Chapter 14 The Kappa

Ok so we both moved into place and both bowed very low. It froze for a min and tipped his head a tiny bit. We were hoping it would fully bow like us and spill the water out but it didn't. Shockingly it bowed slightly and then walked over to a rock and sat down on It. It looked at us and shook its head.

"Greetings travelers, why are you here disturbing my peace and quiet?" asked the Kappa.

We looked at each other shocked. Here we thought we would have a fight on our hands but instead we ended up with a conversation. This was sure different.

I put away my weapons and approached slowly. The kappa visibly relaxed when he saw me out away my weapons.

"Hello, I am Shi. Who are you? We did not mean to disturb you. We are here for a quest past the sacred waterfall."

"I am the Kappa of the lake. This is my home. You are here for a quest huh, which items are you going for? I do not give up my treasures easily."

"Your treasures? We are here for the cursed items. I need them to complete my set. Are those part of your treasures?"

The kappa stood up quickly and hopped off the rock. He walked over near the waterfall and pressed on a stone and a small door opened up. He went in and we could hear some banging and a curse word come out the door way.

"What do we do here? I thought he was an enemy we would have to fight. I don't want to put my weapons away but yet I don't want to offend." Bolggor asked.

"Hold on a sec, I will... darn it... where are you... ouch... ahh there it is... found it. Here since you showed me kindness and respect use this." The kappa threw something wrapped in a cloth bag at me and then held out 3 unlit torches to us.

I bowed and said thank you. I started to open up the bag and the Kappa jumped at me and knocked me down. He stood over me visibly upset.

"Do not open that thing near me ever or I will kill you all. Keep that foul thing sealed in that bag until you go away. You here me?"

I nodded and the Kappa relaxed and put on a mischievous grin. He held out his webbed hand to me. I took it and he pulled me up to a standing position with little issue. He was very strong and slimy. The residue from his hand made me wish to wipe it off but I didn't want to offend him so I did my best to ignore it for now vowing to wash my hands as soon as possible.

"Thank you for the torches, this bag and the hand up. This will be very helpful to us."

"Impressive will power you have. First I scared you, then you try to trick me with the bowing at me but then it's respect. I talked to you and you both understand me and don't freak out. Then I toss you a bag and you catch it instead of moving away. I jump on you and knock you down then help you up leaving slime on your hand and your reaction is to thank me. You my dear are weird and foolish. Looks like I could have a lot of fun with you." The kappa spoke looking me up and down with a sparkle in his eyes.

He walked back over to his rock and sat back down.

"I will welcome you to take that treasure from my lake area. The Cursed items make my skin crawl and I will be glad to see them taken away from here. Had you of came for anything else I would of killed you all. You all are too low level to be a threat to me anyways. I will warn you though. The fish do not like trespassing people and will fight you. The crabs are deadly do not get pinched. If you see a clam it owes me and tell him so. Those are my warnings to you. Now go wash your hand off before my slime dries on your hand."

"I will, thank you for the advice."

I approach the lake and go to stick my hand in the water but what I see makes me freeze. I decide to not stick my hand in that water and walk over to the waterfall instead. Holding my hand out I let the water pound away the slime.

"Very clever little noble. You didnt fall for my little game and prank. You are wise as well as polite."

I smiled at him, "I didnt miss the nice little fish with very large teeth staring at me and trying to be perfectly still. Had I of put my hand in the water I have to wonder if I would have a hand left afterwards. It was pretty though the orange white and black pattern it reminded me of Japanese koi fish but with large shark like teeth and red evil eyes."

"Hmm so you could see the fish, that means you wont be blindsided in the dungeon by them. I didnt think a human would be able to see them." replied the Kappa thoughtfully.

"What fish? it's just clear water down until near the bottom. I see a couple snakes but no fish" replied Bolggor.

"Hahaha this adventure is going to be interesting for him I see. Too bad he is made of rock though as they dont bleed. Odd he can see through the murky water though and it appears crystal clear to him. Golems are interesting." the Kappa mumbled.

"Murky?" replied Kuro. "It is a beautiful semi clear blue to my eyes, so peaceful and relaxing."

"Wait a sec here... we all see the water differently. For me it's a cloudy clear with evil looking fish in it. The nice kappa confirmed that there are indeed evil fish in the lake but neither of you can see them. Also we are all different races so maybe that is why things look different to each of us. I have to wonder why you two cant see the fish though. Maybe an illusion on the lake? Maybe the Kappa is having fun with us and I can see through his magic? Also you called me a human, I am not a human."

Bolggor put his hand in the water and a fish jumped out of the water and attacked him. I threw a fireball from my hand and it roasted the fish instantly. Everyone stared at me in shock. No one should be able to do that ability not even a Dragonkin. We can breathe fire but not shoot it out of our hand.

I felt odd and was starting to get mad. First for the pranks the Kappa was trying to do. Second that's Bolggor put his hand in the water after he was told there was evil fish in there and finally that everyone kept calling me a human and treating me like I was a noble when I just want to play my game under the radar and not be popular.

"Oh wow, that was so cool" Kuro said, "wait a sec, are you ok Shi? your eyes are glowing bright red and your face is shiny like crystal from the little bit I can see. I thought your skin was black and your eyes were a regular blood red."

I just shook my head and started pacing.

"Skin jet black with colors like rainbows caught in oil, deep red eyes that glow when upset,

Skin that becomes crystal clear and shines like a prism on everything around it,

Wisdom to see through the strongest of illusion,

Kindness to span an entire world of friendliness,

Love for all like they are her children,

Strong and able to wield black flame like the fabled stories of wizards,

She who was lost to us when we turned our backs on her ideals,

forever we await her return with baited breath,

all her subjects both creature and human will bow and swear to serve our long lost Empress.

Thus is that of the noble house of Black Flame Legion. Where our long lost noble line of Dragonkin who do hail. To find the last remaining children of the noble house is a quest all try to seek recover the chalice to show you the way. The chalice is the key to the noble house. Only four chalice do exist that were held sacred. Queen, King, Empress and The Lady find one chalice to begin your journey." The Kappa said in a trance like state.

He finished speaking and shook his head. Coming out of his trance he blinked and shivered.

"What did I just say? Its been a long time since a vision has happened."

I froze and instantly calmed down. He described me without knowing me at all. That was 100% creepy. I pulled out the notebook for notes and copied the text he said into it as fast as I could. I have a lot to think about there.

"You said something about a quest to find the children of the noble house of the Black Flame Legion and described the characteristics and character of the long lost Empress." Replied Bolggor in a puzzled tone.

The Kappa's eye went big and he looked straight at me. He jumped up and immediately bowed low to me spilling all of the water out of the top of his head. He stumbled forward and fell off the rock. His illusion magic shattered as soon as the last drop left his bowl. Bolggor and Kuro both flinched at the change of their surrounding. I walked over carefully and held out my hand to him to help him up.

"Thank you for your kindness" The kappa said as he slowly stood up with the help of my hand. His legs were shaking and he seemed to be drying out by the second.

I sat him back down on the rock and walked over to the water. That fish was still there but seemed confused. I stepped to the side and the fish didnt follow me. I checked my inventory for something to hold some water in so I could help the Kappa. The only thing I had that would work was the Chalice.

I asked Bolggor to please go over next to Kuro and make sure the fish I keep seeing surface near him doesnt try to attack him.

While Bolggor was distracted heading over there I grabbed the chalice out of my inventory and put it in the water. The fish that was nearby turned toward me and I expected it to attack but instead it froze and then moved further away from me.

I quickly went behind the Kappa and kept my back to my companions to hide the chalice from their eyes. I filled the bowl on the Kappa's head and then emptied the rest to the ground and put it back in my inventory.

A bright light shown around the Kappa and made him become golden. A bracelet appeared in his palm and he held it out to me.

"You have shown me beyond great kindness on this day and I will remember you for my entire immortal life. I will serve you if I am able from now until your final breath. Please take this and wear it, when you need me you can speak my name and I will come as fast as I can. I can travel to any source of water almost instantly but must travel slower on land. You have given me immortal life on this day." The Kappa spoke clearly and firmly.

I carefully took the bracelet from him.

*Chime* You have recieved the Immortal Kappa summoning bracelet *Chime*

Item description: This bracelet is bound to you and is for unlimited use. It can never be stolen and will never break. As long as your avatar exists so shall the bracelet. Use it to summon the Kappa that you have helped.

"I do not know your name Sir Kappa."

"You may give me my name as the one who I am bound too. Please though I request it to be a male name as I am male."

"Do I have to give you the name right now?"

"No but I cant come to you until you give me my name and to do that you will have to come back here and wake me up again."

"Then I will think about a name for you while I am in the dungeon and when I come out I will grant you it. How much longer for the skill?"

Kuro checked the timer, "It finished around the time he was speaking about that quest. I want to do that quest and find the long lost Empress and her children."

"Okay then lets get going on the quest my timer is still counting down." I said as he activated the spell.

The Kappa spoke quietly to me, "That chalice granted me eternal life, The chalice you hold is the Queen's Chalice. Be wary of those around you and hide that thing better so it isnt stolen from you. Thank you for what you did, My Lady Empress. Dont worry I wont tell anyone who you are or that you have returned."

Stunned I stumbled towards the cave entrance that opened up behind the waterfall. How could I be the Empress? I just want to hide and make enough money to live comfortably in a small house. He has to be mistaken and my armor is clouding his judgement. Kuro held out the torches and I lit all three of them. We each took one and Kuro led the way with Bolggor going last behind me.