m sorry. I feel I’ve stayed too long. I’ll see you soon. I love you. Bye bye. 

Obstacle 40. Brent