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CYRUS
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Cy leveled his hand with Bookstacker's face.
> « Freeze » [₹1,300 // ₹10,000]
Bookstacker emitted a gust of wind, a shockwave of his own, to intercept the magic. For the first time, he looked at Cy with malice. “You’d try to freeze my blood, boy?” What? I never thought of—
A column of wind crushed Cy down to the ground. “The Maidens’ll still take you dead. At least he’ll still be alive. Farewell, urchin.”
> « Earth » [₹1,200 // ₹10,000]
A thin spike struck out of the ground at the mage. He evaded to the side.
“Oh my, so fierce. Seems your tricks won’t work against someone of a higher intellect than—”
> « Speed » [₹400 // ₹10,000]
The vines around Bookstacker's ankle ensnared him tightly and then slung him up high into the canopy of the old growth forest, out of sight. THUD! The Mage crashed back down to the ground. The tension of the vines lifted the man back up, so he hung upside down by one ankle. Unconscious, his other leg and both arms dangled down.
During the fight, Cy had gathered pieces of vine near the trap, and then fused them together by freezing the water drenched from his whips. Everything else was just a distraction to buy time. For someone who looked down on deceit and traps, he certainly fell for one easily enough. Still, I don’t know if I could have taken him in combat at full strength, and I don't know if that says more about me or him.
Cy limped back over to where he’d left Jules—or Jules’ body. Black flames still shrouded the demon, though to a lesser degree. It had crushed through the Hydromage platoon and converged on the Shrine. Cy’s hair stood up on edge. Gonna go out on a limb here and say that Jules should absolutely not reach that Shrine. Cy looked back to Bookstacker. Ha, limb. The Archers released another flurry of black mist arrows, this time to a lesser effect. Is he adapting to their—
Oh, Salvos dammit.
A man emerged from the woods, the Master Druid from yesterday’s Fall Ceremony. He descended the hill towards Jules, his eyes and new Tome shining brightly, with a menagerie of beasts. Stags, wolves, some kappas, even two bears. The animals, beasts, and Cy all rushed to Jules.
Battle fatigue crept into Cy’s heart—he was weary beyond just his physical limitations. Jules, what do I do? I can’t keep going like this, and they're too fast.
The beasts and another wave of Hydromages locked Jules in position for close quarters combat. A suicide mission that won’t last long. Why are they still—
"Master Fin Rivers!" a Naval Commanding Officer shouted. He stood beside the Shrine's veil. “I shift command to you and the Hydromages. Take control of this beast, that we may subdue the other.”
The officer put his hand to the shimmering surface of the Shrine and invoked a Rune that Cy couldn’t translate. Remember the sound of that one, could be important later. The man stepped forward into the Shrine, and one second later a colossal monster emerged—a humanoid beast forged from trees and moss and vines, with the face of a stag and gigantic antlers. Great, a Leshen.
It immediately attacked the Hydromages closest to it. It thrust several men through the air like playthings. Was this the thing chucking people earlier? The poor Soldiers were now pinched between two monsters who mowed them down. Still, Cy trudged forward to Jules.
Jules… Liam…
Jules dodged charges from the lesser beasts and grabbed the animals by their throats. It slammed them into their comrades and Hydromages alike. He kept the bear at bay while he dealt with the smaller animals of larger numbers. Anything that came too close was met with streams of black flames from his hands.
Arrows laced in at both threats now, but Jules' Regeneration appeared to accelerate. The Druid relinquished his control on the beasts, and several ran away. Oh no, he's shifting control to the Leshen with his new Tome…
> « « « ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? » » »
Golden light exploded from the Druid, and the Tome emitted a shockwave that blew Cy's hair all over his face. It’ll be a battle of the minds. If he takes control of that Leshen, he’ll be Jules’ biggest threat.
The Leshen stopped its assault and stared at the Druid, then approached him. Jules swiped wildly at everything around him, and one blow connected with the monster, which howled at the sky. They halted their attacks and locked eyes, and Soldiers took their opportunity to flee for cover.
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“AH. THERE YOU ARE, MY OLD FRIEND.”
Is Jules speaking to the Leshen!? Its black eyes turned gold, just like the Druid's. Shit, he gained control. The monsters engaged each other. Jules reached for an antler, but the Leshen threw him to the ground. Oh Jules. What did we get ourselves into? The fox purred nearby Cy.
Jules launched a stream of black flames at one of the Leshen’s arms and burned it away. Vines shot down from the canopy and out of the surrounding trees. They weaved into the severed arm and restored it. It can Regenerate!? Shit. Fuck.
Cy knew what he’d have to do. He took a deep breath. I’ll never be an Alter now.
The Leshen controlled vines and earth alike and grabbed onto Jules’ limbs and torso to imprison his legs in earth and stone. Jules flailed at the assault, breaking one body part free at the expense of two more. He burned the surrounding earth with black flames to break free.
Your flames are dying out. Jules—or whoever that is—is losing this fight.
Cy faced the Druid.
The Master knelt with his eyes closed. Struggling to control the Leshen...
Cy thought he'd vomit at what he was about to do.
So long, Coralhaven. Goodbye, Alters. Farewell…humanity.
> « Ice » [₹250 // ₹10,000]
Cy formed one last ice shard above his head; his focus and intent had formed a perfect point at the shard’s tip, in sharp contrast to his usual rugged formations. Cy closed his eyes.
“Mother, Father. Wherever you are, I’m sorry. I am so sorry.”
He opened his eyes, focused on his target, and launched his ice shard at the Druid’s skull. The projectile accelerated with intense speed, but Cy watched it in slow motion.
Halfway there, it slowed down even more. Cy stood there, disappointed in himself, in his decision to end the man’s life. Is this what happens when you kill someone? Everything slows down? I always thought it’d be the opposite.
Each moment passed more slowly than the previous one, until eventually the kill-shot froze in place, just feet away from the Druid’s temple. Cy blinked. What the hell? He looked around. Even the Leshen and Jules were frozen in place, though Jules lied down on the ground. Dead again? Jules' black flames quickly receded. Cy tried to move but couldn’t. All he could do was breathe and move his eyes.
The white fox ran over to Jules’ limp, steaming body and licked his face. It looked over to Cy for help. Cy struggled to move and was finally freed. He looked back over at the ice shard, still locked in place.
“Thank Salvos.” He rushed over to Jules and the fox. Jules’ body was still hot from the black flames, but Cy ripped arrows out of his body, anyway. “So much for morbid curiosity, eh?” Jules’ numerous injuries stitched themselves together at a speed quicker than any medicine Cy’d ever seen. Wish I had that power right now.
He ripped vines off Jules to free his legs from the dirt and stones surrounding them. He wrapped Jules around his shoulder and lugged him away from the Leshen and toward the Druid. Cy nudged the midair shard with all his might, and eventually he moved its path away from its intended target. "Until next time, Master Fin Rivers."
Cy glanced around one last time to make sure everyone—and everything—was still frozen. Then he carried Jules away with the fox close behind. As he hobbled through the woods, he reunited with Bookstacker, who still hung upside down, with neither dignity nor consciousness. His shirt was slightly untucked from the back. Why not?
Cy ripped the shirt out so it flapped down and revealed the Scholar’s back. Cy laughed.
“Look Jules—No Trophy. That’s why he didn’t want to show us.” Cy looked off into the distance and saw the Warg beyond the edge of the battle. Even it was frozen in place, though its eyes were locked on Cy. Or is it staring at Jules?
Cy looked around for Liam—for he thought who else could have saved them—but saw nothing but carnage.
“Come on Jules, Fox. Let’s go home.”
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JULES
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Jules stood in the threshold of a door and faced the desert sun.
I’ve never been here before. Is this another dream?
He looked around slowly at the adobe home, at the smooth and weathered sandstone that made its walls. The wind whistled and swirled sand around. The landscape shifted as one sand dune receded and another formed. A pink flower bloomed on a cactus outside by a sun-rotted wooden fence. Massive thunderclouds spat lightning and rain to the north. The storm was headed straight to him. Arid heat and the sun’s rays beat down on him and warmed him inside his clothes.
Wait—What the hell am I wearing?
Thick black robes with a golden embroidery protected Jules from the harsh climate. He studied his hands, which were much tanner and smoother than he remembered.
“Are you OK?” a timid voice asked from behind.
Jules jumped, startled as they’d been so silent the last few minutes. He didn’t recognize the three people who sat at the small table. A man, a woman, and a child, who was surely their daughter, looked at him cautiously. They were not dressed nearly as nicely as Jules, but he had the sense that they at least recognized him.
“What…Where am I? And who are you three?” Jules asked. The man and woman glanced at each other.
Concern—No, they look terrified. Of me? How’d I even get here? What's the last thing I remember?
Jules swallowed nervously—his dry and raw throat itched. I need water. Now. Used to having water everywhere. I’m not fit for the desert.
Y-you’re safe. With us.” The man stammered as he spoke. “You must have had those dreams again. Did you…see him again?”
How do you know about my dreams? The man recoiled from Jules’ intense stare.
“Ah, it’s us! Mama, Papa. Even your sister.” The man shot from his seat and kneeled down before Jules and pleaded through stammers. “Please forgive me, for bringing it up. I just wish you well—We all do.”
The father gazed at the floor. What the hell?
“Please, Sir, get up—” Jules tried to speak, but his throat was so parched he thought it’d rip. He looked around desperately. “Water. Where?” The man lifted his gaze to Jules, surprised. Cotton filled his mouth. The surface of his tongue felt like it ripped each time he moved it around in his mouth.
“Water,” he gasped. The man pointed outside with a shaky finger. Jules fled in that direction. He lost his balance and thought he’d hyperventilate. Haze filled his vision. A shaded trough sat along the fence line. He stumbled over toward it, shoved the drinking camels out of the way, and plunged his face into the vile water. After several deep gulps and coughing fits, he lifted his head up to the desert sky. Cool water streamed down his face, onto his clothes. He felt the weight of his long, wet hair. Wait…
Frantically, Jules gazed down at the rippling water’s reflection and saw an unfamiliar face come into focus. It was tanned, with dark gray eyes and long black hair. The face was poised and well manicured. It was the face of a noble child who'd never be caught dead kneeling, soaked before a beast of burden's trough.
“Who are you?” The reflection danced on the water and fizzled away. A tarantula lowered down right in front of Jules' face. One eye was missing, but the other seven glared at Jules.
He jumped back in disgust. The dizziness of dehydration returned. Jules felt a whirlwind around him and struggled to keep his balance before he collapsed and passed out.
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