Theme: Curses, Crypts, and Creeps.

Optional prompt: He wiped the ooze from his chin. by SarcasticCupcake5.

This is a continuation to [Sept21] Tribble Month 24: Memories of the Lost.

---

The man who met us at the harbor of the crypt city of Furida wiped ooze from his chin. Shiro chittered; he was probably just as disgusted as I was.

“What’s up with him?” Tymon asked.

“A curse,” the man explained. “Was retrieving this,” he gestured to the coffer he had brought, “from a crypt when some creeps attacked me from behind. Been dripping this sludge since then.”

“How do you get rid of that?” Bolotseseg asked.

“Can you even get rid of that curse?” Myrial asked.

The man shifted. “My employer’s talking with some curse-breakers here. Might have to go to Livergreen if they can’t help.”

“I hope yours can be broken.” Myrial grimaced. “I know a few things about unbreakable curses.”

The man struggled for words for a moment before pointing at Myrial, asking, “Cursed?”

Myrial nodded. “I can’t be referred to with pronouns by anyone else except myself, and even then just with I.” Our captain shrugged. “I’ve come to accept it as a punishment for what happened.”

So that’s why it was so weird to talk about Myrial at the beginning.

“Huh. That explains.” The man scratched his chin and wiped the ooze that stuck to his fingers to a handkerchief. “Hope for the best.” He handed the money to Myrial. “Best of sails to you.”

Myrial nodded, accepting the money. “Thank you. Best of all to you.”

Theme: The Best Laid Plans.

Optional prompt: The other survivors turned to her for leadership, not recognizing her grief. by CassidyPeterson.

This is a continuation to [Sept21] Tribble Month 23: A Would-Be Contract.

---

I walked to Myrial’s quarters to report that the ship was functioning and ready to depart. However, when I got there, I noticed my captain looking at old photos I had seen only once before: photos of the old crew, Heyiadl just like Myrial.

I don’t know what happened to that crew for things to go so bad; Myrial has never talked about it. I’m not even certain if anyone even recognized the grief losing the crew like that brought. I know that there were survivors who turned to Myrial for leadership, but where they went or if they even survived all the way to the end, I’m not sure.

I cleared my throat.

Myrial jumped and, upon seeing me, slammed the album shut. “Kanan. Anything to report?”

“All systems clear. We’re ready to depart,” I reported.

Myrial smiled as if unburdened by the memories brought up by lost fellows. “Excellent. I now know where we’re going next.”

Oh. So that’s why Kuro was grumbling outside earlier. She probably had a feeling that this was not the best-laid plan Myrial had come up with.

Theme: Intense Emotions.

Optional prompt: “Some situations simply require swearing.” by SarcasticCupcake5.

This is a continuation to [Sept21] Tribble Month 19: A House of Shadows.

---

I have little to no idea how I made it out of the damn House of Shadows. All I know is that I found myself on the deck of the ship, trembling in front of my crew.

“Well, now that you’re properly spooked, how about you tell exactly why you killed Tymon? Y’know, before I toss you to whatever I feel is suitable,” Myrial asked.

What? All this, to make me ready for interrogation?!

“Why did I… Why the fuck do you think I did it?!”

“Wow, you made a number on him, Myrial. He’s never been so ready to swear,” Tymon remarked.

“Some situations simply require swearing, and I’d say torture like this does!” I snapped. “In case you didn’t know, it was for my sister Lyra.”

“Why?” Myrial asked.

“Because he broke his heart!”

“Dumping your sister hardly justifies killing anyone,” Myrial remarked.

“It’s not the dumping. It’s the fact that it broke her heart.”

“Still not-“

“Just fucking listen to me!” I yelled. “I’ve tried in vain to heal her because this goddamn idiot decided that he did not want her after all!”

Tymon sighed. “Look, we just didn’t click like that. I’ve explained it to you before.”

“Doesn’t matter. She’s been broken ever since. Asshole.” I spat at Tymon’s feet. “What I did had no fucking effect, so I turned to magic. Your blood was supposed to heal her.”

Tymon crossed his arms. “Well, did it?”

“No, since you didn’t die like you were fucking supposed to!” I stomped. “You should’ve died so Lyra could be happy again!”

Tymon shook his head. “You’re out of your mind, Ingolf. I’m done.” He turned his back on me.

I screeched and lunged at him.

Theme: That’s Not Supposed to be There.

Optional prompt: Your shadow opened its mouth. by Ag-Cat.

This is a continuation to [Sept21] Tribble Month 18: Fantastic Duos.

---

As the night fell, Myrial led me to what was apparently called a House of Shadows. “Go, get in there.”

I swallowed. “What exactly is this place?”

Myrial’s grin grew toothier. “You’ll see soon enough.”

I probably had no other choice. I stepped over the threshold and cringed when the door slammed shut. A quick look around revealed that the place, despite of being lit by completely immobile, stable lights, was full of restless shadows.

I looked at my own shadow. It opened its mouth and pulled something long and gross out of it. I swallowed again and figured it was for the best to look for the exit and try to ignore the shadows that should not have been there yet were there and were closing in on me which I do not like thank you very much this is not what I wanted-

Fuck.

Lyra, I’m so sorry.

Theme: Fantastic Duos.

Optional prompt: “The instruction booklet says 2-400 players.” by SarcasticCupcake5.

This is a continuation to [Sept21] Tribble Month 17: Punishment Registration.

---

I looked at Tymon. “You’re participating too?”

Tymon smirked. “Sure. I am an Everlive, after all. Might as well make use of my immortality.”

“So the magician at Livergreen confirmed that you indeed are immortal?”

Tymon nodded. “Mmhmm. Pretty wack that no matter what happens today, I’m going to outlive you.” His smirk grew. “So much for killing me.”

I growled and changed the subject. “How many riders are even going to participate in this show?”

“The instruction booklet says 2-400 players, and the mounts are considered players as well since they form a Fantastic Duo with their rider, so up to 198 others.” Tymon hummed and patted my shoulder. “Let’s give the rest of the crew a good show, shall we?”

I deigned not to answer.

---

Frankly, I don’t remember much of what happened during the show. I could only focus on staying on my griffin — Myrial must have picked a particularly moody one for me on purpose — and not getting pierced by a unicorn’s horn, a manticore’s tail or anything like that.

I don’t know how I survived, but somehow my griffin at the very least kept me alive and got us dubbed a Less Fantastic Duo, which… I suppose is better than what the duos that lost at least one member got.

When I saw Myrial meet me with a smirk, I realized that it would’ve been better if I’d died on the show. The punishment was far from over…

Theme: Mythical Creatures.

Optional prompt: I didn’t realize befriending garden gnomes is socially frowned upon by bookcrusher.

This a continuation to [Sept21] Tribble Month 16: Arrival.

---

“Seriously? You’re gonna have a gnome take part in the show?” the handler of a particularly angry-looking griffin said, eying me.

Myrial snorted. “I didn’t realize befriending garden gnomes is socially frowned upon nowadays. But no, he’s not a gnome. Just an idiot.”

“I’m not an idiot!” I snapped.

Myrial looked at me, one eyebrow raised. “Suuuure, and I’m considering registering you to ride with a pegasus instead of a griffin in the evening’s show.”

I sputtered. “You can’t do that! We have a contract, if I di-“

“A contract, which you already broke,” Myrial interrupted. “I’m not upheld by my side of it anymore, other than the fact that I have the right to decide your punishment. Whatever happens once you get on that griffin, you deserve it.”

It was probably for the best not to argue or Myrial might choose to have me ride a manticore or something similarly vicious. I looked at the unicorn and pegasus stables, hoping that this would not be the end of me.

After all, I didn’t (try to) kill Tymon for this.

Theme: The Grand Event.

Optional prompt: “Can you believe that’s what they’re wearing? It’s fabulous!” by SarcasticCupcake5.

This is a continuation to [Sept21] Tribble Month 15: Lies.

---

Well, trying to weasel myself out of (unsuccessfully) killing Tymon didn’t go as planned. I was thrown in a cell until we’d reach the next destination.

When I heard the kind of noise only a mass of celebrating people could make, I groaned. Of course Myrial had decided to take the whole crew to see the Heyiadl‘s grand festival.

“Can you believe what they’re wearing? It’s fabulous!” I could hear Bolotseseg shout somewhere nearby.

I had no idea what was going to happen — perhaps I’d be “volunteered” for a deadly dangerous show as punishment — but when Myrial came to release me for disembarking, I knew that it would not be anything good. That smirk told me more than I needed to know…

Theme: Life’s Little Luxuries.

Optional prompt: He was so bad at gardening that even the plastic plants died. by me.

This is a continuation to [Sept21] Tribble Month 13: A Time Traveler.

---

Tymon shuffled to me in the evening, looking like he wanted to talk about something.
“Well?” I asked. “Get on with it, Tymon.”
“They were right,” Tymon announced. “I can’t die from injuries, but my body doesn’t regenerate either, so I will die of old age at some point. The magician called it ‘pseudo-immortality’. If I get crushed badly enough, my body won’t be able to regenerate, at which point it’s for the best to destroy the whole thing and put me out of my misery.” He paused.
“Anything more?”
“If my body gets fully destroyed before death, my spirit will become a ghoul.”
A ghoul out of all the awful things in the world… “Shit. Does anyone else know?”
“Only you and Bolotseseg.”
“Good. Don’t let Ingolf know.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Very well. I’ll keep this info in mind with future tasks. Now, enjoy life’s little luxuries while you can.”
“Thanks, I will.”

Once Tymon was gone, I turned to the plants I had. The only thing that remained of Kholad.

Oh, Kholad… So bad at gardening that even the plastic plants died. How it was possible, I don’t know, but he was that bad until I taught him how to handle plants properly.

Man, I miss you so much every day…