The Adventures of Rose Hood Chapters 70-72

Chapter 70: Somebody that you used to know

The beast kingdom wasn’t too far, so we were able to make it there quickly.

“Ah brother in Ausar, what are you doing with these repulsive beasts.”

Darsen was confused.

“I don’t see any repulsive beasts, unless you mean Jacob.”

“HEY!!!”

“The Humans. They are servants of Silith.”

…

“We don’t serve Silith.”

“LORD AUSAR WILL JUDGE YOU!!!”

A birdkin sleeping on a bench snapped awake.

“HUH what where am I? Oh, hi Celios.”

He went back to sleep. Then his eyes snapped open.

“WAIT CELIOS?!”

Celios snickered.

“I don’t really think he’s fit to judge. Useless hobo.”

Ausar blushed.

“Shut it!!!”

“That’s definitely the less impressive of the two.”

Ausar gaped at Darsen, who just said that his eternal rival was more impressive. Then Ausar started crying.

“Even my own people are against me.”

“That’s not true!”

“We love you Lord Ausar.”

Ausar stood up and basked in the worship.

Thalia looked irritated.

“Can I punch him?”

Celios nodded.

“Go right ahead.”

Thalia punched him in the gut, causing him to keel over. All while carrying me.

The people gasped, and Ausar complained.

“No fair.”

Celios sighed.

“How are you even a candidate for the throne? You’re too immature.”

“I don’t want to hear that from you.”

He stuck out his tongue and Celios ignored him.

“Excuse me citizen, which way is the Palace?”

The wolfkin pointed.

“Thank you.”

Celios grabbed ahold of Ausar’s collar and started dragging him to the Palace.

Then a catkin spoke.

“If I had a copper for every time Lord Ausar got folded by a dragon, I’d have two coppers, which isn’t much, but it’s odd that it happened twice.”

We followed Celios.

_

“So, Kala isn’t a good person?”

“Nope, she even lied about her aspect. She’s the god of lies, not good.”

“Hmm. I knew it.”

“No, you didn’t.”

“No, I didn’t.”

It was very disappointing. I kind of assumed that the being that could give someone like Silith that much trouble would be more impressive, unfortunately, we had this guy.

“How does he even give Silith trouble?”

Celios answered.

“Because in terms of raw power, he is the strongest, he’s just vain to a fault.”

That made sense.

“So, I assume you talked to Silith?”

“Yes, he also mentioned that the being you summoned from another world could help.”

“I doubt it, it’s just a human, she can’t even cast magic.”

“Could I meet her?”

“Why not?”

“So, where is she?”

“AMY!!!”

A human stepped out, and she looked nervous.

“Hi, my name is Amy Faust, how are you?”

Thalia stared.

“YOUR SO PRETTY!!!”

She gave a tackle hug, dropping me, but Darsen caught me.

Amy was freaking out.

“Oh sorry, I get overexcited.”

“You’re telling me.”

She realized, she looked at me with a sheepish smile.

“Sorry…”

“Uh huh.”

_

“So, you came from a world called earth?”

“Yeah, I was walking with a friend of mine when I woke up here.”

“Unfortunate.”

Ausar spoke.

“You can take her if you want.”

“What?”

“I was trying to get someone to take her, but no one wanted her as a slave.”

We glared at him.

“Are you okay with joining our group?”

Thalia smiled motherly to the girl. I saw Asura looking at her in an… interesting way.

It seemed Thalia’s feelings were reciprocated.

“Yeah, I’m fine with joining you guys, until I can find a way back to my world.”

“Wonderful, let’s go!!!”

Thalia maintained her hyperactivity all the way to the gate. She was carrying me again. Despite this, she skipped.

We exited the gate and Thalia transformed.

“HOLY ****!!!”

As we expected, she was sc-

“IS SHE A MOTHER****ING DRAGON?! WOAH!!!”

Okay? She was excited.

She got on Thalia’s back, and we began to fly. Then she began screaming in fear.

“Look over, you’ll see from a dragon’s view.”

“I’m going to fall and die.”

“You’re scared of heights?”

“No, of course not. I’m scared of falling from said heights.”

“AH I KNOW HOW TO MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER!!! DO JUMPING JACKS!!!”

Asura started doing jumping jacks on Thalia’s back. Amy looked at him as though he was going to die.

“I’m going to vomit.”

“Do it off of my back please. Scales are hard to clean.”

“If I look down, I will vomit.”

Amy looked around with terror.

“Lord Almighty protect me.”

“Who are you praying to?”

“The main God in my world. He will protect me.”

Celios smirked.

“If He’s anything like the gods here, I’d rather not meet Him.”

I spoke.

“Celios, you are a god.”

“Yeah, and I’m a jack*** what’s your point?”

“Fair.”

She laughed,

“No, if He was part of this pantheon, I suppose He’d be called the God of Love.”

“So, He was the romantic type.”

“Nope, hm… see it more like how a father loves his children. God is like that.”

“What’s his name?”

“He has a lot.”

“Okay.”

“We’re here.”

I looked down and saw a forest that I’d only seen before as a child.

“Haven.”

_

Amy POV

I still was having trouble comprehending this. It was a week since I was summoned here. From what I understood, there was a pantheon of gods that interacted with the people here.

The one who summoned me was a god named Ausar.

He was a bit of a jerk, and upon realizing I had no magic potential, he cast me down and tried to sell me to the highest bidder.

Everyone in the kingdom admired him, but he was an immature idiot.

He acted like a spoiled brat who thought everything, and everyone, should go his way.

When Thalia, the dragon, tackled me, I felt safe. She seemed to emit safety in her looks. Besides, she was so cool.

Dallel, the disabled elf, seemed to be the leader, he had been crippled in a recent battle with a god.

Celios, another god, made me feel uncomfortable, but at least he realized he was bad.

The only other one I learned the name of was Asura, he was terrifying, a human like me, but he was as strong as Thalia if not stronger.

I learned that the mission was to meet with the Nature god and get her to bless Dallel so he could evolve and properly fight against the mother of gods named Kala.

I was still worried about Amanda, and I hoped she was fine. Her book made her receive so much hate that I was terrified that she would get hurt while I was away.

What happened to Heather was bad enough; I couldn’t stand it if it happened to Amanda too.

Chapter 71: The Bathhouse

We went to several villages and looked around. Kala and I made a contract. She would let me run the body, but she’d take control of it in moments of emergency.

The bloodlust that seemed so infinite was dimmed when she saw what Amanda wrote, and the guy who she knew in middle school, who felt guilty that he never was able to apologize.

‘I still don’t know how to take it.’

I remained silent; it wasn’t my place to tell her what to feel. Despite being a part of her, my memories were only of this world. I didn’t know all of what she went through, and I may never know.

One village we were at was talking about a recent development.

“Did you hear that this Kala person turned out to be someone dangerous?”

“No, what’s being said?”

“Well, she apparently possessed Rose, and used her influence to cause chaos in Selethon. They are calling her the god of lies now.”

“Any news about Rose?”

“Apparently, she is fighting from the inside. Hey, you don’t look too well.”

“I have been sick recently.”

It was true, Kala hid, and I took control, so I had full access to her power, this was good for me, but it also had a side effect in illness, as neither my power nor will were enough for her strength.

In addition, I decided to hide my presence to the point it would be in the device that caught evil. Even another god wouldn’t recognize me, using draconic shift, I also made myself look like an elf.

I also hid my draconic nature and made a fake stat tree, using god’s judgment, I changed both the name and removed the shy one title.

“Well, you should visit the lake of life, it clears any ailment.”

“How does it?”

“You bathe in the water, and it cleanses you. The nature god runs it.”

I thanked the man and went towards the baths. I saw the lake and the bathhouse.

“Hello, new resident, would you like a bath in the lake?”

“Um yes, I was told a bath would cure any ailment.”

There was no mistake, the woman in front of me was the nature god.

‘She’s as skimpy as Piety was when she was Lust.’

‘Wait, one of my aspects was that skimpy?’

‘Yep.’

“Yep, follow me.”

The nature god wore a bikini. Any man would be terrified.

She led me to a bath and gave me a drink. I thanked her and bathed.

My sickness was fading, then I heard something.

“Ah, more customers. Need a bath. Oh, hello brother.”

“Nala, it’s been quite a while.”

“It should have been longer, who are your friends.”

“This is Thalia, the man she is carrying is named Dallel.”

“Hm, the prince of Calesen? What’s he doing in your horrid company.”

“Ah, he… how do I say this, he developed divine potential.”

I could almost hear Nala’s eyes widen.

“I’m not going to ask, but why have you come here?”

“He got injured from using his power to battle dear old mom. So, we were hoping…”

“You want me to give him my blessing?”

“Yes. If he is to get strong enough to fight Kala, then he needs to be able to actually use said power.”

“If you can do something for me.”

“What?”

“Take a bath in the lake and get your stress off.”

“What?”

“It’s messing with the vibe. On the house, come on. It’ll also cure the prince’s injuries.”

Her steps got closer.

“Mrs. Thalia, you can bathe in here with this lady. You two follow me.”

Thalia entered the bath and sat on the opposite side of it.

“I’m tired… I had to fly all that way.”

“Fly?”

“Oh, right, don’t get scared, but I’m a dragon.”

“I knew a dragon once. It’s been a long time since then.”

“Huh, how old are you, if you don’t mind me asking.”

Kala spoke.

“Despite no one knowing me, I am over 100000 years old.”

“Incredible, so you are older than any other elf still alive?”

“Yes, is it true what they say about the goddess Kala?”

“Yes, sadly it is. You know, she actually used my sister’s body.”

“That’s horrible.”

“Not really, my sister was one of her aspects, but somehow…”

She smiled.

“She remained individual and fought against her. My sister is fighting on her own.”

“She is? Are you here to help her?”

“That’s the end goal, but as it sits, we need to help our friend, Dallel, regain his strength and get the blessing of the nature god.”

“Why?”

“Because somehow, he managed to resist her power.”

We sat in silence.

“How is your relationship with your sister?”

“… odd question, but good. Frankly I used to be scared of her, but… I realized I was a fool. I hated her, thought her a monster, but now… I can only think of what a fool I was.”

“What of Kala?”

“I… don’t know actually. With all she did, I’d expect to hate her, but I just can’t bring myself too.”

“Why?”

“Because… at one point, during the battle, we saw something, her core, I think. I won’t describe it, because that is her business, but… I don’t know. I felt odd, like I couldn’t hate her.”

“Could it have been part of her magic?”

“Maybe, but… I don’t think it is.”

“Why?”

“I… don’t know.”

Then I heard Nala’s voice

“Sorry, mam, but this is the last bath with an extra slot.”

Then a familiar voice.

“That’s alright mam.”

Nala opened the door. And Thalia greeted the person who came in.

“Amy, it seems you came here too.”

“Yeah, I thought I’d check it out.”

“Darsen and the others scare you off?”

“No, in fact they were also interested. Who’s that?”

“Oh, it’s an elf, apparently she’s pretty old.”

She and Thalia sat next to each other.

“Fwah, this is so nice.”

“It is…”

It was Amy, Kala was freaking out and let me in my mouth again.

‘Why is Amy here?!’

‘She must be the one that Ausar summoned.’

‘We never asked what he said to summon her.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘He probably said something like, “someone to defeat Kala.”’

‘That would make sense.’

“Excuse me, young one.”

‘WHY ARE YOU TALKING TO HER!!!’

‘SHHH!!!’

“Yes?”

“Why are you stressed?”

“I… don’t want to talk about it.”

“Is it related to you being from another world?”

Thalia and Amy both snapped to look at me.

“How did you?”

I smiled.

“Your scent, it’s nothing like anything in this world. You don’t get to my age without being able to pick up on things like that.”

They relaxed a bit. Then Amy spoke.

“I guess… I’m just worried. One of my friends died a little over a month ago, and now I’m here, I can only wonder how the last member of our group is faring.”

“I see, well, while they may be worried, they may also be strong enough to hold on. You seem strong, and I’d assume your friend is the same, right?”

“Stronger.”

“Then she should be fine, you adjusted to this world to the point you aren’t surprised to find yourself in the bath with a dragon and an elf, she should be able to adjust as well.”

“I guess.”

I stood up, the illness was gone. I dressed and walked to the door.

“I should go, have a wonderf-“

As I walked through the door, I was so relaxed I didn’t notice Celios ready to strike.

I got decapitated which caused Amy to scream.

“WHAT’S GOING ON?! CELIOS WHA-“

“Nala, I’m surprised you didn’t recognize her yourself.”

“What do you- no…”

Thalia and Amy rushed out and saw me standing up, regenerating my head, but this time with cat ears.

Thalia blanched.

“It can’t be.”

“Hello, Thalia.”

I smiled, Kala was trying to take control of me so she could fight, but she would die if I let her fight.

‘You are too emotional. You’d either kill everyone including Amy or pull one of my specials and allow them to kill you.’

‘Fine.’

Thalia and Celios immediately got in a combative stance. Then Celios noticed the problem.

“Ah, Thalia, you may want to get dressed first.”

She looked down and blushed before dragging in Amy so they could get dressed.

Me, Nala, and Celios just looked at each other while waiting.

“…”

“…”

“…”

“Well, this is awkward, and why did you attack me? I was just trying to take a peaceful bath.”

“I’m not letting you escape again.”

Thalia and Amy walked out again with a light blush.

Then Thalia snapped serious.

“You’re not escaping.”

“I’m not?”

“No, you have nowhere to run.”

Then Nala’s voice rang out.

“People, I’m sorry for the interruption, but there is about to be a battle in the bathhouse, unless you are fine with death I would suggest leaving.”

There was bustling as a lot of people got out and started running, still putting on their clothes.

“And it’s clear… except for the people in Celios’s party, they’re coming this way.”

Dallel and the Kingsguard ran up. I also saw Asura.

“Wait, there’s one other coming over.”

“HAHAHA!!!”

Dallel looked back.

“No way.”

“My Rival, I shall finally defe-“

“DIVINE OBLIVION!!!”

I focused it on Callel and slammed him with the full force of my power, causing him to be reduced to dust.

They were all pale and slowly turned back to look at my fuming face. Then Dallel realized something.

“Wait, Kala has Rose’s memories now?”

Celios nodded.

“It seems so.”

“Why do you assume that?”

“Because only Rose hates Callel that much.”

“How’d he even come back this time?”

“THAT’S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW!!!”

“Anyways, we will beat you here and now.”

Thalia looked sad.

“But if she has the memories, that means Rose was merged.”

Celios nodded sadly,

“Yes, but then we just need to defeat her. We can stop holding back.”

“You’ll never be able to beat me.”

“Nala, could you please bless Dallel, so he can actually fight here?”

“Sure.”

She spoke in the ancient language.

“Oh, child of mine, hear my words and strengthen. I call you now, Altmer.”

A light shone around Dallel, and he stood up again. His ears lengthened and his hair was a shade brighter.

“Alright, I’m ready.”

My clothes were loose as I made them for my elven form. My armor was in the castle, so I knew that I would need to fight them without mercy in order to get out.

“Get her.”

The group converged, but I used fear. Everyone took a step back, and I took advantage to kick down both Nala and Celios.

They fell and I started running.

Celios portalled in front of me, and I kicked his top half off, then Nala tried the same thing, but I ripped her in half.

Then Dallel was next to me.

“Hello.”

“Huh?”

He cut my leg off, causing me to fall, I rolled and crashed through the entrance, to a bunch of elves with their bows pointed at me.

“No more games, nowhere left to run.”

Celios smiled.

“You’re caught.”

Chapter 72: The Clash of gods

We had surrounded Kala and she seemed lost on what to do, though she seemed to stand with more confidence, perhaps because of having Rose’s memories.

“FIRE!!!”

The elves all shot, but their arrows merely bounced off. Without curse arrows, there was nothing they could do.

“Hey, Kala, take this.”

Asura slashed, but Kala was faster and caught his blade.

Celios took advantage of the moment and also struck at her. She also caught it.

“I can’t let you kill me.”

“Well, we can’t let you leave.”

“You can and will.”

Amy picked up a bow, but it didn’t seem like Kala saw that.

“Why, why would you attack? For power?”

“You don’t need to know.”

Her attention was on me, and Amy took aim.

We had one shot, that would stun her and allow us to win.

_

(2 hours ago)

“So, why would you want me to fight?”

“Because Kala will be wary of all of us, but you, even if she realizes you’re from another world, she’d likely make the same assumption that Ausar made.”

“Amy, how good is your archery?”

“Why?”

“Because dragons have one weakness on our bodies.”

“Okay, I’m pretty good, what would I have to aim for?”

“Square in the middle of her eyeball.”

“I see.”

“Can you do it?”

“Yes.”

_

Amy aimed as Kala was focused on me.

Then she shot.

It was straighter than I expected. She was a perfect shot.

It landed directly in Kala’s eye.

She screeched, and we attacked. There wasn’t a curse on it, so we had to fight full power, but we were able to.

Celios and Asura both pushed in their blades and cut her hands in half, as me and Nala charged forward and lopped off her legs.

She fell down and we all converged our magic for one attack.

“Divine Destruction!!!”

“LIFE FOUNDATION!!!”

My eyes widened as she broke into a smile.

We lost.

_

Their blast worked. It obliterated me, until a single cell remained.

“Did we do it?”

“No…”

Only Dallel knew I survived.

My regeneration already was working. My skeleton reformed as I stood up.

“Impossible, that would have killed anyone.”

“Oh, you fools. I am way stronger than you.”

Asura struck my skeleton, but his blade broke.

“Life Eruption.”

My magic erupted, speeding my regeneration to an unparalled level.

My clothes were in tatters, but my body was in full stature.

I smiled as Celios and Nala both thought they lost, but Dallel wasn’t done.

“Life Eclipse.”

He cut off my head.

Then he caught it.

In his hand, I turned to face him. My face turned into the horror game smile.

Magic shot from my body and grappled my head, returning it to its proper condition.

“Haven’t you figured it out yet? I’m unbeatable.”

My mouth didn’t move.

Dallel struck with his full force. With his speed and evolution, he was a match for me.

“I will win.”

“No, you won’t, Dallel.”

My only goal was getting out of there without killing anyone, but they were annoyingly stubborn.

“You’re forsaken Kala, we can win.”

“Oh right, what if I simply removed myself from that system.”

Kala did the work and removed us, now I had my power.

“What?”

“Move or you die.”

They attacked and I countered. I knocked down Celios and Nala. Dallel was the only one still standing.

I used fear, but Dallel stood and looked at me. He coughed.

“I won’t let you hurt anyone else.”

“Alright.”

I battled on equal ground with Dallel. It was difficult to, but I managed. I realized that a single mismove would give him a chance for a proper attack.

His evolution put him on par with me. That’s not good.

Me and him struck back and forth like an ancient dance.

I’d slash his arm, he’d cut my stomach, and back and forth we went.

He sped up, so I did too.

Celios recognized something.

“She’s trying to not cause collateral, why?”

Nala noticed something more.

“She’s not even trying to fight, just to run.”

They noticed. They are Kala’s children after all.

Dallel struck down with a powerful blow, but I narrowly dodged, with it cutting through my torso.

Despite their observations, Dallel was smart enough not to let his guard down for a single second.

Then I felt two presences.

I dodged as Silith and Ausar did a combo attack. They caused an earthquake with their landing.

“You stole my thunder, brat!”

“Oh, please, you slowed my attack enough for her to dodge, Aussy.”

“Can you two idiots focus?!”

The duo turned to Dallel in shock as he just called them out. I snickered.

“So, you are bringing more to fight? How fun, you can’t take me on alone.”

Celios shouted.

“She’s only trying to get out at this point, but be careful, she recovered her memories.”

“Understood.”

“Well, this isn’t fair at all. 4 gods and an altmer against little old me.”

I needed to act as the monster for now, Kala was tiring, so I needed to escape at all costs.

“You won’t be able to leave here alive.”

“And why not? Do you really think you can beat me?”

Silith smiled.

“You are tiring from your restraint, that will leave you open.”

“You want to be a hero my child?”

They looked confused at me.

Then my face dismorphed as I smiled.

“Then die like one.”

I charged at full speed and cut Silith in half. I was getting desperate, and they realized it.

“Think fast.”

I narrowly dodged Nala and grabbed her leg, tossing her into Ausar.

Dallel slashed at me, but I caught it and ripped the blade from his hand, lodging it in Celios’s throat.

Thalia took advantage of my distraction and hit me with the full force of her flame onto my back.

She burnt a hole through my heart causing me to screech, but I lashed back, creating a whip, that dug a major gouge into her side.

‘Kala, I have one more plan.’

‘What?’

She was also tired.

‘It will either kill us, or it will save us.’

‘What?’

‘We need to name the rest of the shards.’

‘That… would escalate our power, but they could also rebel.’

‘I’ll hold them in place.’

‘Then I’d have to fight.’

‘And? Amy is out of harm's way now, so you can go crazy, just try not to kill Dallel.’

‘Alright. Let’s do this.’

I let Kala in control as I returned to the core where the other 9 were sleeping.

I named each one. Expending my mana, but then they awoke.

‘Kala, stage two.’

‘What?’

‘Release us but keep the body and run. We will remain connected, so you can call us back.’

‘Understood.’

‘Rose, what’s happening?’

‘I learnt the truth you now know, but now we need to fight so we can live.’

‘I understand.’

Kala then channeled her power, and all 10 of us launched out and landed.

I was at the forefront, a catkin wrapped in an embroidered drape.

Celios gasped.

“Purity.”

“How?”

“Run Kala, we’ll handle it from here.”

“Thank you, Rose.”

I smiled. Kala fled in my body.

“You should have just let us run.”

“Rose? H-how?”

I smiled sadly.

“I never was absorbed, you just assumed.”

They realized that for a majority of the battle, they fought me.

“Well, it’s time for the next fight to begin.”

Each shard nodded.

“Let’s begin.”