Lake of Souls Chapter 15

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I held Filon trying to think of what to do. I kept lightly shaking him, "Filon please wake up! You can't die! Please…" My voice trailed off into more tears when I suddenly felt a presence behind me.

"Oh would you stop crying, child. Your little plaything will be okay, he just needs some rest. You only took a couple of years off of his life." The god now stood in front of me having appeared from the shadows behind me.

Pulling Filon closer with one arm, I brought my right arm behind my back drawing my blade. I swung it straight out to point at the god who stood only six inches away from the tip, "First he is not my plaything, he is my partner. Second, make yourself scarce or I will end your existence long before your brothers return." My tears were gone now replaced by a cold rage. My body shimmered brightly, the souls inside of me swimming much faster than normal.

The god took two steps back with a smile, "My mistake. I apologize that I did not understand the nature of your relationship with the young man." The god performed a full bow to me to try and show how sorry he was. Though he did it all with a grin across his face now. He stood back up fully, "However a piece of advice for the future. Do not try to be intimate with him again. You will kill him if you do."

I looked down at Filon, his breathing slowly getting stronger now. I looked back up, "Why is this? I thought since I had a soul of my own my ability to drain souls would go away. Wasn't that all just a product of me being a vessel?"

The god tilted his head placing one finger on his chin as if he were thinking, "Well yes and no. I created you as a vessel that could take souls into itself. I wasn't sure myself if that ability would go away once you reached the lake but now we have our answer. Apparently the ability is inherent to you dear Xea and unless you can get it under control you'll have to be very careful with your partner." He said the last word with a bit of disdain at the tip of his tongue.

My eyes widen and my sword drops slightly, "You created me? That's why none of the other gods could figure out which one of them made me. Because they didn't, you did. I'm assuming this was all for your long term plan to get revenge on your brothers. Why tell me now though?"

The god shrugged, "I saw no reason to keep the information a secret any longer and of course it was all part of my plan. Xea I have created five hundred just like you on five hundred different planets. The only reason we are even talking right now is because all of them failed. You were the first Xea! The first one to find the lake. To succeed where all your brethren had failed. Rejoice! Or will you continue to be sullen because you can't kiss your partner?"

Before I can answer, the god fades away into the darkness past the campfire issuing one last statement, "My brothers are coming Xea, your time is running out."

I growled softly in the back of my throat, annoyed at the god when I heard Filon's voice softly whisper, "Are you okay Xea?"

I drop my blade to the ground and pull Filon back from my body to look at him. His color has fully returned though he still looks weak and tired. I smiled widely, "I am now Filon. I am now."

I slowly brought Filon into a seated position, helped him to drink some water, and fed him a little food. With every passing moment he was looking better, now he was more tired than anything. Finally Filon spoke, "So that was the god? The one who told you about the lake and actually gave you the desire to find it? He doesn't sound like such a nice guy."

I smiled and sighed, "You are not wrong about that. He definitely is not a nice guy. However, don't worry about him, you need to focus on feeling better. You did technically cheat death after all. If I hadn't stopped when I did I probably would have.." My words trailed off and I started tending to the fire trying to give myself something to do so I wouldn't start crying again.

Filon placed a hand on my arm, "Xea look at me. Come on, please." I turned to look at him trying my hardest to hold myself together. "Xea this wasn't your fault. I know that you had no idea that would happen. You would have warned me and told me no if you had. Also I overheard the part where the god admitted that he hadn't known if you still had it or not." Now Filon laughed, "Though if I'm being perfectly honest that was a hell of a first kiss. More than worth a couple of years of my life."

I shook my head at his poor attempt at humor, "Logically I know you're right and that it wasn't my fault. That doesn't mean that I don't feel guilty though. I was truly scared that I had killed you." I started crying now and pulled Filon close to me though gently, "I care so much about you and I was afraid that I had lost you."

Filon held me, letting me cry, "You didn't though. I'm still here and really no worse for wear. So please forgive yourself. If not for you then for me."

I continued to cry for a little while before calming down, "I won't make any promises but I will try. Now what do you want to do?"

Filon smiled, running his hand across the top of my head, "I want you to help me out of my armor, then I feel a need to cuddle up to you, and get some sleep."

I blushed and smirked slightly as I pulled back and started undoing his armor to help him undress, "Really? I almost kill you and you want me to undress you so you can curl up to me. I see where you're at."

Filon turned bright red, "That is not at all what I meant and you know it! Though now I have to ask, does this mean you finally figured out other reasons why people would sleep together besides warmth?"

I grinned as I pulled off his legging armor and nodded, "Yes I have! Of course now that I know the answer to that it makes the bad news of the evening all that much worse."

Filon shrugged as he gently pushed on my chest signaling me to lay down. I did so and he curled up next to me with a contented sigh, "Like I said that kiss was more than worth it to me. You'll figure out how to control it in time Xea and I'll be here with you every step of the way."

I wrapped my arm around him protectively, "I hope so and thank you Filon that means a lot to me. Now let us go to sleep and see where we are in the morning."

Filon mumbled an acknowledgement apparently already most of the way there. I smiled and closed my eyes now, sleep overtaking me quickly. My dreams were scattered nightmares filled with bodies and cold laughter.

As light hit my eyes and caused me to stir I moved my arm to pull Filon against me more only to realize he wasn't there. I sat up rapidly now wide awake and in a panic only to see him next to the fire holding some meat over it. He looked over, "Hey there, it's okay. I just got hungry was all and you were still knocked out. Decided that I wanted to char my meat a little more."

I took a deep breath and sighed, "You'll have to forgive me. I'm probably going to be pretty jumpy for a while. I didn't sleep very well, had bad dreams all night. How are you feeling this morning though?"

Filon nodded, "I saw and felt that. You woke me up a couple of times because you kept moving around. It was like you were trying to fight something but you couldn't actually get your hands on it. The souls swimming in you kept alternating between not moving at all or moving in a flurry. Very peculiar though beautiful to watch. I'm feeling much better now thanks to you helping me last night." I started to open my mouth to say something but Filon stopped me, "Yes I know you feel responsible so of course you helped me. I also know that wasn't the only reason you did it. Xea you need to forgive yourself. If you don't it's going to tear you apart from the inside out."

I closed my mouth sheepishly and nodded standing up so I could start stretching. I noticed Filon watching me do my stretches which made me smile. He was right and I knew it but it would be a while before I felt even close to not feeling like this had all been my fault. After I was done I looked at him, "Alright now, the show is over, toss me some food please and then you get dressed so we can be on our way. It's time to go to the earth kingdom."

Filon laughed, reaching into the pack and tossed me a couple of hunks of meat and some fruit, "It was a good show while it lasted. Alright I'll get myself put together and we'll get a move on."

I happily chewed on my own food not having realized how hungry I was since I hadn't eaten last night. While I never liked Filon having to get dressed it was still fun to watch him do so. He happened to look over at some point and caught me. I turned away and started whistling to myself, "Oh wow look at the sky. So interesting." I looked back just to see him grinning, "What?"

He laughed, "Really now? What about the sky is so interesting? You seemed to have been far more interested in watching me before. After you gave me some lip about me watching you. How exactly is that fair my dear Xea?"

I shrugged, "Because I'm the King, so I get to make the rules obviously." I stuck my tongue out at him.

Filon chuckled, "Well now that I understand that. Grab your sword King Xea and let us be on our way."

I went to grab my sword, throwing it over my shoulder, and then pouted at Filon, "No fair! You know I don't like being called King."

Filon shrugged this time and started walking, "Then maybe don't try to use it to get your way and I won't." He looks back giving me a sly grin.

I ran to catch up to him, "You're a brat you know that right? I was only teasing." We went back and forth like this for the next hour as we made our way into the earth kingdom.

Crossing the border we both stopped noting a constant low rumbling under our feet. I looked at Filon, "I'm not crazy right? You feel that too? It feels like a much lesser version of when I left here."

Filon nodded, "Yeah I feel it. It is rather disconcerting. I wonder how the people here are dealing with it."

I started walking forward bringing up my mental map so I could find the closest gathering of people, "Well the best way to know is to go find out. I've got a map that shows me where people are so finding them should be easy."

Filon ran to catch up to me, "Wait, did you have that map back in the fire kingdom as well?" I nodded. "So then you didn't really need me to show you around or guide you?" I nodded again with a grin. "So then why let me? Why pretend like you had no clue what you were doing?"

I laughed, "Because I liked you and I wanted you to stay with me. You were so happy to be showing your new King around. It gave you a glow about you and I didn't want to take that away. As far as me pretending that I didn't know what I was doing, that part is true. I was not pretending at all. I could have found the villages but this whole making it up as I go along thing is very real. Why do you think I relayed most of my orders through you? Because you are much better at saying what needs to be said in a way people understand. I got lucky in that you can understand me."

Filon stared at me, "So pretty much from the beginning you decided you liked me and wanted me to come with you. What would have happened if I had said no?"

I looked off in the distance as we walked, "I didn't know what I felt at first. I knew it was a new emotion that made me feel giddy and happy. Once I realized what it was then yes I decided that if you would stay with me I wanted you to. If you had said no I wouldn't have been happy but I would have understood. I wouldn't have done something as ridiculous as try and force you to come with me."

I see Filon staring off and thinking, "I now know you wouldn't have done that. That just isn't the type of person you are. However if you have things that can help us please use them. Thank you for letting me guide you because I did feel kind of special and very helpful. However we do not have the time anymore for things like that. The gods are coming and I've got a feeling it isn't going to be a pleasant reunion."

I nodded, "Alright I promise you. All cool and special abilities I've got will be at your disposal from here on out. Too bad I don't know what all of them are and how they work. This small earthquake thing is getting annoying though. The nearest grouping of people shouldn't be much further."

We pushed onward into a small forest of trees. My feet moving on instinct now weaving through all of the roots and branches. Filon followed as fast as he could though he kept occasionally tripping up. Soon we could hear the voices of people ahead of us. We pushed into a clearing where there were several small huts and villagers. I immediately called out, "Is there a leader here I can speak with?"

Everyone turned their attention to us and a slightly older man with a military presence to him stepped forward. He bore a scar running down his face that had barely missed his left eye. I noticed a band on his right arm bearing an odd resemblance to the symbol that used to be on my chest but disformed though I couldn’t tell how. Before I could get a better look at it he spoke, "You're back I see. Set the world to ruin and now you've come to fix it have you? Well what do you want vessel?"

I sighed softly, "I have a soul now, I'm no longer a vessel. Yes I have come to fix what I have destroyed. So can you tell me about the constant tremors going on?"

The man laughed, "No longer a vessel you say. That's worth a laugh and a half. I can tell you that the tremors are happening but I couldn't tell you why. We had many earthquakes after you killed the King. His whole mountain collapsed, cutting us off from the air kingdom. So it has become bitterly cold further into the kingdom. At least here we are close enough to the fire kingdom that it isn't too bad until night time. You want to fix something then fix that problem."

I nodded and looked at Filon tilting my head off to the side, "Thank you for the information. Well we'll be leaving for now. I'll try to fix both of these problems." I moved to leave making sure Filon came with me. His face was barely disguising the anger I could feel welling up in him.

As soon as we were out of the village Filon burst out, "How dare he speak to you like that! You are the King! You should have let me deal with him and put him in his place."

I shook my head consulting my map again, "There was no point in getting into a fight with him. He wouldn't have felt any different and someone potentially you would have gotten hurt. No reason for conflict when we don't have to. Also you didn't care about it because I'm the King and you know it."

Filon growled softly, "You're right but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Yes again you're right I wanted to punch the man for insulting my partner but he still would have deserved it."

I stopped Filon and leaned down kissing his forehead, "That is very sweet of you but don't go around punching everyone who is mean to me. You'll probably end up breaking your hands before you're done. I wouldn't want those pretty hands of yours to get hurt. If they did I wouldn't be able to feel them touch me as often."

Filon slowly smiled back at me running a hand across my chest slowly, "You're too kind, I hope you realize that. It's going to get you hurt one of these days."

I shrugged as I resumed walking, "So be it. I'd rather be kind than what I used to be even if it means I end up hurt." I could feel Filon behind me wanting to argue but knowing that he wasn't going to change my mind. I looked off into the distance, "We keep traveling this way till we get to the former Earth King's castle. There I'll connect with the land and see what I can do. We won't make it today so for now we will go while we have sunlight and eventually we'll camp for the night."

The rest of the day passed rather quickly. We made it a good distance but there was still much to walk before we got to that mountain. I kept looking around trying to note if I saw anything familiar. However my time in the earth kingdom had not made a lasting impression outside of how nice the ground felt. Occasionally I was consulting my map just to make sure we were still headed in the right direction. As well as making sure we wouldn't come across any other settlements of people. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to stop Filon if someone insulted me again.

Soon enough night came and we set up camp. We were able to stop by a river and thus were able to drink our fill of water and then refill our pouches. Our food rations we're getting low again but I figured we could use part of tomorrow to forage. We ate and chatted about the day. As we were getting ready to lay down for the night Filon stopped me, "If it's okay with you I want you to tell me about one of your scars." He ran his fingers up the side of my torso across a series of puncture scars. His touch lit a small fire in me but I pushed it down as he said, "How about these for tonight?" He then gently pushed my chest, indicating me to lay down.

I removed my blade and laid on my back. Filon straddled himself across my hips though only barely due to my size. He goes back to running his fingers up and down my sides feeling the small indents in my skin, "So where did these scars come from? Almost looks like someone slammed a bunch of spikes into you or something."

I closed my eyes enjoying his touch, "It's funny that you pick these particular ones given where we are. The Earth King is the one who gave me these scars. By summoning up two massive chunks of rocks with sharp points coming off of them and then he crushed my body with them."

Filon stopped moving his hands, "Oh my gods! I'm so sorry Xea, that sounds horrible. So it is true that you died and kept coming back to life back when you were a vessel."

I nodded, "Indeed I did. Died a number of times on my journey and came back from each one. Honestly it hurts more to think about it than when it actually happened. As a vessel I didn't feel any pain, so dying didn't mean all that much to me. Also you can go back to what you were doing. It felt good."

Filon now just laid down on top of me burying his face into my neck as he went back to softly running his fingers up and down my torso, "I'm really sorry you had to go through all of that Xea. I don't even know how bad it got but I do know you've been through a worse hell than anyone else I know. I think that's why it perplexes me sometimes of just how gentle and kind you are. You would be well within your rights to tell this whole world to go to hell and yet you're out here trying to save it. I guess you're just a better man then the rest of us or at least me."

I ran one hand down his back and the other played with his hair, "It's because of everything that happened to me that I am the way I am. I suffered horribly for something that wasn't even my own doing. I want to live in a world where that never happens to anyone ever again. Now enough story time. We should get some sleep. We still probably won't make it to the mountain tomorrow but hopefully the next day we should."

Filon sighed and rolled off of me, "I guess you're right." He then curled into my side, "Good night and sweet dreams Xea. I'll see you in the morning."

I smiled closing my eyes, "Hopefully so. Good night and sweet dreams Filon." With that we both fell into a deep contented sleep.

We woke early the next day with the rising of the sun. Before it got too high up we were able to forage from a small grouping of berry bushes we found further down the river. With that taken care of we continued on towards the mountain. Our day was once again a relaxed one with no real intrusions. Though we both noticed the ground was starting to shake more and the air was definitely getting colder. I looked at Filon at one point, "We actually will need to cuddle for warmth tonight. Though first we should try to find a cave to settle in for the night."

We changed our direction to head towards another small set of mountains much closer to us. With about an hour of sunlight left we managed to find a cave surrounded by a number of large rocks. Filon set about making us a campfire while I moved some of the rocks to at least partially block off the cave entrance. Once I was done I sat down a little ways away from the fire trying to let my body cool off some.

Once I had cooled down I moved over to Filon and we went ahead and ate. As we were eating I looked over and noted that Filon seemed distracted, "Are you alright? You seem like your mind is elsewhere as if something is bothering you."

Filon shrugged, "I wish I could tell you but I feel like tomorrow may not be a good day. Just a feeling I have, that something bad is going to happen."

I shrugged, "If it does, it does Filon. To worry about it won't do us any good. So instead we'll enjoy our evening together and face the dawn together."

Filon started to open his mouth to retort but stopped. After taking a deep breath he spoke, "I guess you're right. Worrying won't do us any good when we don't even know what to worry about. However, that doesn't mean we can't be extra cautious right?"

I smiled, "We will be extra cautious. Head on a swivel and keep an eye out for anything strange or suspicious. Now come here and curl up on me. We need to stay warm." Filon quickly removed his armor and climbed into my lap. I curled into a ball around him after putting my back to a wall. We slept that way for the rest of the night. The wind howled all through the night and I kept waking up thinking I was hearing the sound of a child crying.

Morning came sooner than either of us would have liked but it came as it always does. I slowly uncurled myself from around Filon and we ate a quick breakfast. He donned his armor as I moved the rocks so we could get out. What awaited us was snow on the ground. Not especially thick but there none the less. I looked at Filon, "Alright we need to move. I'm not sure what's happening but I need to fix it."

We reoriented and started moving quickly to the mountain now. It wasn't long before both me and Filon were feeling the cold. For the first time in my life I wished that I had clothes. I looked at him, "Once we make it we can fix this. Use your own element to keep yourself warm. I'm cold but it won't kill me." He eyed me suspiciously but did as I asked. It took us half the day still to finally make it near the base of the mountain.

I could suddenly hear the baby crying again. This time loudly and close enough that Filon was hearing it as well. We turned past a pile of rubble to find ourselves at the base of the mountain now. In front of the entrance to the Earth King's old castle was an elderly man holding a staff. On an altar next to him was the crying baby. Its body so black like my own used to be. The old man now produced a knife from within his clothing, "All vessels must perish! Never will one be allowed to grow up again and bring more ruin upon our land!" With that he raised the knife high above him. I could see a band on his right arm similar to the elder we met earlier. Filon and I both began to run towards him shouting, “Stop!”

So wow this story is getting steadily darker by the chapter. I'm sorry for that. I promise anything that currently seems like a plot hole will be resolved. I realized I have a couple. I hope you all are continuing to enjoy this story. For those of you who are new there will be a link below to take you to the beginning. If you are then please heart, subscribe, and feel free to leave a tip. Till next time. The next chapter and the original short story will be linked down below.

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