Book Three Chapter Thirty Six: TT_Mascot_Totem

Book Three Chapter Thirty Six: TT_Mascot_Totem

Anyway, the Chosen One said, breaking the moment, we should probably get on with this Temple, hey?

Qube wasnt fooled. The Chosen One was never interested in actually completing the task at hand. He just didnt want to talk about this topic anymore. Given the party hadnt actually meant to talk to him about their worries regarding the Devs and the Golden Prophecy, she had no problem moving on.

Also, she was excited to see what was inside the final Temple, and what lay beyond. What Bestowals would they get? How would they go about getting the stolen Temple gems when they were done here? Were the chickens still following the Evil Emperor, or was he still screaming in the plaza? But she mustn't get ahead of herself. They had to finish this Temple first.

She wasnt entirely sure where they were supposed to start with solving this puzzle. All the other Temples had contained clearly linear paths, even if they had been infested with annoying platforms. This vault, however, just seemed to hold endless drawers and the single coffin that dominated the room.

The Chosen One, however, wasnt as lost. With his Heroic training, he quickly managed to find a drawer that had a small red gem on it underneath the name The Creature. He showed no hesitation, probably made confident by his ongoing studies in the Devs realm, and immediately pressed down on the gem. The panel slid back to reveal an alcove that contained nothing but a small stone carving of an otter.

What the? the Chosen One muttered, all his Hero confidence melting away in an instant. He reached out to pick up the carving. As soon as he touched the statue, the walls dissolved, and the coffin in the middle of the room slid into the floor.

Then they teleported, which made the business with the walls and coffin seem somewhat unnecessary.

---

The room they teleported into was familiar, though rendered in grey. It took Qube a moment to place it. It was the room in the Water Temple where theyd met that odd little creature that wanted to be bribed with clams before agreeing to join the Chosen One on his quest to save the kingdom! What was his name?

Otto just want to be left alone! the otter squeaked.

Otto! That was it! But this otter was a lot smaller than the Otto theyd met so long ago. And there were a bunch of other small otters around him, jostling him about. No, not just jostling. They were pushing him into the water!

Stop that! Qube snapped, forgetting that they couldnt hear her. While she might not have approved of Ottos demands of clams for loyalty, she wasnt going to idly stand by while someone was being bullied.

I dont know if theyre actually there, the Chosen One said, squinting at the animals. They look like they might be

What the rest of the party would have done to prevent this bullying, they were destined to never know. For at that moment Squiggles erupted into action.

The sharktopus glowed glittering gold as she ploughed through the bullying otters, faster than theyd ever seen her move before, her shining teeth not even scraping their sides as they were scooped into her cavernous maw by her tentacles. Within seconds the otters were gone, leaving only the little Otto.

The Chosen Ones mouth was hanging open.

never mind, he said weakly. Iwow. Did she glow?

Squiggles! Qube exclaimed. Did you just eat a bunch of otters without trying to talk to them first?

Squiggles, no longer glowing, glanced at Qube, but then turned her attention back to the small otter she was looming front of. The aquatic mammal looked tiny, cowering before the skartopus. Squiggles slowly lifted a tentacle, and gently petted the otter on his head. The otter gradually stopped shaking, and instead raised large, wet eyes up at his saviour.

Me thank you, he said timidly. They no like me, cause me talk.

He had the same speech pattern and name as Otto. And theyd been teleported to the same room where theyd met Otto. Was this his child, whom hed decided to name after himself for some strange reason? Why wasnt he there, protecting his young? Was he dead?Read latest chapters at nov(e)lbin.com Only

Even the mini-Otto seemed confused, staring at Squiggles.

You not he stopped, flustered.

Squiggles slowly opened her mouth. The otter, rather than being intimidated by what would have been a terrifying sight to a fully-grown person, and must have been mind-bendingly horrifying to something so small, peered inquisitively down her throat.

Oh! the child exclaimed. There me are! He looked up at Squiggles. Thank you! he said, and dissolved into smoke.

Maybe once weve saved the kingdom, we should go back to the Water Temple and check on him, make sure hes all right, Qube said uneasily. That way you can check on your family and friends too, she added to Squiggles, who tilted her head curiously. The maybe baby Deep One grinned, her glittering teeth shining in the dim lighting of the mausoleum.

Definitely Bad Guy hadnt contributed to the conversation at all. Definitely Bad Guy was still staring at the urn. Definitely Bad Guy was looking decidedly unwell. He reached out long, delicate fingers and gently brushed them against the side of the urn. It didnt react.

The Hero gave the Mage a sideways glance.

This is my urn, the Mage said quietly. I know it as I know my own name.

The Chosen One licked his lips.

Am I dead? he asked the Chosen One without an ounce of inflection in his voice.

The Hero looked trapped, but didnt reply.

Of course youre not dead! Qube exclaimed indignantly. I think we all would have noticed if we were walking around with a ghost! Granted, last time shed met a ghost, she hadnt realised until said ghost had turned blue and disappeared, but someone in the group would have noticed Definitely Bad Guy dying. Especially since the last time shed seen him die it had been very obvious and extremely traumatic, and that was even with the memory being blurred by the Chosen One turning back time.

Oh! Maybe that was it. The Chosen One looked even more cornered, and Qube felt her heart fill with pity as she realised why.

Chosen One, youre going to have to tell him, she said softly. The Hero gave her a horrified look.

You want me to tell him? he nearly squeaked.

Youre right, Qube instantly realised his point, Ill tell him. She was far better at explanations. She took a deep breath and reached out, taking the Mages hands.

Definitely Bad Guy, she began, do you remember how we just emptied out the inn and met the Evil Emperor?

Everyone was looking at her. Definitely Bad Guy nodded, signalling he remembered the very scary thing that had happened yesterday.

Well the reason we did that is because when we were about to go into the inn the Chosen One and I we caught a glimpse into the future. In that future you hadnt told us aboutabout the Evil Emperor and you, she swallowed hard, and hehe killed you using something called a [Traitors Curse]. The Chosen One used a spell to end the vision, and for some reason I was also caught in the future sight spell. This urn is probably a result of that premonition.

The Mage stared at her as she delicately blushed at her forwardness in discussing the spell.

If what we saw last time was a glimpse into Ottos past, then I think this is a look at the future, the one where you hadnt told us the truth. This is, after all, a Time Temple.

For once the Mage didnt turn bright red, even though she was holding his hands. Instead he was glancing between the Chosen One and her. The Chosen One had gone back to looking at the urn, his face very pale, his expression grim.

Locked off world he muttered.

What you did to the Evil Emperor disrupted his activation of the curse, the Mage said thoughtfully, studying both of their faces.

One way or another, if hed been allowed to act freely, you wouldnt have left that place alive, Sencha Bard said, now moving away from the urn. The Hero looked up at that, but said nothing.

Because Definitely Bad Guy would have rejected him, and he would have used the curse, Qube agreed. The Bard gave her a mildly condescending look.

Either way he would have killed him, the Bard explained. He would have been too great a risk to leave unsupervised at that point. Every saga ends with the villain killing a turncoat, regardless of which side the turncoat chooses in the end.

Rewarded as a traitor deserves, Qube quoted sadly. She shook her head. As shed said to the Chosen One, it didnt make any sense from a long-term loyalty point of view, but, with the urn directly in front of them, it was irrefutable evidence that he was right, and that the Evil Emperor was no smarter than the villains in the stories.

No wonder the side of Good was always able to use the power of love and friendship to win the day. Evil was rubbish at relationships.