Nyxpera
The 19th of Thargelion
The Year 4631 in the Era of Mortals
“Demigod, eh? Well, it’s not the tallest tale I’ve ever been told.”
Arche sat back and sipped his tea. Mags had prepared it while they talked, listening to his story without interruption. Tess and Efterpi, likewise, had been silent the entire time.
“And yet every word is true.”
“So you say. Can you glow for me?”
Arche sighed and activated Divine Body. He held it for three seconds, then let it go, having spent about a hundred Mana in the effort.
“Fascinating,” Mags said, eyes sparkling. “I think you’re the worst efficiency reading lamp I’ve ever seen.”
Tess snorted and Arche threw her a wounded look.
“You’ve got what you wanted,” he said. “Can you help us out?”
“Fine, fine, but I have one last condition.”
“Go ahead, Mags,” Tess said.
“I want my own house when I move to your village. A big one. This place is getting too crowded and there are too many people around. I need space to stretch out. To keep my things.”
Arche shrugged.
“I think that can be arranged. I can’t promise it’ll be done first thing, but we can make that happen.”
“Excellent! I look forward to joining you in Myriatos. Won’t be soon, I’ve got business to settle, but I’ll be along when the time is right.”
Arche stood from his chair and set his teacup on the counter. Tess and Efterpi stood as well.
“Right, is there some grocery list of items you need us to procure in order to get this spell going?”
Mags snorted.
“What do you take me for, some second-rate gutter witch? No, if I’m in need of materials, I won’t be calling you. I have everything I need. I even finished perfecting the circle while you were talking.”
Arche blinked.
“But you weren’t doing anything but drinking tea.”
Mags gave Tess a disapproving look. “This guy? Really?”
A coin on the counter flew into the air and thumped into Arche’s forehead.
“Ow. What the fuck?”
“Telekinesis is a girl’s best friend. You ready? This won’t get any second tries. I’d say I’d wait for you but, honestly, I don’t really expect you all to walk away from this.”
Arche rubbed his forehead and muttered under his breath.
“Could I go five fucking minutes without someone insulting me for not knowing the fucking intricacies of magic? It’s not like anyone’s actually done a good job of explaining it.”
“No. All right! Everyone, please keep hands and feet inside the magic circle at all times. I also highly recommend keeping your eyes and mouth shut. First time flyers have been known to lose their lunches. I am not liable for any body transfiguration or accidental amputations. Thank you for teleporting with the Water Witch and I’ll see you in Myriatos, should any of you survive. Goodbye, now!”
Before any of them could say a word, a circle on the floor, previously unseen, flashed bright blue. Translucent rings floated up, disappearing into the ceiling.
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
The world tore away and they were off.
Arche felt his body move at an incredibly rapid speed through some nether region of space. Something pushed against him, like stray particles of air, too sparse to be considered proper wind. Then there was a pressure, like all the hints of wind banded together into a great wall that he was now trying to carve through with his face. After a few uncomfortable moments where he thought something internal was about to rupture, he was on the other side and slowing down.
The world returned, stretching into place in much the same way it had disappeared, but he was no longer in Mags’s cluttered living room. Instead, they’d landed somewhere dark, cold, and slightly damp. Arche fought a wave of nausea as he fell to his knees. By the quiet retching next to him, he wasn’t the only one. Muffled voices sounded nearby.
“Hey, sir? There’s someone in there.”
“What? Malakas! I’ll inform the king, apprehend them when they leave.”
“Shouldn’t we go after them?”
“Hah! If you want to, go ahead. I’ll tell your wife you died a hero.”
“Fine. Just send someone back, would you? I don’t like being here alone.”
“Don’t you worry about that. Just keep your eyes open and the door locked.”
Arche kept his eyes shut until his stomach settled back into its usual position, then cast Darksight and took stock of his surroundings. They’d been dropped into a large, stone stairwell. Behind them stood a metal door; ahead, the stairs descended farther than Arche’s vision would allow. Tess and Efterpi got to their feet.
“We should go,” Arche said.
“Go where?” Tess asked. “I can’t see a thing.”
Arche took a few steps toward her and took her hand, guiding it to his shoulder.
“Guess it’s my turn to lead you. Careful, stairs.”
They walked down, step by step. When his Mana had recovered enough, he cast Darksight on Tess.
Darksight has increased to Level 2.
Cost: 198 Mana
Duration: 13.2 minutes
Distance: 13.2 meters
Tess inhaled sharply as she saw the steps continue down into darkness.
“Did she teleport us directly into the treasure vault?” Arche asked.
“As far as she could, yes.”
“How, exactly, can she do that?”
“She’s very old and very powerful. Don’t let her appearance or attitude fool you.”
Arche grimaced.
“I’m really not comfortable with the idea of an old woman in a child’s body.”
“I don’t think she particularly cares how you feel. A luxury afforded to the powerful.”
“I guess. Tell you what, though, if she starts flirting with the younger boys at Myriatos, she and I are going to have some serious problems.”
“She likes hearing about drama, not causing it. Besides, she’s a skilled mage with an eclectic education. She’ll be a great asset to Lyssa’s school. I don’t think we have anything to worry about.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” Arche gestured to where the stairs ended ahead. “I think we’ve got plenty to worry about.”
A passage stretched before them, disappearing into the dark. Deep furrows gouged the stone and the stink of damp and rot was heavy in the air.
Tess covered her face with the crook of her elbow.
“Ugh, what’s that smell?”
“Death,” Efterpi said. “Something powerful lives here.”
Arche hefted the Tridory and stepped forward into the passage.
“I’ll check it out. I think I see a corner ahead.”
“Arche, wait!”
He turned and found himself face to face with a wall as it shot out of the ground.
“Whoa!”
He took a hasty step back and tripped, falling further into the passage. The wall began sliding toward him, creating a horrible grinding of stone against stone. He scrambled to his feet, then turned and ran. The wall moved faster and faster behind him, until he was just barely keeping ahead of it. Then he was around the corner. The passage slammed shut behind him, leaving no possible way to go back.
“Are you fucking kidding me? Again?”
You have entered The Heart of the Palace.
This is a Journeyman Dungeon.
Recommended Level: 50
A roar echoed off the stones, so powerful it made his bones vibrate. Arche sucked his teeth and dusted off his pants.
“Well, shit.”