Chapter 8
Blood Shade
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Newfound power coursed through Kail and he found himself smiling as he stared down at the corpse crumpled beneath him. He quickly replaced the smile with a frown, slightly ashamed of the thrill he’d just experienced.
“We’re free,” stammered a shocked voice, causing Kail to look at the two pale individuals draped in black. The pale man turned his attention from his companion and to Kail as he raised his hands placatingly. “We mean you no ill will. Until a moment ago we were slaves to our master’s intent, but with Veltis’s death it seems Solice has lost his hold over us.”
“Who’s Solice and why am I standing in the middle of the woods?” asked Kail irritably.
“Lord Solice is a dreamcrafter who sent us forth to abduct and deliver an entity whom he sensed arrive to this world from another,” said the man.
“And you claim to have been under some spell forcing you to do his bidding?”
The man nodded. “My name is Lixul and this is Lunis.”
“Shall I awaken your brother?” asked Lunis.
Kail turned, looking down at Corvis’s sleeping form. Corvis, whom it seemed, had saved his life. “Yes.”
Lunis extended a pale hand toward Corvis, the back of which was tattooed with a pair of bats. “Awaken.”
Corvis shot up and to his feet so fast that Lunis took a reactive step back.
“We’re fine,” said Kail reassuringly, gesturing at the corpse. “I killed him and freed the others from some kind of mind spell, thanks to you.”
Corvis extended a hand and Kail passed him his bloodied sword. Corvis eyed the two thin figures distrustfully, then his expression lightened as he glanced at Kail. “We could use these two against the Hijabwa.”
“I’m not using anyone,” said Kail. “They’re free to go.”
“They owe us recompense for dragging us from our beds.”
“We do owe you,” said Lunis, causing both brothers to turn toward the shades. “You freed us from Solice, and for that, we are in your debt.”
“See,” said Corvis as he smirked at Kail. “With them on our side and with your newfound power we can return home and destroy the Hijabwa threat.”
“What’s a Hijabwa?” asked Lixul.
“A little monster creature,” said Corvis waving a dismissive hand. “They’ll pose us little threat.”
Kail rolled his eyes. “You're right about one thing, Corvis, it is far past time for us to return home.”
Lixul knelt down, removing Veltis’s dark cloak and dawning it, Lunis pulled a silver ring from his finger, slipping it upon her’s before the two shadelings turned to face the brothers. “We will gladly accompany you until we deem our debt to be paid,” said Lunis.
“Excellent,” said Corvis. “Now lead us back to the graveyard outside Hiddleton so I can get my bearings.’
“It’s not far from here,” said Lixul as he began walking and the others followed after him.
Shortly thereafter they emerged from the forest and into the graveyard’s outskirts as the first rays of sunlight began emerging from the horizon. As Corvis plotted the quickest route home, Kail opened his status:
NAME: Kail Valien, RACE: Human, Class: Blood Preacher, LEVEL 5, EXPERIENCE: 1,450, HP 120/120, MP 110/110. YOU HAVE 1 FREE STAT POINT TO ALLOCATE! STATS: Strength 9, Constitution 12, Dexterity 10, Intelligence 10, Wisdom 11. Skills: Rapid Regeneration - Common, Pure Blooded - Rare. Abilities: Free Flow - Common, Blood Gaze - Uncommon. Spells: Rupture - Uncommon.
PLEASE SELECT A SUBCLASS, YOU HAVE 3 AVAILABLE OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM.
OPTION 1: Blood Purist - Do you firmly believe that you’re blood is purer than all others? If so then this is the subclass for you! The Blood Purist subclass provides benefits to Intelligence.
OPTION 2: Blood Reaper - Do you feel that urge? That urge to reap the blood from your enemies and repurpose it into tools of destruction and rebirth? If so then this is the subclass for you! The Blood Reaper subclass provides benefits to Dexterity and Wisdom.
OPTION 3: Blood Blade - You’re sword’s already been bloodied with what remains of those who opposed you. Take the next step in your path of conquest and develop your skill with a bloodied sword. The Blood Blade subclass provides benefits to Strength and Wisdom.
Well… Thought Kail, at least he finally had some choice in his future path, but still, he had no interest in the first option, the second seemed quite dramatic, to say the least, and the third promised a continuation of the absolutely unpreferable experiences he’d had since his arrival. After another moment of consideration, he came to a decision, Audrie had chided him in the past for being overly dramatic after all.
SUBCLASS GAINED! BLOOD REAPER: +2 Dexterity, +1 Wisdom. SPELL GAINED: Blood Scythe - Uncommon: You may expend mana to conjure a blood scythe the scale of which is proportionate to the mana expended. Cost = Variable MP. Damage = variable +dexterity = variable +12.
SPELL GAINED: Blood Calling - Uncommon: You may summon the blood of slain enemies into yourself, purifying it and regenerating a variable amount of health. Cost = 10Mp per targeted corpse.
Finally. thought Kail. An offensive spell that doesn’t harm me! Plus his other new spell would allow him to heal quickly during and after battles.
Corvis snapped his fingers sharply and Kail’s attention focused upon him. “Let’s get moving, we’ll want to reach the Hijabwa before the sun sets.”
Kail and his strange new allies followed after Corvis as he led them down a dirt path. “How did you come to serve that Veltis guy?” asked Kail.
“He summoned us from a dream,” answered Lunis; as if that explained anything.
“Do you know how he came to serve the person who sent you to abduct me?”
Lunis shook her head slightly. “Veltis was but one of many dream walkers under Lord Solice’s power, how any of them came to serve him is as much a mystery to us as to you.”
“Do you think he’ll send more after me?”
“Potentially. I’m not sure if your capture is worth him risking more of his underlings.”
“I doubt he will,” said Lixul, “his hold over his corridor in the house of haunted memories seemed tenuous and he’ll likely need time to gather more strength before sending anyone forth from the house again.”
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“What’s the house of haunted memories?” asked Kail.
“An ancient mansion which drifts between this realm and others,” answered Lixul. “The space within it is ruled over by various dream lords all of whom are constantly fighting for more territory and power.”
“Fascinating,” mused Kail.
“It’s a horrific place for most everyone who isn’t a dream lord,” said Lunis.
Corvis led them over a bridge which crossed a stream, the path ahead entering a familiar looking forest in the distance of which crept ominous tendrils of mist. A cool breeze drifted down the path and past them, yellowing leaves carried along by it. Kail was suddenly very conscious of the fact that he wore not but his blood stained cotton clothes, his leather armor left behind in the strange crime family’s room. He increased his pace to walk beside Corvis who was wearing blood stained armor.
“Are we sure about this? We nearly died last time.”
“You said you wanted to go home, this is the way,” said Corvis cooly as they drew closer to the misty terrain.
Kail nodded, resigned to face the upcoming horrors. He opened his status and assigned his free stat point into constitution:
NAME: Kail Valien, RACE: Human, Class: Blood Preacher, LEVEL 5, EXPERIENCE: 1,450, Subclass: Blood Reaper. HP 130/130, MP 120/120. STATS: Strength 9, Constitution 13, Dexterity 12, Intelligence 10, Wisdom 12. Skills: Rapid Regeneration - Common, Pure Blooded - Rare. Abilities: Free Flow - Common, Blood Gaze - Uncommon. Spells: Rupture - Uncommon, Blood Scythe - Uncommon, Blood Calling - Uncommon.
He extended an arm, a warm sensation coursing through his veins as he cast blood scythe. Blood seeped through his skin, though he felt no pain and his health didn’t decrease as the blood coalesced first into a long pole, then formed a curved blade at its end.
MP 90/120
He knew he could cut off the flow of mana, but the scythe was growing larger with each passing second and its weight didn’t seem to be increasing as he held it with perfect ease.
MP 74/120
The pole was six feet long and the curved blade nearly half that, he let it grow just a bit larger before cutting the flow of mana and giving his new weapon a practice swing. A smile lit up his face as his blood scythe arced through the air, the motions feeling wonderfully fluid.
“Fuck,” muttered Corvis in a shocked tone, and it was only then that Kail realized the others had stopped and were staring at him, various expressions evident on their faces. Corvis looked surprised, yet a hint of pride seemed to sparkle in his eyes as the edges of his lips twitched up. Lunis seemed thrilled and in awe, the corners of her cheeks indenting as her eyebrows rose. Lixul wouldn’t meet his eyes, an expression of apprehension and perhaps even, jealousy? Visible across his thin face.
“And so begins the end of the Hijabwa,” said Corvis.
Kail flashed his brother a smile, newfound confidence filling him. “No, their end began the moment Father summoned me back home.”
The ounce ominous mist now sent a thrilling burst of adrenaline through Kail as he led the way into it, blood scythe held confidently in his right hand. The sounds of strange chanting and the aroma of unusual smells drifted just at the edges of his senses as he advanced through the mist. There was a slight whistling sound, then something stung the side of his neck.
DAMAGE SUSTAINED = 7, DELIRIUM RESIDUE RESISTED!
He pulled the dart from his neck. His pure blooded skill had likely allowed him to resist it’s poison, but the others didn’t possess such a skill, he turned to face them, a frown replacing the smile on his face. Corvis disappeared into the mist as he charged off in some direction, sword held aloft. Lunis and Lixul remained.
“Delirium residue,” mused Lunis as she looked down at a dart held between her forefinger and thumb. “Never heard of that.”
“You both resisted it?” asked Kail, already moving to chase after Corvis.
“We did,” said Lixul as the shadelings followed after him.
An oddly savory aroma reached Kail and the mist ahead of him cleared to reveal Corvis slumped unmoving against a giant white mushroom with a purple cap. Kail’s gaze lingered on his brother for but a moment before turning to the hazel skinned man who sat beside a fire upon which boiled a large black cauldron from which the delicious smell was emanating.
Kail opened his mouth but the man cut him off. “You’re brother’s fine, just taking a power nap. Won’t you and your companions please sit and join me? The soup’s nearly finished.”
“Who are you?” asked Kail sharply.
“My name is Maycolmb, and I am but a humble wandering cook.”
“Are you the leader of the Hijabwa?”
“No, I merely feed them, they have no leader. You may dismiss your weapon, I guarantee your safe here, in fact it is my hope that we may here and now end all hostilities between the Hijabwa and your blood cult.”
Kail kept a firm grasp of his scythe as he frowned. “There is no blood cult, the Hijabwa have been invading my Father’s land and killing his people, for those crimes, they must be eradicated.”
Maycolmb shook his head. “The Hijabwa were a peaceful people before some among them began going missing, abducted, and made to become macabre sacrifices in the demonic caverns beneath your palace. They seek retribution and I do not fault them for it, but it is my hope that we may find a more peaceful conclusion to this conflict then one side eliminating the other.”
Kail repressed his uncertainty, it didn’t matter who had started the conflict, what mattered was that he had been presented with the opportunity to end it. “You can convince the Hijabwa to cease their expansion and attacks against my people?”
Maycolmb nodded. “As long as the abductions cease and the Hijabwa are granted dominion over all terrain from the northern hills to the edge of the southern stream.”
“My brother is more familiar with the surrounding land than I am. I’ll need to consult him before agreeing to such a proposal.”
Maycolmb stood, conjuring a long wooden spoon he dipped it into the cauldron, withdrawing it and holding its steaming contents beneath Corvis’s nostrils. Corvis inhaled deeply, then opened his eyes as Maycolmb stepped back and began stirring the cauldron’s contents.
“What happened?” asked Corvis.
“You were hit with a dart which put you to sleep,” answered Kail. “This is Maycolmb who claims to be a traveling chef with the power to persuade the Hijabwa to cease this conflict if we allow them the terrain from the northern hills to the southern stream. Is that a good deal?”
“What?” asked Corvis.
Maycolmb spooned some soup from the cauldron into a wooden bowl which he passed to Corvis along with a wooden spoon. “You’ll feel more clear minded after you eat this.”
Corvis looked at Maycolmb, then at Kail, then down at the bowl and began eating. “As I was saying,” continued Kail. “A peaceful end to the conflict is ideal right?”
Corvis chewed, swallowed, then hastily downed another spoonful before replying. “This is so good, sure, we can take that offer to Father under the condition that you,” he pointed his spoon at Maycolmb. “Come and serve as our chef.”
“If your Father agrees to the offered peace, then I will come cook a meal for your family,” said Maycolmb as he passed filled bowls to Kail, Lunis, and Lixul.
Lixul had barely taken hold of his bowl before he frowned. “Something’s wrong.” His form began to glow a dark blue, then in a sudden flash of light, he disappeared, leaving not behind but a singed symbol marring the grass beneath where he had stood.
Lunis dropped her bowl as she jumped back, a terrified expression on her face. “What happened to him?” asked Maycolmb.
“Lord Solice summoned him back to the house of haunted memories,” said Lunis, fear filling her tone.
“He can just do that?” asked Kail.
“He must have performed a costly ritual but yes,” said Lunis.
Kail stood. “Is there a way to stop him from doing the same to you?”
Lunis’s wide eyes met his and the fear seemed to leave her as she spoke. “Not that I know of, but I don’t think he will or he already would have. He likely only needs one of us to question about what happened to Veltis.”
“Good. Well, it’s terrible that that happened to Lixul but at least you're safe.”
“His name was Lixul?” asked Corvis, amusement evident in his tone.
Kail shot him a glare. “Yes.”
Corvis scraped the last residue from his bowl. “It’s not my fault if I don’t remember the name of someone who we just met a few hours ago as he was attempting to abduct us.”
“Not to intrude,” said Maycolmb, “but the sun will be setting soon and your palace is still a ways away. You're welcome to spend the night here if you wish.”
“Not to sound rude but we just met you and I’m not entirely sure that we can trust you yet,” said Kail.
“What do you mean?” Interjected Corvis. “This is Maycolmb you’re talking about. Of course we can trust him.”
“You're welcome to spend the night here but I have a few pressing questions I’d like to ask Father as soon as possible.”
Corvis stood reluctantly, giving Maycolmb an apologetic look. “Looks like we have to go, but I promise we’ll return as soon as possible.”
“I wish you a speedy and safe journey,” said Maycolmb, gesturing in a direction. “You’ll want to go that way.”
Corvis smiled in appreciation before striding in the indicated direction. A slight sense of uncertainty prickled at Kail as he and Lunis followed Corvis. He hadn't known his brother for long, but Corvis didn’t seem like the type to befriend a stranger as quickly as he had Maycolmb.