Looming Shadow: Journey to Chaos book 2

by Brian Wilkerson

  He took the scale into his right hand and the heart into his left. Placing the heart on one scale, he pointed the other towards her. She dropped a couple coins and balanced them.

  “A balanced relationship and a balanced checkbook…”

  “…Are necessary for a balanced life,” the priest replied, finishing the traditional exchange.

  The trio left the chapel and found a crowd of acolytes gathered around Albatross IX. Kallen shooed them away and stepped in with Eric and Emily following. She turned the key and the engines purred. Eric sighed and dropped into a seat.

  The rest of the journey was uneventful. They flew over cities and forests, ate ramen, and fought off minor monsters. They landed periodically so Kallen could rest (she was the only qualified pilot, after all), fought off more monsters, and then ate them.

  The next day, a grand castle came into view. The first time Eric saw it, he had to crane his neck to see over the curtain wall, but this time, he could see the whole structure at once. It was a shining jewel in acres of white fields. This was Roalt, capital of Ataidar, but for Eric, it was home. It had been over a month since he had returned, and now his journey was almost over. Soon, he would be reunited with his guild and his friends and –

  “Annala...”

  “What was that, Eric?” Emily asked.

  “Uh...Bandala...It's a...music group I like.”

  Both girls laughed so much that Kallen almost crashed the airship. She pulled up just in time to avoid a forest canopy. Eric took the opportunity to point out that this was the Rose Forest and his entry point for his first visit. On their final approach, Kallen made radio contact with Roalt's airship dome and was granted permission to enter the city. Albatross IX folded its wings and landed in hatch number twelve.

  Chapter 4 Trouble at Home

  As soon as Albatross IX opened its doors, Eric ran out. The airship hub was crowded with people of all shapes and sizes and he laughed at the sight of it.

  As the capital city of a major nation, it was truly cosmopolitan. He saw beast folk and cows and birds and fellow humans and even an elf or two. There was one more at his destination and thinking of her inspired him further. He jumped above the crowd and cast Air Disk to walk over their heads.

  Someone in the crowd took a picture.

  “The Trickster's Choice has returned...”

  At the exit, Eric dropped the spell and dashed out into Sailor Town. The streets were cold but not as bad as Mambi’s and not yet icy. Therefore, he felt no fear in reciting Winged Feet to grant himself super speed. He dodged carts, sapients, and early snow drifts on his way to Scholar Town. Telescope Bridge was blocked by a field trip, so he bypassed it and jumped clear over the river. One of the students took a picture of him and shared it with all her online friends.

  Now inside Scholar Town, memories of his friends rushed to the front of his mind: studying in this park, taking a break at that cafe, doing research at that library. At this speed, he was one minute away from reuniting with them and doing it all again.

  “I love super-speed!”

  He increased the mana feed to the spell and pushed himself faster. He trashed the remaining blocks with his slipstream. A third person took a look at the overturned trashcans, scattered litter, ruined advertisements, and started a blog post on his scry.

  “Repercussions of Living near the Trickster's Choice.”

  It wasn't until Eric was yards away from the school that he realized he was running too fast to stop. Immediately, he canceled the spell and composed a contrary earth one as a super-break. By the time he came to a full stop, he'd dug a ditch through the middle of the last block.

  “Oops...”

  He cast Dark Veil before anyone saw him and ran out of the ditch. Just as he entered the school courtyard, his conscience struck. Annala would figure out that it was me. It won't take long.

  “Ease my load and mend the road. Return to your previous mode: Earth Laborer!”

  Brown light illuminated his staff and connected to the dirt piled up by his break. Clump by clump, it moved back into place. Mechanically, it was no different from levitation and that was covered in the first section of Introduction to Magecraft. Since he was currently invisible due to the Dark Veil, an outsider would see the dirt moving on its own. This was also quickly on the Internet.

  Finally...I wonder what class they're in?

  The bell rang and students filled the hallway. Among them was a girl with pointed ears, a boy with a cat tail, and a five-foot lizard walking on his hind legs. Unnoticed by all, Eric approached the girl. He snuck up on her, slipped an arm around her waist, and a hand over her eyes. The girl spun around and kneed him in the groin. The Dark Veil dissipated and he fell to his knees, clutching himself, and making funny noises.

  “Eric!?” After a moment, she tackle-hugged him. “Oh, Trickster! Eric, I'm so sorry!” She helped him up and hugged him again. “Where have you been? It’s been four months and first thing I did is kick you in the…”

  She pulled back and scowled. “You shouldn't have snuck up on me! It's not funny!” Her expression softened a second time and she resumed their close embrace. “I'm glad you're back.”

  The lizard and cat joined from the sides in a flanking hug. Their tails curled around the entire group. Elf Annala, cat-demon Revas, and lizard-demon Oito were the first friends he'd had since his elder brother.

  “I take it you missed me,” Eric said.

  “Of course I-we did!” Annala replied.

  “But Annala more than either of us,” Revas cut in.

  “Yesss, you shhhould have ssseeen her mope,” Oito added.

  “You guys were upset too!” Annala said angrily, cheeks flushed.

  It was louder than she meant, and now everyone was staring at her. If that weren't bad enough, she still had her arms around Eric's neck. Her friends had already let go and were smiling. Annala turned a brighter shade of red and retracted her arms. She tried to back away, but the tails were still entwined and holding her against Eric. Pulling on her ear, she continued, “He's an old friend...and he was missing...and...”

  Someone said Eric looked familiar and another agreed that he was in the pictures he saw on Carrier Pidgeon. Soon there was chatter about the Trickster's Choice and the vessel of the Greater Mage/Sage Dengel.

  Dengel was a mage that had lived two thousand years ago, before Ataidar's founding. He created the first comprehensive system of magic that anyone could learn. Without him, magic would never have become as commonplace as it was today. Four months ago, he possessed “That sellstaff” and walked among them. Despite the poor quality of his host, he reached the final round of the New Scepter Competition. When Duke Selen Esrah tried to usurp Ataidar's throne, it was Dengel’s power that paved the path of victory for their princess. Then, he mysteriously disappeared, followed by his vessel. Why was he here now? Did he still bear the spirit of Dengel?

  Eric's fists clenched. That’s not how it happened!

  He had earned the right to possess Dengel and use his knowledge for his own gain. It was his idea to compete in the New Scepter Competition, and while Dengel did help a lot, Eric won all the bouts in the tournament by himself! When Selen launched his cup, Dengel took his side at the first sign of trouble. He almost guaranteed Selen’s victory. It was only because Eric exploited his pride in a mental duel and led him into a trap, that Kasile triumphed. It was one of his proudest moments, yet all he heard was talk of Dengel's vessel.

  “Yeah, that's me, but I was Dengel's landlord. Anyone want my autograph?”

  “Why?” asked a dog boy. “You're nobody special. You were just carrying someone that was.”

  “I think he's special.”

  A human boy walked out of the crowd. He had silver hair and the crest of House Darwoss sewn into his shirt. Norej Darwoss looked smugly at the four friends.

  “I'd rather kill myself than have a crazy dagger-ears in my mind. I applaud his self-restraint.”

  Revas would have shredded him i
f Oito hadn't held him back. Eric was more pensive.

  “Change ‘crazy’ to ‘arrogant,’ and you have him nailed.”

  Both Annala (still in Eric's grasp) and Norej (who noticed their intimacy) looked at him in surprise. Then they simultaneously agreed.

  “Arrogant is a better adjective.”

  “Indeed, Dengel was a despicably proud creature,” Annala said.

  “Really?” Norej appeared genuinely interested. “My father said he was a power-hungry back-stabber who provided our ancestors with pilfered elfin technology.”

  Annala nodded. “Absolutely.” She unwound the tails. “I could give you the List of Infamy if you're interested.”

  “I am. My father's paper would love it.”

  She eased her way out of Eric's embrace to stand closer to Norej. “If that's true, you could also increase human awareness of the Feast of the Fallen One.”

  “An anti-elf holiday celebrated by elves – fascinating!”

  Oito and Revas looked to each for confirmation of the astonishing sight. Eric himself felt jealous and outraged. His arrival thunder had been stolen by Dengel! Even if it was about hatred of him, it still angered him.

  “Mr. Watley,” Norej said, “I'd like to discuss a job with you.”

  “What do you have in mind?” Eric asked sourly.

  His mercenary nature forbid him from turning down a job without hearing it out first. The three of them talked on the way to history class and it brightened Eric’s mood considerably. They settled on a deal before they reached the door. Inside, the teacher was lecturing on the era Dengel lived in.

  This one in particular was about Dengel's role in the War of Taeh's Vengeance. It might as well have been a sleep spell because half the class was drowsy. By the second half of the lecture, Revas was curled up in his seat with his tail swishing peacefully and Oito slept upright with his tongue slithering in and out. Only Norej and Annala remained attentive.

  “…was contracted by the second half brother's cousin of the region's headman for a means in which to conduct the Siege of Lluspha,” the teacher droned. “The Founder of Magic then replied–”

  “Bow down to my superior greatness!”

  A sphere of darkness hit the center of the room and burst into all-consuming blackness. Instantly, the light in the room died and a gust of wind blew out of nowhere. It scattered papers, threw pencils, and tossed hair.

  “I who controls the night itself, I who created magic, I who have an ego the size of a mountain! Dengel Tymh!”

  A ball of mana flashed into being above the teacher's desk. Its glow slowly grew until the students could see someone molding it in his hands.

  “Nature's beauty, I call...” The person clapped his hands together and light shone between the cracks of his fingers. “Now behold! The wonder of it all!” The mage spread his hands and a butterfly of light soared into the class. It made one circuit and alighted on Annala's head. “Looks like my butterfly has found a flower, and a beautiful one at that.” She blushed.

  The mage dismissed it all with a theatrical wave of his right hand and light returned to the room. Without the darkness to hide him, everyone saw the figure in a black cloak.

  “That was Dengel's real life. He's remembered as a Founder of Magic but he earned his living doing special effects for aristocrats.” Eric tore off the cloak to reveal a colorful and pointed hat hidden underneath. “He was one step below Court Jester because he didn't have the privilege of mocking the king. He was a sycophant instead.”

  The teacher looked at him. “You must have been the vessel I heard about.”

  “Landlord and I thought I could add some spice to your lecture so your students will learn something – or stay awake, if nothing else.”

  The teacher frowned. “I'm sure you know a lot about Dengel, but you have not been hired to teach this class.”

  “Actually, I have. A generous student thought the class would benefit from a primary source.” He made a grand gesture with his arms and shouted, “Look at the teacher if you would like to see me act out Lluspha!”

  The students, who had been awakened by Eric's entrance, looked to the teacher for an explanation. “It's unanimous then.” Eric looked over his shoulder at the teacher and shrugged. “Sorry, chief. The tribe has spoken.”

  “Wait a –”

  “From the memories of a magic villain.” Eric swung his staff in a circle. “Reveal the story and make it thrillin’!”

  A trail of mana streamed out of his staff and concentrated in a sphere of light. The sphere grew into a screen big enough for all to see. Inside was the viewpoint of someone standing on a hill overlooking a valley. To their right and left were soldiers and directly ahead was a fortified town.

  “This is the Siege of Llupsha as Dengel told me, every day, for a whole month.”

  Within the sphere, a pair of hands and arms whirled about in mysterious patterns and a voice called out words in a language no one recognized.

  “That's gibberish, in case you were wondering. Dengel said his clients were impressed by his ‘magical language.’”

  Dengel traced a circle around the town, said a word with an air of finality, and a fifty-foot chunk of rock arose out of the ground, snapping tree roots and grinding stone. Within minutes, the town of Llupsha was a prison. Dengel's company were the guards, and his patron the warden. The sphere zoomed in on the rock walls and displayed the companies drawing bows and notching arrows. They fired on anyone that left the cover of buildings. Dengel chuckled.

  “The siege lasted for about a week,” Eric continued. “Dengel said they had enough food to last longer, but, and I quote, ‘they were so afraid of my magical might that they threw themselves at my mercy,’ which I assume means they couldn't stand the snipers hovering over them.”

  The sphere fast-forwarded to a formal surrender, including enslavement for the losers and a feast for the winners. Dengel did not partake in the latter until he performed flashy magician-style magic for his patron. Finally, the town was garrisoned and Dengel moved on. The final scene was Dengel riding next to a big man wearing the skeletons of monsters.

  The sphere faded.

  The class whispered among themselves. The teacher looked abashed and unsure of what to do. Eric leaned back smugly. Dengel loved hearing the sound of his own voice; sometimes, Eric couldn't fall asleep at night because of the dead mage’s monologue. Payback’s a trickster, isn’t it, Dengel?

  All you’ve done is impress my glory upon them.

  Eric grit his teeth and pretended he didn’t hear that.

  “Mr. Watley,” the teacher said, “historical records state that Dengel was a hardworking individual who braved countless dangers to perfect the art we that we rely on today.”

  The teacher picked up a book and paged through it. When he found what he was looking for, he showed it to Eric. It was a picture of Dengel in a study. All around him were stacks of books and in front of him was ink, quill, and paper. His face was dignified, his hair brilliant, and his robes magnificent.

  It made Eric’s stomach turn and a shadow of Dengel appeared next to him. This Dengel’s golden hair was dull, the hook of his nose was exaggerated, and the rest of his face pockmarked. His elegant rune-covered robe was replaced by a black funeral shroud. He leaned over Eric's shoulders and whispered in his ear, Listen to your elder, boy. You know the truth of his words better than anyone.

  “I had that guy in my head for a whole month! I know him better than any historian.”

  The teacher opened his mouth when Annala raised her hand and stood up.

  “In my home village, we have a festival dedicated to Dengel.” Before the teacher could say anything, she continued, “The Feast of the Fallen One. We deface his statue, burn effigies, and recite his many atrocities. It will be available in the Darwoss Herald if anyone is interested.”

  Shadow Dengel floated to her chair and tried to grab her hair, but his translucent hand passed through. It should be “Feast of the Favored One,” you
smug, ugly, know-it-all slu–

  Eric grabbed his hair and tossed him into the ground. No one else could see him, so they assumed he was tussling with Tasio, thus leading to more rumors. The teacher dismissed the sight and continued the debate.

  “Yes, Ms. Enaz, we know how disappointed your race is that he shared magecraft with 'lower life forms.' Our textbook is interested only in an impartial view.”

  Annala looked affronted and sat down with her arms crossed.

  “So when does the textbook get that impartial view!?” Revas asked. He was already on his feet. “All I saw was constant praise of him!” Oito put a claw on his shoulder.

  “I beliefffe what my friend isssss trying to sssay issss that the texsss doesssn't talk of Dengel perssssonally. Only an account of hissss actionsss on the world sssstage.”

  To settle the matter of whose presentation was more effective, Eric suggested a pop quiz. The teacher quickly put one together and scored them ten minutes later. No one could remember a thing about the lecture, but everyone scored high on the presentation.

  “You're welcome,” Eric said with an obnoxious smile, but to his surprise, the teacher didn't look upset or angry. In fact, he looked bemused.

  “No wonder you're the Trickster's Choice. Class dismissed.”

  The teacher left without saying another word, and the bulk of the class followed him out. Eric's trio of friends stayed behind along with one other. Without leaving his seat, Norej slow-clapped. It was hard to tell if he was pleased with Eric for his performance or himself for thinking of it. Step by step, he descended to join them. He stopped in front of Eric and offered his hand.

  “Well done, Trickster's Choice.”

  Eric shook it. “Thank you. My pay?”

  Norej brought out a sack and placed a few coins in Eric's waiting hand. “Money well spent.”

  For the second time that day, Oito and Revas were stunned. “This was your idea?”

  He looked at them with disdain. “Is there something wrong with your eyes? Didn't you see me pay the mercenary?”

  Revas’ claws extended.