Awaken Online: Inferno (Tarot #3)

by Travis Bagwell

  The first step had been to weaken them and replenish his mana.

  Finn spared a glance at the UI in the corner of his vision. It was at 75% again.

  Which meant it was time to finish this.

  The fingers of his right hand began to move as he cast another spell, and an incantation drifted from his lips even as flames began to encircle his body. Finn poured energy into the spell, his mana pool dropping rapidly, and the fires around him flared forcefully.

  His opponents were shifting course now. They sensed the threat and saw the flames building around Finn. They were beginning to charge, the blue spheres that marked their presence barreling toward him. But they were moving slowly. Far too slowly.

  Far too late…

  Finn finished casting his Fire Nova.

  A ring of flame rocketed away from him like a slow-moving avalanche, his pent-up mana spreading outward in a devastating wave of fire that surged and crackled with power. The flames jetted nearly ten feet into the air and were so dense that his sight couldn’t fully penetrate the energy. The fire pushed through the room in slow motion. His opponents tried to backpedal and avoid the energy, but there was nowhere for them to go. The nova soon consumed them, burning through their bodies with abandon. The Khamsin came to a standstill, their outlines flaring with orange and red energy as they tried desperately to absorb the mana and prevent it from burning them alive.

  Their bodies writhed and twisted as they tried to contain the energy. Finn knew firsthand how painful the absorption could be. He also knew it had limits. Julia had spent considerable time building up her tolerance – which had enabled her to use her shield and the heavy metal armor that Finn had formed for her back in the Abyss.

  These Khamsin hadn’t had such extensive training.

  They were flaming fish in a barrel.

  “10 seconds!” Daniel barked.

  More than enough time.

  As soon as the nova completed, Finn was moving. He dashed through the room, making a beeline for the closest of the Khamsin. This next part would require some finesse. The flames of the Fire Nova held his opponents trapped, but it also made it impossible for Finn to harm them since their bodies were temporarily converted to flame.

  But he had a solution for that.

  He absorbed the flames around his opponent, his bladed arm winking forward in a flash. As soon as the man’s body regained its normal weight and heft, Finn’s blade cut through the tendons in the back of his legs. The Khamsin dropped to the ground with a grunt of pain. But Finn had already moved on. He absorbed and cut with surgical precision – ignoring the burning fire that coursed through his veins.

  Only a few seconds later, the Fire Nova finally struck the far wall of the chamber. The flames rocketed upward, rippling and steaming in the frigid air and reheating the room. Finn once again stood in the center of the chamber. His skin was awash in fire, and fresh blood dripped from his bladed left arm. Four bodies lay along the floor, the dirt around them stained bright crimson. Streamers of smoke curled from their singed clothing.

  Finn finally dropped Haste, wavering in place as the burning sensation receded. The world lurched back to normal speed, and the flames of the nova dissipated harmlessly against the cavern’s ceiling.

  He kept a watchful eye on the Khamsin, but none of them made any move to rise. In fact, they knelt facing Finn. An instant later, Finn’s Short-Sighted reactivated, and he could see that each of his opponents held a fist to their chest, their heads bowed.

  Finn heard a thump echo through the cavern, and he followed the noise. With the danger neutralized and a blue haze now coating his vision, Finn saw lights suddenly illuminate the chamber, confirming that a terrace ringed the room above him. Dozens of Khamsin lined that ledge, watching the conflict in the pit. Finn hesitated as he saw Julia and Kyyle standing beside Aerys and a group of men and women Finn didn’t recognize. His companions were alive and well – although the Khamsin that flanked them looked more like guards than friendly acquaintances.

  The thumping sound had come from Aerys as she pounded her fist to her chest. This sound was repeated throughout the silent chamber as the rest of the Khamsin followed her lead, each man and woman making the same gesture. He’d seen Julia do the same when she met Aerys. It was a greeting shared among the desert folk – an acknowledgment of one of their own.

  “Can there be any further doubt?” Aerys’ voice rang out. “We are in the presence of the Prophet. The Flame Eater. The Najmat Alhidad.”

  As she spoke those final words, the other Khamsin picked up Finn’s title, creating a rhythmic chant that echoed off the walls and rebounded endlessly through the cavern. And through it all, Finn stood there, bathed in flame, his chest heaving, and each breath causing a mist of vapor to form in the still-chill air of the cavern.

  It seemed he had passed the test.

  Chapter 3 - Reunion

  “Maerakat mujayda.”

  One-by-one, each of the four men that Finn had faced murmured those words, struck a fist to their chest, and then headed for a narrow passageway carved into the side of the arena. Despite the thick silks that covered their faces, their eyes and body language were clear – they belied no animosity.

  Finn wasn’t certain how to react to that. Those four had tried to kill him only moments before – or, at least, it certainly didn’t feel like they had been holding back. The burning furrows carved into his skin were painful evidence of that. The wounds were only just beginning to piece themselves back together as his natural health regeneration kicked in.

  “It means glorious battle,” Julia said. Finn turned to find his daughter standing behind him with Kyyle at her side. Even with Short-Sighted re-enabled, Finn had difficulty deciphering the expression on Julia’s face – worry and respect warring for dominance. “You seem to have impressed many of the Khamsin.”

  “No kidding,” Kyyle offered with a lopsided grin. “Even for you, that was a… uh, remarkable show you put on. I take it you discovered yet another new trick – at least if the subzero temperatures in the ring were anything to go by. You’re going to give me the details, right?”

  Finn frowned at that comment, his eyes flitting to a small red notification that had popped up in the corner of his vision after the battle.

  System Notice: Infection Status

  Continued spellcasting has caused the magical infection that afflicts your body to spread.

  Current Contamination: 18%

  Intact Najima: 5/6

  Stat Loss: -10%

  That Mana Absorption trick and the rest of his spellcasting had clearly come with a cost, and the simmering ache in his arm had grown more insistent. Although, he’d had little choice but to defend himself. At least the infection hadn’t yet spread to another Najima. Either way, he was going to need to be sparing with his casting from here on out.

  Finn discreetly swiped aside the notification. For now, he was going to play this newfound liability close to the chest. He didn’t want to worry his companions – or alert the Khamsin that he was suffering from another hidden weakness.

  They likely had enough problems already.

  Kyyle was still watching him expectantly. “I’ll be happy to share the details, but this might not be the best time,” Finn replied softly, with a subtle gesture at the Khamsin that still lingered along the terrace that ringed the arena. This earned him a grimace and nod from Kyyle. They still had an audience.

  Finn’s eyes skimmed to Aerys, where she was approaching behind his teammates. More Khamsin filtered into the pit behind her. The robed figures took up positions along the edge of the arena, their eyes focused on Finn, and their hands hidden by the thick cloth that wrapped their bodies. No doubt, their fingers were lingering along the hilts of their knives.

  They look like guards. The question was whether they were guarding Finn or the other desert folk? His money was on the latter.

  He might have passed the Khamsin’s test, but that clearly didn’t mean Finn and his teammates were f
ully trusted yet. He suspected the Khamsin had been holding his teammates until he had proven himself. The frown creasing Julia’s lips and the meaningful glance she shot Aerys seemed to confirm that suspicion.

  “I take it there was some purpose behind attacking a blind and crippled old man?” Finn demanded, meeting Aerys’ gaze. “Or at least I’m hoping you had a damn good reason for this public spectacle.” He waved at the terrace, where the crowd of desert folk was only just beginning to dissipate.

  “I’m not certain I’d use either blind or crippled to describe you,” Aerys replied in a dry voice. “You made short work of our fighters – and those were veterans of our clan.”

  The Khamsin leader sighed. “Besides, this was necessary. A demonstration – to placate the other clan leaders. There were those who didn’t believe you were the Najmat Alhidad,” Aerys explained. “Although, your performance managed to quiet many wagging tongues.”

  Seems I was right, Finn thought, irritation simmering in his veins. That had been a test then. A bit more intense than his other job applications, but he supposed the Khamsin’s process was at least efficient.

  Finn arched an eyebrow at Aerys. “Was blowing up the Abyss not enough? There were dozens of witnesses.”

  “You would think,” Julia grumbled, shooting Aerys a scathing glance. “Or how about me? I was already a clan member, yet you still took my weapons and placed me under armed guard.”

  Aerys shrugged, unperturbed by the way the group was glaring at her. “We couldn’t have you ruining the trial by trying to spring Finn early. Or are you suggesting that you would have just stayed put?” This earned her a snort from Julia.

  The Khamsin leader turned back to Finn. “Besides, I have found that words often lack the weight of action. Between the witnesses vouching for you at the Abyss and your performance here, there can no longer be any room for doubt. The other clan leaders in attendance had no choice but to allow you and your companions to be inducted into our clan, and word of your accomplishments will only spread.

  “In fact, you have greatly enhanced our clan’s reputation,” Aerys continued, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. “By the time they were leaving the arena, many of the other leaders were grumbling that it wasn’t fair for us to keep the prophet and his companions for ourselves.”

  “You’re welcome,” Finn replied in a sardonic tone, watching Aerys closely. From the gleam in her eye, he suspected that her motives hadn’t been entirely altruistic. That little demonstration had likely been designed more to bolster her own reputation among the clans than to help Finn. Inducting the Najmat Alhidad into her clan likely came with a few perks.

  It seemed that he was being used… again.

  Finn hadn’t missed how several of the Khamsin on the terrace still lingered. In particular, an older man remained, flanked by others dressed head-to-toe in thick cloth. The man’s eyes never wavered from Finn’s face, and his expression gave away nothing. Yet something about the look in his eye – or perhaps his presence – spoke of a quiet power. Or maybe it was the way the usual zealous worship was missing from his face.

  “It doesn’t seem that you convinced everyone,” Finn said, gesturing at the older man on the terrace. “Friend of yours?”

  Aerys’ grin disappeared in a flash. She and the older Khamsin shared a curt nod before he turned on his heel and made his way out of the cavern. “People respond to conflict in different ways. For some, they cling to hope – a messiah. For others, all they know is hate and anger, using it to push themselves forward,” she said in a low voice.

  The woman waved a dismissive hand, her attention skimming back to Finn. “However, it’s a moot point now. You’ve earned the protection of our clan, and the majority have conceded that you are the Najmat Alhidad. Even the naysayers have no choice but to follow the herd or risk the loss of their protection.”

  Finn raised a skeptical eyebrow as he watched the older man’s retreating form. From his expression, Finn doubted this conflict was truly over – only delayed.

  Although, there was little he could do about that at present.

  Finn let out a sigh, and his eyes skimmed the group. A frown tugged at his lips. “Where’s Abbad? Wasn’t he with us when we escaped Lahab?”

  Kyyle winced. “It seems there are some hard feelings between the Khamsin and the mages… for obvious reasons,” he offered tactfully, glancing at Aerys.

  “What he means to say is that they locked Abbad up in one of the holding cells,” Julia added, a note of irritation coloring her voice. “They’ve posted at least five guards on that cell, even though he’s made no attempt to resist, and we were clear that he was the only reason we made it out of Lahab alive.”

  Aerys shot Julia an alarmed look, her eyes widening slightly. “How did you—”

  “Trust runs both ways,” Finn’s daughter retorted with a smirk. “Let’s just say I took a few field trips while no one was looking. If you had harmed Finn, we would have sprung our people and burned this place to the ground.”

  “Well… then I’m glad it didn’t come to that,” Aerys answered slowly. Tension had entered her voice, and she was side-eyeing the guards that lingered around them. It seemed that Julia must have slipped her shackles in Finn’s absence.

  “It looks like I’ve missed a lot,” Finn interrupted, trying to calm the situation. There was no sense in fighting. If they were to have any chance of killing Bilel, they were going to need each other’s help. Although, he was beginning to realize that might be like herding cats…

  His daughter rubbed at her eyes, letting out a sigh. “That may be the understatement of the year. Honestly, this demonstration and our temporary incarceration are just the tip of the shit iceberg. You’ve been gone for a few days in-game. Things… haven’t been going so well.”

  Aerys nodded. “Yes, there’s much we need to discuss, but perhaps this isn’t the best place to do so. Too many prying ears. I suggest we move to more private accommodations.”

  “Certainly,” Finn replied with a nod. Frankly, he was looking forward to being out of the limelight for a while. However, he paused as a thought occurred to him. “Although, we’ll need the librarian. Have your people bring Abbad from his cell.”

  “I don’t think—” Aerys began.

  “I wasn’t asking,” Finn snapped, the metal embedded in his eyes flaring with a pulse of flame.

  His patience had already been worn thin. Between the burning ache in his left arm, the scripted deathmatch he’d been forced to participate in, and the imprisonment of his friends – all while being used as a pawn in a regional power struggle among the Khamsin – he had hit his limit for bullshit. The guards around them shifted in place at his tone, reaching for their weapons. Yet a single fiery glance from Finn caused them to freeze. They had just witnessed how quickly he had taken out four veteran fighters.

  They didn’t seem to be in a hurry to experience that themselves.

  Then, more calmly, Finn continued, “Abbad will have crucial information. He was working closely with Bilel – the Emir – before the regent tried to kill us. I believe Abbad has been acting as a double agent for some time.”

  Aerys’ eyes widened. “Hmm. In that case, it will be done.” She gestured at a nearby guard, and the man swiftly exited the arena.

  As soon as the guard left, another man entered the cavern at a jog. He spotted Aerys, swooped close to the clan leader, and whispered in her ear.

  Aerys scowled at him. “Really? When?” she barked.

  “They arrived just now. They were captured out in the sands hours ago and brought here bound and gagged. They say they wish to speak with the Najmat Alhidad,” the man responded more loudly, shooting Finn a curious glance. At Aerys’ sour expression, he continued, “Given the situation, our scouts thought it best…”

  “No, no. It was the right decision. However, I’m sure some of the other clan leaders will raise hell over this additional intrusion – putting aside the obvious risk to the colony,” Aerys grumble
d, her eyes going distant.

  “You want to share with the rest of the class?” Julia demanded in a dry tone.

  “It seems we have a few more uninvited guests,” Aerys replied evenly, pinching the bridge of her nose. Her eyes settled on Finn. “You’re a popular man – and clearly a source of chaos. Let’s hope you’re worth it.”

  With that, she pivoted sharply on her heel and began heading toward the passageway leading out of the arena, leaving the group to follow. Finn shared a look with his teammates. They were all thinking the same thing.

  What now?

  Chapter 4 - Cavernous

  The journey through the Khamsin “colony” was enlightening.

  Finn had always imagined the desert folk as disparate bands of nomads, wandering the desert in small groups or caravans. That would have made sense. The Mage Guild had purged many students – residents and travelers alike. However, Finn’s impression had been that few survived the exile among the sands and fewer still made it through the Khamsin’s grueling training. Plus, the desert wasn’t a terribly hospitable place.

  He had apparently been wrong. Oh, so very wrong.

  Or perhaps he had dramatically underestimated just how many people had been purged or had abandoned Bilel’s oppressive regime in search of refuge among the Khamsin.

  This “colony” wasn’t a makeshift camp or caravan. It was a thriving underground city composed of maze-like passages that had been carved into the sandstone. The tunnels looped and curved and twisted, creating a dizzying series of passages that reminded Finn more of a beehive than something humans had constructed. Reviewing his map data as they walked, Finn estimated that the colony stretched on for at least a couple miles.

  Based on the composition of the walls, it seemed the colony had been carved into one of the many rock islands that dotted the desert. It was a good strategy. The rock insulated the residents from the harsh desert sun and the sand worms. It also made the Khamsin incredibly difficult to locate. Even Bilel’s enhanced sight would have difficulty penetrating the many miles of desert and the intervening layers of sand and rock. The fact that many of the desert folk had no mana and were almost invisible to the sight was just an added bonus.