Arlun [IMPORTANT FROM HERE_THIS CHAPTER]
Arlun looked on with terrified eyes as the ball of fire headed straight for Carmil, the prince was in the way but he couldn’t care less for the prince at this moment. Carmil was the one on his mind. Ignoring whatever Korin was babbling about, Arlun pushed his legs as fast as they could go!. There was no way he was going to lose Carmil now.
Sadly for him, even his newly enhanced stats lacked the oomph to get him there in time. And there was nothing he could do there even if he did. The creature let go of the ball, once again inflicting a blinding foray of light on the spectators.
Unable to help himself, Arlun cried out on top of his voice, “Noooooooooooooo” Perhaps due to some just before that delusion, he could see Carmil also stretching out his hand, as if asking Arlun to save him.
Sadly, Arlun did not have the power to do so. All he could do was stretch out his hand in return. Two hands, On white-coloured, one brown-coloured, one muscular, one skinny, stretched out, seemingly across space just to touch each other.
Unbeknownst to the two of them, their mana had started acting up, casting one particular cast by itself. Loverners, the cast of emotion. And like that, the wind started picking up. Strange colours began appearing in the wind, lending to it a shape, a power of its own.
The winds and the colours coalesced into a hulking image of a dragon that seemed to move faster than the speed of light. It absorbed the ball into its belly, causing not even a ripple, as if the ball was beneath the dragon’s notice. Then it moved right on to the creature. Striking its body with its head and pushing it down to the ground and even a bit below it. Its job done, the creature disappeared.
This was the last thing Arlun saw before he fell unconscious.
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Korin
Korin looked at the desolate Woods with complicated emotions. Most of the trees had fallen, and the sky had become a murky mix of otherworldly colours. The ground had frozen over, the ice cracking in some places and strong as a boulder in others.
It was a scene right out of one of those apocalypse novels he had read. The bodies had been incinerated in the clash between the creature and the illusory dragon. THat was good, he supposed. Saved him the pain of having to bury his comrades.
Strangely enough, all the big actors were unconscious now. The Prince, The Mage Arlun and the creature. Even that eunuch Carmil. Korin could kill them all, he could have the creature pay for killing his comrades, execute the Prince for leading them to their deaths or even Mage Arlun for not being there to help them.
But he knew that none of them were truly to blame. The creature was likely protecting its territory, the Prince was forced by his tyrannical father and blaming Arlun for not knowing the future was just petty.
No, the one to blame was the society. The situation. And the Realmwatch. These things needed to die. And there was someone coming that would help him do it.
Korin turned to the left where a small breach in space could be seen. The ringing you see, had been a message, a message warning of this mans coming. A warning Korin ignored as he stepped into the breach and into the wide unknown.
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Chimera[The disgusting beast, last reference unless I bring it back later in the book.]
Quartezkkjlhjar, known among humans as Qua, woke up with a bad headache. Ignoring that, she immediately sensed out for her children. These were the last clutch she would have and considering that all of the others had died, they would be her only children.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Thankfully for her, her children were hiding inside their eggs only a few hundred metres away. Most bipeds presumed that these were her eggs, even the cruel watch had done so, but that was not true. The Qorar, her species, had the natural ability to go into a deep hibernation where they formed a large cover around their bodies that resembled the eggs of other species.
This little ability had saved countless lives and was thus held as a core secret by her species. Qua looked around for her assailants, she knew that they were truly innocent, none of them had even known that they were her children, but she had still come here.
Not to protect her children, no, she had not thought that anyone in this small force had the ability to break their shells, a presumption that had been proven wrong. No, she was here for one reason and one reason only, the Space user. That Trial taker was her and her children's only way out.
As a Trial taker, he was immune to the watch’s influence and his Space affinity made him able to actually leave the realm. At first she had thought that the little guy would not be powerful enough to break the space and leave the realm.
The only solution se could think of was letting him borrow her mana and use it to brute force the barriers but if that attack that had broken two seperate world barriers was any indication, the Trial taker was powerful enough to not need her help.
It would seem that this Trial taker might have been the one that finally beat this Trial and have Qua experience her first death. Then it was fortunate that she had taken it upon herself to attack the Trial taker. Now she wouldn’t have to die.
While she had been ruminating, the Trial taker had awoken from his nap. The little boy raised his head and looked around. Qua prepared to contact him, telepathy was not her strong suit but it would have to suffice. Suddenly the boy threw up a shield of fire, jumping to a standing position.
Why would he…ah, the poor boy thought that she was going to attack him. Best to remove that option. Qua cast the spell, hopefully now communicating with the boy.
“Stop. I come in peace. There is no need to attack” The barrier stayed up
“And why should I believe you? A creature that comes in peace does not slaughter hundreds” the Trial taker said. So, he was not aware of that…
“Oh they are not dead, they’ll just return the next time someone takes the Trial. Now, would you be willing to give me safe passage to my home? I do know that you have the Space affinity. “ Qua replied
“I see. And what can you give me in return?” The barrier the trial taker insisted on keeping up while speaking was getting on Qua’s nerves.
Qua took a deep breath. This was the only thing Qua could give and she could just hope that it was something the Trial taker wanted, “ I can give you this.” -Qua took out a small bottle from her scales,- “It is a potion of Life.”
“ Made from ingredients only available in my homeland, it will save your life once. As long as you haven’t breathed your last more than ten minutes ago you shall return to full health. Do you accept.?” Qua said she would have no other chance. Right now the Trial taker was drowsy and easily influenced. Later he may be less so.
“Very well. I accept.” The Trial taker, to Qua’s joy said. Then he waved his hand and cut out the space.
“That should lead you through,” he said.
Qua rapidly nodded her head, screeched to her children to follow as she lifted up. While doing this, she fished out a small amulet and held it towards the Trial taker. A bright blue light flashed towards the Trial taker and he lost all memory of the conversation.
Sadly due to the fact that the fire impeded the spell it would be only temporary but it should hopefully allow her enough of a head start before the Trial taker came for revenge. If he did. Dropping the bottle in the Trial takers palm, Qua lifted off, her newly free children following her on their journey home.
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Alforien
When I woke up, I was back in the ritual bed. Not dead. Had this all been a potion induced dream? A fake Trial to grant experience? Had I been so egregiously wrong?-- My internal breakdown suddenly found itself interrupted by two heavy objects falling down.
I looked to the side, a move that sent shivers of pain throughout my body, to see Arlun and Carmil. Covered in blood and grime but otherwise completely real. So it had at least not been a fever dream. I had truly lost the battle. Though I suppose that something must have happened because I didn’t seem to be dead.
Sighing, I went back to sleep. I was too tired to do anything else.