The disheveled form of Jeremy picked itself up from the muck. His wounds were already mending, but there was little he could do to his bloodstained and tattered clothing.

He wanted to smash his staff in frustration — even as he felt the derision and glee from his infernal watchers.

Jeremy couldn’t believe what happened. The burst of air sent him flying and spinning at horrifying speeds. He was at peace for a time — the pressing voices in his head replaced by vertigo and nausea.

Then, the ground happened.

He was spinning so close to the ground, the first impact nearly drove his staff into his shoulders. He bounced and skidded — and then bounced and skidded some more until he landed someplace soft.

Torn flesh and broken bones — Jeremy somehow managed to pop a Lifesaver™ into his mouth before losing consciousness.

Now he was waking up and realizing he was wallowing in muck.

“Nooooooooo!!!”

A howl of pain, disgust, and desperation escaped from Jeremy. His life ward intensified — even as hellfire spread from the wizard like a slow-moving explosion.

The dome of fire persisted for a few seconds before dying down. Everything within thirty steps of the wizard was incinerated — leaving only warped ground.

Jeremy calmed down. The muck and jerms were gone.

He could see a cave in the distance. It was likely the home of the creature whose mucking grounds he landed on. Jeremy didn’t know if he should feel gratitude or anger towards the creature — but he decided to leave it alone for now.

His clothes were unaffected by the hellfire, but there was barely enough of them to maintain his dignity. How could he even wear them knowing how they were immersed in monster muck?!

“Aaaaaarrrgghhh!!!”

Jeremy started blasting the ground with hellfire both to get away from the creeping disgust and to release his frustration at himself.

His father said willfully destroying nature for no reason was only fine in two instances — training and stress relief. He only had to look out for elves hiding in the trees. Well, there were no trees here.

He only stopped his rampage when he felt the incoming presence of Shelby. His mount was probably worried, given that they shared an emphatic link.

Jeremy waited for his beloved snail. He was shocked to see her missing a flail, and there were patches of ice on her usually pristine white shell. He didn’t even feel her pain — was he out that long?

33 minutes — he was out good.

Shelby looked forlorn upon seeing him.

He moved to greet the snail, tearing apart more of his tattered robes.

Jeremy sighed.

He was prepared to hear songs of the naked wizard once the vanguard returned to Evergreen.

Shelby stirred from his embrace — even pushing him away. It was the first time she did so — Jeremy panicked, thinking she could detect the lingering smell of muck on his body.

The gargantuan snail recoiled into her shell, before coming back out and spitting out the man from before.

“You want me to interrogate him now?”

His answer was met with a series of deriding clicks and whistles.

“Oh,” Jeremy realized what Shelby wanted him to do.

He stared at the paralyzed man, realizing that he was soul-locked. Did Sebas teach Shelby how to do it? His butler didn’t even teach him the spell —he only made him add a similar ward to the dining room.

“Can you find my staff for me, Shelby?”

The snail eagerly agreed. She seemed to listen for something before taking off.

Jeremy went to work. He didn’t mind stripping in front of Shelby. She was, after all, his familiar — and a snail. However, stripping another man was different — and it was something not to be seen by anyone.

The man didn’t seem to mind. He had lifeless eyes — devoid of all hope. What exactly did Shelby do to the poor man? And how could he learn it?

Shelby returned just as he finished changing into the man’s clothes. He made sure to saturate them in a concentrated blast of his life ward, just to make sure they were free of jerms.

The snail stared at the naked man — and then swallowed him once more.

Jeremy frowned. Swallow wasn’t the right term. His familiarity with gates allowed him to feel the opening of a portal — and the man just vanished into one.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Where did you take that man, Shelby?”

Home.

Jeremy was stunned. It seemed like he was worse than Sebas and Shelby when it came to making portals.

Not Master home — Shelby home.

“I see,” he spoke without really understanding what Shelby meant. Was the man inside Shelby’s shell all this time? There was probably something more he didn’t grasp.

“Thanks for all your help, Shelby. You saved me.” He spotted his Painful Staff of Pain among the javelins trapped to Shelby’s shell. “And thanks for finding my staff.”

Staffany.

Jeremy paused. Did Shelby just say his staff was funny? It was probably her way of saying it was strange since she had to have picked it up from the ground. Last time she said it was itchy.

“Yes, it is a funny staff.”

***

Anika rode alongside Cicero — this time, riding a horse. The shot that brought down the drake also dislodged one of the ballista’s arms. Pale Sade and Bunny were working on them at the moment. For now, she would have to rely on her bow.

The captain smiled upon seeing her. Unbeknownst to most of the vanguard, they were husband and wife. They met in their time under the Blackstaff. She was supposed to be retired — but she followed her husband in his posting, just to make sure it was safe.

They kept their dalliances away from Evergreen and the ones who knew of their relationship kept their silence. Her presence would hand the nobles governing the citadel a tool to control her husband — and she didn’t want to be the reason her husband’s stay was extended, especially since he only had a few months left in his assignment.

Atticus would be a good replacement. Cicero practically brought him up — even writing him books and letters to teach him about leadership, politics, and warcraft.

The change in the mood of those around her pulled Anika back to the present. She could see the Scourge standing at the side of his giant snail — and around him was nothing but scorched earth.

The wizard waved. He climbed atop his snail and rode to meet the vanguard.

Anika heard Cicero greet the wizard — but her mind was focused on the Scourge and the battlefield.

What kind of creature did the Scourge battle?

The others might think the wizard was fine, but she could see the remnants of shock and despair in the wizard’s face and movements.

He wasn’t even wearing his own clothes! His robes were probably torn or destroyed during his battle with the creature or creatures.

Some of the men steered towards the battlefield — but their horses refused to step on the scorched earth.

Anika prodded her horse forward, curiosity getting the best of her. She dismounted when her mount would go no further. She walked on foot the rest of the way.

Here was death and fire.

She stooped down to touch the ground — recoiling after her fingertips made contact.

The whole area was crystallized bones. She wasn’t exactly sure — but what else could all the hollow tubes that littered the ground possibly be?

Whatever the Scourge faced, it must have been huge and formidable. She was glad they didn’t have to face it.

She paused to give thanks to the heavens before mounting her horse and heading back to the others. She managed to catch her husband still speaking with the Scourge, and she rode closer to hear.

“So what exactly happened?”

“I was swimming in them, captain — my most hated enemies.”

“And then?”

“What could I do but unleash death and hellfire?” the wizard looked horrified as he recounted the events. “I had to make sure to rid the world of their existence.”

“And your robes?” Cicero sounded concerned.

“Torn and bloodied,” the Scourge admitted. “How could I even wear them knowing that they were tainted by their touch?”

“But you’re fine now?”

“Yes, captain,” the Scourge straightened up. “I had to take a Lifesaver™ — but otherwise, I’m fine.”

“Lifesaver™? You mean one of these?” Cicero holds up a healing drop.

“No,” the wizard dismissed it with a wave. “Lifesavers™ are more potent. They can mend bones and even regrow limbs. For just a vial of blood and 250 gold — you can get one of them at the Corner Shop™. We also accept mail orders. For an extra 50 gold, you can schedule an appointment in your own home anywhere in the kingdom. One of our trusted associates will assist you in drawing blood and your Lifesaver™ would be delivered to your doorstep the following day.”

Anika rubbed her eyes, wondering when a dubious snake oil merchant replaced the wizard.

The words she heard seemed scripted — even rehearsed to perfection. Some of the claims even seemed too ridiculous to be true. Even if she supposed the obviously exaggerated healing and regeneration properties of the Lifesavers™ were true — how could they possibly reach any home within the kingdom?

***

Darkness. He was back in the darkness.

He had fought in countless battles — winning each one to the clamor of his allies and the demise of his enemies.

He had served his master well, barely leaving his side and playing his role as both his aegis and his gladius.

But now there was only darkness.

He could still fight if directed by others. He could still unleash his might once aimed at the enemy. But he would never again see the terror in his enemies’ faces or their despair as they flee.

Soon there would be battle once more. He would be forced into the fight regardless of his blindness.

His cruel master tended to use all of his tools to the fullest — not letting them rest until they were truly broken.

He would wait for the next fight in the darkness — and he would be ready.

Staffany? Staffany? Brooding again?

Hope bloomed in the darkness.

Shelby found Staffany’s eye. Staffany want it back?

Yes, snail — uh, Shelby.

Okay.

Uhm, can you put it on the blade side this time — so I can see from the front?

***

Jeremy’s Current Life Ward * Persistent Aura * Necrotic

Effect: All creatures within one step take 1 Necrotic damage every minute and an additional 1 necrotic damage every five minutes.