Looming Shadow: Journey to Chaos book 2

by Brian Wilkerson

  “Just like a wooden boat, support me now so I may float. Air Disk!”

  A disc of air formed under his feet and he was about to push off it when a burning beam fell from above. He blocked it with his barrier, but the impact pushed his other foot and his legs through the floor while the house continued to deteriorate. The boy sobbed and held him tighter. Shadow Dengel looked down his hideous nose.

  See you in the Abyss, you failure.

  Gritting his teeth, Eric muttered, “A lift would be a gift. Wind Jump!”

  A gust of wind pushed him out of the floor and out of the house just before the rest of the building collapsed around him. He landed hard on the street and skidded to a stop. For a moment, the kid held still. Then he perked up and said, “Thanks, Trickster's Vessel!”

  Eric groaned. “Close enough. What were you doing in there?”

  “Uhh...” He tried to escape Eric's grasp, but the mage held him fast. “I'm sorry! It was so shiny and they didn't want it...”

  A beam of light flashed and vaporized the rubble. The Tazul roared and a shockwave rattled the city to its foundations. Eric dropped his barrier when it passed and stood up.

  “Kid, you have two choices: come with me and pay for theft or run away and die.”

  Fireballs fell from the sky and peppered the road all around them. The only place of safety was the small circle created by Eric's barrier.

  “Pay! Definitely pay!”

  “Then keep your mouth closed and hold on!”

  The Tazul shook itself and spread a hailstorm of scales all over the city. Each one was bigger than a human and heavier than an orc. I can't dodge all those! Eric looked for any kind of cover. The Arsenal Lodge was just up ahead. It was built like a fortress. He pushed himself faster as the scales fell; one to his left, one to his right, one in front that he swerved around only to find himself running straight into a fourth!

  “DYNAMIC ENTRY!”

  Boom! A leg of steel kicked it just hard enough to divert its path away from his head and into a cart behind him, which shattered instantly. The knightly figure landed and fist bumped itself. Eric was about to thank them when it grabbed his arm and pulled him inside the Arsenal Lodge.

  “Stop gawking, Dimwit!”

  The forge was undamaged in every way. Although the scales fell all around it, none of them so much as scratched the glass. Ax Arsenal himself was playing chess with his son at the register counter. Both of them were decked out in the best equipment he had in stock.

  “Stay here,” he said without looking away from the game. “You'll be safe.”

  “There's an S class outside!” Eric shouted.

  “I have faith in my merchandise.”

  “But it’s –”

  “I have faith in my merchandise.”

  “But thoow! Did you have to do that with a gauntlet?”

  “You would have splattered without me, idiot!”

  “I was worried about you! Where's Nolien?”

  Tiza opened a compartment above her pteruges and pulled out a scry. “Where else would he be?” Eric rushed back out the door, but she grabbed his tunic collar before he could build momentum. “Slow down, Leroy Jenkins. You need more than orc toenails if you're going out there.”

  Eric appraised his armor and realized that he wasn't as quick as he thought. The armor, as tough as human bone, was chipped in places, cracked in others, and all over scorched by the fire. Reluctantly, he decided to wait while Tiza picked out replacements. She walked the aisles and picked up the highest quality and most expensive armor off the shelves.

  “By the way, what's that thing on your arm?”

  Eric lifted his arm and the kid rose with it like a leech.

  “A thief I found on the way here.”

  “Okay.”

  Tiza set the armor on the ground and nonchalantly began to disarm him.

  “Hey!”

  “Hold still. This won't take long.”

  After taking off the ruined armor, she snapped, laced, and buckled the new armor in place. She was remarkably efficient. It was the same practiced movement as a squire. Didn't ladies in the Grisly Tales do this for their knights...? Tiza’s more like a knight herself…

  “Done!” She looked over her shoulder at the blacksmith and his son. “You don't mind, right?”

  Ax moved a piece. “No. Go ahead. Bring them back when you're dead…done.” His son fidgeted. “I meant ‘done.’”

  “Okaayyy.” Tiza placed the frozen-with-fear thief off to the side and secured him by bending a spear about his waist. “On that cheery note, let's go!”

  The two mercenaries ran outside with Tiza taking point. Eric followed Tiza as she led the way to the Heleti General Hospital in Healer Town where they would find Nolien. She brushed aside fire and debris alike in her mighty armor. It not only protected her from attack but also amplified her mana reserves and focused her power. Eric wore the same set and it made him think he could wrestle a Cecri or blow away a xethras.

  As they ran down the street, they spotted civilians threatened by the monster’s rampage. There was a man pinned in place by a fallen cart and children trapped in a corner by a meteor’s flame. The two shared a glance and went to work.

  Tiza grabbed the wrecked cart and hoisted it over her head. The man crawled out from underneath and Tiza tossed it down an alley. Then she hoisted the man himself onto her shoulders. All the while, she told him that it was Tiza Sprial, Dragon’s Lair warrior, that was saving him.

  Eric pointed his staff at the meteor and quelled its fire with his spirit alone. With a Wind Hand, he lifted it, encased it in a wind sphere, and broke it down into dust. The armor and accessories made both feats easy. The children looked upon him in both fear and awe. Eric encased them in wind spheres as well and commanded them to follow him.

  The plaza for the hospital was a wide-open area populated by benches, several statues, and a fountain in the center. All of them were in ruins from the Tazul’s attack. When the pair reached the later, it charged an overhead beam.

  As soon as the gleam fell over them, Eric grabbed Tiza's arm and sprang forward with his winged feet. The jump stirred a cloud of dust that looked like a cloud at his feet and the light of the flames colored his red hair to match. Nearby soldiers stopped to stare at the flame-haired, cloud-riding, staff-bearing figure rushing towards them.

  “He really is the Trickster's Choice...”

  He cleared the glow just as the beam struck the ground. The shockwave pushed him and the soldiers all the way to the hospital. Nolien stood with other mages at the entrance to unite their barriers and break the wave's power before it reached the main building.

  “Tenderfoot!” Tiza broke free of Eric and dope-slapped Nolien. “What are you doing here!? You're supposed to be at the place doing the thing with me! And Daylra. We had a plan!”

  “This is a hospital! I'm a healer! The Griffocratic Oath!” He blocked another dope slap. “It's important. We can talk about it later. Right now, we need your help moving people out.”

  Yes, run away like the monkeys you are. Eric spun around to see Shadow Dengel standing on the Tazul's scales. I would have stayed, defeated it, and propelled my fame to greater heights. The crystal orb slowly charged and its gleam fell over the hospital. Make your decision.

  Eric gripped his staff tight enough to whiten his knuckles. No one could stop that beam. Even if all the mages and soldiers and even the invalids joined their barriers together, they couldn’t stop it. The soldiers grabbed whoever they could carry and ran. Many of the healers did likewise, but others found themselves unable to abandon the hospital and the people there. Those unable to escape made their peace with Death. Those unwilling to help ran for their lives. None of these options suited Eric.

  Instead, he renewed his winged feet and jumped straight up towards the beast. Screaming obscenities, he plunged his mage spear through Shadow Dengel's chest and into the crystal orb behind it. The two crystals sparked and a jolt of power blasted him back to ear
th. Shadow Dengel sneered at him the whole way down to the ground.

  Tiza caught him, put him on his feet, and dope-slapped him.

  “Idiot! Don't go rushing off! It's my job to protect you!”

  Nolien put a hand on his shoulder. “As your friends, we can't let you do this alone.”

  Eric’s strike disrupted the crystal orb’s charge and dissipated its energy. It began again, which gave Nolien time to enact his plan.

  “We fight together! Blessing of Chaos: Sage’s Might!”

  A pale yellow ball shot to Eric, seeped through his armor, and melded with his spirit. His eyes shot open. He felt twice as strong magically, and the armor's enhancements amplified his power further still. A pale yellow aura signified the enchantment’s presence.

  “Blessing of Chaos: Monster’s Strength!”

  A pale brown light followed the yellow and Eric felt his strength increase beyond the armor’s enhancements. A pale brown aura joined the first and melded with it.

  “Blessing of Order: Orc Skin! Blessing of Order: Orc Spirit!”

  Two pale grey lights – one light and one dark – shot to Tiza. With the power of both the orc and the magic armor, she lifted the equally armored Eric as if he weighed nothing. Then she chucked him at the crystal orb with the force of a sonic boom. Eric flapped his winged feet to increase his speed further and pointed his spear forwards like a harpoon. The crystal orb fired and he focused his barrier into the shape of a wedge. When he collided with the beam, he cut through it and sailed unhindered to the beam’s source.

  Then he began to lose momentum. The beam slowed him down and cracked his barrier. Eric dug deep within his staff and his soul for greater power. He mended his barrier, cast the Air Disk spell, and flapped harder with his winged feet. The outside world began to dim, and the Tazul itself began to disappear. The colliding mana was highlighted; the only thing in sight. His mind drifted into a single thought of pushing forwards.

  Immediately, he shook his head and asked his staff for greater strength. The world came back into view and so did his pain. The conflict seared his nerves, razed his mind, and strained his spirit. His barrier continued cracking and his levitation spells flickered. At this rate, he’d be lucky to fall into a coma before he was vaporized in the beam’s path.

  The barrier bent over the crystal, pressed against it and into it by the beam’s force; tighter and tighter and tighter. Despite Eric’s efforts and despite his pain, it was pressed into a tight ball. The Tazul’s beam washed over him and he could heard his armor disintegrating all around him.

  This is the end, boy, Shadow Dengel whispered. You lacked the strength to be a hero.

  I'm not a hero; I'm a mercenary! He dredged the last bit of mana from his soul and the last bit of power from his staff. I will beat this thing and the Dragon's Lair will be famous! Eric brandished his staff at the crystal orb and focused one last mana bolt within his own crystal. I'LL USE IT TO SMEAR YOUR ABYSS-CURSED NAME!

  Within the Soiléir, grey light flared into life. It shot across the plaza and lit up the area like the midday sun. Then it retracted like an ocean's undertow and pulled Nolien and Tiza off their feet. The Tazul's beam was drawn away from them and into the crystal. The grey light greedily drank in the monster's mana and channeled it directly to Eric’s soul, refilling his mana reserves and restoring the Winged Feet and Air Disk spells to full strength. Without resistance and now supercharged, Eric rocketed to the Tazul’s belly and pierced the crystal orb, shattering it in a fantastic display of light and sound.

  The colossus’ roar of pain collapsed the more shoddily built structures in the area. Eric crashed into the fountain, pumped his staff, shouted “Huzzah!” and then collapsed, unconscious.

  Tiza clattered to his side. She was tired, in pain, and her state-of-the-art armor was ruined, either flaking off or outright missing. Yet she still heaved Eric over her shoulder and carted him away from the monster. Nolien matched her pace and recast the buffs on her before switching to healing. The Tazul charged another orb when another armored figure ran forward. “Avatars of Lava and Ice: empower me!”

  Gushing magma streamed from the staff and coated the great monster’s belly. The local temperature plummeted to that of Outer Space and froze the lava and the creature in place. Finally, they joined to create a rock the size of the royal place, and smashed it over the Tazul’s great head.

  At first, the beast didn’t react. The debris from the weapon sparkled on its way down. Then it stumbled back and forth, like a silly cartoon, and failed to step on anything or anyone. It fell face first, shrinking and dissolving on the way down. Its claws melted and its hairs ran together. The entire body shimmered golden-brown and coalesced into a giant blob. Seconds before it reached the ground, it took the form of a humanoid creature with pointy ears.

  “That was very rude,” it said, rubbing an exaggerated bump on its head. “I come to show my support for you, my favorite follower, and this is the welcome I get?” The creature put its hands on its hips. “It's downright ungrateful.”

  The armored figure slouched in equal parts relief and disappointment. Then it pulled off its helmet and shook out her shoulder-length green hair. Kallen Selios was decked out in similar armor to Tiza and Eric, but hers was customized and far more worn and torn.

  “I should have known it was you, milard. A real Tazul wouldn't have bothered with small fry. They'd go for something with more meat.”

  “Like you?” Tasio asked with his eternal smile.

  Kallen flipped her hair. “But of course. I'm one of the most powerful spirits in this country. Speaking of which, Tiza put Eric down so I can work on him.”

  “I’m Eric’s healer,” Nolien said.

  “I know, but do you know how to treat soul trauma?”

  “Tiza, put him down.”

  Tiza did so. Kallen knelt at his side and placed his head in her lap. Then she placed one hand on his head and a second on his chest. She chanted a healing spell unlike any Nolien had ever studied. It sounded more like a prayer than any academic chant.

  “You two look adorable!” Tasio gushed. “The perfect couple – soul mates!”

  “Oh, stop, milard,” Kallen said bashfully. She averted her eyes, covered her cheeks, and other archetypal maiden modesty behaviors. “You're embarrassing me.”

  They shared a good laugh. Tiza didn't get the joke and was about to ask when Basilard arrived out of nowhere and shushed her. He insisted that the two follow him back to the guild so he could remove Tiza's armor and tend to her injuries. They looked to the trickster god that was formerly a monster. He gave them a thumbs-up and a smile. They groaned and followed their mentor. The trickster and his follower were left alone with Eric.

  “‘Now he'll outstare the lightning,’” Kallen quoted. “‘To be furious is to be frightened out of fear. And in this mood, the dove will peck the estridge.' You seem to enjoy Rattleglobe's work, milard.”

  “Oh yes. The man's a genius,” Tasio replied, lounging in the air. “Me and Krank saw every one of his plays at the Sphere Theater; Bugonthy and Leopatara was one of our favorites. ‘When valor dost prey on reason, it eats the sword it fights with.’ Keep a look out for that, okay?”

  Kallen nodded as she stroked Eric's hair. Then, with great personal interest, she glanced at his staff. Within the crystal, there was a pale grey sphere. It glowed softly at the very center. Pulling out her own crystal, she compared the two. Hers had three lights, including the grey; the former orbited the latter like planets in a solar system.

  “He's taken the next step to catching up with me...” she said softly. “How long till he's ready?”

  “Mentally speaking, I hope the Mana Mutation Summit will put the cap on it. Spiritually speaking, I'm hoping for Arin’s Festival.”

  “That soon!?”

  Tasio shrugged. “It can't be helped. He was supposed to stay hidden longer but –”

  Kallen gasped, bringing a hand to her mouth. “Is it...my fault!?”

  T
asio shook his head and smiled kindly. “No, no, Kallen. If it's anyone's fault, it's mine. I could have dropped him on another planet, but he would have no allies. I wanted to give you two a chance to bond, so I dropped him in Mambi. There are other factors involved with his accelerated homecoming – Kasile's paranoia for one and Epideus' spawn for another – but the thing to remember is this: The best possible outcome was what occurred – you coming back with him.”

  “But if I stayed there...extended my research...he could've trained and practiced and...”

  “For what? If you stayed any longer, then Eric would have walked back or bought his own ticket. The best possible outcome is what occurred, Kallen. We have to make use of the time we have.”

  “He's not gonna make it...” Kallen said, eyes truly downcast.

  “He will. Believe he will.”

  When Eric awoke, he wondered about what warm and soft thing he was lying in. He'd never felt anything so comfortable; peace and contentment flowed from his head to the rest of his body. With a start, he realized it was Kallen's lap. He jumped out and waved his staff. Tasio put his mischievous smile back on and Kallen scowled.

  “You know, girls get offended when you do that.”

  “Wha-what's going on? Where's Tiza!? Nolien!? The Tazul!?”

  “I took care of it; don't worry,” Kallen said.

  Eric looked scathingly at Tasio. “It was you, wasn't it?”

  “Me?” Tasio asked with wounded innocence. “Eric, I'm hurt. Has our relationship decayed so far that you automatically assume the worst whenever we meet?”

  Eric stared.

  “Okay, it was me.”

  “Do you get your kicks scaring people half to death!?”

  “Nope. I was helping.” Tasio counted on his fingers. “The recruits wanted to see a creature of legend, Tiza wanted more street credits, Nolien wanted to show off his new skills, the soldiers wanted some time off, the city needed more room, the metallurgy and construction industries could use a boost, and a movie director prayed for inspiration. I granted their wishes.”