After the encounter with the Third in the mines of Tyrin, it was decided to temporarily close the structure and forbid anyone from entering. Asher must have told the Larkin Mining Company to do so since the bloodstone contamination issue hasn’t been resolved.
Like Asher promised the day before, all of Bloodmoon was assembled in the morning and instructed to do basic marching drills which are meant to train discipline and build a sense of unity among soldiers. I was required to attend too, not because I had done anything wrong, but rather to avoid giving the impression of unfair treatment. It’s an unspoken rule that all of us should be treated as equals. Aside from Asher’s position as captain, there are no actual hierarchies within Bloodmoon. Showing unfair or preferential treatment to any member will cause problems, and that’s why all of us have to attend the drills.
Nashira watched our training from the sidelines for a while, along with other curious city folk, before wandering away. She probably isn’t done checking everyone in the city, something that is necessary if she wants to find the recipient of the Final Will. There isn’t anything I can help her with at the moment and she hasn’t asked. Well, maybe I can get her access into Tyrin Castle at some point.
A few tiring hours later it became noon. 80 men and women in full combat armor, except for the mages who only wear mage-appropriate clothing, assembled in front of Henin Asher for the end of the session.
“That concludes today’s drills. We will continue tomorrow and the day after at this same spot. Until then, you are on standby. Dismissed!”
Everyone responded with a military salute and then scattered. I was about to turn around and leave as well when Asher called out.
“One moment before you go, Rigel. We need your presence at dusk in my room at the Rolling Barrel inn. Do you know where it is?”
“Yes, I do. Is this concerning a mission?”
“Indeed, it will take place during the evening. Get some rest until then if you need it. The details will be given later. And of course you need to come by yourself.”
“That’s fine but aren’t we needed at the caved-in mine from yesterday? Has the bloodstone problem been sorted out already?”
“The Larkin Mining Company told me they’ll take care of it. They don’t want us in the way.” He says this with a hint of annoyance in his voice. The company must’ve asserted itself.
“I see… I’ll meet you at dusk at the inn then, captain.”
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Rather than wandering around town or getting drunk somewhere like everyone else, I take a short walk out of town after checking that I have the magic catalysts needed on hand. I don’t have time to take it easy today.
“Ah, what a coincidence! Why don’t you join us for lunch?”
Galal Pavo, the brother of Gamonias and commander in the Zamorian military, finds me on the way out of the city and offers a friendly invitation to have lunch with his group just like before.
I make a short bow and say “I’m afraid there is a matter I must take care of, commander Pavo. Perhaps at the next opportunity?”
He gives an understanding acknowledgement and moves on with his underlings following closely behind him. I exit Tyrin through the main gate and head north.
The number of caravans entering the city has increased compared to the past week. I wonder if there are new developments nearby. Guess I’ll ask the captain later.
After making sure that no one is snooping, I release a dense cloud of mana around me and activate the chaos magic Divine Step. The surrounding space is contorted and I get a sensation of being lifted off my feet, as though the wind is carrying me away. My destination is the patch of forest near the city which I passed through during my infiltration mission. It takes 3 quick jumps to reach it. The purpose is to train alone. It feels nostalgic, as if I’m still the carefree magic student who would jump over the Academy’s walls to train in the forest.
No, this is a dangerous feeling. It makes me weak and naïve. Everything I had, everything I was back in Delos is gone and it’s not coming back. Returning to that carefree time is impossible. My resolve and desire for vengeance haven’t changed in the slightest. Yesterday’s encounter with that black demon simply made me aware of a couple of important things. It made me aware that an unimaginable world of demons exists beneath our feet. If the Third is any indication, these are beings that humanity can scarcely comprehend. I have little interest in old myths and legends which speak of these things because any kernel of truth they might have is buried beneath tall tales and other drivel. However, I can’t ignore the existence of something that might directly affect my goals.
The Third of the Firstborn clearly had intelligence. His actions and words were almost whimsical, as if he was toying with us. Even when faced with top-class mages and warriors, spells proved to be useless and I doubt swords or arrows would be much better. We have no idea what he’s capable of. On top of that, we learned there are other demons like that lurking underground and out of sight. It’s enough to make any man feel powerless.
Something else occurred to me last night while I was thinking about the encounter. There was an attack at the port-city of Lapithos a few months ago. The attackers weren’t soldiers, mercenaries or barbarians, but strange creatures that looked like animals. The obvious conclusion is that they were demons sent by a third party. However, the attack came right after Lapithos’ navy suffered a major defeat at sea from the Athenite Empire. Around that same time, a civil war tore Delos apart and plunged the entire kingdom into chaos. It’s too convenient to be pure coincidence. Someone somewhere must be pulling the strings. I don’t know if it’s the Athenites or the demons Nashira spoke of or perhaps some yet unseen force. What is certain is that they are dangerous and cannot be ignored.
My goals will stay the same. The world is full of enemies and potential enemies. Whether they are human or demon, discovering a few more won’t make a difference.
Lastly, I now know that I’ve become complacent in the months since I agreed to join Bloodmoon. I stopped training regularly without even noticing. It happened on its own without any conscious decision on my part. I would’ve continued to waste more time if not for what happened yesterday. In a way, I am grateful to the creature called Third of the Firstborn because he reignited my sense of urgency.
I need to remember why I joined Bloodmoon in the first place. It wasn’t to make new friends or travel around the country or have fancy dinners with nobles. What I need is the opportunity and the means to make Lachlan and the other parasites suffer. They will not escape their fate. I will make sure of it.
“Shadow Boundary”
Having found the isolated spot I wanted, dark magic is cast to warn me if anyone approaches. Now I can begin training. I start by creating a mound of hardened earth as tall as me using magic. On top I place a carved, well-polished, colorless crystal which functions as a magic catalyst. There are several types of these magic tools. Ordinary catalysts can channel mana and build a specific spell for the user, thus reducing the effort needed to cast. Others are amplifiers which enhance spells cast by the user. The one I’m using here is an array-type catalyst. Spells can be imbedded inside and then released on demand. It’s similar to how magic glyphs work, except that glyphs don’t require any catalyst at all which is more convenient. There is a strict limit to what can be done with glyphs though.
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I step a few meters back from the earthen pedestal and assume a low stance like a warrior. After that it’s just a matter of chanting the right keyword to trigger the array.
“Lucem”
The gem responds by lighting up with magic power and releasing a strong Lightning Orb in my direction. I have no intention of dodging of course, since that would make this exercise meaningless. I stretch out my arm and fill it with mana. As the orb is about to reach me, I made a quick swiping motion while rotating my wrist. The mana swirls as it follows the movement of my arm.
“Distortion”
The air trembles as space is distorted in a spherical area in front of me. The Lightning Orb collides with this space, releasing sparks of pure energy which rain down on the ground. Then it is swiftly deflected toward the side as if a strong wind blew it away. Of course, it’s not the wind but magic that caused this phenomenon.
‘Distortion’ is chaos magic which I learned from Nashira, a technique that can redirect mana as it moves through the affected area. Used in this way, it allows the user to deflect projectile magic. It works on area-of-effect magic too, but it’s not a good idea since the user will still take some damage. It works best against projectiles.
The famous commander Vitus Severa wields an enchanted sword that can deflect magic as well. The advantage of Distortion is that I can accomplish this feat with my bare hands. Its usefulness cannot be overstated, especially in mage vs mage combat. The motion used to cast Distortion looks almost like a martial artist brushing aside his opponent’s fist, which is actually what gave me the idea. Nashira used this magic for her experiments. I don’t think she’ll mind if I use it for combat.
The exercise doesn’t end just because I deflected the orb. There is a follow-up.
Divine Step
I suddenly shift my position using the most potent teleportation magic I know, putting me in the path of the same Lightning Orb from before. Having lost none of its potency, the glowing ball of energy threatens to swallow me once again, not that I would let it.
“Distortion!”
Using a different hand, I do the same twisting hand motion and swat the magic orb aside like an inflated ball. The exercise continues in the same manner.
Divine Step, “Distortion”, Divine Step, “Distortion”, Divine Step
Each time I change the direction of the orb, I put myself back in its path with Divine Step and repeat the process. Casting them one after another, it becomes a continuous exercise that ends when I want to or when I run out of mana. Like this it’s possible to practice both spells at the same time while also training myself to become ambidextrous, that is to say using both hands with equal skill. If a warrior can benefit from having this kind of skill, why shouldn’t a mage? Wielding mana can be thought of as similar to wielding a melee weapon. I want to challenge the notion that mages are weak at close range and, thanks to Nashira, I now have to means to do so. The rest depends on my dedication.
When I faced that black demon yesterday, it took me almost 2 seconds to activate Divine Step. It’s very fast compared to regular teleportation, but it’s not good enough to rely on in actual combat. 2 seconds at close range is enough time for a skilled warrior to slice off both of my ears. I want to get the cast time of Divine Step down to less than a second. Only then will I stand a chance.
The training continues until my mana supply is nearing depletion. I stop with roughly 20% left. The mana clock I carry says that three hours remain until dusk when I have to meet the captain.
I’ve made good progress today. I should use the remaining time to recover. Starting a mission for Bloodmoon while exhausted could end with my death.
And so I spend the next few hours meditating on the soft, green grass. Not only does it sharpen the mind, it also speeds up mana recovery to several times its normal rate. By the time I see Asher, it will be nearly full.
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When returning to Tyrin, I am met with an unexpected difficulty. A long line of caravan has accumulated at the main gate of the city. For the sake of security, caravan must be subjected to a brief inspection by city guards before being allowed to enter. You are asked what your business is in Tyrin and how long you’re planning to stay. New and unannounced arrivals are inspected thoroughly. Bloodmoon was exempt from this rule since the nobles allowed it.
“We just need one day! That’s all, just one day. Why are you so unreasonable?”
“Miss, I heard you just fine the first two times but no means no. We won’t allow a cursed child into the city. Them’s the rules.”
“What kind of rule is that? She isn’t cursed! She’s just a bit sick and needs to see a healer.”
Loud voices are coming from the gate. It looks like someone is holding up the line because they’re having trouble getting past inspection, but what is this ‘cursed child’ nonsense?
While circling around to the left, I approach the gate to see what is happening. The merchants and villagers who await their turn in line are whispering noisily among each other. I hear talk of curses and disaster falling upon the country. Some of them mention war and having nowhere to stay. Are they refugees from places affected by the civil war? It would explain the increased number of caravan and new arrivals.
At the front of the line, the situation becomes clearer. Two women wearing leather armor are confronting the guards. They are both warriors, as each one looks physically strong and they have sheathed swords hanging from the hip. The woman on the right I don’t recognize, but the one on the left has beautiful red hair whose radiance is made even more intense by the light of the setting sun.
I can’t be sure with her back turned, but I’ve seen her before.
Behind them are two horses loaded with supplies and equipment, one of which is also carrying the child they mentioned earlier. The child is enveloped in a blanket and appears to be sleeping in the saddle, unaware of the noisy atmosphere around her. The skirt of a simple dress can be seen.
“I already said the two of you can enter if you just leave that thing outside the walls. You’re still complaining?” a man wearing a mage robe says. His outfit has the emblem of Count Faustina’s noble family, showing that he has authority in Tyrin.
“Of course we are! And how can you call her a thing? She’s a child!” the woman on the left vigorously rebukes the group of guards who look increasingly upset.
“Insolent little… Get the hell out of here right now, all three of you, before I have you thrown in the dungeons for disrupting Tyrin’s peace!”
The city official loses his temper and shouts threateningly at the two women. Neither of them looks intimidated by this outburst of anger.
“Let’s go, Selene. We’ve said enough. Let's try someplace else” the woman on the right says calmly.
Without uttering another word, the two silently exit the line along with their horses and the child resting in the saddle.