The Oblivion Trials (The Astral Wanderer Book 3)

by D'Artagnan Rey

  The two other magi had joined forces against him, however, and the boy used the opportunity to gain some distance. He was still able to blink very short distances of about five to ten meters, which weren’t even worth the effort. Vis wasn’t his strong suit, but even at a lesser level compared to Asla and Devol, he could currently run faster than he could blink.

  He had spent this time trying to determine where he was and where everyone else had landed, but he’d had little luck. His majestic barely picked up the thoughts of the other nearby magi. The two were able to hold their own against Yule for a while, but once one of them fell, the second raced away in a panic. Jazai had hoped he had run in the opposite direction, which would make it too much of an effort for the assassin to double back and look for him. Unfortunately, it appeared he had no such luck.

  The final one must be nearby. He has the ability to blink, but not very far. Either he’s crippled or not very skilled but I must assume the former if he was able to get this far.

  Yule’s thought jotted across the page, brisk and forthright. The diviner would almost call him dull but a more charitable and accurate person would probably say this was the mind of a focused person. He might have agreed if that focus wasn’t on him.

  Jazai straightened, closed his eyes, and felt for the hunter. He had to be very cautious to not put out enough mana for the assassin to detect him as well. The scholar probably should have used this opportunity to lay low or continue retreating and he would have if not for a tidbit of information he gleaned when he first started reading their thoughts.

  Yule had his sister signet—the silver rose—which meant he could potentially get this over and done with if he was able to take it from the older magi. Now that he had a demonstration of his abilities, however, that had become a less appealing decision. He finally felt a faint hint of another mana that moved back in the cavern he had been teleported to and headed west, but it suddenly stopped and looked in his direction.

  That was surely a coincidence, right? There was no way he could have been able to deduce his location by such a slight connection. But then he recalled who he was dealing with and that he might have not been the only one of the two of them looking for other mana. Dammit.

  Well, now it was time to make an actual choice. Should he stay and fight, knowing the hunter would come to him—which gave him something of an advantage, at least—or did he try to run? Both options had their drawbacks. The first one was obvious and without his ability to teleport, he probably couldn’t outpace the assassin, so he would have to hope to hide from him. The thought of himself cowering in some dark corner almost made bile rise to his throat.

  “You are smart but so damn prideful as well,” Zier had told him. The boy recalled their discussion before he set off with his friends. “I’m sure it is no surprise that it gets on my nerves.”

  He’d nodded quickly. “You’ve made that abundantly clear.”

  “Quiet, Jazaiah. I’m trying to be sentimental.”

  That had caused an eye-roll from the apprentice. “You’re new to it, aren’t you?”

  The dryad had looked like he wanted to return the gesture but held himself in check. “It is admittedly not something I excel at, yes.”

  Jazai would have given sarcastic approval to his mentor for his admission if said admission didn’t honestly surprise him. “Well, at least…you’re trying, I suppose.”

  “And there’s no need to patronize me either,” the elder scholar replied and took a small sip of water from a wine glass he had waiting on the table next to him. “The point I was trying to make is that I wondered if it was simple rebellion or merely your nature. It quickly became clear over the months that it was nature and it didn’t ease my mind to come to that conclusion. Rebellion eventually fades but you cannot simply change your nature—not typically without breaking.”

  The apprentice had shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “Should I expect you to have a whip once I get back?”

  Zier smirked. “That would probably be a funny moment but this is not about your future studies. It’s about what I see in you having taught you all this time and something I want you to know before you set off.”

  “And that is?”

  “That you are…that is…” The dryad pressed his lips together and gave it some thought. “I did not accept your father’s request simply out of duty and friendship, Jazaiah. I’ve known you since you were born. I was the fourth person to hold you as an infant, in fact. And even from those early days, I could tell there was so much potential in you to be great.

  “Some things fade in time. You used to be as cute as a toddler could be, but that potential never left. The reason I have continued to train you and deal with your nonsense in various forms is because of that. I know that despite all your bluster and the fact that you seem as aware of the potential greatness in you as I am, there is this.”

  His mentor had leaned in close and locked gazes with him. “Because, unlike many others who believe greatness awaits them and wait until that day comes, you never have. I know you’ve studied behind my back and kept your training up even on your days off.”

  “I’m…sorry?” Jazai had mumbled while he tried to decide where this was headed.

  “That wasn’t what I was looking for but remember those words when you knock over another bookshelf,” Zier replied and leaned back. “In simpler terms, Jazai, you may talk big like many a failed magi but the difference is you can back it up, in both the study and the field. As long as that continues to drive you, the promised potential will eventually blossom into something more.”

  Jazai shut his tome and put it in his backpack with a small smirk. It had been a weird day if Zier of all people motivated him. He took a moment to think of his options and decided he couldn’t take Yule on in a simple one-on-one combat scenario. Even with his newfound courage, he was under no delusions that he could win against him in his field of expertise. That meant he would have to use his.

  It had been a while but he was a diviner and as Zier said, he had kept his studies up.

  As Yule entered the large passage where he had felt the errant mana, he found only a few torches lit. The young magi who had fled the battle early on stood toward the end of the passage. The assassin raised his crossbow and shook his head. The smart move would have been to put more distance between them but it looked like he was ready to fight. Besides, he could see clearly through his little tricks.

  “I’ll only give you this option once, boy. Drop your signet and leave. Try again next year.” He placed his finger on the trigger. “I won’t be here.”

  His adversary took a few steps forward and held his ringed finger up. “Go ahead and give it a try,” he challenged. “You might hit me but I’ll fire off a pulse cantrip and cave this entire passage in.”

  “So, you are trying to force a stalemate?” the assassin asked and took a few steps forward. “You’re bold but there is a problem with that.” He pulled the trigger and three arrows fired and passed straight through the magi’s chest. In an instant, he disappeared.

  “You are right about that,” the boy retorted from behind and Yule was suddenly bound in mana chains and forced to his knees. The diviner felt in his pocket and withdrew his silver rose signet. “For one, that was an illusion with no power, so it would have been very anticlimactic.”

  “Agreed.” The hunter looked at the boy. He wore a wide-brimmed black hat and a black satin wrap around his mouth and nose that obscured the bottom half of his face, but his eyes seemed disappointed. “This is also a very sad end.”

  Before Jazai had a chance to question what he meant, the three arrows had returned and two punctured his ribs while the third struck his throat. Blood erupted from his wounds and he collapsed, his eyes still wide in shock and pain before he drew in a few ragged breaths and his life left him, his mana along with it.

  The chains binding Yule released quickly. The hunter picked his crossbow up and checked it for scuffs before he holstered it on his back. He si
ghed as he checked the boy’s pulse and found nothing. The third arrow had struck the carotid artery. Perhaps a master healer could do something about that, but not this young magi who seemed to bite off more than he could chew.

  “Yule, are you done?” He looked at Tobi who approached cautiously. “Did you catch him?”

  “Take a look.” The assassin gestured to the body. “He thought he could be tricky. It’s kind of sad that a simple fake-out was the best he could offer.”

  “So three down at once, huh?” Tobi whistled approvingly and rested his hands on his waist. “Nice work. You didn’t even give me a chance to get one of my own.”

  “You have time and I’ll let you have this one,” he offered and indicated the corpse.

  Tobi faltered, a little taken aback. “Really? That’s generous of you.”

  The hunter nodded and waved him off. “Don’t worry about it but make sure to grab my signet and catch up. There are more out there,”

  “That’s why I came back. I picked up a couple of mana emissions deeper in the cave. They are a fair way out but we can probably cut them off if we head to the chamber and take the passage north,” the man explained and pointed behind them.

  Yule nodded. “Nice work. I’m glad I brought you along. Now, let’s hurry.” He ran off and his speed brought him back to the chamber and up the northern passage in seconds. Not many could keep up with him, but Tobi always could even if his skills as an assassin weren’t the best out there. Still, he had seen something in him when they had met way back when. He was convinced of that.

  Who in the hells is Tobi?

  Yule skidded to a halt and peered down the passage, suddenly confused as to why was he heading this way again. He recalled something about mana readings but he felt nothing. Tobi had said—wait, he hadn’t brought anyone with him. He worked alone now and even in the Black Suns, he hadn’t known anyone named Tobi.

  He turned and raced to the passage when he’d felled the young magi, only to find the body gone, the arrows on the floor, and no blood. He felt a mild headache coming on and with that, he realized that the boy had indeed tricked him.

  The weak illusion had disguised a memory alteration. The bastard was a diviner.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Koli was alone—amused, certainly, but alone. He had been deposited in the cavern with the remains of the golems he had dealt with for the sake of his temporary allies. At least he didn’t have to worry about getting lost, although maybe he would avoid the little detour with the crimson ore. That was not his particular brand of fun. He hopped up and down for a few moments and shook his hands. He was all prepared for a nice fight but to his disappointment, no one appeared.

  As he considered which direction to choose first to find someone to entertain him, it had turned out he was not quite so alone. He heard a sword unsheathe and turned as a warrior magi approached. This was the bald one from before—someone he had thought he knew but now that he had a closer look, it appeared he was wrong.

  “So the Council was kind enough to give me a playmate, it seems,” he all but purred and focused on the warrior. “How do you do, good sir? My name is—”

  “Chicot Pierro.” The newcomer scowled and held his claymore up. “I will never forget that name.”

  “Chicot?” Koli paused to think about it. “I think you may have me confused for—oh, yes!” He snapped his fingers. “That’s one of my old aliases, isn’t it? I haven’t used it in quite some time,”

  “Change your name or change your face, I will always find you,” the warrior continued and pointed his blade at him. “I swore to avenge my count and there is no way to hide from me!”

  “Your count?” the assassin asked and stroked his chin. “I’m afraid you will have to be more specific, my friend. I’ve killed a number of counts. To be honest, they are much easier than lords or kings.”

  The man drove his blade into the ground and pointed to the assassin’s eye. “You can never forget him. You wear his eye.”

  Koli ran a hand over his eyepatch and a wry smile crossed his lips. “Ah, I see. Count Kanis, the appropriately titled ‘Mad Count.’ I do indeed remember that day. It was a very important one for me you see and—wait a moment. I thought I killed him and his entourage?”

  “I was the only one to survive.” The warrior’s face hardened as his fists clenched. “You would have killed me as well if not for a passing healer. You slaughtered my count and all my brethren that day.” He moved his hand and produced a necklace with a white beast with a glowing purple blot shimmering on the skin. “This was able to capture a remnant of your mana. It shook as soon as you entered the cavern at the start of these trials but I couldn’t be sure until I saw you kill that beast using the eye. You may have changed your appearance but I know it is you, murderer.”

  “Assassin, please, and it is indeed so.” Despite his amused response, Koli frowned. “So you survived. I try not to make that a habit. I wonder if I should be honored to have an avenger after me.” Behind the assassin, the real warrior snuck up on him. “You know, you are usually the galivanting type but it seems you’ve gone a different route. And I have to say, I wish you were like the rest. That would have been more entertaining.”

  The attacker lifted his blade and swung it powerfully in an attempt to bisect him in one stroke. His target, however, raised a hand and to his adversary's stunned surprise, caught the blade in mid-strike.

  “You aren’t that great at illusions, you know,” the assassin muttered, squeezed with his bare hand, and crushed the blade easily before he spun and kicked the warrior in the stomach. The man catapulted several feet away.

  He scrambled to his feet and pounded his palms together. “Bastard!”

  Koli pointed to the fading illusion. “You shouldn’t have made it drive the blade into the ground. It left no indention nor kicked up any debris. Honestly, you’ve been plotting revenge for all these years and you couldn’t have been more thorough?”

  “Shut your mouth.” His adversary hissed in fury and his firsts shook. “A swift death would have been a mercy. It’s better to take my time crushing you!”

  “That’s one way of trying to spin this, certainly,” the assassin responded flatly and folded his arms. “So what is the new plan then, mighty avenger?”

  The warrior puffed his chest out and shouted. “Giant!” His form enlarged to over ten feet. “Stoneskin!” he added and the earth at his feet crawled up his body and armor and fused to it.

  “There we go,” Koli said cheerfully and a small smile returned. “This does seem a more fitting plan of attack for someone of your ability.”

  Rather than respond, the man snapped two stalagmites off and hurled them at him. He simply leapt upward, touched down on one, and pushed off to land a few feet to the giant’s left side. His frown had returned. “No, this was indeed nothing more than the action of a desperate man,” he muttered and moved his hand to his eyepatch. “How disappointing.”

  The warrior hollered and began to charge toward him but was halted after only two steps when his body began to shake and his giant form was forced a few feet into the air. He struggled against the field that ensnared him but could only stare in horror as his enlarged fingers began to twist and then snap, and his toes soon followed.

  Enraged and afraid, he continued to fight and roared in anger more than pain, but that came soon enough when both his arms and legs turned completely around on themselves and the snapping of bones reverberated through the hall. The warrior uttered a seething but defeated cry as his giant spell faded and he returned to normal size. As he shrank, the earth around his body broke apart and fell before Koli released him and he landed heavily with only a meager grunt.

  The assassin chuckled and clasped his hands behind his back as he observed the defeated man with both his normal eye and the malefic. “You seemed so fond of your count. It’s only fitting you fall to his secret weapon, isn’t it?”

  His adversary was able to look up enough to show that he stil
l had hatred in his eyes. He spat at the feet of the assassin. “To the hells with you! Without that curio, you would have not beaten me. You are nothing without it.”

  “And yet you, your count, and your brethren fell to me before I had it.” Koli laughed and knelt beside him. “And curio? Is that what you think this is?” He shook his head and wagged a finger. “It seems your count was keeping a secret or two from you, oh loyal avenger.”

  The warrior spat at his face this time, but the spittle simply whisked around his head, caught in the distortion field. “You should know that anyone can use this eye,” he said, his voice close to a whisper as he tapped it. “But not everyone should. I did your count a favor by ridding him of it—or perhaps all the realm. I heard he was rather dashing and intelligent in his youth before the massacre he took part in.”

  “You know nothing of that day,” the other man said. His voice strained as he attempted to stand, but his limbs were useless to him. “My count did what had to be done, he was—”

  “Yes, I’m sure there is an interesting story there and all, but that truly does not matter to me,” Koli interrupted and moved his hand to the pouch on his waist. “I will say I am…well, impressed, I suppose, that you survived, whether it could be considered an act of the Astrals or not. Still, if that is the case, it had a rather sorry outcome, didn’t it?” He produced one of his throwing knives and turned it so the handle faced down and thrust it hard enough that it stuck in the ground with the blade pointed up.

  “What are you doing?” the warrior demanded. “Finish me.”

  The assassin stood and dusted his hands off. “I probably should—don’t make the same mistake twice and all that—but if this is the best you could muster in all this time, I don’t feel all that threatened.” He slid his hands into his pockets. “Feel free to hunt me again if you can get out of here, or you now have the option to put yourself out of your misery. You can take all the time you need to make your decision. After all, you seem good at waiting,”