Chapter 27 Through the Storm.

The best time to strike

is the time your enemies believe they’ve already won.

Seize the moment and strike with fury.

Nuriss, the Maiden of War.

*Crakakack* *rooooom*

A second lightning strike lights up the room from the window, casting odd shapes of shadows on the wall.

I am glad I went to sleep hugging my money pouch. I get up, and use the light from the gems to navigate my way out of the room.

I rush to the stables, my bare feet sink in the muddied earth with each hurried step. The lightning bolts ignore me, and keep striking the farm over and over, lighting it up and setting it on fire. The workers and the old woman manage to leave in their sleepwear and small clothes. I can’t see Jerro anywhere, but it’s too dark to discern anything.

I hop onto Loyal’s back using the wooden fence of the stables. I press my barefooted heels into his ribs, and ride into the darkness again. I can’t fight this mage. Causing lightning storms of this magnitude is way beyond what I am capable of. But why am I getting away again? Is he letting me go on purpose?! Why?! It doesn't make any sense!

The lightning bolts keep on striking the farm behind me, and the people outside scream and scatter.

It doesn’t matter. I have to run if I want to live, and I don't know these people.

I do my best to shake off my guilt, clenching my eyelids shut with each thunderclap. I can hear the screams. Someone got directly hit by a lightning bolt. It’s wrong.

Why doesn't he target me? Why does he target those people instead? One thing does make sense. He's tiring me out, he doesn't let me sleep. I slept an hour tonight and an hour last night… I have to either find him and kill him myself - the very thought is ridiculous - Or run without any sleep until I get to that Axero city. I doubt he'd target a whole city… No, that’s an even worse idea. This mage can control monsters at a size of a cyclops, and he can create lightning storms. I doubt a city would stop him, and I’m sure he can fight at closed quarters too…

I have no chance of fighting him directly. I am an apprentice with a missing hand and a very small array of cantrips. My only sure kill cantrip needs a direct touch. I won't even get close to someone with his capabilities and range. Yes, I got the drop on Rushmia, but that was luck, I surprised her. Most of her defenses were down, and I still didn't get away free... I need to run away and hope for the best…

With a boom of thunder that makes me wince, the clouds break into a downpour. Only now do I realize how cold the night's air is. The open chemise I wear hangs loosely on my body like a sack, it got pulled up to my knees due to mounting the horse. I am barefoot. It’s freezing.

Now, in addition to food and water, I need to find proper clothes to wear. I miss my tower-issued boots and black robes, even though they might’ve given me away as an apprentice of the Sapphire Tower. They were at the very least warm.

I also lost the potions I took from Rushmia! I didn’t even think about the satchel!

It was a mistake to linger at that farm and allow myself to relax. But it was too warm to resist, and I’ve been too tired in the last few days. So tired, in fact, I can feel it muddling my judgment and making my limbs heavy. Even while fleeing for my damned life, all I can think about is how much I want to set my head on my horse’s neck and drift off. My eyelids drop for a split second. Right now, even the cold night air and the freezing rain are a warm blanket for me.

Snap out of it! I need to figure out how to get rid of this mage, first. How is he tracking me? Irrelevant, let's assume he can pinpoint my location at all time, he's tiring me out because he wants to capture me alive...

I ride, hugging Loyal's warm back, leeching some of his warmth in this frozen night. I consider my options and reach the only conclusion. I can’t continue like this. I have to face my pursuer and give this horrible mage what he or she wants. I can shout that I surrender and then… No. He's not stupid enough to let me get close to him. And even if I pretend to surrender, he probably has some sort of defensive magic, how do I bypass that? Or am I ok with losing my second hand now? Pretending to surrender won't work. But what about pretending to lose my consciousness? His goal is to tire me out, right? Let's give him what he wants. It’s been three nights of riding with barely any sleep, I can be quite convincing… I only have to make sure I won't actually fall asleep...

This is the best plan I can come up with, if it doesn't work I am done for… A bad plan is better than no plan.

I close my eyes and lean against Loyal's head, pretending to pass out. Considering how everything in the Sapphire Tower is recorded, I can only assume the mysterious mage is probably watching me somehow. I commit to this act. I pretend to wake myself up, shake my head, and keep on riding. I repeat this performance multiple times. At my fifth time I stop supporting myself and let myself fall off my horse's back.

Hitting the stony road is more painful than I expect. My bone hand cracks at the impact. I wince as my arm light up in a fiery wave of excruciating pain. Don’t move! My hand didn't function anyway, might as well keep up the show.

I lay there on the freezing road, the spring rain washes my body. I keep my eyes closed and my teeth clenched. I don’t want to tremble visibly, it'd give away the act. My shoulder throbs in pain, my heart thumps in my ears and I’m covered in freezing goosebumps. This pain can keep me awake at least...

I can hear Loyal's horseshoes getting closer, he nudges me with his nose a few times. Why is he so loyal to me. Why is he so intelligent. He’s the opposite of everything I know about horses. I have to keep up the pretense, so I ignore the nose nudges that warm my heart. I’m not alone…

The pain in my shoulder helps me stay awake for a while. After a while, the pain is going numb too, numb and cold. No one is getting closer, the mage taking his sweet time. I’ve got to stay awake! I will live through this! I have to live!

After an unknown amount of time laying down in the rain without a single movement, I can finally hear wet footsteps drawing closer. My heart drums up. I silence my fears. I have no time for them now. I have to get ready to fight for my life.

I can feel the breaths of a person crouching near me. I open my eyes, form the mana patterns on an instinct as my hand lunges forward like a snake.

I cover the shocked face of the man with my palm. “Myrsha Ritsa!”

The man's head explodes like a ripe watermelon that fell from the top of the Sapphire Tower, splattering blood and gore everywhere.

I stare at the headless body for a shocked moment. An odd smell rises in the air. *Pzzzzz*

*CRACK*

The searing pain overwhelms me and everything turns white.

*

I wake up on the paved road. My back feels like it's on fire, I can feel the rain washing my bare back. The water won’t help me, it won’t douse these flames of agony.

I manage to sit up and reach for my back. My skin is warm, painful. Touching it doesn’t change much.

What happened? I have no idea. There’s a headless body a few meters away from me. It lets out smoke and the smell of charred meat. Why would it be charred?! I only blew off his head with a kinetic burst…

I crawl toward it in the rain. My vision is blurred, but I’m alive. For now.

Despite the charcoal-like skin, the man’s clothes are surprisingly in good condition. The burning torment on my back doesn’t let me think clearly. I frantically rummage through his belt bags, looking for a healing potion. But all I find is flower petals, I let them spill out in the rain with a heavy floral scent.

I’m all out of hope when I reach the last and eighths bag on his lower back, and sigh in relief when I find six pewter potion bottles inside. I trace the familiar curving of the unicorn of Brigit with my fingers on the metallic bottle of a healing potion. When I confirm it’s the right potion I drink it in a single gulp in order to calm the unbearable pain.

The pain disappears from my bruises and my right arm, but not from my back. The pain in my back only fades slightly, from an unbearable fire under my skin, to boiling water on my back. Now that the pain is mostly gone, I feel cold again. I take off the man's heavy blue robes and most of the clothing underneath them.

The clothes are too large for me, heavy and wet. The burnt smell makes them feel a lot worse. But I need something better than a sleeping gown to wear in this rain. I’m freezing to the bone here! Literally!

I observe and explore the belt bag and notice the pearls embedded in each of the bags, they’re probably enchanted. Combined with how fresh all these flower petals are, the conclusion is simple. If I’m right, they’re supposed to keep these petals fresh… There's no saving the flowers though...

My right hand is nothing more than a sharp broken bone, my former elbow is nonexistent I can’t even find the other pieces of my bones no matter where I look. I imagine the rain had washed them away.

It’s terrifying. Previously a part of me found comfort in the fact that the bones are still there, that it can be healed with magic somehow, some day. Seeing the sharp edge of the broken bone makes it final, that I'll be one-handed for the rest of my life.

It's just a feeling, magic did heal my missing hand only a few days ago. It turned into stone and broke into tiny pieces… I just have to find a mage who can heal my hand… one that is not affiliated with the Sapphire Tower… I have to get going, more mages like this man will come for my head soon… and this time they won't underestimate me anymore... The next time I'll die...

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Loyal is loyally standing near me. He neighs happily when I climb his back using a small boulder, and gallops forth along the road.

As I hold onto his neck I whisper in his ear “I don't know why you've stayed, I don't know why you saved me or if you even understand what I am saying… Whatever your reasons are Loyal, thank you!” He neighs cheerfully as he advances. It’s nice to feel someone cares about me in this world, even if it’s just a horse I've met three days ago.

The rain finally breaks and the sun comes up, it’s a beautiful warm dawn. I can see a massive city with white walls on the far horizon. The towers along the walls stand out, and their rooftops glitter in the sun like precious gems. Behind them, a gigantic tree grows out in the middle of the city, its size is disproportionate compared to the tiny city below, like a giant towering over ants. Its canopy of leaves is large enough to cover most if not all of the city, and the branches seem too thick even from afar.

I can’t even remember the city's name by now, I just want to sleep. *achoo!!!* Yeah, sneezing became a thing now. Must've caught a cold with all that freezing rain.

Getting to the city still takes me a couple of riding hours. There’s a small queue of people waiting to enter. It’s early noon when I finally pass through the gates. The guards just let me pass unhindered for some reason, and no one else bothers me.

I stop and give the Sapphire Tower one last look. Even from this far I can see this pillar reaching high up into the sky. Although, from this distance it looks like a thin rod of deep blue on the lighter cloudy blue sky behind it. I turn back to the city, that's behind me now.

I pass through the gates and find myself in a bustling city. This place is a massive cramped metropolis. The buildings are five to six floors tall, with the view of green canopy from above. It makes the streets seem dark even in the middle of the day. And the narrow streets themselves are so crowded that I can’t even see faces, just moving masses of people.

This place isn’t even the slums and it’s already extremely crowded, I can probably get lost in here. That won’t work… my missing hand will make me stand out. My auburn hair color is also a rarity here, and my features mark me as a stranger.

But there are so many different races here! Gnomes, orcs… is that a dwarf? A gnome with a beard must be a dwarf… and what are those tall albino people or the weird humanoids with the scales that keep changing colors? Surely I can disappear here… The majority is still human… and they’re all tanned with black or brown hair… A human-looking girl in her late teens with a missing hand and red hair, wearing oversized man clothes… I will stand out like a redcap in a snowy field, no matter how crowded a place is or how many different races it contains.

It doesn’t matter right now. I have to find a place to rest first, or I’ll die from exhaustion alone…

I ride Loyal in the middle of the street, along with the carriages. I avoid the crowd on the sidewalks, I don’t want to have my magical gems stolen.

I dismount near the first inn I can find, it has a symbol of a black thorny snake right above the doorway. I only know it’s an inn because the door is open, and the lobby inside is visible from the street. I give a magical gem to the stable boy, making sure he'll take care of Loyal. Though the language is still a barrier.

I enter the inn and head straight to the fireplace, huddling in my wet blue robes. I shudder, hearing my own teeth clacking. With a touch to my forehead I can tell I have a fever.

The inn is rather busy, and many people around the tables are too absorbed in cordial arguments amongst themselves. I look around for the statue; you can know a lot about an inn from the patron god it features.

There’s a painted statue of a fat man with a blue and green peacock behind him. The peacock's feathers are opened like a large fan and features a beak made out of pure gold. The man’s clothing are rich, and only his face exposes an inhuman golden skin, featuring a crooked smile and a double chin.

This is Kilako, the god of trade and money. This is a merchants’ inn, mercenaries and commoners won’t be welcome here. But they won’t chase me away as long as I have the money to pay for my stay.

I won't go anywhere like this. At least I have the money to stay here. But if another mage comes to hunt me, I'll be done for…

I’ll worry about it later… Now I need to… “Can I get you anything?”

A freckled ginger barmaid wakes me up from my daze. “Yes, something warm to drink please.” I need a rest. When another mage comes I'll deal with it then, worrying myself to death won’t get me anywhere. For now, let's take a break, I can't keep on like this.

The chubby orange-haired barmaid comes back with a steaming wooden cup. “It's honeyed tea, you look like you can use something sweet.” She says with a bright smile that reaches her blue eyes. It makes me smile uncontrollably. There are still good people in this world… Will she also die when another mage comes hunting for me? How many good people like her will end up dead because of me?

Stop that! I should really stop doing this to myself... it doesn't lead me anywhere, focus on survival.

“Thank you,” I say from the depths of my heart. I admire people like her.

I could never be like that. Naturally warm, welcoming of strangers. No. I want power. I'm all about the damn power... the power to kill any who stand in my way. And nothing is wrong with that... I don’t want to constantly fear death. To fear powerful beings who can end my life with the snap of their fingers. No. I have to become a powerful being like that myself in order to survive. I have to become a powerful being if I want any chance of finding my way back home… of finding my sister and hopefully my mother too…

“There aren't many redheads around here, do you also come from the soundless islands?” to my surprise, the ginger barmaid takes a seat in front of me. Only now do I realize we've been speaking Toml’a this whole time. She also didn't have an accent. She's hailing from my homeland.

“Yes, I am. How did you end up here of all places?” I ask, looking into her blue eyes. Having a connection to this nice woman - even if it’s just coming from the same land - is way better than being alone.

“I got taken as a slave during the war three springs ago. Got sold as a slave a few times till I ended up here. I’m still technically a slave so to speak, but the owner treats me well. What about you?” She smiles, unconcerned by her status as a slave.

“Pretty much the same. Got sold to the Sapphire Tower, and I just managed to run away. I doubt I'll survive long but at least it's freedom.” she didn't deserve being lied to.

“You've fought with the mage who chased you? How did you get away from them?” she asks, glancing at my empty sleeve with awe.

“I killed him.”

Her blue eyes open wide like a pair of saucers. “No way! You're not a mage yourself yet right?!”

Pride swells within my chest at her awe. I killed a mage and managed to get away with it…

I killed two mages actually! These invincible beings who can kill me with a snap of their fingers, all it took was the element of surprise! I'm incredible!

*Achoo!!!* The load of snot shooting off my nose kills my proud moment. The barmaid gives me napkins to wipe it all away while touching my forehead. “You're burning up. You need to lay down girl…”

Hearing the familiar verbs of the street talk of my hometown Nurio is heartwarming. “I agree, I was out in the rain all night. Marisha by the way.” I offer my healthy left hand for an awkward handshake.

“Sharla.” She shakes my hand with her left hand as if she's left handed, still smiling brightly at me. Something in her freckled round face reminds me of Nalfit, which brings a mix of pain and nostalgia into my heart. "I'll get you to a room, you can pay right? I'll be in trouble if you can't pay."

I nod. “Yes I can pay. Also, if you have a change of clothes I can sleep in, it'd be great.”

Ten minutes later I am in a warm bed, wearing new warm clothes. I doze off happily hugging my gem pouch to my chest. A part of me is still scared, wary that this girl will turn me over, afraid that another mage will track me.

But despite my fears, I can’t move from this bed. If anything happens to me, then I'll have to accept it. I have a high fever, sleep deprivation, and a back pulsing with pain despite the healing potion I took earlier. It doesn’t seem like I can do much if I’m attacked.

Now I have to trust this barmaid. She seems like a good person, I can only hope for the best.

*

When I wake up my whole body is burning, both my arm and back are a source of extreme torment. I’m obviously sick. I stay in bed dozing on and off. I don’t care if they find me anymore, I don’t care if I live or die. Nothing matters. I just want this to end. I just want to feel better or die.

Nalfit comes and sits near me, she puts a wet cloth on my forehead and talks to me. I can’t understand what she’s saying she's so funny… Actually, it’s not Nalift, it’s Ariena, my sister. No it’s just Janara, or Sharla? Or is it Nalfit?

Why are there so many monsters that eat people alive around here? People aren't that tasty, there are plenty of animals to eat you know!

Am I flying? I love flying… I wish I could fly more often…

It’s Nalfit again, I can’t understand what she’s saying… no it’s my mother… her eyes… her eyes! HER EYES!!! ThEy’Re gLoWiNg! WhY aRe ThErE fOuR oF ThEm?!

It doesn't matter, I am dying... I'm going to die. Maybe I can finally rest... I'm sorry mother... I couldn't find you... I know you wanted me to... goodbye...

*

But I survive somehow. After a time that feels like forever, I sweat the fever down, my head clears up, and now I feel better. Even my arm and back don’t hurt anymore. At my request, Sharla brings me a large bowl of dense warm stew, and it feels like bliss. “How long was I sick for?”

“Four days.” Sharla answers with a smile, bringing a change of sheets to my room.

{27} Lokamesh (May) the 30th

“I see… thank you for taking care of me. I would've probably died without you…”

“Maybe. I think you're sturdier than you look, but I wouldn't leave things to chance. There is medicine in the water I gave you. It's not free, I'll have you pay for the healer's house visit and the medicine…” She moves awkwardly as she puts the sheets on the nearby desk.

I can’t remember any healer visiting me. However, even if this is a hoax to get more money out of me, I don’t mind. This girl stayed with me – a stranger – for four days, taking care of me day and night, she deserves the generous payment. “Sure, how much will it be?”

“Two thousand golden peas…” Sharla shifts uncomfortably. “She wasn't cheap…”

I raise an eyebrow. A slave girl that can call on a healer that costs two thousand gold coins? Doesn't seem right… It's obviously a shakedown…

Doesn't matter. She saved my life. She could’ve killed me and stolen my money. No, not even kill me… she could’ve simply let me die and take all of my belonging… She can shake me down if she wants… if all she wants is twenty gems I’ll give her that…Maybe she just wants to buy her freedom? Who am I to deny her this lucky break?

“Do you know someone who exchanges magical gems for gold? Or is paying you in magical gems good enough?” I ask.

“Twenty-one gems will do. I know how to exchange them, but the temple takes payment for that.”

Her eyes open wide when I count down the gems, and she averts her gaze awkwardly when I hand her the money. She puts it in a pouch between her breasts, then hesitates for a moment before she keeps talking. “About the healer... she said she could heal your hand too.” Sharla keeps looking down, avoiding my eyes. “But there are conditions. Actually, it’s probably better if you talk to her yourself.”

“Where can I find her?” It’s the best news I've heard in a long while, even if there are strings attached. “Is she a mage?” She has to be if she can heal a hand in such a state. “What are the conditions?”

“She's… an alchemist? A witch? I’m not entirely sure what she is… but she doesn’t hang around at the Sapphire Tower like the mages do. She has a shop called the Maven of Mysteries at the Nagga district. Just head there when you can. I have to get back to work.”

And with that, she leaves me alone to my thoughts.

*~*~*

Power level: 2nd stage apprentice.

Mana pools status:

Crown-knot: Affinity 10:

Neck-Bridge: Affinity 6: formed: max amount of gems drained per day: 66

Abdomen-storage: Affinity 5:

Air: Affinity 4: formed: 18 gems

Fire: Affinity 2: formed: 9 gems

Light: Affinity 3:

Water: Affinity 6:

Earth: Affinity 1:

Wood: Affinity 2:

Gravity: Affinity 9: formed: 41 gems

Cantrip known:

Air: Shavi’s Breeze, Shavi’s Sword.

Fire: Nuriss’ Flame.

Gravity: Lumina’s Kinetic Burst. Tukado’s Repulse. Tukado’s Lesser Shield. Imari’s Minor Telekinesis. Leo’s Pull. Leo’s Grounding. Alino’s Light body. Alino’s Heavy body.

Focus capability: 9 patterns

Social status: An escaped apprentice from the sapphire tower, a wanted criminal.

Wealth: 231 gems.

Items:

Two simple healing potions.

Three potions with unknown effects.

An enchanted belt with eight pouches, the enchantment presumably keep the pouches’ content fresh.

Various spell materials.

Companions:

Injuries and scars: Right hand gone from the lower arm and below. Burning back.