by Loftis, Nick
“Sir,” Bawfins addressed Wil, “every text I’ve read says you died in the explosion when Death was killed.”
“There’s a pretty good reason I don’t like Crell,” he answered vaguely, turning back to the cabinet. He was obviously done with the conversation.
“I can shrink it for now,” Winter offered. “We can take it with us so you can work on it where ever we are.”
Wil shook his head. “We need to know what the scroll says before we decide on our next destination.”
“Can I try something?” Gwen asked, walking up to the cabinet. Before Wil could answer she put her hand- the one with metal fingers- on one of the doors. The mechanical fingers burst into light that spread across her entire hand. The light condensed into dozens of runes that morphed and changed shape.
“What-” Wil started to ask before Winter cut him off with a shake of his head and a finger pressed to his lips.
It wasn’t much longer until the doors unlocked and Gwen slumped against Wil.
“Sorry,” she panted. “The lock was more complex than I thought; it probably won’t close again.”
“That’s fine,” he dismissed, examining her hand. “What was that? I’ve never seen you perform spells that are so intricate.” As he asked, the runes faded away and left her hand pale and clammy.
“Learned quite a bit in seven-hundred years.” She was still out of breath. “Winter and I’ve been practicing.” She pushed off him and stood on her own, wobbly.
“Obviously,” he said, not knowing what else to say. He kept his hands hovering over her waist until he was confident that she wouldn’t fall. “You won’t mind if I keep this room locked, do you?” He asked Brib and Gail as he searched through the scrolls.
“I don’t think we have a choice, “Gail answered dryly. “By our standards you would be the head of the school considering your…tenure.”
“They kept that rule in effect?” Winter asked, mildly surprised. It had garnered a lot of hate when he was here because the Head at the time had ended up being the last cleric of Death.
“It’s insanely difficult to get every teacher to agree on changes,” Brib said. “He could always deny the responsibility. “The gnome said it like a challenge.
Before Wil could retort bells started to echo loudly. Brib, Gail, and Bawfins turned towards the door, concerened.
“Sounds like we should get going,” Wil said, shoving a couple of scrolls into his jacket and closing the cabinet the best that he could. “Come on,” he ordered clapping his hands at them like they were children, “out, out, out! This is still mine until I can sort through it.”
Everyone left the room with Wil trailing behind. He waved his metal hand over the doorway, causing the wall to grow back over it.
“How do we know where to go?” Gwen asked the group at large as they picked up the pace to a slow jog.
“The tower will let us out as close to the source of the trouble as long as it’s relatively safe, “Gail answered from behind her.
“They worked out the kinks then?” Will followed up. He moved to the front of the group and took out his revolver.
“Yeah, “Gail said. “For the most part anyway. It sends students to a safe location as long as they aren't grouped with a teacher.”
They passed through the entry way, blinded by the bright blue light, and found themselves in the center of a small army.
V
Wil didn’t hesitate before shouting a bit of magic and causing a giant green bubble to form around his friends and push a ring of the closest men back.
The men began to shout and pick up weapons and surround the group who had teleported into their midst. They gave the circle a wary space.
“Kill them!”
“Destroy the magic users!”
“Quiet!” Winter bellowed, pushing some power into it. The command caused everyone to stop shouting and stand still.
They were all suddenly terrified.
“Bring us your commander,” he followed up less aggressively. The men bickered a little bit before sending a young man deeper into the camp. He returned several minutes later, followed by Brax.
“Brax!” Gwen exclaimed, surprised to see her old friend. She started towards him, seeming to forget everything Wil had told her of his recent actions.
Wil spun sharply to look at her and shake his head. She stopped moving and frowned.
“What is this?” Wil asked civilly.
“Crell has declared the world needs to be cleansed,” he stated faithfully. “I’ve been given the task of performing the difficult job.”
“And that means attacking a school?” Brib cut in.
“Magic has been decreed as sin,” Brax looked uncomfortable now. “Unfortunately that means the loss of young life if they refuse to give it up.”
“You have got to be fucking kidding me.” Wil was flabbergasted. “Crell has really lost it. Are you really still faithful to him? He’s killing innocents!”
“Wil, you have chosen to follow the Silver Daughter; you are not qualified to diagnose a god.” Brax straightened his back. “Crell has offered a deal that will extend before resorting to killing: forsake your magic and enter his priesthood to redeem your souls.”
“Is he serious?” Gail asked Wil quietly.
“Afraid so. Why are you doing this?” Wil emphasized the ‘you’. “What about the magic that you use?”
“I have turned away from it to redeem my sins. What do you say Wil? There is still a chance to save our friendship."
Wil flexed his fist at his side, thinking. He smiled sadly a Brax and sucked his shield in. “You won’t touch this school or any of the students,” he stated boldly.
He released the energy from the shield in a circle, blowing everyone, except the group huddled around him, nearly ten yards away.
“Winter!”
Will felt something intangible throw him hundreds of feet into the air and he was suddenly on top of Winter’s back, who had changed into his true form.
“The school –and any magic users, tinkerers, and Fey races –who seek refuge there are under my protection,” Wil bellowed, using magic to throw his voice as far as possible. “Brax, you can let Crell know that if it comes to a fight I’ve already killed one god and I’m not afraid to do it again.” Wil looked at his old friend who was watching him from the ground. He wondered how it had come to this so quickly. It wasn't making any sense to him.
Winter beat his massive wings once, knocking the men below back down, and launched himself into the air. They weren’t too far from the college –on the border of the grounds – and were back in the field they had previously landed in sooner than anyone had expected.
Wil jumped off before Winter had landed and started walking toward tower. He muttered a string of incantations the entire way, taking off his jacket and rolling up his sleeve to disengage his wand, then began gesticulating with it and his mechanical fingers separately. The runes etched into his arm and wand were white hot, singeing his rolled sleeve and burning the skin that the wand touched in his other hand.
When he reached the tower, he hit the door with his metal hand the tower turned to a neon green and shot a tunnel of magical energy into the sky that cascaded down into a dome that covered the entirety of the school’s grounds.
Wil stumbled back into someone, on the verge of passing out. The spells he had just cast had drained him completely. The person he bumped into lowered him to the ground and cradled his head. He was too tired to fight it.
“My father isn’t going to be too happy.” It was Liv. “Sleep Wil. We’ll be here when you wake.”
“Why can’t you just restore him?” Gwen asked.
“I do not want to risk leaving any residual magic on him,” a man answered. “My… Creator doesn’t need any help. I would rather risk one day than make the task even more difficult.”
Wil open his eyes. “Why are the two of you having this conversation over me? I’m still trying to sleep.” He sounded a littl
e miffed but sat up anyway. “How long was I out?”
“Close to nineteen hours,” the man answered, unperturbed by Wil’s attitude. “Do you know who I am?”
“Talgun,” Wil answered haplessly. “Another god interested in me; how can I help you?”
“You already are,” he smiled. “I’m here to help you.”
“And how’s that?”
“Protecting those at this school; you won’t be able to while you’re running my job.”
He had him there. The shield Wil had erected was temporary and Brax would know it. “What’s the price? You have a history asking for something… lofty.”
He waved away the comment. Only when I’m asked for something. If I offer my services to a mortal they come free of charge and any stipulations.”
Wil looked at Gwen. She nodded. “It’s in line with all historical evidence I’ve found.”
“How are you going to help? Won’t Crell know you’re here?”
“He won’t. I’ll pose as you and keep up appearances and defenses.”
Wil nodded along, thinking it through. “Is Liv still here? She can teleport us out.”
Talgun clapped his hands and laughed. “I’m glad she found you for this. I don’t have to explain anything to you; a relaxing change of pace from what I normally do.”
Winter and Liv came in as if on cue.
“Very good job on him daughter,” Talgun drawled. “I expect to see you again very soon.”
Liv just nodded looking at Wil. “Do you know where to go?”
Wil shook his head. “I didn't have a chance to look over the scrolls.”
“Winter and I did,” Gwen said. “They spoke of an artifact in the caves of Drake Ridge somewhere that was created to save the world from being eaten. But we don't know where exactly or what we're looking for.”
Wil swung his feet off the bed and sat up, noting he was only wearing pants. “What language was it in?”
“Crellian,” she answered. “Should you be getting up now? I've never seen anyone use that much energy.”
“I just need some food,” he said, standing up and stretching. “Do either of you have an idea of what they're talking about?” he asked Talgun and Liv.
“My brother never let anyone close to his special race,” Talgun answered sourly.
“Way before my time,” Liv added.
Wil nodded, figuring as much. “Where are the rest of my clothes?”
Winter passed Gwen a folded pile with a pair of boots on top. “Your old shirt was ruined. This is one of Gail's.”
Wil put the shirt and his vest on and sat back on the edge of the bed to put his boots on. “Well, let's get going then.”
“Shouldn't you rest more?” Gwen pushed.
“I'm fine,” Wil stated.
Liv chuckled, earning a glare from Gwen.
Talgun clapped his hands. “Is there anything else I can help you with?”
“Yeah,” Wil said, thinking about the students. “Can you get a hold of magical instruments for the students? If something does manage to break your defenses they'll be useless and defenseless.”
“I'll do my best to arm each one,” Talgun agreed without hesitation. He stepped back so Liv could move forward. “Good luck, Wil. I cannot pull you from death like my brother did.”
“Where to?” Liv asked.
“The trail between Drake Ridge and Drow’s Den. Before-” Wil didn’t have a chance to finish before he found himself in an open plain pressed up against a craggily mountain with Gwen, Winter, and Liv.
VI
“Were you going to say something else?” Liv asked with an innocent expression.
Wil flared his nostrils in anger. “Where are my things?”
Liv pointed behind him. Wil turned around to find a travel pack, his revolver, and belt on the ground with his jacket folded neatly under it. He picked up his jacket, pulled a scroll out, and marched to Liv and pushed it into her chest. “Read it. Tell me if it’s right,” he ordered. “I don’t care,” he added cutting her off before she could give him an excuse. He turned to Winter and Gwen. “You teleported us before I could consult the notes on translation in my office.”
“What happened to the Drow?” He asked the question calmly. He looked out over the expanse of dirt where the Drow’s forest used to be, before looking at Gwen for an answer.
“Goblins invaded a little after you disappeared,” Gwen answered. “Can I ask you something?” She followed up hesitantly.
Wil turned to look back at her. “I don’t think I can stop you.”
She looked a little taken aback but pressed on. “Why don’t you know what’s happened the last seven centuries? If you’ve been working for Crell wouldn’t you be aware of everything happening? Everything going on?”
Wil sighed. “I haven’t been on Vaude for the majority of it; or even in our reality.” He glanced at Liv who was watching him from over the top of the scroll, listening. “There’s things that I’ve seen and done that I can’t share because it would cause tears between our world and other existences.”
Liv began to shake her head.
“It took a lot of bargaining on my end – and Brax’s –to convince Crell to let me come back. Because of my experiences, allowing me to return had the potential of causing cosmological imbalances that could disrupt natural orders-”
“He died and didn’t have a physical body to return to,” Liv cut in. “Contrary to popular belief, gods can't bring the dead back to life without something else becoming unbalanced in the world and causing a lot more problems.”
“That’s not what Crell told me,” Wil admitted. “Where did my body come from then?”
“Probably some pour sap that sold his soul.”
“But it looks just like him,” Gwen argued.
“The aesthetics of a body aren’t hard to change,” Winter interjected.
Wil just mouthed the air. He was shocked to discover this wasn't his original body. He looked at his prosthetic arm and wondered where his original body was.
“This is a long shot,” Liv said, waving the scroll and saving him the trouble of finding something to say. “This is a Crellian translation of a script that predates them. They couldn’t translate everything so I don’t even know if what they did translate is correct.”
“What do you mean it predates the Crellians?” Gwen asked. “They were the first race to have a recorded history.
“It’s never been determined; there was a race of beings here and gone before the Triplets were created,” Liv answered. “Minotoa based the Minotaurs on a handful of destroyed statues left behind, but not much else was left. Where did you get the scroll?”
“From a Crellian temple near the heart of Drow’s Den. It wasn’t too far from the one I found Brax at,” Wil answered. “You can go back now if you want.”
She folded her arms over her chest. “Tell me your plan first.”
Wil held his empty hands up. “We already did. We're going to find the artifact the scroll mentions.”
“What kind of plan is that to risk the existence of everything alive?” Her voice had dropped to a screeching whisper, setting the other three on edge.
“The only thing we have to go on is that scroll; what kind of plan were you expecting when the gods can't even agree on the Devourer's existence?” Wil countered, keeping his voice level.
“Gah, you’re infuriating,” she snapped before teleporting away.
“I think she likes you,” Gwen observed sarcastically.
“You do have a plan to find the artifact, right?” Winter asked, standing up and stretching.
“Not beyond keeping the gods out of this,” he answered smiling and staring at Gwen. “I don’t have anything to go off right now.”
There was a sound of tumbling rocks and something shouted, “Don’t move!” in a scratchy voice from the first hill. A large goblin pointed a large crossbow at the group. His gray –green skin shone with sweat. “Put down your weapons and raise your arms.
”
“Wil?” Gwen asked, looking for direction. Her hand was on her own crossbow.
Wil twitched a finger, indicating for her to wait. “If we refuse?” He couldn’t see any more goblins than just this one.
Winter had his head down with a heavy cloak pulled over himself. “Stall,” he rasped.
“We kill you,” the goblin stated gleefully.
“I only see you,” Wil countered, prepping a shield.
Two dozen more goblins rose from the ground around the trio.
“Well shit,” Wil breathed. “Better do your thing now,” he muttered to Winter.
“You imbeciles!” Winter shouted at the ring of goblins. “They were almost convinced!” He threw his cloak off. “I almost had them promise me the treasure.” He had morphed his head into a goblin’s.
“Who are you?” the goblin with the crossbow asked cautiously.
“Don’t question the High King’s Shadow!” Winter barked angrily. “Take me to the Command Leader.”
“What about the humans? We can’t-”
“You have no say in what happens to my belongings,” Winter snapped. “Take me. Now!”
“Sorry, Hand,” the goblin was nervous now. “I can’t let them take their weapons.”
“Give me your weapons,” Winter ordered after a short pause. Wil and Gwen complied quickly. “Take me before I start removing your limbs.”
The goblin bowed and spun around. The other goblins followed suit and they began marching into the mountains. Winter pushed Wil and Gwen in front of him and took up the rear. It wasn’t long before they had reached a cave mouth and all the goblin’s, except for the leader, dispersed back into the cliffs.
“Why do you have humans?” the goblin who was left asked as he waited for Winter to catch up.
Winter ignored him and kept walking.
The goblin settled into a nervous silence as he led them deeper into the tunnels, past Drow slaves, who stopped to stare at Winter- some of them dropped to the ground bowing- and the smaller working class goblins who averted their eyes and rushed out of eyesight. He didn’t lead them far before opening a door to a large, carved out room.
