It took about a week for the four travelling companions to reach Ostoss. Along the way they did have to fight one Bronze demon, an easy take down for the three Bronze in their group and Zalia messed around with her woodworking skills each night. This led to a gain in a couple skill levels.
Congratulations! Kill shot has reached Bronze 4.
Congratulations! Fight or Flight has reached Bronze 3.
Congratulations! Survivalist has reached Bronze 4.
Congratulations! Flora Identification has reached Bronze 2.
Congratulations! Preparation has reached Bronze 4.
Congratulations! Harvester has reached Bronze 3.
Congratulations! Herbal magic has reached Bronze 4
Congratulations! Herbalist has reached Bronze 2.
Congratulations! Healing presence has reached Bronze 5.
Congratulations! Low Light Vision has gained three levels reaching Iron 18.
Congratulations! Aura Observation has gained four levels reaching Iron 19.
Congratulations! Mobility has reached Bronze 3.
Congratulations! Teaching has gained three levels reaching Iron 12.
Congratulations! Flight has reached Iron 13.
Congratulations! Bow - Weapon proficiency has reached Bronze 3.
Congratulations! Sword - Weapon proficiency has reached Bronze 3.
It was quite a lot of level gains for a few reasons. The first and main reason was that since she had arrived in Cormaine and even further since she had gotten back to Endaria, she hadn’t had the time nor the mental capacity to continue her training very often. With the extra time she now had as the others slept, she practiced her sword and bow work, formed and broke apart the chunk of wood, set up protective living rituals, observed the auras of her friends closely and went for runs.
It was a lot but it helped pass the time much quicker than her usual sitting around and waiting. She also sometimes used her wings to practice how her sword work and archery skills would need to change when fighting in the air rather than on the ground. Obviously, it wasn’t as good practice as the real thing but every bit could count.
Not only that but now Aylie had her class, Zalia spent a good portion of their days walking teaching Aylie about the skills they shared and trying to help her figure out the skills they didn’t. She also taught some basic tracking skills, knowing they were useful for anyone really but especially another Druid. Additionally, she actually tried to help Aylie learn some simple mathematics and letters. It was at this time that she realised she didn't actually know Endarian letters and Ember took over that half. With bonded mental attributes, it wasn’t such a hard task but something she thought the young girl should learn. Maybe it wasn’t the norm in this world but the education system within her own was something she took for granted. Aylie hadn’t been taught anything at all and probably would have spent her life as a farmer or other trade worker in which she wouldn’t have needed anything other than simple addition.
Still, she learned quite quickly and Zalia wasn’t surprised. She took to any task with fervor, as if she wanted to learn every little piece of information and advice Zalia had to give. It was simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking. Zalia knew that Aylie clung to her words and what she had to teach with such strength because of what had been taken from her. Inside, the little girl was desperately clutching for any kind of grounding after having her life shaken so thoroughly to its core. Just old enough to understand what had happened yet not old enough to know how to deal with it. So, Zalia taught her all she could.
Soon enough, time passing much quicker due to her busy nighttime schedule, they arrived at Ostoss. They had headed past what was Juniper’s old farm on the way but had found it entirely burnt to ashes and Alston, the town nearby, still somewhat intact yet entirely devoid of life. The people had obviously fled, hopefully some having been saved by Zen and his group in the north.
Ostoss itself though, was heavily fortified with walls and guards and as they arrived, Zalia found it still occupied. Occupied and under attack. There were guards up on the walls, slinging spells, arrows and valiantly defending from a veritable horde of flying demons as they tried to break into the town. The reason that the town had not fallen yet, or so Zalia assumed, was the big dome of energy that arced and crackled over top as demons tried to break through.
“Boreal, take Aylie and run around the other side of the town and see if you can’t get in,” Zalia said.
“I can help!” Aylie protested.
“I don’t doubt you can but this isn’t the time for that. This is too dangerous, there are too many of them. I won’t be able to keep you safe down there,” Zalia quickly explained.
Aylie looked like she was about to protest but Ember spoke up.
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
“Please, we can take care of this just fine,” Ember said softly.
Zalia could see it in Aylie’s eyes. The fear that she would be the only one left again, that even her saviour would die when she lived on. She didn’t want to be left alone again.
She knelt down to take both Aylie’s hands in her own.
“Don’t worry. I lived in the homeland of these creatures and they couldn’t take me down. I’ll live through today and every other day and I will always return to you ok? One day you’ll be big, old and strong enough that you can join me in these fights but for now I need to know that you’re safe, alright?” Zalia explained calmly.
Aylie nodded so Zalia lifted her onto Boreal.
“Keep her safe,” she whispered, giving Boreal’s head a ruffle.
Boreal sped off and Zalia activated the wing ritual for both her and Ember. They weren’t far away from the battle but she wanted to get in there as quickly as possible. She recognised the enemies, the small Tin and Iron rank flying ones that would be absolutely no challenge to her. It was time to show Ember how exactly she had purged one of those dens practically by herself.
They sped on wings of air towards the battle, Ember actually able to fly with ease despite her pretense at being unable to a week earlier on the mountain. Zalia smiled to herself as she shook her head, entirely sure the woman had just wanted Zalia to hold her.
As they flew, Zalia was able to see with incredible detail due to her Flight passive and she spotted Tristan on the walls, yelling orders. She was glad to see her friend alive and kicking, looking like he was leading the towns defence force no less. Well, she would take these demons off his hands and help lighten the load.
She dove from above and the speed of her drop allowed her to smash through a few of the demons before they realised what was happening. She dove straight to the centre of their ranks and as Ember was about to join her, Zalia activated Nature’s Wrath.
The elements became hers to command, two air elementals forming like twin whirling vortexes. They immediately flew out of the swarm and began using air to push the demons closer to Zalia at her wordless mental command.
She took a hold of the very winds with her mind, pulling and pushing it into a much, much larger swirling tornado around her as the demons struggled to escape. Their attempts were futile however as wind speeds picked up and any little demon trying to escape was immediately shoved back in by the two elementals guarding the perimeter.
Zalia wasn’t done however. The winds themselves were not enough to harm the creatures greatly so she started ripping up chunks of earth from below and allowing them to be whipped up into the swirling maelstrom. Thuds of earth on flesh could be heard, the cries of the impacted whisked away in the wind. Blood and torn bodies soon filled the whirlwind and the effect was multiplicative as the broken bodies of the already dead demons caused chaos amongst their brethren.
It was all over in a matter of seconds, perhaps half a minute of stone and wind and flesh colliding in a morbid tornado of pain. She allowed the winds and the stone to drop, the broken bodies of her enemies dropping with it.
She looked up to see Ember hadn’t joined the fight, simply floating in the wind above with shock and awe coating her expression and body language.
Zalia dropped down to land, knowing that her mana would surely be close to out. She checked and sure enough it was at less than a quarter. Ember dropped down too, obviously having put two and two together about the very same thing.
“Zalia, what the hell was that!?” Ember exclaimed as she landed.
Zalia used the heat manipulation to gather enough heat to start little fires that she used to burn the blood and gore from her armour with.
“That, was Nature’s Wrath,” Zalia replied smugly.
She felt good showing off for Ember, especially considering she hadn’t really done much other than shoot the occasional demon since they had found each other again.
“I know, but… how?” Ember asked.
“It has an extremely long cooldown, remember? It also used almost all of my mana to do that. I could have achieved the same over a much longer time through other methods as I’m sure you could too,” Zalia explained.
“I don’t really have any… area of effect abilities like that,” Ember said sullenly.
“Aw, don’t worry, I’ve got enough for the both of us. Besides, it’s nothing compared to what Aylie’s Starfall will be like at Bronze rank. Mine is a six hour cooldown, hers is two days. It can already hurt us at Tin,” Zalia pointed out.
She had a scary thought. What would that ability be like if Aylie ever reached ascendant? Would she be able to drop an actual star on someone?
She hoped not. She didn’t like the idea that anyone could have that kind of power.
“Come on, I saw Tristan from up there. Let’s see if we can get inside shall we?” Zalia suggested.
Ember still looked like she was recovering from Zalia’s display so she stored her armour, grabbed Ember’s hand in her own and started walking towards the gate.
“Are you two safe? Did you get inside?” Zalia sent to Boreal.
“Safe, inside,” Boreal sent back.
A picture of the two of them walking down a dirty street with thin hungry looking people arrived with the words. Zalia had a feeling that Saint Ember would have her work cut out for her here.
The gates opened as they neared and Zalia saw Tristan run out to meet her.
“Zalia!? By the gods, I thought I saw you in the middle of all that but I never imagined…” he yelled as he ran.
“Tristan! Long time no see,” Zalia said, smiling as she held Ember’s hand tightly.
“How in the worlds did you do that?” he asked as he finally reached them.
Zalia looked at the many, many kill notifications and the two levels Nature’s Wrath had gained.
“Well, I have a loooong story for you,” Zalia said, getting ready to explain again what had happened to her and where she had been.
“That can wait, come inside. We’d be happy to compensate you however we can,” he interrupted.
“I’d love to.”