The Dark Order 1.14: The Monarch Of Plant Magic!

The young hunter comes to. Startled by the gaze of an abnormally sized boa constrictor made from braided vines. It has wrapped around him, barring all movements. His eyes cut around the room. There’s a wooden table to his left, and inside a green mana barrier, is a colony of Mantis Hornets— Their thorax is covered in jagged, razor-thin barbs. Their wings soft as a pillow, allow them to fly silently. Their stingers are powerful enough to puncture deep muscle. Their deadliest quality is their bite, serrated flaps used to rip and shred their prey. They eat bone too.

Along with his much-acquainted snake, three others slither around. A yellow cobra with red spots sits coiled on the small table directly across from him. It’s close enough to strike. It yawns, exposing its four-inch fangs, before resting its head and staring at him.

His eyes cut up to a purple scaled top, smooth black bottom viper wrapped around a branch that’s burst through the roof of the cabin. It lies perched, watching intensively.

The last one is a red, twelve-feet tusked anaconda. It’s stretched out in the room, its head resting by the door. Its body is spread throughout the room and wrapped around the young man’s feet. Its reptilian eyes appear vividly through the red and black plant, Widow Flower and they watch him intently.

He’s hesitant to look to his right but must and his eyes clench shut as he’s startled by the snap of the Viper Flytrap. It’s prone to lash out. There are about 10 of them spread throughout the room. Some are hidden between larger, thicker, plants and shrubs and brush. This room is practically a terrarium. He hears humming from outside the room before Dakota appears with food.

“Thought I heard you squirming around in here, ya’ hungry?” He holds up a bowl of vegetable soup and bread. He whistles and the constrictor releases him, it and all three others slithering away as he walks into the room. The young man runs his limbs. “Sorry about that.” Dakota lets out a bellowing laugh. “I told her to be gentle… Here.” He hands over the food.

The young man is hesitant. “If I wanted to kill you, I’d left the recluse beetles out. Eat. We’ve got a lot to talk about.”

.

..

…

….

Charlotte and Jose are eating clay pot Elk at a food booth in Tramble. They’d been waiting for Constance and her unit to leave for two days. Jose slams his fork down.

I’m sick of waiting! We need to keep looking.

Charlotte rubs his arm. We’re supposed to be keeping a low profile. If we draw attention, they’ll start asking questions.

His head drops and she’s quick to lift it, comforting. I don’t want us to be punished for it.

He nods in agreement. She throws her Rolkan gems on the booth and rises. I want to go shopping.

Jose can only shake his head. I won’t be tricked into paying again.

The two bishops walk off.

.

..

…

….

Dakota straddles a chair made entirely of plants. He watches as the young man devours his food. He studies his appearance. The soles of his boots are beyond their wear expectancy. There’s a thick burgundy clay that’s caked onto them. The fabric in his clothes is covered in rips, and tears have all but unraveled. His skin is stained by the clay, along with his hands and nail beds. Dakota rubs at his facial hair, thinking.

Finally. “What’s your name?” His resounding voice overtakes the silence of the room.

“Morgan.” He’s timid, having stopped eating.

“Finish your food, Morgan. We can talk while you eat.” He hesitates before he goes back to engulfing his soup.

“What was the goal?”

“What do you mean?”

“You what…? Bought magic for yourself for the hell of it? Then tried to kill a girl to prove yourself?"

"It wasn't like that!" He grows defensive. "I didn't want to hurt anyone but..." He stops, now unable to eat. "I'll do whatever it takes to save my family... Even if it meant selling my soul for more power."

"Save them from what?"

He hesitates to say it but finally, the words force themselves out. "Slavery."

Dakota again rubs at his facial hair, trying to piece this together. "Your family are slaves? Where?"

"Valta."

"At the Eastern border?" Morgan shakes his head, yes.

"The Orcs seized control of the town. We tried to defend ourselves but we were powerless against them." He balls his fists. "They killed my younger brother." The blue tint in his eyes flickers in and out as he looks at Dakota full of determination, tears have started slowly running down his face. "They killed him right in front of me, in front of our parents, and it was my fault because I was too weak to protect him."

"Where did you acquire this power?"

"A traveler... He never said his name... but he has deep scar across his face." This put Dakota on high alert. "Where did you meet this traveler?" He tries to remember and all he can muster is, "You won't believe me but--It seemed like he was everywhere."

"Sonofabitch." Dakota whispers to himself as he rises to his feet.

"What is it? Do you know this man?"

"That man died seven years ago." Now, he runs his hand through black shoulder length, greasy hair, riddled with dirt and plant leaves. "Did he offer you anything? Did you give him anything?"

"He said he could make me immortal."

"In exchange for what?" Without a word, Morgan pulls up his sleeve. Burned into his forearm are four perfectly shaped circles, connected by a fifth circle directly in the middle. "Kid, why would you do that?!"

"For me and my family's freedom!"

"Freedom?!" He's right up on him. His giant hands grip Morgan's shoulders. "Listen to what I'm about to tell you... I commend you for doing the unthinkable to save your family, but, you will never know freedom." Dakota's hands fall and his head drops. "You're going to free your family from slavery by becoming one yourself?"

"I did what had to."

"Not anymore... No. You relinquished your right to have a choice. You will be enslaved to this devil until he dies! And if you haven't gathered yet-- he's immortal."

"I don't care! Those monsters killed my brother, my friends, my neighbors and have ravaged our town. I now have the power to free them from this nightmare and that's more than worth it."

"These are Orcs! They're nearly indestructible!" He rubs his brow fiercely. "Only powerful magic can hurt them, understand?... If you go to Valta now, they will kill and stew you-- And your family." The faint blue tint in Morgan's eyes flickers in and out like a dying bulb.

.

..

...

....

Charlotte and Jose are walking around aimlessly.

I thought you wanted to go shopping. Jose signs annoyed.

Isn't this much more romantic? She smiles big. Plus, I have a surprise for you.

What's that?

We're almost there.

The duo walk along an Earth-worn path that winds through the woods. Charlotte looks around, captivated by the world around her. She scratches at her palm.

You okay? She gives a fake, forced smile.

Of course... Oh! We're almost there, we're almost there.

Just as she says this, there's a small clearing, the sun is mid-sunset, as they step into a hidden section of the forest, a large plot of land, covered in beautifully arranged vegetables, fruits, and various plants. Dakota's cabin rests directly in the middle.

Where are we?

Our other assignment.

The boy? The couple approaches the cabin with little concern.

Back inside, Dakota is pruning one of his plants. Morgan is eating again. He's walking around looking at the multitude of plants. "This is fascinating." Dakota looks back at him as he leans in to smell a purple ribbon textured orchid.

"Get away from that!" Morgan snaps back, looking over at him. "It'll kill you."

Wait...

"Before you freak out, most of the things in this house will kill you. I've told them not to." Morgan laughs. "You talk to plants?"

"Yes, and control them."

"Which ones?"

Dakota's eyes are glowing a hunter green. "All of them." Immediately after he finishes, the yellow cobra wraps around Morgan.

Suddenly, there's a hard knock on the door. Dakota's head slowly turns toward the doorway of the room.

Several explosive knocks before it destroys the front of the cabin. The room goes still, "Hellooooo!" Charlotte's psychotic laugh echoes through the newly hollowed space. "Can little Morgan come out and play?" Dakota looks at a terrified Morgan. A couple of deep breaths filled with regret and

"Plant Magic: Lily's Labyrinth." Right before his eyes, Morgan watches as the room is slowly overrun with Lilac lilies. "What are you doing?!"

Dakota walks out of the room as Morgan is being consumed. "Getting rid of a distraction." He shuts the door to the room. As he steps out, facing the destroyed front entry, Charlotte and Jose stand in their place as the dust settles.

"You're going to pay for that, ya' know?" His broad form was exposed through his shirt as he stretched out his neck while rubbing his shoulder.

"Can you at least make it interesting?"

There's a hunter-green aura flowing from his pores. He smiles.

.

..

...

....To be continued.

Start with Chapter 1.1

Jump back to Chapter 1.13

New Chapter Coming April 11,2025