Hump released the spell formation from his grip like a long breath, drinking back in the essence he imparted to it. With it came the darkness of the spell. It rampaged through his channels like maggots in flesh. Hump fought to suppress it, calming the essence and suppressing the growing sickness inside him. As he separated his own power from it, withdrawing it to his soul, he felt some of its dark power fade from him but still his head swam with nausea.
The light of the spell formation faded, returning the dungeon core chamber to the dull light of before. Hump felt heavy. He slumped beneath the weight of the essence he’d just wielded, cold tendrils stabbing at his fingers and toes. He caught himself on his staff, struggling for balance, only for Celaine to catch him under his left arm, propping him up. All around, people stared at him in stunned silence.
“I need to sit down,” Hump said.
“Have a rest,” Aldric said. “We’ll finish up here.”
Hump nodded to the man. Nearby, Hump saw a number of wizards already at work trying to decipher the sections of runes that contained the material components of the spell.
“Come on,” Celaine said, shifting him forward.
Together, they walked to the rear wall of the chamber. Celaine helped him down, and he slumped against the wall. Nisha crawled over him, sniffing his face, her eyes wide with worry. Hump smiled at her, taking her face in both hands and scratching behind her horns. She leant into him happily.
The rest of his party approached.
“How much did they see?” Hump asked, his voice cracking from strain.
“Your book was clearly shown to be an artifact,” Celaine said. “A powerful one at that. I suspect Count Daston and General Korteg may have detected a divine element to it, but unless they are familiar with the book, I cannot see them ever guessing it is anything suspicious.”
“I concur,” Dylan said. “You’re a powerful wizard, Hump. It makes sense that you have a powerful spellbook. I don’t think you need to be concerned.”
Hump let out a sigh, crossing his fingers they were right. “That’s fortunate, I guess.”
“How was it?” Emilia asked.
“We should be good,” Hump said. “As long as Aldric can find the necessary material components, activating the spell won’t be a problem other than making me feel awful.”
“You look pale.” Celaine handed him his water flask. “Drink this.”
Hump snorted. “I feel pale.” He forced himself to drink, the water moving like ice down his throat.
“No dark urges though?” Bud asked, true concern in the knight’s eyes. “You’re not risking your soul by doing this, are you?”
The four of them looked at the knight.
“What?” Bud asked. “Whenever he’s done stuff like this before, it’s either tried to feast on his soul or turned him into a warlock. You can hardly blame me for being concerned.”
“It’s not very nice magic to use, but I don’t think it’s left any lasting impact on me, other than an aversion to using warlock magic in the future. Let’s leave it at that.”
Bud gave a curt nod, folding his arms. “Well, hopefully that one sticks. Seems like a good lesson for you to learn.”
Hump snorted, but he was too tired to come up with comeback.
Chatter moved onto lighter topics, anything but battle, as the four of them sat down with Hump. Hump leant his head back against the wall, enjoying the sound of their voices, when his spellbook shook in his lap. He drew a breath, feeling surprisingly enthusiastic about the activity as he turned his gaze toward it. Glyndaril hadn’t seemed too happy with the magic Hump just attempted—he wondered whether it was good or bad news that awaited him inside. He had never gone against the book. He’d never needed to. It left him rather apprehensive to discover what consequence might await him, if any.
The others had noticed the tremble too and waited for him to open it. Seeing no reason to wait, Hump opened it in the centre. Ink formed lines over the left page, words taking form one by one as if written by hand.
The Book of Infinite Pages
Greetings, my disciple. You have been acknowledged by Glyndaril, the Silver Owl of Wisdom. With that, it is time I properly introduce myself. You may have heard the tales: the Wandering Wizard, the First Mage, the World Whisperer—but my true name is Samuel Durain. Through Glyndaril’s acknowledgement, you are now officially my heir, and with this, many of my secrets will be accessible to you: techniques, spells, and answers.
Firstly, you should know that I am not proud of this book. I created it for revenge—to smite down those that betrayed me and cast them out of this world. That revenge left me a shadow of what I once was, both in spirit and body, and now I am spent. But it does not need to stay that way. At its heart, this book is a store of all the magical knowledge that I possess, bound and protected against all that would seek it.
Through it, my knowledge endures, entrusted to my greatest friend, Glyndaril, and now to you. The secrets stolen from me—the truths the Pantheon would see buried—must live on. For one day, when a new age dawns, humanity will again learn to wield the winds and speak the Will of the World for themselves. The time will come when the shackles of false power break.
This is the mission I leave to you, Bearer of Infinity. When that new age comes, you must not hoard this knowledge, but gift it freely. Magic is not the birthright of the powerful few, but for all people. Every soul should have the right to learn and improve themselves, free from the chains of those that would bind them with gifts of false power. The traitors would see this book destroyed, for they know that true strength lies in knowledge.
While this weapon was born of war, in your hands it can be more. A guide for all those that seek knowledge, a tool to shape a world where the winds of essence flow freely, where no person is bound by the will of another. Follow it, and free those oppressed by those that would be gods.
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
Hump stared at the entry in disbelief. Not just at who had written it and what it now meant for him, but what it meant for Bud and Dylan too. This was an open declaration of war against the Pantheon. This was a level of blasphemy Hump feared that even Bud could not overlook. Owalyn had warned him of the blessings of Chosen and how they bound the souls of those that possessed them, but to see it confirmed here sent a jolt of fear through him. More than that, this book went in direct opposition of the gods—it gave people the gift of magic, and the power to strengthen their souls.
“Is everything okay?” Bud asked.
Hump closed the book and nodded. “It’s just a record of the spell.”
Owalyn had already told Hump the Pantheon were responsible for the Wandering Wizard’s demise, and this confirmed it. He didn’t know what to say. Everything his friend believed was a lie. He was not Kelisia’s Chosen; he was her prisoner, bound by her chains and spoon-fed a little strength at a time so that he did not realise it.
How could he tell Bud this? He couldn’t do it now, that much was certain. Either Bud would hate him for it or doubt Kelisia, and such doubt could get him killed in the battle to come.
He looked over at his friend. Emilia leaned against him, trying to keep her eyes open but appearing so tired Hump thought she might pass out. It was no wonder—she’d taken a serious stab wound to the stomach. Even healed, she must be exhausted. Bud had his arm around her, seemingly refusing to let her go. It was sweet to see him so unflustered by her. They had grown closer than Hump realised in his time away.
Dylan paced uneasily, the only one of them not sitting down. The druid wouldn’t take the news any better, though Hump was starting to wonder if it was time he revealed what he knew. The warlocks were fighting to free the old gods, and while their methods were evil, perhaps they were not wrong in their objective. Perhaps the old gods were prisoners of the Pantheon and nothing more.
It then crossed Hump’s mind that the Wandering Wizard might be one of them. Owalyn had not spoken of his death, and neither had the book. Perhaps he still lived.
“Dylan, you look restless,” Emilia said. “Sit down and have a break.”
The druid sighed and gave her a small smile. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to bother you. I’m worried about my master. Hump may not have seen Sheercliff City under attack, but I wish I could be there to help.”
“I know how you feel,” Emilia said. “My brother was in Sheercliff, but most of my family are from Elenvine. I fear they will be on the frontlines of any battle.”
Dylan’s face turned to shock. “Of course! Emilia, I’m so sorry. I hadn’t even considered what you must be going through.”
The duellist shook her head. “The Rike’s are strong. They won’t go down without a fight. Neither will your master.”
“Vivi and Countess Daston will make any warlock that tries something in Sheercliff regret it,” Hump said. He wondered how far Vivienne had come with the technique he’d given her. She might be even stronger than she was before.
“The best thing you can do right now is recover your strength for the battle to come,” Bud said. “You won’t do anyone any good if you’re exhausted.”
“You’re right. I know it, but… it’s hard. This place—it makes me feel sick, even with the dungeon defeated. I can’t wait to see green again, that is, if it’s not all burned.”
“Dylan, you’re glowing,” Celaine said suddenly.
The druid looked at his hands. “So I am.”
A moment passed, and Hump sensed divinity approaching. The blessing of Krioc started slowly. A warm wind rushed through the chamber, growing stronger and more powerful. Light gleamed above, and the god pillar descended, consuming Dylan in a beam of green light.
Fear struck Hump. He’d always doubted that the gods were watching, but the timing of this was too perfect. Could it just be coincidence that Krioc chose this moment to grant her Chosen his next circle, or had they discovered Hump’s spellbook? Did they know the secret that had just revealed itself? Hump’s heart raced as he gazed into the pillar, his breathing becoming short and quick as he witnessed what might just be a divine declaration.
Plants sprouted around Dylan, manifestations of trees rising around him like his fourth blessing, forming an ethereal forest radiant with divine green essence. The light of the pillar cleared, leaving five circles on the ground, a blessing taking form along one side of the fifth ring.
Hump’s spellbook shook and he read the new entry.
Blessing
Briar Cage
Description
Conjure a cage of tightly interwoven, thorny vines around a target. The cage restricts movement, damages those trapped inside, and can shrink over time, dealing more damage as it tightens.
Reading it, Hump couldn’t feel excitement, knowing what this truly was.
“No wonder you were feeling restless.” Bud laughed, gently releasing Emilia and rising to his feet to embrace the druid in a hug. “Congratulations, my friend.”
Dylan stared at the fifth ring in confusion. “Thank you, Bud. I… I didn’t expect that.”
Around the room, all eyes were on Dylan.
“The gods are with us!” Bud roared, holding Dylan’s arm up as if he were a champion. “This is a sign. We are on the righteous path. We march to the unknown—to war—but we shall not stray! The evil pervading Alveron shall be vanquished!”
Cheers went up around the room. There was an immediate shift as the deflated morale of the people became elated. No longer did they march to simply save the kingdom, now they were on a holy war.
The room filled with shouts of courage. The doors opened, one of the Chosen shouting to the troops outside. The chamber echoed with the celebrations from beyond as all around the citadel, people joined in cheer.
In the hours that followed, Hump became more and more nervous as god pillars continued to descend. New Chosen were born, while others rose in circle. Gone was any doubt that they should pursue the warlocks using their magic. General Korteg and Count Daston saw this as a blessing.
But Hump… he saw something else. Never had he seen so many blessings at once. At worst, the secret of his book may have reached them. More likely, the situation was truly so terrible that the gods needed more strength than ever, and this was their call to arms. Either way, it seemed dark times were upon them.
While the rest of the room spurred into action, Hump remained seated against the wall, recovering his strength.
Celaine must have noticed his mood as she leant in and whispered, “What was really in your book?”
Hump glanced at her, swallowing a lump in his throat. Should he show her? If there was a target on his back now, this knowledge could doom her, but she already knew too much. In truth, this wasn’t something he wanted to face alone. Who else but Celaine could he entrust something of such importance? Certainly not Bud—not yet at least, as much as it pained him to admit. It wasn’t fair to put his friend in a position to choose between his faith and, well… him. He pushed back the ache that spurned from that thought and opened the book, letting her read. Celaine hid her shock well, but he saw the colour drain from her face.
“This appeared just before Dylan received his blessing?” Celaine asked.
Hump gave a slow nod.
She shook her head. “It doesn’t have to be connected. It could mean anything.”
“I know, but that doesn’t change the fact that we know far too much about very dangerous beings.” Hump turned away, suddenly feeling ashamed. “I shouldn’t have shown you.”
“No, you should have.” Celaine gripped his chin, pulling his face back around to look at her. She met his gaze, her beautiful green eyes shining with resolve. “You should have.”
Hump gave a slight smile, his eyes finding the scar on his cheek. He reached out, touching it without thinking. “Sorry that I couldn’t heal it properly.”
She leant into his hand. “You should know me well enough by now to know I don’t care. Scars are marks of honour—a badge of our past actions. I got this one fighting at your side. Do you really think I would be bothered?”
“I guess not. I’ll still try not to let it happen again.”
“Now that’s an idea I can get behind,” Celaine said. “I’ll admit, getting punched in the face by a demon is low on my list of things to try again.”
Nisha threw herself at Hump suddenly, knocking his arm aside and shoving her head into it, groaning with sudden jealousy. They both laughed, giving the dragon attention. Together, they remained at the edge of the chamber, watching as Chosen were gathered and arranged by General Korteg and Count Daston. War had come for them, but it was far bigger than anyone realised.
This was a war that was only just beginning.