Chapter 19 - The Adventuring ( Part 3 )

We left the alley nervously, though our caution turned out to be unnecessary as the guards were not looking for us. Relieved by that fact, we made our way out of the city.

-” So, Hamon, what can you tell us about that village? “ Lysanthir inquired casually.

-” Ha! The usual. “ Hamon grinned widely and started spinning his tale. -” Some years back a mage got tired of the politics and decided to settle down in some calmer place. At that time Vilfost Hamlet was quite a sight, or so I was told. Rolling green hills, golden expanses of wheat, serene thickets and small ponds hidden here and there… “ ,He made a dramatic pause and continued, -” ...all in all a perfect place to settle down and get a breather. Especially considering regional weather thus far. “ He gestured widely and we had to agree, thus far the weather consisted of occasional warm rains and sunny days all around.

-”  Do you think that we may make a detour and visit one of those ponds? “ Wolga asked hopefully. Lysanthir nodded his agreement.

-” That would be great, we could swim some and I bet water’s warm! “ Forest exclaimed happily.

-” Woah, wait. Don’t jump yer horses yet. “ Hamon held his arms high. -” Let me finish the story first. “ Then he cleared his throat and continued. -” So, as I was saying, the mage came in and as usual everything went well. He made crops grow better, healed pains, banished diseases and did many other etceteras. Then as expected he had fallen for a girl and began meeting her… “ He smiled and made another dramatic pause.

-” Somehow I have a feeling that it did not end well. “ Lysanthir said lightly. -” Let me guess. He got rejected or his new wife died soon after and he turned to dark arts. “

-” Ha! Wrong. “ Hamon stated loudly and grinned in satisfaction. -” He got shot in the back by a jealous suitor and died on the spot. Suitor on the other hand got hanged for murdering village’s benefactor, his body was burned and spread to the winds. “

-” Isn’t that a bit anti climatic? “ Lysanthir slowly voiced our doubts. -” Also, why is the village haunted then? Both of them seem to be well taken care of. “

-” Heh, and what would happen to mystery and romance?+ “ Hamon said good naturedly. -”  I have some leads, but I have no idea what the truth is. “ He stated in satisfaction and seemed unmoved by our blank faces.

-” So what’s with the ponds? Shall we find one? “ Wolga broke the stalemate.

-” Yhea, we can do that! “ Forest agreed.

-” As I said, hold yer horses. “ Hamon dashed their hopes. -” I might not know what happened, but the point stands. That place is haunted, or cursed, or both. “

-” So what did you find out about what happened? “ Lysanthir said quietly in wistful voice.

-” When I spoke with a priest I heard that it was a punishment for the sin. “ Hamon said in conspiratory voice. -” Mage’s lover was in so much grief after his passing that she took her own life… “ , He stopped and looked at us purposefully, -” ...but she didn’t know that she was pregnant. Gods cursed her to be forever bound to earth and wander that place in… “

Hamon was suddenly interrupted by a loud sniffle. Everyone looked at Wolga which quickly finished clearing her eyes.

-” What? “ She exclaimed angrily, her eyes reddish.

-” Um, nothing. “ Hamon quickly changed the topic and turned away. -” Anyway, I also spoke with a bard about that village. He told me that mage was not as good as he seemed, or rather, he was quite atrocious during his stay in the city and was made to retire by other mages. “

Hamon took a deep breath and continued. -” There are two versions of the story I got from him. In one version peasants burned mages house, not wanting to risk pilfering through mages stock, a wise act indeed. I was referring to not pilfering of course, burning his home was quite retarded. According to that version of the story that did cause some magic, or alchemy, to get loose and contaminate whole place. “

-” So in other version someone did pilfer mages house, right? “ Lysanthir said knowingly.

-” Damn spoilsport. “ Hamon raised his arms in exasperation. -” Yes, someone did and supposedly found a cursed book. Afterwards strange things started happening and village was abandoned. “

-” Umm… “ ,Forest started hesitantly, -” ...so what’s wrong with the ponds? “

-” Lad, haven’t you been listening to me? “ Hamon exclaimed in exasperation. -” The place’s cursed! Your nice ponds most likely turned into swamp…” ,He took a calming breath, -” Not to mention strange fog covering whole place nonstop. “

-” Shouldn’t you mention that last detail first? “ I asked quietly in sudden silence.

Hamon paused uneasily at my sudden question.

-” Ahh, yes, probably. Sorry. “ He responded meekly out of a sudden.

Silence descended upon us and everyone seemed to be lost in thought.

I looked around, noticing that we are already well out of the city. We were following Eastern Highway and wheat fields gave way to green hills. As we got on top of a hill I could see dark line of woods in the distance.

As my gaze wandered around green expanse exposed before me I felt myself relax. Soft leather boots were a bit too big, but not uncomfortably so. Calming green view, shining sun slowly descending to the horizon and refreshing feeling of movement made me lose myself.

I extended my arms and felt a soft wind passing around me. I wished that I could drop the hat and a scarf, and let my hair fly freely on the wind.

In my abandon I could feel a miniscule tingling sensation flowing around my body. It moved in regular motion, slowing and quickening, to match my heart’s beat. I remembered that I was supposed to practice my magic during this journey.

-’ Feel the flow… ‘ I smiled to myself recalling excerpts from the Channeling book that I read earlier.

I concentrated on the tingling flow inside me, making minute alterations to it. I slowly coaxed it from its normal flow to more agitated and apparent one.

-’ Raise the tide, make it surge, tune it up and control it… ‘ I thought as versets swam before my eyes, whole book looked like that - myriads of subjective descriptions on how to turn the mana into aether.

I could feel quickened current running around my body. Accelerated energy melded with itself creating friction from which mellow, white feeling arose. Suddenly I noticed that the mellow, white feeling started spreading around, trying to escape.

I grasped it and compressed it into a ball, but it kept whirling in circles trying to break free. I realized that I won’t be able to hold it…

Then I remembered that I was not supposed to.

-’ Activate it, hold it, but let it flow… ‘

I popped the ball of light in my mind and grasped tendrils of escaping power. I imagined myriads of shining balls connected by thin strands into gigantic web of pulsing light. Energy settled into that framework and started to follow it buzzingly.

As power grew I created more and more shining stars, then joined them with the web. At one point it became almost reflexive action and I could feel buzzing web slowly swelling up in my mind.

Blazing web filled my mind and I could feel that I was beginning to lose it. Though I was supposed to hold it all.

In desperation I took the web of light into my own body letting it settle where it would.

Suddenly I could feel immense relief as a heavy burden disappeared from my mind.

I explored the aftermath, and realized that shining web integrated into my body, creating something like a secondary circuit running parallely to the tingling feeling. Shining points settled in and started something like a power pull between white, mellow energy and tingling sensation of raw mana.

I was struck by sudden awareness of my body. Each intake of breath created aether, while every exhalation turned it back into idle mana flow.

I finally had mastered my power, white energy ready at my beck and call. No more need for scrapping for it, no more need for squeezing it like a water out of stones.

-’ ...and if you succeed you will be able to use your power freely. ‘ I recalled one of the last verses of the book.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

I laughed at the energizing current running through my body.

-” Um, do you think like we should do something? “ Hamon said uncertainly.

-” Like what? I have bad feelings at mere thought of interrupting. “ Lysanthir responded doubtfully.

-” … “ I opened my eyes and looked behind me, I saw everyone looking at me, Forest and Wolga had strange and dumbfounded expressions on their faces.

-” What? “ I asked while tilting my head quizzically. I was quite sure that I haven’t done anything too strange.

-” Um, you are glowing… “ Hamon said directly. -” Care to explain? “

-” Wha… “ I looked down on my hands and found them glowing with pearlescent white light. Small sparkles evaporated from my skin in prismatic hue. -” Awawa… “ I said in surprise. Then gathered my wits. -” Argh, sorry it seems that I gathered too much mana. “

-” So are you a mage? “ Lysanthir said calmly though surprise was in his voice. -” I have met and read some about them, but I have not heard about that kind of… occurrence. “

-” Well… “ I started cautiously, making sure that my arguments are coherent. -” I am not technically a mage, but I am same kind of magic worker. “

-” Are you a vampire then?  You are sparkl… “ Forest’s voice suddenly faltered under my vehemently hateful look.

-” No! “ I exclaimed and barely stopped myself from doing or saying something extreme. -” I am just using different casting system than most. The difference is … “ I faltered at prospect of lengthy explanation. -” The difference is significant and I need to have my mana gathered.  Though it seems I did too good of a job and it is now escaping. Understood? “ I gave Forest venomous look.

-” Perfectly. “ Hamon grabbed the Forest and sheltered him from my sight. -” ...and totally not a vampire. Understood boy? “ I could hear weak agreement from behind Hamon.

My gaze traveled back to Wolga, which still haven’t moved and stared at me intently.

-” What is it now? “ I asked with tired and annoyed expression.

-” Hat and scarf and in a dress… “ Wolga said in entranced voice while she looked at me intently.

-” …? “ I blinked not understanding what she meant. She kept her intent stare on me so I asked. -” What? “

Wolga blinked for a moment and it seemed that she recovered her wits.

-” After we return… “ She said in high pitched voice and grabbed her hands with giddy expression on her face. I took a step back, suddenly feeling an imminent danger. -” ...I must see you without a hat and scarf! “ Her eyes glinted with predatory and greedy look. -” And in a dress! Dresses! “ She took a step forward while three men tried to stop her.

-” Wolga! Get a hold of yourself! “ Forest exclaimed loudly.

-” Wolga! “ Hamon’s bellowing voice finally penetrated and she turned her attention to him for a moment. -” What’s gotten into you! “

-” Ahh, she’s just too cute! “ Wolga pointed at me and our gazes crossed. I suddenly felt like a new doll in front of a child. -” I must see her in a dress! “

-” ...but isn’t she a girl? “ Forest asked with utter lack of understanding.

Lysanthir shook his head and covered his face with his hand. I could see him trembling.

-’ The bastard is laughing! ‘ I thought hatefully.

-” What are you suggesting? “ Wolga suddenly grabbed Forest and raised him in front of her face.

-” Why do you want to see Audentia in a dress... “ Forest said with ignorant and stupefied expression on his face. -” Aren’t you a girl too?“

-” Oh, boy… “ Hamon covered his eyes with his hand.

-” What are you thinking about? “ Wolga exploded in rage. -” You…You Pervert!!! “

Lack of understanding was evident on his face before resounding smack sent Forest flying through the air. I could feel a sliver of compassion for this hapless boy.

-” Do you think he is alive? “ Lysanthir asked cautiously as he approached Forest’s unmoving form.

-” Hmph, He may be dead for all I care. “ Wolga said intransigently.

-” I think he is alive. “ Hamon said doubtfully. -” We better make a camp now. We should be close to the village and this is good place to take a breather before we enter the mists. “

I watched as my companions started setting up the camp. Soon flames were dancing on the wood in a ring of stones.

I used that time to tweak around with my power, sending big part of it into its inert form. With satisfaction I noticed that my skin was no longer glowing.

My stomach growled and I was painfully aware what my Beginner Pouch contained - Myrnuul’s Rations and water jug. I looked expectantly at my teammates, I knew from the start that I will need to compel something out of them.

I watched as Hamon took out a wooden box out of his pouch. My expectant gaze looked intently as the box was opened and neat rows of rye bread were exposed in the process…

I felt my eyes water at that dire sight.

I stared in disbelief when Lysanthir and Hamon started sharing that dreadful launch. Only difference from beginners feast was in the water, or more precisely, they had a tea instead.

-” This looks like very... “ I refused to believe that they were going to eat a plain rye bread. That must had been some kind of joke. -” ...plain meal. Don’t you eat anything else? “

-” No. Better to travel and dine lightly. “ Lysanthir answered simply.

-” Why? Traveling rations are expensive and not that good. Better to fill satiety here, but dine in the city. “ Hamon said between distressing bites of hateful substance. -” We can share if you are short, otherwise you can beg Wolga. Though we never managed to get anything thus far. “ He added and I realized, with embarrassment, that I was caught red handed.

Still, I looked hopefully at the other side of the campfire. My mouth watered at the sight of veritable feast slowly being pulled from Wolga’s pouch. Hamon and Lysanthir did the same and vehemently consumed their bread, then reached out for more.

Wolga’s gaze travelled over my companions, warning evident in her eyes. Then she looked at me, then at her food, then back at me.

-” Don’t you have rations by any chance? “ She asked as she finally managed to pull out a small cauldron out of her pouch.

-” Why are you asking? “ I responded cautiously while swallowing hard.

-” I could share… “ Wolga said slowly and my gaze fell on various ingredients in front of her. -” ...though there is a condition? “

-” What’s the condition? “ I asked dutifully and felt my stomach clench in fear.

-” When we return to the city I want to see you do that bowing thingy… “ Wolga said intently and I felt blood draining from my face. -” … in a dress. “

-” I don’t have a dress. “ I said through clenched throat, feeling of doom held it firmly.

-” I will arrange something nice. “ Wolga said with predatory look on her face. -” And then you will show me your cute expressions… “

I felt my heart falter. I looked to the side. Lysanthir and Hamon looked between Me and Wolga ,and they consumed rye bread like it was popcorn. Their wide eyed and intent expressions were the same as if they were watching a football match of the century.

My gaze wandered to the rye bread, then to the feast, then to Wolga’s predatory eyes. I swallowed hard, this was going to be the hardest decision of my life.

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Hey~, Author’s here~

Another part of Adventuring chapter is out :)

I hope you like it, let me know your thoughts.

Cheers,

Mea, The Evil Overlord

[ I don’t know why you bother with the title - from this chapter and chapter 4 everyone knows that you are evil. ]

PS It seems that I really got used to writing around 2k words per chapter. Even when I try I always get around the same amount.

NEXT CHAPTER: Chapter 19.5 - The Adventuring ( Part 4 ) - Entering the Mists

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