As Kaine walked with them all, the Crows talked as if nothing had occurred, but within Kaine’s mind memories crawled out from deep down.

They might have thought he hadn’t heard them, but Kaine’s hearing was far keener than that.

Having only caught the last bits of their conversation, still he knew what DarkHour had brought up.

Nidhogg…

He thought, his hands clenching in annoyance at the very memory.

His eyes widening as he remembered the feeling.

Tension mixed in with a strangling pressure.

Remembering himself stalking the shadows of that game, unseen by the enemy, yet millions watched him and he knew it.

Knowing that the smallest mistake, the mildest fuck up he caused would rebound back at him several times over from each and every direction even after the match had long ended.

A pressure that, strangely enough, Kaine back then enjoyed.

As he remembered himself drunk from it, drowning in the feeling of importance, as he watched his team fight.

Appearing out of nowhere himself and crashing into the enemy like a maddened tiger, rabid and savage, attacks he would’ve usually evaded Kaine would take as he dealt his own counter attacks in unison.

He remembered himself, completely lost in the moment of pumping adrenaline.

He remembered himself, high on the rush it created inside him.

High on the feeling that drowned out everything else but itself.

“Jor?” When suddenly Rey’s voice snapped him out and brought him back down from the clouds.

Worried eyes staring right at him, she had stopped by him as the rest walked on ahead.

“You alright? Did you see something back in the-” She was about to ask, but Kaine continued walking onwards as well.

“No, it’s nothing.” He said, pinching himself and refocusing on what lay before him.

Gazing up at the cavern.

Those were different days, a different place, another me.

He thought, pushing it all back down deep below, Kaine restrained himself from sighing.

Pushing the memories out of his mind, his eyes narrowed upon Dark and Sin.

Briefly, guilt filled him, but he swatted that feeling away as well.

Continuing to silently follow Luna along with the rest as Roy, Jedd, Larakrell and Farvo chatted away, Dark and Sin studied their surroundings, and Rey watched him closely.

Kaine though spent the entire walk warding away memories, pushing the guilt and anger those memories resurfaced, out of his mind.

As Luna led them lower and lower down the cavern’s sides, Kaine and the rest stopped walking when they reached the bottom. Gazing at the opening in the stone that now lay before them, and the nest of branches and bones that lay within.

They each stared at the mass of feathers inside the nest, as its three sets of gigantic wings unfolded open, far larger than any of the flock’s as was the rest of its body.

“And what, might I ask, does this pup bring before me?” A grizzled voice asked, as the massive creature turned to them.

Three long necks coming to three owl-heads, each with their own set of differently coloured eyes and horn shapes.

The Great Watcher’s eyes glanced over them as they stared up at it.

{Titan} {The Great Horned Watcher} Trio [Level 34]

Trio’s eyes narrowed as they gazed at Kaine, “Ah, so the Dark Ones have indeed returned.” It mused, using its massive winged arms to fully turn its body towards them. “Yet the Delve has not awakened, might I question as to why this is?” It asked, pointing its question directly at Kaine as it moved forth to loom over him.

Holding his ground before this goliath of a bird, “I said no to the legion.” Kaine announced, not one bit afraid of the beast.

"Oh? The old masters must be dissappointed, long have they awaited their time of awakening!" Trio exclaimed in amusement, "But my problem that is not, for as long as the Delve retains its harmony is as long as they remain dissappointed." it emphesized, glaring over at Luna.

"The Great Horned one is upset? The pack did not mean to bring danger or go against you..." Luna whined in apology.

"Upset? No. But a prior warning would've been warranted." Trio sighed with one head, "The Dark One's business is none of my own, but the tranquilty of our home would be disturbed greatly by their awakening."

"Apologies Great One, but our hunting party encountered a group of Leaf Ears chasing this Dark One and their pack." Luna explained.

"Ah, yes retreat would have been imperative then. Alfs, kill one and the entire lot appear." Trio mused, glancing at Rey and Roy, "Never would I have imagined two to journey alongside a Dark One though."

Clearing her throat then, Jedd stepped into the conversation. "None of us are from the Elven city, we have instead journeyed far to reach it but..."

"That plan might change." Roy cringed.

“No, it won’t.” Kaine then added, the both of them turning to him.

“No? After those douchebags went at us out there?” Jedd argued.

“We have a quest to speak with someone there, and after all I doubt I’m the only Dark Elf amongst us at this point.” Kaine mused, remembering how simple the requirements for his transformation were.

Or were they? I don’t really know, still have to figure a way to test that out…

He thought with a sigh, “The Elves cannot capture and execute each and all of them, not without the rest of their people finding out and damn sure not without the rest of us knowing. Whether they like it or not, things are about to change in their society.” Kaine explained, “Either way, nobody tells me where I can and can’t go.” He grumbled out the last part.

“Ah…Hahah~” Causing Jedd to break out laughing, catching herself as she remembered what they stood before.

“Well, aren’t you a stubborn one, Dark One.” Trio mused as all of its heads focused upon him, “Interesting, a very interesting specimen you are. Even that being tied to your soul…” It said as Nova peaked out from behind his head, “I will admit, your very presence here is a danger in of itself. The Alfs finding their way down here would mean the downfall of the Delve as a whole…but-”

Opening its wings wide, Trio chuckled, “I like you Dark One, I look forward to seeing how you grow!” It exclaimed enthusiastically, “Pup.” It then said, turning to Luna.

“Y-Yes?” Luna answered.

“Tell your father to treat our guests well.” Trio told her, “The Flock approves of your stay, adventurers, although I shall warn you to be wary of your step. There lay paths down here that take to places not even we dare tread. Go not where the pack doesn’t take you, unless of course you seek the danger? Who knows? I expect a good view from here, Dark One, one who denied the very darkness yet stands unafraid of the Coven!” It exclaimed with great amusement.

“And I’ll hope to disappoint you as well there then.” Kaine grumbled, not looking forward to whatever this beast regarded as entertaining.

“Buahahah!” Trio laughed at his words, a three-voiced bellow that shook the ground they stood upon, “Truly you catch my intrigue! Well, if you ever wish to seek some…fun. I would personally suggest one of the other entrances to the Dark Legion’s little dungeon. Have a hack at their minions once, maybe twice? Not even I know what you might stumble into within!”

“We’ll…come back to you on that.” Kaine answered sheepishly, remembering the sheer strength that skeleton had pummeled into him.

Fuck if I’m fighting another level 71 mob!

Kaine thought, paling at the memory.

Seeing this, Trio laughed further, “Oh don’t worry, that foul minded Menuasa will be stuck in that new shell of his for a while longer. His minions I’m sure are nowhere near his capabilities, most are too mindless to be. Although I won’t say that I know what lays beyond them, my watchers have only dared scout the first few rooms.”

“How…” Kaine was about to ask when Trio’s eyes narrowed upon him.

“Oh my boy, I know of everything that happens around my fellow neighbors.” Trio mused with a chuckle, “Let’s just say I like to keep an…eye, on him just as well.” It said as the left head’s eyes flashed a brief blue glow. “But you all seem so weary, please, take time to rest. There is no fun in watching a short struggle.”

“Right…” Sin mumbled out, each of them leaning away as the creature loomed closer.

“Pup, show our guests to your finest cave.” Trio ordered the wolf, “I am sure that we shall speak again very soon, adventurers.” It then told them, turning to give them its back once more.

“A-As you wish, Great Horned One.” Luna mused, pulling lightly on Jedd’s pants with her mouth, “This way.” She said, and everyone turned to follow.

Kaine paused briefly though to glance back at the nest.

“Rest well, you especially, Dark One.” Trio said as he did, peering at Kaine with one eye before closing them all.

Narrowing his eyes at the creature, Kaine took a deep breath before turning away to follow the rest. Luna now leading them back up the Delve.