Serenity embraced me and whisked me off to a deep sleep. Once more I beheld countless people asking their usual questions, seeking guidance, or offering thanks, though the proportion of those offering their gratitude or some other material object was considerably larger than in my past dreams.
I did the best I could to help the rest, but given how tired I was there wasn’t much I could do for them, so I hoped that they wouldn’t be too inconvenienced by my lethargy. Another thing I noticed was that with every bit of gratitude I received I recovered… something.
I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was, but it was definitely an important part of me, like something I’d had, then nearly used up, and was then in dire need of. But all that is irrelevant since these nice dream people saw fit to go and give it back.
And so I remained for a while, content to simply be, free of the burdens that plagued my mind–worries like what to do about the Ascendant, and Letta’s wellbeing.
Eventually, though, all things end, and reality began to return a sense of place and time to me.
And oh boy, was it not what I was expecting.
But to be honest, it was familiar.
Eerily so.
Since I was wrapped in something dense on all sides. Something that snuggly hugged my body, and gave me little room to move. I had initially thought it was a blanket or cloak, given how soft it was on top, but after I realized that it covered my face, I recalled the sensation, and knew better than to open my eyes this time.
How in the heck did I get back underground?
More than a little irritated, and definitely spooked, I sat up like I had the first time, cutting through the soil with my excavating prowess, only to, well, break the surface and be greeted by the early morning’s sun.
“Huh. So it wasn’t deep this time.” I brushed the loose dirt off of me and glanced myself and my surroundings over, only to notice I was alone in the little clearing I had settled for the night in, and had nothing other than the clothes on my back.
My heart sank. “Did they rob me? No, they wouldn’t bury me if they had. Tie me up maybe, but not bury. So then what happened? Why would they do this? And more importantly, how am I supposed to find them to get everything back!”
#
Ysdra let her eyes wander over the wild grass filled plains to the forest behind them for the twentieth odd time, then forced herself to focus on the path ahead again, lest she trip, or be caught flat footed should a monster or group of bandits attack.
“I know.”
A small voice from beside her made her jump, only for Calden to offer a comforting smile, and a gentle squeeze of her hand.
His recovery is nothing short of miraculous. I mean, he’s completely distanced himself from the death that was about to claim him, and now appears to be healthier than ever before. If only it didn’t cost Anon… .
Before she could respond, he continued to whisper. “That encounter was fate. Orchestrated by a higher power to deliver us in our time of need. It’s sad. The way things ended, I mean, but I don’t think Anon is dead.”
Ysdra gulped. “T–then what happened? Why did they stop breathing?”
He hung his head, then shook it side to side. “Perhaps their purpose was fulfilled and they no longer needed that body? Maybe they were tired and needed to rest back wherever they came from? Maybe… Heh… Maybe they just forgot to keep breathing? I doubt they needed to to begin with?”
Forgot? Could the angel or whatever he called Anon really be so… Careless? Silly? Was their white torathan form just a joke then?
She couldn’t suppress a giggle spurred by a mix of relief and unease. “We didn’t really get to know them, so why does that sound like something Anon would do?”
Calden’s smile broadened, and when he turned his eyes from her, she followed his gaze over to ‘Nadia’. Her fine green robes were tattered and dirty from the days of travel through the forest and countryside, but that didn’t stop her from holding her head high, especially now that she clutched the short staff Anon carried as if it were a new badge of office.
Ysdra’s smile faded. I can’t believe Carmella. It’s utterly shameless to take the possessions of the dead the way we did. She lowered her gaze to the dirt road. But it’s true we’re in a bad spot, and even more so that the things Anon had are useful and powerful.
That staff alone had been enough to secure unimpeded passage through the woods and back to the main road. Though it used much of Carmella’s mana, the stores within the staff more than doubled her reserves, and allowed her to remove any plant based impediment in their path.
‘Hence’ shifted, jostling Anon’s bag against his own, and spit. “That’s what I’m saying! If we’d been at our best there’s no way we would’ve been taken down so easily!”
‘Colbert’ glanced back at her, then elbowed ‘Hence’ and shook his head. “Look, I’m just as pissed as you, but there’s no changin’ what happened.” He blew out a slow breath. “And besides, we shouldn’t speak ill of the dead. ‘Specially when they saved our rears.”
Their chain armor was far from the pristine shine that was expected of knights of their station. It was tarnished and dirty, but also had more than a few loose or burned links and straps thanks to the surge of magical lightning that they both endured at Anon’s hands.
Her frown grew. As guardian knights, I get that they’re dissatisfied with the situation, but how much longer are they going to continue with these unbecoming complaints? The dirt can’t be helped, and it was only right that we honor Anon with a grave, shallow as it was, since we are short on time and resources. She glanced over at Calden, and they both nodded simultaneously. I may not be able to do anything about Reginald since he’s a knight of Dresdeth, but I’ll make sure Father gives Hubert a stern talking to when we return!
A sigh of admiration from behind her only fanned the flames of her indignation, and she snapped her attention to where ‘Norman’ walked behind them. Out of everyone, he was the most disheveled as he’d neglected to rest at all since coming into contact with Anon. His pace had lagged considerably as well, and not because he was too tired or injured, but simply because he was distracted.
He hasn’t even noticed that I’m glaring at him!
Of the things left behind, only the staff and two crude spears gave off any trace of mana. Carmella tried to analyze them, but the spell reacted strangely and only revealed that they were once part of a mythical tree known as the elder root.
Carmella muttered something about artifacts or relics, but the way Julius is picking and prodding at them is… disturbing. I know Father said he was a bit of an eccentric, but I could’ve sworn he said he’d put all that behind him!
The old huntmaster tapped a finger against the point of one of the spears, and cackled under his breath at the sight of the crimson bead it drew from him. Then their eyes met, and he abruptly hid the spear behind him, cleared his throat, and deliberately turned his head away.
Ysdra lifted her eyes skyward and sighed. I’m going to have to have Father lecture him too, aren’t I?
A gentle wind caressed her blonde locks, and threatened to run off with her hood, but she held it in place, and flexed her stiff fingers. I can feel them again, so at least my mana is recovering at a good rate. I won’t be a burden! Not any longer. I’m a torathan, blast it! We’re meant to fight! To protect! Not run and be protected!
Their journey continued uneventfully. The sun climbed high in the sky, and the flat lands rose into an assortment of overgrown rolling hills dotted with wildflowers. Butterfly-like creatures flitted to and fro, casting the land under the pall of their quiet serenity, and then Julius bellowed. “Look out!”
“Ah!” Ysdra yelped as the old huntmaster’s hand pushed her from behind. Pain wracked her hands and knees as she narrowly avoided eating part of the dirt road, and she registered Calden in a similar state beside her before she searched for the source of Julius’ actions.
And she found it maybe a foot behind her, a little off to the right.
An arrow, coated in a greenish substance, sticking out of the road.
That would’ve hit my arm or leg if Julius hadn’t pushed me, but if he hadn’t been so distracted then we probably never would’ve gotten close enough to be shot at!. She clicked her tongue, checked Calden, and found a similar arrow on the other side just as a group of sloppily dressed men sprung out of the tall grasses to surround them. Bandits? No. They’re dirty, unshaven, and are dressed to look the part, but underneath the grime their equipment is in excellent condition. That means they’re either assassins trying to catch us off guard, or were hired and sent here by one of our enemies.
Reginald remained at the forefront, while Hubert circled to the rear. Julius scrambled to his feet and readied one of the spears, while Carmella stood over her and Calden, staff at the ready.
Then the biggest of the brutes hefted his battleax onto his shoulder and barked. “Alright, nobody make any moves or the shooters we’ve got ‘ill fill you wit’ holes.”
She swallowed, and slowly stood up alongside Calden. Her heart thundered within her chest, and she clenched and unclenched her hands in anticipation of imminent conflict.
There’s so many of them. She lowered her posture. And this… This is… My first… real battle… My magic is strong… Father said I’m strong! I can do it… I can do… I can… I.
Carmella and Hubert both replied to the bandit boss, but they sounded so far away that she couldn’t quite make out what they were saying anymore.
Her heart pounded faster and faster, and she gulped down more and more air to try to keep the darkness at the edges of her vision from growing and darker, but it wasn’t helping.
Then a hand patted her shoulder, and shocked her out of her head.
Calden moved slightly in front of her, he had a hand on the sword that Reginald carried for him, and he eyed the closing brigands cautiously. He whispered. “Ys, I need you here with me. I know it’s scary, but I don’t think these are bandits. We’re going to have to fight, so be ready.”
She blushed, slapped herself, and huffed. Obviously! That’s what I was thinking the whole time! Again she assessed the situation. There are ten of them in total, not including the archers in the grass, of which there are at least two. They’re probably aiming at us, so Reginald, Hubert, Carmella, and Julius can block around half if we’re lucky. she gulped. Which leaves the rest to Calden and me. And since Calden is a swordsman, that means I’ve got to pick up the slack.
Stolen story; please report.
The boss brigand led the encirclement steadily closer, and sneered. “Look, ya only hafta gif up the brats and we’ll let cha off easy. Nobody’s gotta get hurt, so jus’--”
“Enough!” Carmella shouted and struck the butt of Anon’s staff to the ground. “Know the power of mother nature!”
Ysdra felt the mana suffuse the soil and spread, but unlike in the forest, the reaction was muted. The grass rustled, and she heard muffled cries from further back, likely the archers, but none of the obvious threats were dealt with.
Carmella gasped. “W–what? Why didn’t it work like I wanted?!”
“Hahaha! The heck’s that supposed to do?” The boss spit. “So’s ya got rida my firin’ support, but who cares? We still got ya surrounded.” His sneer vanished, and was replaced with a scowl so cold it froze Ysdra’s still racing heart. “Do it.”
The brigands bellowed, their combined voices like a roar from a savage beast, and Ysdra and Carmella both started chanting as fast as they could while the fighters moved to intercept with a shout of. “For Matweirden’s honor!”
A small mercy came when several brigands didn’t notice the small grasses that had quietly entwined their ankles, and tripped, but the remaining six, the boss included, were fine and they closed in with rabid fervor.
The saliva dried in Ysdra’s mouth as she neared the completion of her first spell, ‘spirit spike’. Which she aimed at the man with a shortsword and steel buckler barreling towards her.
Normally the law would prevent a spirit healing/harming magus from using their magic violently, since they can kill without leaving a trace, but in life and death situations that restriction fell away.
This is it!
And then she heard Calden mutter. “Lord, help us.” As he used his blade to barely redirect the incoming ax strike from the boss brigand.
Her spell released, a flash of bluish-teal light shot from her outstretched hand and stabbed through the oncoming man’s torso. He let out a breathless gasp as he staggered off to the side, and she blinked twice. Lord? What lord? Why would Calden pray to a Lord when Lady Matweirden is our patron?!
#
I sighed, got up, and did the only logical thing to do at a time like this, expand my senses to their limit in the hopes of picking up on even the smallest hint of which way they had gone.
“Oh. Wow. I’m dumb.”
Off to my right there was an unnaturally clear path that led away from the clearing and back the way they’d come. I mean, it was devoid of everything you’d expect to find in the woods, things like branches, brambles, weeds, vines, and roots, anything and everything plant related that might hinder or obscure passage was bent aside as if the whole area was subject to the strangest form of growth.
“I guess that mage lady figured out how to use Witness.” I grumbled. “Though they clearly lack the courtesy to put the plants back to the way they found them after passing through.”
Though maybe this is a good thing, considering the circumstances.
With that out of the way, I hurried off at a considerable pace. After all, I was undoubtedly pretty far behind them, as I figure they left as soon as Calden woke up. That meant I had a fair bit of ground to cover, and it’s not like I can track them while digging, which is about the only thing that’s faster than running for me.
It wasn’t a bad time either. Several brightly colored birds followed me curiously, tweeting and chirping as I went. I even saw something akin to a deer off in the distance, just steadily watching me in case I turned out to be a predator.
I honestly almost choked when I considered the implications of that animal being related to Craig, but I managed to keep it together and maintain my fast jog.
And it was going so well too, until I left the forest path, entered a vast plains, and encountered one of those back country dirt roads that have ruts where the wheels of cars, or in this case carts, traveled to and fro.
Which of course meant that their tracks were now mixed in with any and all other foot traffic that happened to pass here within the last few days.
“And since it hasn’t rained, that makes it all the harder for me to figure out which way they went.”
I let my lower lip protrude and quiver for a minute, before I stopped messing around and once again spread my senses to their limits. It was a pretty field, what with the greener grass and bluer sky I’d made, but I didn’t have time to appreciate them so focused on the details of the road.
I am by no means a tracker, so to me the footprints were just, well, footprints. The longer I stared at them the more useless I felt, though, just as when I was fighting, my brain tingled and I felt that I had done something like this somewhere before.
I got the sense that if I sat here and poured over things long enough I’d eventually figure it out, and probably get an ability or title or something, but I couldn’t wait that long as the sun was getting ever closer to noon and I still couldn’t tell how far away they were.
And then I found it!
Nothing obvious, obviously, but there was a tiny root protruding from the packed dirt near the far side of the road, shaped like an index finger directing me to go left.
I cupped my chin in my hand and muttered. “Huh. I doubt they left that for me if they buried me, so who did it? I feel I’m a little out of the Wise Old Friend’s reach, so was it Witness? I didn’t think it had a mind of its own, but it does have the ‘Loyal’ trait so who knows?”
I hurried off the way the root pointed as fast as I could go. Given my boundless stamina it wasn’t even a remotely difficult task, and before long my extended senses managed to finally pick up on some familiar voices a few minutes after the plains gave way to hills.
Considering I don’t know their motivations thus far, and that I’ve no idea if they’ll give me my stuff back in any sort of peaceable manner, maybe I should play it safe and keep my distance.
With that in mind, I crouched and slunk through the tall grass by the roadside. I didn’t get too much closer, given the fact that that ranger dude was still with them and I had a distinct lack of stealth abilities, but thanks to my sharp senses I did manage to determine that they had my belongings, and were in much better spirits than I had found them.
Well, I guess that’s good at least. It’d be really unfortunate if my efforts to save Calden weren’t appreciated.
On a hunch I decided to test the limits of my sensory ability and burrowed a bit underground. It’s not like they were running or anything so catching back up wouldn’t be hard, and with no forks in the road anywhere to be seen I didn’t have to worry about my prior issue of going the wrong way.
That said, things turned out about as well as I’d expected.
Which is to say they didn’t.
Despite the dark, I could now see a bit better, but I knew that already thanks to last night’s convo. My hearing picked up the scrabbling of little bugs and worms in the soil around me, which was more disconcerting than I thought it’d be. And all I could really smell was dirt.
However, I tried activating my mana sense on top of the others and immediately saw a massive improvement in my field of view.
Like before, I was effectively aware of everything around me, however, now it was like I had a weird mix of first and third person points of view. I could still see everything in front of me, lit in the purple and blue tones of mana, but now I could also look down on myself from overhead.
I didn’t realize I was spacing because of the strange out of body experience it evoked until Calden’s group left my range, but it was a simple matter for the excavation emperor to catch back up.
I spent the time watching them from above, and in time found that I could pivot and move the center of my aerial viewpoint to anywhere within the sphere of my detection. In addition, I found that by adding in Uriel I could tell what abilities they were using, if any, by reading the flow of mana around them.
But to my horror, they didn’t have any.
Not a one.
So I’m just gonna ignore the nonexistent threat of discovery posed by the hunter dude since he’s clearly too busy fiddling with Judgment to find me.
I moved to the space under their feet, and that’s about when I noticed that they were surrounded. I mean, had I been focused with my pov positioned above them the whole time I would’ve noticed sooner, but since I was testing the speed in which I could zoom in and out, and having a good laugh about how weird it felt, I lost track of their environment.
But hey, don’t blame me! This is all the ranger’s fault! After all, it’s not like I could just pop my head out and warn them, that’d probably shock them so much they’d get taken down without resistance… Though maybe I should try to help from here?
Their unwitting assailants closed in on them slowly, and the mage lady tried to use Witness to entangle them.
What an idiot! I get that it’s faster than your chants, but that only works in the woods where there are a bunch of thick vines and roots to use! Here, the best you’re going to get is, what? A tripline?
Unable to just let her fail, I reached out to the mana she’d released and used my mana control ability to redirect it so that it would pin the hidden archers, and trip up the ones encircling them.
It won’t save them, but at least they won't get shot at, and will have a little more time to maneuver. I sighed. Plus it beats her attempt to summon an army of… waddling grasses… .
The fight broke out from there, with the guards taking one a piece, the hunter and mage confronting two more, while the last two who didn’t trip went after the hooded kids.
I wasted no time in going around to tase the four who’d fallen by sticking a finger through the dirt and thinking of the spell’s name, but since it looked like the younger ones were struggling I immediately went back to help.
However, to my surprise the tiger girl stopped her attacker in his tracks with just one shot of what I guessed was spirit magic, but since it didn’t look like she’d be able to drop him any time soon, I poked a finger through the dirt underneath his boot and tased him too.
The guards made me glad I didn’t have to fight them as they quickly handled their opponents with a stellar display of sword techniques before turning to help the kids, only to find the tiger girl freely supporting Calden with magic covering fire, and Calden somehow holding his own against the biggest one.
Yeah, I know, startled me too. Way to go kiddos!
The mage lady and hunter on the other hand were struggling something fierce. Obviously the mage had her spell interrupted and was likely unaccustomed to close combat, while the hunter was merely old. I was interested to see how my spears would fare in battle so I didn’t act right away, but besides being a sturdy ward against harm, he lacked the space or speed to counterattack.
But I didn’t have to do much anyway, as the guards ganged up on the big guy and brought him down with several strikes to his back. Then it was all downhill for the two left standing, so I just decided to save some time and tase them too so that nobody else would get too badly hurt since their movements were starting to get… erratic.
“We did it! Calden! We did it!”
I heard the muffled voice of the tiger girl through the ground and decided to wait for the opportune moment to reveal myself.
“Yes, we did.” He muttered. “Though it’s strange. They fell so easily, did the Lord actually hear me?”
One of the guards rushed up to Calden, and asked. “My Lord, are you alright?”
“Yes. I’m fine. Thank you for your help.”
He bowed all official like, one hand on his heart and everything. “It was my honor.”
The other guard did much the same for the tiger girl. “Lady Ysdra, you did well for your first battle, but have you been hurt?”
“No, Hubert, I’m alright. Julius, Are you okay?”
“Hah… A little winded, milady, but I’ll manage. But these clearly weren’t your run of the mill bandits. If it hadn’t been for this spear, that maniac’s brute strength would’ve split me in two.”
The mage lady huffed. “We got lucky! And that’s it! If this stupid staff had done as I’d wanted, I would’ve finished this easily, but because it didn’t we all almost died!”
I crossed my arms and pouted. Well if you don’t like it then give it back! I burrowed adjacent to her, snagged the bottom of my staff, and yoinked it back underground in an instant.
“Ah! Oof!”
Oops. Might’ve overlooked how tightly she was clutching the thing, but if you’re going to bad mouth stuff you just up and walked off with, I think a facefull of dirt is a fitting comeuppance.
The guard not named Hubert bellowed. “What the blazes was that? Where did it go?”
Then Julius whispered. “No. It can’t be.”
I mean, if he’s gonna set me up like that, then I may as well take advantage, right?
With that, I tunneled over to the side of the road to avoid damaging the path any further, and clambered out of the ground, Witness in hand. “Long time no see, guys. I noticed you have my stuff. Care to give it back?”
The lot of them stared at me in slack jawed– Terror? Shock? Awe?
The looks in their eyes were mixed, but none of them moved for a solid minute until Calden knelt, and said. “Greetings, great one. I cannot thank you enough for saving my life, and for the aid I know you gave us this day. Please accept my most sincere apologies for our clearly mistaken assumptions, and the disrespect we’ve shown you, and allow us to return what is yours.”
It took them a moment, but the one guard and Juilus, eventually got the message and sheepishly walked over with my bag, and spears in hand.
“Thanks!” I slung the bag back over my shoulder and secured the spears in their sling once more. “Now that that’s cleared up, what did you want to do about these bozos? Tie em’ up and leave ‘em here? Interrogate them? Bring them with us? Or did you just want to… well… enact capital punishment on ‘em?”
Not that I’m in favor of that last one, though it’ll be interesting to see what they think, given the clear cultural differences.