Kobold of the Desert pt. 2: Where the Thunder Strikes Twice
Riding along the sea, the kobolds, and the dragon talk amongst themselves while they travel. The kobolds ask about the time before theirs, wondering why he went on the rampage, and why he scorched the first island, what brought about the change in him. They never bothered to ask in the first place when they first found him dormant underground, but now seemed like a good time to get to know their new coworker. Sanda answers every single question, reflecting on his past actions, seeing where he messed up in dealing with the cult that was formed under his name.
“You do realize that this final cult member that managed to cross into this world could possibly be more powerful than you five?” Sanda pressed, coming to a realization that he does care for the five of them, regardless of how they play pranks on him. Watching them play on their phones.
Yipyip looked up from his book as he turned the page, “We understand that, and we are operating under the ‘No Stress, All Vibes’ mentality until we can gauge their power.” Looking back down to his book, “If push comes to shove, our expert war criminal would willingly sacrifice himself to protect the people of Daoin."
Sanda automatically realizes that he means Drisz, letting out a stressed sigh. "Clearly the five of you are joking again, but this is a very serious matter, and honestly I wish that you would take this seriously."
"What is in it for us other than stress if we take it seriously?"
"What?"
Zox interjected in their conversation, "It's not that we don't take it seriously, it's just well...being the literal embodiments of five of the seven elements, and having you there, we aren't exactly worried. It's not like this 'final' cult member can do much if they still worship you. Just talk some sense into them."
Sanda, unable to shake the feeling that the five of them are in danger, and the two going with him will be the first to fall due to their haughtiness. Not realizing that Drisz is sitting beside him.
"Look Gramps, I get it, you're worried about us, but you also gotta have faith in us."
Sanda jumped a little at sudden realization he was beside him.
"You gotta come out of your head once in a while. The five of us go with the flow, and that's why we work well together. I'm twenty-five percent sure nothing will pop off." Drisz spoke with clear confidence.
Keva speaking up, "As the leader of this group, I can honestly say that we can handle a world jumper."
Sanda lets a small chuckle out, actually surprised that they're trying to cheer him up. "Fine, fine...I got it guys. You've convinced me that you can handle it." Standing up, and stretching before heading to the snack table, "I guess I should learn to be more like the five of you it seems. Overly confident, unburdened by the world, completely devoid of all seriousness..."
The backhanded compliment getting them to laugh, none of them could exactly disagree with his assessment of them after all.
"Damn, Gramps got jokes it seems."
"He must've learned how to insult folks from you Drisz."
The tension on the ferry disappears while they finally get Sanda to relax a bit. The kobolds in their natural habitat. Sanda, once again, relaxing as he watched them, four of them paired off in couples, while one slept. After a bit, Drisz walked over to Sanda, sitting beside him.
“So Sanda, what’s the plan? Are you gonna try to talk to this cult member? Gonna kill him? Gonna make him a servant?” Drisz asked, pestering Sanda to get him to make conversation. “I just wanna know how you’d handle this after turning over a new leaf. Granted...I would wanna see you go batshit, I think it would be kinda funny~”
Sanda rolled his eyes, smiling as he pets Drisz’s head, albeit roughly. “Of course you would want to see my destructive power." Starting to chuckle, "maybe if you had a controlled area where I can let loose, I can demonstrate a fraction of my true power."
Drisz nods as he pulls out his phone, writes in its notepad, and takes personal notes on things, and precautions he needs to consider if he wants to build a place that can withstand Sanda's power. Sanda watches him, surprised at the thought he's putting into it, but ultimately flattered. Sanda smiles as he gets comfortable in his seat, watching the water ripple as the ferry crosses the sea. The tranquility being new to Sanda still, the last two hundred something odd years living, and watching how the five of them ruled the island, seeing how the people love them, knowing that they all have different factions, they are all worshiped by everyone. Closing his eyes, imagining what that would be like without having to force his subjects into worshiping him.
Drisz finally looks up from his phone as the sound of light snoring comes from beside him. Taking a look forward to see the others looking in his direction before a smirk appears on his face as he takes a marker out. Roark, Zox, and Yipyip follow along, Keva sighing as he knows what they're about to do. The other four drawing on Sanda’s face, Zox drawing fire on his cheeks, Yipyip, and Roark drawing tornados, and leaf storms. Drisz, on the other hand, decided to draw graffiti on his forehead. A nice Drisz Wuz Here directly under the glimmering tear drop shaped sapphire. Sanda shifting under them, and the four getting off. Keva taking a look at the map, seeing that they were getting close to Yemumia.
Keva, getting his bag together, “Alright boys, we’re getting close to our second stop before we split up. Wake up your art project, so we can go over our plan again.”
“No need, I’m awake. I just needed a few minutes to myself.”
“If you’re awake, go wash up, you drooled up a storm, and got it everywhere.”
Sanda getting up, and going to the bathroom to wash, Keva waiting for him to get upset over his new tattoos. But nothing from the ferry bathroom, just pure silence before Sanda comes out with a clean face.
Sanda sat down near the console that displayed a general map of Yemumia. The rest followed behind. Keva cleared his throat as he started laying out the plan from top to bottom.
“Roark, Yipyip, and I are headed to the port in Yemumia to see who’s ships are parked in our waters. Sanda, and Zox, I’m trusting you to babysit Drisz while Sanda finds his old cult member.
Sanda, and Zox nodded while Drisz spoke up.
“Why am I catching strays? I know I can be immature, but I actually would like to learn more about the old world from a mortal that managed to survive from that time. I am literally the only one that kept the records of our exploits, to our rise to godhood for over six hundred years.”
That piqued Sanda’s interests. Ultimately Sanda gave his word to watch over Drisz so he won’t run off. Drisz took a deep breath in and it turned into a long exasperated sigh, knowing that he’s being treated as a burden more than a part of the team he was assigned to. Sanda rested a hand on blue kobold’s head, giving him a little bit of a head pat as to let him know that he is an appreciated member of their excursion team. Drisz, reluctantly, welcomed the head pat, knowing it was more from pity than a genuine one of praise
As the meeting wrapped up, the ferry landed at the inner pier in Yemumia. Keva, and his group disembarked first to go do some supply shopping just in case a battle happens to break out, and want to keep damage to a minimum. Drisz, and company stayed back for a little bit to come up with a definite plan to how they will handle the cult member.
“Hey Sanda, we’re going to pretty much leave this one up to you.” Zox started to speak, “You know how to deal with those types in a diplomatic way. Normally we take a more hands on approach...if you catch my drift.”
“...I’m not sure I follow what you’re trying to get at, Young Zox.”
“Murder. We normally murder cultists before they become too fanatical.” Drisz said nonchalantly, looking at his claws, “Most of the time, they have done much harm to the people in the area they attempted to take over. We don’t take lightly to those trying to kill the ones we put in power in areas we can’t readily get to.”
Sanda nodded as he took in that information, unsure of how to feel as a wave of dread, and a weird sense of being proud washed over him. Knowing that he only saw them as a group of bumbling idiots, but they display moments where he sees himself.
Drisz starts back up, looking up to him, “So we’re wanting you to speak to them so nothing pops off. Zox, and I are strictly backup.” Pulling out his aerophone while talking to order a ride to Daoin. “How do you feel about that arrangement, Grandpa? Because we do recognize that it is putting you in a volatile situation.”
“I am fine with taking the lead with this excursion, also, you two are being awfully open with me.Young Zox I expect this kind of behavior from, but not from you Drisz.”
“It makes working together easier. I have over six hundred years to fully get to know Zox, inside and out, to the point I can speak to him without even speaking, same goes for the Keva, and the gang. But with you it has been a little over four hundred years, and I know we don’t fully trust each other.”
Sanda is surprised at the sudden introspection, nodding as the taxi pulls up, the three of them loading in. Driving through the arid desert, only a few cacti with budding flowers every few miles. The three of them were sweating bullets as the air conditioner in the car gave out mid trip. Sanda trying to hide his discomfort by meditating to generate cool thoughts, Zox, while being the embodiment of fire, still falling victim to a heat directly from the sun due to his internal fire overheating. Drisz, while not as hot as the embodiments of light and fire, wants to keep up the appearance that he too, is hot.
“Hey babe...”
“Sup?”
Zox laid across Drisz’s lap, “I need you to use your magic...I know you’re faking being hot.” Zox whined. “Make it colder, I know you can use that icy heart for good right now. So make it cold.”
The pleading, and whimpering from Zox making Drisz smirk sadistically as he places his hand on his forehead. “Awww, I’ll make it cooler for you, but you know you’ll owe me later, My eternal flame~” looking up to Sanda, with the same smirk, “Would you like me to cool you down too, Gramps~ If you do, just know it comes at a price~”
“This does not leave this taxi, but I will let my ego go this one time for a quick respite from this heat...”
Drisz placed his free hand on Sanda’s forehead, and proceeded to drop his body temperature for them. Both Sanda, and Zox feel relief from the heat under Drisz’s touch. Hour after hour passes before they get to the gates of Daoin. The three of them get out as they receive a text from Roark, asking if they made it safely. Sanda replies in turn that they made it to the outer gates. Drisz, and Zox are already on the case asking questions to any and everybody they see, wanting to gather as much information before they take the next steps to finding the cultist. Sanda watching them, not used to seeing them work so hard.
Hours passed, the sun starting to set, Drisz and Zox comparing notes, and getting leads.
“You two put me in charge, but pretty much took charge on your own. My respect for you two might have grown ever so slightly.”
“We know, it just happened.”
The three of them at a cafe after the question asking part of the investigation ended for the day, Drisz looking for a hotel for the three of them to sleep at, while Zox orders an espresso, an iced latte, and americano for the table, while they wait, Zox getting a little antsy.
“So...Sanda, do you like coffee, I just got the three I normally get, so take your pick.” Zox grabs the espresso after Drisz automatically grabs the latte, and adds vodka that he had stashed away.
Sanda, and Zox watch as the blue kobold pours half of the bottle in his drink, and drinks it as if it was nothing. The sight mildly shocked them before he pulled out his notebook. Drisz flips to the few pages he took notes on. Taking another sip of his coffee flavoured vodka. “So what I have so far is that further in the desert, sightings of a small cloaked figure wanders in the sand dunes.” Drisz looks up from his notepad as Zox pulls his phone out.
“Others say the figure can be seen around four in the morning, some say that they can hear a strange language being spoken by the figure.”
“So you might have to translate for us, Gramps.
“I planned on it, but I’m sure I can force it to speak the common tongue of this world.”
After a few hours of planning, the three of them paid for their drinks, and set off to look for an inn. As the sun sets, they find a small inn near the edge of town in the direction they need to head in.
Drisz cleared his throat, holding a fist up, “Rock paper scissors to sleep alone tonight.” Sanda, not understanding what is going on while Zox stretches as if he’s training for an important race. “First to three wins gets to sleep alone because I don’t feel like paying for three rooms when it’s just us.”
The air tense as the first “Rock...Paper Scissors!” is shouted out. Drisz, and Sanda, throwing paper, as Zox threw rock.
“Damn it!”
Drisz, smugly cooing in Zox’s ear, “That’s one win for me, and Gramps...hopefully you like sharing beds with dragons~”
“Shut up, you two still have to get to three before you claim victory.”
The second round commencing. “Rock...Paper...Scissors!” Zox throws rock again in hopes that they both throw scissors. Zox only being half right. Sanda threw scissors still not understanding why this small competition was happening, but ultimately, not caring in the slightest. But Drisz. Ol mischievous Drisz, waving at him with paper.
“One more for me~”
Sanda shakes his head as he walks to the front office, and rents a room for the three of them. The two of them were still going at their competition once Zox, and Drisz started throwing the same over, and over, and over. Sanda walked back over, picking them both up, and going to the room.
“The one who pays for the room sleeps alone. You two are sharing the bed. And I want no complaints, I already know how you two are already frisky with each other, so sharing a bed should be no issue to you.”
Drisz, and Zox nodded in agreement, submitting with no arguments, but a long sigh escaping their mouths. At their room door, Sanda sets them down to unlock the door. The room being largely unremarkable. Two beds with a nightstand between them, with a lamp, and clock on top. A mirror that hangs on the wall over the small counter that the television, and ice bucket. A small fridge under the counter, rusted, yet still functional. The light of the moon shining in through the curtains on the small table, and singular chair in the room.
The three of them looked a little disappointed as they entered the room.
Breaking the silence, Zox speaks up, “If I say what’s on my mind...I’ll be considered an asshole.”
Sanda reassures him, “I’m sure nothing you thought can be as bad as what I’m thinking.”
“The two of you are thinking along the lines of ‘I saw a room like this in a low budget porn video’ aren’t you?” Drisz asks as they look back, their faces confirming his guess of their thoughts. “Don’t worry guys, I was thinking the same thing honestly. More importantly, which bed you choosing Gramps? We should try to get as much rest as we can.”
Sanda sitting on the bed closest to the wall, leaving them with the window bed. The two get comfortable on the leftover bed, as Zox finds for the room service menu.
“You got the coffee, and Sanda got the room, I’ll cover food.” Drisz held his hand out, telling Zox to hand the menu over.
“I would like a pizza.”
“Young Zox, I don’t think that’s a wise food choice before heading to bed.”
“I’m going to have to agree with Gramps on this one Zoxxy, maybe a charcuterie board we can snack off of? And I buy you the biggest pizza Daoin can make tomorrow?”
“These are acceptable terms. Just make sure it's loaded with pepperoni, ham, and mushrooms. Anything less, and there will be hell to pay." Zox playfully jumping on Drisz while he orders the food after his demands
Sanda resting in the bed he chose, trying to figure out who, or better yet, what was able to survive his great world reset, and was able to live to the current day, and age. A feeling washing over him, it...unfamiliar to him, was it fear? What it a great sense of confusion? Either way, it doesn't sit right with him.
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