by Sever Bronny
Bridget took a step back. “He’s a necromancer!”
“Correct. Once a necrophyte passes his Torment Trial, he becomes this—a twisted version of himself.”
“But he’s 8th degree,” Leera said.
“A Torment Trial is indeed usually administered at the 5th degree, but any degree beyond may attempt it. Only the true believers in the necromantic path pass the test, however.”
“I am eternal!” Audenteroch spat, glaring at the trio, revealing fangs. “Do you hear me? Do you understand? Eternal! I can feel your jealousy ebb and flow with the beat of those weak hearts. I can almost taste it in your diluted blood, for mine is ancient and unsullied by weakness. A new time is upon us, mortals. A time of eternity for those worthy of His Malevolence’s teachings. We do not fear death.”
Mrs. Stone casually paced around Audenteroch as he frothed on, ignoring him. “Each necromancer is different, but all wield similar spells. You will note that a true necromancer can no longer cast traditional elemental spells, for their powers have been corrupted, as evidenced by the blackening of their stripes and change of countenance. Some physically take on animalistic properties, others demonic properties, still others do not change at all. It depends on the person involved, their character and motivations. Mind you, they can still cast standard arcanery, though at a slightly diminished level.”
“… jealous of my eternity, mortals! And you cannot have it even should you desire it …”
“However, what they lose in tradition, they gain in the dark element of necromancy, sometimes substantially so. Further, it is easier for them to learn necromancy spells of a higher elemental degree even though they have not advanced as far in actual degree.”
“… wretches shall bow before the master of all … he who has conquered death …”
“They enjoy other advantages too. Variable rates of regeneration based on degree and competence, life extension based on live sacrifice, numerous life drain and pestilence offensives, assorted powerful summoning spells, and so on.”
“… whip my pets into a frenzy, tearing your weak flesh into strips …”
“Training a necrophyte to become a necromancer is difficult and time consuming, hence there are so few of them. Many do not survive the Torment Trial, and few still actually make it to the 5th degree, for necrophytes and their trainers tend to overlook the necessary nuances of deep arcanery. But those that do pass the Torment Trial and go on to serve Lividius in the field … are dangerous foes and should not be underestimated.”
“… unleash me, pathetic old crone, so that I may prove to you how skilled I am …”
“Thus, this morning’s lesson will be a most practical one.” Mrs. Stone stopped before the necromancer. “You will serve as their first example, but not their last, I fear.”
“No, you could not be more wrong, crone. It shall be their last … and your greatest mistake. Your greatest. And fear! Ha! What do you know of fear? I am fear. I was reborn into it. I am its master—”
“We shall see.” She flicked a finger. “Voidus lingua.”
Audenteroch scowled as he jerked his head, fat veins bulging in his bull neck. But Augum knew the Mute spell Mrs. Stone had cast was immensely strong. After all, she was the only living 20th degree warlock to have achieved mastery. Although she weakened her spells on purpose when practicing on the trio, she would certainly not do the same for an enemy.
Mrs. Stone casually gestured to the undead gathered around the village, stirring restlessly. “He cannot escape the protective arcane enchantments of the village, nor can he teleport beyond them. Your task is to work together to defeat him while learning what a necromancer is capable of.”
Audenteroch shouted nothing but silence as he vainly struggled against the invisible bonds, cords in his viper neck bulging.
“I also want you to consider trying to cast Annocronomus Tempusari.”
“But Nana, we’re not nearly ready enough—” and not just with the spell, but not ready for its … side effects.
“I understand why you may feel that way. You have trained very hard with the spell. Now is the time to put that training to the test. Be conscious of the circumstances in which you would choose to cast the spell, for even a heartbeat of hesitation could cost you precious time. Do you possess on your person the reflecting prisms?”
“Always, Nana,” though Augum and the girls felt their pockets just to be sure.
“I expect each of you to successfully reflect one spell. And you are not to use Centarro. Not this time.”
“Yes, Mrs. Stone,” the trio chorused.
Shoot, Augum thought. That was a serious handicap.
Leera cast a hesitant glance at the undead gathered at the edge of town. “Are … are you going to stay nearby, Mrs. Stone?”
“I shall return shortly. I have to make sure the road is clear of any Legion squads. We do not want them laying eyes upon you just yet, do we?” She paused. “Are you ready?”
The trio resumed their battle stance. “Yes, Mrs. Stone.”
Mrs. Stone made a couple quick gestures before disappearing with a THWOMP.
Augum wasted no time violently shoving the air. “BAKA!” sending Audenteroch flying. The necromancer smashed through the clay wall of a nearby house, sending up a plume of red dust.
For a moment there was nothing, but Augum knew it hadn’t been that easy. A quiet phrase was uttered from within the house, and the ground all around them began squirming.
Bridget and Leera shrieked and ran away from the movement, while Augum leaned down to inspect what was happening, careful to keep a watch on the house. Yet he too bolted the moment he was able to discern what was coming up from the earth.
“Undead bugs!” Bridget squealed, making an icky gesture. But Augum saw it was more than that—undead or rotten earthworms, spiders, even moles! Thousands of them, digging their way out of the ground. Great, they had to somehow deal with this infestation while fighting a necromancer. Had Nana lost her mind? This was beyond their training—
“Closs pesti,” spat Audenteroch from within the house, before unleashing a mad laugh. “You shall brutally perish!”
“BAKA!” Leera shouted, blowing apart the swarm of wasps buzzing their way.
Bridget yelped as something attacked her foot. Augum made a yanking gesture and sent the rat-like creature flying. Then he spotted his own foot and made the most girlish shriek of his life, for there seemed to be thousands of tiny creatures crawling on his turnshoes, many of which looked like they had a gazillion legs. He kicked furiously and ran like a madman, trying to get them off. Something about the sight made him lose his mind.
“BAKA!” the necromancer shouted, sending Augum—who definitely had not been paying attention—flying. He careened across the dirt, slamming into the well with an “OOF!”
Bridget, who had also been running from the earth swarm, skidded to a halt while drawing a figural shape in the air. “Summano elementus minimus!” An earth elemental rumbled to life. She pointed at the house. “Elementus, attack!”
“Summano canius demonus!” Audenteroch spat as he stepped through the hole in the house. A miniature portal temporarily opened near him, spitting out an all-too-familiar creature with gleaming crimson eyes, jagged black teeth, and rotten hairy skin.
“Hellhound!” Augum warned, shaking off the dazed feeling from slamming into the well so hard. The necromancer’s casting was powerful. They needed to focus.
The hellhound rushed forth and viciously attacked Bridget’s earth elemental, until the two were entwined in a rabidly growling heap.
“Summano elementus minimus!” Augum and Leera echoed, throwing their elementals into the mix. Augum always enjoyed the satisfying crackle when his elemental ruptured to life.
“Elementus, attack!” they shouted.
Audenteroch was striding confidently forward, making a dismissive gesture at Augum’s elemental. “Paralizo carcusa cemente.” The elemental froze stiff as a board, plowing into the dirt.<
br />
“Paralizo carcusa cemente!” Bridget echoed, arm outstretched, slowing—but not paralyzing—Audenteroch. The bull-necked viper growled, flexed, and shook off the spell just in time to raise a shield made of writhing maggots, which blocked a sharp jet of water Leera had cast, popping many of the disgusting larvae.
Augum scrambled away from the creeping bugs on the ground, stopping briefly to shout, “Voidus vis!” A dense black cloud appeared with a whoosh all around the advancing necromancer. It would buy them a few precious moments to regroup.
“Flustrato!” Leera shouted, hand making a looping gesture.
“Inept!” Audenteroch replied, stepping out of the black cloud. “Summano arma crax!” A coiling black whip with the appearance of a snake appeared in his fist. He immediately began whipping at each of the trio in turn, beginning with Augum, who had to hastily summon his hard lightning shield. There was a THWAP as the end of the whip smashed into his shield, followed by a rattlesnake noise.
The necromancer was wildly quick with his whippings, forcing Leera to abandon a First Offensive casting to jump aside as his whip slapped the earth beside her foot with a mighty smack. The spot smoldered and melted with a hiss, as if the whip was made of acid. The coiling whip flicked to Bridget immediately, forcing her to abandon a second elemental casting by raising her shield. There was a dull thump followed by another hiss as the whip smacked her shield of bark, twigs and leaves.
Bridget and Leera’s elementals at last finished off the hellhound, only to fizzle out as the spell duration elapsed, eliciting a curse from Leera about bad luck.
Audenteroch flashed a fanged smile at the girls. “You are greatly outmatched. And you shall suffer for it.” He raised his whip only to have Leera make a yanking twirl motion with both hands, shouting, “Disablo!” The whip instantly disappeared with a final rattle.
As Audenteroch grunted in frustration, Augum, who had been flanking the entire time, snapped his wrists together. “ANNIHILO!” A powerful bolt of lightning connected with Audenteroch’s upper back, knocking him to the earth, body smoldering.
“Attack!” Augum spat, charging in.
“ANNIHILO!” the girls shouted. Bridget’s vicious vine strike smashed into Audenteroch’s foot, severing it cleanly, while Leera’s jet of water vaporized a hand.
“Ah—” the necromancer gasped as he tried to stand on his missing foot, only to stumble. Instead, he shoved at Augum. “BAKA!”
Augum instantly raised his shield as he ran, leaning into the hit. The spell thumped into his black lightning shield. But he mistimed dropping the shield, for Audenteroch cast the spell again, sending Augum tumbling back.
“Annihilo!” Bridget shouted, but Audenteroch managed to raise his maggot shield in time.
“Deducto sap vitae!” Audenteroch snapped, making a dramatic gesture very much like pulling on an invisible rope with both hands, one of which gushed black blood from where the hand had been, a hand that was regenerating before their eyes.
Leera gasped and fell to her knees, the color draining from her face. Augum’s blood flash-boiled—no way was he going to let this demon harm Leera! Still on his knees, he telekinetically yanked at the man with all his might, breaking the spell and dragging him closer like a lassoed goat, before shouting, “Flustrato!” Audenteroch lay in the dirt gazing stupidly at the trio, only to shake off the spell with a jerk of his head. Augum hastily followed up with, “Dreadus terrablus!” as did Bridget. Yet Audenteroch let rip a great boisterous laugh. “Fear? I am fear!”
Augum used the precious moment to ask Leera, “You okay?”
She was on her knees, gasping, a hand on her chest, looking pale as death. She only shook her head. “Don’t … don’t feel so good. Feel … weak.”
Augum wanted to rush to her but saw Audenteroch’s fists curl. He slammed his wrists together instead. “ANNIHILO!” the bolt of lightning vaporized part of Audenteroch’s left shoulder, making his arm fall uselessly. It hung on by mere tendons that were as rotten as his stripes.
“Gaaah!” Audenteroch screamed, grabbing his shoulder with his good hand. “Sniveling gutterborns—” he hissed through gritted teeth, before lashing out at Bridget with a splayed hand, the thumb half-regenerated. “Dreadus terrablus!”
But Bridget had been ready. She whipped out her reflecting prism. “MIMICA!”
Audenteroch gasped. His viper pupils dilated and he screamed, forked tongue flicking rapidly, completely under the influence of his 8th degree Fear spell. It seemed he wasn’t immune to his own casting.
“Hold,” Mrs. Stone said out of nowhere.
Augum and Bridget whirled to see Mrs. Stone observing. Augum then ran to Leera, grabbing her and lifting her up in his arms, while Audenteroch continued to scream nearby.
“We’re not doing so well, Mrs. Stone,” Bridget said, resting her hands on her knees, panting.
“That is evident. Yet he is only 8th degree, and you will be facing someone much stronger.”
Augum shook his head as he carried Leera to her. “No way we can defeat my father. He’s 20th degree, Nana! We can barely stay alive with this … this man.”
“Ah, but you underestimate your abilities, and you underestimate Annocronomus Tempusari. Have faith in yourselves. You are not working together. You fight poorly and haphazardly. Focus!” Her cloudy eyes fell upon Leera. “I shall bring Jengo. I dare say he could use the training.”
“Wait, Nana, what about—” but she disappeared with a mighty THWOMP. Augum promptly set a wheezing and weak Leera down, before turning to face the vicious necromancer, who was snarling, drool dripping from his viper mouth. He was standing on his rapidly-regenerating stump, wincing, clenching and unclenching his fists. It seemed regeneration hurt.
Audenteroch snorted a pained laugh. “Crone abandoned you, huh? You haven’t a prayer in all of Sithesia in defeating your father, boy. He’s going to paint the ground with your blood, and I dare say he will enjoy it after what you did in Antioc.”
Augum scowled. “We’re not done with you yet.” He turned to Bridge, mouthing, “Flank him.”
She nodded and set off at an abrupt run, while Augum turned a steely-eyed gaze upon Audenteroch. “Summano arma!” he spat. A weighted long sword made from pure lightning ruptured to life in his fist.
Audenteroch flashed a cruel smile, forked tongue flicking. “Come, boy, and suffer. Summano arma crax,” and as soon as the acid snake-whip appeared, he began lashing out. Augum summoned his shield as he charged, blocking consecutive attacks.
“BAKA!” Bridget shouted from the other side, but her spell was blocked by another hastily summoned maggot shield.
Augum, sprinting for Audenteroch, snapped his wrist. “DISABLO!” and the shield disappeared. He saw Bridget make another violent shoving gesture as she ran. “BAKA!”
“BAKA!” Augum shouted at the same time. The forces from opposite sides united, sending Audenteroch flying upward. Yet as he fell back to earth, he began the same tugging-on-rope gesture, this time at Augum. “Deducto sap vitae!”
Augum saw the spell coming and whipped out his reflecting crystal, shouting, “MIMICA!” careful to angle the crystal just right and mentally reverse the processes he was feeling.
Audenteroch gave a pathetic yelp and instantly stopped, for he had suddenly been draining his own life force. For the first time he glanced at Augum with … was it respect?
“Summano arma!” Augum and Bridget cried simultaneously. She immediately drew back her bow while Augum closed in with his summoned lightning long sword.
But Audenteroch’s serpent gaze went somewhere else. “Impetus peragro—” he spat, disappearing with a THWOMP.
Bridget’s loosed earthen arrow passed through the spot Audenteroch had been and whistled by Augum’s neck.
Close one, he thought.
As their weapons vanished and Augum returned his attention to the necromancer, his blood turned icy cold—Audenteroch had grabbed Leera by the neck and was holding her forward. She wavered wit
h dizziness from the life draining spell, eyes languid, face pale.
“Tell the crone to drop the enchantments!” Audenteroch’s eyes flashed in maniacal joy—but suddenly his head exploded from a vicious vine punch. And behind the mist Augum saw something impossible—Bridget was standing there, crying. A hand was covering her mouth as she dropped to her knees. She had been standing beside Augum only a moment before but somehow she had instantly appeared fifty paces away on Audenteroch’s flank. The realization of what happened hit him like a battering ram.
Bridget had cast Annocronomus Tempusari.
By the Well
Augum gently wiped the blood dripping from Bridget’s nose. She was still sitting on her knees, crying softly and rocking back and forth. Nearby lay the headless body of Audenteroch, Leera gasping beside it. Luckily, he was not regenerating.
“Bridge? It’s all right. You’re okay—”
She spoke rapidly. “He killed her. He killed Leera—”
“—no, he didn’t, she’s fine.”
“You don’t understand. I … I cast—”
“—Cron. I know. You appeared out of nowhere.”
“Time … time reversed for everyone but me. You had argued with him, begged him to let her go. You negotiated, but he lied. He bit her neck and …” She shook her head, unable to pass on what she had seen. “I put everything into the spell. It allowed me to reverse time while I was free to walk about.” She gave him a distant look, breathing rapidly. “It was … incredible.”
“How many heartbeats, Bridge?”
“Need to … need to lie down …”
“Bridge …? How many heartbeats?”
“Fifteen … I think,” and she closed her eyes and went limp, probably overcome with exhaustion from the spell.
Augum helped her lay down, examining her face closely. It was ever so slightly rounder and fuller, or was that only his imagination? It was very difficult to tell. Fifteen heartbeats. What did that mean?
There was a THWOMP as Mrs. Stone appeared, Jengo beside her.
