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428: Kilot's Infectious Laughter

Author: Random_writer Word Count: 7054 Updated: 2025-06-09 15:35:39

Kilot's Infectious Laughter

The last day of travel took the group across a forest, a plain, then finally to a mountain range to the east, where they continued on foot. The Wyverns would have been too flashy so they sent them back to the Mech residence - a decision they soon came to regret as Kilot guided them to the base of a mountain. Hundreds of ancient, stone stairs ran up the mountain like a spine.1

"Have I ever said how much I hated stairs?" Elero asked, looking up at it all.

Doevm shrugged: "We might blend in with the dense population, but that is once we are inside the mines. We cannot afford to make a memorable entrance and stand out. The Wyverns had to go."

"I was speaking in the past tense," Elero said. "I'm much better now." To demonstrate she skipped to his side, her jet-black hair bouncing behind her as if caught off guard by the sudden shift in her mood.

Doevm simply stared back at her like he always did when he didn't know what to say. Humans were strange creatures after all. Of course Elero no longer hated stairs. Her legs were fixed, he had seen to that himself.

She seemed to have someone else in her head. Before she could voice it, Thomas butted in: "In that case, do you want to race?"

Elero opened her mouth to rebuke him, but paused. She looked from Thomas to the stairs and shrugged. "You know what, Thomas? Let's make this interesting: the first one to the top will get their new equipment made first."

Thomas extended his hand. "Sounds like a fair deal."

Elero reached for his hand, which Thomas retracted before bolting up the stairs. She cursed and hurried after him, life essence flaring.

Doevm sighed. "It's like I'm dealing with children," he said aloud.

"Oh brother. Give them a break, will you?" Kilot grumbled, already falling behind the group. "It's boring to be traveling all the time. We can't stare into space for the entire day like you can."

Frey looked down at Kilot with a slight smirk. "We can slow down for you if you want, old man. If we're attacked at this rate, you'll pass out before the fighting even begins. Stay alert."

Kilot scrunched his lips and picked up the pace.

"I can help if you want," Olpi said, but Kilot waved her off.

The steps were, quite literally, an uphill battle. Smog, the byproduct of the mine's hearths, reached into the clear sky. If any vegetation survived the lack of sunlight, the constant ashfall would squeeze the life out of it, leaving white bundles of roots in the blackened soil. Doevm imagined that his lungs would end up in the same state if he stayed for too long.

Frey walked up to Doevm as they ascended: "What's the plan?"

"Get ourselves some weapons, courtesy of our new blacksmith," Doevm said.

They both turned towards Kilot, who struggled to keep up with them. Olpi kept insisting, but he was still stubborn.

"I mean after we get our weapons, what then?" Frey insisted. "Isn't it time that we go after those legacies you talked about? Isn't that why we went through so much trouble to get Maximus Draken's map?"

"Leave that to me," Doevm said. "I can handle it."

Frey shook his head: "Usually, I'd get mad when you leave me out."

Doevm raised his brow at him. "But…"

"You look tired, that's all." Frey concluded. He started back up the stairs without another word.

A few stairs down, Kilot practically pushed Olpi away from him. "I said I'm fine! Leave me be."

"Ok fine," Olpi digressed. "Do it yourself. I don't care."

By the time the group slogged up to the gates, a red sun fell behind Vilbar's horizon. Four watchtowers stood watch and, although they were carved from the same, ancient stone as the damnable stairs, they almost seemed to welcome the travelers - almost.

Elero and Thomas were waiting for them. Thomas relaxed on the last step while Elero examined fresh wounds on her knees and shins.

"Guess who won?" Thomas exclaimed.

Elero gave him a friendly punch in the arm: "You're lucky I'm not adjusted yet."

"Adjusted to what? The altitude?" Thomas asked. "What a crappy excuse."

Doevm gestured to Elero's bruised knees. "Need adjustments? I want to refine my process if possible."

Elero shook her head. "I'm good. Anyway, where's Kilot?"

Frey chuckled and gestured behind them. "He'll get here, eventually."

Sweating, coughing, and wheezing, Kilot's legs wobbled with every step. His old back, however, was not the problem. It was what he carried: Olpi. "I warned her…" he gasped. "She should have been more worried about herself…stupid, cocky Elves. They're all sticks and bones."

As everyone (Kilot and Olpi) stopped to catch their breath at the top of the stairs, a stern voice yelled out: "Six snakes!"

Frey drew his weapon, leaping in front of Olpi: "We got company."

Thomas and Elero had their backs to the voice but, seeing Frey's reaction, they dashed to the front of the group without a thought, weapons drawn.

Doevm stood at the center of the formation, facepalming. "Six snakes means he wins the hand, you idiot."

"The hand?" Frey asked.

Circled around a card table to the side of the gates was a squad of armored Dwarves, holding cards. With ash obscuring his vision, Doevm vaguely made out sigils of the Platinum Hammer, and that the guards hadn't noticed the group's approach.

Doevm put a hand on Frey's shoulder, and felt the man's tension fade: "We came here to lay low, not antagonize the city guards."

Frey lowered both his weapon and his head, trying to ignore the light chuckling behind his back. "Sorry."

Elero was much less sympathetic than Doevm. She walked up to Frey and poked at his chest: "Look at you, leaping in front of damsels in distress. I didn't think you had it in you."

Olpi scratched the back of her head. "Damsel in distress?"

"I-I didn't…" Frey stammered. He took a breath to calm himself. "I'm sorry."

"No harm done," Doevm said. "We weren't noticed."

Kilot, however, couldn't contain himself; his jeering laughter echoed throughout the mountain range as if to hammer in Frey's embarrassment. It wasn't his usual, sarcastic chuckle but full-blown laughter - an infectious laughter at that.

It could have been Kilot's red, beady face, or the way he held his belly, or his strange laughter, or any combination of them; Elero and Thomas found themselves laughing just as hard as he did. Frey shrunk back even more. That made Kilot, and subsequently the others, laugh harder.

The cycle of hysterical hysteria reached the ears of the guards, who turned to see a bunch of red-faced, teary-eyed, ash-covered travelers…and Doevm.

"What the fuck is with these people?" one of them asked. He set his cards down, stood up, and cleared his voice. "Oye, who are you guys? What's your business here?"

Doevm stepped in front of the group and held his empty hands up to show he wasn't armed. "We wish to enter the Polyglint Mines."

"Well, you've come to the right place," the guard replied. "Now state your business."

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Catalog (467)
1: Prologue 2: Pawn 3: Abuse 4: Rose Thorn 5: A Mother Worries 6: War Monk 7: Virility Mansion 8: Coming war 9: Cleaning books 10: Frey 11: Strength vs. Skill 12: A day in Jameson's Shoes 13: Investigation 14: Lava Boar (Part 1) 15: Lava Boar (part 2) 16: Lava Boar (part 3) 17: Analysis 18: The Past 19: Frey's Challenge 20: Life Essence Training 21: Unhappy Birthday 22: The Truth 23: Leaving 24: Numbskull and Goon 25: Emma 26: Double Date 27: Blacksmith 28: Double Date (Part 2) 29: Mummified Arm 30: Prophecy 31: A Single Cut 32: Inheritance 33: Blasphemy 34: The Rat 35: Twisted Bone 36: Old Addiction 37: Caught 38: Interrogation 39: Welcome to Squad Six 40: Friendly Spar With Squad Six 41: Throwing Knives 42: Calm Before the Storm 43: Manticore 44: Aftermath of The First Battle 45: Promotion 46: New Rivalry 47: Light and Healing Magic 48: Second Mission 49: Wade's Bad Call 50: Outnumbered and Isolated 151: Divine Intervention 152: Final Push 153: Reaper 154: Report 155: Light at the End of the Tunnel 156: Rest 157: Letter 158: Shopping (Part 1/2) 159: Shopping (Part 2/2) 160: Initiation 161: Group of Four 162: Amphiboards 163: The Paddle 164: Start! 165: Bullfrog 166: Noble 167: Underwater 168: Tongue 169: Distant Gaze 170: Trak 171: Doubt 172: Liar 173: Fang 174: Cerberus 175: Teamwork 176: Tired 177: Spear Throwing 178: Breakdown 179: Team 180: Payback 181: Civil Discussion 182: Chains and Anger 183: Mistakes 184: Slight tug 185: Growing pain 186: The Winning Plan 187: Corpse 188: Miss Vessa 189: Old Ways 190: Infectious Determination 191: Numbed Pain 192: Hues 193: Inexperienced (Part 1/2) 194: Inexperienced (Part 2/2) 195: Maddening Rage (Part 1) 196: Maddening Rage (Part 2) 197: The Other Half 198: Lich Talk 199: Demonic Weapon 200: Worst of the Worst 251: Piece of an Origin Story 252: Regret 253: Decisions Decisions 254: Sparring Session 255: Overwhelming Defeat 256: Discovery 257: Suspicion 258: The Broken Statue 259: Gossip 260: The Reach 261: Elero's Return 262: Mr. Lich's true identity 263: Breaking a Habit 264: The Notemaker 265: Beatings, Deadlines, and a Voice in Her Head 266: Unfinished Product 267: The "Jet" Property 268: Inspiration 269: Rough First Day 270: Frustrating Stagnation 271: Visitor 272: Price of Resurrection 273: Becoming Doevm 274: Room of Jars 275: Familiar Smile 276: Dark Magic and Shadows 277: Red and Blue 278: Punishment 279: Sneaking Out 280: The Old Puppet 281: Shattered 282: Assembling the Pieces 283: Timeline 284: Sticks and Stones 285: Initiative, Insults, and Interrogation 286: Thomas and Elero discover the power and the secret then they go and discover the ruins. Man how long can these titles be? I 287: Regret 288: Revamped Story and a Crowded Room 289: Attack 290: Changing Nightmare 291: Another Crack in the Seal 292: Physical descriptions are important 293: Backyard 294: Pale complexion 295: Costly Resurrection 296: Rabbid Rabbit Thomas 297: Cramped Coffin 298: Advanced Spellcraft 299: Gradual Return 300: Larque's Warning 51: Elven Techniques 52: Hopi's Rage 53: Bottled Slimes 54: Three Men of the Von Trike Household 55: Hooks and Vines 56: The Nest 57: Ancient Ruins 58: Legacy (Part 1) 59: Legacy (Part 2) 60: Easter Egg Hunt: Ghoul Edition 61: Regrouping 62: Carnage 63: Reckless and Stupid 64: Self Doubt 65: DID YOU WANT ME TO BE QUIET!? 66: Meeting With Marcus 67: New Men 68: Internal Battle 69: The Plan 70: "Honorable" Duel (Part 1) 71: "Honorable" Duel (Part 2) 72: You're Invited 73: Praise the Goddess 74: A Lich That Hates Magic 75: Ten Months Later 76: Doevm vs. Oliver 77: A Weird Lich 78: Final Battle (Part 1) 79: Final Battle (Part 2) 80: Final Battle (Part 3) 81: General 82: Aftermath 83: No Longer Human. No Longer Lich. 84: Blinded By Greed 85: The Spider 86: Back On Track! 87: Dark World 88: Return to the Virility Household 89: Old Man's Story 90: Meeting The Family 91: Dummy Brigade 92: Weak 93: New Weapons 94: First Mission 95: Sheltered Boy 96: No Graves 97: Severed Head 98: Specimen No. 12 99: Storm Brewing 100: Departure 201: Distrust 202: Spear and Shield 203: Winner 204: Karma 205: Training Complete 206: Ruined Church 207: The Scene of Slaughter 208: Giant's Rage 209: Bottled Emotions 210: Gregen's Blade 211: Inhumane 212: Just My Luck 213: The Demon's Prey 214: Fallen (Part 1/2) 215: Fallen (Part 2/2) 216: Losing Control 217: Nightmare 218: Lich 219: Final Secrets Revealed 220: Twisted Mind 221: Glossary, NOT A CHAPTER 222: Coming to A Close 223: Jackal's Deal 224: Swaying the Crowd 225: Away With You 226: New Recruit 227: Jar of Memories 228: Two Blue Flames 229: Cerlius 230: The Knight's Academy 231: Meeting (1/3) 232: Meeting (2/3) 233: Meeting (3/3) 234: Entering the Academy (1/4) 235: Entering the Academy (2/4) 236: Entering the Academy (3/4) 237: Entering the Academy (4/4) 238: Cerlius's First Day of School 239: Three Concepts of Magic 240: Picking up the Pieces 241: Third Concept 242: Fish Slap 243: My name is Cerlius! 244: Thomas's Natural Charisma 245: New Disciples 246: Consequences of Strength 247: Old Wheelchair 248: Judgement 249: Natural Evil Cannot Be Forgotten 250: Deal with a Demon 101: Scrap City (Part 1) 102: Scrap City (Part 2) 103: Curiosity Killed the Cat 104: Draken Capital 105: Flash of Light 106: Separation 107: Slow Recovery 108: Jackal Von Trike 109: Alexander Finlish 110: Place Your Bets 111: Catch 112: Kill Him 113: Fear 114: Depths of the Capital 115: Missing 116: Meeting of the Nobles 117: Creature (Part 1) 118: Creature (Part 2) 119: Creature (Part 3) 120: Later 121: Braces 122: Abandoned Food 123: Elero Mech 124: Masochist 125: Poisonous 126: Halfbreed 127: Jackal vs. Daniel (Part 1) 128: Jackal vs Daniel (Part 2) 129: March 130: Lord Brandon Von Trike 131: Raid (Part 1) 132: Raid (Part 2) 133: Raid (Part 3) 134: Raid (Part 4) 135: Raid (Part 5) 136: Raid (Part 6) 137: Sore Loser 138: Human Suffering 139: Broken (Part 1) 140: Broken (Part 2) 141: Dark Magician 142: The Plan 143: Unmoving 144: Action Reaction 145: Going Deeper 146: Unknown Voice 147: Gunshots 148: Illusion Spell 149: A Girl 150: Anger Management Issues 301: Alliance 302: Shattered Jar 303: Tricks up the Tyrant's Sleeve 304: Battlefield 305: Deep Scars 306: Pull 307: Tormentor 308: Heretic 309: Incoming Storm Cloud 310: Ominous Birth 311: To Take on an Army 312: Green Gemstone 313: Place of Origin 314: Birth of the Lich 315: You Either Die a Hero or... 316: Tired of Hiding 317: Demon King's Power 318: Different Magics 319: Guidance 320: Birth of a Berserker 321: Targets 322: The Survivors 323: Long Awaited Contact 324: The Final Cliffhanger (part 1/2) 325: The Final Cliffhanger (part 1.5/2) Yes, I know I f***ed up 326: Final Final Cliffhanger, an apology 327: Quiet Arrival 328: Wizard Kick 329: Dead Silence 330: Dwindling Defenses 331: Positions Everyone, for the Show Begins 332: Imminent demise 333: Dud Part 1/2 (but let's be real here it'll probably be out of 3 because I underestimate stuff) 334: Dud Part 2 (Thanks to Logician for the suggestion) 335: Dud Part 3 336: Refusal to Submit 337: Hungry for a Fight 338: Lich Unleashed Part 1 339: Lich Unleashed Part 2 340: Lich Unleashed Part 3 341: The Western Hallway: Part 1 342: The Western Hallway: Part 2 343: The Mess Hall: Part 1 344: The Forbidden One's Arrival 345: Two Kings, a Rook, a Queen, a Priest, and a Whole lot of Pawns 346: Exception to the Rule 347: Fellow Pawn 348: Divine Savior 349: The Aftermath 350: The Shadox's Lament 351: Elero's Operation 352: Fall Down Seven Times. Get Up Eight Times. 353: PMI: Passive Magical Income 354: Hurried Goodbye 355: Graduation 356: Undead Shambling Through the Streets 357: Can I come with you? 358: Graduation 359: Sparring Session 360: Liar Liar 361: Washed Up Demi 362: Just a corpse 363: Into the Ruin 364: A Hero's Hesitation 365: Losing Control 366: Paying the Price 367: To Rely on Oneself 368: Kin 369: Deal 370: Come With Me 371: When It's Painful, Cry, Then Get Back Up. 372: Thomas's Choice 373: Bloodtrail 374: Plan B 375: Fighting to Die 376: Past the Breaking Point 377: Captain Fisher 378: Prologue 379: Prologue (Part 2) 380: Prologue (Part 3) 381: Prologue (Part 4) 382: Prologue (Part 5) 383: Last Day in a Long Journey 384: Frowning Frey 385: Mercenaries 386: Distracted 387: Lord Jameson 388: Disarming Sincerity 389: Search For Arte 390: Friendly Fire 391: Anger and Gentleness of a Giant 392: Safe Haven 393: The legend of Arthur Botoman 394: Old Foe 395: Wear and Tear 396: Compliments to the Chef (Part 1) 397: Compliments to the Chef (Part 2) 398: My Only Family (Part 1) 399: My Only Family (Part 2) 400: Wake up! 401: Whispers Underground 402: Why a chef? 403: Hostage Situation 404: Radiant Burst 405: Left Alive? 406: The Slap 407: The Right Choice (Part 1/2) 408: The Right Choice (Part 2/2) 409: Report from the Capital 410: Owen's Warning 411: Patron 412: Goodbye Petal Town 413: Old Friend in the Bloodwood 414: Boiling Toad 415: Full Alert 416: Relying on Magic 417: Gutless Cur 418: Doevm's paranoia 419: A Letter From Elero 420: Takeoff 421: Destination: Polyglint Mines 422: Good Old Reverse Psychology 423: Got any better ideas? 424: Blending in 425: Sir Wilhelm 426: Passing on a Message 427: Let's Play a Game 428: Kilot's Infectious Laughter 429: Descent into the Darkest Darkness...which is Dark (Part 1/2) 430: Descent into the Darkest Darkness...which is Dark (Part 2/2) 431: EEEWWWWWWWWWWWW 432: Firing up the Forge 433: The Second Legacy 434: Hit the Books 435: Welcome to the Game, Doevm 436: The Players 437: The Hollow Stone 438: The Lich's Blessing 439: Stupid Frey 440: Dragon Hoard 441: The Source of the Mana and the Unconscious Ally 442: The Classic Old Dwarvish Bait 443: Chronomancy, an Assassin, and a Theory 444: The Assassin's Execution 445: Jumping at Shadows 446: Whole again 447: An Old Dwarf has his Tricks 448: Food, Shelter, and Privacy 449: Maker's Punishment 450: New Image 451: The Troop's Morale 452: Divide and Conquer 453: Custom Order Tool 454: The Beginning of the Last Crucade 455: Recurring Dream or Nightmare? 456: Instigating a Fight 457: The Arrogance of the Strong 458: The Hunt Begins 459: Edgy Tendencies and a Pure-Hearted Smile 460: Reward: Ascention 461: Multi-layered Trap 462: Percieved Threat 463: Rise of the False Hope 464: Questionable Alliance 465: A Reason to Fight 466: When an Unstoppable Force Meets an Unmovable Object 467: Lesson One Complete
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