#kelpret

HAPPY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY! It’s been one year since I started this passion project and we’ll be at 100 pages soon (in about 14 pages). Thanks for all your support.

Now onto the story!

Marian argues with a rather stubborn Lord Phos over her involvement in the current situation. She wants to save Astrid just as badly as he does. She partially blames herself for this as if she hadn’t come, things wouldn’t have been this way. The masked lord insists that he can take care of it and doesn’t desire to drag anyone else into this extremely personal affair. He feels responsible for Astrid and will do what he must to get him back. The young lady attempts to push the issue further, only to be shut down by both him and Lady Yancy. 

Meanwhile, Sir Phate is absolutely baffled by Astrid’s attempt to clue him in without giving up too much information. The scribe in the corner constantly scribbles as this ridiculous conversation goes on. It all boils down to that he woke up to fire and everything else that follow suit was purely coincidental. Sir Phate doesn’t believe this stunted lad as he keeps looking away. Astrid fires back with he’s under duress and not exactly in a position to be calm right now. His narcissistic captor grills him for hours before finally leaving him alone. 

Drained from that longwinded shake down, Astrid drifts off to sleep. Strange dreams form as a vision of the lake that Kelpret dwells in comes into focus. Two shadows dance feverishly into the murky depths as a massive wave of eyes washes over the scene. All he can do is watch as a slithering form slinks up from the blackish ichor. Through its flowing locks, the strange being gazes upon Astrid as it holds what seems to be Kelpret’s soul in its snout-like mouth. It feels a kinship with him as it approaches from beyond the lake of a thousand eyes.

The young godling cannot comprehend what’s going on as he is paralyzed by sheer awe and curiosity. This lanky serpentine being extends its feelers around him as it speaks cryptically. Suddenly, it takes on a more humanoid appearance- similar to Astrid himself if he weren’t so stunted. It keeps on talking about a hunger and a desire to see him grow. Urging him to take the glowing essence and consume it. Naturally, the sleeping young man is taken aback by such a request. He knows that this feeling he has now is connected to something frightful and wishes not to indulge the cravings within. Yet, the serpent insists as it returns to its normal shape. Astrid admits he’s afraid, deeply afraid of growing.

Sir Phate prematurely celebrates his victory as the sun’s soft light begins to fade into the night. One of his subordinates puts a damper on it as he points out something’s coming out of Muna’s front gate. Briefly, he’s in utter disbelief as usually no one has the balls to confront him. Yet on the other side his opponent steps out-Lord Phos and two of his associates. Their eyes met with utter distain and a sense of familiarity as things get tense quickly. Not wasting anytime, Sir Phate dramatically introduces himself before the supposed stranger. Lord Phos is unfazed by such trite performances. The masked challenger coldly retorts with such venomous vitriol dripping off each word uttered from behind the steely facade. This action alone invokes great ire from the malignant egoist as he confronts Lord Phos....