Dawn of the Immortalis: Volumes 1-3

Chap. 7: Stolen from the World

"What in the name of the knave of Storplains happened? What is this, why can't I feel anything. Talis, who is that old hag? Where am I?" the ring vibrated, a voice sounding like that of a dog, if dogs could talk, resonated from it.

"Mutt is that you?," Talis said, the corners of his lips lifting into a heartfelt smile.

"Well of course it's me, at least I think it's me. It is weird Talis, I can see but it's all around me. As if I have eyes on every part of my head."

"I'm sorry, it-it is my fault. I knew I shouldn't have left this morning. I cursed you - I didn't mean to. You're trapped inside a ring now and forever; there is no cure. Please, I beg of you, forgive me, I- I can't go on like this. I'm valueless; useless. I've created only sorrow and pain for all, nothing good has ever come of me," she got up, dabbing the tears from her eyes with her dark green cloth sleeve. She started running away, as fast as she could run.

The ground fell under her feet. She tumbled downwards, enveloped by the earth. Those bull-like beast started charging out of the whole at Talis. The ground behind him fell open as well, taking the pulfs with it. Talis was surrounded.

"I ain't running this time you unnatural bigots, you will pay," Talis said, sticking Mutt, now in the form of a ring, onto his middle finger of his left hand.

Talis got up, drawing Quicksilver, seething hatred pouring from his eyes. He walked ever so casually up to the beasts. The first beast came on at him swinging it's long scythe. Talis let his sword arm go limp. Quicksilver deflected the scythe and turned sharply, slicing the beast. The beast fell to the ground clutching final last wound. Two more beasts came on simultaneously, Talis slaughtered them just as easily. When four came on at once, Talis finished off three of them, he faltered for just a moment, but a moment too long. Talis was hit in the back by the beast. He fell to the ground, dropping Quicksilver. He murmured curses under his breath as he was clubbed on the head. Darkness enveloped him.

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Cold, hard rock hit Talis' face as he was slammed to the ground.

"Stupid boy. You slaughter us as your ancestors did. Revenge is such a sweet thing is it not," a bull creature said, standing over Talis, a wicked smile across its broad face.

Talis looked around, dots spotted his eyesight. He was in a room, with curved stone walls; as if naturally occurring.

"Get off of him, Bulwark, you dumb cow," another beast said pushing the first one off of Talis.

"What you mean Cowlin?" I don't get the satisfaction of tearing limb from limb?" Bulwark said, cracking his hooved fingers.

"No you dolt, what use is he with no limbs? We will put the thing to work," Cowlin said shaking his head.

Bulwark snorted, then walked out the room eying Talis menacingly.

"You must forgive him," Cowlin said, helping Talis to his feet, "he is angry that's all; not every cattlent is like that."

"Cattlent? Is that what you are?" Talis said, subconsciously searching for Quicksilver; who was nowhere to be found.

"Yes. We are not stupid, that fanciful blade of yours is kept in the keep. What is your name child?" Cowlin said, his tongue cleaning his own nose.

"Talis is I. What are you to do with me exactly?"

"Well well Talis, my friend," Cowlin said, spraying out snot on the word "friend", "are to tend the fields. Come now," he grabbed Talis' arm forcefully, pulling him towards the end of the room.

Cowlin pushed through the stone-made door, shoving Talis out of the room, onto the cold floor. Talis looked around, it took a second for his eyes to adjust to the sunless cavern, for that is what it was; a massive cave, seemingly unrefined. Yet it was somehow dimly lit. Talis looked to his right, there were glowing fields of mushrooms, of all colour, from bright blue to blood red. All of which emitted said colours into the air, giving it a very mysterious atmosphere. There were people of all sorts in the masses harvesting the fields. Stalactites scattered on the ceiling dripped crystalline drops of life; fresh water, onto the inhabitants of the place.

"Well get up you dimwit," Cowlin said, picking Talis up by the scruff of his neck and pointing to the fields, "go and get to work would you. Make yourself useful," he threw Talis hard into that direction and started the other way, cursing to himself under his breath.

"Let death take me now," Talis said, staggering to his feet.

Talis started walking towards the fields, still looking around, rubbing his arms nervously.

"Hey Talis! Down here."

Talis looked down, a smile spread across his face as he knelt on one knee, picking up a metal ring.

"Mutt... I can't believe how happy I am to see you," Talis said, holding Mutt in his hands up close to his simmering forest green eyes.

"Likewise my friend, I thought I was never to be found again! Where in the devil's head are we? All I saw was darkness as you were carried through the tunnels. I overheard something, I don't know if it's of any use, they said something about some king in the keep who's losing his mind a little," the ring reverberated.

"I don't know either. M-Mutt, why is all this happening. My life, it is being shredded and drifted away on the wind," a tear rolled down Talis check.

"And I'm a cursed ring. Problems assault us all Talis, what good is whining about it eh? Get up and lets find a way out of here."

"You're right," Talis said, his knuckles whitening.

Talis got up, stuffed Mutt on his finger and started walking towards the field, confidence growing with every step. As he got close, he could clearly see all the humanoids bent over, harvesting mushrooms, putting them in hide bags. Two cattlents lowered spears toward Talis.

"Why aren't you working?" one of them spited.

"I'm very sorry," Talis said, dripping with sarcasm, "I got distracted, where can I start?"

The cattlent, clearly not picking up on the sarcasm, grabbed Talis by the tunic and dragged him over to a patch of mushrooms. There were less gatherers around here. The beast handed Talis a hide bag and walked off. Talis started picking the mushrooms; they were fairly large. Someone tapped on his back.

"Mom! Da!" Talis exclaimed, his eyes lighting up.