Chương 59: Chapter 1: King Barnacle

"What do you mean you're not coming with us?" Andy asked. He was finally back up on his feet. It had taken almost two weeks for his healing magic to return after expending it all. Barnacle, or King Zyphraxon as everyone else referred to him, hypothesized that it was the magic affinities warring inside of him that was slowing things down. Gustave shifted his weight back and forth on his feet and sent, "Andrew. You know that in order to reach my next evolution I must follow my own path. Just as you follow yours."

Andy closed his eyes, the fire burning just under his skin begging to be released. He needed to learn to control it, and the death magic to find balance again inside of himself. The first stop though was to find Treeven, the ancient treant who was on a pilgrimage to the Great Elder Tree. Hopefully, (which was the key word here) being that the treant was the most experienced with Life Affinity, he would be able to help Andy fix his own magic.

Treeven also had information on someone he'd met named Andy and it was as close to a lead as any they'd come across in their research while Andy had been resting.

"Gustave, I am going to miss you."

"Andrew, do not say it like that. I am going on my journey and we will meet again, of that, I am quite sure. You've grown into an acceptable creature with whom I am proud to have known." Andy's eyes began filling with tears. Gustave hopped up toward him and stretched his wings out, wrapping them around Andy's legs. Andy leaned his head down, resting his muzzle on the top of Gustave's head. Auri padded into the room and sighed.

"This is the fourth time I've walked in on the two of you saying good bye." Gustave and Andy separated awkwardly. Gustave sent embarrassment and shuffled backward, standing up straight. Auri padded over to Gustave and headbumped him gently, "I will miss you Gustave." After a beat she lifted her head and continued, "Now get out of here." She turned to Andy, "Let's go. Barnacle managed to fit some more time to meet with us before we head out."

[PARTY FORMATION: UPDATED] [REMOVED MEMBER: HERD(STORM RAPTOR)] [PARTY: 3 MEMBERS] [PARTY BONUS XP: +25% ON ALL XP GAINS WHILE PARTY MEMBERS ARE WITHIN PROXIMITY RANGE.] Gustave nodded to the two one last time before flying out the open window. Andy watched until he'd disappeared from sight, which, once Gustave had activated his wind, didn't take long. Auri said, "All right pony boy. Let's go." Andy shifted into his human form while moving around the castle.

While there was plenty of space, moving up and down stairs was fairly difficult as a quadruped. His silver hair flowed in soft waves around his shoulders. His horn stayed on his human forehead swirling with green red and black light. He'd become pretty accustomed to switching between forms, and shifting while wearing clothes was now mostly no longer a concern. Auri padded along beside Andy in her small fox form. Her golden eyes glinted as she caught a glimpse of Andy out of the corner of her eye.

"Pants." She said, sending amusement. Andy frowned, "What?" Auri looked deliberately downward, cocking an eyebrow. Or she would, if a fox had an eyebrow to cock. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Andy followed her gaze and cleared his throat. He purposefully kept walking though redness spread up his neck and into his cheeks and ears. He took a deep breath and scrunched his eyebrows in concentration. His horn brightened.

Black, red, and green motes of magic danced around Andy until they resolved into his familiar black trousers.

"You know," Andy said with a sigh as Auri continued to laugh.

"Most people would have to pay extra for that." He paused.

"... That might have come out wrong." The laughter died down as they walked and Andy straightened the collar of his white shirt with dignity.

"There. Respectable." Auri glanced down and started giggling again. Andy's breath caught. He looked down at himself, trying to see his behind while slowly turning in a circle, almost tripping over himself.

"What? What now?" Her laughter ticked up as she brushed tears out of her eyes with her tail.

"There was nothing wrong, was there?" She snorted. Andy muttered something as they rounded the corner. Two Kobold guards stood in their path, stopping them in their tracks. The leftmost guard stood stock straight, claws behind his back. His green-brown scales reminded Andy of an anole.

"State your names."

"Andy."" Full names for both of you." He cast a disapproving glare at Auri. She took the opportunity to cut in." Lady Auriana and Andrew Ponyboy Snodgrass. You know who we are, David. We go through this every day."

"Purpose?" He asked. Auri sighed dramatically.

"Barnacle has made time to see us."

"King Zyphraxon is very busy. Proof of summons?"

"Oh, come off it David," Auri sent.

"If King Barnacle is so busy, why are you wasting his time.." The other guard turned to David, utterly exasperated. His emerald green scales shimmered iridescent blue in the light.

"Lady Auriana and Andy were summoned and there is nothing abnormal about their presence here. We don't need to give everyone a hard time." David crossed his arms, his sword jangled across his scaled hide.

"I'm sure you're both normal sophonts with normal sophont habits. I am doing my job and–""David!" A voice boomed from the other side of the door.

"Let them in." David inhaled.

"David," came the voice again.

"... Yes, your majesty." Auri and Andy walked past David and through the large throne room doors. Auri cast David a willful smirk as she brushed past him into the awaiting chambers. There sitting on the throne was a very tall and broad man. Scales that were so deep a midnight blue that it felt like falling into night. The deep blue creeped up his neck, glistening at his joints.

His oil slick colored hair had been neatly trimmed in the current fashion and hung in loose waves to chin length, while his deep purple-blue eyes were twinkling in delight at the sight of his friends.

"Hey Barnacle." Andy said with a smile. Barnacle gestured towards the two chairs he'd had brought in for this occasion that he'd had placed near to his own seat. He asked with a note of sadness in his voice, "Gustave is off on his quest, then?" Andy nodded solemnly, taking a seat. Auri shifted into her form and took her seat as well.

"And where is Reginald?" Andy looked at Auri who shrugged.

"I ditched him an hour or so ago in the gardens."

"Auri!" Andy exclaimed.

"Why did you do that?"

"He's… somehow more talkative than you."

"Hey!" The corner of Barnacle's mouth twitched and he shook his head.

"Very well, you can catch him up."

"Barnacle, if you're the king why do we have to meet in short bursts instead of just you know, hanging out like we used to. Don't you make the rules?" Barnacle rubbed at a temple.

"Andy. You know why. I was on a sabbatical for over a thousand years and unfortunately, someone required an early return from said sabbatical. Which means a lot of paperwork, a lot of catching up, a lot of meetings, and a lot of sophonts needing a lot of things. On top of that we have three new and growing Nexuses which have not yet opened up. The Mythic council, sophonts and humans alike are all concerned about what will come out of those Nexuses when they do.

I must assuage their worries along with preparing for the worst." Andy nodded.

"Okay. Tell me again why you were on sabbatical." Barnacle placed one hand on Andy's shoulder and smiled kindly.

"For most of us, when we stop counting time in days or years and count it instead in decades and centuries. We must allow our brains to rest, lest we lose our minds.

"Now, where were we?"