Chapter 164- Arrival in Lokir

Chapter 164- Arrival in Lokir

[Keeno POV]

I slowly woke up with a pleasant soreness all over my body. Not much registered as I was still on cloud nine from the vigorous ‘exercise’ Ama and I were doing, though in the very back of my mind I felt like there was some other kind of event that happened, but I couldn’t quite clear away the fog around it. I continued staring blankly up until a black and silver blur crashed into my side, knocking me off the bed and into the floor.

“Keeno! Are you alright!? Where were you!? What happened!?” (Pram)

“I’m fine, Pram. Don’t know why, but I was somehow able to meet with Ama after the fight. She healed me up good.” (Keeno)

Pram slumped back and heaved a big sigh. I noticed Freya looking over, the same relief in Pram’s face on hers as well.

“I told you she was fine. You should have more faith in her.” (Mostima)

“Says the one that wasn’t able to sleep and constantly asking Fia for any updates.” (Pram)

Mostima looked away, a light blush in her face. I turned my attention over to Freya, not wanting to tease Mostima for worrying about me.

“How are you doing, Freya?” (Keeno)

“I’m doing fine. Though she can’t see souls, Pram has said I’m free to move around now.” (Freya)

I focused harder on Freya and sure enough her soul was a calm grey instead of being in the verge of black.

“Your soul is fine, so you are allowed to return to normal.” (Keeno)

She nodded. Pram got up from pinning me to the ground and I got up from the ground and sat in the bed.

“Where’s Margaret and the others?” (Keeno)

“Preparing for the next leg of the journey.” (Mostima)

“Alright. Should we-” (Keeno)

“KEENO!” (Emma)

“Hello to you too, mum.” (Keeno)

“...Ehe...No, be happy later, Emma. Keeno, something’s wrong with the Death Spirits!” (Emma)

My ears and tails floofed up in shock.

“What’s happening?!” (Keeno)

“They all just suddenly transformed into some kind of humanoid creatures. All female, skin color ranging from pitch black to ash grey, eyes like yours, but their irises are red or orange instead of blue. And there are flames coming from the corners of their eyes. Claws like wolves and they’ve become slightly more aggressive, at least towards other spirits only, but still more aggressive.” (Emma)

I tilted my head in confusion when a word floated out of some foggy part of my mind.

“Hellhounds? The Death Spirits are hellhounds now?” (Keeno)

The others around me all tilted their heads in confusion.

“...That’s...a weirdly fitting name.” (Emma)

A bit more information I know I didn’t know, even in my last life came unprompted and I relayed it to Emma.

An endless expanse of grey and black ash spread out in front of us. In some places out in the distance I could see faint trails of smoke and there was a noticeable lack of the feeling of life. I crouched down and dug my fingers into the ash. The fineness of it was pleasant to the touch and it was gloriously warm, though I did notice a feeling of familiarity in the heat.

“Definitely Fia.” (Keeno)

“Yeah. I get the feeling like she’s always around when I’m here. The ever-burning fires, the ash that retains some of the heat, it’s so comforting.” (Mostima)

“Kind of upsetting I have to stop these flames somehow.” (Keeno)

“Do you know where you are supposed to meet the dragon that lives here?” (Pram)

“No, my guess is we’ll meet when he deems it time to.” (Keeno)

We started following the path marked by metal-like wooden poles.

“Fair warning, try to keep between these markers or at least in sight of them. While I don’t think any of you would have any trouble, I don’t want you getting lost in the desert. When everything looks the same out there, it’s extremely easy to get lost.” (Margaret)

My group nodded. We proceeded with caution for several hours when I felt a strange nudge. Looking down, I saw several small things milling around us while floating toward the noble carriage. Margaret made a sign to stop, and we did as we watched the small creatures. They were like tiny dogs made of flame with discernable front paws, but the back half of their bodies were pure flame. Their heads were almost comically larger than their bodies and they flickered like they were a candleflame about to be blown out by the wind. What confused me the most was that these were spirits, but not related to flames or solar power in any way. They were tiny Death Spirits.

Chaos Realm:

Nykuro, wake up.

Nykuro: Nuuuu. Papatato’s tails are too comfy!

...

Order: Pffft. I like that nickname. Papatato.

......

*A light blue portal opens up and a being that gives off the same feeling as Payto, yet slightly different appears*

Swil: H-hello.

Hello Swil. It’s nice to see you again.

Swil: S-same here. I was surprised by your sudden invitation; sorry I didn’t respond earlier.

It’s fine. I know how busy you are and how sudden things like that make you nervous. If anything, I should be the one apologizing for basically barging in, info dumping on you, and leaving.

Swil: It’s fine...but please give me a thousand years notice before hand next time.

I’ll try to remember.

Nykuro: ...

*Nykuro peeks around Payto and meets Swil’s eyes*

Nykuro: ...<3

Swil: Adorable...adorable...MiN3?...adorable...Fated One.

*Payto looks over to Order who nods. Payto moves Nykuro in front of him with a few of his infinite number of tails and the two disappear, leaving the two newly introduced Fated Ones to get to know each other*