The Tales of Zennes “The Nightmare”

Part 2, Letting Off Steam

As Zennes and Kiiwii trek back the down the mountain, the trail now much less snowy than before, Zennes is haunted by the the events earlier. His hand grips the necklace firmly. What was that light? Did he cause it? It couldn’t have been him, he doesn’t have magic!

“That sure was intense back there, I wasn’t expecting a mountain cat,” Kiiwii remarks thoughtfully.

“Me neither. I mean I knew they lived in environments like this, but those locals said none lived in this there. Of course I should’ve expected them after the nobles story, mountain cats may not care for humans but they sure do love their treasure.” Zennes sighs.

“They sure do,” Kiiwii agrees. “So um, what did you happened back there?” He suddenly asks, Zennes sighs knowing his companion is talking about that red light.

“I don’t know Kii, magicals come to power when they’re children, I’m 26! There’s no way I’m coming to a magical awakening now! I’m just guildkiller.”

“I don’t know about that Zen, that looked pretty magical back there,” Kiiwii says seriously.

“Yeah it did,” he admits lowly, staring at the ground. “I think I should talk to professional after the mission, get some answers.”

“Like who?”

“Hmm… Delphora might be able to help,” Zennes hums.

“Oh yeah Delphora is the leader of the magical guild Oceanids Guild! Aren’t the leaders of magical guilds determined by the most powerful and smartest magicals of that guild? She should definitely be able too if anyone can!” Kiiwii tries to encourage, rubbing his head affectionately against his friends chin. It breaks a small, wry grin on Zens face, but only for a moment, still concerned about the red light.

“I hope so, if anyone can, it would be Delphora.”

“Hey we’re almost to the mountain town!” Kiiwii’s points out with a chirp.

Zennes breathes a sigh of relief. “Finally, my boots are soaked,” he cringes.

“Hey we should go to that hot springs!” Zennes gazes to where Kiiwii’s pointing at.

Next to a large inn is a conjoined hot springs. His muscles aches as he watches the steam escape through a window, imagining the relaxing warmth. “That has got to be one of your best ideas yet dear friend,” Zen compliments. “But first let’s get a room, I’m not about to lug our stuff through the hot springs.”

“Yay!” His companion cheers. “I can’t wait to get in that warm, steamy water.” The raccoon slumps his whole weight on Zens shoulder, gushing as he imagines the relaxing springs.

“We’ll be there before you know it,” Zen promises, rubbing Kiiwii’s head lovingly.

Zennes trudges through the small village, with only four wooden homes, a small wooden shop, and a wooden inn with the conjoined hot springs.

Zennes strides towards the inn, already breathing a relieved sigh from the heat coming through the entrance. When he enters the front room is warmly lit and a host, a woman only a few years younger then himself with light blonde hair pulled back in a low bun and a light green kimono, matching her light green eyes, is there. Her eyes light up at his entrance and she smiles coyly, “good evening sir, would you like a room, or a trip to the hot springs?” She asks, her tone airy and sweet.

“A room please, as well as trip to the public hot springs for me and my speaking-animal companion,” Zennes grins a little, scratching Kiiwii’s chin.

“I’m ready to relax,” Kiiwii chirps from his shoulder.

“What a cute, little guy ,” she grins. “That will be 72 joyn.”

Zen reaches into his winter cloak, and hands her the small bundle of coins. She hands him a key, and two tickets to the hot springs back. “Your room is 209. The springs are open all the time so feel free to use it when you’re ready. My name is Lya if you need any more assistance,” she smiles, coyly touching the hair framing her face.

“Thank you Lya, let’s go relax Kii,” Zen says to his friend.

Kiiwii chirps. “Ah finally!” The two quickly drop off their stuff, and Zennes changes out of his soaking clothes. He hides their stuff, with the heirloom in mind, and with towels in their arms, the two finally head off to the hot springs. When they get inside, the hot springs are completely empty, much to both of their relief as neither are very social.

Kiiwii immediately jumps in, and Zen practically rips off his clothes in a hurry to jump in. “Ah,” the two friends sigh simultaneously. Zennes slumps farther down into the water so that it’s up to his neck.

“This is the life Kii,” Zen hums contentedly. He moves back to sit normally on the bench in the spring water, already feeling much more relaxed.

“It sure is,” the raccoon breathes back. “This is exactly what we needed.”

“You could say that again. Man, this mission was more a pain than it’s worth. My toes feel permanently frozen.” He cringes just thinking about it.

“I said it would be too cold,” Kiiwii sings in a “I told you so” tone. Zennes rolls his eyes and playfully taps Kii’s head.

“Yeah and you were right, but don’t get a big head from that.”

“Hard not to have a big head when I’m always right,” he teases back, his smirk growing when Zen immediately starts to retort.

“Oi! If my body wasn’t screaming in agony from being cold all day I would definitely be making you eat your words right now,” Zennes threatens half heartedly, prompting a laugh from his friend.

“You would have to catch me first old man.” Kiiwii laughs teasingly, quickly darting from Zens hand as he reaches to playfully tap his head again.

Zen snorts. “Who you calling old? You’ve been my companion most of my life, wouldn’t that make you old too?”

“Psh, I’m not old. Everyone can tell your old, no one can tell I’m old.” Kiiwii waves off, Zen give the raccoon an incredulous look.

“Kiiwii, you’re the size of a full grown adult raccoon, a baby raccoon is literally tenth the size of you. I think it’s obvious to everyone that you’re an adult. I think all that gushing about your “adorable-ness” from that nobleman’s daughter got to your head.”

“Zen you can tell my age because we’re companions, not many other humans can; raccoons aren’t a common companion. I still look like a baby raccoon to most humans.”

“If you say so,” Zen replies sarcastically.

Kiiwii smirks confidently, not at all deterred by his friends unsureness. “I’ll prove it, when we drop off that heirloom to the nobleman and his daughter.”

“All right, I’ll take that bet. What are the stakes?”

“Winner picks next mission?”

“Deal.” Zen shakes Kiiwii’s hand.

“Awe, he knows how to shake too?” A familiar, sweet voice coos and the duo look up to find the hostess earlier, Lya, standing in nothing but a towel. Her blonde hair, which only goes to her shoulders, is flowing freely, that coy smile still on her lips.

The question brings Zen back to the present, and quickly putting a sour taste in his mouth. He gives the woman a wry grin that came out more like a wince than anything else. “Lya was it again?”

“Yes,” she answers sweetly, a wicked grin spreads across Zens lips. Kiiwii was torn between laughing and rolling his eyes; this was always just so easy for his companion. The ladies and men alike swarm Zennes constantly, most lured by his attractive looks though some lured by the knowledge of who he is: The Nightmare.

“Would you like to come join us?” Zen offers, swaying his strong, wet, tan arm across the empty side next to him.

“I would love too,” she says sweetly, and then boldly drops her towel completely before getting in the water. Zen hides his shock at her boldness, but the shock is quickly taken over by lust, taking in her pretty, soft body. He likes a bold beauty, male or female.

Swaying her hips gently, she strides up to the water and submerges herself next to him, boldly pressing herself as close as she can against him. Her eyes are locked on his face, memorized by the black pointed lines tattooed on his medium tan cheeks and the black eyeliner tattooed around his eyes. With his short, spiky black hair, tall, slender, but still muscular tan body, and narrowed aloof eyes, Lya was instantly attracted to him.

“Now I don’t mean this in any rude way at all, it’s not well known knowledge so it’s completely understandable why you didn’t know. But speaking-animal companions are different than just animals, they hold the same level of intelligence as a human, which is why they love to bond with humans. Kiiwii here is smarter than me most of time, as we were just talking about.” Zen sighs, resting his arms along the edge of the springs.

“I told him it was gonna be too cold,” Kiiwii explains shortly with a small head shake.

An apologetic and horrified look immediately crosses Lyas face. “I’m so so sorry Kiiwii, I had no idea! Would you accept my apology?”

Kiiwii smiles and chirps. “Thanks but no worries, I get it’s not common knowledge and I appreciate the apology. Some people still like to still treat us like animals, determined to believe that just believe we look like animals, we can’t be as smart and great as another human.” Both Zen and Kii frown, Zennes rubs his friends head gently, comfortingly.

“You’re the smartest and the best companion ever Kiiwii, you and the other speaking-animals are always an equal to me,” Zen assures his friend gently, not noticing or meaning to cause the small blush forming on Lyas cheeks. She’s moved by the scene, and even more attracted to Zen now.

“Thank you Zen,” Kiiwii smiles, rubbing his cheek with Zens. He then jumps out of the water, and shakes off the residual from his fur. “I’m all relaxed now,” Kii sighs pleasantly, “I’m gonna go look for some grub, see if I can find some tasty garbage. Don’t wait up Zen!” Kiiwii runs off, drooling a little at the thought of garbage. Zen laughs at his friends excitement for trash, something he can’t help being a raccoon, and for secretly letting him have time with Lya. His friend is always so quick.

Lya joins the laughter. “That’s so cute that he still likes trash,” she compliments,still giggling a little. Zen turns his head fully to her, stretching an arm out around her shoulders. When she doesn’t move away, he takes that as the hint of her interest as well.

“Kii’s fun. So, tell me about Lya?” Zen says, his eyes occasionally dropping to her lips. Her coy smile is back and she leans her face closer to his face, her lips almost touching his ear.

“Are you sure you want to hear more about me or feel more about me,” she breathes in his ear and then she suddenly slides onto his lap, her legs on each side of his. Zen grabs her hips and pulls her closer.

“How about I go feel more about you in my room?” Zen whispers back.

“I would be more than happy too,” Lya breathes back airily, the guildkiller smirks.