Talax walked with unhurried steps with a procession of dark wraiths following his every step. The once-turbulent river, which had been filled with anguished cries and furious howls mere moments ago, had transformed into a tranquil haven with an almost surreal, dreamlike quality.
As he advanced, the luminous arch loomed ever larger, each footfall getting him closer until intricate details came into view. Notably, a mysterious dark object floated just before the arch's entrance, capturing his curiosity. Quickening his pace, he wanted to inspect the mysterious artifact. He felt the delicate balance of the dark mana faltering with his sudden movement and the flimsy layer of dark magic encasing him lost cohesion.
Summoning dark mana had become a somewhat smoother process, yet it still demanded his unwavering focus. Any minor distraction had the potential to shatter his concentration, disrupting the flow he had so meticulously cultivated. Although the wraiths seemed to acknowledge his affinity for dark magic, his wounds that still oozed blood made him want to be absolutely sure they wouldn’t attack him again.
It took him several minutes to reach the arch, its form reminiscent of a liquid wave that had solidified from the depths of the river. Yet, Talax's complete attention was on the suspended object in his path. A small tome emanated an energy that resonated with his own dark mana. Adorned with an unassuming leather cover, its only embellishment was the symbol of dark magic, an intricate triangular pattern composed of flowing lines, creating an eye-like motif at its center.
With some hesitation, Talax's gloved hands came to rest upon the tome's surface. The very instant his touch connected, the book's pages started their ethereal dance, flipping as if propelled by an invisible breeze. Yet, even more remarkable was the soft radiance that enveloped his senses the moment the book yielded its secrets. A gentle ebony light cascaded over him, making him think of starlit nights beneath the tranquil moon, and the serene calm of early evening when the world embraced respite from the day's burdens.
In an unexpected surge of awareness, a resonance was created between his core and the book's dark magic. Suddenly, knowledge surged. An immediate comprehension of precise hand gestures, incantations that flowed effortlessly, and the intricate pathways to guide the spell. In that moment, he knew.
Tar of restrain
Summons a thick substance that covers an area 2x2 that impedes the movements of the targets.
Summon time: 2 seconds, spell duration: 1 minute, cooldown: 3 minutes
The enchanted tome crumbled into dust, its flakes drifting and dissolving into the river's waters beneath Talax's gaze. Yet, his mind remained fixated on his newly acquired spell. It was yet another spell for controlling crowds, now joining the ranks of Fog of Mystica and Bubble of Confusion. With these three spells, he now had the means to manipulate multiple enemies. However, his yearning persisted for an offensive spell, one capable of inflicting substantial damage upon strong foes that he had difficulty facing in close combat.
Restlessness stirred within him, his desire to transform into a spell-casting force of havoc intensifying. The prospect of becoming a formidable sorcerer held an irresistible allure. Swords and bows had their merits, practical and effective, but they paled before the sheer might of a destructive spell. His fantasies of arcane grandeur were abruptly interrupted when he observed the portal's flickering, a subtle reminder to hurry and leave the shadowy river. Flashing a cheeky salute towards the dark wraiths that stood like silent sentinels around him, he leaped into the portal.
In an instant, the discomforting sensation of being stretched and compressed simultaneously assaulted him, yet his senses quickly went back to normal as he emerged from the portal's threshold. He found himself within a dim chamber without any distinct feature except for the prone figure sprawled upon the floor.
Surprise and dread assaulted him when he recognized the body, it was Qalo. He ran to the half-orc's side, stirring up a cloud of dust as he knelt beside the unconscious figure. He grasped Qalo's shoulder, wanting to see the man's face. Qalo's limp hand fell lifelessly, and for the first time, Talax noticed the sinister network of claw marks adorning his body. Inky veins slithered around his body like a malevolent plague.
Talax placed his hand upon Qalo's neck, his fingers searching for a pulse. Relief coursed through him when he detected a faint rhythm, prompting a sigh to escape his lips. He was still alive. Still, he had to do something. Unfastening his pack, he scoured its contents for the few health potions he had found earlier in the tunnels. Though Franny had told them that they were of a weaker variety, circumstances urged him to use them. He couldn’t wait for the noble's return. Finding the three vials of differing hues, ranging from orange to coppery red, Talax arranged them before him on the floor.
Each vial had a different coloration, lacking the deep burgundy characteristic of Franny's potent potions. Nonetheless, they were his only chance. Uncorking one of the small containers, he poured its contents down Qalo's throat. A faint groan escaped the man's lips, yet there were no signs of awakening. A feeble whimper fluttered from Qalo's lips before he receded once more into unconsciousness.
Talax kept pouring the potions when he noticed their effects starting to fade. The wounds closed for a few seconds after each potion, but after a while, the effects stopped. Despite seeing some noticeable improvement in the claw marks, the dark veins overlaying the wounds refused to vanish. In truth, they seemed to be expanding, becoming larger and darker.
With a sense of despair, Talax rummaged through Qalo’s pack and discovered a few more potions. These provided a brief extension, giving them a few more minutes to await Franny’s arrival. Restlessly, Talax paced back and forth while waiting for the nobleman. Where could he be? Was he trapped in a similar situation? Perhaps he had also fallen prey to the dark wraiths? A whirlwind of questions stormed through Talax's mind as he regularly checked on Qalo's condition.
Suddenly, the portal flared to life, and a disheveled Franny stumbled through, his pale skin marred with scorch marks and his armor showing signs of wear. He quickly caught sight of Talax and greeted him with a bright smile.
"Did you go through the trial as well?" he inquired, his excitement causing his cheeks to flush even redder than usual. While the mention of the trial intrigued Talax, Qalo's condition was more important.
"Forget all that! Hurry, Qalo is in a bad state!" Talax pointed towards the unconscious Qalo, causing the nobleman's eyes to widen in surprise. Franny walked unfazed, as if he had grown accustomed to Qalo's brushes with death. While Talax felt a measure of relief at Franny's arrival, knowing that he seemingly had potions for every circumstance, a spark of anger ignited when he saw his unhurried steps.
Putting aside his gripe Talax told him what he knew. "I gave him all the health potions we had. They seemed to help with the wounds, but he's dealing with some sort of infection. Given that I was sent to a chamber infused with dark magic, he might have ended up in a similar situation." Franny nodded as he fed a health potion into Qalo’s mouth before rummaging through his bag. His brows furrowed, and he raised his gaze to Talax, his expression uncertain.
"I... I don't have any potion with death magic resistance," he said with a somber voice. "How can this be..." His words were hushed, almost a murmur, as he delved once more into his satchel. Across from him, Talax knelt down and scrutinized the wounds on Qalo's now-closed flesh. The lingering effect of the death damage persisted, making Talax start to despair.
Franny retrieved an aged, well-worn book and began to read with fervor. “What are we going to do?” Talax questioned but Franny shooshed him as he flipped page after page. Murmuring to himself, he eventually rested the book atop Qalo's belly while rummaging through his bag. He took out an array of items: dried leaves, radiant fruits, and a luminous dust that shimmered with a blue tint.
Finally, he produced a small, wooden bowl and poured all ingredients into it. With swift, purposeful motions, he crushed the components and poured a sticky substance into the mix.
"What are you doing?" Talax's confusion was evident as he observed Franny's quick but sure actions.
"I have the recipe for a salve that might help. While it's not specifically attuned to combat death magic, it does address magical infections. Hopefully, it will suffice. Oh, and this marks my first attempt at alchemy. Wish me luck!" Talax watched as the noble worked with unrelenting determination, frequently consulting the book for guidance before resuming with unwavering concentration.
After twenty minutes, the salve was ready. Its hue was a delicate blue, and its texture resembled more of a gelatinous substance than a conventional ointment. When a piece broke off and landed on the floor with a wet splash, Talax couldn't help but ask. "Are you sure you've done it correctly?" Franny's gaze snapped up sharply. "Would you care to give it a try?" In a gesture of surrender, Talax raised his hands, stepping back to give Franny space to work.
The noble proceeded to apply the questionable concoction to the afflicted area, and then set to work on crafting another batch. Restless anticipation gripped Talax as he waited for any sign of change. Eventually, a faint improvement became noticeable, prompting a sigh of relief from him. After another round of rubbing Franny exclaimed in surprise.
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"Wow, I can't believe I acquired the alchemy skill from these horrid creations," Talax said with a grin. "Great job. The sensation of gaining a new skill is really something." He commented and Franny nodded as he settled down beside him.
"Once he hits tier 3, he should invest in vitality. His strength is impressive, but his vitality is pretty lacking. That's why he's always struggling to stay alive after every minor scuffle. I'm not sure if it's a racial quirk of orcs, or for some reason his built is so heavily focused towards strength. But I'm almost out of health potions; we'll have to exercise more caution from now on." Talax offered a nod of agreement.
"It’s not really up to us.” A sigh escaped his lips before he added. “You were right, this dungeon is full of traps and dangerous creatures. I hope we stumble upon more health potions soon, even if their effectiveness is questionable." They shared a moment of silence, merely existing within the dim chamber, with Qalo's deep breaths as their sole company.
"I guess he didn't pass his trial," Franny murmured at last. Talax observed the man as he meticulously combed his hair, fully engrossed in his task.
"You mentioned the trial earlier. What exactly is that?" Franny slipped his comb back into his bag, pausing to ensure his perfectly coifed hair was in place before responding.
"It's one of the most effective means to awaken your magic. Usually, the trial's location serves as fertile ground for ascension, as you might have noticed. Even those with low affinity for a specific element can experience a boost in their aptitude." He directed a beaming smile at Talax before continuing, "Just like what happened to me! Remember when I mentioned that my affinity was too weak to progress further, and I was unable to learn any new spells?" Upon Talax's nod, the noble continued.
"As soon as I passed the trial, I felt my affinity increase! It's an incredibly rare occurrence! And just before I reached the portal, I stumbled upon a magic tome! And... I managed to learn the spell!" Franny shook his head, as if still in disbelief about his stroke of good luck.
"Did you also encounter wraiths?" Franny looked up, as if momentarily having forgotten his companion's presence. "Oh, no. I was attacked by mirror images of myself. They fired beams of light, which were quite painful..." He recounted while touching his neck, marked by a particularly severe scorch mark. Taking out some unassuming leaves, he began to chew them, offering a couple to Talax and urged him to eat them.
"We need to conserve what little of our supplies we have left. This is elfroot; its leaves possess healing properties. It's not as potent as a potion, but it’s commonly used by people since it's cheap and easy to find." Talax expressed gratitude and began chewing. The taste was bitter and lingered longer than he would have preferred.
They chatted a bit more about their trial and Talax learned that Franny had acquired a new spell named light bolt, similar to his stone spike in lacking stopping power. Franny seemed more than happy with his new spell, since he had all but given up on learning new magic spells. The trial had clearly lifted his spirits, since he now appeared more animated with a perpetual smile plastered on his face.
Meanwhile, Qalo remained in a deep slumber, his high-pitched snores echoing through the room resembling a woman in the throes of passion that made both Talax and Franny to stifle a chuckle on more than a few occasions. At least the death affliction seemed to have run its course, and the black veins that had looked like writhing worms disappeared one by one.
The decision was reached to rest until Qalo had regained his strength. Franny's upbeat demeanor persisted as he shared anecdotes from his life, accompanied by a satisfying meal and a taste of his well-guarded stock of elvish wine. He told him anecdotes of his past that usually had one of his brothers doing something stupid and Franny had to come to his rescue. Like when his favorite brother decided it was a good idea to bring a manticore egg into their estate and when the beast hatched it quickly wreaked havoc almost killing half a dozen servants.
Franny had to bribe the stable master who had a skill associated with beasts and smuggle the creature out of the kingdom. His brother had to stay at the infirmary for a month since the manticore venom was so poisonous that common health potions couldn’t get rid of it, and they had to import a specialized solution from the far kingdom of Alhamah in the south where the manticores roamed freely in the sand dune covered landscape.
Finally, Qalo stirred from his deep slumber, his gaze darting wildly around the room with confusion etched in his eyes. "What happened?" he mumbled, absently scratching his belly. Franny huffed irritably and retorted, "Once again, I had to waste my limited resources to save your sorry ass!"
The typically courteous nobleman was apparently quite ticked off about having to use his potions to preserve their lives, a sentiment Talax couldn't blame him for. Recently, the knowledge of Franny's stockpile had served as a safety net in the back of their minds. They were aware that no matter the circumstance, Franny would intervene with his precious life-restoring potions. Put in Franny's shoes, Talax would likely feel reluctant to share his dwindling supplies as well.
On the other hand, Qalo seemed unconcerned, rummaging through his crumpled pack. He visibly exhaled in relief when he discovered his jar of unsavory stew was unharmed. He proceeded to gulp down the offensive concoction with a few quick swigs. After emitting a belch that was as pungent as it was loud, he inquired, "So, what really happened? I feel weak. All I remember is being on a river." His uncertainty lingered in the air until Franny swiftly filled in the gaps.
"When we used the portal, each of us was transported into a trial. Our affinities were tested, and then we had to overcome various obstacles. For me, it was light magic. Talax faced dark magic, and considering your injuries, your trial revolved around death magic." As Qalo absorbed this information, his gaze traveled along his body in search of wounds. Finding none, he raised his gaze with questioning eyes.
"I had to concoct a salve to heal your wounds. The death energy hindered normal healing and drained your health points." Qalo dipped his head, his voice adopting a tone of respect that Talax had rarely heard before. "Thank you, once again, you've saved my life. I owe you a debt. How can I repay you?" Franny waved his hand dismissively, yet a peculiar glint entered his eyes, and he added with a sly smile, "Perhaps you could lower the price for your services. The knowledge of butler duties is invaluable, after all." The half-orc shook his head vehemently.
"No, no! I was thinking something like my last jar of stew!" Franny grimaced, clamping a fist over his mouth as though attempting to keep the contents of his stomach down. After a moment, he responded in a shaky voice.
"I wouldn't even dream of depriving you of such a delicacy. It's all yours. To feast, savor it or... Choke on it...” He added the last part in a hushed tone, eliciting a chuckle from Talax.
“I guess I didn’t pass my trial.” Qalo muttered with a hint of despondency, though he appeared to have come to terms with it.
"Correct. Your affinity likely fell short in grasping the fundamentals, resulting in your ejection from the trial. Yet something must have attacked you while you were unconscious." Qalo nodded in response to Franny's explanation, as if anticipating such a turn of events. Eventually, he shrugged and got to his feet. “Well, orcs are not famous for their magic. We are, however, for our fighting! Let’s go kill something!” He exclaimed, waving his hammer like it weighed nothing.
The two humans joined Qalo, albeit a little reluctantly, and together they entered the narrow tunnel, which branched out into smaller passageways. They navigated the subterranean maze throughout most of the day. The tunnels were different from the ones they had previously encountered. These seemed more like natural formations rather than the result of human construction. The tunnel shapes kept evolving the deeper they went, and for the first time, they noticed signs of life on the tunnel walls. Vibrant mosses of different colors and peculiar-looking plants had taken root in crevices and recesses of the rock walls. Faint sounds of skittering creatures echoed through the darkness, and Qalo made a couple of attempts to capture the elusive critters, with little success.
Their journey remained relatively uneventful, offering a welcome respite from the previous challenges. Still, they remained alert, and Talax occasionally employed his stealth skill to scout shadowy intersections and blind spots for potential enemies. He grew increasingly comfortable hidden in the shadows, actively seeking a reason to use his skill and blend in the darkness.
He felt like he was one of the wraiths he had encountered during the trial as he glided noiselessly through the tunnels, melding seamlessly with the shadows and pools of darkness. Unfortunately, his high was short-lived when he became careless and lost a step.
Before he could react, his stealth skill abruptly dropped, and he found himself under attack by two massive claws. Reacting just in the nick of time, he managed to jump sideways, though not without a small but deep wound being etched onto his ribs. Swift thinking saved his life, as he used his new spell for the very first time. A torrent of Restraining Tar surged from his left hand like a miniature fountain, enveloping the insectoid creature that had been ready to lunge at him.
The movements of the black scorpion, that looked like it had been filled with steroids since it was the size of a large dog, were swiftly slowed, its motions reduced to a lazy, almost sluggish pace. Capitalizing on the advantage, Talax leaped back, increasing the distance between them, and with nimble hands, he unleashed an explosive arrow. A resounding crack echoed, akin to the sound of shattering an egg, as the scorpion's obsidian carapace splintered, exposing the vulnerable pink flesh underneath.
Hissing in response, the scorpion executed an unexpected maneuver, driving its stinger forward despite the space that separated them. Feeling secure in his positioning, Talax was too late to react, causing him to be hit by the venomous liquid shot from the stinger. A cry of pain tore from his lips as the corrosive poison made contact with his skin, the sizzle of flesh meeting toxin punctuating the air. Ignoring the searing sensation, he gritted his teeth and loosed another arrow. Luck was on his side, as the arrow found purchase through a gap in the fractured carapace, burying itself deep within the exposed flesh.
His cries had alerted his two companions, who promptly joined him. They assessed the situation for a moment and swiftly launched an assault on the still restrained creature. Qalo wielded his hammer with precision, breaking apart the remnants of the scorpion's natural armor, while Franny relentlessly targeted the creature's vulnerable points until it stopped its movements.
Following that intense encounter, Talax became more cautious, using his stealth when it was absolutely necessary. He shadowed his companions closely and restrained himself from doing anything rush.
Once while travelling through the dark tunnels, he felt the unsettling sensation of being watched once again. The eerie feeling lingered, persistent despite his efforts to pinpoint its source. He remained convinced that some unseen creature followed their group, though its remarkably high stealth made it impossible to detect it, regardless how long he tried. Since it didn’t attack them, he let it go and concentrated on finding the end of the endless maze. Nonetheless, a subconscious tension gripped his shoulders, his instincts telling him he would be attacked at any moment.
On the second day of their journey, they eventually stumbled upon a vast opening, signifying the end of the confining tunnels. Simultaneously, all three of them crossed the threshold into this expanse, only for their jaws to slacken in awe at the spectacle before them.
"What in the infernal realms?"