Chapter 9 Onward to Adventure.

When you achieve freedom you’ll have desires.

When you achieve your desires, you’ll have more freedom.

Alas, you can never have enough of either of them, they are endless.

Kilako, the golden prince of gains.

{26} Tiyadi (November) the 27th

“You are to introduce yourself as wizards, or sorcerers or whatever they call you in those parts. Show them some parlor tricks if you have to. I’ll repeat this again! If you bring any harm to the village residents it'll be your last job outside of this tower. You are there to make sure we don't lose any more of our human resources, not to bring a bad name to the Sapphire Tower. Am I making myself clear?”

Master Rushmia in her red robes and vermilion nails stands in front of a doorway that blocks our path forward. This blue room is rather small, and the only furniture here is a pair of tables displaying various bottles and equipment. The wooden door at the edge of the room seems slightly rotten. The doors I’ve seen in this place so far are all either metal, or gem-made. I wonder where that door leads…

We applied for an adventuring job as a group, and now we have the dubious honor of another visit from master Rushmia.

“Unlike you, we are not ruthless cruel killers.” Kolag declares from behind his metallic helmet. The battered cavities in his armor from the battle in the dining hall three months ago had been roughly hammered outward, but they still left their lasting marks. “We are there to clear out a goblin infestation, not massacre a town.”

The woman let out soft laughter behind a floating fan that covers the lower half of her face. “Oh my~ I thought the armor will tame you my dear~ do I need to add horns too?”

“If you deem them necessary” Kolag’s echoing sarcasm is clear.

“All of you children will have to drink these…” Small pewter flasks float toward each of us.

“What are these?” Purson ask, clear suspicion in his voice. While Lezere opens the lid and sniffs the content.

“Ashalu Poison my dear~”

“Fuck this!” Purson throws away the open bottle. The flask floats in the air near Purson’s face, and the clear liquid magically finds its way back into the metallic container.

“I have never heard of Ashalu poison” Sina’s voice is filled with curiosity. “What does it do? And why would we drink a poison?”

“Because I said so~” The red robbed mage seems delighted at the idea. “And because that's our only way to ensure you'll come back. The Ashalu poison will kill you within a month, and the Sapphire tower is the only place you can find an antidote. Which you'll receive once you come back of course. Any failure to return will result in your death ~. You didn't think we would just let you go after all of our investments did you?”

The woman's ridicule is obvious. “Oh my~ you did! By Rakisha’s eyeless gaze you kids are so naïve~ This is so cute!” She squeals and steps forward, caressing my cheek. Her hand leaves a chilling trail on my flesh. “How naughty! You’re clever my dear girl, but not clever enough. As a reward for your show of initiative, I'll allow you to visit your father's castle, but only if you manage to clean the goblin infestation in time~ that was the plan right? Remember~ you have to come back within a month or you die~ Now drink up kids! Bottoms up! Cheers! Chop chop!” she claps her hands rapidly.

She was right, we picked this job due to the proximity of my home. I hoped to find allies that would help me escape, and find out whether my father is dead or alive.

I awkwardly fiddle with the coat I was given. We were all given white fur coats, they even have the stars or fist on the shoulder. Of course she knew what we planned… everything in this tower is recorded… we don’t have a private moment to ourselves… I'm such an idiot... I should’ve kept it in mind…

Kolag puts his straw in the flask and drinks the liquid. Lezere shrugs and copies him by gulping the content as if it’s simple alcohol. The rest of us hesitate, staring at the floating pewter flasks like they’re venomous snakes.

Master Rushmia taps a pile of odd gem stones on the table, they have black and green lines and are dotted with red. She slices her wrist dripping orange glittering blood on the lackluster gems. She then dips a large feather and swipes the blood. “Ton, revatol revisarisoroar, jaroki atrevtakni to atrevoar quiri” she chants with a faded voice, the unfamiliar words are a soft pleasant whisper.

The blood evaporates from the feather and stones, it creates a red fog. What looks like a ten-centimeter woman covered in blood appears from the scarlet mist, she has a pair of clean white fangs in her bloodied mouth. Six dragonfly wings sprout from her back, they flap in a light buzz as she circles us. I stare in awe. She seems familiar, I think I’ve caught a glimpse of her back in the death hall, right after the culling had ended.

As I eye the odd creature, I lose control over my body. My mouth is forcefully opened and the floating bottle pours the content into my throat. The others go through a similar magical process, except for Kolag and Lezere who already drank their poison.

The red-robed mage passes through the doorway motioning us to follow her. Her gesture is pointless, my legs walk on their own, I can’t control my own body, I can’t talk, I can’t form my thoughts, I can’t even panic or feel anything.

Once we’re through the doorway, we find ourselves outside of a small hut in a snowy forest. “To cross back to the tower – knock three times on this door, count to ten slowly, and pass through. Have fun playing outside kids~” And with this, she disappears through the same doorway, and the tiny bloodied creature follows her through.

I can feel and form my thoughts again, I regain control over my limbs. We are left alone in a white forest filled with life.

Blood and heat reach my face, shame and anger wells in my chest. Never in my life have I felt so helpless before, not even as a slave, this was a horrible feeling.

I should stop thinking about it. I’m a slave, it doesn’t matter if my chains are iron, white robes, or some powerful spell. Chains are chains.

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I close my eyes and sigh, this is a painful reminder. Focus on other things, happier things… like… I open my eyes and look at the bright blue sky. Finally! Some fresh air! Not the ventilated air of the sapphire tower! I can actually see the sun between the trees! How long has it been since I've seen the sun?! Snow! And birds! So many birds! This is freedom!

“She choked us good ey chief?” Lezere’s words of comfort bring me back to reality. Even if it's just for a month! It's still freedom! I try and convince myself, but it feels hollow.

“Told you it wouldn't work!” Sina grunts from behind Lezere's leg. “No way would it be that easy!”

“It was worth a try,” Janara adds calmly.

“Ok my friends! We have a month's time, we best get a move on!” Kolag's echoing voice sounds cheerful, but it feels a bit fake to me. He takes the lead stomping his way in the snow, leading the rest of us on the road ahead.

This is depressing. I need to raise morale somehow, give them a goal… I need to give myself a goal…

“There's still a way out for us. We have to become mages ourselves, I believe we can do it, at least one of us can, and the one who does will try and free the others. But we have to make sure we all survive until then. So please, don't take unnecessary risks, and let's support each other until we get out of this mess…”

“That sounds like a good plan…” Janara says, deep in thought as we pace down the snowy road.

“Only if you become a mage first.” Purson adds in a low voice, “I trust you my heart, I guess we can trust Marisha to help us, but what about Sina? That cunt only worries about herself…”

“Language…” Janara murmurs.

“I heard that!” Sina rebukes with her nasal voice.

“Can you deny it?! We both know that if you get your hands on so much power, you'd leave us in a heartbeat!” Purson flares up, his girlfriend pulls his hand in an attempt to calm him down.

“I will not!” Sina’s tanned face is covered with an intense blush.

“Prove it! Fucking prove it or leave our group you selfish cunt!” Purson releases himself from his girlfriend's grip and steps forward in a threatening manner. I look at them, stunned for a long moment. Over the past three months we all got along great, we stabilized the neophytes and managed peace between everyone.

After Nolan's massacre, there weren't enough brutes or evokers to pose a threat, and the few that were left alive didn't want trouble. Life had settled, and the rest of the neophytes looked up to the six of us if anyone was in trouble.

I take a deep breath to calm myself. It’s obvious why these cracks between us only show up now. We were supposed to split here, run away from the tower's influence. If all went according to plan, Purson wouldn't have to see Sina anymore. He cooperated with her for a while because I favored her and he didn’t have a choice. But our original plan proved to be impossible.

I have to keep them in line. “That's enough Purson! I understand you're angry, but now is not the time for such things…”

Lezere clicks her teeth together with her hands crossed. “I don't like the kitten either Purson, but if the chief wants to bring her along then she's a part of our pack.”

“Friends! We'll never get anywhere fighting amongst ourselves!” Kolag turns from his leading stomp.

I gesture for them to go ahead along the road and put my hand on Sina’s shoulder, keeping her away from the advancing group.

“I don't need you to protect me Marisha, I'm perfectly capable of doing it myself!” The purple-haired gnome turns with gritted teeth. Her cheeks and nose are rosy, whether it’s due to anger or the cold is unclear.

“I know, I wasn't protecting you” I reply calmly. Sure I was… but I can’t injure your damn fragile ego too much…

“Then what would you call that?” she inquires gesturing back at the group.

“Keeping Purson in line.” I was also doing that. That guy has been trying to undermine me from the very beginning… He’s a great right-hand man… but he’s too ambitious… can’t have him throwing his weight around…

My white lie surprises her, and the blush on her face intensifies. “I… I… is there anything you wanted to talk about?”

“Yes, we'll be clearing a goblin's infestation in a few days. I know how you feel about risking your life, but I think this will be a good opportunity to prove yourself to the others. Think you can do that for me?” I mean actually pitch in and help for once… Instead of just watching us work and keep talking about your damn white steam award…

“What do you mean proving myself to the others?!” she gets angry again.

Damn her fragile ego… Calm down… I can’t lose my temper with her… appeal to that ego of hers… “We're currently the strongest neophyte group, and you're one of us Sina, whether you like it or not. We're a very tight group, the reason for how tight we are is that we all risked our lives together. Don't get me wrong, we don't fully trust each other, not yet, but we know we will watch each other's backs if our lives will be in jeopardy again. The same can't be said about you, you didn't fight alongside us, you ran and hid, then came back to loot the bodies. Now you have a chance to prove that it was only a fluke, and that you are capable of putting your life on the line when it comes down to that, don't waste this chance. Use it to gain everyone's trust.” Damn… that came out wrong… I was too direct…

The gnome shakes with anger, her face is covered with intense blush and I notice the electricity making her hair stand on her nape. “If you don't want me with you, I'll leave!” she turns back toward the wooden hut.

“I never said that! In fact, the reason I'm telling you all of this is because I want you to stay, and I want the others to also acknowledge you as one of us. I'm giving you the way to achieve that, but if you think you have a better way, or if you want to leave then feel free to do so…” Yeah, I’m done begging her… She can go away if she wants...

“Why do you care?!”

“The more allies we have the better” I reply calmly.

“What else?! What's the secret you're hiding?! You're hiding something! What's your goal with this?!” her tone is obsessive, paranoid. For a brief moment I consider whether or not this is truly worth the efforts I've put in.

It isn't. “You're free to leave Sina, do as you like within this month, and enjoy your time,” I say turning back to the road.

“Wait!” she calls after me. “By Tukado and all his knowledge, I’m a genius ok? I’ll put it to good use, trust me! You win! Happy now?”

“It’s not about winning Sina, it’s about helping each other survive this.”

“Yeah, I know the principles of trade. If you want to get something from others you have to contribute yourself.” She preaches in a nasal voice.

Why do I have to manipulate her into this? I’m doing what I have to to survive… a little bit of manipulation should be the least of my worries… I want to get to a point I won’t have to lie or manipulate people… to be strong enough to simply say what’s on my mind without worrying about the consequences… there are always consequences...

I nod solemnly and step forward to rejoin the jovial group ahead.

*~*~*

Power level: 1st stage apprentice.

Mana pools status:

Neck-Bridge: formed.

Fire: open.

Gravity: formed.

Cantrip known:

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: 8 patterns

Social status: A neophyte evoker.

Wealth: 100 magical gems. 47 diamonds.

Items: 3 healing potions.

Companions:

Kolag of house Befar

Lezere

Janara

Purson

Sina

Injuries and scars: Missing two thirds of the right middle finger.