by Eden Redd
Professor Frost dipped her hands in a nearby chest and pulled out two potion bottles. The professor in black moved to Dax’s group and handed a bottle to Dax and another to Vance.
“Restoration Elixirs, enough for everyone to have one. It will help them recover,” Professor Frost said with a small smirk.
Dax put his arm under Symon’s head while Vance did the same to Fern. Thumbs knocked off corks as the potions were put to lips. Glowing liquid touched Symon’s mouth and his lips parted. More flowed, the spellsword drinking until his eyes slowly opened.
Dax smiled as he watched his friend slowly recover. Symon’s eyes blinked a few times before he sat up under his own power. Fern also sat up, still smiling as she snatched the bottle from Vance’s hand and guzzled the rest.
“We made it,” Symon smiled.
Dax nodded.
Some students stood up and stepped to the chests. Hands picked up bottles, bringing them to their tired companions. During this time, Dax sat back, palms into the grass and dirt as he took in his surroundings.
A white lighthouse tower stood. The point was very high, stabbing into the sky like a dagger tip. At the base, a large, round keep stood, the lighthouse tower resting on top. Cracks ran along the white stone, showing that the structure had been standing a long time. Moss grew from some cracks and wild plants stood in patches along the inner courtyard. The walls surrounding the keep and lighthouse were gray. Some of the stone stairs leading to the top of the wall had crumbled away to nothing. Others looked like they could fall at any moment.
Fern flopped onto Dax’s lap, looking up to him with adoring eyes. The mage looked down, his fingers running through her blood red hair.
“I’m so happy,” the fair breathed in the fresh, clean air.
“Exam isn’t over,” Dax said with a sarcastic smile.
“I know. It’s this moment. I never thought I would be so happy just being with my friends, and you.”
Dax nodded. “Yea, you’re okay.”
Fern’s eyes narrowed. She kept her smile as she punched the mage in the chest. Dax nearly fell back from the blow, his arm and hand sinking into the ground so he didn’t completely fall back. Fern was up, pressing her lips to his, the two of them kissing in the sunlight.
Symon slowly rose to his feet, glanced at his friends making out and shook his head. The spellsword stood with his chest out as he turned his attention to Counselor Skullcut.
“We’re ready for our next challenge,” Symon said with renewed energy.
“We’ll address all of you once everyone is feeling better. Some coteries are on their way and may filter in over the next day or two. I received reports on your progress, but there seemed to be a moment where your group could not be located. Is there any reason why that is so?”
Symon looked to the side for a moment, deep in thought. When he looked to the counselor, the spellsword shook his head.
“We simply travelled here. Aside from a few phantom skirmishes, it was a pretty standard march.”
Skullcut nodded and placed his hand on Symon’s shoulder. “We’ll re-check the reports, but it shouldn’t be something of concern. The mana here under the island has played havoc with the seer’s visions before. We’re simply glad you made it here in one piece.”
Symon nodded. “How have the other coteries managed?”
Skullcut eyed the spellsword. “A good commander checks on all troops in the field. You will make a fine spellsword and leader when you graduate.
“As for the other coteries, some have lost members during the march. Mages teleported to their locations with clerics to gather the fallen and bring them back to the ships. They will be fine and thankfully, no deaths this year so far. Let’s keep it that way,” the counselor winked.
Symon bowed. “We will do our best.”
Students began to stand and step closer. Soon a crowd formed, bodies refreshed. Dax stood toward the front, next to Symon and the rest of their coterie around them. Vance looked over, watching Miranda step toward the front. The lancer held her spear, standing at attention and waiting patiently.
“She will never know how you feel if you don’t say anything,” Zarra whispered to Vance.
The spikey haired mage’s cheeks grew red and he looked down.
“Don’t let your family’s past define you,” the cleric said with warm kindness.
“It’s difficult. I know what your saying is right, but something deep within keeps me from being true to myself.”
Zarra nodded. “One day it won’t control you anymore. I could have held onto my hate for how unfair life can be. I chose to move beyond it, not letting it define me.”
Vance looked to the golden eyed cleric and smiled. “Maybe with a little more time, I can be a better person.”
Zarra smiled. “Vance, you are already a better person.”
The mage and cleric smiled.
Professor Frost snapped her fingers, all students turning their attention to the high mage. The professor looked around with a stern gaze, watching as the crowd grew silent, all of their attention on her.
“We are pleased to see you all here, braving the wilds to reach this destination. We know it has been difficult, but there is little time to rest because the exam is still ongoing.”
Professor Frost lifted her hand and pointed to the Lighthouse, “The next part of your exam is simple. There is a sublevel to the Lighthouse that was formerly a barracks, dining areas, and command quarters. They have long fallen to disrepair. The sublevel is now a maze.
“Much like artifact hunting, this place will serve as an example of what you might encounter should you be tasked with locating lost magical items. I don’t believe I need to tell everyone here how valuable magical items are since we lost so many during the war.
“There are four trophy crystals hidden along the sublevel. Those who arrived first will be led to one of several entrances so they explore the ruins and locate their trophy. Since many more will be arriving, time will not be your friend. Phantoms of various monsters and creatures haunt the sublevel. Some are more powerful than others. Your new mission objective is to search out a trophy crystal and bring it back to the surface.”
The professor let her arm drop to her side and she looked to the crowd with no-nonsense eyes. “Each coterie is only allowed one crystal. Under no circumstances are you to take another one or from another coterie. The sublevel is vast and some areas might have actual creatures that have made it their home. Be wary of such creatures and try to avoid them if you can. If you are attacked, you may freely defend yourselves and each other. What you may not do is attack or hinder another coterie. This is a cooperative mission and we are watching.”
Counselor Skullcut moved to Professor Frost’s side and addressed the crowd, “Take a moment to form any strategies you may have. We will be leading coteries to each entrance in turn. Once all four crystals have been obtained, this part of the exam will end and you have earned a small rest. Any questions?”
Heads nodded in agreement, but no one spoke up.
“Excellent. Take a moment before we begin,” Counselor Skullcut smiled.
Symon’s coterie moved together into a huddle.
“We made it here first so I assume we will be going in first. How is everyone feeling and what are your mana levels?”
“The potion restored my mana. I actually feel great,” Noss spoke up.
Several heads nodded.
Dax checked his own stats. They were back to full. The elixir was so effective, Dax felt like he just woke up refreshed and ready to take on the world.
Sunlight beamed down from the heavens, the heavy murmur of conversations filling the courtyard. A breeze washed down over the wall’s edge, students talking excitedly about making it here and ready to take on the challenge ahead of them.
Symon looked to the coterie with pride and strength, “We made it here first and we should be proud of that. I’m proud of all of you for giving it your all.
“When we get
called, we’re going to handle this part of the exam differently. It’s true we can cover more ground if we split up, we have no idea what challenges we may come across. For that, we will stick together as one unit.”
Isani shook her head, “Ressa and I can still scout ahead. We won’t be much good to you if we're just with the group.”
Symon nodded. “While that is true, if either of you get snatched or attacked, it will turn our search into a rescue mission. We don’t know what we’re dealing with and I doubt this part of the exam will be a simple one. If a moment calls for scouts, you and Ressa will be the first to know.”
The shadow elf gave a light nod. “Fine, we’ll play it your way,” Isani said with a sly smile.
Symon returned her smile with his own before addressing the group again. “I want us to succeed at all costs, but I will not play with our chances. Stay together and we will be back to the surface before nightfall. Are we ready?”
Fern held up her hand. “High palm!”
Smiles bloomed as everyone raised their hands and clapped them toward the center. Even Clive grinned as he gave a high palm. Noss jumped up, his palm slapping others. When they finished, the coterie turned around to Counselor Skullcut approaching.
“Is your coterie ready?” Skullcut asked Symon.
“We are,” the spellsword replied.
“Follow me,” the counselor said before turning and walking.
The coterie followed in two lines of five. Symon followed the counselor as they moved around the side of the keep, an open entryway becoming visible. Brilliant sunlight illuminated the entrance, stone stairs leading down into the dark as the group approached.
“Since your coterie braved the phantom army first, you get to begin the exam. Stay true to each other and you should complete this part of the exam with flying colors,” Skullcut smiled.
“Thank you, Counselor,” Symon bowed.
“I’ll leave you to it. Safe exploration and may you return victorious,” the counselor bowed before leaving the group.
Symon looked down the ancient staircase, foreboding darkness writhing to the day’s light. A hesitation slithered into the spellswords confidence, seeing how real this part of the exam was. Never having explored ruins or dungeons, it caused the spellsword to stutter as he took one step forward and stopped.
The group watched, but it was Dax who stepped to his friend’s side and placed his hand on Symon’s shoulder.
“We believe in you to lead us,” the mage said with a confident tone.
Symon looked to his friend and then to the rest of the group. Mouths smiled as heads nodded. The sight of everyone in the sunlight eased the nervous tension in Symon’s shoulders before he stood taller.
“I’ll lead the way. Stay close and we will succeed,” the spellsword said before moving to the steps and making his way down.
The light faded and dim torchlight glowed. Symon made his way into a wide corridor, some of the old torches lit and others cold and dark. Shadows seemed to seethe and writhe in the light.
Light flashed and Fern was in her true fairy form. Wings fluttering, she hovered in the air with alert senses. The rest of the coterie reached the bottom of the stairs and fanned out a few feet from each other. Webs hung from corners and dust covered the floor. The lone corridor stretched on, cool air creeping into warm bodies.
“We need to mark our way so we know how to get back. Any suggestions?” Symon asked.
“I can shift the stones on the walls to form arrows, pointing our way back,” Clive mentioned.
“Okay Clive, that’s your job. Vance will assist.”
Vance nodded.
“Okay, let’s go exploring,” Symon said as he led the way.
The coterie fell into formation. Symon led the way, Fern hovering behind him. Dax, Vance, Nuria, and Noss were in the middle. Isani, Ressa, and Zarra were toward the back, keeping an eye on Clive. The large mage was last, a card in his hand and whispering trigger words. As they walked, an imprint of an arrow carved into rocky stone, pointing their way back.
Senses were alive as they made their way deeper. Four-way intersections appeared, Symon looking around and pointing in a direction. The group followed silently, watching for anything.
Dax’s mind worked as he kept his hands and wrists loose. Ideas flowed, the mage pondering if he should mention he could create constructs to search for them, but he quickly dismissed it. Sending phantom constructs into an unknown dungeon might give away their position to anything down there.
The mage looked ahead to Symon. The spellsword seemed to be ready for anything, his hand lightly against the pommel of his sheathed sword at his belt. Torchlight turned the group into half-shadows as they made their way along, Dax wondered what lurked beneath the lighthouse that the teachers had not created.
The group moved past an open doorway, the actual door long rotted away. Symon looked to the side, eyeing the dark room within before motioning to everyone to keep walking. One by one, every passed the open doorway, glancing in and moving on.
Dax walked past, eyes penetrating the darkness to see a wall had caved in. The mage’s gaze lingered as the darkness beyond the jagged hole seemed to ooze shadows. The mage could have sworn he heard a light breathing before walking on, the room now out of sight.
Clive slowed, pointing a card and whispering the trigger word. The stone shifted and formed an arrow against the surface. The mage nodded at his own handiwork. The moment he began to walk, a whisper slid into his mind. It was soft at first, barely noticeable, but it soon grew louder, telling him to slow down and relax. Clive shook his head, his vision blurring slightly. Hand out, he reached to the wall to lean on it and gather his thoughts when something touched his hand.
Clive turned his head, his hand in the webbed hand of a phantom Illkith. Its body glowed like a ghost, tentacles moving and eyes not blinking. Cruel revulsion simmered to nothing as the mage wanted to know the strange creature in the dungeon. Losing all track of what was happening, the mage’s singular thought was to follow the Illkith anywhere it wanted to go.
The Illkith tugged at the mage’s hand slightly, wanting to pull him away. Clive smiled, agreeing to follow the creature. Thoughts of food and drinks filled the mage’s mind as he took a step with the phantom. Light blazed from behind but Clive ignored it, simply wanting to go where the Illkith wanted to go.
Zarra’s hand grabbed the mage and slammed him against a wall, her staff swinging. The phantom gave a gurgled hiss as it stepped back, the end of the staff just missing its head. It let go of Clive and backpaddled. Zarra let go of Clive only for the mage to grab her, push and slam her against the wall on the other side of the corridor.
“He’s a friend!” Clive growled.
Zarra’s hand clamped on the mage’s large shoulder and squeezed. Clive’s eyes widened as pain blasted his nerves. The mage quickly fell to his knees under the cleric’s strength and stayed there.
Two shadows burst past, blades gleaming in the dim light. The phantom muttered a wet incantation, but before it could finish, a blade stabbed into a gut and another slashed across its neck, separating its head.
Isani and Ressa took a step back as the phantom shattered into bits of light before they faded away.
Clive looked up, realization spilling into his mind as the Illkith’s power winked away. Zarra let go and the large mage stood up, rubbing his shoulder.
The rest of the group appeared around them, all eyes on Clive and Zarra.
“I… I’m not sure what happened. I was marking our way when that Illkith just appeared. It seemed friendly, I think. I just wanted to follow it,” Clive whispered with confused eyes.
“Illkith are not just spellcasters, but manipulators as well. They have all kinds of abilities to entice their prey,” Vance said in a low voice.
“Prey?” Clive asked.
Vance nodded. “They like to eat brains.”
Noss looked around nervously, “They are phantoms. They’re not… going to eat our brai
ns, right?”
Vance gave a blank look.
The kobold looked up to the mage in disbelief, “You didn’t answer the question.”
Zarra put her hand on the kobold’s shoulder. “I’m sure the professors wouldn’t let the phantoms do such a terrible thing.”
The cleric looked to Vance, “Right?”
The spikey-haired mage shrugged.
Isani hid her smile while Ressa giggled.
Symon spoke up, “The phantoms here are playing some kind of mind games so that means we must be on extra alert. No one travels alone. Isani and Ressa, you're guarding Clive from this point on.”
The shadow elf eyed the large mage with mild annoyance before nodding.
“Let’s keep going,” Symon said and took the lead once again.
Time lost all meaning as the group moved along desolate corridors. Dax pulled back a sleeve and checked his rig again. Since the Illkith were trying to manipulate them, the mage pulled out a card and slipped another one into its place. The Mind Shield card was safely in its slot and the mage let his arm drop to his side, sleeve covering it. If another creature tried something like that again, Dax would be ready.
Nuria walked with her gaze on the floor. Dax moved to her side and the beautiful mage lifted her head, looked over to him and gave a weak smile.
“I thought you could feel them?” Dax asked in a light whisper.
“I can, but this place reeks of psychic energy. It’s hard to place where they are. I think some of them are moving through secret tunnels,” Nuria whispered.
“Do your best, if you can,” Dax smiled, reached out and took her hand into his.
Nuria looked down at their hands as they walked, her gaze drinking in the moment.
We’ll get through this.
“I know,” Nuria whispered.
Dax’s eyes widened. “You can read my thoughts?”
“Surface ones,” Nuria smiled.
That’s why she didn’t fight me on the deal about names of the cabal.
“I had to be sure you were staying true to your word,” Nuria said along his thoughts.
Dax nodded.
