Talax's body went through the same sensations as when he had used the portal that had transported him to the trial of dark magic. He had the peculiar feeling of being stretched and squished at the same time, as if every molecule of his body went through a transformation.

The unsettling sensation lasted for only a moment. As soon as his foot landed on the ground on the other side of the barrier, all his senses flooded back. He was immediately assaulted by a cacophony of screeching voices.

It took him a moment to get his bearings and realize that their group was under attack. Beside him, he heard Qalo burp and vomit unceremoniously on his feet with a nauseating splash. Talax grimaced at the sound, but his focus was on the spirits that had started appearing all around him.

Instinctively, his hand went to his sword, ready to fight the encroaching creatures. But he needn't have bothered.

The cacophony of wails and moans from the spirits was deafening, and the air crackled with otherworldly energy. As the last of the spirits turned their attention toward the intruders, the fight escalated to a whole new level of excitement, with Vesperine taking center stage.

With a flick of her wrist, Vesperine sent her enchanted daggers spinning through the air. The blades glowed with an eerie purple light as they sliced through the spirits like a hot knife through butter. Each strike was a work of art, leaving a trail of shimmering energy in its wake. She moved with the grace and agility of a phantom herself, her every step a dance of death.

As the spirits closed in, Vesperine melded into the shadows, becoming one with the darkness. She reappeared behind a group of spirits, her daggers flashing with deadly intent. With swift, silent slashes, she decapitated two of them before they even had a chance to react. An explosion of blue dust followed her path as she disappeared and then reappeared seemingly out of nowhere.

The remaining spirits were in disarray, unable to pinpoint their elusive attacker. Vesperine moved like a shadow, striking with precision and disappearing before they could retaliate. She left a trail of destruction in her wake, her daggers leaving behind a mesmerizing display of sparks and spectral remnants.

The spirits tried to reach out with their clawed hands, intent on ripping her apart, but their efforts were in vain. Vesperine activated her shadow magic, and the world seemed to bend to her will. She slipped through the spirits like a ghost, their desperate grabs finding nothing but empty air.

With a final, breathtaking flourish, Vesperine reappeared amidst a group of spirits, cloaked in a purple energy that flowed all around her like a shroud. The creatures seemed unaware of her presence, as if that peculiar energy protected her from their perception. She spun around with her sharp knives extended, inflicting slashing damage to the nearby creatures.

By the time the spirits finally realized someone was among them, it was too late. Vesperine's daggers danced in a mesmerizing ballet of death, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. The spirits' voices became even more shrill with every slash, their existence unraveling before their eyes.

As she moved, the purple energy around her intensified, creating a swirling vortex of shadows and power. The spirits howled in agony as they were drawn into the vortex, their forms unraveling in a spectacular display of destruction. Vesperine herself seemed to be a dark goddess of vengeance, her daggers cutting through the fabric of reality itself.

In a matter of seconds, the creatures were torn apart, their essence consumed by the swirling maelstrom of shadow magic. When the last spirit was dispatched, Vesperine deactivated her abilities.

One might think that the prolonged attack had no ill effect on her, but Talax detected a small change. Vesperine's chest rose and fell with greater effort than usual, as if she were winded. Her first steps after the attack seemed sluggish and uncoordinated, as if she had trouble mustering the will to move.

She had used powerful abilities that made it easy for her to dispatch the weak spirits, but it seemed the aftereffects were substantial, making her temporarily weak.

After that, Vesperine dispatched the few remaining spirits with cool efficiency. She chose to leave the flashy abilities for another time, using her stealth and daggers to bring death to her unsuspecting victims, who noticed her presence only when it was too late.

"Done," she announced, dusting off her clothes from the blue powder that clung to her like a second skin.

"Me lord, can I gather a wee bit of that sparkly sand?" Walter's voice was practically dripping with excitement as he eyed the magical dust.

"After Vesperine deposits the percentage owed to me as per our agreement, she may choose to do as she wills with her share," replied Edward, his attention fixed on the masked woman who was already collecting the spectral dust into a small pouch.

"I will first see the Lady's smile before I give my loot to that thug." Vesperine's derisive scoff cut through the air like a blade, and it seemed to make Walter's blood boil. Talax watched the man tremble with anger, using every ounce of self-control not to lash out at the woman.

Vesperine, seemingly unfazed by Walter's intense reaction, continued gathering the ethereal dust. Once she was finished, she handed Edward a generous pouch brimming with the glowing substance and kept a smaller one for herself.

With little ceremony, the group resumed their journey along the cobblestoned path. They fell back into their earlier formation, with Callum leading the way. Edward and Ferdinand followed closely behind, and the rest trailed behind them. Vesperine chose to walk next to him, sticking to him like glue. At one point, she even attempted to link their hands, but Talax gently rebuffed her, and she kept her hands to herself.

Talax's ears perked up as he overheard Franny talking to his uncle, discussing something intriguing.

"We stumbled upon some interesting tidbits when we first stepped onto the path. We found the remains of someone early on, and with his few meager belongings, there was a diary. It belonged to a pious lunatic, but some of what he wrote down turned out to be accurate. This path supposedly leads to the final temple, the seat of some God named Ekzon. I've never heard of him, but that doesn't mean anything. This dungeon feels very old; whatever happened to the God must have been eons ago."

Talax absorbed every word with rapt attention, a sense of relief washing over him upon hearing that they were nearing the end of their dungeon journey. However, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that the final stretch would hold even greater dangers.

"I don't like feeling neglected, sweet cheeks!" Vesperine whined, her tone dripping with playful irritation. Talax had to make a conscious effort not to roll his eyes and inadvertently offend the woman.

"Shhh, I want to hear what Edward is saying," he whispered, trying to keep track of the conversation between the two nobles.

"I can tell you all about it! I was there too!" Vesperine responded, folding her hands in a way that made her chest more noticeable. Talax couldn't help but notice, though he wasn't sure if she did it intentionally. Either way, she had successfully captured his full attention. She took a playful step closer to Talax, her voice a sultry invitation that was impossible to resist. "But, darling, why listen to them when you could be enjoying the enchanting tones of my voice instead?"

"Aye, the little minx puts her nose in everybody's business, she does!" Walter chimed in, deciding to join their little group.

"Careful, old man, because one day you'll see my smile. And that will be the last thing you’ll ever see!" Vesperine's retort was laced with tantalizing promise, her lips curling into a wicked grin that hinted at countless secrets. She leaned in so close to Walter that her breath caressed his earlobe, and she whispered with wicked allure, "Wouldn't you just love to find out?"

Walter didn’t appear to recognize the threat because he raised his fists and exclaimed indignantly. “Imma a young lad! The few grey hairs on me head is from me wisdom! Not age!”

A melodious laugh escaped Vesperine's lips, her laughter a seductive melody that echoed in the air. She shook her head in mock disappointment, her voice dripping with sweet sarcasm. "When I kill you, I won't pity your age, old man!" Her words were like daggers dipped in honey.

Walter was on the verge of delivering a fiery retort, and Talax had to intervene swiftly to prevent a potential brawl. He had dealt with the endless bickering between Franny and Qalo, but Vesperine's sassiness added an electrifying layer of unpredictability to their motley crew of adventurers.

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

"Vesperine, you said you'd share what you've learned! If this is a tactic to avoid revealing the dungeon's secrets, know that I'm onto you!" Talax's voice remained firm and Vesperine froze, her hand remained midair ready to pummel the grizzled warrior.

"What tactic?" Her response was laced with playful innocence. "This annoying little man needs a lesson..."

"Little?" Walter hollered, his voice filled with outrage. "You callin’ me little? I'll show ye me little pecker..." The man's hands immediately went to his breeches, which were covered in armor. How he was supposed to do what he was intending to, was anyone’s guess. Talax, however, wasn't having any of it.

"Enough! No one wants to see that," he said, gesturing at the man's sensitive area, his face a mix of annoyance and disbelief.

"I am no little! I am big and thick!" Walter huffed, sending glares at the giggling Vesperine, who was enjoying the situation a bit too much for Talax's liking.

"Yes, yes. Whatever. I believe you; I just don't want to see it!" Talax exclaimed in exasperation. He saw Vesperine about to say something to the enraged man, and he immediately cut in.

"You! Stop provoking him!" he commanded, and for some inexplicable reason, Vesperine seemed to relent. She raised her hands in surrender and murmured, "You are right, I shouldn't put him down; he is already low enough." She started giggling, and Walter glared at her, suspicious and bewildered.

"What did she say?" he demanded, but Talax was growing impatient and wanted to put an end to this argument.

"She says she apologizes for her behavior," Talax replied, trying to pacify the situation.

"Now you were saying? What did you find in that diary?" He redirected the conversation, eager to move on. Vesperine looked at him for a moment, but she finally relented.

"Just like the noble said. This path leads to the inner sanctum, hopefully where the item he wants to collect is located, and all of this will be over. This path is supposed to be the final test for the worshipper, until they are allowed to face their God. Although there isn't a God anymore," Vesperine explained. Talax listened to her words, and he felt his brows furrow in thought.

"Test? What test?" Talax feared that he would have to relive the experience of his trial, which wasn't a very pleasant prospect.

"These spirits that I fought. They are everywhere along the path. And the further we travel, the more we have to fight," the woman explained. Talax nodded in understanding, and she continued, "In the diary, it was mentioned that there is a way to appease the spirits to let you through, but it was a bit cagey about the details." She shrugged nonchalantly. "You saw how weak they were; all you have to do is infuse your attacks with some mana, and they go down pretty easily."

Talax wasn't entirely convinced that a fight with those beings would be easy for him, regardless of how much mana he used. Still, it was good to know. The spirits did resemble the dark wraiths he faced during his trial, although those appeared more substantial, as if they were the embodiment of darkness. In contrast, these spirits looked like faded ghosts, flimsy and transparent. Perhaps, though...

"Do those spirits have an affinity? I mean, did you sense a specific element of magic?" Vesperine shook her head, and Talax sighed in disappointment.

"I thought they could be dealt with like the wraiths from the dark trial." His words hung in the air for a moment, and Walter looked at him in stunned silence.

"Eh? Ye gotta face a trial, ye say? Ye lucky son of a bitch! Ye be luckier than a flea in a whorehouse!" Talax hummed noncommittally, as "lucky" wasn't a term he would use for himself.

"You also have dark magic puppy? I didn't see you use it when you fought with the salamanders." Talax nodded without answering. His dark magic was still new to him, and in the heat of the moment, he had forgotten his newest spell. He wasn't sure how useful it could have been, especially when fighting in the swampy water, but it might have potentially saved him from a world of pain.

Vesperine seemed intrigued and eyed him through her mask. “What other spells do you have?” Her question prompted him to inspect his core. It had been a while since he had checked his mana core. He hadn’t leveled up any of his skills recently and he had neglected checking his spells and abilities.

Water Magic, level 6

6% resistance to water magic

Clear water

Summons a small stream of clear blue water that is suitable for consumption.

Summon time: 1 second, spell duration: n/a, cooldown: n/a

Bubble of confusion

Summons a small bubble of water that causes the target confusion.

Summon time: 2 seconds, spell duration: 4 seconds, cooldown: 5 minutes

Fog of Mystica

Summons a fog that disorients the targets in an area 3mx3m

Summon time: 5 seconds, spell duration: 7 seconds, cooldown: 10 minutes

Slick

Your body is encased with a fine layer of water making it more difficult for your opponents to grab you.

Summon time: 2 seconds, spell duration: 10 minutes, cooldown: 15 minutes

Rejuvenating water

You are bathed with calming water that rejuvenates your body and makes physical exertion easier.

Summon time: 2 seconds, spell duration: 5 minutes, cooldown: 20 minutes

Earth magic, level 2

2% resistance to earth magic

Stone spike +5 attack

Summons a spike made from stone, it is extremely brittle but exceptionally sharp

Summon time: 1 second, spell duration: n/a, cooldown: 10 seconds

Dark magic, level 1

1% resistance to dark magic

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

Void magic, level 1

Weak void ball

Summons a small singularity that erases whatever comes across its path.

Summon time: 2 seconds, spell duration: n/a, cooldown: 5 minutes

His magic had proven to be much harder to train than his skills. Even though he used his spells during battle all the time, they had still to level up. What the fish woman had offered him turned out to be way more valuable than he had initially thought. The two gifts had let him sail over levels that he would have otherwise struggled to raise.

Seeing the purple planet at the center of his core reminded him that he had still to test the weak void ball spell. He had leveled up numerous times since he had last tested the spell, and his mana had more than doubled. Still, he was skeptical. When he had used the void spell, it had felt like an avaricious monster, incapable of being sated by the mana he could offer.

That feeling, however, could originate from the intrinsic nature of the void magic, whose only purpose was to devour everything. He decided that the moment he would be alone, he would test the spell. He felt an intense kinship with void magic. The feeling was different than the rest of the magic he possessed. It was like void magic was part of himself, while the other elements were something foreign. Something that didn't really belong to him.

Before he could answer, however, another round of shrieks alerted him to the incoming spirits.

Upon hearing the noise, Walter perked up. "Me lord? Is it my turn?" The older nobleman ignored him and addressed Callum, who was already clutching his bow. "Go."

At his command, the slender man surged forward, and small, round devices fell out of his pockets, blanketing the ground. They were metallic and looked like small, spiked balls with small protrusions that ended in hollow holes.

When the first spirit appeared, Callum didn't lose any time and immediately fired an arrow. The arrow sailed silently and impacted the spirit with a loud zit. The spirit seemed to convulse for a second, and its howls reached a crescendo before it exploded in a blue shower of dust.

More spirits appeared around Callum. The ones that manifested in front of the small objects he had tossed earlier were incinerated in white flames. They exploded in a flashy spectacle, and the concussive booms sent tongues of white flames to the nearest spirits, creating a repetitive loop.

The few creatures Callum had to actually fight were downed with specialized arrows. Talax watched in awe as a ghost froze solid and then crumbled to dust from a normal arrow. Another burst into flames with a fire arrow, and yet another was dispatched by an arrow that danced with electricity. Upon impact, it stunned all the spirits around it.

"Damn! I want one of those!" Talax whispered with naked desire. Vesperine, hearing his words, whispered back.

"I can steal some for you. He wouldn't even notice!" Talax gave it serious thought, but ultimately decided that some arrows weren't worth the wrath of the nobleman. Still, it was something to keep in mind.

With a shake of his head, Vesperine shrugged and waited patiently for the bowman to finish cleaning up the few remaining spirits. Behind him, Walter complained at Qalo for always missing the action, but the big half-orc remained silent. The big man had withdrawn to himself ever since they joined Franny's uncle and his companions. Talax couldn't blame him; they treated him like he was an animal. But he didn't know how to make the situation any better, maybe Qalo's approach was for the best.

"Finally," Vesperine muttered impatiently. "I was much faster."

"That you were," Talax conceded. The praise seemed to make the woman happy, as she hummed cheerfully.

"So, you didn't answer me," she brought back the earlier topic. Talax was a bit reluctant to share his personal details, but in the end, he didn't see any danger in doing so.

"I also have earth and water magic," he shared. The woman nodded, since she had already witnessed his spells in his earlier fight.

"You are a polymage," Talax looked at her, not understanding the term.

"It means you have an affinity for more than one element of magic."

"Right," he replied, though he wasn't sure he felt comfortable with where the conversation was going.

"Polymages are very valuable to the kingdom. Especially earth mages..." His discomfort level was increasing with her every word. The implications were disconcerting. If some city official learned about his magic, questions could be raised. Like how he had magic since he had been tested and found without any affinity for magic.

Even if he chalked up his newfound magical abilities to lucky encounters and revealed how the fish woman had gifted him with magic after helping her free her daughter, there was still the issue with Bene.

They had gone together to pass the magic test. If someone recognized him or made the connection with the old man, then it was probable he would be linked to his death. Maybe a polymage was more valuable than an old man, but he couldn't know for sure. His thoughts were interrupted when Vesperine spoke up.

"If the nobleman realizes you are a polymage, he will recruit you whether you like it or not. The moment you are out of the dungeon, you should take your beastly friend and flee to Foxwood." Talax was shocked by her response, he was expecting her to demand his obedience to the crown and his servitude to the kingdom. On the other hand, she was an assassin and a thief, so should he be surprised?

He nodded his assent to demonstrate he understood her and was about to question her about polymages when another round of shrieks assaulted them.

"Vesperine! Go!" Edward commanded. With the grumbled protests of Walter, Vesperine disappeared in a puff of smoke, ready to exterminate more ghosts.