Fate of War - Orc x Isekai'd! Reader
CHAPTER 4 - chapter 5 - chapter list
Story warnings: Eventual smut, a bunch of degenerate stuff, very slightly suggestive this chapter, violence, gore, swearing, size kink, chill until it isn't
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By morning, the group had become restless. The forest rays glinted against your squinting eyes, sleep still barely shedding as you collected yourself from the blanketed ground. Not having a mattress would never get easier, you realized, back arching to stretch the strain away.
"Did you have something to do with this?" An accusatory finger found itself at your chest, pushing you back with a light oof. Terin, whose eyes glowed a brilliant violet, sounded beyond vexed with you, his anger practically steaming out of his ears in large puffs.
Your eyes darted every which way; first landing on Sylven's perplexed form, then to the bard, who seemed just as angry as Terin, and then to Lokk, his beastly form covered in ropes of deep purple.
"What the hell are you yapping about?" You swatted his hand away, stomping towards Lokk protectively.
"The bastard is healed," The sorcerer spoke, or rather spat out, his magic forcing the orc into a flat position. "Impossibly healed, actually."
You slowly nodded, sweat dropping at the implication Terin was proposing. He was right, Lokk was practically good as new. What was once an opened gash of severed limbs is now just an oozing scar of dried blood. A quiet mmm escaped your throat, the humming barely marking you as innocent in the situation.
You offered Lokk a lopsided smile, shooting him a thumbs up. "Great immune system, sir orc!" His grunts and groans as he struggled against the mystic bindings made the situation rather idiotic, and you figured Terin's amusement would be non existent. When you turned to look at the sorcerer, your smile immediately faltered, mumbling a sorry before grabbing your backpack and slinging it across your shoulder.
"I'm not a doctor. I didn't heal him," you shrugged, feigning ignorance.
Kosris scoffed. "Well it certainly wasn't Terin, if that's what you're suggesting!"
"It's not..." You said matter-of-factly, rolling your eyes.
Sylven, after finally understanding the debacle, piped up with his sword in hand. "It may have been the orc, himself." The elf used the sharpened end to nudge at Lokk's side, gently but with mirth.
A silence enveloped the party, eyes all situated on the huffing orc, whose grunts had turned into violent snarls.
"It is illegal for orcs to use magic." Kosris said.
"An orc using magic is a death sentence." Added Terin.
"He already had a death sentence," Sylven's surprising voice of reason silenced any other objections. "Perhaps, he had hoped to heal quick enough to kill us all in our sleep!"
"Ooookay! Lots of accusations being thrown around right now," your hands waved in the air. "Let's say what you're saying is correct, Sylven." He nodded towards you to continue, "We're all alive, right? Let's just leave him here and be on our way."
Terin let out another scoff, annoying prick. "An orc using magic is beyond the depths of mere illegality! It is treason of the furthest degree!"
"His existence is already treason." You argued back.
"Then it is beyond treason. He must be killed." Sylven, just as he began stalking towards the orc, was stopped by Terin's nimble hand. Despite the elf's immediate whines of disapproval, Terin held his own and smiled softly at you.
"No, the saintess is correct. A deal's a deal." The glow of his restraints against Lokk glowed brighter. "I had originally planned for us to leave in a fortnight. We may leave on the morrow instead."
Kosris, ever the agreeable bard, nodded. "Yes, this may be a blessing in disguise!" Grabbing his lute, he strummed a few sounds, noting to himself to create a ballad based on this encounter.
Sylven calmed at the sound of the music and stepped back, sheathing the sword as he always seems to do.
"I was hoping for us to leave before the bastard would be fully healed." Terin glared at Lokk, a hint of resentment present on his expression. "I didn't want to risk it following us or attacking."
"You don't have a spell that'll keep him tied up like that? You could just release it when we're far enough away," you suggested, pointing at the binding magic.
Terin laughed, eyes crinkling and magic sputtering momentarily. "I forget how funny naive humans can be!" He continued his laughing fit before noticing your unamused appearance. "Apologies, my lady. It is just that, spells can only work within seeing distance. If I lose sight of the target for too long, the magic will simply dissipate."
"Well, that's dumb."
Another laugh bellowed from Terin. "Indeed." He agreed.
"How about a dungeon?" Kosris suggested, continuing to lightly strum along his lute.
"A dungeon?" You questioned.
"Kosris, you're a genius!" Sylven slapped the bard across the chest, earning a glare from the tiefling and a chuckle from you and Terin.
You figured dungeons would be similar to the ones from DnD that you knew and loved; a quest-specific area where you and your party would need to fight monsters and solve puzzles in order to gain some kind of treasure or reward.
Though, just to be safe; "What's a dungeon?" You inquired.
Sylven was the first to respond, a clear excitement and love for them evident in his enthusiasm. "Magic caves filled with monsters and treasure! I found my bow and arrows in one near West Kingsland," he turned around to display his trusty arrows set, the sun shining brightly against the steel metal tips.
"Well, yes," Terin spoke. "But for our friend here, a dungeon will ensure he cannot follow us."
You cocked your head to the side. "How?"
"Once you enter a dungeon, the entrance uses magic to seal itself until you find an exit scroll. No way in, no way out." The bard practically sang out.
You imagined it would be a similar concept, though the thought of a still-hurt orc fighting against magical creatures of who knows what prowess worried you. "Will it be safe? For the orc, I mean."
Sylven placed a hand against your head, ruffling your hair. "Are all humans so sympathetic to beasts? How cute," he chuckled, practically cooing at you.
"Perfectly safe," Terin confirmed, "Orcs may be of little intellectual value, but they are great fighters against their fellow beasts." You noticed Terin often spoke of the orcs as if they were closer to animals than to people. As if they run on purely instinct and not rational decision making.
But despite Lokk's hesitance and distant nature, he was certainly capable of complex thought. He guided you to using magic properly and gave a few sarcastic chides in the process. Could a being so sentient truly be considered animalistic? Sure, maybe some (or a lot of) orcs plundered and raped and ravaged, but can't that be said of all species? You know as well as anyone humans can be evil even at the best of times.
So, why couldn't that same benefit be given to the orc tribes?
You sighed, nodding along. "Okay, is there a dungeon close by?" Kosris put out the campfire and tucked away the group's blankets, preparing for your departure.
"Dungeons aren't physically here. Just gateways to them," Sylven shrugged.
"Gateways? So where are the dungeons then, if not here?"
"Nobody knows," Kosris piped in.
"They mysteriously appeared sometime when the race of men were going extinct." Terin barely muttered out, forcing Lokk to his feet using his sorcery.
"They say it was a gift from the gods," Sylven offered you a soft smile. "For men. A way for your people to build wealth and honor after what the orcs did."
You forced yourself from rolling your eyes.
Everything always falls back on the orcs.
"Gateways are everywhere, you just need a sorcerer to open them." Kosris pointed to Terin, who was already mumbling an incantation.
You could see that using his magic in two separate instances seemed to be taking a toll, the sweat beading down his forehead and buckling knees proving as much.
Another sputtering of Terin's magic occurred before a hole in the ground appeared, the center blackened as if hoping to not reveal what might lay inside.
Your eyes were wide, practically sparkling at the massive indentation in the ground. You bent to your knees, hands and eyes peaking over the edge to try and see down. "Amazing!" You exclaimed.
"Perhaps we'll take you on one of our adventures after you've met the human king?" Sylven suggested, enjoying your excitement. You often reminded the group of a child, if not for your lack of hatred for the orcs, but your astonishment at everything they deemed normal.
Kosris rather disliked Sylven's sudden confidence, nudging him with a fierce glare.
"Will he... fall through it?" You questioned, concern laced in your voice.
"Stop worrying about a beast. It'll take more than a few dozen feet of falling to render an orc useless." Kosris pointed, tapping at the orc's back before the magic began pulling him forward.
"Dozen!?" You squealed. "N-Nevermind! I don't think this is a good idea, guys!" You latched onto Terin's arm before he shoved you off of him.
"Don't do that!" He scolded. "You can mess up the magic!"
Sylven placed a hand on your shaking shoulder. "Kosris is right, orcs are unfortunately really strong. They don't die too easily."
"You saw. It took a magic infused trap and practically losing its leg for the orc to start dying." You knew Kosris was just trying to cheer you up, but it certainly wasn't helping your growing nerves.
Lokk's still unhealed leg pushed against the dirt, wincing as he attempts to steady himself and run away; not that he could against Terin's magic.
This just doesn't feel right. Based on the previous day, and your short week long journey with the group, you knew they weren't above lying. If anything, it was something they often did to protect you. And right now, watching Lokk be slowly edged into a black hole in the ground, you wondered if perhaps it isn't a dungeon he's being sent to, but death.
In a spur of the moment rush of adrenaline, and you're no good do-gooder personality, you grabbed onto Lokk, both arms wrapping around his one large wrist and yanking backward.
Your force did nothing against Terin's magic, and through whispered gasps and a loud NO! from Lokk, you were both dropped into the dungeon's entrance with no hope of returning to the surface.
The drop was much shorter than anticipated as you quickly fell on a cushioned surface, seconds passing as you groaned and shook off the fear pumping through your veins. Lokk's hand was protectively wrapped around your waist, his piercing blue eyes widened at your small form lying atop his chest.
His green hand could practically wrap around the whole of your body, your plump flesh soft to the touch and warm despite the coldness of the dungeon. Your eyes, big and (e/c) and scared, looked almost mesmerized as you were mere inches from his face, the ivory tusks barely grazing your face and causing a shiver to go down your spine.
You shifted against the weight of his gaze, forcing out a pained groan from Lokk that brought you back to your senses.
"I-I'm so sorry!" You pleaded, scrambling off of him.
Lokk's hands were gentle, you realized, not forcing you into place as you easily removed yourself.
He grunted, standing tall with a slight limp to his leg. "You shouldn't have followed me." He scolded, chest rising and falling slowly from exhaustion.
"I thought they were going to kill you," you admitted.
"Foolish human." Lokk uttered. Though his actions did not match his words. He removed the remaining bottle on his belt, holding it out to you. When you didn't take it, he grunted. "It is only water. Drink up, you will need it."
You gingerly took it, taking a large gulp of what remained before placing the glass on the stone ground and following beside Lokk.
You scrutinized your surroundings. It truly is similar to a cave; with jagged walls that expanded by miles and glowing fissures trailing down different pathways. The blue glow of the dungeon seemed to only highlight the beautiful soft green of Lokk's skin, and you wondered how something so beautiful could be deemed dangerous.
"So, this is a dungeon?"
Lokk nodded. "It is a low scale one."
"What does that mean?" You asked.
He chuckled, the edges of his lips curling around his tusks in a small smile. "Weak monsters. But you're weaker, so I will have to protect you."
You huffed. "I'm not that weak! I survived that drop we just went through!" You reminded Lokk, whose amusement continued to grow.
"Yes, because you used me to soften your landing, sma gâzhin." Lokk's voice is low and gravelly, a slight rumble present with every syllable. You imagined if you placed a hand against his throat, your hand would tremble from the vibration. Now that he was mostly healed, his spirits seemed well and up, more jovial than when you had first spoke.
A bit of pride seemed to swell somewhere inside you.
At his limping, you quietly moved closer to Lokk's side. "Do you need help walking? Put your arm around my shoulder."
Your suggestion only received a raised eyebrow and a shaking of the orc's head. At barely half his height, Lokk imagined leaning against you would only make it more difficult to walk. Ignoring your words, the both of you continued on.
"Why did you save me?" Lokk voiced, the question looming in his mind ever since you went behind your supposed party's back to use magic.
You pondered for a moment, tongue clicking as you thought up a proper answer. He didn't know of your situation; your original world, the book's portal, or your lack of a bias against a race of people that simply didn't exist where you're from. Although you trusted Lokk to not want to kill you, you figured omitting information about world-hopping would be in your best interest. Terin hadn't reacted amicably and you figured an orc, whose people were being killed because of humans, wouldn't either.
"I don't know you. I don't know your past or what kind of person you are," you confessed, trailing off. "But when you were caught in Terin's trap... At least, in that moment, you were innocent."
"Orcs are never innocent." Lokk implored.
You sighed, "So I've heard."
Lokk placed the animal fur he had worn against his shoulder over your body, covering your head in its warmth. "Use this. It is cold." All you had been wearing were strange articles of clothing, so thin and bare he wondered why those you travelled with hadn't hunted something for you to wear, or at least let you borrow a cloak. (They're perverts, he figured)
"Orcs killed humans." Lokk feigned, curious on your response to such a well-known accusation.
"Is that true?"
He had never been asked that; what the truth is.
"I don't believe so."
You replied with a quiet hm.
"I believe you," you admitted.
Your response almost sent the orc stumbling, momentarily losing his footing. That small quip could get you imprisoned and Lokk killed. Yet here you were, cuddling into his warm furs that he, an orc, hunted and speaking as though orcs are innocent.
"Haa, no'karon..." He breathed out.
You jumped up at his words, an excitement visible on your face. "You're speaking orcish, right? What did that mean?" You were practically begging, all pushed against his side and unaware of the intimacy of it all.
Lokk reveled far too much in how it felt like he was corrupting you. Something about the big bad orc teaching the human how to speak orcish felt powerful in a world where uttering orcish is punishable by death.
"Unbelievable. You had surprised me." Lokk acknowledged.
You know orcs are treated like garbage so you made no move to ask Lokk to expand on his words. You knew why he was surprised.
"Sma meegan? Or something like that, what does it mean? You call me that a lot.
"Sma gâzhin, little human."
You held the fur tighter around your body, a small smile present against your lips. "Oh..." You whispered. As you brought the fur closer, you noticed the smallest droplets of dried blood, blue and dark and ugly; proof that something violent and cruel had taken place only a night or so ago. "Hey Lokk, I'm sorry for what happened." You apologized, looking to the ground almost defeated. "What they did to you... It was cruel."
"It is law," he interjected. "Orcs kill and rape the innocent, it is only fair."
Your face burned at the notion. "You don't believe that. And neither do I!" You fumed. "I don't know orc and human history, at all really. But at the very least, I don't think you're the type of person to go out and kill and rape." Your rambling seemed incessant, and Lokk placed a hand against your back to gently push you ahead of him.
"I have no need to kill humans, and I have had no trouble finding lovers," he chuckled.
You stopped in your tracks. "Lovers? Like- with humans?"
Lokk did not speak, offering you no response but a gruff rumble in his throat. He's had no trouble finding lovers because he's never actually looked. Surviving against sorcerers and paladins and warriors is no easy task. Your expectant eyes bore into his soul, as if hoping for some kind of answer he wasn't sure he could give.
If he said yes, would you be disgusted? An orc and a human being together?
Or if he says no, would you be disappointed? The thought of how tough he likes to act suddenly faltering simply because he's never bed a woman, orc or human?
He could laugh at the thought!
Ahead seemed to be an opening to another section of the dungeon, likely where the monsters will be. A ledge peered over the both of you, high enough for Lokk to climb over, but surely too tall for a little human. Without wasting a beat, Lokk placed both his hands at your side and lifted, his fingers digging into the softness of your back and breasts.
You blushed furiously at the contact, eyes flittering in every direction to not make eye contact with the orc. He sat you on the edge, your legs swinging off as he separated his warm hands from your body.
Your red face caused a deep chuckle to resonate within Lokk. "No trouble," he joked, referring back to your questions about his morals.
You huffed, swinging back over the ledge and standing straight, Lokk climbing to rest at your side.
"Stay close to me, Sma gâzhin," Lokk warned, "It is dangerous now."
