Chapter 3

"So where is this ‘Xtesh,’ anyway?" I asked Ozcar as we swam, leaving the goddess far behind us. "And why are we going to see him?"

"Xtesh is a master artisan," Ozcar explained. "He is a weapon craftsman, and the best his kind have to offer. Very few mortals get the opportunity to wield a weapon made by this gifted artisan. It would be advisable to treat anything he gives you with great care and caution.

"His dwelling is in a cave in that mountain," Ozcar continued, pointing to a large oceanic ridge a good distance off. "We will have to swim there from here. It’s protected by magic, and if I teleport us close, his booby-traps will make short work of us."

"Booby-traps?" I asked, my interest piqued. "Why would he need that kind of protection? Isn’t this whole area a large sanctuary?"

"Yes and no," Ozcar replied after a pause to consider his answer. "What the goddess tempted you with earlier is entirely possible... but not without exception. There are a great number of magicians, demons, and sprites living here. There are also kitsune, such as myself, and a multitude of other creatures you would only suspect to exist in fantasies. Many of those creatures are proud, willful beasts that would think nothing of breaking into Xtesh’s smithy and stealing a powerful weapon for themselves. As a result, Xtesh has set up a powerful series of traps to keep out unwanted guests. He’s had the help of the goddess’ magic, and many of his traps can sense the intentions of intruders. You must never come visit him without either me or someone else who knows the way. You could easily fall victim to one of his traps, especially if your intentions aren’t sanctioned by the goddess."

I didn’t press him for further detail. I believed him. This whole experience was already working to broaden my mind. It was much easier to accept the unbelievable, now that I’d witnessed it for myself.

It only took us a couple of hours to swim the rest of the way to the ridge, and by the time it was over, my arms and legs were aching from the swim. I had high endurance, but even I had never traveled so far underwater before. The water may have felt lighter, but it was still harder than walking on the surface. As I panted and struggled to keep up with Ozcar and his boundless supply of energy, he led me into a small, darkened hole in the side of the rock. We swam through the small entrance and found ourselves in blackness, with no indication of which direction to continue. The entrance was the only distinguishing feature.

"Take hold of my tail," Ozcar commanded, "and take care not to let go. I’ll lead us through to his shop."

What followed was a strange, almost frightening trip through inky nothingness, that seemed to last forever. How Ozcar was able to see his way in there was beyond me. I could see nothing, not even Ozcar. If I didn’t have my hands wrapped tightly around his bushy tail, I might have lost myself in the lonely darkness forever.

At last, we stopped moving, and Ozcar had me release his tail. "We’re at the door," he whispered. "Now is the time for you to do your part."

I was about to ask him what he meant when a loud, booming voice interrupted my train of thought. "Who trespasses in the sanctity of my lair?" It growled at me. "Tell me the name of the person I am about to slice into bits."

I balked at his words, but had a feeling that this was like another test. I steeled my nerves and spoke up loudly and clearly. "My name is Maus," I said firmly. "I have been sent by the goddess Jade to seek weapons so that I may destroy the sex beasts." I paused for a moment, and then couldn’t help adding, "Your threats are meaningless; I won’t leave without a weapon worthy of your name!"

"Well said," Ozcar whispered. I could almost see the mischievous grin on his face as he said it.

"Humph," the voice grunted. "You may be a fool, but at least you’re no coward. Very well. You may enter!"

The sudden burst of light that broke onto us as large, invisible doors parted and swung outward nearly blinded me, and I had to cover my eyes. As they adjusted to the light, I could see that I was looking into an enormous cavity, filled to the brim with gilded weapons of all shapes and sizes. The sheer enormity of the cavity was staggering. It seemed as though he had hollowed out the entire mountain and built his shop inside it!

"Hail, Xtesh," Ozcar greeted him, nodding his head as we entered. "It’s good to see you again. It’s been how long, now? Fifty years?"

"At least," came a voice behind us. I heard the large doors creak as they closed behind us, and I whirled around to see the person who had spoken. He was a very short, stout man, no taller than my waist, and he had a long, black beard that reached his knees. He wore a leather apron, the pockets of which contained tongs, a hammer, and bits of metal sticking out at odd angles. His eyes sparkled with an air of wisdom and cunning. He reminded me of something I knew from my childhood, but I couldn’t remember exactly what it was.

"I am Xtesh," he introduced himself, giving us a courteous bow. "I come from the cold mountains of Norway, where my tribe still dwells in secret. I make weapons for the worthy." He eyed me curiously. "You seek weapons to slay the sex beast? Does that mean that you are skilled in the arts of combat?"

"I have skill in swordfighting and throwing knives," I answered him. "I’m much better with the knives than I am with the sword, though."
"I see," he commented, poking a stubby hand through his beard to rub his chin thoughtfully. "Do you have any weapons on you now?" I nodded. "Let me look at them," he commanded.

I removed the three knives I carried from their sheath under my blouse, and I handed all three to the small man. "Ah, I see." He commented, turning them over and studying them interestedly. "Fine craftsmanship, if they were created by humans. You paid a lot of money for these, didn’t you?"
"Yes I did," I replied, surprised that he referred to humans as though they weren’t what he was. I wondered what he really was, then. "It took me a lot of time and odd jobs to save it all up."

"This type of weapon is ideal for you, I think," he continued, holding one up in the palm of his hand and hefting its weight. "You need a weapon that can be concealed, so that it won’t arouse suspicion. But you also need it to be sharp and easy to wield. A small dagger serves that purpose nicely." He handed them back to me.

"I can make you a variety of different weapons, all of which would serve you in different ways, but all of which could potentially be just as deadly as the other. However, your situation dictates that I must incorporate your weapons into your meager garb, and in such a way that they don’t get removed when you are attacked and possibly disrobed." He turned around for a moment and paused. I waited patiently to hear what he had to say, willing to let him think the situation out as he saw fit.

Finally he turned back around, a broad smile on his face. "I think I’ve solved the puzzle," he chuckled. "If you would, please remove your shoes. I’d also like your watch."

I glanced at Ozcar with obvious confusion, and he only nodded as if to tell me to go along with it. Shrugging, I removed what Xtesh had asked for, and handed it all to him.

"Both of you wait here," he commanded. "I’m going to the other side of the mountain to work on my ideas. It will take me several hours, so feel free to amuse yourselves by inspecting the weapons, but I must ask that you don’t pick any up. They have been enchanted to react violently if someone other than myself touches them."

I gulped as he whirled around and dashed away, his stubby legs taking him away faster than I would have imagined possible. I sighed. "I had hoped he’d have something ready-made, so that we wouldn’t have to wait," I grumbled.

"Xtesh is a master," Ozcar laughed. "The weapons you see here are those he has only created for his own gallery. When he gives weapons to a particular person, he customizes them so that they only work their best for that person."

"He spoke like he wasn’t human," I commented, happy for the chance to ask about it without offending him. "If he isn’t human, what is he?"
"He’s a dwarf," Ozcar replied. "Dwarves – true dwarves – are thought of as legendary by the people of the west. Japan doesn’t involve itself much in dwarvish history, and as such, they don’t know about them. Dwarves tend to prefer rocky places, like mountains and caves, so that they are closer to the precious metals and gems they prize."

"I thought he looked familiar!" I gasped. "I’ve read about dwarves! As a child!"

"You’ve read about kitsune too, right?" Ozcar chuckled.

"Yes, of course," I laughed. "But kitsune are commonplace compared to dwarves. Dwarves are so... foreign."

We spent the next hour gazing curiously at Xtesh’s weapons, marveling at the perfection and beauty of his crafts. After that, I was beginning to feel sleepy. Ozcar agreed to let me take a nap while he waited, so that’s just what I did. When I woke up, I felt him scratching my arm lightly with his paw.

"Wake up!" He chuckled. "And accept your gifts, you lazy human!"

Grouchy at him for calling me lazy, I got to my feet and gave Xtesh a jerky bow. "Sorry about that," I yawned. "I haven’t had any sleep for a long time."

"Think nothing of it," he said impatiently, waving it away. "Here. I designed these especially for you." He handed me two hard, leather shoes, and two thick, wide, gold wristbands.

"Shoes and jewelry?" I asked, perplexed. "I thought I was getting weapons."

"Those ARE weapons," he laughed, beaming proudly at me. "Put them on, and I’ll show you how to use them."

I did as he asked, and found that the shoes fit me very well, and laced up the side in a fashionable criss-cross pattern. The bracelets slipped easily enough onto my wrists, but as soon as they got beyond my hands, they snapped inward, clasping my wrists snugly. It was as though the metal itself had contracted!

"Now pay attention," Xtesh commanded, pointing at the bracelets. "These bracelets each hide a dagger inside them. I have woven the spell so that when you say the word "Verdo," a knife will emerge from your bracelet and fly outward toward the palm of your hand. Take care to grab it at the right moment. He lifted one of my hands and bent it toward the back of my arm a bit. I said the word as he instructed, and instantly, a small knife with a metal handle shot out from a hidden compartment in the bracelet under my wrist, and he caught it before it fell to the ground. "You can use this blade the same way you used your old ones," he explained. "When you are finished with it, simply tap its hilt on the part of your bracelet under your wrist, like so." He tapped the blunt end of the knife on the bracelet, and the knife shot back in the way it had came, appearing to melt a little as it went back in.
"But... that’s impossible!" I cried. "The band isn’t wide enough for that to fit in a compartment under there! How can it be?!"

"Bit of a trade secret," he laughed. "Suffice it to say that it’s done through magic. This effect will only work for you (and me, of course). No one else can use your weapons but you, do you understand?"

"Yes," I replied, still rather shaken by what I had seen. "So, what are the shoes for?"
"They contain concealed blades as well," he replied. "Point your toes upward." I did so, and the tips of my toes touched the inside of the shoe above them. With only a small "shick!" sound, a large, circular blade unfolded around the front half of my shoe.

"Woah!" I cried. "I wasn’t expecting one that big!"
"I wanted to give you cutting power on both sides of your foot," he explained. "Take care not to nick your legs with these blades, as they are very sharp and could do you damage. When you need to return them, simply raise your toes a second time. At any rate, these will be good to use when kicking, while your bracelet blades will best serve for punching and slashing. With these weapons, you can still have your clothes removed and fight. Even if the sex beasts tried to remove them as well, they wouldn’t be able to."

"This is great!" I cried, imagining how much easier it would be to free myself if one or more of my limbs were restrained. "Thank you so much!"

"I have kept your watch and shoes as payment," he added, adopting the air of a shrewd shop owner. "It isn’t often that I get my hands on human artifacts, and I’d like to keep them."

"I see no reason why not," I laughed. "I won’t be needing the shoes anyway, and I can always get another watch. Of the two of us, you’re the one getting the worse deal!"

Xtesh grinned. "Now you must go," he commanded. "I don’t have time to waste; my work never ends. You need to heed your time as well. Every second that passes is another chance for the sex beasts to reproduce."

"Take care!" Ozcar cried as we turned to leave. "I’ll tell the goddess about your work in this. She’ll be most appreciative!"

"Thanks again!" I cried. We waved goodbye, and exited through the large, rocky doors as they swung open again. I grabbed onto Ozcar’s tail, and we once again entered the blackness.
"It is now safe to teleport," he told me. "Hold tight to my tail, and stand firmly on both feet. Try not to squash me this time." He yanked me forward, and again the world around me became a blur of swirling light and dark. When we landed, I did my best to keep my balance, although I did stumble a bit.

"Whew!" I cried. "What a rush!" I glanced around at my surroundings and realized all at once that I was back in the presence of the goddess. I assumed a more dignified posture and gave her a respectful bow.

"She has been given very suitable weapons," Ozcar explained. "She will need to train with them a bit, I think, but they will work well for her. She is ready to accept your blessing now."

"Maus," she said calmly, after nodding at Ozcar. "I hereby give unto you the gift of healing." She stepped forward and cupped my cheeks in her hands. Unsure of what was happening, I could only gasp in surprise when she next bent her face toward mine and pressed her soft lips against mine. My eyes opened wide as I began to feel a strange, warm, tingling sensation pulse throughout my body, originating at my lips and traveling everywhere, from the top of my head to the tips of my toes and fingers. When she finally pulled her lips away from mine, I was breathing heavily, and my face had flushed brilliantly with embarassment.

"Wha... what was that all about?" I asked her, finding myself unable to keep from fidgeting. I wasn’t sure what to do with my hands or feet. I felt very strange. "Why did you kiss me?"

"That is the seal of the spell," she explained, amusement tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I have given you powerful restorative abilities. Should you sustain an injury, your can heal your body immediately, by drawing energy from the life forms around it to feed the healing process. This spell is powerful, but it has its limits. If you are mortally wounded, the only way you may heal yourself is if you drain the entire life away from something."

With a gasp I realized that she was right. I didn’t notice it at first, but the way to draw out a being’s energy was suddenly there in my mind, as if it had been there for years. It was difficult to describe – like a way of focusing the spirit. I’d never known such methods existed.

"If you should ever lose a battle with one of the sex beasts, and they have their way with you, you must remember this spell," Jade warned me. "Their mating process is brutal, and many girls are rent open by the sheer ferocity. Concentrate on draining the beast’s energy as he mates with you, and use it to heal yourself. It will still be painful, but it will keep you alive, and may weaken him enough to strike the final blow after he reaches climax. Remember, not all sex beasts will be taken in with the methods you used on Gnozo. Some will strike without warning, and not give you a chance to strike first. You may need to submit to their desires in order to defeat them."

"Look, I’ll do whatever it takes to kill them," I snapped, inwardly shuddering at the thought of allowing a sex beast to rape me. "But I’m not going to just roll over and let them use me as they like. I’d like to keep my innocence intact until I meet the right HUMAN guy for me. What you’re talking about is going to be the VERY last resort."
"I see," she replied, frowning as though she didn’t believe me. "Well, good luck to you, then. Ozcar will remain by your side, so that you may use his arts of concealment and teleportation to track down the beasts. Keep him near you whenever possible. He won’t be able to help when you’re fighting, but he will be able to sense danger faster and better than your human instincts will. It will make it difficult for any of the beasts to sneak up on you."

"Thank you," I said, bowing again. "I won’t let you down. Too much rides on this for me to fail. I promised Miki that I’d destroy the sex beasts, and I won’t rest until every one of them is dead!"

"Now is the time to take her to HAYF," Jade remarked, nodding in approval. "He will help you track down the beasts."
"Right!" Ozcar cried. "Take hold of my tail, Maus! We’re off to visit HotActionYiffFur!"

I didn’t have a chance to ask him who that was before he had yanked me into teleportation again. With all these characters I was supposed to meet, when was I supposed to start killing the sex beasts? I was beginning to get impatient.