The Infinite Bk. 01 Ch. 09

Sitting next to him, Mira ended up placing her hand on his. The moment their fingers touched, it was like cold lightning surged through his nerves, a frighteningly powerful sensation that made him feel more alive than the battle just moments before. Perhaps it was just the adrenaline and the endorphins, but he looked at Mira, and she, realizing the contact between them, looking at him with a shy smile and rosy cheeks. Then, with more courage than he had ever shown while fighting a monster, he turned his hand over to hold hers. They gazed at each other, their stomachs filled with more butterflies than a meadow in summer. That was the moment he realized his feelings for her.

The next day, his father sat Oath down in the parlor of their home. With them was a gruff middle-aged adventurer with a bow and a red bandana around his head. "Oath, no matter what, you must not let anyone outside of your party know this. I've just learned that a dungeon crab has surfaced nearby."

Dungeon crabs were one of the great anomalies in the world, but their mythology was thin. They were mysterious creatures, described as living fortresses that rose from the ground. Many believed they were a remnant of the war between the gods and the spirits.

Oath wasn't sure how to respond to the news, so his father continued. "Adventurers who manage to capture a dungeon crab by taking the avenium inside are granted the rank of baron or higher by the kingdom. If you and your friends can accomplish this, then there is nothing Edwin can do and my title will be passed on to you without question."

"My friends and I can barely face the monsters in the woods. We can't handle a dungeon crab."

"I am well aware of your weakness when it comes to swordplay. I'm hoping that switching to a different weapon will unlock your potential. This man is Sendal, a veteran adventurer and archer. He'll teach you how to use a bow."

Just looking at Sendal, Oath could tell he wasn't the friendliest guy, but his father wouldn't change his mind. He and the archer rode into the woods to hunt; the next thing he knew, he was waking up in a goblin tunnel. Pain flowed from the back of his head down to his toes, but drinking a potion helped.

Helping him to his feet was a young man with a girl standing behind him. Noah and Tin, he had heard those names before. They were the source of the strange rumors about the Old Wineskin, but more than that, Beth and Mira had vouched for Noah's strength. Oath was skeptical, especially when Noah declared that he would clear out the goblin den himself, which was nothing short of suicidal. Though saved, Oath didn't feel grateful, considering he was now marching to his doom, working as Noah's pack mule.

Then he saw the results. Noah slaughtered the goblins with ease, never displaying any kind of magic. Oath and his friends had repeatedly tried hunting goblins, nearly dying every time, but they fell like reeds with every swing of Noah's sword. Then, when the goblin chief revealed itself, Oath witnessed authentic swordplay and Noah's battle painted over the memories of his older brother's skills. Had he and his friends attempted this, they would have been cooked and eaten.

During their journey home, they were attacked by bandits. Tin, obeying Noah, pulled Oath into the woods before he could even grab his sword. The battle lasted only a minute, leaving Oath in awe when he saw the bodies of the slain bandits. He rode back to Clive with Noah and Tin, and when he arrived home, his father threw his arms around him, wailing in relief to see his son's return. It was the first time his father had ever hugged him.

"Father, there is something I need to tell you." They went into his study and closed the door behind them. Oath, standing while the baron sat, leaned against the desk. "The hunter you hired, he knocked me out handed me over to goblins."

"Damn him! He volunteered to teach you archery, but Edwin must have bribed him to get you out of the picture. But if he handed you to goblins, how did you escape? Did you fight your way out?"

"No, I was saved by someone, a man named Noah. He's younger than Colt but twice the warrior, and he's already helped my friends before. He wiped out a huge goblin nest himself and even killed a hobgoblin."

Ivan leaned back in his chair. "If a young man of such skill were to join your party, perhaps you might be able to capture the dungeon crab."

"I was thinking the same thing."

"Bring him here. I'll talk to him."

The next thing Oath knew, Tin lay dying, and he watched as Noah slew the assailant. The arrow in Tin's chest was meant for him, and each pained breath she made hammered in the realization. Crushed with guilt, he applied every potion in the house, pouring them on her wound and down her throat, but her condition didn't improve. As Noah approached, Oath braced himself for the worst. It was Oath's fault that she had died; her life ended because he had been saved, so would Noah demand his life as compensation?

But Noah didn't acknowledge Oath. Instead, he simply kneeled down and held Tin. There were no tears, not even a trembling breath. Tin voiced her final goodbye and closed her eyes while Noah simply mumbled a few words and stared at her like a statue. Noah then departed with Tin, riding off to find a suitable place to bury her. Watching him disappear, Oath remembered the smile on Tin's face when she said goodbye and imagined that look on Mira's; the pure, honest, intoxicating emotion. He wanted to see her. He had nearly died without telling her how he felt.

To his father's protests, he rode out to the Old Wineskin, and as soon as he entered, he heard Mira's voice. "Oath!"

There they were, gathered at their usual table. Never was he so happy to see his friends. He crossed the tavern and took his seat. "Hey."

"Your father told us you were out training with an archer," said Beth. "I'm rather insulted you didn't ask me first."

"You guys aren't going to believe this, but I swear this really happened. That archer knocked me out and handed me over to goblins. I was even taken to their den."

Trevor just scoffed, and Beth was likewise skeptical. "I'm actually not that mad, you don't have to make up excuses."

Mira gave him the benefit of the doubt. "Really?"

"Yeah, but I was saved by that Noah guy that you told me about, he and Tin. I watched him clear out an entire mine full of goblins single-handedly."

"Of course someone like you would need to be saved," said Trevor.

"An entire mine?!" Beth exclaimed as she bolted to her feet.

"We can barely fight a handful of them," Mira sighed.

"Anyway, listen to this." He leaned in and waved for them to all do the same. "A dungeon crab has appeared nearby." He was lucky that everyone understood that term. He didn't have faith in his ability to explain it. His friends all fell back into their seats.

"You honestly can't be thinking of trying it!" Beth exclaimed. "We'd be dead in an hour!"

"Listen, Noah has agreed to join our team and train us. With his help, I'm sure we can do it."

"We don't need some freak's advice," said Trevor.

"Did I forget to mention that he also killed a hobgoblin?"

Trevor didn't respond.

"I don't know. I think it's way too early for us. Why? Are you really that broke?" asked Mira.

"There is something I haven't told you guys. My full name is Oath Fault, son of Baron Ivan Fault. I'm his third son but I'm next in line to receive his title."

"Damn it, he's delirious! Everything he's said so far was a hallucination."

"Oath, did you eat some strange mushrooms in the woods?" Mira asked with honest concern.

Trevor stared in continued silence.

"I swear to you, it's true. I'm sure the archer gave me to the goblins to keep me from inheriting the title. When I returned home, that same archer tried to kill me, but ended up killing Tin instead."

Both Mira and Beth were left in stunned silence. While they had only met her once, the news of her death was a shocking blow. Her endless moaning had become a point of pride in the villagers, considering it a valued quirk in the identity of their home, like the swallows returning to Capistrano. Besides, they had both seen the love in her eyes.

"Yeah. Noah killed the guy and rode off with Tin to bury her. He said he would be back the day after tomorrow."

"That's awful," said Beth.

"Poor Noah," Mira added.

"I don't think we should have him with us. We can do the dungeon crab ourselves," said Trevor.

"No, we wouldn't stand a chance without him. Just talk to him, you'll see."

Beth raised a beer mug. "Anyway, I'd say this calls for a drink. Let us rejoice the safe return of our comrade, toast our approaching success, and mourn a fallen friend!"

Oath wanted to laugh, but truth be told, he'd need some liquid courage. The four adventurers splurged on food and drinks late into the night, until all was quiet and the innkeeper was preparing to close the bar. Trevor had gone home, Beth was passed out, and now it was just Oath and Mira.

"I hope this dungeon crab thing works out," said Mira, more than a little tipsy.

"Yeah, and all the wealth from the adventurers is really going to help this village."

"With that money, I can finally pay off my mother's debts."

"You never said your mother was in debt."

Mira giggled. "I guess we both kept secrets. I never liked adventuring, but it was the best way I could make money after my father left. In a way, I'm glad I did it, but I just want a nice quiet home life."

"Well I'll become the baron of the town. Maybe you could settle here." Never in a million years would a sober Oath have the courage to do so, but he reached out and held her hand as he had on that day in the woods. "And I could make a home with you."

Like him, Mira was fueled by liquid courage, but she got to her feet with little grace and great courage and pulled Oath to his. "Come on," she mumbled with an embarrassed smile. They were both drunk, so they had to help each other up the stairs, giggling with each step. Finally, they reached Mira's room, and as she fumbled with the key, Oath leaned in and stole a kiss. It was the first for each of them, so he got her mainly on the nose. Still, she touched her lips with a smile and a blush.

They opened the door and stumbled into the room, shutting it behind them. Mira lit a candle and then made herself at home in Oath's embrace. Standing in the middle of the room, they kissed once more, this time able to put their hearts and souls into it.

"Are you ready for this?" Oath asked.

"I think so. Are you?"

"I'm not sure. I don't have any experience with being with a woman. I mean... I've seen animals on the farm..."

Mira burst into laughter, which, second to her yelling at him, was the last reaction he wanted in this scenario. "Beth has told me how to do it, don't worry. Now that we've kissed, the next step is we take off our clothes."

Oath was already rigid, and those last four words nearly pushed him over the edge. He took off his jacket, Mira removed her cloak, and for a moment, they paused, feeling the tension as they gripped their shirts. That tension was replaced by laughter as they drunkenly struggled to undress. Mira's breasts were exposed, and Oath, a swirling torrent of adolescent hormones, was caught like a deer in headlights.

"Don't stare like that," Mira said, covering herself and looking away in embarrassment.

"I'm sorry. Can I... can I touch them?"

"I... guess."

She hesitantly lowered her arms, and Oath, with trembling hands, began to caress her modest shelf. That softness and smoothness drew him like sugar. He was clumsy, but Mira shivered in bliss from Oath's touch. She was afraid of being so vulnerable, physically and exposed to another for them to do with as they pleased. Perhaps it was the presence of that fear that made it feel so good; the fear of being touched so intimately, mixed with the joy of finding someone whom she wished would do so.

Oath massaged deep into her flesh, relishing how her nipples felt when he toyed with them. The chance to explore a woman's body like this, to know it so intimately, teased his most innate, instinctive curiosity. He was so excited, trembling like a leaf and feeling like he was going to jump out of his skin. He ended up finishing before he could stop himself. Flushed with shame, he did his best to try and hide it, but to Mira, it looked like he was just getting impatient.

She lowered her hands and removed the last of her clothes. Oath didn't immediately react, trying to gather his thoughts and strength. When he realized what she had done, he didn't have time to think and dropped trou. This time, it was Mira's turn to stare, and she tried not to think of when their group last fought goblins, most of which weren't wearing anything.

Mira climbed into bed, hiding under the blanket. "Now... you get on top of me... and I think you know where your thing goes."

Oath put out the candle, plunging the room into total darkness. He meandered his way back to the bed, feeling the covers. His hands found Mira's body, and he felt her stir like a frightened animal. He slipped under the blanket, and their naked bodies met, first in the form of an embrace, then in the form of a kiss, and finally...

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Noah, Oath, and Beth sprinted up the winding staircase toward the exit of the dungeon crab. They were covered in blood, sweat, and dirt, and running on fumes. They couldn't tell if the monsters were still chasing them. After all this time, the chorus of roars repeated in the back of their minds no matter what.

Finally, when their bodies felt like they'd fall apart like sandcastles, they breathed fresh air and felt the sunshine. They burst out of the top of the crab's shell, collapsing near the doorway. For the three of them, it was like a religious experience.

Beth crumbled, tears pouring down her face, a mix of happiness, misery, relief, and mourning, and as the sun rose, Oath stared like his soul had left his body, turning him into an empty husk. As for Noah, he dropped the knight sword he had been using and gripped the earth with shaking hands. How long had it been? How long had it been since he last fought that hard for his life? How long had it been since his survival instinct pushed him that far? No, when it was more than just his survival instinct pushing him? The fear, adrenaline, endorphins, and pain flowed through the folds of his gray matter like a flood across a desert.

"Get up, on your feet."

Noah looked over, seeing Oath standing with his sword pointing at him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Noah muttered.

"You heard me, get up and face me."

"Oath, you're kidding, right?" Beth asked.

"No. You and me, Noah, right here, right now."

"You ungrateful little brat. After all I did for you, you have the nerve to point your sword at me? The sword I gave you?"

"You didn't do this for me. I was just a prop in whatever deal you struck with my father. Now Mira is dead and I was robbed of my chance to settle things with Trevor. We never should have gone in there, but you kept pushing us. We never should have let you be a part of our team."

"Oath, it's not his fault! You also wanted to keep going! Just put your sword down and we can all go home!"

"No! I have to do this!"

"You're right," said Noah, getting to his feet, "you were just a prop, but I'm still under contract and not allowed to kill you. Once we're back and I've gotten my reward, then I'll put you down as hard as you want."

"No! I'm done listening to you and your bullshit! From the moment we met, you've run my life. I was supposed to be the one to seize the avenium, to seize my own destiny, not let you take it and accept whatever scraps you toss my way! I couldn't avenge Mira, I couldn't beat Trevor, and I couldn't even conquer the dungeon crab! I can't go home this way! I refuse to live like this! But if I beat you, that'll be enough."

Noah gripped the hilt of the knight sword, and the sensation he got back was far from ideal. His body was at its limit, and he could barely even stand. He was out of potions, they all were, so there was no way he could quickly recoup his strength. At least Oath was in the same situation. Despite his anger and bloodlust, he was on the verge of passing out. The spirit was willing, but the flesh was another story. If Noah fought him in this state, even the most minor wounds could prove fatal, and his deal with the baron would be out the window.

"I'm not going to indulge you. If you want to get yourself killed, do it after we get back. I want to live long enough to cash in everything I've collected."

"You can't talk your way out of this!"

Oath charged on unsteady legs with his sword raised, attempting his signature cleave. Noah stepped to the side and struck Oath in the stomach with the handle of his sword. Oath staggered back and nearly vomited, but hurled a desperate punch, hitting the weakened Noah in the shoulder and knocking him off balance.

"Stop this, you two don't need to fight! We're finally done!" Beth pleaded.

"Tell him that!" Noah argued.

Oath unleashed a flurry of swings toward Noah, who lacked the agility to get out of the way. Instead, he had to block and parry each swing. They locked blades, pushing against each other in a shoving match.

"You chose to go into the dungeon crab," said Noah. "You chose to follow me, despite knowing how dangerous it was for Mira. You put your pride and your nobility over her. I killed Trevor because you were too weak to get it done and you would have woken up that monster with just three steps. You don't get to blame your weakness and incompetence on me."

"You're nothing more than a heartless bastard! You couldn't even shed a tear for Tin, no wonder you didn't care about us!"

"Grow up!"

Noah let go of his sword and punched Oath, then touched his hand to his eye and cast his invisibility. Unfortunately, he only had enough mana to remain hidden for a few moments, so Noah tackled Oath, disarming him and knocking him to the ground. Three solid blows to the face left him unconscious.

Noah dropped to his knees, gasping for air with his spell coming undone. Hopefully, Oath would be much more sensical when he woke up. As Noah got to his feet, there was a monster's snarl, followed by Beth's scream. One of their pursuers from within the shell had arrived and attacked Beth. It looked like a cycloptic tiger with a mat of quills across its back, and it currently had Beth's arm between her jaws, tearing the flesh off her broken bones.

"Damn it!" Noah growled.

Beth still had his bow, so Noah pulled out his short sword and threw it, winging the beast in the shoulder. It turned to Noah and charged, and Noah, trying to activate his magic, realized he had used the last of his mana to deal with Oath. He jumped to the side to dodge the lunging tiger, but as he hit the ground, Noah realized he had less strength than he thought.

He had planned on hitting the ground with a roll and jumping to his feet, but he just fell like a tree. All he could do was roll on his back, and this time, when the tiger pounced, he wasn't able to dodge. It tried to sink its teeth into his neck, but he blocked its mouth with his sword, though he could do nothing about its claws digging into his shoulders. It was pushing down on him with its full weight, and he didn't have the strength to hold it back.

Noah stared into its fist-sized eye and watched slobber pour from its mouth, mixed with the blood from the cuts that his sword was creating. This indeed ranked among the top of his weirdest deaths. Yet when his strength was about to falter, Oath attacked the tiger from behind, slicing off its head with a swing of his sword. Oath then kicked the tiger's corpse off Noah and pointed his sword at him.