Into the Caverns Part One: Cedric and Thomas

"Keep your eyes open! We don't know what's in here."

"Don’t worry Brother, I’ll keep you safe from the droplets of water.”

"Must you mock me?"

"You cannot give a lion a meal, and not expect it to be devoured."

"Oh? Am I the meal, in this self-serving metaphor?

"No, you're the chef. Your decisions and vocabulary, are the meal."

"My vocabulary is my decision, Cedric."

"Yes but, they're both ridicu-"

"Stop it! We must focus!"

The steel staff was under Thomas' firm, focused grip. Thomas tried to shake his head of his older brother's antics. He hates how even out here by themselves, Cedric must act as if he's impressing some girls during practice. Thomas couldn't believe Cedric even convinced him to wander out here.

"You must, relax Tommy, we-"

"You know I don't like to be called that!" Thomas spat as he slapped his brother's shoulder with his staff.

"Be careful with that!" Cedric cried out. "I don't want you to turn me into a toad in here, of all places!"

"Don't be a fool! That's not how staffs work. They're an empowering medium through which I can augment the essence of the magic within me."

"And you ask why I mock you."

"You asked a stupid question!"

"It wasn't a question, you -"

"Be quiet!"

"We're fine! There's-

"I hear something, be quiet!"

Thomas and Cedric stopped walking and stood still in the ominous, uncharted caverns. They heard out for any sounds that may signal signs of danger.

The two brothers came prepared in their combat gear. They know better than to wander too far from the safety of their village without protection and perception on their side. They may be young and inexperienced with the true nature of things that go on outside their world, but they aren't so sheltered as to engage the world without their preferred forms of response.

Cedric, the first born, had his trusty, comfortable and confident leather armor on. His top half was held with a well-tailored suit of oak-colored leather that protects most of his young, unblemished skin and vital organs. His forearms are free to breathe however, as the cloth doesn’t go past his biceps. He prefers the freedom and flexibility this gives him, and is further complemented by the draping, leather skirt that he chooses to wear.

Cedric is the most promising young fighter in his village, and he's grown proud of his abilities. He believes that he is talented enough and he would not need the extra armor in battle, especially with the flexibility and agility his armor offers him. 

He uses the same argument for being the only sword-wielding fighter in his class not to be using a shield too. Instead, he prefers a shorter, parrying focused sword.

This setup requires high dexterity, with focused and well-rounded strength, as well as confidence and poise. The young and promising Cedric is full of confidence, never underestimating his natural giftedness at the art of honorable battle. 

Cedric knows that his young, fit body is well-formed and developed enough to be a fierce adversary. Powerful enough to be feared, but slender and agile enough to not be an easy target. He is as proud as one can be. 

"I don't hear anything." Cedric whispered, growing somewhat impatient.

"Be quiet, please. We were told not to wander from the village for a reason. Maybe we should turn back."

"Why? I'm the best fighter among all of us, and you're a bleeding mage! We can go for a walk and be okay."

"This is more than a walk, Cedric! Mother specifically-"

"It's always about Mother with you, Thomas! When are you going to grow up?"

"Will you, stop!" Thomas said, hitting the floor with his expertly crafted steel staff. "Master Archaes says that I'm learning very fast and-"

"Master Archaes needs help to get up in the morning."

"Will you, stop!" Thomas commanded as he slammed his staff, causing the room to rumble and moan. Cedric felt the air around him powerfully shift and saw some of the rocks that circled them on the floor, rise and get tossed away with some invisible force.

"Thomas! You can't waste your energy like that in here!"

"It's not energy, it's mana!"

"Whatever, you know you can't waste it like that!"

Thomas groaned and looked down his light, silky mage robes. They allow him to have minimal physical constraint affecting his sensitive, but powerful magical capabilities. These robes were also infused with magic, boosting the younger brother's magical efficiency. They were light blue and stopped above his ankles, where his boots were laced.

Moodily, Thomas pulled up his hood.

Cedric groaned, hating how immature Thomas can be. 

"By the Maker, you need to grow up. I swear, if I didn’t know only guys could be mages, I’d wonder you if really had any bollocks.”

Thomas grimaced at his brother’s remark. 

“You dragged me into these specifically prohibited caverns, just to insult me? Can’t you do that somewhere safer, you knobhead!?

Cedric scoffed. “Listen, we're fine. There's nothing here to get-"

"Then why did you drag me here? Into these dark, confounding, and senseless caverns, if there’s nothing!? It’s sheer stupidity!"

"Let me finish, you ungrateful twat! I brought you here for adventure, you should thank me! Come on, it's so boring at home! There's nothing to do! I'm better than everyone else, and I’m trying to help you too! You need to practice without Master Ancient, clogging your nose with that old person smell."

Thomas tried to stifle his amusement at his brother's joke, but let it crack through. Cedric felt better knowing that Thomas wasn't too mad at him. He eased up and comforted Thomas' shoulder as he began to lead the way. 

"Come on, it's good to see things outside of the village. Let's see a little bit more before we go back. I'm not going to let anything happen to you, little brother. Mom would kill me."

"Dad would too. You just got ungrounded for when you broke my last staff."

"You shouldn't leave them on the floor like that! I can't just spawn a light in my hand like you."

"Whatever. It was on my side of the room, you shouldn't have been there."

The two brothers wandered deeper into the unknown caverns outside of the village, with Cedric leading the way and hoping to find something worth returning to. They heard so much about the various caverns and hidden pathways outside of their fenced in little village. The elders of the town never told any of them what lied in these mysteries, and but were sure to spread nightmares about what lied in their shadows. 

However, Cedric heard a rumor that there might be treasures hidden away in these caverns. The rumor sounded too good, and the elders stories sounded too absurd. Cedric wanted to prove that they were overly cautious. And, maybe bring back some gold while he's at it. 

"Do you have, like a goodie sense or something?" Cedric asked his brother. 

"A goodie sense? What by dirt, do you mean?"

"You know..." Cedric started, as he bent under the low entrance, on the lookout for something shiny. "A... locator for buried treasure, or something."

"No, I'm not a walking map. But, I can track certain smells or minerals with a strong enough sample."

"Like Gold??"

"Well..." Thomas said, thinking if that could work. Maybe he does have goodie sense.

"I suppose... if we have a gold sample, I could-"

"That's so awesome, Holy Maker in the Clouds! How come you never told me!?"

"Because I'm still not good with it! I need a really strong sample, and I'm not totally accurate with it, yet."

"What do you mean, you're not accurate?" Cedric asked as he stopped walking, allowing himself to search in his pouch. 

"I can't pinpoint the object, no matter the sample. Cedric, please, I'm not good with it yet, please don't-"

"What do you mean, you're not good with it!? Didn't Master Archaes say that you're a very fast learner?"

"Well, yeah-"

"You'll do fine, Thomas. This is just a test, to see if maybe something shows up... something... like this!? Can you find more of these?" 

Cedric pulled out a powerful, bright blue herb for his brother. It rejuvenates his mana, and empowers his magic until the herb runs out. 

"Maybe we can find more of these!"

"You don't need Seguarium though..." Thomas replied. 

"But you do! We could use more of your magic."

"Maybe... but Master-"

"It's always Mom or Master with you, Thomas! Come on, you don't have to listen to them anymore. You're not a little kid, right?"

Thomas nodded with slowly. 

"Then, come on! Live a little, let's look for something."

Thomas nodded harder this time and swallowed too. He lifted the hoodie off his head and took a hold of the herb. He could feel his magic react with the plant as he approached it, like a magnetic pull. Then when it touched his skin, it made the promising young mage all tingly, but in a good way. Thomas nodded and closed his eyes. He began to concentrate on the feeling and spirit of the herb, like Master-

"Is it working!?"

"Shut up, I'm trying to concentrate!"

"Sorry."

Thomas refocused, and channeled his magic, focusing on the aura in his hand. He began to feel his "goodie sense" beginning to work. He felt the energy in his hand burst out and search the area in pulses of magic. He scrunched his eyes tighter and thought deeper, hoping to find more Seguarium nearby.

Cedric looked around to see if he could see anything change with his brother's focus. He still doesn't understand magic that much. Almost no one in their village does. But, Cedric knows that mages are incredibly sought after, for their power and utility. It's a rare gift and has only been found in certain patriarchal heritages. Thomas is the first one to be documented in the family, and he's the only one in their small village. Master Archaes only knows it because of his scholarly studies. And even he's only met a few in his life.

"Over there!" Thomas said, pushing past Cedric and chasing after the pull of a nearby Seguarium.

"You found one?!"

"I think so! It's really close, just over here."

Cedric trailed his brother who just got ahead and made a turn deeper into the cavern. He found him standing in front of a worn-down looking door with plants living all over it. Thomas turned around at stared at Cedric, with a shocked, wide-eyed expression.

"Oh my... Thomas, we may have just found some adventure.”

Thomas stepped out of his brother’s way as Cedric reached towards the door, looking and feeling over it carefully. Thomas wasn’t so sure about going through that door, but he can tell that his brother was very curious.

“C-Cedric, maybe we-”

Cedric pulled on the door, but it didn’t budge. Cedric pushed on the door harder, but to no avail. He continued to try to open the door in every conceivable fashion, but it wouldn't budge. He tried to look through the cracks to see if there’s something blocking the door from opening. But, he couldn’t figure anything out. 

“Why can’t I open this door!?”

“Maybe we should just-”

“Thomas, can you try and open this?”

“Cedric, maybe we should just leave.”

“What!? We just found something exciting, we can’t leave now! Try and open the door, come on.”

“But you’re so strong, brother! If you can’t open it, how can your little brother open it? Hmmm?”

Cedric turned to his brother, and saw the snarky expression plastered on his young, magical face. Cedric had to try very hard not to crack a smile himself.

“Don’t tempt me, Thomas. I have two swords, and I can shove both of them up your ass.”

Thomas couldn’t help but laugh, and conceded the point, turning to the door.

“Alright, let me see. There’s another Seguarium to recharge me, behind here anyways.”

“I wish us fighters had some random leaf that made us strong. You mages are so lucky.”

“Not everyone can be blessed with the power of the Maker, brother.”

“Relax, you’re not that special.”

“Special, enough... to open this door!” Thomas commanded as the door began to rumble and shake. But, the door stayed closed. Cedric could see the confusion on his brother’s face.

“Apparently, you’re not special enough.”

“There’s some sort of magical barrier on this door...” Thomas said as he began to fall deep in thought.

“A magical barrier? Aren’t you magical?”

“...Yeah, but... Master Archaes never told me how to open these… However. I do remember reading something about this in a tome I wasn’t supposed to read.”

Cedric eyes grew wide and laughed as he shook his head. “Wait, did I hear you right? You went against Master Archaes’ orders? Are you really Thomas?”

“Shut up! I told you I’m not a little kid anymore. Now, let me concentrate.”

Cedric looked at his little brother with new found admiration. Maybe Thomas isn’t as much of a kid as he thought.

Thomas focused his energy, and tried to remember exactly what the tome directed him to do if there was a magical barrier. He moved his hands and staff in the patterns he thought he remembered reading, and focused his energy on the right highs and lows. Then, Thomas finished up with the ritual and threw his energy forward with a command.

Cedric and Thomas looked forward and saw nothing happen. Cedric tried to open the door, but it was still closed.

“Bleeding Maker! Okay, this might take some time.”

“Can’t you just like, blast the door open?” Cedric asked.

“It would take an enormous amount of energy, since it’s a magical barrier. You can try to break it down with your sword, if you’d like. But if the barrier is powerful enough, it may shatter your sword.”

“Ahh… no thanks. I trust you.”

Thomas nodded and took a breath, trying to concentrate. Not only for himself, but for his brother too. His brother depended on him to get them through this door, he trusted him to continue their adventure. He could prove to his big brother that he isn’t a kid anymore, and that he can really make a difference. He doesn’t just listen to Mother and Master Archaes. He listens to himself, and is his own young man. The only thing standing in Thomas’ way, is this one moss-covered door.

Thomas tried multiple interpretations of what he remembers reading, but none of them seemed successful. It frustrated him more and more, and felt his mana pool drain with each failed attempt.

“Gah! Brother, give me the Seguarium.”

Cedric gave Thomas the Seguarium he was holding onto and saw his brother clasp onto it and watched carefully. He saw his brother light up subtly, then open his clasped hand and saw that the plant was totally gone. Cedric never saw his brother actually use Seguarium before. He just knows that it helps, but he never realized that he can actually absorb it like that.

Thomas looked at the door with a renewed sense of determination and hostility.

“Okay, we’re going to try something else. Stand back, Cedric.”

Cedric stood back at his little brother’s serious tone. Although Thomas is his little brother, and he’s always felt like he had to protect him, Cedric sometimes found himself scared of the power his little brother wields. It truly feels like Thomas can control the entire world, sometimes. 

Thomas closed his eyes, circled his hands and pulled all the magic within and around him, into a visible concentration that formed around his dancing hands. Cedric stood back in awe, as he felt the air around him shift and drain cold, being pulled towards that sea-water colored form that his brother was growing with each moment that past.

After enough time, Thomas felt that he could garner no more power, and pulled all the magic into a sphere. The hairs on his body were drawn towards this energy, and he could feel part of him seep through his fingertips and latch onto that ball of pure, concentrated magic in his hands.

With a shout and forceful, full body push, Thomas threw his power forward. The concentration screamed through the air as it exploded on contact with the door. Cedric shielded his face with raised arms, and barely kept his ground as he felt his body get pushed back with the energy of the blast. His leather skirt waved and flew over him, lying against his upper body, victim of the powerful wind. His soft undergarments were visible, a light white cloth with the sole purpose of giving Cedric the illusion of comfort and safety. The white cloth was high on the young man, his muscled thighs were displayed, and his ample manhood was pushing down on the cloth. The outline, bulging through the thin fabric.

Cedric looked up worriedly, and saw the smoke thin out and start to disperse. Cedric could see light creak through the waning dust and slowly, it became obvious that the door has been blasted clean off. Cedric inched forward, noting the splinters of the door littering the floor. Quickly, he turned to where he last saw Thomas and saw him on his knees, breathing heavily.

“Thomas, are you alright!?”

“Yeah…” Thomas spoke out of breath. “Did it work?”

“Yes! It did, you blew the entire door to smithereens! You’re a walking trebuchet, you absolute madman!”

Thomas was too drained to truly appreciate the feat, or his brother’s acclaim, but he was able to nod his head. Cedric bent over, and picked up Thomas, and pulled his arm around his neck. Cedric started to walk forward with his brother hanging onto him, into the previously closed off door.

“Amazing job Tommy, absolutely outstanding!”

“Don’t… call me Tommy.”

“Sorry, sorry! But, I can’t believe that you just did that! That was so cool brother, I simply cannot contain myself! I tell you-”

The two brother’s stood in the middle of the room, and a rumble echoed as they stood. Cedric turned around, trying to find the source of this disturbance but could find nothing. The room they were in was lit by some strange looking lighted torches, and had another door at the end of the room. Inside, the walls were sketched with unknown symbols, the off-white walls were covered with moss and there appeared to be two statues on both sides of the now non-existent door behind them.

“Did you feel that, Thomas?”

“Yeah… what is it?”

“I do not know, there is nothing…” Cedric said as he continued to search the room. But then, his eyes stopped on the two large imposing statues. The once lifeless statues began to grow in animation.

The texture on the statues shifted in front of Cedric’s young eyes, which froze the young man in place. He has never seen anything like this before, and was not prepared to encounter something like this. The statues seemed to sizzle, their crossed arms grinded and their bodies slowly became lucid.

In sync, the two statues bent over and spread out their arms. Cedric realized that they were truly alive. He hurriedly backed up with Thomas in his arm, and lied him against the wall.

Cedric whispered loud enough for his brother to hear. “Thomas! Do you see this?”

Thomas looked up, and for saw what his brother was just beginning to accept. Two once stoic statues, now living creatures with animation standing next to the doorway. They looked to be covered in ragged wraps all over their monstrous frames except for their hands, feet and heads, which were draped with these dark hoods. 

Their heads were down, and their limbs were learning how to bend and stretch after years of frigidity. Their fingers and feet were long, bony and covered with imposing filth. The sight of the long appendages gave off the impression of death itself, would cause any human to shudder in disgust.  

Thomas shrieked out in boyish freight and crawled further against the wall.

The creatures looked up as they heard Thomas’ unmanly scream. They looked between the two youths ahead of them. Thomas and Cedric saw the faint pupils of the monsters under the hood, as they searched over their young, tender frames. Cedric stood ahead of his brother, unsheathed his two swords and took up a defensive battle position.

“Begone, monsters! We wish no ill-will towards you!”

One of the beast’s eyes began to glow in dark blue, and a raspy, unnerving voice echoed in the room.

“You broke into our chambers, and awoke our eternal slumber. Then, dare claim well intentions? You… humans, were always so very confusing.”

The other creature’s eyes then grew blue, as the other one’s blue disappeared. A similar, but more condescending voice, took over.

“It appears to be… a man, and a boy. We remember how to handle human males. They always foolishly displayed their strength, and their weakness, with no true understanding of which is which. I expect no less, even after all this time has passed.”

“Quiet, beast! We mean you no harm, but we will strike you down if you threaten us!”

“Cedric, they’re Eldritches be wary.” Thomas said, as he weakly got to his feet and began to search for his staff.

“Eldritches!? They aren’t real!”

“They are quite literally right in front of us! Don’t fool yourself, this is not a game! We need to leave!”

“You should listen to the boy… you are outmatched. You humans are so… delicate.”

“You’ve never matched verse me before, demon!”

“Cedric please, we cannot underestimate-”

“Quiet! We can handle this! Trust me, brother.”

Despite Cedric’s show of confidence, he was truly on the backfoot. The young man swallowed hard and tried to fight the nervousness that tore through his inexperienced frame. He always thought Eldritches were just made up fairy tales to scare them as children, not something he truly had to fear.

“The man is beginning to shake in freight. Perhaps he is truly a boy, afterall.”

“I’m not scared of you, demons! It is you, who should be scared of me!”

Cedric jousted forward, and put his swords forward in an aggressive manner. He danced around, and waited for the Eldritches as they slowly made their way to him. Cedric took careful note of his environment, and noticed the room was quite spacious, and the Eldritches moved quite heavily, with little passion or swiftness. He knew he could dance circles around them, and Cedric fully intended to use his speed and dexterity to his advantage.

Cedric pulled them away from Thomas, who he knows needed time to recapture his energies. Plus, Cedric had already told himself that he could take these two monotonous Eldritches on his own. He’s too quick, talented and shrewd to be bested by something as lethargic as these.

Cedric made the first move, and lunged forward, sinking his dominant sword into one of the Eldritches stomach. The sword sunk in, and Cedric was surprised at how little fight was put up. He pulled the sword out and backed up, but the Eldritch didn’t even react. Cedric couldn’t believe it!

He kicked the same Eldritch in the midsection, in hopes of creating more space. However, the Eldritch was able to grab onto Cedric’s leg with his long, bony fingers. The touch felt like pure frostbite, and Cedric yelled out in distress. He struggled to detach from the grotesque claw and fell on his back in the shuffle. Hurriedly, he swung his dominant sword at the Eldritch’s wrist and sliced it clean off. Cedric rolled away and jumped up quickly, then pulled the hand off and threw it on the floor. He shivered, then continued to focus on the 2 approaching Eldritches.

“Cedric, the hand!”

Cedric turned to his brother, then looked down at what he was pointing at. He saw the hand he just chopped off, crawling towards him, then jump up towards his midsection. Cedric yelled out, but thankfully dodged the piercing claw.

“By the void, what is that!?”

“Behind you!”

Cedric turned around just in time, as the Eldritch with no left hand took a right-handed swipe at Cedric’s handsome face. Cedric ducked just in time, shoved his parrying sword up, right underneath the monster’s chin. The sword dug up and the point stuck out of its hooded head. Quickly, Cedric pulled the sword out and pushed the Eldritch into the other, which was right behind the first.

“Cedric!”

Cedric turned around quickly, and saw the hand jumping at him once again. But, it froze mid-air, just as Cedric raised his sword to pierce it in defense. Cedric’s stare was frozen, his breath was heavy and he couldn’t make out what happened.

Then, the frozen hand flew past his head, and he saw his brother motioning towards him with his hand and a dedicated expression on his young face. 

Cedric smiled, then eagerly followed the direction of the magically propelled hand and saw its palm slam into the face of the Eldritch, from which it once came. The Eldritch was forced against the wall and could not move past its own hand pressing against its face. Cedric wasted no time, and slammed his parrying sword into the Eldritch’s face, piercing through both the hand and face, pinning the demon to the wall. Thomas was able to let go, and collapsed to the floor, exhausted once again.

“Great job, brother!” Cedric cheered, after making sure there was enough space between he and the remaining Eldritch.

Cedric held his remaining sword gracefully and confidently, facing the remaining Eldritch.

“Looks like you guys were the one who’s outmatched!” Cedric confidently claimed, as he circled the unpinned Eldritch. Cedric almost laughed at how slowly the Eldritch moved. There was no way he could lose to such a lumbering opponent.

All of a sudden, Cedric felt his armor get grabbed and pulled in. He screamed and felt a powerful clench grasp onto his leather tunic. He struggled, and fought against the force, but could not pull away. He turned around and saw the pinned Eldritch holding on tightly, and then turned back to face the calculating, heavy-footed Eldritch as it approached. 

Quickly, Cedric took his sword and sliced the back his tunic clean off, freeing him of the undying Eldritch. Cedric rolled away, staying just clear of the approaching Eldritch. The Eldritch stopped moving, then flipped around and restarted it’s lumbering pace.

“How can we kill these things!?” Cedric cried out. Cedric stood up and took a defensive position with his lone remaining sword, with no armor protecting his fit upper body. The tunic fell off him as he rolled, and now he stood with no true armor arming his body. His young, lightly haired and sculpted upper body glistened with sweat, as it rolled down his broad and established pecs, over his defined abs. His lean figure was well illustrated and healthy. 

Thomas looked up, still feeling quite empty from all of the action he’s been through so far. He’s never been pushed to the limit of his willpower before, and it’s taken everything out of the young, still-developing young mage. Thomas saw that the pinned Eldritch was still moving, and was now trying to pull the sword out of his face-covered hand. Thomas closed his eyes, and thought he vaguely remembered an instruction on how to deal with Eldritches. A faint sense of flame sparked in his mind as he tiredly trudged through his memories and felt that it was all he had left in him.

Thomas pushed up to his knees and quickly pulled all the magic within him, toward the tips of fingers, and concentrated on performing one last spell. Sparks flew from the pores of unblemished skin, and clustered around the pull of the magic within this boy. With a force, blasted forward in a beam of flame.

The Eldritch made a terrible noise and began to vibrate as if it were just shocked with a lightning bolt. Then, the Eldritch began to drip with liquid flames and ashes, as its form started to dissipate and melt in a pool of blaze.

“Fire! They’re weak against fire!” Cedric cried, as he switched his eyes between the oncoming Eldritch, the becoming pool of heat, and his now completely drained little brother.

“Enough! You will pay for what you’ve done, you trespassing miscreants!” The remaining Eldritch beckoned as it approached Cedric.

The confident young man could not help but laugh at what he felt was an empty threat. Any fears he once had was now gone, with only one remaining, and their weakness now out in the open.

“Ha! You speak as if you have a chance, beast. Take this!” Cedric spat as he jumped forward and tried to impale the Eldritch. The Eldritch read his movement, and turned it’s lumbering frame just in time to side-step the stab. The Eldritch then raised its bony fingers, holding them together in a chopping form, and struck directly with Cedric’s exposed Adams apple with expert precision.

Cedric’s head swung back with the force of the unexpectedly powerful attack, and fell to his back. His sword flew, and he held his panicked hands over his throat, as he struggled to breath. He writhed and kicked on the floor, coughing with watered eyes. He crawled away from the unstopping Eldritch, and stumbled to his feet, with both hands still over his throat.

Cedric’s back was now directly in front of Thomas’s body, as the younger brother lied on his stomach and desperately tried to recapture his strength. Thomas was barely able to pay attention to what was in front of him, as his eyes were heavy, and it was impossible to concentrate on anything.

Cedric stumbled back, as he struggled to breath, but was thankfully able to find his sword and picked it up with shaking hand. Cedric could not believe that one attack has affected him so strongly. He had to believe it was a fluke, there was no way such a lanky figure could feasibly pack such power.

“Your time is neigh, weakling. Your weaknesses are too powerful, and you have no sense to defend them. Stand down, before you lie incapacitated. As many men have done before you.”

Cedric refused to acknowledge any reality in the Eldritch’s words. How can he know anything about him? Cedric is the most well-regarded fighter in his class, he has never been made a fool of before. Cedric has the utmost pride in his capabilities, he cannot see himself lose to this, not after he was able to handle the two of them with such dexterity. 

In an attack of unthinking frustration and disbelief, with his legs spread wide to give his stance a powerful base to build off of, Cedric predictably swung his sword overhead at the Eldritch as he was approaching once more. The Eldritch stepped back and dodged, as he saw the telegraphed strike approach from the moment Cedric lifted the sword off the floor. Then, with unfeasible strength, the Eldritch stepped one foot forward, then swung his other skeletal, yet primed foot up towards the young man’s most effective weakness.

Thomas was just barely able to pay attention from behind as this transpired. He saw his brother swing and miss his overhead strike, then after the sword finished it’s downswing, a very sudden and loud smack echoed in the room. The Eldritch’s foot was right over of his big brother’s tailbone, the filthy underside of the demon's foot stared right into Thomas' soul.  At that exact moment, the sword was let go from Cedric’s hand, throwing the sword as it opened in complete surprise.

The Eldritch’s foot continued up higher, trying to break through Cedric’s body through the opening between his legs. But all that happened, was Cedric’s body being pulled off the floor under the force of the attack between his powerful legs. 

Thomas couldn’t believe what he saw, it didn’t make sense to him in his innocent and borderline delirious state.

Cedric himself, could not believe what happened either. After his swing missed, all he could feel was a powerful pressure slam into his privates. His groin, his manhood, his unmentionables. The air around him shifted as his body was pushed up under the immense pressure this Eldritch slammed between his legs. 

Cedric was in absolute shock. No one ever did this purposefully at the village before. Fights were done with, and for, honor.

It was as if a large bell rung with no sound within Cedric, and time stood completely still as even time itself had to figure out how to react to something so disgraceful. Then, Cedric's knees slammed onto the floor, and the vibration of the bell rippled, paralyzing his masculine frame. 

Then, Cedric's entire world suddenly exploded in a cacophony of violent nausea. It felt as if his testicles exploded and shocked his body with the most vile agony, a poison to his body. Cedric pulled his hands into his screaming manhood, and his eyes crossed completely. His vision blurred with swollen tears, and balance abandoned his dexterous frame. Cedric could only continue to collapse and exist in agonizing terror and disbelief, as he toppled, a helpless victim to a devastating low blow. 

Thomas couldn’t take his eyes off this shocking scene, which began to violently shake sense back into him. As brother’s knees slammed on the floor, Thomas couldn't believe how his tensed back muscles retreated in front of his doubled over frame. Thomas saw Cedric’s hands shoot in, held palms up over his leather dress, pressing firmly against his crotch as he collapsed to the floor. Cedric's feet pushed and he began to writhe on the floor, his hands staying planted between his legs, right under the tailbone. Thomas could hear the faint vibrations of vicious, breathless coughs, and struggled breaths come from his big brother. Suddenly, Cedric let out a bone chilling scream and violently shook, as he curled in in absolute helplessness. 

“AHH! MY SACK! YOU BASTARD! MMMM!! AAAHHhhh...haiiaaaiii... ahhh...aiii..." Cedric's voice began to die into a wheezing vibration. And within moments, that vibration melted into wet, pitiful sobs. 

Thomas has never seen anyone in their village react like this before, even after accidental attacks to others nether region. He never, ever would've expected to hear these noises come out of his brother’s mouth, or see his big, powerful and confident brother writhe like he was. He almost thought Cedric to be indestructible, up to this moment. But that was obviously not true. 

Thomas knew he had to do something. But, right as he figured that out, the Eldritch's dead eyes made contact with his own. Fear shattered Thomas’s psyche as those lifeless eyes grew blue.

“Now, it is your turn, little one. Are you as healthy as your companion? I wonder, which of you will be worth further analysis.”

Thomas’ eyes grew wide, and realized he had to react now, or the Eldritch would surely decimate him too. He tried to quickly cast a fire spell, but it fizzled at his fingertips. He had no more mana. The attempt drained Thomas even further, and he almost lost his bearings once again.

He searched his surroundings and saw his brother’s sword not too far from him. He crawled to it, grabbed it with both hands, and tried to lift it. He struggled, but managed to do so with his two hands, then turned to the Eldritch. But it was too late.

The Eldritch grabbed Thomas by his throat, and Thomas dropped the sword in freight. His hands shot to his crushed windpipe and struggled to try and pry the bony fingers off his narrow throat. But, they held firm and unbending. Far more powerful than how they appear.

Thomas kicked his legs as was pulled up by his throat. He struggled to make a noise, in hopes that it would help him breath.

In one last attempt, Thomas tried to smack his boots between the Eldritch’s legs, in hopes of using it's male weakness against him. But, the Eldritch only closed his grip in response.

“Foolish, child. I do not share the same weakness as you human males. Is this, what you wished to find!?” The Eldritch responded, as it shot its other hand between Thomas’ legs and curled his long, cold and skeletal fingers around Thomas’ young orbs. Thomas shrieked out and shook, twisting and locking his body in an unfamiliar painful terror.

“How disappointing. These are hardly worth holding.” The Eldritch mocked, as he drove his scrawny fingers deep into the two delicate testicles between Thomas’ legs. 

Thomas has never felt his young, developing plums shoot this pain through him before. He rarely had to engage in true physical combat as a mage, and this abominable pain was beyond his comprehension. Thomas’ eyes were flowing freely, and he felt like he would be worse than sick. How could this feel so bad, the inexperienced mage thought to himself, as he began choking weakly. 

The pain continued to swell within Thomas, as the pain rose unimaginable heights. His stomach was burning and his head was screaming as his tenders was being flattened within the Eldritch's nasty grasp. Thomas was sure that his balls were going to pop before long, there's no way they couldn't be. And there was nothing he could do about it, the pain was too absurd, and his energy was gone. 

These were his last thoughts as his vision began to blur. Consciousness seemed to be drifting from his body, mercifully.

The last thing Thomas saw before he fell to the floor, was the sound of a yell, and the Eldritch falling forward with him. He vaguely saw the naked upper body of Cedric, red, tensed and polished with his masculine sweat. His face was red, but intended. This was the last thing Thomas saw before he drifted away.

“You vile demon! How dare you fight with such dishonor.”

The Eldritch rose to its feet, and slowly menaced towards Cedric. Cedric did not fear him at this moment. He only held absolute disgust for this demon.

“I, fight with dishonor? What do you call what happened to my companion? That was honor? I am only using nature against you, as you did we, you imbecilic human. You are built, healthy and fertile. Yet you have no sense for defense, or reason. You dishonor me by making it so simple to fall you.”

Cedric rose to his feet with venom coursing through his tortured veins and swung at the Eldritch with a fist that landed on the demon’s face. The Eldritch barely flinched, as it instantly responded with a low punch to Cedric’s stomach.

Cedric instantly fell to the floor, back on his knees once more and held his arms over his belly, curling over and heaving painfully. He fought to create a healthy breath, and failed before the Eldritch grabbed his arm and lifted him up. The Eldritch slammed his powerful fist into Cedric’s stomach once again, causing Cedric’s powerful body to ragdoll with motion, as he hung by his arm. Then, the Eldritch flipped Cedric over and slammed him on his back with immense force. 

Cedric lied on the floor, in terrible pain and discomfort, with no sense of direction or fight.

The Eldritch looked over the young specimen for some time, glaring over each inch of his chiseled frame, and found himself more impressed at the figure of this male.

“Your body is well-made, and one of the best I can remember seeing in my age.” 

The Eldritch walked closer, reached down to grabbed onto Cedric’s leather skirt, and pulled it clean off. Now, Cedric lied flat on his back, with only a light cloth covering his manhood, and boots laced over his feet.

“And the source of your masculinity mimics your profound frame. You should be proud of what you have, human.”

The Eldritch lifted Cedric once more, this time by his neck. He held him high, face to face with his eyes. The Eldritch looked at Cedric’s dazed glare, then shoved his other hand into the pouch between his legs. The Eldritch watched Cedric’s face warp in pain, as his impressive manhood underwent further abuse. 

“You are a perfect specimen. You will do greatly.” The Eldritch said, as he expertly rolled Cedric’s supple eggs in his bony fingers, inspecting the perfectly round tenders from every angle. Then, the Eldritch pushed his fingers to the top of the two balls, and pulled down, to see how far his sack would go. The Eldritch continued to pull down after Cedric screamed and begged for mercy, acting as if Cedric was saying nothing at all. 

The pain was unimaginable for Cedric, and there was nothing he could do. He was woefully unprepared to handle his manhood abused so methodically. He could only weakly cry and shake, with no power left within his beautiful body. 

Then, Cedric felt the demon push it's fingers in from the top, as if it were trying to mold his sponges into a flat surface. Cedric gagged and his eyes rolled, his face glazed with sweat, tears and spit. His body went limp, except for his legs that were crossing at the ankles. His hands were helplessly hung onto The Eldritch's bony wrists. 

"You will do. And do not not worry, Male. You may not be familiar with this, but you will survive. I will put you to sleep, now."

With that, The Eldritch snapped his wrist down, pulling Cedric's testicles down inches within a single moment. It was as if a million explosions erupted inside Cedric at once and he gasped out, unable to find another breath. Cedric succumbed to the agony and passed out with his mouth hanging open. 

The Eldritch stared at Cedric's lifeless body for another moment before letting both hands go at once. Cedric plopped to the floor, banged hard and stayed still as a rag doll. The Eldritch wasted little time and pulled off Cedric's boots, then grabbed him by an ankle. The Eldritch turned and monotonously dragged the young man's body like a sack, towards the darkness and further into the caverns.