Chapter 21 - The Adventuring (Part 6) (F1)

We travelled through the mists, with Forest leading the way.

I was deep in thought, still reminiscing the earlier event - Forest and his silly apology that interrupted my explanation. I ignored it earlier and I was wondering why it was still on my mind. I sighed and added it to the growing list of Forest’s quirks.

Then I recalled a strange looks which I had received after my explanation, and how everyone seemed taken aback by it. I could not understand why my companions were still scared of this place, after all it looks like a simple murder setup.

I shook my head and tried to focus on something useful, which brought me back to the Hamon’s and Lysanthir’s mention of a dark magic.

-’ I do wonder how is it possible that there was no mention of it at the academy and still everyone seems sure of the fact that the city’s mages are using it profusely. Though deny the fact. ‘ I smirked. -’ Politician’s golden rule. Deny. Deny. Deny. ‘

I looked at the palm of my hand. -’ I do wonder what is it about.  A dark magic seems like something useful… ‘ I shook my head. -’ There’s no use wasting time wondering about it, especially since I haven’t even used my magic properly yet. ‘

Absentmindedly I began gathering a magic energy in my hand. I watched it while the mellow feeling arose, though I could not see any visible difference on my hand, still I did feel it. I moved my fingers while the energy flowed under my skin. Suddenly my hand began to glow and I realized that I gathered a sizable amount of energy.

-’ I still wonder how much is this. ‘ I concentrated and the energy left my hand, turning into white, flowing nimbus around it. -’ It’s so easy to gather it now, but what can I do with it? Is this a mosquito’s bite or a deadly force… ‘

I blinked in surprise. -’ Why is it doing that? ‘

I watched while the mist grew thicker and started to consume the white energy. I quickly focused on the energy, that was surrounding my hand, and discovered that I still could feel it.

Mist seemed to slowly erode the white energy, at least that’s what I thought, but even though the energy disappeared I still could feel it. At that moment I realized that I was wrong.

The energy wasn’t being drained, rather, it was melding with the mist and in the process I was becoming aware of the strange vapour that surrounded me. I experimented with the new feeling and tried to affect the mist.

At first it felt awkward, it was both disconcerting similar and alien when compared to the feeling which I had when I manipulated my energy. After a moment I grasped the basics and mist moved away from my hand. When the mist lost contact with my energy I noticed that the expansion of my consciousness didn’t stop. I realized that it was similar to the ink propagating in the water. It spread around, but become thinner and weaker.

-’ I was right in thinking that the mist is magical… or rather the mist seems like it is a cloud of mana. ‘

-’ But why is it responding to me. It’s supposed to be a cursed village and it should be a part of the curse. ‘

-’ It is strange that someone without any magical expertise can control it. ‘

I called the mist back to my hand and started to pour more energy into it. In the process I began to realize the amount of mana stored in the mist. I concentrated and activated the magic circulation that turned mana into aether.

I would have been glowing at that stage, but hungry mist absorbed the power instantly… and my consciousness of the mist grew. Despite my efforts I couldn’t control the mist in its entirety and  I was losing my strength quickly. The mana was leaving my body at an alarming rate and I decided that it’s better to stop.

I recalled my magic. I wanted to stop its spread in the mist as I realized that it’s just too big for me to control. Soon the mist engulfed my body and I felt empowered by the energy that came back to me.

I smiled when I found out that the returning power was greater than the one that I sent out. After experimenting for a while I found out that I wasn’t able to conquer the mist in that way, the energy that I pulled back was alien and I couldn’t use it to spread my influence.

-’ ...but I can still use it like my mana. ‘

I was satisfied with my findings and amused by the fact that I could control the mist in the area around me. I looked at my companions and noticed that they were spooked out by the mist, which began to move strangely due to my tampering. My gaze traveled to Wolga, who seemed really scared, and I calmed the mist around her.

Then I looked at Forest and got struck by a wicked idea. I started to create small phantom mirages around him and almost laughed aloud when he almost jumped about due to the misty hand that I created. When he looked about and our gazes met I did my best to show him an impassive expression.

He shook his head, as if disconcerned by what he saw, I hoped that he didn’t connect me with what was happening with the mist.

Suddenly Lysanthir broke the silence. -” Did you hear that? “

-” Wh… what? “ Wolga exclaimed shakily.

-” I didn’t hear anything. “ Hamon’s axe appeared in his hand.

-” I hear something ahead. It seems like a voice. “ Lysanthir looked at us with wide eyed expression on his face.

Suddenly Forest took a lead and started giving out directions. I was shocked by his change, as he suddenly seemed dependable and organized, and I failed to hear what he had said to me. Luckily he didn’t notice my blank expression and quickly turned away.

Forest moved forward, with Hamon covering his back. Wolga followed them hesitantly, I could tell that she was really pale and scared. Suddenly I realized that Lysanthir disappeared from my sight. I looked around and I couldn’t find him. Puzzled, I decided to use my newfound mastery of the mists to find him.

I focused and concentrated on the wispy energy that surrounded us. I become aware of the terrain hidden behind the vapour, which turned out to be mostly ruins, also there was a cobblestone plaza ahead. I took a deep breath and managed to tune my awareness to the flow of the mist. To my surprise I found Lysanthir only few meters away, he was crouched near the ground and impossible to spot.

I could tell that he was really focused as his minute movements seemed to somehow react to the mists touch, which was altered by my actions. I wondered whom he was, as he gave off an impression of a professional.

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My musings were interrupted by sudden commotion ahead of me. I heard a loud roar, followed by the sounds of thrashing. I focused my attention in that direction and discovered another surprising thing.

My power seemed to clash with something dark red and vile. Like a pulsing tumor that permeated the mist and ousted it from my grasp. I quickly verified that there was something that radiated a malign red magic ahead of me. It was expelling my influence over the mist from the area.

I decided to come closer and, when I did, I was faced with a growing, unsettling feeling. I thickened the power in my immediate area and forced my way forward. I still could feel sickening magic gnawing at my defenses, but my thickened power seemed to hold it at bay.

-” Waaagh! “ Wolga’s battle cry resounded and distinguishable sound of pummeling intensified.

-” I think it had enough. “ Hamon said doubtfully.

Finally my eyes rested on the object of the pummeling, which turned out to be some sort of undead. Or so I thought. Its body was covered in scrapes and escher, and its hands seemed like claws because they were scrapped to the bone. Its face was dry and sunken, with eyes that looked almost like the empty sockets, with a crimson light that illuminated them.

Above the broken body a glistening pilar towered. A big, several feet tall, icicle of pure ice pierced its abdomen and sank into the ground. I noticed several wounds made by smaller, one feet long, icicles that pierced the thing.

Wolga’s forceful blows were hitting the undead, but, apart from impact, they had no effect. A particularly vicious kick landed on its head, spinning it around the ice pillar, but apart from that I could see no visible signs of damage on the thing’s head.

-” Wolga, please stop.” Forest pleaded. -” There’s nothing to be scared of anymore. Look! It is defeated. “

Wolga suddenly stopped and looked at the thing. She breathed heavily.

-” Huff, what are you? “

Undead lowered its arms and suddenly tried to pounce, but it got stopped by the pillar in its abdomen. -” Thief! My treasure! Giveeeee it baaack! “ The thing supposedly screamed, but its voice was barely more than a whisper.

Wolga yelped and jumped back in alarm.

The thing scraped on cobblestones with its clawlike fingers. To my surprise it was leaving gashes in the stone.

-” Power, Gonee! “ Agitated thing thrashed wildly and everyone took a step back. -” Thief, yesss! Kill the thief! “

-” Hmm, it doesn’t seem too coherent. “ Hamon scratched his beard -” Who’s the thief? “

Hamon’s question riled the thing into a frenzy. It started thrashing around and spouting curses. We listened to the thing, trying to gather information from its rants.

-” It seems like the mage did it. “ Hamon summarized. -” And took something. “

-” I think there’s more to it. Have you noticed that the pillar is magical? “ I said.

-” Of course, I mean how else would it have gotten here? “ Hamon responded.  

-” That’s not what I mean. “ I said and told them about what I have gathered thus far. -” There’s some kind of magic bound into it and it is… “ I hesitated as I didn’t want to mention my mastery over the mist. -” ...quite vicious. It’s trying to push me away and it’s giving out a really bad vibe. “

-” I think I know what might be going on. “ Lysanthir’s sudden revelation took us by surprise. -” Think about the facts. Sacrifices were probably made to gather the power. There’s a missing treasure and there’s a guardian, which is subdued by a vicious magic… “

-” Damn! You might be right! “ Hamon clasped his hands with stern expression. -” So the mage came and took the treasure. The question remains, where he went and what does he need it for? “ Suddenly he let out an annoyed yell. -” Argh, damn bastard took it for gold and must be long gone! “

-” Maybe he came to undo the curse? “ Forest asked suddenly.

-” Haha, and he turned random people into sacrifices to achieve such a noble goal, right? “ Hamon bursted into laughter.

Forest reddened under Hamon’s mocking words.

-” So what are we going to do? “ I decided to join the conversation, which was going nowhere.

-’ We could try to find the mage, but he probably won’t take to it kindly. “ Lysanthir said objectively. -” Also, finding him in the mists would be rather hard. “

-” So are we going to leave? “ Wolga asked expectantly. -” We should be able to get out before dark. “

-” Well… “ Hamon said hesitantly. -” Since it’s impossible to get paid I do not see a reason for staying... “

-” Lysanthir, can’t you find the mage?  I am sure that you can track him, right? “ Forest asked with determination painted on his face.

-” I am afraid that it is not that easy. I can’t track him on these cobblestones and he is probably long gone anyway. Bodies in the ravine were several hours old after all. “

-” What if we can track him? “ I asked suddenly, I didn’t want such an anticlimactic ending to my first adventure.

-” What? You can find him? “ Hamon asked in surprise.

-” Can you do it? “ Forest gave me wide eyed, expectant look.

-” I think there might be a way. He left that strange magic in the pillar and there’s a chance I might be able to track him using it. “ I said with conviction that I did not have. -” Also, somehow I got a feeling that he is nearby. “ I added mysteriously, while thinking about the mana stored in the mist.

I hoped that my assumption that the mage wanted to tap into mists power was correct. Though I had my doubts, I had tapped into that power already after all…

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Hey~, Author's here~

I hope you liked the adventuring chapter, cos the next chapter will be the conclusion :)

Let me know what you think about my work thus far.

Cheers,

Mea

Ps1 I may or may not take part in the RRL's Short Story contest, release date of the next chapter will therefore depend on that.

EDIT: I am writing my contest entry after all, therefore next chapter will be probably released between 06/01 and 06/08.

EDIT3: Ok, my contest entry is ready

Ps2 Read and approved by Owlbear General.

NEXT CHAPTER: Chapter 22 - The Confronting ( Adventuring Chapter's conclusion)

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