Mage

by L. J. Swallow

  "Why didn't you tell us the reason? We all thought you were just being an dickhead. You could've been badly hurt."

  He rests his chin on my head. "I didn't want the elves to know."

  "I think they're on our side."

  "I don't trust anybody, El." He pulls away. "Apart from you and our merry gang."

  "Even Zara?"

  He shrugs. “Yeah, but I’m worried about where she is. She could be in trouble."

  "From what I saw, she was about to have fun with a girl she met."

  "Huh. Hopefully. When we get back to town, she’ll be there."

  "We can't go back to that town; not after tonight’s fun and games."

  "True." Jay takes my hand and presses it between both of his; enclosing them as if he’s wrapping me in his safety. "I think it's funny that you're the group leader."

  "What? I'm not."

  "You must be. We've had quests to bring you things; you're the one Ethan approached and now your quest for this potion. At first, I worried you'd have a nervous breakdown the first time you got hurt, but right from our meeting with Skip you were braver than I expected."

  I ignore his slightly backhanded compliment. "I thought Zara was the boss? She behaves like she is."

  "Yeah? She skipped out on us as soon as she found a good time."

  I smile. "I expected that person to be you."

  "Me?" He looks back with genuine shock. "I'm fully focused on getting the hell out of here, you know that."

  "I guess. It’s just that guys who look like you often look for um… fun and a good time.”

  "Are you judging me, El? I’m surprised that you stereotype people.”

  "No, I don't know you, really. Not the real Jay."

  "I'm mostly the same one from my real life. Maybe we can meet up once we're out of this hellhole?"

  "Are you asking me out on a date, Jay?"

  The situation's ridiculousness tickles me and I chuckle. I'm sitting in the middle of an Elven glade, attempting to progress through a game filled with creatures I'd rather not meet, and a guy who's the opposite to the types who usually hit on me is asking me to meet up.

  "Unless Aidan would be upset if you went on a date with me.”

  I look over my shoulder where Aidan sits beside Dean, drinking. Again. "Aidan? He's just..." What is he? A friend? More than?

  "In love with you?" asks Jay with a raised brow. “How about Dean? You seem to have bonded to him quickly.”

  In my current situation, three men surround me. They work with me and for me and not just when quests ask them to bring me precious gems. Somehow, I've become the lynchpin of the group and I have mixed feelings about that. I love that they look to me to guide them, but it's a role I'm unused to.

  As Jay’s fragile sense of self is challenged over his wearing a 'dress', I'm challenged to take on a role I would rather not have. Each hour that passes, I also become aware I’m given the opportunity to take on any persona I choose.

  Is this part of the game's purpose? Do we need to grow and accept a different self we hide from?

  Because if we do, Aidan's future as a trigger-happy, angry demon in the Dryad village worries me.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  I don't remember falling asleep last night, but I wake with my wristband flashing a countdown timer. 6:00... 5.59...

  Looks like I have a finite amount of time to find the Grove of Tranquil Waters and make my potion.

  Hours trudging through the woods later, my band’s timer now reads 2:22 and I'm disorientated in the middle of the Dryad realm. I nudge Dean as we pass a large tree, boughs bowing under the weight of purple blossom. Beside it, small trees are overshadowed by the larger ones and their growth stunted. The whole area looks the same as if the trees’ placement has been repeated over and over.

  "That's the third tree like that we've passed. Is it the same one? Are they leading us in circles?"

  The three elves from the town last night lead the way and this time with no horses. Jay muttered something about the lack of in-game transport at first, but as his band pings with experience points for each hour he walks, his whining stops.

  Aidan walks beside Faren, who’s in animal form. Aidan remained quiet since we arrived and avoided interacting with the elves. They're not keen on him, either. For a guy everybody likes in his real world, who helps anybody who needs him, and is sensitive to friends’ feelings, this must be tough. The gentle guy could spawn into a demon at any time—that’s scarier than fire randomly conjured when I'm attacked.

  "Perhaps." Dean hitches my backpack on his left shoulder; his is on the right. Dean took over when he noticed how my pack slowed me down. Today my pack felt full of rocks, even though it contains little.

  I indicate my wristband. "There're less than three hours, and the dryads said the location was half a day's walk. We're cutting this close."

  He rubs my arm. "Everything will be okay. We got this."

  I smile weakly. I hope so. I tiptoe and peer into my pack. The Tears of the Sky and Dawn are tucked into a belted pocket and my spirits sink. Earlier, the flowers wilted and now they're shrivelling.

  This must be why I have a timer.

  I hurry to the front of the group and look to Arahan. "How far now?"

  He doesn't wear a mask today and he'd look normal if it weren't for the freakish marks on all his visible skin. The slender elf carries a bow over his shoulder, the second a set of knives I'm sure Dean would love. Faren pads along, huge paws leaving dents in the ground and his large canines glinting. No weapon needed by him.

  "I think once the sun reaches its peak."

  "How long is that?"

  Loran looks at me with curiosity. "I don't understand the question."

  I lift my band to show him the timer, but his look remains blank, as if he can't see the screen. "You have unusual but beautiful jewellery, Eleanor."

  I take a deep breath. Time doesn't exist here, save the rise and setting of the sun. "I need to be at the location by the time the sun reaches its peak."

  "And we shall."

  I take longer strides to match his. At least he's not dawdling. "You mentioned Ethan. Do you know him?"

  Loran continues to stare forward. "Sometimes adventurers mention him. I know not who he is. All I know is that they are desperate to please him."

  "Did they visit you to make the potion too?" I ask.

  "Some. Others never make it from my village to the Grove."

  My mouth dries. I'm not the first to follow this quest line? "Has an adventurer created the potion before?"

  "Arahan." Loran points and Arahan nods. We veer to a new path, towards the west.

  "Have they?" I repeat.

  He looks around, his bright eyes searching mine. "Do you know other adventurers?"

  "No."

  He hitches his quiver against his back. "Then you don't know what happens to them?"

  Loran’s words aren't a request for information—he has the information. "Do you?"

  He shakes his head. "No. I help them to the Grove. After that, I never see them again."

  I'm unaware how much I slow at his words until Jay reaches my shoulder. "What did he say to you? You're pale. Are we facing some monsters?"

  I step to one side and pull him to where Dean walks too. "Go to Aidan."

  The black cat watches as I head over and lower my voice to tell them my theory.

  "Others have tried and failed," says Dean in a flat voice. "That's what he means, isn't it?"

  "Makes sense," puts in Aidan. "Not everybody can reach max level."

  Jay nods. "Maybe he means they move on to a new zone. I've moved up two levels since yesterday. Surely once we reach level 20, it will be time to quest somewhere else?"

  "What?" I check my band. I've been so focused on the potion and elves, I’ve not noticed that I have too. Why wouldn't I hear the levelling sound?

  I chew my lip. Either could be right. My head spins at the idea this is a warped quest by the game and Ethan isn'
t the answer to who we are. I rub my temples. "We can't stop, whatever the reason."

  "Hush." Arahan holds up a hand and we halt. Loran crouches down and touches the ground, closing his eyes as he does. "Are they close?"

  Faren growls and slinks away, into a denser part of the woods.

  "Great," mutters Jay. "Of course, something will attack."

  I back up, the three of us close together as something thunders towards us from the trees. My arm tingles in preparation and I glance at Dean as he melds into the shadows, hands on his blades. Jay straightens. "We need Zara."

  "We'll be fine." I nod at Loran, also in battle stance, and Arahan with an arrow notched and ready to fire.

  Grass kicks into the air from behind the trees as creatures emerge, galloping towards us. I've barely time to take in the animals' beauty before one lunges at me with its singular, golden horn.

  In a reflex action, I cast a fire barrier around me and Jay beside me. Through the flames, a beast with shining white fur and a mane striped by rainbow colours rears on its hind legs. The horn catches the sunlight and the point glints. A point that looks as sharp as the blade Loran brandishes beside me.

  "Am I hallucinating or are we being attacked by fucking unicorns?" comes Jay's incredulous voice.

  "The game developers have a weird sense of humour."

  "As well as being sadistic bastards." He nods as the unicorn charges at Loran. The elf shouts out in Elvish as the creature's horn gores his leg. Three arrows whistle through the air, one after another, as Arahan launches them into the unicorn’s haunches.

  My heart reaches my mouth as Dean steps out from behind a tree and sneaks behind the whinnying creature, blades drawn.

  "Dean!" I call as a second appears and rushes him. He spins around and dodges before blending into the shadows.

  "Heal Loran," I shout at Jay and draw my hands back, ready to cast. Jay steps from my fire barrier and the unicorn turns its head, the glowing red eyes at odds with the beautiful mane filled with sunlight.

  My fireball hits the creature square in the back and another arrow hits too. It sinks to the floor on its knees and an inhuman noise escapes its mouth.

  "El, there're more," calls Jay, now crouched by a pale Loran, his hand over the bleeding elf's leg.

  I jerk my head around as the thundering sound grows, and a pack of unicorns emerges from the trees. They instantly turn their attention to Aidan, who raises both hands high in the air. I do the same, calling down a pillar of fire from the sky. Several are caught in the blaze, remains charring instantly at our feet.

  Still the unicorns move to Aidan.

  “Don’t change!” I shout out. “Please.”

  He closes his eyes and says through gritted teeth. “I need to.”

  “Not here. If you step out of line, the elves will kill you.”

  “Too late,” says Dean.

  The unicorns rear up, their high-pitched neigh echoing upwards and through the trees. A panther-like shape emerges from behind a wide trunk and jumps higher than is surely possible. The unicorn lifts its head and I cringe back as the sharp horn heads towards Faren’s chest.

  Aidan leaps forward several feet and he reaches out to grab the unicorn’s horn before it has a chance to impale Faren. Green blood spurts from the huge hand as he lifts the unicorn into the air by the horn, then flings it into the pack. The broken body lands at the feet of another with arrows protruding from its flanks. With a shriek, the animal lifts its head then drops it to the floor, eyes closing.

  I sink to the floor and drag trembling hands through my hair, relieved to watch the uninjured unicorns turn and gallop back into the woods. I’m hit by an exhaustion I haven't felt since the day we found Aidan in the dungeon. I can't look at him because the revulsion I feel at seeing his form never leaves.

  Dean's blades are covered in the same purple blood as oozes from the wounds of the dead unicorns. Aidan collapses backwards and returns to his human form.

  Loran’s stoic expression on his pale face hides the pain he must feel as his sweat sheens on his brow.

  "Where did they come from?" asks Jay.

  "They sensed him." Arahan sits with his damaged bow beside him and points an arrow in his hand towards Aidan. "His evil triggered this reaction."

  "I'm not evil," he protests.

  "You transform into a creature of nightmare. Your foul magic surrounds you and permeates through our land." Faren emerges from behind a tree, back in his elven form. "Dorianna should never have let you into our sanctuary."

  "Aidan just saved lives," I say and stand, resting my hand on the trunk. “Your life.”

  "Lives threatened because of him." Arahan nods at us. "Every time, Loran. We should know better than to help adventurers who bring trouble to our brethren."

  "It is written that we must." Loran hauls himself upwards.

  "Written where?" asks Dean. He pulls a rag from his backpack and wipes at his blade.

  "In the old books."

  I glance at Dean as we take in his vague answer.

  "We have lost count of how many, but this needs to end," growls Faren. "What if these adventurers are the ones who are responsible for our race’s death?"

  Three pairs of Elven eyes fixate on Aidan, who pulls his knees to his chest and buries his face in them, swearing.

  "He helped you!" I say and stand. "We all did."

  "You caused this," snarls Faren. "I will have nothing more to do with strangers. Loran? Arahan?"

  My band beeps and flashes to indicate another hour has passed and I break out into a sweat. "No. You need to help us. I need to find the Grove."

  Loran jerks his chin. "I can no longer walk that far, and Faren doesn't want to."

  "Arahan?"

  He shakes his head. "I should stay too."

  "No!" I don't mean for the word to sound anguished but the desperation in my tone is clear.

  Only one elf—Arahan—looks at me with sympathy. “Believe me, traveller, if one of us dies and the priestess discovers you didn’t protect us, then your life will be forfeit too."

  "Then we stick with you," I protest. "We wait or accompany you home."

  "El," urges Jay. "We can't do that. We're running out of time."

  "What if something else happens?" I hiss. "We would be blamed."

  I glance at Aidan still in his anguished pose.

  "I can stay?" suggests Dean. "Meet me back here when you're done, and we will all accompany the elves back to their village."

  I shake my head. "No. We already lost Zara. I'm not losing you too."

  "I won't move from here. I promise."

  The elves remain impassive and I look to Jay, who shrugs. "Dean could stay and protect the injured and Arahan could show us the way."

  My tingling senses tell me this is a bad idea, but the timer ticks down. I need to make this potion. Something rooted deep inside drives me to this. I can't catch the thought which gnaws at the edge of my consciousness. I know why I need to, but I can't remember.

  And that need overrides everything.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Aidan is as reluctant to leave as he is to stay. As is Arahan. Dean's injury would have slowed us down as we now gather pace. Arahan made it clear he'll show us where to go and then leave. He's taciturn and on high alert, stopping and listening closely at every unusual sound.

  My bloody band decides to start chiming every five minutes as we move into the final hour.

  "We'll make it," whispers Aidan. These are the first words he's spoken since we left. "I'm sorry I fucked things up."

  "You didn't. You did nothing."

  He rubs at a patch on his hand where a green hue remains, the skin still rough from the toughening. "Apparently my mere presence fucks things up. I'm beginning to think I shouldn't be here."

  "None of us should be here."

  "No. With the group."

  I shove his shoulder to get him to shift his attention from the ground to me. "Of course, you're part of the group. Don't sa
y that."

  "I wasn't at first, was I?"

  "What does that matter?"

  "You're all 'good guys'. I'm not."

  I don't want to stop, but I need to. "Aidan. You belong with us. I hope you're not thinking about leaving."

  His silence answers my question. "No, Aidan," I say firmly. "Don't you dare. We stick together. We get the fuck out of this place together."

  Jay glances back. "What's happening?"

  "He wants to leave."

  "Don't be a dumb fucker," retorts Jay and continues tromping on.

  I pull Aidan's sleeve and start walking again. "Don't fall into the trap. This could be game mechanics screwing with us. We lost Zara, now you're threatening to leave and... Shit!"

  I spin around and stare back along the path we've cut through the woods. Dean.

  "We left him!" I rake both hands into my hair. "This is wrong."

  My band chimes again and a ticking joins the numbers now counting down seconds. 0:14:59.

  "What is happening?" snaps Arahan. "We're almost there. Don't tarry."

  I wipe a hand across my mouth, tears pricking my eyes at the indecision. "Help me, Jay. Aidan. What should we do?"

  Jay strides ahead. "I'm not coming this far and turning back now. I'm not leaving without the potion, El."

  "This is about the group, Jay," I whisper. "I'm sure somebody wants to split us sup.” I stomp forward. Pause. Stomp back. "What if something happens to Dean while we're gone?"

  "What does it matter?" asks Jay.

  "Pardon?" I retort.

  "If he dies, he'll be back. I came back."

  "I don't want him getting hurt," I blurt. "Any of you."

  "I knew you had a thing for him," says Aidan. "Though I didn't think he's your type."

  "My type? You mean a Black Brotherhood assassin? Maybe I should prefer the demon-shifting warlock? Or the priest who refuses to wear a robe?”

  "El, calm down," urges Jay. "Aidan, stop being a dick. Who El wants isn't relevant right now.”

  Wants?

  "Why? Because you told me you’re interested?” asks Aidan with a snort.