Time of Change (Emerilia Book 7)

by Michael Chatfield

  It had howled as Malsour released it. Now it passed in silence, a silver streak that sent shivers down Dave’s spine as he was unable to look away.

  It smacked into the tiger, throwing it back and leaving a bloody hole in its side. Still the tiger was alive, speaking of its natural toughness. It had barely gotten to its feet when three more spears seemed to materialize in its side.

  The tiger moved for a second before going limp.

  Silence seemed to fall over the outpost.

  In seconds, the battles had finished. Everyone was in shock. Most eyes turned to the members of Party Zero hovering in the air.

  Dave looked out over the outpost. The recently graded ground was now filled with signs of battle as well as the bodies of the eleven tigers.

  “Healers, get to work! Dark mages and engineers—hurry up with those walls as fast as possible and make them seventy-five meters high!” Lucy called out over the general chat, taking command as Josh was dead.

  People downed Health potions as healing lights appeared.

  Dave bit his cheek, angrily grabbing his twin conjuring rods. He had the strength, he had the damn abilities, but he’d stayed his hand, running around and applying a buff to everyone.

  Sitting back is much harder than charging in. “All this and we haven’t even made it into the temple yet.” Dave shook his head.

  ***

  Deia felt arms twine around her as a familiar and comforting smell filled her nose. She leaned back into the embrace, smiling as she looked up at Dave.

  “I’m not happy with you getting into the middle of the fight, but I understand why you did it,” Dave said, his voice gruff.

  Deia stroked the side of his face and kissed his cheek. His face was hard, as if it could have been cut from rock. Deia knew that was just his way to hide his fear from her.

  She felt a pang of regret for her actions but she still felt that she had done the right thing.

  “How are the DCA?” Dave asked.

  The two of them stood on one of the completed walls near the crack. Night had finally descended. The soul gem constructs lit up the area as Dark mages continued to work. People were sleeping in tents as well as in the soul gem constructs and completed walls.

  “They’re a bit shaken up, but it seems like us telling them that if they work together they can be more powerful has finally sunk in.” Deia looked to the corners of the outpost. Here DCA aerial forces were launching off, changing patrols. They would continue to watch over the now eight-kilometer-wide open area around the outpost as well as survey the surrounding forest so that nothing could sneak up on them.

  “Good. They’re decent fighters and I know that the battle we had isn’t the kind of battle they would like to be fighting but they did well,” Dave said with approval.

  “They took quite a few casualties but with their medical training, potions, and moving the wounded back, they’ve got about two hundred wounded and no fatalities,” Deia said.

  Dave nodded and his features relaxed.

  “How are Lox and Gurren?” Deia asked.

  “They’re in the medical tent. They got hit pretty good. Thankfully, Steve was able to dose them up with healing potions and ran to the medical tent with them both. They’re not in critical condition and they should make a full recovery in a few days,” Dave said. “We can go and see them if you want?”

  “Yeah, let’s do that.” Deia held Dave’s hand. Just as she was about to use her flames to slowly descend down the side of the wall, it seemed as if they were picked up in a ball of force, heading over the wall and toward the healer tents.

  All of the walls were now fifteen meters tall; having something was better than nothing, the engineers agreed.

  Still, even as night was coming, the Dark and Earth mages were at work, clearing the area outside the outpost, working on the area inside and raising the massive walls that would keep them safe.

  Malsour was going to raise all of the walls to fifty meters high, and then he’d go back and raise them to seventy-five meters as Lucy ordered. However, it would mean that the walls would be six meters thick instead of four. These kinds of modifications had to be done with care so that the walls’ stability wasn’t compromised.

  “Who would have thought that we could build something on this scale when we first met?” Dave looked to the growing outpost, soul gem constructs reaching ever higher into the sky.

  Deia just smiled, squeezing his hand as they slowly came down near one of the busier towers in the outpost.

  It was the largest and had been turned into a hospital. Healers moved around, administering poultices and checking on their patients.

  Although there had been a great number of people hurt, as long as someone got to the healers and they were alive, chances were high that they would be healed up within a few days. People who had lost limbs took longer to heal because the spells ran off the patient’s own Mana and Stamina within their bodies to get stronger.

  They drank Stamina potions and bland concoctions that would give them everything they needed to regrow their limbs. A number of them had already been released, told to come back if they had an issue, or for check-ups.

  Others who had been opened up or punctured by the tiger’s claws had been sealed back up and were walking around.

  Healing magic was truly in a realm of miracles. Combined with the medical knowledge that Jules had thrown in, healers had become powerhouses at pulling people back from the brink. In a day or two, all of the injured would be ready to raid the temple.

  Dave and Deia found out where Lox and Gurren were. They headed through the tower, moving to the third floor.

  Lox and Gurren were lying in beds, another three people in between their beds.

  “I raise by one lesser soul gem,” one of the three said.

  “Looks like it’s getting a bit pricey,” Gurren said.

  “Dave, Deia, come to join poker night?” Lox asked from his bed.

  “Heyyy!” Gurren turned over to smile at them, holding his cards to his chest so no one could see them.

  “Well, looks like you two are doing okay,” Dave said in a gruff voice.

  Deia had an amused smile on her face.

  “Tell that to the healers. They want to keep us in here for the next day!” Gurren complained. Lox grunted, tossing two lesser soul gems into the pot of soul gems that lay between the five poker Players.

  “I’d prefer not to. Don’t you like a bit of rest?” Deia said.

  “Who can rest when the temple is right there?” Gurren said.

  “Thankfully we’ve at least got cards to pass the time,” Lox said. The person next to him folded so Gurren pulled a card from the deck, putting it face up with three others.

  “You seen Steve around?” Lox asked.

  “No, why?” Dave asked.

  “Well, his armor was really dented in, and he might be blaming himself for putting us in this condition,” Gurren said.

  Deia frowned and pressed her lips together. Thoughts rushed through her head. If there was any enmity with her party, then it could lead to them not working as well together.

  “We don’t blame him. We know that he was just helping us to get into the fight—wasn’t his fault that the damn thing was a pain in the ass. Also, he did save our lives with that massive hit he landed on the tiger,” Lox said, as if reading Deia’s thoughts. The man to his right knocked on the table.

  “Wish I could have smoked that tiger like he did. Dude gets crazy worked up when one of us is in danger.” Gurren tapped his hand against the table.

  “It was meant to be a surprise, but I’ve been working on something for you two,” Dave said.

  Gurren and Lox looked over with clear interest.

  It was well known that Dave’s creations had been changing Emerilia by degrees. They had also seen the blades he’d forged for the Devil’s Crater generals and Anna, and they understood the power of the Abscondita armor that he wore.

  “Oh?” Lox said, ignoring the table. Ev
en those who were playing were only half paying attention, listening in.

  “I’ve got most of the components. I should have the others in a week or two and then it’s just a matter of pulling it together.” Dave smiled.

  Deia looked at Dave with a thoughtful expression. She knew the project he was talking about; she was just surprised he’d been able to complete it so fast.

  Dave smiled proudly. “Sometimes you just need some help from your friends.”

  Gurren and Lox looked to each other.

  “What is it? A shield?” Gurren asked.

  “Or a sword?” Lox asked.

  “Just have to wait and find out, though it should make it possible for you to meet Steve in terms of power,” Dave said mysteriously.

  Lox and Gurren looked to Deia.

  “Don’t look to me. I might have an idea of what it is but he loves his mysteries.” She gave Dave a wry smile.

  He was openly smiling, happily hiding his project.

  ***

  Malsour, Induca, and Suzy sat on the completed sections of wall extending out from the crack. They drank warm cider, making idle talk.

  “You really should take a break at some time, big brother,” Induca said.

  “I will once the wall is finished.” Malsour gave Induca a smile.

  “He says that but I know as soon as this wall is finished, he’ll find some other project to bury himself in!” Induca huffed.

  Suzy chuckled and hugged Induca, who was sitting in her lap.

  Malsour smiled into his cup, taking another deep drink.

  “I heard that once the walls are finished, they’re going to be putting an ono in so that the people who died can use the teleport pads in Terra to reach here and we can offload our goods and prepare for the raid.” Suzy’s eyes shined in excitement.

  “Told you that you’d enjoy going on this little adventure,” Induca teased Suzy.

  “Hey! I know how to have fun! Just get wrapped up in work is all.” Suzy murmured the last part into her cup.

  Malsour chuckled at the two’s bickering and looked out over the outpost. He didn’t really see it as emotion surfaced.

  After the deaths of so many of his family members, he’d been angry. When he’d seen his fellow guild mates and the people who had made up the raid party getting injured and killed by the tigers, he’d allowed his anger to take over.

  Now, after all that tension and fighting, he felt calm, as if he had once again found himself. He took a deep breath and let it out.

  He was sad at having lost his family members, but even he understood life was fleeting and short; he couldn’t be too scared to fight, to go forward and do what he wanted. Even a Dragon could die. They might live for centuries but they were still mortal. He had researched and read about the world, tried to understand its mysteries and locked himself away.

  He had become more powerful in the time he had been with the Stone Raiders than he had in the last two decades before it. He’d made friends, gone on adventures, fought countless enemies, and come close to falling himself.

  And for all of that, I’m incredibly lucky. I have a family who loves me, friends who would go to the ends of Emerilia for me. If I take one lesson from those who died, it’s that I need to do what I love and enjoy, to take risks.

  Malsour smiled sadly to himself. A wave of emotion flowed through him as he laughed to himself. The stars above blurred as he thought of those he had lost. He didn’t think about their loss. Instead, he remembered the moments he had spent with them, moments that brought a smile to his face, where he had laughed and lived life with them. When he and Louna had flown for the first time, two young Dragonlings, free in the sky, racing ahead of their other brothers and sisters. Denur lightly chiding them as they raced through the skies, twisting, turning, and diving. The world was full of mysteries and potential; they had no fears or regrets as they lived in that moment.

  Malsour closed his eyes and smiled to himself. When he opened his eyes, he looked at the cup of cider in his hands.

  It was these moments he would cherish and think of. He wished in his soul that he could bring them back, but he was infinitely grateful that he had been a part of their life and they had been a part of his.

  Induca and Suzy were giggling, the two of them talking nonsense to each other.

  Malsour looked over to them, seeing the love that they shared.

  He took a deep breath. As he let it out and looked to the skies once again, he felt at peace. Death might come for him at any time, but he was going to live every moment as if it was his last!

  That was his promise he made to those who had passed away. He would fight with his friends; he would fight for Emerilia and if he was to fall, he would do it happily, knowing he lived a great life with great friends.

  What more could someone ask for in their lives?

  Chapter 27: A New Destination

  Dave left Deia to get some sleep as he went searching for Steve. With his Touch of the Land, it wasn’t hard to find the massive metal man. Dave found him in the building that crafters were using to work on gear. It was the loudest place in the outpost and thus far away from all of the other buildings.

  Even in the dark of night, hammers could be heard at work. There was a small smithy located within the building for repairs.

  Dave walked in, greeting a few people with a smile and a wave before he reached the smithy around the back of the building where Steve was.

  Steve’s right leg was damaged and he had deep scratches on his right shoulder. His Mithril-covered core was exposed.

  With a glance, Dave could see that it had been worked on. The bonds were stronger and less spread out, having being broken by a Dwarven Master Smith, thus allowing them to come together in a new formation that strengthened it.

  Steve was working on the outer shell that covered his torso.

  Dave looked at it. There was a large dent in the front of it from getting smacked by the tiger’s paw.

  Steve worked the heated metal, hammering it back into shape. He used a pair of tongs to grab the armor and put it under a blowtorch, heating the affected area.

  “Looks like someone has been helping you out with your Mithril covering.” Dave leaned against one of the supports to the outdoors smithy.

  “Yeah, I’ve been helping them understand magical coding a bit better—they’ve helped fix up my Mithril covering, made it a lot stronger.” Steve forced a smile.

  “How is your chest plate?” Dave looked at it under the blowtorch.

  “Caved in like a sonvabitch. Would have gone in more if the Mithril inside didn’t stop it.” Steve watched the blowtorch.

  “Gurren and Lox are going to be back out in a few days,” Dave said.

  “Good.” Steve sounded relieved.

  “You know it’s not your fault that they got hurt, right?” Dave moved into the smithy.

  “Dave, I threw them into the battle. I put them in the position they were.” Steve’s eyes met Dave’s.

  He might have been made by two AIs but Dave saw the guilt that lay behind his eyes.

  “Sure, it wasn’t the way that I would have gone about it, throwing them like baseballs, but it allowed you to encircle the tiger, attack from all directions and divert its attention. It was just unlucky that it used one of its legendary abilities, trapping everyone in weeds and grass and smoked them with its tails. If it wasn’t for you running them to the healers, they would be in much worse condition,” Dave said.

  “But Dave…”

  “Look, listen here, yah tin dumbass, you made a decision out there. It was the best one at the time. You act like a goof, most of the time, but I know that inside that core of yours, you’re a smart dude. You made a decision, shit happened—that is life. Now here are the facts. Gurren and Lox were injured, yes; you got them aid, and now they’re up in their room playing poker. Well, let’s be serious—they’re probably trying to escape the place right now! They knew the risks joining the Stone Raiders. They can die at any time�
�poof and gone. They made it through because of you. You’re one of their best friends. They’re thankful you helped them, so when you’re done pounding the almighty dent out of your breastplate, go and see them!” Dave’s eyes blazed in anger as Steve tried to blame himself. Stopping it before it could affect Steve, or his relationship with anyone, was the best thing to do.

  “But…” Steve started, still not swayed.

  “Don’t make me ask Suzy to force you to.” Dave’s anger rose as he gritted his teeth together.

  Steve looked away from Dave’s eyes.

  Dave’s anger wasn’t directed at Steve; he was angry at how Steve was dealing with his irrational guilt.

  “I’ll go see them tomorrow,” Steve promised.

  “Good.” Dave nodded. His anger quickly dissipated as he let out a heavy breath. “I’ve had a long day. I’m going to get some sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow, and you best bring Gurren and Lox some beer—I think the healers took it all away from them.” Dave smiled.

  “They wouldn’t like that.” Steve chuckled, thinking of his two best friends.

  Dave laughed and turned around. “Night, Steve.” He headed for Deia and his tent.

  “Night, Dave.” Steve sounded much better than when Dave had arrived.

  ***

  Lucy watched as the walls grew around the outpost. It was almost midday before the last wall reached a height of fifty meters. There was an area of nearly ten kilometers cleared around the outpost.

  Big pits burned everything that wasn’t useful and had been cleared away.

  Timber lay off to the side; creatures under the power of others were still working to cut up the massive trees and add to these timber piles. All the timber that could be had been stored in spatial chests and stored on the traveling wagons.

  “The walls are all fifty meters tall now. We’ll start work on growing them to seventy-five meters in a few hours,” Malsour reported to Lucy.

  “Well, then it’s about time we got that ono in place,” Lucy said.