“Tidal Torrent!”
A water geyser shot from Eric’s staff and doused the creature. This caused it considerably more distress than Tiza’s sword and it immediately turned to the greater threat. Eric was already moving and starting the chant over again. While keeping his eyes on the boss monster, he saw Tiza move behind it.
“Why are you looking at him, ya mangy pussy?” she shouted. She jump-slashed its main body. “Your fight is right here!”
She channeled mana through her sword and fired it through the blade’s tip as a beam. Eric’s water enchantment empowered it to tear a hole through the flame tiger’s torso. It roared and spontaneously cast Flame Wave at pointblank. The intense flames hid the fighter from view.
“Tiza!”
A ball of fire fell to earth and into the snow, melting it all into slush. Inside was a purple shell and a moderately singed warrior. She raised her fist in a thumbs-up.
“I’m all right!”
“Water’s Mercy!”
Blue mist enveloped Tiza. The damage to her equipment remained but the damage to her body was erased before it could fester. Then she jumped back in.
“Tidal Torrent!”
A second geyser doused the Fire Tiger while Tiza slashed a third time and Nolien cast more buffs on them both. With the elemental’s attention split between the physical attacks of the fighter and the magical attacks of the mage, the healer could work unbothered and monitor their status with little fear of attack. His Scanning Staff ability provided him all the information he could want. When it detected serious injury or change of condition, he immediately rectified it with a ready-made spell so they could focus on dealing damage.
The three of them repeated this pattern of attack three more times without incident. The Fire Tiger took a continuous stream of damage while they remained in good health and formation. At this rate, Nolien believed they could eventually bring it down. Then it zapped Eric with eye beams.
They pierced Nolien’s Ward, ignored Eric’s barrier, bypassed his armor, and struck him in the chest. The power in the beams penetrated further into his heart, rushed in his veins, and filled his mind. His eyes shined with their light and heat. Then the Fire Tiger flamed Nolien and kicked Tiza into a mineral hill. Basilard snapped his fingers and encased the Fire Tiger in a ten-foot thick sheet of solid ice.
“Is everyone okay?”
Eric shook himself. “Yeah, I feel great. That didn’t hurt at all.”
Nolien lowered his barrier and discarded a ruined fire protection charm. “I am in good condition, Daylra. No problems to report.”
Tiza stretched without pain and said, “I’m still all right.”
“I’m glad to say that your teamwork has improved immensely since you fought that Cecri last spring. With this battle, you’ve taken a step toward becoming Guild Regulars.”
Tiza sword-pumped. Eric staff-pumped. Nolien smiled discretely.
“Basilard,” Zettai whispered.
“Yes?”
“There was more to this than a teamwork assessment, wasn’t there?”
“What do you mean?”
Zettai gestured for him to lean over and she whispered her theory into his ear. He patted her head and said, “You’ve been studying. I’m impressed.”
Zettai beamed at the praise but then looked away and said she only did it to pass the time.
Back in Roalt and inside Axe’s Arsenal Lodge, the novices dumped their collection of stones on his service desk. The old man sorted through them, approved the load, and gave Basilard the payment for the mission. Then he called for his pre-teen grandson.
“I gotta ask, Jacks, are you still trying?”
“Of course I am, Belard, it’s my goal in life.”
“What are you talking about?” Zettai asked.
“Jacks here thinks he can create a sword that’s better than BloodDrinker.”
Zettai gasped and brought her hands over her mouth.
Ax laughed. “She’s your daughter, all right. All you Bloody Blokes think that relic is the ultimate weapon, but I’m going to surpass it and everything in that ‘elven imports’ case too.”
The case contained many exotic and powerful-looking weapons: blades of fire, spears with extending shafts, quivers with arrows made of light and others still more magnificent. Each one was more expensive than ten of the standard iron and wood variety were.
“I’ve trained all my life in making weapons and, before I croak….where is that slacker?” He left the desk to shout for his grandson again. “As I was saying, before I croak, I’m going to craft a weapon that would make elves leave their hidden villages and pay through the nose for.”
“‘The reins of history back in the hands of man,’” his grandson said in a stage voice.
“Hush, slacker. Move these bags into the workroom.”
Ax’s grandson reached for two of the bags, and as he did so, he got a good look at Zettai. Then he forgot about the bags and continued looking. Zettai fidgeted. Whenever someone stared at her in the past, it always led to trouble.
“You’re pretty. Do you want a bracelet? I could make you a….”
Basilard stepped between them and looked down his nose with glowing red eyes.
“Eeeuh, I mean, if it’s okay with you, sir.”
Ax flicked his forehead. “A slacker like you has no place flirting with a bladi princess. Now for the last time, move the bags to the workroom.”
Ax’s grandson finally grabbed two bags and disappeared behind the desk. His grandfather muttered concerns about his business and legacy and came back around to his original point.
“Yes, it is about my pride as a human smith, but it’s also about my business. Elven weaponry is a big-ticket item, but the current trade agreements with Dnnac Ledo and the rest of Avalon make buying them difficult. I only receive five or six each year, if I’m lucky. If I could make the same quality products then I’d be the biggest name in forging, and the wealthiest.”
As Team Four left the armory, Zettai waved to Ax's grandson, who unreservedly waved back. This led to the classic “arranged marriage” debate with her legal guardian and all the usual anger and stubbornness. It lasted for the entire trip back to the guild and attracted both attention from the warriors and sympathy for the girl.
“You could just run away,” Tiza suggested. “That’s what Tenderfoot did.”
“I’m not considering that.”
“You’re not?” Nolien asked hopefully.
“If I did, Basilard would lock me up in the dungeon underneath the clan compound to prevent anyone from gaining Bladi blood that is outside the clan’s control.”
“Don’t you mean, you’re afraid he would?” Nolien asked less hopefully.
“No,” Zettai replied flatly.
“Daylra, you wouldn’t really...”
Basilard didn’t stop walking and responded with a casual reply. “Would I allow her to move out of the main house if I were afraid of that?”
The humans bought it, but Eric, with his keen grendel instincts, detected a subtle killing intent. He didn’t worry about it. In his opinion, Zettai was a friend, not a sibling, and less important than his mentor and leader. He would do what was best for the group and Zettai both if at all possible. In any case, what happened in the guild’s lobby melted everyone’s doubts.
“You must be my new cousin!” Mia said brightly.
Zettai shrugged. “Yes, that’s me. The walking heresy herself.”
“Aww. You know what? You need a hug. I’m gonna hug you.”
“You’re what?”
Mia jumped over her desk and hugged her. It was unusual for Eric to see anyone smaller than Mia, but next to Zettai, she appeared as a big sister.
“You’re not a disease, or a curse, or a bastard, or anything like that,” Mia lulled while stroking her hair. “You’re my cousin and I’m going to hug you until you agree with me.”
Suddenly, Eric was reminded of another proud girl trying hard to maintain dignity b
ut also desperately wanting to let go of it. All it took was a little kindness and compassion. Zettai cried into Mia and clutched her.
Mia sent a scornful scowl at her uncle. “What did the others do to her? I haven’t seen anyone this bad since I was confined here.”
“That’s what I’m going to find out. In the meantime, I’d like her to stay here in the guild if that’s okay with you.”
Mia smiled her enchanting smile. “Of course it’s okay! Zettai, I just have one question.”
“Yes?” Zettai asked.
“Do you want to braid each other’s hair?”
Training that night consisted of more unity drills. Basilard wanted to build on their successful field demonstration by showing them how to recover from a broken formation and shift between formations seamlessly. He was pleased with their development. After the session ended, Tiza and Nolien left to “discuss magical/martial combination tactics elsewhere.”
“Is that what they’re calling it now?” Eric asked.
Tiza blushed and punched his shoulder repeatedly. “Shut up shut up shut up!”
Seeing them together made him think of Annala, and now that training was over, he could go to her. He worried about her all day, but after fighting the elemental, he especially wanted to be with her. It was a restless energy that drove him to Scholar Town.
Only streetlights lit up the night. Eric briefly considered using his darkness powers to sneak away from Lawful Scary because his instincts told him to put as much distance as he could between himself and the bigger, stronger, scarier threat. Ultimately, he dismissed it. A new train of thought took the place of his initial instinct, but it was on the same tracks.
The threat was under orders from his little sister to kill him only if he himself became a threat to others; thus, at the moment, he was harmless. If he disappeared without warning, then he might become a genuine threat; an active threat. Furthermore, Fairtheora’s presence would eliminate other threats, like Gruffle, and remove obstacles. Thus, he could be the opposite of a threat—an ally. As Eric followed the ethereal leash that guided him to Annala, he started to think he might need one. The leash led into a section of town more dangerous than Annala’s apartment.
He stepped into a back alley between scholar town and thief town. This area was lit only by the dim stars and he bumped into one trashcan or debris pile after another. After the fourth one, he gave up and cast Illumination Orb.
A scream pierced the darkness. Around the next corner, he saw someone dragging Annala towards a portal. Her wrists were bound, her ankles fettered, and there was a noose around her neck. A sponge in her mouth prevented her from screaming again. The sight lit a fire in his mind.
His eyes slitted and he shifted into the right arm of the grendel. Then he reconsidered and pulled out his staff instead. With blades of wind, he cut the leash and, with winged feet, he advanced on the kidnapper.
The loss of tension in the leash made them stumble. His first plan was to aim for the head with his spear and skewer their brain. Then he thought better of it and chanted an earth spell to restrain them. Mounds of earth reached up to grab their hands and feet, holding them in place without hurting them. He was about to check on Annala when her kidnapper flashed eldritch light. Globs of dirt went flying and Eric jumped to shield his girlfriend.
“An ordercrafter? I could use the practice.”
He called forth the Chaotic Point in his spear and his enemy created a Shield of Order. He charged and the ordercrafter pulled mana from the surrounding environment. Just before he slashed, they fired a high-powered beam in his face. He moved his head minutely out of the way and thrust forward. The golden tip broke the shield and stabbed the ordercrafter. Pushing forward, he pinned them to the ground. Chaotic energy ran over them, disrupting their power.
I could kill them right now. Just load mana into the crystal, compress it, and boom! No more ordercrafter, safe Annala, happy me.
Do it! a voice pounded in his mind. Kill him! the voice commanded. Threat! Eric’s eyes slitted again. There's no one around! No one will know! Eric looked around and indeed Fairtheora was nowhere to be seen. There was only him, Annala and a threat to them both. Kill the threat now!
Then he remembered what Kasile said earlier. If he lost control and killed a third person for Annala’s sake, then she would give up on him. She would order his execution. The idea of his little sister becoming a threat was too alien to comprehend.
“Ordercrafter, promise me something and I will spare you.”
“What is it?” they asked, perfectly calm.
“Go to Roalt castle, right now, turn yourself in, and pledge eternal loyalty to Queen Kasile. Do not stop for anything.”
They hesitated. Eric pushed deeper. They screamed and Eric enjoyed it too much.
“I promise! I promise to immediately turn myself into Queen Kasile and pledge eternal loyalty to her! I promise to do that right away!”
With his mage spear still inside them, Eric cast another spell. Healing Arts weren’t his specialty, but he could do the basics like painkillers. Then he jerked his blade out (no need to be careful if they didn’t feel pain) and cast another spell to close the wound long enough for a professional healer to finish. Now he could finally turn his attention to his lady.
Since when does she wear a negligee?!
He found it profoundly distracting while he freed her. It teased him despite covering everything. When he helped her to her feet, she clung to his arm and pressed against him. She whispered her thanks in his ear. The fire in his mind turned to a different purpose.
When she invited him inside, he immediately accepted. At the door to her apartment, she pulled Eric inside and closed the door behind him. Fairtheora made no attempt to stop her, nor did he say anything. He waited outside.
Inside, Annala dragged Eric to a couch big enough to lie down upon comfortably. She sat down in the center and placed Eric next to her. On a table before it was an open textbook, a notebook, and a bowl of chips.
“I want to discuss the results of the Mana Mutation Summit. I have a copy of the minutes right here. I was thinking we could start from the practical materialist perspective, move into the chaotic spiritual, as distinct from elven social, and then order spiritual.”
“Noitearc spiritual next? It would segue nicely into Mithran general politics and then Ataidar spiritual and political contrast.”
“I’m glad to see we’re on the same page.”
The room was warm and sweet and Eric felt increasingly hot. A feeling burned in his veins like fire and the grendel mind at the core of his psyche grew increasingly restless. It was becoming difficult to follow Annala’s words and more difficult still to form a response. Eventually, her manner changed from scholarly to lewd.
“Oh, I see. You want a different sort of dialogue.”
She slid herself into his lap, wrapped her arms about his neck, and kissed him. Eric’s remaining coherence turned to goo and he embraced her in return. He fell forward and kissed her more passionately. Then she tugged at his clothes and he stopped.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, pouting.
“The collar,” he said.
“It’s okay,” she said, eyes shining. “I started this. The collar has nothing to do with it.”
She tried to resume the kiss, but he broke away again.
“I promised. It’s not lawful.”
Do it! a voice commanded in his mind; a fierce and burning voice. Do it! She wants it! Do it! Eric shook his head and the glow flickered in his own eyes. You can't stop it! The glow returned bright enough to illuminate Annala’s sultry demeanor. He shook his head again. Fulfill your purpose. The light inflamed the monstrous side of himself; desperate to replicate itself and continue living. I won’t!
Mustering more willpower than any spell he'd ever cast, he removed his hands from Annala's waist and pointed them at himself.
"Infinite Sea...grant...grant your power to me!...WATER!!!!"
A deluge burst from his
hands and slammed him against the opposite wall. It drenched him completely, then recoiled off the wall to douse the rest of the room. Then, once everything was sopping wet, it drained through the open door. Fairtheora held it open and bowed his head.
A woman stepped through, gingerly avoiding the water. Her long and silky hair shined fire red and orange in the moonlight and her eyes glowed in the dark. Bracelets of gold graced her wrists and ankles, and a necklace of equal quality lay on her throat. A red wrap dress shimmered like flames. Every part of her glowed with divinity.
In her arms, she cradled a tiger cub. The orange and white stripes of his fur shimmered with the dress and his tail carried a flame at the end. On his head was a tiny little crown. He hissed at the water below and only calmed when petted.
The fire lady accidentally stepped in a puddle and made a face of disgust. Without words or gestures, a heat wave flashed across the room. All the water instantly evaporated and Eric's clothes were completely dry. She stood before him and smiled.
"Congratulations. You pass."
Chapter 9 Divine Power in Mortal Hands
“What did I pass? Fairtheora, why are you bowing? She isn’t….she is! Are you?”
“I am,” the mysterious woman said.
Eric averted his gaze from her light. “Fire’s avatar, Fire’s tool, Incandescent Puppet, Founder of Ataidar, She Who Sits On The Empty Throne, Furnace of Divine Flame, the Volcano Queen, Patron of Passion, Goddess of Willpower, the Tiger’s Mistress, Fiol.”
“That’s me. You nailed every one of my titles; why not my true name?”
Eric kept his head down. “It’s disrespectful.”
She laughed and Eric was reminded of campfires at night. He could have sworn he heard people telling jokes and drinking too much alcohol. The smell of s’mores and the taste of meat were so vivid it made his mouth water.
“Yet you treat Tasio, a being far greater than I, like a pest.”
“He IS a pest, but wait—what are you doing here?”
Mana Mutation Menace (Journey to Chaos Book 3) Page 35
