by Eric Vall
My dagger seared at my hip, and I clutched the hilt and brought it in front of me. To my surprise, it also glowed pink instead of what seemed to be its usual blueish color, and it dawned on me then that there had to be a connection, a bond between myself and my baroquer.
I stood on my feet, shocked to find that I was still in one piece, and approached my baroquer. One foot in front of the other, I marched, dagger in hand, back into battle. I came to a stop between the baroquer’s legs and took a stance. I probably seemed small and puny to anyone who might have been an onlooker, not that there were any, but I felt stronger than I ever had before.
I yelled, and the sound seemed to disappear into the void that was the Shadowscape as I brought my dagger up, let my mana flow into it, and unleashed all that energy into another powerful shockwave. The blast was even more intense than the last time I had used the blade, powerful enough to knock my guardian baroquer’s sword aside as it smashed into the pyrewyrm’s chest. I took several more steps forward, sucked in a deep breath, and did it again, and then again. With each piercing wave of pure light, the pyrewyrm looked more and more drained of energy, as if the dagger’s power was somehow disintegrating the corrupted rhin inside of it.
My baroquer followed behind me and took this moment of opportunity to swing at the pyrewyrm with all its might. The flat edge of the sword connected with the wyrm’s head, and it sailed into a pile of ruins, crashed through stones, tumbled, flailed, then skidded to a dead stop.
I scrambled back into the baroquer’s hand, and it carried me away to where the pyrewyrm lay. All the while, I only hoped that Gawain and Erin had made it out of the ruins.
When my baroquer set me down again, I was face to face with the very creature that had wrought so much destruction to the real world. The pyrewyrm was a sucker of souls if my memory served me right. I was glad that no one had to suffer that fate, and now this one would never get the chance to.
My baroquer and I lifted our weapons over the battered and broken monstrosity at the same time. As the baroquer brought its giant sword down into the pyrewyrm’s chest, I thrust my dagger into its skull. Rhin seeped out of it, but the sound of its hiss as its life was taken away was infinitely more bearable than its normal cry and much sweeter to my ears.
Still in total harmony, we both removed our weapons. My dagger returned to its normal state, and the fire that surrounded the baroquer returned to the orange and red it was supposed to be.
“We did it,” I uttered to the baroquer, and though I might have imagined it, I would have sworn I saw it nod in response. “Let’s get back to the others.”
My giant lifted me up again, and I smiled as we set out to find Gawain and Erin. I’d gotten used to traversing the Shadowscape in much bigger steps.
They weren’t far, at least by the standards of the baroquer’s big metal steps. The two of them were huddled in what looked to be the remnants of the girls' dormitories. I was impressed that Gawain had made it that far while carrying Erin. That wasn’t an easy trek.
Gawain looked up at me as we approached. He looked drained, and there were several more cuts on him than there were when I’d left them.
“You made it.” He smirked as the baroquer set me down in front of them.
“So did you.” I turned to the baroquer and held up my hand. “I couldn’t have done it without your help.”
The baroquer very gently touched its hand to mine in a fashion that I could only describe as the gentlest of high-fives, and I found myself amazed that such a brutal monster could be so kind to humans. It was oddly endearing. It retreated back into its crystal, and I turned back to Gawain and Erin.
“How is she?” I asked and knelt beside her. She was calm, and her skin was cool and clammy. Her fever must have broken, and the poison was slowly working its way out of her system.
“She’s been asleep the whole time,” Gawain answered. “We ran into some imps on the way here. Nothing that I couldn’t handle on my own, but she didn’t make a peep.”
I caught a glimpse of a smile on his lips, and I chuckled. I wasn’t going to point it out and start an argument over whether or not he could in the first place. I’d save it for another time when it would be more embarrassing to bring it up.
The Shadowscape gave a familiar rumble, and I perked up. The rift was closing. Varleth made it, just like I knew he would.
The now-familiar tingle of having the Shadowscape ripped out from around me ran through my body, and suddenly we were back in the real world. As it turned out, we really were right outside of the girl’s dorms, and it looked like it was the middle of the night. Everything thankfully seemed to be in pristine condition, which meant that if any of the monsters made it out of the rift, they didn’t make it this far. Good.
“Gryff? Is that you?” A voice I recognized sounded from my right, and Gawain and I looked to see Arwyn racing towards us.
“Ar-- Ms. Hamner,” I stuttered and caught myself before I could be inappropriate.
She shushed me and touched my cheeks, then checked Gawain. When she finally saw Erin, she gasped.
“Oh no, she needs attention now,” she said frantically. “What happened to her?”
“She ran out of my magic, and we got separated,” I started. “Then she got exposed to gastrotoad toxins…”
Arwyn held up her hand and cradled Erin against her. Her eyes went wide, and she searched the area around us.
“Varleth…?” she trailed off, and based on the expression and color draining from her face, I could tell that she had assumed the worst.
“Is in the city somewhere,” I finished for her. “Safe and sound, I bet, as he closed the rift.”
She nodded as relief washed over her face and then looked over Gawain and me again.
“If you can walk, follow me,” Arwyn told us. “If not, I’ll send someone to fetch you.” With that, she whisked Erin away to get treatment.
I looked to Gawain, who nodded, and I helped him onto his feet. He was a little wobbly, but he managed okay. I had started to walk away when he called out to me.
“You dropped this.”
When I turned, I saw him holding a grayish crystal with a green hue to it. It was shaped like a small wing.
“That isn’t one of mine,” I said slowly, but I took it from him, anyway. As soon as it touched the palm of my hand, I nearly dropped it again. “Holy shit.”
“What?” he asked, mildly curious.
“It’s the essence crystal for the pyrewyrm.” I laughed a little and turned it over in my hands. I couldn’t believe I had the chance to control a monster as wicked as a pyrewyrm.
I started to walk off again, and again, Gawain called out to me, only this time he fell into step beside me. It was weird to walk alongside him as a peer and not want to throttle him completely.
“Hey, Gryff?” he started, and I was shocked at the use of my real name. I looked to him fully, and he brought his eyes up to meet mine.
“Thanks for coming for me,” he said, and I smiled.
“Anytime, Gawain.” I laughed. “Besides, don’t we have a duel to fight someday?”
“That we do,” he said, and the man’s lips curved up into a sincere smile.
Chapter 17
“How much time passed while we were in the Shadowscape?” I asked Arwyn as she tended to me in the infirmary, even after I insisted I was fine. I probably wasn’t, but the high from coming off an epic battle had convinced me that I was.
“About two days,” she answered softly as she ran her fingers through my hair. Her healing light washed over me, and I instantly felt loads better.
I laid back quietly and shut my eyes. “Feels nice.”
I could sense the smile in Arwyn’s tone as she responded. “Good. You should get some rest.”
“Wait. What happened to the rest of my team?” I cracked an eye open and saw that she sat at the edge of the bed. I did see Arwyn smile then, and she put a hand on my chest to ease me back into the pillows again.
&nbs
p; “Headmaster Sleet sent someone to fetch Varleth from the town proper,” Arwyn told me. “Gawain will need a few days to recover from his injuries, but he will heal nicely, despite some scarring. As for Erin, she too will be alright, though it’s going to take a bit of time for her to recover.”
Arwyn pressed her lips. “Gastrotoad gas is quite dangerous, as you well know, but you managed to get her out of the rift before she was too far gone. She’ll have to undergo treatments for a time until we can be certain that all the poison has left her body. She is expected to make a full recovery though, assuming that there isn’t any lasting damage.”
I frowned at that last bit, but I was glad to know that Erin was alive. She’d really given it her all out there. I was proud of her.
“Now, please get some rest.” Arwyn pleaded.
I conceded this time, surprised that my eyes were so heavy. Maybe I was tired after all.
When next I woke, Nia’s smile greeted me. She sat on my left with her legs crossed in a chair, a book in her hands and her hair pulled back messily. She looked relaxed for a change as she leaned forward and brushed some hair from my eyes.
“You’re a sight for sore eyes,” I muttered.
“Likewise, farm boy.” She smiled softly as she closed the book and set it aside before she turned her attention back to me. “How do you feel?”
“Fine,” I told her simply. “A little sore and tired, but otherwise the same as ever.”
“And your ears?” she prodded, and I saw her examine the bandages there.
“They have a slight ringing in them, but Arwyn thinks I’ll be fine,” I replied.
Nia smiled warmly and took my hands in hers and our fingers laced together. It was such a small gesture, but it made me feel at peace.
“Layla and Braden went down for breakfast if you’re wondering,” she told me. “I promised to keep watch over you until they got back.”
I smirked a little and squeezed her hand. “Babysitting is beneath you, Kenefick.”
“Tell me about it,” she joked back, and I was happy to share a laugh with her.
“I guess that means you’ll be headed back to Hartmire?” I tried to keep up my smile, but I knew I would miss her when she wasn’t around all the time. Even though it was only for a couple of months, I had a feeling that it would feel like forever.
“Tonight, yes,” Nia confirmed with a bit of sadness in her voice. “Father had a few things to clear up after the events of the rift opening in the arena during your round, and I wanted to make sure you were all right before I left.”
“I appreciate that.” I smiled, but I wasn’t so sure it reached my eyes. “Was there a lot of damage to the Academy?”
Nia shook her head. “None. There were guards and response squads on standby round the clock until you closed the gate, but nothing ever came through.”
I sighed a breath of relief that I didn’t know I had been holding, and I eased further back into the pillows. “Did you see any of it happen? I mean, the weird overlapping and stuff?”
“Of course,” she replied. “At least the parts where you were in the mock rift. There were times that you faded in and out.” Nia was quiet for a moment, then leaned forward. “And yes, Gryff, we all saw you smooch Erin.”
I properly blushed, and Nia sat back again with a wink.
“It’s okay, she’s very cute,” she added, and I chuckled sheepishly. “I heard what she did in there was very dangerous. I’m glad she’s going to be okay.”
I nodded. “Me, too.”
“Hey, hero,” Braden said as he came through the curtain around my bed. He was trying his best to contain his exuberance so as not to disturb any of the other visitors or patients. With him trailed Layla, Maelor, and Cyra.
I grinned broadly and managed to sit upright on the bed to make room for Layla and Cyra to sit with me on the bed. Maelor took the chair opposite Nia, and Braden stood at the foot of the bed. Finally, I was surrounded by people I loved, and everything felt right at that moment.
Without further ado, I recounted everything that happened and spared no details. It was like I was a storyteller in one of the traveling shows that appeared in the smaller villages in the wilds where kids gathered round to hear folklore and fairytales. Except in our case, I probably sounded like a crazy old loon with a pint in my hand as I rehashed the tales of my youth. Still, I was able to keep everyone’s attention and leave them hanging on the edge of every word I spoke. I thought maybe if the mage thing didn’t work out for me, I could join one of those shows. I’d be able to make a decent living.
“That’s wild,” Braden uttered when I was finally finished.
“Indeed, a tale made for a hero.” Gallahar Kenefick’s voice preceded him as he stepped out from around the curtain, and Nia immediately straightened from her leaning on the bedside. She relaxed after he offered her a gentle smile and turned his attention to me.
“I was hoping I’d get to talk to you, Gryff of Njordenfalls,” he said as he addressed me, and even I felt compelled to sit up a little straighter at the formality. “It seems you have quite the company though.”
I laughed and scratched the back of my head sheepishly. “Ah, yes, sir. It does seem that way.”
The General smiled, and it was one of those smiles that I could tell was genuine. “Then, allow me to extend to you a personal invitation to visit our manor in Hartmire anytime you wish. I should like to get to know the future of summoners from its ambassador himself.”
I was hardly able to contain my shock at the invite, and it took every ounce of my being to not let my jaw hit the bed. Instead, I nodded vigorously. “Thank you, sir. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Very good.” He bowed to me, then returned his gaze to his daughter. “Nia, we shall leave at dusk. Please be ready by then.”
Nia smiled. “Of course.”
With that, Gallahar Kenefick left.
“So, when are you going to be released?” Layla practically bounced on the bed, and I laughed at her giddiness.
“Probably later today,” I reasoned. “I was lucky to have only minor injuries.”
“That you were, Mr. Gryff.” Now Meriden came around the corner and stopped short when she saw everyone gathered around my bed again. She scoffed and shook her head. “Out. All of you. I can’t treat patients if you’re all smothering him.”
Maelor opened his mouth to protest, but Meriden shushed him.
“Yes, you too. Out,” she repeated, and everyone shuffled out of the room. “I’m sure he will meet with all of you later.”
Meriden released me soon after, but I was a little surprised to see that no one had stuck around. I’d even lingered to check on Gawain and Erin, but both of them were still knocked out cold. I knew Erin would be out for a little while, and Gawain would make his recovery shortly. I let them be for now and made it a point to come back and check on them every day.
As I wandered down the hall, a group of students passed me. I heard them mention that the Magicae Nito results had all been posted, so I thought I would check them out. Maybe my friends were already there.
My walk was filled with all kinds of thoughts. For one, I wondered what Sleet’s agenda had been with Miriam Sharpay and what would come of it. I was shocked he hadn’t come to seek me out first, to be honest.
Usually, he sent Petyr to wake me at unholy hours or simply popped into the infirmary himself to get the information he wanted. It was strange that I hadn’t seen him yet though maybe he had his own loose ends to tie up. Still, I was positive he’d want to know the full details of what happened in the rift, including the cipher piece I’d found and my encounter with the angel again.
I also needed to get with Arwyn to discuss the reaction my dagger had to my baroquer. I was still pretty unclear what had happened after I fell forty feet. I didn’t remember having hit the ground, nor did I recall anything before I opened my eyes to my monster standing guard over me.
When I got to the bulletin board, though, there were o
nly a few students whom I didn’t really know, and then Varleth. He stood with his arms crossed as he examined a scroll posted on the wall, likely with the results of our round. I stepped up to him, and he barely flinched. A coy smirk curled his lips.
“I heard you actually managed to get a pyrewyrm crystal,” he stated, and I laughed a little.
“Look at me, the keeper of souls. Fear my wyrm,” I mocked with a dry, downplayed sense of humor, and the two of us snorted. “It’s pretty cool, actually.”
“You really stepped it up in there, Gryff,” he commented.
I grinned, a little bashful. “Hey, you found that catalyst all on your own and fought like hell. That’s nothing to sneeze at.”
Varleth shrugged, and we both turned our attention to the scroll that hung in front of us. While I saw the words scrawled across the parchment, I didn’t actually read them. I was nervous to find out whether I had passed or failed. I changed the subject so that I didn’t have to look.
“Any plans for the break?” I asked.
“None.” He shook his head. “I’ll probably see what I can do about staying here.”
I quirked an eyebrow. “I thought students couldn’t stay here on break.”
Varleth nodded. “You’re right, they can’t, but defense squad members can.”
I was a little taken aback. I didn’t know that at all. Did Nia know that was an option when she left for holiday earlier in the year? I supposed that made sense though. After all, rifts opened all the time and didn’t take student breaks into consideration. With banishers in short supply, there was likely a high demand for any they could get. The talk of the squad coupled with the looming thought of passing or failing left me to wonder what Orenn would do since he’d failed.
“What’s going to happen to Orenn, you think?” I asked Varleth.
His smirk dropped as he sighed heavily. “I’m not really sure. Normally there’s some kind of recourse where you can go on a one-on-one mission with Sleet, and he will deem whether you’re worthy enough to remain on a monster defense squad. I haven’t seen him since that night though.”
