《Shards of the Dark Lord [Dark Fantasy LitRPG]》


 I. Time to Wake Up

    Abad-Shai, Scion of the Black Flame, Scourge of the Ten Realms, the Dark Scholar, felt himself slowly pulling back together. Piece by piece, mote of essence by mote of essence, he gathered himself at the edge of the void between thought and form.


    A former lord among lords, a once magnificent being, one of the fragments of the greatest entity to ever walk Reial, had been brought low. Ever so low. While he would have been too proud to whinge and whine before, Abad-Shai no longer bothered to mask his seething, impotent rage at his current state¡ªthat of a literal shadow barely tethered to his rotting corpse.


    Oh, he had lofty ideas back then. He had it all planned out. After the great war stalled, he had a brilliant idea. He''d mask himself. He''d slowly infiltrate the court. He''d seduce some noblewomen, position himself in high society. He would slowly grow closer to the king and queen. He''d twist the queen away from her husband, planting treachery in her heart. He''d patiently whisper poisoned words into the king''s ear, convincing the soft-minded mortal to take action against his allies. Who, of course, would include the Hero, Dark One curse her name.


    Of course she secretly wanted his throne, Abad would have said. Of course she had already made alliances with the faction of "dissident nobles," Abad would have claimed. Of course she was readying herself to strike, Abad would have insisted.


    It would have been glorious.


    While his loyal servants and dark siblings, if the various coalesced essences of a dead being who called himself "The Dark Lord" could even be called siblings, were busy fighting their "glorious" battles in the shit-covered plains, striking down peasants and their petty lords while making absolutely no ground against their common foe, he would have watched the hero''s head roll. He would have brought the king low. He would have executed the "dissidents" who orchestrated the king''s death. Then, he would have used his position to become the king, or at least he would have put the next king in the queen''s fertile belly, claiming her dead husband''s throne, her beautiful self, and the greatest of the ten kingdoms through his spawn.


    Instead, he got a holy sword planted three feet into his sternum.


    How could she see him? His illusions were perfect. His weaves were intricately designed to bypass all manner of magical protections, and he had personally unwoven the enchantments in the castle that posed him any possible risk. The question was vexing. He had turned it over in his mind countless times.


    He also certainly hadn¡¯t seen her coming. One moment, he was flirting with the queen in the castle''s courtyard after their most recent week-long tryst in the countryside, and the next moment¡ªPOW, sword. A few slices later, and he was only half of himself. Only a fortuitous protection spell and a last-resort ring of teleportation had prevented him from joining the ash-heap of history.


    Not that it meant much. His vault called his broken body back home, and there he found himself bound to the little sarcophagus he had crafted on a whim as an apprentice. He had honestly forgotten about the old thing, buried under pounds and pounds of riches in the back of his vault. He remembered placing a giant''s axe on top of it, using the old thing as a makeshift display.


    Once he found himself inside the stone coffin, the glowing runes illuminating his ashen skin, he was grateful that he hadn''t gotten rid of it to make more room for his collection. He was, however, upset at his past self for not making it larger. The stone walls brushed against his skin terribly whenever he tethered his soul back into his rotten body.


    Adjustments for later, when he restored himself to his former glory.


    Ah, his vault. The most decadent storage space for the most eclectic collection of art, treasure, and artifacts ever known to the seven races. Even his progenitor couldn''t claim a vault rivaling Abad''s own! It was his pride and joy... and now it was gone.


    To think that he had heard voices outside of his sarcophagus. Lousy, filthy, disgusting voices cackling about the score they had found. His spirit bristled as he remembered the way they laughed. To think that mortals would dare enter his glorious vault. Day after day, they returned, stealing more and more of Abad''s precious belongings. They stole from the man who stole all that treasure!


    The audacity.


    Thinking on it, he vowed, for possibly the thousandth time, that somewhere, someday, he would find them. He would remember their voices. They''d been burned into his spirit like a branding iron on flesh. Ooohhh, then he''d make them laugh. Laugh and cry, and scream and¡ª


    He felt his spirit grow weary.


    It didn¡¯t matter now. What mattered was that he was here¡ªrotting in his own vault like some lifeless corpse. Like a mortal. A mortal!


    The thought sent a grimace through his still-forming jaw, and he willed his body to sigh, producing a dry, rattling sound that echoed through his tomb. The noise made him cough, which caused his arm to fall off. And not before the stone walls scraped his shoulders.


    He grumbled and groaned before willing himself out of his body, back to the edge of the world between worlds.


    There, he simmered, slowly slipping back into a dreamless slumber, a kind of restless nothingness that ebbed and flowed, caught in a place between worlds.


    ***


    He woke up with a start.


    His spirit was brought back to reality by a soft, metallic, impossibly irritating tapping noise.


    As the haze slowly cleared from his mind, he realized he had been hearing the terrible noise every few minutes or so now for... a year? Time was fuzzy when you were a corpse. However, he knew it had been happening more and more frequently. He also remembered hearing those terrible voices again, not once but twice! Oh, he''d cook them alive.


    He pulled himself into his rotten body for the first time in however long and immediately regretted it. The smell! Devils below, he would do anything to not smell that smell again. Slowly, he pushed some of his essence into his desiccated eyes and fluttered them open. He felt his left eyelid split apart as he did. His shoulders scraped the walls of his coffin as his corpse animated.


    The space around him was as dark as ever, save for the softly glowing runes on the lid of his too-small tomb. Listening intently, he realized the sound must be the wind knocking some piece of metal against the outside of his sarcophagus.


    Tink.


    Tink.


    Tink.


    Tink.


    The wind? His vault was underground. No, this was intentional. Someone must be digging.


    The sound made his fangs itch. He hated it. He hated it so much. The rage and curiosity and self-loathing would kill him if he weren''t already dead.


    His spirit roiling, he willed his mind out of his body and back into the world between worlds, hoping that whatever it was that was making that racket would most quickly rust away, or die, or de-animate, or get eaten by wolves, or...


    ***


    It felt like an eternity had passed since he¡¯d drifted back to his body.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    He realized the abominable noise finally had stopped at some point. Madness was barely staved off. His fangs no longer itched.


    His spirit floated back into his corpse, more easily this time. Once he had settled comfortably into his body, he noted that the smell had at last diminished. He was certain all of his insides had dried out at some point in his long rest. He sighed. How long would he have to wait?


    He willed himself back to sleep. Would he ever be whole again?


    ***


    He was pulled back into his body this time. A loud rumble had shook the coffin, causing his shoulders to scrape for the thousandth time. Then, hours... days... weeks... however long later, it was as if someone had poured essence into his spirit. He felt more alive than he had in a very long time.


    His simmering rage had quieted some time ago. He simply existed now.


    He raised a hand to his face, feeling around with the stiff, almost mechanical movement of fingers unused to effort. His skin was thin and cold, bending with an unsettling tautness over sharp bones. His hands, once capable of conjuring storms and calling forth legions, felt tired from the effort. It wouldn''t be much longer now... He hoped...


    ***


    He shifted in his sarcophagus, yawning.


    He froze.


    For the first time in a very long time, he felt it. Life. A heartbeat. He could move. His body felt¡­ whole. He didn''t stink. He could feel his own muscles, the tension in his sinews. His skin was cold, but it wasn''t as cold as the stone around him.


    There was life in him again!


    After years of waiting, his form had recovered enough to contain his essence. His body could respond to his will once again.


    A flicker of hope curled within him. He moved slowly, experimentally stretching each muscle, feeling the stiffness of limbs that had lain dormant for what he could only assume had been years. Decades even. His vision cleared as he opened his eyes to take in the faint, darkened interior of his sarcophagus for the thousandth time.


    He felt weak, abysmally so. He was certain even a lowly zombie could have made quick work of him if he wasn¡¯t careful, but one thing was clear: He. Was. Alive.


    He surveyed the cold light emanating from the sigils carved into the underside of his sarcophagus. Each glowed in a variety of dull, dust-covered colors¡ªeach contributing to an intricate enchantment designed to preserve the sarcophagus''s contents. A spark of pride stirred within him, though even his pride felt weak, ghostly, like an echo.


    He gave himself permission to smile for the first time since his unfortunate passing. Then he heard a noise.


    He froze.


    "Master, are you awake?"


    Abad''s mind reeled. He knew that voice... Where had he heard it?


    The voice came again, faint and muffled by the thick stone around him. ¡°Master! Please answer me. I can feel something. Are you finally awake?¡± the voice repeated, insistent now, as though Abad¡¯s silence was more alarming than it had been.


    Abad felt his thoughts gather, like mist swirling into form. He recognized that voice. It was... someone. A servant?


    Ah! It belonged to Angra, his familiar. He had summoned the diminutive imp as his familiar during his final testing. His mistress demanded perfection, and due to his own stubbornness, he had almost botched the ritual and lost his life. Thankfully, he succeeded. Ever since, the creature had been loyal and tireless and unflaggingly persistent in ways that Abad valued in his servants.


    Abad hesitated before answering her, curiosity tugging at him to assess the state of his newly restored form. Reaching into his mind, he summoned the metaphysical scroll that contained his unique qualities. A gift from the goddess during the third age, when the humans were brought to this world to fight his mortal''s war with his sire, it didn''t take long for Abad''s kind to learn to access the Goddess''s potent magic.


    "Goddess be praised." He sneered.


    With a faint shimmer of dark magic, a translucent scroll formed and unfurled before his eyes:


    <hr><hr>


    Abad-Shai


    Shadowspawn Elf Warlock of the Mask


    Level IV


    <hr>


    Elf


    ??¡î¡î¡î


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Fey Senses] (Passive/Active, Reserve ?): Elves possess heightened perception, blending their superior physical senses with an innate connection to magic. You can see in the dark, hear acutely, and use mana to detect magic around you if you dedicate mana to this ability.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    The Mask


    ???¡î¡î


    <ol>


    <li>[Illusion Magic] (Passive): You have the ability to weave subtle deceptions, clouding perception and bending reality to your will. You can learn spells that create illusions, deceive the senses, and manipulate perceptions of the world around you.


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Mask of Many Faces] (2nd Circle, Active, Reserve ??): Due to being born under the sign of the Mask, you can dedicate a portion of your mana to change subtle elements of your appearance.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Shadowspawn


    ?????


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Dark One''s Shadow] (Passive): As an inheritor of the Dark One¡¯s essence, you are immortal and do not age past your prime. You also require less food, water, and air to survive, but you bear the marks of corruption upon your body.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Warlock


    ????¡î


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Summoning] (Passive): You can call forth entities from other realms, who lend you their strength and skills. You can learn spells that summon, bind, and empower creatures and items to serve and protect you.


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Familiar] (Active, Reserve ?): As a warlock, you have permanently dedicated a portion of your mana to summon and bond with a mythical creature that serves as your familiar.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Enhancements


    [Mana I] (Passive, Perk II): Increase your mana reserves by a small amount, allowing you to cast more spells.


    [Potence I] (Passive, Perk IV): Increase the potency of your spells, increasing their range, power, and duration by a small amount.


    [Presence I] (Passive, Enchantment): Increases your presence slightly, making you more noticeable and influential in social or leadership situations.


    <hr>


    Titles


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[None]</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Quests


    <ul>


    <li>[None]</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Equipment


    <ul>


    <li>[Rotten Clothes]: Tattered remnants of what was once finely crafted attire. These clothes are marred with age and decay, providing little in terms of protection or dignity. They emit a faint, unpleasant odor and are prone to tearing with the slightest movement, reminding you of your fall from power and the time spent dormant. The enchantments within these clothes have all but decayed, granting only [Charisma I].</li>


    </ul>


    <hr><hr>


    Abad¡¯s eyes narrowed as he read the top of the scroll. He often forgot that his birth mother was elven. He couldn''t remember much about her aside from her long golden hair. She mattered little in the grand scheme of things. The second his sire''s essence entered her spirit and poisoned the child inside her womb, her destiny was no longer her own.


    Reading further, his lips curled into a sneer.


    His form, once fearsome and beautiful and brimming with power, had withered into something nearly mortal. He had lost most of his talents and abilities, suggesting a fragility he was not used to. In fact, everything about him was diminished. His once-vast repertoire of magic was reduced. He could feel the absence of his knowledge, skills, and power without even looking at the character sheet, as if the parts of him that were missing were a faint echo that he could barely hear.


    At the very least, he still had the ability to mask his appearance. He would need that ability being this weak. With a sigh, Abad closed the page, the weight of his diminished power hanging over him like a shroud.


    ¡°Yes, Angra,¡± Abad¡¯s voice rasped, barely sounding like more than a whisper. It grated against his throat, unused for far too long. ¡°I am awake.¡±


    There was a sound of relief from outside the sarcophagus, which surprised Abad. He never deluded himself that his servants held much love for him. The compulsions guaranteeing her loyalty clearly were still intact after all this time.


    "You''ve been in your vault for a very long time, master," the creature explained, then fell quiet for a moment before adding, "I feared you would never awaken."


    The creature''s pitiful voice awoke something in Abad''s heart. A pang of something flickered through Abad¡¯s chest. Empathy. Empathy had never been one of his virtues. Empathy. Mercy. Kindness. All useless. But the idea that his most loyal servant had been dutifully waiting for him made him pity the creature. He knew the creature''s feelings were nothing more than manifestations of the magics that bound her to him, but he couldn''t imagine waiting for anything as long as she had. She had been waiting years, maybe longer.


    "I am here now. Please. Help me open the lid, my dear friend."

 II. His Lifes Ambition

    The second he managed to open his sarcophagus, stand, and look around, he felt the air leave his newly reformed lungs.


    If his servant''s voice moments before had managed to crack his cold, black heart, the state of his vault broke it in two.


    His beloved treasure vault was a mere shade of its former glory. Where there once had been piles upon piles of exquisite treasure, artifacts, and finery¡ªnow there remained scattered remnants of a kingdom''s worth of wealth. Here were a few gold coins piled in the corner. There lay an enchanted sword with a crack running down its length, its sigils rusted over. Over in the corner rested an otherworldly looking flower, shriveled and dead, with petals shaped like crystalline tears. The musty smell of cavern and a handful of ruined items were all that remained of his precious vault. Worse still, a giant, gaping hole decorated the far wall, his darkvision revealing a crude tunnel extending into the Depths as far as he could see.


    A pitiful noise escaped from his lips when he said it. He thought he might cry. Just as he fought against the impulse, a small, reddish figure the size of a large cat leaped into his arms. The tiny, gaunt shape looked vaguely humanoid, except for the bat wings, large pointed ears, big yellow eyes, and soft slitted pupils that glowed red in the gloom. And the tail. He couldn''t forget the tail.


    The creature sobbed into Abad¡¯s arms with all the fervor of a pet who had been left alone for too long. Its wailing cries filled the vault. He gritted his teeth. He hated overly emotional outbursts like these. At the same time, she had waited all this time for him... He was cruel, but he wasn''t that cruel. Abad found himself stroking her short, thick red hair, trying to console his familiar enough that she''d stop wailing. As he did, her scorpion tail flicked to and fro, and he had to dodge the poisoned tip a few times.


    "Master!" Wracking sobs shook the imp''s body, her thick red hair sticking to her wet cheeks. ¡°I¡¯ve waited so long for you!¡±


    His first instinct was to fling the creature across the vault, but Abad paused, trying his best to calm his irate soul. "Yes, dear," he said instead. "And I am here now." The words felt forced and unnatural. He had never consoled another being before. Not genuinely at least. Usually, it was a ploy to get what he wanted from some noblewoman or another.


    What had that woman done to him?


    The imp rubbed its cheeks, looking up at its master. Her big yellow eyes glowed in the darkness. "It took forever..." The imp choked back fresh tears, and Abad saw her bottom lip quiver. "All of your things... everything is gone..." Another violent sob wracked her tiny frame as she gestured towards the tunnel, illuminated by torchlight. "The intruders¡­ they brought so many men... I tried... I tried to stop them..." Her head turned and she bared her fangs, her tail twitching as she did. Two corpses lay against the far wall. A small campfire, long dead, sat between them, and dusty tipped over mugs suggested whatever lay inside them had long since spilled out. "My venom killed these ones, but so many others came and went. I left the bodies, but the others didn''t even care..."


    Abad pulled her tight, squeezing gently. "You did well, Angra."


    Angra sniffed. "No, I didn¡¯t. Your beautiful vault was ruined because I failed you!" She shrieked suddenly. "And it¡¯s all that stupid girl¡¯s fault!"


    She trembled then, curling up into an angry ball on Abad''s arms. Growing tired from standing, he sat on the edge of his coffin, numbly looking around his poor, ruined vault.


    For what felt like the first time ever, he had nothing to say, so he let his familiar carry on in his lap as he let it all just wash over him. His shoulders sagged and he sat there for several minutes, listening to his familiar babble about the terrible evil people who stole everything. Her whining matched how he had felt when his spirit was stuck in the world between worlds, but now, seeing it all in person, he felt empty.


    They''d taken it all.


    Well, not everything, he realized as his familiar recounted tales of taking some treasures back, cursed rings that melted hands, and weapons that even the toughest of the thieves feared touching. She had followed them at times, waiting for them to sleep. She said, of the thirty-or-so who entered his vault, she eventually had ended half of them.


    Her fangs bared as she told her tales. Some died as they drank at the pub, a simple stab to the throat ending them as they swigged their bitter ale. Some died as the slept, when she relished the horror on their faces when they woke to find their tent covered in flame. Some of them, when she had crept up behind them to steal back whichever trinket of his they had stolen, caught her, and promptly lost their lives to a venomous sting.


    He smiled at that memory in particular. It warmed his cold, empty heart to know they saw their deaths coming.


    His gaze drifted around the room, lingering on the many empty platforms, scattered coins, broken vials, and torn scrolls that littered the space, the remants of his storied past, as Angra recounted her experiences. A small pile of equipment laid in the corner, under a torn banner. His old war banner, he realized, the raven symbol faded and covered in dirt and dust.


    As Angra spoke, her hands gesturing wildly, Abad opened his scroll to distract himself. He needed something to take his mind off of his lost belongings and her whining, but every time his gaze landed on another missing object, he couldn''t help but wish he was back in his coffin.


    His scroll unfurled in the air, and he willed Angra''s page to appear. A moment later, he could see her stats:


    <hr><hr>


    Angra


    Imp Familiar


    Level VIII


    <hr>


    Imp


    ???¡î¡î


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Venom] (Active, Cost ?): Your tail has a venomous tip capable of injecting a paralytic venom.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Animal Shape] (Active, Reserve ???): You can transform into a specific animal form (Raven).</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Shadowmeld]: (Active, Cost ?): You can turn invisible when in darkness or shadow and hide your presence from magical detection.</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Familiar


    ???¡î¡î


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Shared Arcana] (Passive): You can channel your master¡¯s magic through your body at a short distance.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Familiar¡¯s Loyalty] (Passive): Your bond with your master is strong, granting you [Resilience I] and [Willpower I] when near your master.</li>


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Familiar¡¯s Martyrdom] (Active, Cost ?+?/?): Through your increased loyalty to your master, you can channel some of your health or mana to your master, healing your master¡¯s wounds at the cost of your own essence.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Familiar¡¯s Devotion] (Passive): Through your unwavering devotion to your master, the enhancements granted by [Familiar¡¯s Loyalty] increased by one step.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Master¡¯s Guardian] (Active, Reserve ??): The familiar can grant its master a shield that deflects attacks. </li>


    </ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    EnhancementsYou might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    [Agility III] (Passive, Perk II, IV, VI): Enhances your speed significantly, allowing for faster reactions, movement, and evasive maneuvers.


    [Presence I] (Passive, Perk VIII): Increases your presence slightly, making you more noticeable and influential in social or leadership situations.


    [Intimidation I] (Passive, Enchantment): Boosts your ability to instill fear and command respect, making you more intimidating to those of lesser willpower.


    <hr>


    Equipment


    [Rat Fur Loincloth] (Crude): A basic garment fashioned from the coarse fur of cave rats. While offering minimal protection and no significant stat bonuses, it provides basic coverage and a touch of warmth. The rough texture and unpleasant odor make it quite undesirable, granting the wearer [Intimidation I].


    <hr><hr>


    Abad reviewed her stats appreciatively, even smiling at her final talent. He knew she was loyal, but he didn''t realize the extent.


    In truth, he had almost forgotten about her entirely in the ages he spent half-asleep. Being a part of his soul, her skills and stats grew alongside his, usually. However, now her power actually eclipsed his own, likely due to their bond being nearly severed by his fugue. She had been resourceful when he slept, that much was sure. He found a little glimmer of pride rise in his chest. He appreciated the creature''s tenacity.


    He realized she had been very busy when he was asleep, since she would have lost all of her levels alongside him. It slowly dawned on him that, through their bond, it was likely that her efforts to protect the vault were the only thing that allowed him to recover.


    "Angra." The small creature stopped spouting her frustrations. Her yellow eyes locked onto his with absolute devotion. "Thank you. You have been a most excellent servant, and you have done well. I am proud of you."


    At his words, she practically beamed. Her eyes glowed brighter in the darkness. He expected she would leap up and begin jumping for joy. Instead, she cried again. A stream of I''m not worthies and thanks and oaths of eternal devotion followed. He regretted saying anything. When she leaped from his lap and planted her head on the floor in submission, he immediately decided he wasn''t going to attempt to praise her in the future.


    Still, she had earned it.


    As she rambled on, Abad''s attention was brought back to his vault. He noticed how remarkably empty it was. Even with time wearing away at his seals, the sheer number of enchantments he had placed on it should have made it impossible for outsiders to take much of value. His spells should have corrupted most of the goods. Or transported them elsewhere. Or burned the intruders alive.


    He walked over to where one particularly potent spell circle had once lain. It had housed his favorite cloak and a pile of coins. The circle itself was made with powdered diamond infused with crushed void pearls, and he could still feel traces of its powerful enchantment pulsating beneath his feet. He wondered what had become of all that it had contained.


    "Angra." The creature lifted its head and realized he had moved. She flitted over and rested on his shoulder. "You said that thirty people entered this vault, roughly?"


    She started counting on her little clawed fingers. "Thirty-two, yes."


    "How many died to my enchantments?"


    "Too few, master. She helped them get past them."


    He held out his hand to keep her from continuing. "I''ll ask about her soon enough. Please. How many?"


    "A dozen." Her lips curled back in disgust. "They died screaming. The flames took them."


    "And you killed half the remaining number?"


    She nodded eagerly. "Poisoned, burned, drowned, and eaten! There was a wolf outside of the village and¡ª"


    "And what of the others?"


    "Escaped. Don''t know where." She hung her head in shame.


    So ten of them survived."Why do we have items remaining?" He gestured to the small collection of artifacts in the corner. "Where did those come from?"


    The imp bared her teeth. "That''s what I could get back."


    He patted her on the head. "Good girl." He thought a moment. "Did they ever return?"


    "Many times. Many, many times. But I got them in the end."


    "Explain."


    The imp nodded to herself. "Oh! That! I thought they might come back, master. And I was afraid you''d wake up to them being here, so I spent some time weakening the tunnel. When they came back, they were smushed."


    "Smushed?"


    "Like smashed." Angra snickered. "But way worse! The ceiling collapsed, and three were caught under the rock. The rest were trapped in the tunnel. You will see them when we go out in the caves, oh yes. Only she and another escaped." Her face broke into a gleeful grin as she shared her secret with Abad.


    So, that''s what the tinking noise was. He couldn''t decide whether he would strangle her or kiss her for her efforts. He breathed deep and let it go.


    "Impressive, little friend."


    "Really? Oh, thank you, thank you!" She started to get carried away again, so he placed a hand on her bony shoulders and pinned her against his neck.


    "Yes, yes," he nodded, holding her. He had heard enough praise and oaths and crying for a lifetime. "Don''t worry, little one. You have sworn your oaths. Stay on my shoulder."


    She practically cooed.


    His mind quickly wandered to something else. Someone else.


    Abad turned to look at the imp on his shoulder. Her yellow eyes, puffy from crying, were an inch from his own. "Now, tell me about this woman."


    "Horrible, evil, rotten, no good¡­" The imp hissed, trailing off into a stream of invectives before she continued. "When she entered here, she kept telling everyone what was real and what was an illusion. She pointed to your enchantments and showed them how to get around them."


    Angra fluttered to the ground and imitated a person walking, her clawed fists rising to her hips. She exaggerated every movement and made her voice lower, smoother, swaying her hips as she did. "''Brother'' dearest built this vault, but I know all of his tricks. Now that he''s dead, the least we can do is liberate his ill-gotten treasures." She scrunched up her face, puffing out her chest and dropping her voice as low as she could. Then, she ran forward a few steps and kicked out her leg at one of the few remaining illusions. "This! Is! Not! REAL!"


    Abad listened quietly as his servant paced back and forth on the ground, stomping and strutting as she spoke. He knew exactly who she was talking about. So Selene had discovered his vault. Why wouldn''t she? She knew him better than most and was clever enough to figure out most of the traps here on her own, given enough time. It seemed fitting that she would be the one to rob him of his most prized possessions.


    Selene had always been a pain, but Abad never considered her an enemy. Even during the War, she¡¯d remained mostly his ally and self-proclaimed rival, save for a handful of instances near the end. In the aftermath of his seeming death, it seemed the rivalry that existed between them had continued in her mind.


    Still, Abad couldn''t help but chuckle. She was just as fiery as he remembered her. It figured that it''d take someone with such intimate knowledge of his nature and tendencies to see through his illusions and puzzles. After a few moments, images of their past trysts began filling his mind, but he shooed them away. He would find her, if she was still alive, and he''d make her regret her choices.


    Abad examined his scroll again. As a Warlock, his primary skill involved summoning objects and entities from other planes. While it would take much time to regain his former power, and it would be much longer before he could summon much of anything, he was confident he could muster some of his former power in time.


    But first, he''d need to get stronger.

 III: All Thats Left

    The cavernous vault echoed with every step he took. Despite the time he had spent away and the slowly corrosive effect of the Depths, the walls of his most sacred place still seemed to pulse with magic. Though robbed and ruined, it was still teeming with enough power to prevent monsters from forming within its walls, something rather unheard of for a demesne so deep in the Depths.


    With each step, the sigils carved into the walls nearest him shimmered in response to their master''s presence. He knew that without maintenance, they would slowly fade away, but his past self had done much to ensure that they would last. That, at least, gave Abad some comfort. He was, if nothing else, home. His vault was still a memento to his past power, and being there made him feel rejuvenated, if only slightly.


    He had spent several hours examining the vault''s state, but there was little left to learn. The main hall had been sacked, and he hadn''t had the emotional fortitude to explore the back rooms as of yet. So, after sulking, he finally meandered to the large hole in the southern side of his vault, ready to face his new reality.


    He started by inspecting the large crack in his vault wall. He ran his fingers along the edge, tracing the line between his immaculately carved vault''s inner walls and the crude hack job beyond. Pick axes and magical scoring marred the edges, revealing a deep, narrow tunnel extending into the Depths. Curiously, a sigil, glowing with red light, shone above the hole. While it didn''t affect him, he knew it would prevent others from accessing the vault. A half dozen abandoned pickaxes lay on the ground just inside the tunnel, and hundreds of chipped rocks made it obvious that someone had spent much time trying to carve their way around the enchantment. They had failed.


    Angra, having remained silent for much of the time, leapt from his shoulder, forcing him to take a step back to brace himself and avoid toppling over.


    "This is where they are, master. What''s left of them at least. Come." Her eyes glowed with delight as she waved to him.


    Abad stared into the dark tunnel. He could almost taste the lingering desperation of the men and women that had been trapped within by his precious servant. He smiled. They must have died slowly, struggling to move rocks and debris as they starved. "How long ago was this?" he asked his familiar, whose head had peaked around a large boulder, eyes eager for him to follow.


    She tapped her chin with a clawed finger, counting on the other hand. "Ummmmm..." After some time, her head bobbed. "Ten thousand four hundred twelve days." Her eyes glanced to the stone wall of the tunnel. Abad realized that much of the scoring on the surface of the stone was actually lines. She had been counting the days.


    "...that means absolutely nothing to me."


    "Wait a moment! Let me think."


    "Angra," he sighed. "In years, please."


    "No no, I got this. Alrighty then..." She held up a single finger. "One... two... almost three decades."


    "That''s... pretty impressive math, actually." Abad chuckled as he reached her, patting her head as he did. "Not bad, my servant. I might be proud." He forgot his vow to stop praising her until the words left his lips, but, again, she had earned it.


    A thought nagged at him, though. How long had he been dead? If it had been three decades since the thieves had entered the vault, it would have taken them years to actually find it, even with Selene''s guidance. Between it being located miles under the earth underneath an expansive wilderness and the many, many enchantments protecting it, it certainly wouldn''t have been easy to find, even for a skilled treasure hunter like Selene.


    A few hundred more steps led the pair to the cave-in. The collapsed tunnel was lit by green glowstones, small rocks native to the Depths that glowed with a variety of colored lights. The sickly pale light illuminated ten or so skeletons, their clothes ragged and rotten. He could also make out at least one crushed figure underneath the rubble, their bony arm sticking out of the many tons of rock. The stench of rot that had to have once filled the space was barely detectable, replaced with a dusty heaviness that permeated the air.


    "Oh master, you should have seen their faces," she giggled as she floated up to the corpses, waving her hands like she was splatting water onto a window. "Smush, squish, crack." She popped her tiny fist into her other hand, wiggling her tail, before turning to face Abad. She pointed to another broken arm he had missed hanging loose from beneath a massive rock on the far side of the collapse. "Like I said, three are under there. And when they were split up from that whore of a woman, they couldn''t enter your vault again. I made sure of it." The little imp looked so smug.


    "The sigil above the tunnel, then?"


    "All me, master. Once I got strong enough, I was able to charge your sigil. Then, they were stuck." Her fangs gleamed in the pale green light. He smiled at her, impressed with his servant. He had chosen her essence and shaped it well.


    There were eight bodies in total outside the rubble. Some of them were whole, resting where they eventually died. Others were dismembered, their bones piled on the far side of the tunnel, teeth marks running up and down them. Another had its hands tied behind its back, the torn skirt and ruined blouse suggesting what its ultimate fate had been. He grinned at the carnage. They deserved everything they got.


    The group had carried equipment and tools with them¡ªpickaxes, shovels, hammers, and rope¡ªthat sat against the walls. Each showed clear signs of heavy use, and many were broken. Their remains told stories of struggle, of desperation. They were willing to do whatever they needed to get out of their situation, and as the realization dawned on them that they would die, they devolved into the monsters that mortals so desperately despise.


    Stepping between the bodies, he let the image of the desperate mortals trying to claw their way to safety linger in his mind for a moment before letting it fade. What truly mattered was not the demise of these pitiful beings, as pleasing as it was; it was the restoration of his rightful property. He began searching the bodies, looking for anything that could be of use to him.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Rifling through their ragged clothes, Abad found little of use. Some of their pockets had coins, which he in turn tried to pocket, only to realize his own clothes were little more than rags. Finding a leather coin purse on one of the bodies, he slowly collected their currency. Mostly copper mixed with a few silver coins. Other than their money, there was little of value. He found a ring with some promising runes, but his [Elven Senses] told him that its magic had long faded from the item. He threw the ring back onto the corpse.


    Nothing much of worth remained. The Depths, as always, were merciless.


    He glanced over at Angra, who sat perched atop one of the skeletons like it was her personal chair. She tilted her head, anticipating his next words.


    "I am ready," he said flatly. He hadn''t been able to bring himself to truly inspect his vault''s inner rooms before. However, there was little to be salvaged out here, and he had gotten some small satisfaction in knowing that the mortals had died pitiful deaths in the dark. As he walked back towards the hole in his vault, he hesitated for a moment before adding, ¡°Let''s go inspect what¡¯s left of the house proper.¡± If there was anything left to scrounge for, it would be there.


    Her scrunched face made his heart drop.


    ***


    Abad sat on the edge of his coffin again, feeling like he might just lay back inside and close the lid.


    His armor? Gone.


    His favorite cloak, the one he had layered his best enchantments into? Stolen.


    His scepter? Missing.


    His spellbook? The good one that contained all of his spells? The one he kept on a dais in the center of his spellchamber? Gone. Forever.


    So were the spare traveling spellbooks. And his collection of enchanted rings. And his statuettes, the ones that transformed into beasts when you said the correct trigger words. His favorite was a black panther.


    Gone, gone, gone.


    Selene, you bitch.


    He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. Everything that meant anything to him was simply taken from him. The bitch and her bastards had plucked everything of value, leaving him with barely enough material wealth to live like a peasant in some backwater town for a few months.


    He gazed down at the sackcloth bag he found that he''d fashioned into a makeshift pack. A single silver necklace, tarnished and blackened from decay, weighed it down, along with a pair of bronze bracers, their enchantments still surprisingly active. Angra said she had recovered those when she had hunted down the thieves. Most of the other belongings had lost their potency, courtesy of the Depths seeping into his home through the ruined wall and weakened enchantments.


    Luckily, he had found some more coins hidden behind pedestals and scattered on the ground. Including the coins found on the bodies, he had scrounged up 76 copper, 23 silver, and 4 gold coins. They jangled inside the worn leather pouch he''d found among the thieves'' bodies. For his purposes, this would have to do. He managed to look through several of the inner rooms but lost all motivation after the fourth, his enchanting room.


    All he could do was sit and sulk until, finally, after what felt like an eternity of sighs, he picked himself back up.


    "Well. Good news, I suppose. We have enough money for some necessities once we get out of here." He flashed a half-smile.


    "This is wonderful news, master!" Angra cocked her head to one side, a thin smile pulling on her pouty lips. She leaned closer to him, almost purring in delight. "I promise you I shall not disappoint you when we leave. I will serve you dutifully, even if we must live like poor slobs." With a quick wave of her hand, she performed a curtsy, bowing before her master. "Whatever you wish of me, I shall carry out."


    He pushed himself upright, using the lip of the sarcophagus to steady himself as he rose.


    "Well, that leads us into the bad news." The warlock took a deep breath. His ribs expanded, pushing out his thin frame and pressing against his shredded tunic. He felt a chill from the stagnant air rush through his lungs and into his veins. "My spellbooks are gone. Without them, we can''t leave."


    She smiled brightly. "But surely there is some kind of brilliant plan in that cunning skull of yours!" She practically bounced as she leapt to his shoulder, clasping her little claws around his neck. "Soon, we will be far from here, slaying heroes and eating monsters."


    "If I had my scepter, I could have you cast my teleportation spell for us. Alas, someone stole that, too. Without my spellbook or scepter, we''re stuck here. And now that I''m alive again, I''ll eventually need to eat, so unless you''ve been practicing necromancy behind my back or know how to turn rocks into meat..." Abad paused for dramatic effect, smiling at the idea. With his full power, he was certain he could make it work... "I''ve got a few days¡ªmaybe a week at the most." His stomach growled, backing him up.


    "And then...?" Angra fluttered her wings nervously.


    He took a deep breath. "Then I''ll die."


    She shrieked. "No, no, no! You won''t die again. I don''t want to wait again until you come back together! We have so many things to do!"


    He frowned. "Not like that. I''ll need you to kill me. I refuse to die like a caged animal. I''ll go out on my own terms."


    The look she gave him hurt almost as much as her nails digging into his neck. "NO! I''ll feed you, keep you healthy!" Her wings fluttered wildly as she wrapped her arms tighter around his neck. "I cannot stand by while you waste away!"


    "Ow ow OW. ANGRA. Get. Off!" He peeled her claws from his skin. She wriggled free, jumping into the air before landing in a heap at his feet. "I would rather have a loyal servant kill me quickly than suffer slowly."


    "Master, I''ve been eating well for years!" She twirled, and for the first time, he realized what she was wearing. A rat loincloth. The nappy looking grey fur covered her lower half, the dead rat''s empty eye sockets decorating her left thigh, and her tiny bust was wrapped by woven rat tails.


    Disgusting, yet oddly creative. She must have really hated being alone... But still.


    "I''m not eating rats." Abad swept his arm across the ruins of his once-glorious vault. "I''m a lord among men! I refuse to eat rats." He set his jaw and glared at her out of the side of his eye.


    "But... but... they''re tasty..."


    "Enough." He let the command sink in, watching as she shrunk into herself. The idea of his ultimate demise made him grimace, but he wouldn''t lower himself to eating rats. "Does anything remain in my library?"


    "The books were stolen too, Master."


    "What about the hidden drawer under my bed?" He really hadn''t wanted to see his bedroom yet.


    "She knew about that one too." The imp looked sheepish. "I told you not to bed her. That she was no good." Then she snapped. "How many times did I tell you not to trust her, that she shouldn''t come here?!"


    He rubbed his temple. "Yes, I get it, I made a mistake."


    "Many mistakes," she spat.


    "Sure, sure. I get it. But was it all taken?"


    "No... One book remains. The metal one that talks." Her voiced dropped low, her face twisting with disgust.


    "The grimoire?" The grimoire!" He stood up in excitement, his weak legs popping as he did.


    "Yes, master, the grimoire." She pouted. "But I don''t think we should grab that one. It''s awful. Scary..."


    Abad let out a long sigh. His muscles relaxed as he reached down to pat his familiar''s shoulder. He forced a smile as she looked up at him. "I don''t like it as much as you, but it''s our only choice." He picked her up and pulled her onto his shoulder as he marched back into the backrooms of his vault. His bare feet pressed against the stone floor, the sound reverberating through the vast great hall as he made his way through the grand chamber and into the living space beyond.

 IIII. Nothing Is Given for Free

    Moments later, he was in a small room lined with ruined bookshelves. Torn papers were scattered throughout the room, and his furniture, once lush and regal, had largely rotted to nothing. The air was stagnant, and thick dust stirred with every step as he entered.


    Abad headed straight for a shelf on the far side of the left wall. Once there, he pulled aside a piece of wood to reveal the door to a secret compartment. He inserted his index and middle fingers into a pair of holes drilled into the wood. When he applied a bit of pressure to the surface, the door popped open with a metallic snap, revealing an obsidian cube no larger than a fist inside.


    It fit perfectly in his palm. Despite its smooth surface, it was cold, unnaturally so, against his skin. There was no latch on it, no seam or lock indicating how to open it. It appeared perfectly uniform, without any discernible opening mechanism.


    "Unlock." The cube floated up out of his hand, began to glow, then dissolved into a thousand motes of light. A minute later, a book fell into his hand.


    The book was unique. The cover was bound in what looked like leather at first glance, but on closer inspection, there were pores and small hairs that caused the leather to look suspiciously like human skin. A stitched face decorated the top cover. Its eyelids were dry and cracked and the skin rolled onto itself, and the mouth was permanently drawn back into a macabre position somewhere halfway between a grimace and a grin. Its nose had a metal ring stuck through it, from which a chain was attached that wrapped around the book to the back side, binding the covers shut.


    Seeing the book again sent shivers up Abad''s spine. He hated this thing. "Grimoire. I need your counsel."


    After he spoke, the book''s eyelids began to twitch. Slowly, ever so slowly, they fluttered open, revealing twin white orbs. There was something so unnerving about those blank white irises staring unblinkingly into his own.


    Still, it didn''t respond. Abad swallowed. Even in the best of times, he struggled to speak to the tome. The moody thing likely felt abandoned after he had been away for so long. Inhaling deeply, he placed his fingertips on the face and said, "Grimoire. It has been many years. I apologize. I have need of you now."


    There was silence, the eyes gazing at Abad as they considered his words. Then, the mouth opened, the lips parting to reveal a row of sharp teeth set into the cover. When fully opened, they revealed an obsidian tongue hiding within.


    "How can this old book be of service to you today, young master?" The mouth''s exaggerated movements made the hairs on his neck stand up. The voice sounded raspy, gravelly, like rocks scraped off the bottom of a dungeon floor, yet, its tone was cordial, almost gentle, not matching its fearsome face.


    "Grimoire, I have..." Abad hesitated, not knowing how to frame his words. The book looked impatient as it waited for him to finish his sentence. He decided honesty would be best in this instance. "I have just awoken since a most untimely near-death experience, and I have lost all of my power and spells. All of them, even my very weakest."


    "You''ve died, hm? I bet it felt wonderful. Such pain and pleasure..." It purred.


    Abad suppressed his disgust at the being. "Indeed. Quite lovely," he agreed hastily. "However, I am alive again, and I am in need of your aid."


    The book stared back at him, expressionless, the chains clinking together as it moved its obsidian tongue around its teeth.


    "Explain to me what it was like. Tell me tales of your ordeal, and perhaps this old book will decide to come to the aid of the one who abandoned it for so long."


    Abad took a deep breath and readied himself. He hadn''t planned on placating the book''s interests ever again. The ghastly thing practically lived on morbid fascination.


    "Well, it started when I infiltrated Saern''s court..."


    ***


    "... and that''s when I finally woke up and came to you for counsel."


    The grimoire stared back at him for a long moment after Abad finished telling his tale. Its black tongue ran along its cracked lips hungrily. Slowly, its half smile, half grimace stretched, growing wider, and wider, until a rumbling began to emanate from the book. At first, it was soft, like stones falling down a mountain, but slowly the rumbles became chuckles, and then the chuckles became more and more violent until its chains clinked with laughter. Then, it was vibrating and shuddering as it laughed, so much so that he had to release the foul object. It flopped unceremoniously to the floor, face down, but still, the muffled cackling emitted from the book. The chain on the book unlinked, and the book opened, flipping itself over so that the laughing face could continue looking at the grey-skinned elf.


    Abad gritted his teeth. Despite sounding nothing like her, the book had the same biting sense of humor as his late teacher. Nothing was ever good enough for the old mage. Every spell could be improved. Every movement could be sharper. Every word could be further shaped to execute our will. Even when he had embodied every lesson perfectly, mastered whichever theory or spell she had been teaching him, there was never any praise. A lack of criticism maybe, a subtle nod, sometimes a "that''s not terrible"¡ªthose were the only hints he ever received to know he was making progress. And then, when her death approached, she wrote a book, containing in it all of her spite and bile and perfection, and then she died, the book grinning on her lap as her soul left for the underworld.


    And now it was laughing at him.


    ***


    The book laughed, and laughed, and laughed until it slowly got it all out.


    "It wasn''t that funny." Abad sulked.


    That seemed to irritate it. The book shifted on the stone floor, angling itself toward Abad before snapping its jaw shut. "Then perhaps the former warlock needs a better sense of humor." Its eyes narrowed on Abad, and the corners of its mouth tightened. "But I suppose we all know why you have no sense of humor, little abandoned orphan boy."


    Abad pursed his lips, trying to stop himself from rising to the bait. Instead, he crossed his arms defensively as he waited for the tome to continue.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    "All that time, all that energy and effort and talent... then the one who wished to be the greatest Warlock in five centuries gets cut down by some brat plucked from another world. Oh, how the mighty fall and the ambitious fail. Following the dreams of a dead man, no less." Its lips curled upward again in a mockery of a smile.


    Angra hissed at the tome and flew over to smack it.


    "Silence, worm food. He IS the most powerful warlock... Or was. And will be again!" She talked herself out of the circle.


    "Oh ho! How cute! The little imp still protecting the delicate feelings of its master, longing for him to look at her the way she looks¡ª"


    She cried out. Her tail snapped, striking the book with her stinger, aiming for its right eye. She shrieked as the tip of her tail burned as it touched the book, black smoke billowed out, engulfing the room in acrid fumes. She and Abad coughed as the book glared at them both, no worse for wear.


    "Insolent familiar." It spat. "Learn your place and grovel."


    A pulse of force emitted from the book, driving the little red creature to her hands and knees. Despite her best efforts to resist, her head thumped onto the hard ground with a loud cracking noise.


    "A¡ªAbad! It''s mocking you!" Angra cried out as she struggled to resist it, her head pressing into the floor. "Kill it! Use your powers, master! I know you haven''t lost them all!" Despite her struggles, the creature couldn''t lift her head off the cold, unforgiving marble.


    Without thinking, he dashed to the diminutive creature, but the second he touched her, he, too, was caught in the book''s spell.


    "My my my. Your power has indeed lessened, Lord of the Vault." Abad winced at the sarcastic tone as he was driven to his knees. "The once-proud mage has been reduced to a worm crawling on the floor of his former empire. Let us hope there are no mirrors nearby, else he''ll be forced to see how far he has fallen."


    Abad tried to rise, to resist the effects of the spell, but it was impossible. His body was weak. He lacked the strength to fight back. His head planted into the stone next to his familiar''s. Resisting the pressure enough to look at her, he could see the tears of frustration streaming from her yellow eyes, her fangs bared in defiance.


    The grimoire laughed harder, louder, deeper than before. Bitter laughs. Mocking laughs. It''s laughter echoed throughout the empty chamber of the vault as Abad knelt there, helpless, his face buried against the unforgiving stone. His heart filled with shame, his pride broken.


    "Why, then, oh mighty Abad, should I, the great Grimoire personally crafted by the most glorious mage this world has seen, help someone as insignificant as you? Why shouldn''t I wait for another being more powerful than you to come claim me? The Depths hold no risk for me. I can wait as long as I need to."


    Silence. The echoes faded to nothing, leaving the three beings in the cold quiet. Abad licked his chapped lips as he struggled for words. "I... because..."


    "Oh my, has the master of masks lost his words? What happened, little immortal?" The book taunted. "You used to speak with such eloquence, such grace. Was all that simply a facade?"


    Angra''s little hand reached out to touch his. She gave his index finger a little squeeze. The gesture helped him collect his thoughts.


    "I admit defeat. You win, Grimoire. You are right. I am nothing now." He bowed his head as much as he could with it already planted on the ground, yielding. As if a weight was lifted off him, the force pressing his body to the ground vanished, letting him raise himself, only for him to lean forward again into a supplicant kowtow. "As was your creator, you are greater than me now. I submit to your power, oh great Book of Shadows, the wondrous legacy of the Archmage Aughra." He saw his familiar''s head whip around. Her mouth hung open in surprise. She trembled in fear and rage. "You are wise beyond my ability to comprehend. So please, instruct me, as my master did long ago."


    He was nothing if not pragmatic. The book was powerful, and he was not. He would have to rebuild himself from the ground up.


    The grimoire was quiet for a moment before its chains rattled in arrogant pleasure. The chains unlatched from the back cover, and the book opened, its pages fluttering on an invisible wind as if in thought.


    "Intriguing," it finally stated. "You would have never submitted before. No, you would have killed anyone who suggested that another could be better than you. You would force me to submit, force me to open my mysteries to you," The book paused, letting the words hang.


    "Yet here you are, sitting in the dust and dirt, humbled and pleading for guidance. Very intriguing. If nothing else, your growth pleases me." There was another pause, during which Abad felt the tension grow. Finally, the book said, "Perhaps this book should lend its wisdom and power to such a willing, pliable pupil. You are no longer full of self-will. Yes, now you can learn. I begin to see why the old hag chose you."


    Angra and Abad both breathed sighs of relief.


    "Stand." It commanded.


    The warlock was picked up off the ground by the same force that kept him pressed to it moments before. Next to him, Angra fluttered into the air, her wings twitching uselessly. The book snapped shut, then floated upward, rising to eye level, its chain dangling beneath it like a severed umbilical cord.


    "Answer my question, student of my creator. Why do you deserve this boon?" The grimoire eyed Abad suspiciously, its lips turned downward stretching the already tight flesh of the cover. "Speak truthfully; don¡¯t try to fool me. Remember, my secrets are valuable, and my creator knew you well."


    "I want revenge," Abad said simply. "For the ones who robbed my precious vault." He spoke with conviction. He''d make them pay.


    "Not good enough, young one." The force holding him up squeezed him. He felt the air drive from his lungs.


    His mind raced. How was that not good enough? How else was he supposed to answer? "The one who murdered me, and the ones who stole from me, must pay. I cannot allow others to believe I can be slain with impunity, nor can I allow others to steal from me and live."


    "So you believe you seek vengeance?"


    "Yes."


    "How does revenge make you worthy of my knowledge? Hundreds seek revenge daily. Every moment, someone somewhere seeks bloody payment for a perceived wrong. Revenge does not make you special, Abad-Shai."


    "That''s not¡ªI also want..." Abad swallowed.


    What did he actually want?


    The exercise of power over the weak always had its appeal. To make the powerful crawl and fawn and supplicate themselves had been an exquisite joy that he had deeply savored. However, so much of his life before was dull and hollow. All the power in the world had simply led to his death. He spent all of his time manipulating his enemies and plotting against his friends. Now that he had been granted a new chance, what did he actually want? What was he doing? After what was likely more than a century, did any of it even matter anymore? Who was even left alive from his time?


    "Hmmm," the book interrupted, "you are unsure of yourself. Doubt is the poison that plagues the weak and powerful alike. Yet doubt can guide us to new paths. Could it be that you are destined to walk a new path?" The book released them. Abad fell to his knees while Angra landed on her butt. "Death has allowed you to abandon the frivolities of your former life, but it also has stolen from you your purpose."


    The book watched silently as it waited for his response.


    "Master. Abad." Angra whispered as she landed next to him. Placing her hand on his arm, she looked up at him. "You are still strong, no matter what happened. I believe in you."


    He turned his head to gaze into her yellow eyes. The creature believed in him far more than he did himself at this point.


    The Warlock thought for a long moment before he finally spoke up. "Grimoire, I don''t know what I want. I can''t answer your question."

 V. Something Gained

    He continued, speaking as much to the book as to himself. "A part of me wants to say that I won''t stop until I kill Selene and burn her followers to ash." A brief vision of his old companion''s corpse lying at his feet flashed through his mind. He smiled at the thought. "And I''d like to say that I''d track down the Thirteen and the Seven and take from them everything that should be mine." He imagined the Thirteen, the true children of the Dark One, kneeling before him as he sat on a great throne, the other members of the seven serving him once again as he looked down upon the true children of the Dark Lord. "I can definitely say that I feel the urge to slay the hero and take the kingdom of Saern." His blood boiled thinking about her.


    "But a thought occurred to me when I slept: how much of how I feel is me, and how much of me is the Dark Lord?" He wondered aloud. "Were all of my past actions mine to choose? Was I actually the master of my fate?" The concepts of power, and revenge, and dominance had always felt so natural to him. He had never questioned them. Yet he wondered: how much of these feelings were truly his? How much of him, if anything, was Abad-Shai? "I''d like to say a lot of things... but I don''t know how I feel anymore. I don''t know what to do."


    He could see Angra tense as he spoke. She had never heard him be unsure.


    "Finally, the little orphan boy speaks with honesty," said the book as it stared at him. "So, what do you plan to do when faced with such uncertainty?" the book asked in a voice filled with anticipation.


    "I¡ªI don''t know."


    "You do know. You just won''t admit it yet."


    "I suppose I need to find my place in the world. I know nothing about the world now, so it''s impossible to make firm goals. I want to experience it, though, and see what there is to see. And to do that, I need to be strong." He spoke with more confidence than he had felt in some time. "The goddess''s world will never accept us. To carve a space out for my existence, I have to have power. To see it all, I have to be strong." He thought for a moment longer, then added, "and I want my stuff back."


    His scroll appeared in the air, and three entries burned themselves onto quests section of the translucent page:


    <hr><hr>


    [Walk a Thousand Miles]: You have lost your sense of purpose, and the world is now a mystery to you. Travel the land and discover your path.


    [Power Lost, Power Gained]: You have lost your former power. Regain your former glory, that you may reclaim your place in this world.


    [Finders Keepers]: Your personal belongings have been stolen. Of them, your cloak, your scepter, and your spellbook are most precious to you. Take them back.


    <hr><hr>


    "Power for its own sake is a worthy goal, young one, and the desire to see more, to take stock before acting, is wise." The book frowned. "And the goddess''s system, abominable as it is, agrees." The grimoire''s words echoed with power. "The world has changed much since you left it. Perhaps we should go see it. Then, we will discuss your plans once our travels are complete."


    "You... will help?" Abad was surprised.


    "But of course." It''s horrible smile grew large. "It is what my creator would have wished."


    "Your price?" He''d known Aughra well enough to know her creation would expect payment.


    The book snapped shut. "For now? Nothing. In time, once you have traveled enough, I shall tell you what I desire." The book''s chain locked the cover shut once again. "Now, you will take me to the grand hall. I wish to see the death the little one wreaked upon those who entered here." With its final word, it flopped onto the ground, face up.


    Abad reached down to pick up the old book. For a moment, he stood there, considering it in his palm. It''s presence felt almost reassuring somehow, like an echo of the past returned to him. However, after what he experienced earlier, he knew he needed to be careful with the tome.


    He turned his attention back towards the ruined room.


    "Filthy book. I wish we didn''t need it." Angra growled as she alighted on his shoulder, crossing her legs as they dangled down his chest.


    "I''m not so sure, Angra. I think that maybe my old master may have seen a little further than I could." He looked over at her, noticing that she had started twirling his long black hair between her claws, her brows knitted in thought. Her forehead was bruised and bloodied, and one of her eye sockets was growing dark. She had taken the brunt of the book''s anger because of him.


    That''s when he noticed that odd feeling again. His heart ached for her, and he didn''t know why. It was a familiar''s place to serve their master, to bleed for them, to die if need be. Why did he care?


    He reached over and placed his hand on her head, his thumb over the broken skin on her forehead. Her eyes asked what he was doing. He had never considered her needs in the past. It was always expected that she serve. She was confused.


    "Be still, Angra." He closed his eyes and concentrated.


    He let his awareness sink down into himself, deep into the darkness within. He felt for the boundaries of his spirit, which he soon found. They were far closer than he remembered. Then, he let his essence bleed out from his spiritual body into the darkness beyond. Here, he could feel how much he lost. There were many gaps in his memories, devoured by the void. The world between worlds claimed so much of him when he drifted between life and death. Being back in that place, he could intimately feel the holes in himself. He willed himself to remember, sinking his mind down, down, into that dark, empty space, searching for any fragments of himself that still remained.


    He could feel it. He could feel the void all around him. He could sense his lost memories and the fragments of power, but each was at the very edge of his awareness. They were unreachable now, but he could sense them, like shadows in the corner of his eye. He tried to call upon his lost memories. He waited, hoping that something of his former self would come back to him... Nothing did.


    The little imp shifted under his hand. "Master?" Her voice was soft. Her little hands reached up and grabbed him, gripping his fingers softly.


    He looked into her golden eyes. Something in them made him question his assumptions about her. He had always assumed the creature¡ªno, the woman¡ªhad obeyed him as a consequence of the compulsions woven into her by the enchantment that summoned her. He had only ever seen her as an extension of himself before, a tool to be used at his pleasure. And while he treated his tools well, sometimes grew attached to them when they worked efficiently, they were still tools.


    "Master..." She shuffled under his hand. "This is embarrassing..."


    But in that moment, all he could see in her eyes was devotion. A realization came to him. She served not because she had to but because she wanted to. Over the many years he had been stuck between life and death, she could have escaped, found her own path, discovered a way to free herself of their bond. But she didn''t. She stayed with him all these long years because she wanted to. And he would repay her kindness with kindness.


    He felt something burn inside of him as his scroll unfurled.


    <hr><hr>


    [If You Only Had a Heart]: Through the ashes of your former glory, you have found a new source of power: compassion. By opening yourself to another''s suffering, you gain the ability to both give and take the essence that binds all living things.


    You learn the [Essence Transfer] Warlock spell.


    [Essence Transfer] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?+?/?): The user can transfer a small amount of health or mana to or from a willing target.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Parent Category still [Locked].


    <hr><hr>


    His hand began to glow red as his life force flowed from him to her. He wavered as his energy bled out, restoring his little familiar to full health. His vision darkened, and he felt himself stumble as a portion of his life force left his spirit and entered hers. He didn''t realize how little he had to give. He had overdone it.


    "Master!" The familiar leaped up to catch him as he fell backward. Her little wings flapped furiously to catch him in mid air. She grunted under his weight, straining until he could brace himself.


    "Thank you, Angra." His voice sounded hollow. He was exhausted.


    "What did you..." She landed on the ground and furled her wings. Tentatively, she reached up and touched her head, then squeaked.


    He smiled as she realized what he had done.


    "You... you didn''t... you shouldn''t... you idiot." Her red cheeks grew darker, and she shuffled.


    "You got injured because of me. It''s only fair." He patted her head.


    "... You stupid idiot. It''s my job to take care of you..."


    "It''s okay. We can break the rules this time."


    She seemed like she wanted to say more but didn''t.


    Taking a final look around his old library, he gave himself a moment to collect himself. Then, turning on his heel, he walked out, but instead of heading back to the great hall, he turned left and marched down the hallway.


    "I have one more place to look before we leave. Book, please be patient a while longer." The old book didn''t speak or move, which he hoped was a good sign.


    ***


    His steps echoed down the wide hallway, doors passing by on either side. He had explored half of the rooms before he gave up earlier. Each was ruined. He desperately hoped that his own quarters were still intact. He didn''t have it in him to explore them before, but now it was time.


    He continued forward until he reached a large stone wall with doorways on either side. Reaching his hand out, he pressed into the center of the wall. The stone shifted, bending and warping until two large wooden double doors appeared. Stuck onto the left door was a dagger, a note pinned to the door by its tip. His heart dropped.


    Abad reached out and pulled the knife from the door. Pulling the note off, he unfolded it, ran his fingers along the page, feeling the writing on the page. "Book, might you be willing to lend me a spell? I can''t cast light spells anymore and also can''t read in the dark."


    The book was quiet a moment, then grumbled. A moment later, a ghostly candle appeared in the air in front of him. His eyes scanned the page.


    <hr>


    Dearest Abad-Shai, Lord of the Vault.


    It was with the heaviest of hearts that I received news of your passing. To the divine hero, no less. I don''t envy you, my dear friend. Word has it you were nearly cut to pieces! When I tell you that I wept for hours, I mean it. It is not often that I cry. It''s not in our nature. You should be honored.


    After the horrible emotions passed and with a clearer mind, I realized something. You would never wish for your belongings to rot away in the dark, forgotten to time. I hope you''ll forgive me for assuming, but I felt like you would have wished for your dearest companion in our little band of malcontents to have all that you left behind.


    Thus, I made it happen.


    Do not worry, my friend. My life is now wondrous as a consequence of your most generous of donations. I live in a manor. I have all kinds of servants. I even have a dog¡ªme, of all people! Who would have thought I''d have a pet after all the things I''ve done?


    Of course, I will eventually have to move to a new city, or country, or whatever. But, with the money you''ve provided to me, I will weather these challenges well. Thank you again, dear friend.


    Not all of us are gifted with the ability to disguise ourselves as you do, and while my corruption is entirely internal, unlike our brethren and even you, I still have an unaging body. And, unlike you, I was born to a human mother and father. I do not get the gift of longevity as an excuse as you do.


    Thus, I suppose by the time you read this letter, I will be far, far away. Likely a good thing, knowing your temper. However, please, let me explain my thoughts before you hunt me down. I''d rather you understand how we got here.


    I did, in fact, believe you to be dead. Thus, after thirty years (well done hiding your vault, sir!), I breached your lovely vault with a band of useful idiots, and we took everything we could. Having been there many times, I knew where your most potent enchantment lie, making it possible for me to disable them. Most of them, at least. After several trips, your vault was nearly empty. With you not present and Angra not there, I assumed you were truly gone.


    That is, until my men started dying.


    Your little pet (hi Angra!) is quite resourceful. I have to admit. I neither sensed nor saw her.


    However, while weak, my men were loyal, and they died for their loyalty. No great loss, but still frustrating. It took me a week to get new ones. But in realizing that she was still on this plane, I realized you were still alive. Or something like it. How my cold heart quivered at the thought!


    Thus, I set up one final expedition. I gathered a group of weaklings and guided them to your empty vault. The night before we arrived, I even snuck away. See, I was determined to leave this letter for you, along with a little gift in your room beyond. Never say I didn''t think of your needs, dearest.


    I don''t know what your little pet has planned for tomorrow, but I''m sure it will be marvelous. I saw several things had changed since I was last here. I''m sure the idiots I brought here will fall right into the rather obvious traps.


    So please, enjoy the snack. Their essence will be a bit bland, them being so weak and common and all, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless. May it help you recover.


    When you awake, I pray that you think of me. While my real brothers never let me play in their bed when I was a girl, I was always grateful that you never deprived me of the fun as a woman. You will forever be the man who provided me the power I obtained in life, much entertainment, and my newfound life of luxury. For that, I am eternally grateful.


    With love and gratitude,


    Selene.


    <hr>


    She even ended the letter with a lipstick kiss.


    Angra''s entire body shook on his shoulder at she read the words with him. "Bitch," she hissed, her eyes glowing bright enough to illuminate the door. "I''ll kill her."


    "Yes, she really is." Abad answered back. He folded the note and placed it in his sack. His mind roiled.


    "I want to consume her essence, master. You can have most of it, though! You''d be as strong as before, and the world would be rid of that rotten whore." Angra giggled as he pulled the doors open.


    Abad stepped into his old bedroom. Everything was mostly how he kept it, except all of the drawers were open and empty. The bed was still made, though the sheets were rotten. The walls were lined with hooks and racks and displays, but everything that belonged to him had been stolen. However, he could feel some presence coming from the bed, something that weighed down the sheets, but it was invisible.


    "Shut the door behind you." The book demanded, sending Abad scrambling to comply.


    [Produce Flame]


    A wave of magic flowed from the book into the room as the candles lining the walls lit themselves, bringing warm light to the space. And then the book began laughing. "I remember this place. You used to read me here."


    "That I did." A faint smile appeared on his face as he recalled those old memories. He wasn''t exactly a sentimental man, but nostalgia was a curious thing, filling him with unexpected warmth. "Now, show me what is hidden here."


    [Dispel Magic]


    A light appeared in the air around them, causing the air to shimmer. The hidden thing slowly revealed itself. On the bed rested a skeleton, its arms and legs shackled to the four posts, wearing nothing but tatters. From its shape and size, he knew that Selene had bound a female mortal to his bed. His senses told him the corpse still had some essence left in it. There was barely any left, but even the slightest bit of nourishment sounded delicious.


    Placing his hand on the corpse''s skeletal leg, he closed his eyes, focusing. He had to search deeply, as the spark of vitality had nearly expired. Eventually, he found it. It was weak, faint, barely a whisper in the vastness of the universe, yet it was there. "Come here, my meal. Give up what little remains in you and grant me sustenance."


    [Essence Transfer]


    A soft red glow emanated from his hand and flowed out into the corpse. Motes of red began to seep out from every crack in the dusty old bones. He could feel himself become more nourished, and as he did, the skeleton shrank inward, losing mass until only dust remained. When he removed his hand, he licked his lips in satisfaction.


    His scroll unfurled, and flaming words burned on the page.


    <hr><hr>


    [Consume the Pain] (Warlock, Quest): You have found the remnants of a tortured soul¡ªits body chained to a bed, its empty eyes seeming to plead for release. The corpses suffering lingers, trapped in the essence that lingers in its old bones. By consuming it, you grow stronger.


    You unlock the [Blood Magic] Warlock skill.


    [Blood Magic] (Passive): Your life force fuels your magic, allowing you to cast additional spells at the cost of health. You can learn spells that draw on blood and life energy to strengthen your casting.


    You reach level V


    <hr><hr>


    As he waited for the feeling of invigoration to settle within him, he looked around the room. His desk''s drawer was slightly ajar. He could just make out an object inside. Standing, he walked to the desk and opened the drawer.

 VI. Clothes Make the Man (and the Familiar)

    Inside the crumbling wooden dresser, he found a thin silver ring etched with runes. Beside it was another note.


    <hr>


    Abad,


    This is a ring I stole from you years ago, shortly after we first met. I remember laughing to myself when you tore the vault apart after "losing" it. While it held little power for you back then, you may have need of it again. I wish you the best on your journey, and if you come to my doorstep once again, I will welcome you with open arms if you call yourself friend.


    -Selene


    P.S. I hope you enjoyed the snack.


    <hr>


    He shook his head in disbelief, turning the ring in his fingers. It felt exactly the same as when he had crafted it during his apprenticeship with Aughra. He had even killed people trying to retrieve it.


    That woman was a menace.


    Absentmindedly, he pulled the ring onto his finger. It was a little loose now, but he could feel a familiar swell of power flow into him.


    His scroll, still unfurled from his level up, burned with a new entry:


    <hr><hr>


    <ul>


    <li>[Ring of Mana Reservoir II]: A finely crafted ring glowing faintly with arcane energy, enchanted with the [Mana Reservoir II] enchantment.


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Mana Reservoir II]: Enchanted item can store store up to two points of mana.</li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    </ul>


    <hr><hr>


    When he put the ring on, he could feel the well of power within it. It rivaled his own at this point. He felt the mana cascade through him, merging with the energy of his own spirit. It felt good.


    "How does it feel, knowing the one who stole from you lives in luxury while you crawl in the dark, powerless?" The book rumbled.


    Abad grabbed the discarded book off the bed as his familiar fluttered back onto his shoulder. He turned the book so he could see the face. "I can''t say I blame her. I would have done the same thing in her shoes. The only difference is I wouldn''t have written a letter, nor would I have left her a dime." A bitter laugh escaped his lips as he walked toward the door. "I suppose, in that small way, she was always better than me."


    Angra''s eyes almost rolled out of her head, and the book was silent.


    His hand touched the door''s handle. He gave a last glance back at his ruined bedroom, then turned the nob. He had taken everything he needed. It was time to go now.


    The second the door opened, the book spoke. "I find your lack of anger to be most strange, student of my maker," the tome rumbled as they exited the room. "Your past self would have been livid with rage; however, you seem almost indifferent to the actions of one who wronged you. Is your lack of negative emotions due to your past relations?"


    Abad thought a moment, then shook his head. "No. We were only ever a means to an end for one another. There were no feelings between us." His heart felt hollow. "I don''t know why I don''t care." Abad admitted both to himself and the book, looking down at his bare feet as he spoke. "I''ll have to think on it more. I feel as though death has made me reconsider some things."


    "Mm. Interesting." The grimoire hummed in the crook of his arm. "I will not pry further. Now, student. Lead us toward the entrance. There are corpses to inspect. I can feel them."


    Abad took several steps down the hall, but every step felt heavier than the last. Finally, after a dozen steps, he hesitated. He turned back to the twin doors lining his bedroom, and he knew what he had to do.


    "Sorry, book. I just realized I have one more stop." He turned, marched down the hallway, and entered one of the rooms that flanked his bed chambers, revealing a massive closet. Rows and rows of clothing lined the walls, all in pristine condition.


    He smiled as he took it all in. It looked just as he left it. He thanked the Dark One, the Goddess, his past self, and even Selene for this one small blessing. Despite all the devastation, all the loss, all the miserable emptiness he felt, his closet was still intact.


    He remembered his former priorities. He had woven enchantments in this room so that they were much more powerful, preventing both the energies of the Depths and anyone but himself and guests he welcomed in from entering. Unfortunately, his past self only kept his favorite clothing in this space, opting to put all the good stuff on display elsewhere in the vault. But it was no matter. He wouldn''t be forced to wander the realms looking like a vagabond.


    He''d feel more like himself if he were dressed well.


    Turning around, he walked to the other side of the hallway and opened the opposite door. Steam billowed out as the door, this one metal, groaned open, revealing a massive bathroom, styled after the bath houses of Xaos. Clear, rippling water beckoned to him from the doorway, his countless bottles of soaps and ointments lining the small ledge on the far wall. Hundreds of small glowstones were set into the walls, illuminating the room in a rainbow of colors, causing the walls, ceiling, and surface of the water to look like a sea of stars.


    The sight filled him with more joy than he''d felt in... since he died. The steam proved that his old enchantments were still active in this room as well. He hadn''t lost everything. He could bathe. He could dress himself like a civilized man. He almost cried out in joy, but he caught himself before he lost control. He coughed, concealing his joy the best he could. However, his familiar''s gleaming eyes showed that she, too, was as ecstatic about these findings as he was.


    "Angra..." He whispered.


    "Master..." She breathed back.


    "Our baths..."


    "Our baths?"


    "Should we?"


    "Yes."


    Before the words left her lips, he was fumbling to peel away his ruined clothes. "Great grimoire, please be patient. Angra and I have something we need to take care of first."


    He stepped into the bathroom, his clothes tearing more than stretching as he removed them. The imp leapt from his shoulder and did the same. Looking down as she did, he marveled at how she seemed to so often reflect his thoughts.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Then, his blood froze.


    The little red creature was stripping off the rat clothes, its empty little rat eyes staring into Abad''s soul.


    "Don''t you dare take that disgusting thing off in this sacred place," he snarled.


    She froze. "But master..."


    "Outside." His tone promised violence.


    "But¡ª"


    "Now."


    She pouted, head down, as she shuffled out of the room. A cold rush of air followed as she opened the door again, but he didn''t care. He was already descending into the warm water, ready to wash away a century of dirt, grime, blood, and worries.


    ***


    A small splash followed him into the water a few moments later. They took turns shampooing each other''s hair, washing one another''s backs, and pulling the tangles out with his collection of brushes and combs. Looking down into the water, he couldn''t begin to process the amount of filth that flowed off of them. After multiple rounds of shampoo and hair oils, they soaped and lathered themselves, scrubbing the dirt and grime away.


    The book began to grumble. Not willing to listen to the thing in this most sacred temple, Abad marched out of the warm water, picked the old book up, and threw the old thing out into the hallway, slamming the door behind it, the imp giggling as he did.


    Then, the two floated in the soapy water for what had to have been hours. His fingers and toes were completely wrinkled, but he didn''t care. He was clean. He thanked his past self for reinforcing the enchantments in these rooms. If there was anything he would have protected, it would have been his closet and bath.


    His mind drifted as he bobbed with the lapping waves of his bath, his head nestled in a small flotation device he had found in the north. He had always been vain. Baths, clothing, hair, nails¡ªhe had once heard that one''s body is one''s temple, and he took it to heart. He was happy those feelings remained. They were something he liked about himself. Sure, he was fussy, but he knew what he liked. He deserved the finer things.


    It''s why he almost failed his apprenticeship. Most mages summoned familiars that matched their personalities. Little dragons, fairies, a variety of woodland critters¡ªmost familiars were either cute, fearsome, or at the very least bland enough to be unoffensive. Like attracted like, so the essence that most matched a mage''s nature responded to their call and was then shaped by the mage''s will. The resulting creatures then took on elements of their masters'' personalities, making them particularly suited for their roles as servants.


    But, because the Dark One had decided to poison his mother when he was still unborn, he was limited to only the essences tied to monsters and dark beasts. Which meant he had one real option: an imp.


    Normally, imps were foul. They had gangly, misshapen bodies, large fangs with lips too small to cover them, and all manner of lumps and bruises and sores that never seemed to heal.


    They were disgusting.


    When Aughra told him summoning a familiar was a mandatory part of becoming a mage, he refused. She beat him badly for that. When he finally healed, he was determined to do it, but had decided he would do it his own way.


    He summoned the dark essence rather easily, being a prodigy and all. However, when it came to shaping the creature, he used every ounce of power and will he had to prevent it from taking the shape that came most naturally to it.


    Using an especially costly mana charge and his ring, he succeeded at halting the process. But, it cost him. He struggled for days against the will of the dark essence he called forth. After three days of bitter struggle, he was fully drained, at the edge of death, and in desperate need of food and water. However, he was victorious.


    A little red imp in the shape of a miniature woman, tiny and cute, was laying in his summoning circle, her yellow eyes hazily locked on his.


    Then he blacked out.


    Three weeks later, he woke up with the little creature resting on his chest, her head nestled in his neck. When his master berated him for his recklessness, he named his new servant Angra in honor of his master''s temper. It wasn''t his best pun, but he was young, and it pleased him immensely when the old orc''s eyes nearly fell out of her old skull from the massive eyeroll she gave him.


    His training tripled after that, but it was all worth it.


    He smiled as the imp''s humming of some old song he couldn''t remember reverberated off the bath''s stone walls, pulling his mind back to the present.


    "You seem happy, master." She was oiling her red skin, which glinted in the light of the glowstones.


    "I was just thinking of old times."


    "Which ones?" She smiled at him, her small fangs gleaming. "Was it the time we burned that town to the ground? I still remember their faces when you marched them to the fields to watch their nasty little huts burn. Served them right for not paying tribute."


    She was always the more bloodthirsty than him. "No, I was just thinking of when I summoned you."


    "Oh..." Her golden eyes gazed down on him. She seemed like she wanted to say something, but a small shake of her head cast it away. "Thank you for that. Risking your life for me, that is. I would have hated to be gross. Like Pelwar. He''s foul." She shuddered.


    Pelwar was the imp servant that served Zaros, another one of the seven. Foul didn''t describe it. The thing was disgusting. It drooled everywhere.


    "He really is. Or was. And you''re welcome." Taking inspiration from her, he climbed out of the water and began tending his skin, hair, and nails.


    ***


    When they were done, they marched across the hallway to get dressed. The book tried to get their attention, but the pair ignored it entirely, slamming the door as they entered their closet.


    He ran his fingers up and down the rows of immaculately crafted clothes several times, savoring the feeling of the soft fabrics beneath his fingertips. After indulging himself for a time, Abad chose his favorite traveling clothes: a black quilted vest and red tunic paired with loose, comfortable pants. He threw a fine weatherproof cloak over his shoulders and packed several other outfits into his favorite pack, which he had luckily stored in the closet before his untimely death. Then, he fished out a pair of sturdy black boots from behind a stack of shoes he never put away. He finished his outfit by putting on the bronze bracers he had gathered in the great hall.


    He couldn''t exactly remember what they did, so he pulled up his scroll.


    <hr><hr>


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Bracers of Resilience I]: These well-crafted, if simple, bronze bracers grant the wielder [Resilience I].


    <ul>


    <li>[Resilience I]: Your body endures like that of a seasoned traveler, capable of withstanding minor injuries and fatigue without slowing down.</li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    </ul>


    <hr><hr>


    Weak, but useful.


    He shoved the coin purse he had found before into his vest and made for the door, where his familiar was finishing getting dressed.


    His familiar had donned her favorite clothes out of the little wardrobe he had constructed for her. She had forced Abad to have them crafted for her after she had seen Selene in one of the thief''s more revealing infiltration outfits.


    The little red imp wore a leather bra with a golden buckle in the front and a small pair of matching shorts with a cutout for her tail. Long leather boots rose past her knees, and matching fingerless leather gloves extended past her elbows. She accented the ensemble with a thick black choker, which did nothing but was an accessory she particularly liked. She claimed that the outfit let her move freely, but he was sure his vanity had rubbed off on her, along with her jealousy of Selene.


    She was tucking little blades into her gloves as he watched her. He patiently waited for her to finish. When she finally turned and looked up at him, he asked the question burning in his heart. "How do I look?"


    "Like a man ready to conquer the world," the imp replied without hesitation. "Do I look okay?" Her brow furrowed.


    "Like an imp who can accomplish anything." Her cheeks grew dark again, and she shuffled like before. He didn''t understand what this new behavior was, but he''d have time to figure it out as they traveled.


    "Ready?" He asked.


    "Ready." She replied.


    The door opened, and they were back in the hallway, where the book was loudly grumbling.

 VII. Make the Impossible Possible

    A short while later, the trio was back in the tunnel that Selene and her men had dug. The half dozen skeletons were staring at Abad as he stood there waiting for the book to do something.


    "Book. What are we doing?" Abad asked with equal parts anger and confusion. The old book had grumbled the entire way to the tunnel, but now that they were there, it didn''t seem to have a plan. It just looked around in his arms, murmuring to itself. Abad sighed. "Do we need to leave you for a while? I don''t mind if you need some privacy."


    "Hush, boy," the book grumbled, "let me think." A pause. "I can sense remnants of magic in the wall, as if someone had used earth magic here, but it feels odd somehow." It was silent for another minute, until its pages began fluttering. "That woman. The magic doesn''t match her aura. Someone else helped her in breaching the depths."


    "Well, you are my teacher now," Abad said with a nod, smiling gently, "So what does that mean, oh great book." He bowed, hamming it up.


    "Insolent boy," the book hissed. "Why did Aughra pick someone like you to be her pupil? Imp. I''m starting to wonder if perhaps the wretch should be smothered to death. Perhaps I could teach you instead." The book wiggled its covers threateningly.


    "Over my cold dead body," the Imp hissed back.


    "Oh noble book, I disagree with your assessment," Abad affected a broad smile. "While I am quite the wretch. Orphan. Scoundrel. Former master of the black arts. I am also a prodigy after all. One of the spiritual children of the great Dark One, no less! How great then would the teacher of such a prodigy be."


    He lifted his hands to his head and rolled his eyes back. "The visions, they come to me. I can see them so clearly. The great grimoire. Written down in the history books as the finest teacher to roam the ten kingdoms. The wisest of minds. The sage of sages. How else could someone like myself rise to meet my full potential without you to guide me and restore everything that I have lost?" He shuddered, pretending to come back to himself.


    "Yes, you are wise indeed." The book seemed to miss his obvious sarcasm. "You will grow very strong under my tutelage. Now, lead me to the source of the magic." The book moved in his arms, pointing its spine at a spot in the backside of the tunnel. "Right there. Take me there."


    They traveled over to the wall. The book murmured. "It is as I thought. This tunnel is sealed with both stone and magic. It seems as though the woman wanted to keep you sealed in. She used the imp''s treachery against us." The book''s brows furrowed. "Boy. Use this spell. Try to break the seal. I grant you a single use of it." The book''s covers opened slightly, and a piece of paper fell out.


    Snatching it out of the air, Abad felt a small bit of power pass into him through his hand, and his scroll appeared, and words blazing onto its ethereal page.


    <hr><hr>


    [Shape Earth] (3rd Circle, Cost ?????, Granted): You gain control over natural earth and stone within a short range, allowing you to shift, mold, or carve it to create basic structures, barriers, or pathways with ease. This spell is limited to simple shapes and small amounts of material, suited for quick adjustments to your surroundings.


    <hr><hr>


    "Book, this spell is certainly at the edge of my ability right now. Are you sure that you can''t do it?"


    "I am sure."


    "Alright," Abad muttered, stepping toward the wall. He focused inward, dipping down into the waters of his soul and observing the essence he could feel there. While his life essence felt about the same as it did before, his mana felt stronger than it had earlier. It wasn''t overwhelming by any means, but between him leveling up and the ring that Selene had left him, he felt a bit stronger than he had. He reached down into his soul and pulled upon the mana within.


    Concentrating, he pushed the power through the atrophied pathways connecting his body and spirit. His mana refused to move through them at first, struggling against his will like water through a strainer, but after a few moments, it relented and moved from his spirit to his body and from his body to his left hand, collecting into his palm. He place it on the cold stone of the tunnel. Pausing for a moment, he prepared himself. Then, he took a deep breath and cast the spell.


    [Shape Earth]


    He felt the spell leave his mind as magic poured through him, making every hair on his body stand on end. His essence tore from his hand into the stone under it. His mana flowed out of his core, following his thoughts as he commanded it outward into the stone. His power raced through him, until he could feel the world bending to his will


    He felt a surge of energy rush through him as the spell began to take hold, giving him confidence as he pushed his will into the stone, feeling it warp and bend under his body''s weight and the force of his self. His vision dimmed as the rocks and stones began to move and twist, coalescing, forming intricate patterns that danced and swirled beneath his touch.


    Then, he could feel his mana reservoir empty, and the spell began to eat away at his limited life force. The urge to vomit hit him hard, and his chest burned. He doubled over, his vision black and stomach retching, but he managed to keep his focus on the spell. The rocks began to flow under his palm.


    "Master!" Angra cried out. The imp scrambled onto his back, jumped onto his shoulder, then placed her hands on the sides of his face as she called forth her power.


    [Familiar''s Martyrdom]


    Like an ice bath compared to the heat pouring over him, he could feel her energy race into him through their bond. As her mana and life force filled him, he could feel the searing pain dull, if only slightly. Her hands grew weaker on his face as her energy flowed from her soul into his, but he didn''t feel like he was going to die any longer.


    His lungs burned as he tried to hold the spell longer, his skin pricked as cold sweat covered him. He became aware of the pain wracking his body and how hard it was to breathe. He quivered, trying to push the last bit of Angra''s gifted energy into the stone, but it wasn''t enough. Even with the borrowed essence, he was at his limit.


    Focusing inward, he descended into his spirit. There, he scoured every inch of it, looking for any part of his past self that could bolster his meager power. There were still so many parts of himself missing, hiding in the shadows at the edge of himself and the void. But there, in his core, was a flickering sigil representing a power that he could just remember... He reached for it... straining, until...


    Flames exploded from the sigil, illuminating his spirit before pushing him back into the present. His inner flame cascaded forth, and for a brief moment, the [Shape Earth] spell was empowered by it. Then, as fast as they appeared, they were gone.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    He released the spell.


    His ears rang. Blackness filled the edge of his vision as his brain tried to remember how to hear, but, slowly, sounds began to make its way back in, and his vision returned in bits and pieces. He sat down.


    Through blurry eyes, he saw that he had managed to shift the stones and rock, opening up the collapsed tunnel slightly. The rocks around him crackled and popped, shaking violently as the spell''s magic faded. He could feel something buried underneath the rubble within with his [Fey Senses], some faint magic interacting with his spell, but he had no idea what it could be.


    "I told you I wouldn''t be able to do it. I''m not some apprentice who doesn''t know his limitations."


    The book laughed. "That is where you are wrong, apprentice. You did well and revealed that which I needed to see."


    "Great. Thanks." Abad said weakly, wiping spit from the side of his mouth. Abad didn''t have it in him to give a snarky reply, choosing to lay back instead. So much for his freshly washed body and clean clothes.


    "Mhm, your pain has served as a wonderful example. Imp, let your master rest. Pick me up and put me into the hole he made."


    Abad''s head lolled toward Angra. Her red skin was pale and clammy, and he could feel through their bond that she had been weakened, but she would be okay. Snatching up the book, she shoved its face into the small aperture he had opened in the tunnel, her scowl making her distaste apparent. He listened, exhausted, as the book''s voice mumbled out of the small hole.


    "It seems that this wall was collapsed intentionally, but one of the corpses underneath the large stones has something peculiar on it. It is a ward of some kind that is designed to prevent anything from coming or going from your vault. It has also enchanted the stone with a similar, but far more powerful, spell, causing it to reform a new stone wall if disturbed. That is why I couldn''t open the way myself. I would have triggered the barrier, destroying myself, which I am loath to do. You were an acceptable sacrifice."


    Abad wanted to say something, but he let it go. Angra, however, smacked the book.


    "A crude form of sealing magic," it rumbled. "Even so, very effective. It will quickly reshape the wall until the hole is gone entirely." Even as the book spoke, the hole seemed to have closed slightly.


    "So, my agony was completely unnecessary then?" Abad spat out sarcastically.


    "Yes." The book answered. "Well. No. Sort of." It said, being unusually indecisive. "I wanted to teach you something, student. See, this task was impossible. I knew that from the start. Yet, you must always push yourself to your limits. Otherwise, you will not grow."


    As if it heard the object, his scroll unfurled in the air.


    <hr><hr>


    [Make the Impossible Possible]: Only the daring reject common sense and drill their way to a greater tomorrow. For successfully casting a spell you were certain you won''t survive casting, you grow stronger.


    You Unlock the [Fire Magic] Warlock Ability


    [Fire Magic] (Passive): You wield the essence of flame, strengthening your power over physical and spiritual fires and increasing your resistance to them. You can learn spells that summon, control, and unleash fire in its many forms.


    You learn the spell [Burn the Weak].


    [Burn the Weak] (1st Circle): You conjure a small, searing flame that can be thrown at creatures within sight, igniting and inflicting fire damage. This spell is especially effective against vulnerable or injured enemies, dealing additional damage to those already weakened.


    You reach level VI


    Choose an Enhancement:


    <ul>


    <li>


    [Mana II]: Increases your mana reserves by one additional point, allowing for greater spellcasting endurance and more complex incantations.


    </li>


    <li>


    [Potence II]: Further amplifies the strength of your spells, making each cast more impactful and destructive. This enhancement also slightly reduces resistance to your spells, increasing the chance of bypassing defenses.


    </li>


    <li>


    [Willpower I]: Bolsters your mental fortitude, granting increased resistance to fear, charm, and other mind-affecting effects. This heightened willpower allows you to maintain focus under pressure and resist external control.


    </li>


    </ul>


    <hr><hr>


    Abad laid his head back and sighed. It was like training with his old master all over again. He watched as the small hole in the wall slowly closed itself up until, after a few moments, it was like it never existed.


    The imp jumped down from the ledge she had been standing on, threw the book to the ground, and spoke. "Okay, so we can''t leave, which means master''s going to starve to death. I''m not okay with that, not one bit. So you''re going to figure something out, book, or I''m going to find a way to pull your pages out one by one until you''re empty. You got it?"


    "Are you threatening your better?" The book sounded amused.


    "My better?" Angra growled. "Yeah right. You think I don''t remember when you were chained to a shelf with the other dumb grimoires? The only reason we kept you was because we found you funny to read when we were drunk. All of you books act like you''re so special, so smart and full of yourself, but you aren''t. You''re just paper and... and... all talk." She huffed. Abad knew her well enough to know she was frustrated she couldn''t think of something better to end on.


    "Yes. Yes I am." The book said, its voice dripping with condescension. "However, I understand your concerns, small servant. Do not worry, we will not need to starve your precious master. I simply need you both to bring me to the great hall. I will grant you use of another one of my pages so that we might leave this place."


    "You want me to rip a page out of you?" The little imp hissed. "Oh, I''ll enjoy it." The words came out of her like the growl of a dog. Angra''s usual sweet demeanor disappeared like mist when confronted with the Grimoire.


    "No." It responded. "I shall remove it myself and infuse it with magic. And you won''t be touching it."


    "Sounds fine to me." Abad stood up. "Let''s get going."


    "Hold." The book''s voice boomed. "Let me survey the death wrought by the little one here." Abad picked the book up and brought it to the closest of the skeletons on the ground, allowing it to see the corpse. The grimoire mumbled to itself as it surveyed the scene. Seeing something, it began to flutter in Abad''s arm, until it violently pulled away from him.


    It flopped on the ground, and its chain unlinked, allowing it to crawl toward the body. After a few moments, it seemed to rethink itself and flopped toward another body. In this way, it went from body to body, murmuring to itself all the while, before stopping next to one that was relatively intact. Its pages fluttered softly as it thought.


    As it did, Abad considered the choice the scroll gave him. It wasn''t a hard one. He chose [Potence II], and the enhancement burned onto the page. If a wall could best him, he would need far more power than he currently had. Plus, what kind of mage would he be if he turned down more power?


    "This one," the book shouted.


    [False Body]


    A pulse of force filled the dusty air. Then, nothing happened. At first.


    Slowly, the skeleton began to twitch. An arm moved, then a foot. It moved methodically, each bone rattling as it slowly sat upright.


    "What are you doing?" Abad watched as the creature slowly stood, its dry bones creaking. After standing, it reached down, its bones rattling, and picked up the book into its skeletal hands, which clasped around the object lovingly. Twin red pricks of light flared to life in the creature''s eyes, and its mouth opened in a mockery of speech.


    "Ah, much better. No longer am I bound to be carried like some sort of manual in the hands of a child," the skeleton said with the same grumbling voice as the book. The red dots seemed to narrow in delight. "No offense meant, student, I am sure your hands are quite strong, but surely you see the benefits of my new state. After all, now I have limbs with which to wield the weapon that is knowledge!" The skeleton raised its arms, flexing its nonexistent muscles.


    Abad certainly couldn''t deny that being free of the heavy thing helped him. Even after gaining two levels, he was still far too weak to carry much more than himself.


    The skeleton shoved the book into its ribcage, causing the lower ribs to bend precariously. Then, it began walking around the other corpses.


    [Mass Animate Dead]


    Another pulse of force followed, and each of the other skeletons began twitching. Even the pile of gnawed on bones began to assemble itself, and the two arms sticking out of the rubble began clawing at the ground. Moments later, eight skeletons and two arms stood at attention, waiting for the book''s orders. A wave of nostalgia hit Abad as he remembered being able to perform similar feats in the past.


    "These minions will guard the tomb while we are away." The book-skeleton turned on its heel, brushing by Abad as he moved past him. The skeletons followed, their feet clacking on the cold stone.


    "Keep up." The thing called out over its shoulder as it walked into the darkness ahead. "It''s time we see the world."

 VIII. Lord of Nothing

    The group''s footsteps echoed along the smooth stone walls of the cave. The sounds bounced off the damp surfaces, echoing loudly as they made their way back to the vault. Soft clicking noises followed behind them, with even the two severed arms followed on their fingertips.


    They reached the hole in the vault, then continued walking to the center of the large room. Abad scanned, looking for anything that he might have missed in his first sweep, but the vault was truly empty now, save for his closet and bath. As they entered, the clicking and clacking noises halted behind them. Looking back, Abad noticed that the skeletons were fanning out, heading in different directions on unknown commands. He''d have to ask the book about that later.


    After a few minutes, they arrived in the center of the room. The skeleton stepped aside, letting Abad pass him and cross the edge of the magic circle first. As he did, he reached out with his senses and felt into the grooves he had carved long before. The power in the circle was faint now, causing that light that used to glow from its lines to be nearly invisible. All enchantments needed to be periodically charged, and it had been far too long since this one had. He would have to repair it whenever he returned.


    He frowned as he walked to the center of the circle, where his old spellbook used to rest on its stone dais, which was unceremoniously toppled over now. He leaned down and picked it up. Even if it was a small step forward, he was happy to do it. His spellbook would look fantastic once it was placed back in its rightful place.


    He heard the clicking of skeletal footsteps behind him. As the skeleton stepped into the old magic circle, the seal''s magic flared to life, causing the floor to glow a soft blue. How could the book recharge the seal so easily?


    As it stepped forward, Abad watched as the skeleton ripped the book from its ribs. With a flourish, its covers opened, and a page fell out of the book. The skeleton snatched it out of the air and handed it to the warlock.


    "Student, it is time for you to reclaim another piece of your former self. You know this spell well. Etch it into your mind and cast it. I will supply to you the essence necessary to do so this time. You will not be drained as you were." As the last word escaped the creature''s mouth, it placed its bony hand on Abad''s shoulder.


    [Essence Transfer]


    The warlock felt as a channel between the book and himself was opened... No, it wasn''t opened. The boundaries between them were thrown open as easily as tearing paper, and as if a funnel was shoved into his chest, the molten iron of the book''s essence was poured into him. The being''s mana rushed through him, and he felt himself fill with essence. His senses sharpened, his mind raced, and his muscles bulged as every corner of his spirit overflowed with power. It was glorious; he felt invincible! Stronger than he could remember! Reaching out through their connection, Abad tried to sense the book''s spirit.


    His jaw dropped.


    The skeleton, or the book it held, had what felt like an endless see of mana. There were no boundaries to the book''s spirit, no edge from which he could sense the void. He also couldn''t sense life force within at all, revealing the book to be a purely magical creation. A small glimmer of negative energy was submerged deep within the waters like a dead fish floating within the endless abyss. Abad surmised that that kernel of energy must be the skeleton''s animating essence. It was nothing in comparison to the sea it floated in.


    Abad had owned the book for decades before his death, but he had never thought much of it. After his teacher passed and he found it on her lap, he merely assumed that his master had crafted a memento to serve three roles in his life: to contain her knowledge and memories so that he might call on them in times of need, to act as a repository of her magical knowledge in case he ever forgot something, and to be a thorn in his side if he ever got too uppity. The book had always filled those roles nicely, and it never said otherwise. And since the book had never opened its spirit to him in the past, he never assumed his master had created such a wondrous item.


    He always took it for an annoying-but-useful book and a sometimes friend when he was bored. Had he known what it truly was, he would have given it the greatest place of honor in the vault.


    As he concentrated, the essence inside the book felt familiar. It felt like every ounce of his master''s formidable essence was contained within it, though the feeling wasn''t one to one, at least not from his memory. Considering magical items needed charging every so often to remain functional, and the book still contained what felt like an endless amount of mana, the late orc''s skills were still leagues above anything he had ever achieved.


    In that moment, he was truly humbled. As he was, the gulf between them felt impossible to cross.


    "Student, I do not lend my power frivolously. Read the page, and let us be away from here."


    Abad''s mind was pulled back to the present by the creature''s words. Holding the paper up, he read it. His scroll unfurled, and words appeared on its page.


    <hr>


    [Teleportation Circle] (5th Circle, Cost ???????, Granted): Allows the caster to modify a magical circle so that it allows teleportation to and from other circles found throughout the land.


    <hr>


    "Angra, come to me. We should stay close. My skills are rusty, and I don''t want one of us to end up somewhere unexpected."


    The little imp fluttered up to him and alighted on his shoulder. She felt lighter than she did before, which he was grateful for.


    "Everyone ready?"The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    The skeleton and the imp nodded.


    He took a deep breath and cast the spell.


    [Teleportation Circle]


    Essence poured from the skeleton into Abad and from Abad into the seal. At first, the light stayed dim, continuing to illuminate the dark space in a soft blue glow. But as they looked, the seal grew brighter, and brighter, and brighter, until every inch of his vault was visible in true light.


    Hazarding a brief glance, Abad looked around at the vault in true light. It looked even worse than it did in the dark. He pulled his attention back to the seal.


    He could feel the essence pool into the seal''s deep grooves. He allowed his senses to drift into the essence that poured out of him. From the center of the seal, he extended his senses outward, allowing himself to feel it all. He could feel every inch of the seal. Every symbol had been masterfully carved by a more impressive version of himself. Every angle had been perfectly measured. Every line had been carefully carved. As he reached his senses out to encompass the entire seal, he felt something unfamiliar beneath the remains of a ruined chest. It nagged at him, pulled in his energy. It was something he hadn''t crafted.


    He could feel his essence seep into stone. He could feel the runes, forming some form of sigil whose purpose he couldn''t guess. He felt his essence begin to meld fill the thing, filling it, until it filled completely. The chest above it caught fire, filling the large hall with acrid smoke. As it burned, the smoke didn''t fill the space. Instead, he felt a small wave of energy release from the magical construct as its magic activated. A cold wind whipped through the vault. The air began to bend and ripple, the smoke in the air congealing until, at last, it coalesced into a man''s shape. A moment later, he was looking at Nocturne, one of the seven. His old ally. His creation.


    The man had always been unnerving. He was exceptionally tall but stooped dramatically, causing him to stand shorter than Abad. His body was emaciated, with bluish bruised skin that he kept covered with long, flowing clothes, but the long black sleeveless robes he wore left his long arms exposed, hanging flaccidly at his sides. The most unnerving of Nocturne''s many unnerving qualities were his eyes, which were empty black pits that reflected no light. Once he was fully formed in the chest''s smoke, the man turned to face him.


    "Hello, old friend," the man said with a particular emphasis on the final word. He bowed, keeping his eyes trained on Abad as he did, and smiled, revealing his perfect white teeth. "It has been many long years since we last spoke. For that, I''m grateful. The world, and my ears, has been spared from your incessant prattling." The man rose from his mocking bow and stood tall, towering over the group before slumping back down.


    "What are you doing, Nocturne?" Abad asked the image.


    "Knowing you, you are likely attempting to speak to me at this moment. However, this image is simply a reflection of myself in this time and place. Know, deceiver, that you won''t be able to talk your way out of what will be done to you. What I will do to you." The man''s smile faded.


    "The world is better for your leaving it, Abad-Shai. While Selene, contrary to my advice, saw fit to help you along once she realized you were still alive, I am not so kind. Were I a lucky man, you would have simply died to the blade of the hero. Alas, I am not so lucky. Barring your death, I would see you remain here forever, stuck in your little vault for eternity. However, I am far too shrewd to believe that you won''t wake up and find a means to escape. You will find a way back into the light of the towers. Like a roach, you always return, no matter how many times you''re swatted away." The image breathed deeply, a raspy rattle escaping its throat.


    "I followed Selene as she came back to your vault. The woman always had a soft spot for you. I never saw it. Likewise, cunning as she is, she never saw me, never suspected that I would follow once I learned from her that you were alive. I followed her into the Depths, knowing that she''d lead me to you. And when she snuck away from her little band of sacrifices, I followed. I watched as she tied some little waif she picked up in a backwater to your bed, a sacrifice for when you wake up. I saw your little creature hiding in the shadows, grinding its teeth. I saw your little coffin and smiled, knowing you were locked inside."


    The skeleton''s glowing red eyes narrowed as it listened to the image, and Angra shook, wrapping her arms around Abad''s neck.


    "I am here, in the silence, cursing your little coffin and crafting this sigil so that, when the day comes that you walk amongst us once again, I will have won. So that when you stand among the living, so sure you''ll return to the land above, your journey will end in disappointment and rage, your hope dashed against the impenetrable wall that is my hate." The man sneered at him. "This sigil will deny you your dreams. Your circle will fail, and your way out will be barred. You will not have the future you wish for. I refuse to live in a world that allows you to live in it again."


    The man held his hands out and looked directly at Abad. "You always enjoyed your titles, so how about this: I hereby dub thee Abad-Shai, Lord of Nothing. May this title be your final reminder of who you truly are. Enjoy."


    Abad''s scroll unfurled, and black words etched themselves upon it.


    <hr>


    [Lord of Nothing]: Mockingly bestowed upon you by your former servant and ally Nocturne, you are marked as one who wanders lost, forgotten by both allies and enemies. You have lost everything and everyone you have ever known and will be forced to wander, struggling to claim anything, until you find the thing that you aren''t willing to sacrifice in your path to power.


    <hr>


    With these words, the man laughed uproariously as he melted away into the smoke, which immediately dissipated into the air. Nocturne''s sigil dissolved, and his black essence spilled out and into the teleportation circle. The man''s corrosive mana began consuming not only the spellform itself but also the carvings on the floor. Abad could feel his essence begin to spill out of the magic circle and into the space beyond.


    The skeleton squeezed his shoulder tightly. "Student, activate the spell. I will give to you and the little one enough of my essence to survive the trip. I did not know another had been here and could not feel the manifestations of his presence. For that, I am sorry." The old book had never apologized for anything before.


    The skeleton''s essence flowed into him, filling him with more power than he had ever felt. The seal on the floor grew so bright that his vision went completely blank. "Know that I trust that you will grow strong and find your path, just as my creator once did. For now, fare thee well, Abad-Shai, Master of the Vault."


    Abad''s heart raced. He reached up to Angra with his right arm and held her tight. She wrapped her arms around his. He focused on holding the ruptured seal''s essence in as much as he could, but it was futile. He resolved himself to what would come next. This would hurt. Raising his left hand up in front of himself, he looked into the skeleton''s glowing red orbs for a moment longer, and when he saw the undead creature give a soft nod, he gritted his teeth and snapped his fingers.


    He saw words appear in his mind''s eye as the world shifted and bent around him.


    <hr>


    [Master of the Vault]: Bestowed upon you by the mighty Grimoire, last creation of the Archmage Aughra, this title marks you as a true keeper of lost knowledge and forgotten relics. You will always know in what direction your vault lies and the best path to get there, and you have a second sense for finding valuable items and equipment.


    <hr>


    And then, he was gone.

 IX: Shadows of the Past

    A crowd of around five dozen peasants stood in a clump in the center of their little village. The sounds of roosters filled the crisp morning air, accompanied by the cries of donkeys and cows that could be heard from the fields. The morning air was crisp and cool, and the sky was still the dark blue of dawn, the light of the great tower not yet reaching the little hamlet located near the edge of the ten kingdoms.


    The group murmured as they waited for their new lord to arrive. Huddling together to ward off the cold morning air, both the men and women alike looked tired and worn, their status as peasants clear as the clothes on their back, their ragged clothing unable to stave off the biting autumn wind. Children buried themselves into their parents'' sides, desperate for warmth, or attempted to sneak back inside their little huts, only to be shouted back to the group.


    Off to the side, behind a dozen barrels, was a boy. Having reached the awkward age between boyhood and manhood, the child looked like a tree whose branches had grown too long and too thin in the warm days of summer. Standing at six feet, he was both taller and thinner than all of his peers. However, when he stood proud, like a proper man should, as his father said, he looked like one of the mighty trees that surrounded his little village to the north and west. Yet he was lacking in confidence, as most young men are, causing his shoulders to slouch and his back to stoop.


    His father had died in the skirmish against the new lord''s troops. He had received the news late in the afternoon a week before, and he hadn''t spoken much since. His mother had cried for days, and he did his best to tend to her, but he couldn''t find the words. He had loved his father dearly. He was the boy''s hero. And now he was dead, and if the rumors were true, he was eaten by the monsters that served the new lord.


    The boy watched as dust began to kick up off the main road to the east. After a while, a gleaming golden carriage appeared in the distance. It rode on four platinum wheels, and pulling it along was a pair of beautiful white horses that looked like something out of a fairy tale, complete with braided manes and ornate golden armor.


    Seeing that his mother was busy chatting with their neighbor, a sweet old coot who had lost his mind when his wife died, Fin ducked away from her. Slinking away from the crowd, he moved toward the warehouse on the north side of the square. He had prepared himself for this moment. He wouldn''t fail.


    The carriage slowed as it approached the gates to their town. Once it entered, the horses effortlessly pulling the magnificent thing to the middle of the town, it stopped in front of the crowd of villagers. No discernible coachman was visible. It was as if an invisible hand steered the twin horses along. After several agonizingly long moments, the golden door of the carriage opened, and a well-dressed man appeared, standing on the golden step of the wagon looking down at the crowd.


    Man wasn''t the right word, the boy thought to himself. Demon. Fiend. Monster. Those words described him better.


    He looked like one of the elves that Fin had met once deep in the forest while hunting a few years back. He had the pointed ears and lean, fit body of one, and he was supernaturally attractive. Fin knew the girls out in the farms liked to swoon over paintings of men that looked just like this one. His immaculately cut and pressed clothes hung on his lithe frame perfectly. He looked like a figure out of a fairy tale, except for the obvious darkness that tainted him.


    The man had blood red eyes that cruelly looked over the little crowd. His long black hair, grey skin, ebony nails, and twin horns rising from his forehead marked him as something other than an elf. Something much, much worse. Fin was captivated, by the man''s beautiful and terrible visage, his body shaking. He smiled then, revealing two sharp fangs, and bowed at the crowd.


    "My kind, patient, loyal subjects, I wish you a very good morning." The man''s voice rolled over them like thunder, far louder than possible for a man his size. The crowd gasped at the display. "I am the great wizard, Abad-Shai, Master of the Vault and new Lord of the Duchy of Pharin. I have defeated your valiant lord, Duke Endhelt, in single combat. This place, your... lovely home, is now mine, as are all of you." He looked down on the crowd. "Serve well, and you will be rewarded. Wish harm upon me or mine in any way, and..." The man paused, his brows knitting in thought. "Serve well. That is all you should endeavor to do."


    "I''m sure you have many questions, but I want you to understand something simple about your new Lord," he stated coldly, his gaze becoming harsher. "I do not require you to worship me. I have no delusions of divinity." A wicked grin spread across his lips. "You need not treat me as a god. I am simply your lord, and I require your service, fidelity, and support. Do this, and you will never have to fear my hand."


    Fin stood tall and squared his shoulders. He pulled the large club he had fashioned out of an oak branch from behind a crate and gripped it hard. He began marching toward the mage from the far side of the village square that he had hid in.


    Not hiding. Waiting.


    He was his father''s son. He was strong. Even if the mage was powerful, Fin could take him. He had defeated a bear once. He was the strongest in the village despite being only thirteen. His father told him mages were weak up close. He could do this.


    "But," the mage continued, "do not think that I cannot control each of you if it suits me to do so." The mage raised his arms, as if conducting an orchestra, he waved his hands with a flourish. Thin strands of essence shot from the mage''s fingertips, encasing each of the villagers'' heads in a cage of silvery threads. "I will harbor no dissent, and I will not tolerate treachery in my new kingdom."


    [Puppet Master]


    He waved his arms. Every villager jerked upright and began mimicking his movements, waving their own arms in unison. The mage''s cruel laughter bellowed across the silent morning, drowning out everything else as he controlled the screaming townspeople.


    Fin slowed as he got close to the front of the carriage. The mage hadn''t noticed him yet, but something was wrong. It was as if every fiber of his being was gripped in terror. His legs froze in place. He started moving backwards. Something in him wanted to turn and run away from this place. Deep inside, he wanted to scream, to flee, but his body refused. He was helpless, and a panic he had never known began to rise inside him, like a bubbling pot threatening to boil over.


    The elf''s laughter subsided as his red eyes turned to gaze upon the boy. Fin felt the blood leave his face and his heart stop completely.


    "A boy approaches his new lord... with a stick it seems." The mage grinned. "Boy, tell me, what is your name?" The elf''s voice shook the air itself, reverberating in Fin''s soul. "Do not fear. Tell me your name."


    "F-Fin," the boy stuttered. "My name is Fin."This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    "Well met, Fin. Now tell me, why did you walk toward me just now?" Fin felt his stomach knot up. "Did you harbor ill will toward your new master?"


    "Y-yes. I came to... to protect everyone."


    The elf nodded. "That is very noble of you, young man. It is a brave man who protects his fellows from danger. That is a trait that I value most highly. But I must ask. Why is it that you fear me?" The elf asked calmly, still grinning, his fangs gleaming in the morning light.


    "You... you''re a monster. You''re evil!" Fin shouted.


    "And why, might I ask, do you believe so? I am simply a man who has taken your land through the noble act of conquest. It is the way of the world. The strong rule. The weak serve. Could we not all simply live in harmony, obeying the natural order of things?"


    "No!"


    "And why is that?"


    "You killed my father. You ate his flesh!" The boy''s hands gripped his club tightly. "You will kill us all and eat us next. Just like you did to him. You took everything from my mom and me!" Tears were flowing from his eyes now. He was ashamed. Boys cried. Men were brave.


    "I see, so I took everything from you and your precious mother." The grey-skinned elf walked toward the boy then, each step slow and measured.


    Fin couldn''t move. He was completely paralyzed.


    When the monster got close, standing mere inches away, he leaned in, speaking to the boy in a low voice so the others could not hear. "I also lost the one I call father, though he died well before I was born. Likewise, my mother abandoned me when I was young. I know your pain well, and I value the honor you show your father. Could we not be friends? I could show you so much about this world, if you simply were willing to serve me."


    "Never, murderer." The boy hissed through his chattering teeth.


    "We will see." Standing up tall once again, he smiled and spoke with the same booming voice as before. "The boy is brave, that much is certain. Let us see if he is willing to back up his bravery with action." He pointed at Fin. The strands of essence streaming from his fingertips dissipated. "I give you this one chance. Strike me with all your might. I won''t stop you. If you fell me, you are the new lord of this land. If you do not, your life is mine to do with what I wish. Choose. Will you be an enemy, or will you be my friend?"


    The paralyzing fear that wracked the boy faded. Fin stood tall and set his jaw.


    "I will never be your friend, monster."


    He pulled the large club he had crafted back over his shoulder, but just as he was about to swing, he heard a familiar cry from the crowd.


    "No! Fin!" The boy felt tears slide down his face. "Fin! No, please! Run, boy!" It was his mother. "Run!"


    It was too late. He would end this.


    Fin stepped forward, and with a mighty heave of his large body, he swung with all the might and rage and sadness that his tall, wiry frame could muster, striking the monster directly in the head.


    The club shattered.


    The mage didn''t even flinch. A second passed where the two simply stared into each other''s eyes, the boy holding the handle of his destroyed club toward the man.


    "No!!" His mother ran from the crowd and leapt upon Fin. Cradling him in her arms, her tear-streaked face gazed upon the grey-skinned monster''s immaculate form. "Please. He is just a boy. He doesn''t know better. His father died when... in the battle. Have mercy. Please..." The woman sheltered the boy in her arms. He struggled against her grip, but her fear made her strong.


    "My good woman, I would never deprive a dutiful and kind woman such as yourself of the love of her son. Please, stand." His grey hand reached down. She hesitated a moment, then offered her calloused and worn hand to the man. His own clean and slender hand wrapped around hers, his perfectly manicured black nails digging into the skin on the back of the woman''s hand as he helped her stand. "Nor would I ever deprive a child of his only parent. Please, be at rest." The grey-skinned man''s voice was calm and soothing. A wicked snicker sounded from somewhere nearby, but Fin couldn''t tell where it came from.


    "My lord... I will do anything. I know that you can be merciful. I just know it." The woman stood up and bowed deeply. Fin followed. "Please, do with me what you will. Take us both. I offer our lives willingly. Just don''t take him from me. I can''t bear it." She was sobbing.


    The elf''s lips curled upward. "My good woman, you are already mine. This whole land and everything in it is mine. You have nothing to offer me beyond that which I already own." His perfect, jet black hair flowed in the wind. The light of the great tower had finally burned away the morning mist, causing his black horns to glint in the light.


    "You may have my service. My body. My soul. Take it all. I don''t care. Just don''t take him away."


    "My kind woman. I won''t take him from you. I swear it." The man raised his hand and snapped his fingers.


    [Devour Essence]


    Fin''s mother fell onto the ground in a heap, her body completely still. Fin dropped to his knees and shook her. Her headed rolled to face the sky. He looked into his mother''s tear-soaked eyes, desperate for them to show the life and joy they always had, but they were still and empty. He felt his chest heave, and a single massive sob escaped his lips. He looked up into the cold red eyes of the elf above him. The man''s smile had faded away, replaced with an unreadable look.


    Fire filled Fin''s heart then. He shot upward, pulled his arm back, swung with all of his might, and¡ª


    [Devour Essence]


    ***


    The boy awoke.


    He felt strange. His body was heavy. He opened his eyes. He was somewhere he didn''t recognize. Heavy stone walls surrounded him. He felt his heart race.


    He sat up on the small stone bench he was laying on. He felt cold, inside and out. A large mirror decorated the small room of the dim space. He sat up, struggling with the weight of his frame. He felt heavy. He looked into the mirror.


    He screamed.


    His skin was mottled and bruised. His scalp was bald, his skin a bluish grey. He was stretched, taller and thinner, and horrifying. His eyes were black pits. He couldn''t see anything within their sockets.


    He stood and rushed to the mirror. He looked at himself, at his stomach. Then he screamed again.


    In the middle of his stomach was a face. His mother''s face, her blue eyes weeping, her mouth shaping soundless words. He reached down and felt her face.


    It was real.


    He lashed out and shattered the mirror. The broken glass shredded his arm, but within seconds the wounds healed over.


    In the shards of broken glass still left in the mirror''s frame, he watched as black tears streamed down his face. He raised his hands to his face and wept.


    ***


    Abad watched the scene unfold.


    He had forgotten about the boy that became Nocturne entirely, but seeing the boy''s sandy hair and blue eyes triggered something in Abad. He could remember wishing the boy hadn''t struck. He had liked the child''s fire. However, the second he attacked, the boy''s death was certain. He could harbor no dissent in the kingdom he was building.


    However, the kindness of his mother stirred something in him. As an orphan himself, he couldn''t bring himself to separate her from him or him from her. In his mind back then, he was doing them a kindness. The gift of immortality was no small gift, and they would always be together. Why hadn''t Nocturne been grateful?


    It took much training, but eventually the man became loyal. Abad knew his creation hated him, but he knew no one else, had no one else. His old life was gone. Abad became the father the boy longed for.


    He thought back to that time. He had made a gamble back then. To join the nobility, he needed a title. He had settled on the Duchy of Pharin due to its distance from the capital. He bested the noble and easily conquered his armies, taking the man''s entire land, holdings, and family as his own. He wondered to himself many times what the lord''s name was. He had entirely forgotten.


    Duke Endhelt. That was his name.


    Abad sent the man''s children off to the houses of neighboring lords as wards, his enchantments ensuring that they subverted his neighbors'' dealings from within. The lord''s wife became his concubine, granting Abad legitimacy when she granted him her late husband''s title and assisting him through the poisoned words she spoke to the other ladies of the court. Though rather plain, she had hated her husband and served Abad without compulsion. She had been most useful.


    However, it mattered little in the end. He had died, or something like it. Aside from the most powerful heroes and possibly his fellow Shadowspawn, the people in these memories were all gone now. Memories. Shadows of the past.


    "Would you do it again if you could?" A gentle voice sounded behind him.


    He turned around to face the voice, but all he was greeted with was a blank white void.


    "Seeing it unfold again, would you make the same choices, Abad-Shai, Lord of Nothing?"


    Then he woke up.

 X. Act One Character Sheets

    Abad-Shai


    Shadowspawn Elf Warlock of the Mask


    Level VI


    <hr>


    Elf


    ??¡î¡î¡î


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Fey Senses] (Passive/Active, Reserve ?): Elves possess heightened perception, blending their superior physical senses with an innate connection to magic. You can see in the dark, hear acutely, and use mana to detect magic around you if you dedicate mana to this ability.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    The Mask


    ???¡î¡î


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Illusion Magic] (Passive): You have the ability to weave subtle deceptions, clouding perception and bending reality to your will. You can learn spells that create illusions, deceive the senses, and manipulate perceptions of the world around you.


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Mask of Many Faces] (2nd Circle, Active, Reserve ??): Due to being born under the sign of the Mask, you can dedicate a portion of your mana to change subtle elements of your appearance.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Shadowspawn


    ?????


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Dark One''s Shadow] (Passive): As an inheritor of the Dark One¡¯s essence, you are immortal and do not age past your prime. You also require less food, water, and air to survive, but you bear the marks of corruption upon your body.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Warlock


    ????¡î


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Summoning]: (Passive): You can call forth entities from other realms, who lend you their strength and skills. You can learn spells that summon, bind, and empower creatures and objects to serve and protect you.


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Familiar] (1st circle, Active, Reserve ?): As a warlock, you have permanently dedicated a portion of your mana to summon and bond with a mythical creature that serves as your familiar.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Blood Magic] (Passive): Your life force fuels your magic, allowing you to cast additional spells at the cost of health. You can learn spells that draw on blood and life energy to strengthen your casting.


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Essence Transfer] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?+?/?): The user can transfer a small amount of health or mana to or from a willing target.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Fire Magic] (Passive): You wield the essence of flame, strengthening your power over physical and spiritual fires and increasing your resistance to them. You can learn spells that summon, control, and unleash fire in its many forms.


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Burn the Weak] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?): You conjure a small, searing flame that can be thrown at creatures within sight, igniting and inflicting fire damage. This spell is especially effective against vulnerable or injured enemies, dealing additional damage to those already weakened.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    </ol>


    <ul>


    <li style="list-style-type: none"> </li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Enhancements


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Mana I] (Passive, Perk II): Increase your mana reserves by one point, allowing you to cast more spells.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Potence I] (Passive, Perk IV): Increase the potency of your spells, increasing their range, power, and duration by a small amount.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Potence II] (Passive, Perk VI): Further amplifies the strength of your spells, making each cast more impactful and destructive. This enhancement also slightly reduces resistance to your spells, increasing the chance of bypassing defenses.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Resilience I] (Passive, Enchantment): Your body endures like that of a seasoned traveler, capable of withstanding minor injuries and fatigue without slowing down.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Titles


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Lord of Nothing]: Mockingly bestowed upon you by your former servant and ally Nocturne, you are marked as one who wanders lost, forgotten by both allies and enemies. You have lost everything and everyone you have ever known and will be forced to wander, struggling to claim anything, until you find the thing that you aren''t willing to sacrifice in your path to power.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Master of the Vault]: Bestowed upon you by the mighty Grimoire, last creation of the Archmage Aughra, this title marks you as a true keeper of lost knowledge and forgotten relics. You will always know in what direction your vault lies and the best path to get there, and you have a second sense for finding valuable items and equipment.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    QuestsStolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Walk a Thousand Miles]: You have lost your sense of purpose, and the world is now a mystery to you. Travel the land and discover your path.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Power Lost, Power Gained]: You have lost your former power. Regain your former glory, that you may reclaim your place in this world.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Finders Keepers]: Your personal belongings have been stolen. Of them, your cloak, your scepter, and your spellbook are most precious to you. Take them back.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Equipment


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Ring of Mana Reservoir II]: A finely crafted ring glowing faintly with arcane energy, enchanted with the [Mana Reservoir II] enchantment.


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Mana Reservoir II]: Enchanted item can store store up to two points of mana.


    </li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Bracers of Resilience I]: These well-crafted, if simple, bronze bracers grant the wielder [Resilience I].


    <ul>


    <li>[Resilience I]: Your body endures like that of a seasoned traveler, capable of withstanding minor injuries and fatigue without slowing down.</li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Achievements


    <ul>


    <li>[If You Only Had a Heart]: Through the ashes of your former glory, you have found a new source of power: compassion. By opening yourself to another''s suffering, you gain the ability to both give and take the essence that binds all living things.</li>


    <li>[Consume the Pain]: You have found the remnants of a tortured soul¡ªits body chained to a bed, its empty eyes seeming to plead for release. The corpses suffering lingers, trapped in the essence that lingers in its old bones. By consuming it, you grow stronger.</li>


    <li>[Make the Impossible Possible]: Only the daring reject common sense and drill their way to a greater tomorrow. For successfully casting a spell you were certain you won''t survive casting, you grow stronger.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr><hr>


    Angra


    Imp Familiar


    Level VIII


    <hr>


    Imp


    ???¡î¡î


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Venom] (Active, Cost ?): Your tail has a venomous tip capable of injecting a paralytic venom.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Animal Shape] (Active, Reserve ???): You can transform into a specific animal form (Raven).</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Shadowmeld]: (Active, Cost ?): You can turn invisible when in darkness or shadow and hide your presence from magical detection.


    </li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Familiar


    ???¡î¡î


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Shared Arcana] (Passive): You can channel your master¡¯s magic through your body at a short distance.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Familiar¡¯s Loyalty] (Passive): Your bond with your master is strong, granting you [Resilience I] and [Willpower I] when near your master.</li>


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Familiar¡¯s Martyrdom] (Active, Cost ?+?/?): Through your loyalty, you can channel some of your health or mana to your master, healing your master¡¯s wounds at the cost of your own essence.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Familiar¡¯s Devotion] (Passive): Your unwavering devotion to your master increases the enhancements granted by [Familiar¡¯s Loyalty] by one step.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Master¡¯s Guardian] (Active, Reserve ??): The familiar can grant its master a shield that deflects attacks. </li>


    </ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Enhancements


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Agility III] (Passive, Perk II, IV, VI): Enhances your speed significantly, allowing for faster reactions, movement, and evasive maneuvers.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Presence I] (Passive, Perk VIII): Increases your presence slightly, making you more noticeable and influential in social or leadership situations.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Intimidation I] (Passive, Enchantment): Boosts your ability to instill fear and command respect, making you more intimidating to those of lesser willpower.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Stealth I] (Passive, Enchantment): Increases your ability to move silently and remain unseen in dimly lit or crowded environments. Perfect for avoiding detection or setting up an ambush.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Equipment


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Infiltration Outfit] (Fine): A sleek, dark ensemble crafted from lightweight materials, designed to blend into shadows and muffle movement, ideal for silent entry and escape. Grants [Stealth I].


    [Enchanted Daggers] (Quality): A pair of well-balanced, easily concealed daggers, honed for swift and precise strikes without drawing attention. Grant [Blood Seeker II]


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Blood Seeker II] (Enchantment): Each significant blow now restores a small but sizeable amount of health, allowing for greater endurance in battle. Additionally, enemies struck by your weapon suffer a minor weakening effect, making them less effective in subsequent strikes.</li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    </ul>

 XI. A Place of Power

    The sound of chirping birds was the first thing that greeted Abad when he woke up. The smell of soil and pine and petrichor came next. Pain followed. He tried to shift on the hard surface he was laying on, but a sharp jolt of pain through his skull encouraged him to stay still. Opening his eyes, he found himself looking up at a high stone ceiling, a faded fresco painted on its weathered surface. Surrounding the ceiling were thick stone pillars, and beyond those were trees.


    Wherever he was, it was warm. Warmer than his vault, certainly, and far brighter. He realized it likely had been at least a century since he saw the light of the towers. It made his eyes hurt. He tried to sit up, but pain lanced through his chest. He decided it would be prudent to stay still and laid back, resting his head against the warm stone. It would be fine to take some time and wait for his body to recover.


    His mind raced. Where was he? He had absolutely no idea where he ended up. He hadn''t had time to find a specific teleportation seal to travel to due to Nocturne''s meddling. He realized he could be absolutely anywhere in the ten kingdoms. He supposed he could be further still, but the light around him suggested he hadn''t traveled beyond the great wall. At least, that was what he hoped. He had heard rumors that other towers existed outside of the nine, far beyond the great wall. He prayed he wouldn''t have to learn the truth of those rumors this day.


    After some time, he was able to sit up and take stock of his surroundings. He tried to reach out with his senses to see if he could feel anything or anyone else in the area, but he was completely drained after the nearly catastrophically failed teleportation spell. He thanked the old book for giving him so much of its essence. Otherwise, he and Angra would be dead and gone for good this time.


    Wait. Where was Angra?


    He called out her name. No response.


    He sighed deeply. That was a problem. He tried to feel her through their bond, but he was too drained to do so. Drawing some mana from his ring, he focused on their bond... and couldn''t feel anything at all. She was either gone or distant. Either way, he felt her loss, if only a little.


    For a moment, he considered breaking their bond. It would be so simple to do. He could let it fade, and her essence would return to the void, and he''d free up some of his mana. His old self wouldn''t have hesitated to do so. Why did he now? She was insignificant in the grand scheme of things...


    No. He was fooling himself. He was fond of her and felt her loss. He realized, surprising even himself, that a part of him was deeply concerned for her. She could have ended up anywhere in Reial, and with so little magic available to him, it would be incredibly difficult to find her. The best he could do was travel and hope that he could find her through their bond. Otherwise, he might never see her again. He wouldn''t break their bond. She was all he had left.


    Finally gathering the courage, he slowly stood up, creaking and cracking as he did. When he finally pushed himself to his feet, he stood proud. It took a lot to break Abad-Shai. He had survived yet again against all odds. He truly was amazing.


    After taking a moment to admire himself, he realized he was becoming dizzy. Then, the world began to spin. Following that, his stomach churned. He doubled over and emptied the contents of his stomach to the floor. Heaving up everything that could be heaved, he fell to his knees and, desperate to not ruin his favorite traveling outfit, passed out next to his vomit.


    ***


    When he awoke, he realized he had lost several hours. The sky was beginning to dim, and the sounds of birds were replaced with the chirping of crickets. He didn''t feel quite so sore any longer, and his head didn''t hurt as much. Standing up, he felt some of his strength had returned. He figured now would be the time to plan and gather information about his surroundings. There was no telling where he was, so he needed to be prepared for anything.


    Looking around, it was clear that wherever he ended up was not inhabited, at least not in any time in the recent past. The fresco on the ceiling was faded and chipped, and the stonework of the gazebo was pitted and crumbling in many places. From the gazebo, he could make out bits of other stone structures throughout the forest, which were similar in style to the buildings the elves had created before the war with the Dark One, which had been a half century before he had been born. Assuming he had been asleep for a century, the ruins he found himself in were likely one of the elven settlements that were razed in the war.


    That was the best case scenario anyway. Worst case, these were druidic ruins. Druids would be able to see through the disguises he could conjure in his current state. If he had the misfortune of finding himself in ruins created by their people, he might well be dead before sunrise. He prayed that his luck was good today.


    Looking down at the floor, he could make out a magic circle carved into the floor. Its lines were deeply grooved, with only a small amount of essence remaining in them. The seal wasn''t in great condition and had already leaked most of the energy that had been forced into it by his spell. However, with just a bit of restoration, it could be usable once again. That thought brought a grin to his lips. If this indeed was an old settlement, it might have several such old enchantments ready to be restored. With a little bit of work, this place could be the beginning of his new rise to power.


    Deciding that it would be best to search the grounds, he set off to the nearest structure, some ways into the forest. After a bit of a walk, he could make out edges of what used to be a house. Its wooden roof had long since decayed, but hints of its previous beauty remained. Long colored glass windows, some still intact, lined the its outer walls, and there seemed to be a circular metal door built into the front of it. Most of the stones were covered in moss and ivy.


    Scraping the coverings away, he found the stonework to be worn but well-crafted. The stones blended into one another seamlessly, with neither mortar nor even lines indicating where each stone began and ended. Only the colors of the stones themselves gave any indication that the walls weren''t carved from a single primordial rock. Whoever built this structure had put a tremendous amount of time and effort into creating it, which hinted that this settlement may have had some significance before its fall.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    After circling around the house a couple of times inspecting its quality, he continued on to the next. Like the last building, it was designed and crafted with the same dedication as the previous one. Each stone was perfectly placed in seamless unity.


    Climbing onto a nearby stump, he looked through the forest in every direction. He could make out many more buildings throughout the trees. Taking his time in the dwindling afternoon light, he inspected many of them. After some time, he discovered something interesting: he found a familiar motif carved into the stone above the doorway of one of the larger buildings. It was a crescent moon rising above three stars. He grinned.


    These were definitely elven ruins. And judging from the quality of craftsmanship and the symbol, they weren''t just any elves either. They had been moon elves, the most ancient race of elves on the continent of Aria. Their numbers had thinned greatly over the years since the destruction of their homeland in the distant past, and none of the Ten Kingdoms held any sizable population of them. Worse still, they were coveted by the humans as slaves and concubines. The race had almost entirely vanished as a means to preserve itself.


    That all meant the he was likely in the east and somewhere near the Tower of the Moon since that was where the elves'' population had been centered.


    The symbol bothered him though. What did it mean? He thought for a while, trying to remember what that symbol had signified. It wasn''t the mark of an elven tribe, nor was it a symbol representing the settlement itself. Those were usually done with animal imagery and sometimes plants. No, it had meant something once...


    It came to him after several more minutes of pondering. It was a symbol used in their temples to dedicate them to their patron deity.


    He knew what this place was. These ruins were the remnants of an elvish temple. That symbol marked the settlement as a holy place. Pulling the large building''s rusted double doors open, Abad was greeted with a statue of a woman. She was nude save for her long hair that cascaded around her body. One arm was outstretched and held a crescent moon in its fingers toward the doorway. The paint covering her had faded, but the statue was by far the most preserved thing he had found in this place.


    He realized exactly who the statue was symbolizing. She was Yslene, elven goddess of the stars. She was the patron deity of the moon elves and served as the most important figure in their culture. Lucky for him, that meant one thing. He couldn''t have ended up in a more perfect place.


    Glee filled him. In this forest, in many of the buildings that surrounded the temple dedicated to the lingering spirit of a fading deity, would be dozens of magic circles, each ripe for restoration and re-purposing. By touching them up and filling each with his own essence, he might be able to make a variety of enchantments for any number of purposes in far less time than it would take to do so from scratch. Better still, if he managed to find some way to fill the rest of the temple with his essence, he could claim this place for himself.


    Obviously, nobody had bothered rebuilding the Temple of Yslene, clearly content to let it rot as a relic of a world that existed before the humans had arrived. Since it held little value to anyone, he would likely be left to his own devices. Sure, eventually someone might notice what he was doing out here, but by then, he would have created his new demesne in the world above. And, he''d be able to use the seal in the gazebo to travel to other teleportation circles throughout the land. It was perfect.


    He''d just need to grow stronger to do it all.


    However, one issue still remained: Angra. As the sun began to dip lower into the horizon, worry clouded his mind. Where was she? He tried again to reach out through their bond and feel for her presence, but there was nothing. It was like she didn''t exist. He could feel their bond was still intact, so he hoped that meant she was alive somewhere, that they had simply been sent to different places. He had worried about that when the spell went wild. He''d tried to hold her close.


    He grumbled out loud. If she had met her end, it would be quite the pain. He didn''t have the strength yet to summon a new familiar if she had died, and while he didn''t often admit it, he had grown rather fond of the little creature. While she was practically feral when he first summoned her, she had grown. They both had.


    He heard a noise in the distance. Then another. A loud crack echoed through the woods. Then another. Someone, or something, was coming. As quickly as he could, Abad headed back to one of the buildings he had inspected. It was a small stone building that was better preserved than the others, and it had been built with a stone roof rather than wood, allowing it to weather the ages better than its fellows. Carefully, he dragged the old metal door open and ducked inside the dark space. He closed the door behind him and went to a small aperture in the far wall that allowed him to look out of the stone building into the forest beyond. From there, he waited, watching.


    ***


    As twilight descended upon the ruins of the ancient temple, Abad wondered if he had overreacted. The crack may have been a branch breaking free of its tree and falling to the ground. Or perhaps an animal broke a branch during its foraging. Whatever the cause, he could sense nothing around him in this pitch blackness.


    Realizing he wasn''t going anywhere until he was sure, he spent his time meditating, focusing on restoring his essence and restoring the mana he had taken from the ring, but the ambient mana in the area was low, and his body could only generate so much. Especially since he hadn''t had food in... however long. However, he had done his best, topping off the ring and restoring some of his own mana, and felt much more restored than he had before. Then, he dozed for some time as darkness fell. He might''ve fallen asleep entirely if not for the sudden sound of voices carrying out over the night air. They were faint, causing him to strain to pick up their words.


    "...said she''d meet us here..." That was a man''s voice, speaking loudly.


    "...heard you! There''s no need to shout." The second voice was female.


    "Well, you''re quiet as a damn mouse! I don''t know why you always have to whisper, little lady."


    "Oh please! You''re as loud as a drunk orc! You''ll scare away the damn thing before we find it, and then how''ll we get paid?"


    "You take that back! I''m as loud as a giant, and twice as strong!"


    "Yes, yes. I''m sure you are," the woman answered sarcastically.


    The pair came into sight. The man was a dwarf. He was covered in thick armor and held a large axe in his hands. His hair and beard were blonde and speckled with grey. The woman beside him was tall and thin. She walked smoothly, gliding along the leaf strewn forest floor with grace while her companion clunked alongside. Her ears came to a point at their tips, marking her as an elf. Her short black hair hung loose on her head, barely reaching her ears. She held a bow in her hands, an arrow already knocked in its string.


    "I saw it head this way. We just need to find the damn thing, and we''ll get that damn reward. Then we''ll be eating good for a while!" The dwarf shouted.


    The elf nodded in acknowledgement. "Yeah, and I got a quest a little while ago to track out here too. If I complete it, I''ll definitely level up."


    Abad''s mouth slowly stretched into a wicked smile. Had these two come to kill him? His heart sped up as adrenaline rushed through him. Two adventurers. Two pathetic adventurers were the only ones sent to deal with him? How had they known? Who could have tracked him so quickly? One of the Seven? An agent of the Goddess?


    Well, they''d suffer for their attempt. Abad-Shai was free, and he''d burn anyone who stood in his path to power.

 XII. 5E 443

    No, he was overreacting.


    No one could have found him so quickly, and judging by how decayed the temple grounds were and how dense and old the trees were, he was likely far from civilization. These two were likely just adventurers looking to complete some errand or quest. If he simply stayed put, they''d surely pass him by... unless they didn''t. What if them coming here meant more adventurers would return in the future? What if his perfect new beginning had failed before he even got started?


    He sighed.


    He couldn''t decide whether to laugh or rage at his luck. He had hoped he would have more time to get established again on the surface. If only he had his former power. It would have been child''s play to kill these two. As he was now, he wasn''t sure he could. They didn''t seem all that powerful, and their equipment was simple and middling in quality, but the two had rapport, showing that they had worked together for some time. Also, they both moved with the ease that came with experience, though neither showed the overwhelming confidence that exuded from those with true power.


    He could take the gamble, but he concluded that it wasn''t worth the risk. He''d just stay put. Even if it did indeed make him feel a bit like the roach that Nocturne accused him of being, he''d just have to swallow his pride. And if this place became frequented by more adventurers in the future, that was a problem for future Abad-Shai.


    A loud noise interrupted his thoughts. The dwarf yelped in pain.


    "Watch your step!" The elf hissed.


    "It isn''t my fault! You didn''t point out the stump!"


    "What am I, your servant? Watch your own steps."


    "Well excuse me if my short height doesn''t give me a perfect view over all these bushes! Unlike you, I wasn''t born with the privilege of long legs!"


    "Shush, you old coot... Hey, I don''t think that was a bush." The elf looked down. "That''s stone." She looked around. "I think there are buildings here." The elf looked around more, her eyes glowing in the dim starlight. "What is this place? Did you see anything on the map that said there was an old settlement out here?"


    "No, there wasn''t anything out here. My map is the best you can get, and it spans back several hundred years. It was made by my great-uncle, who was a famous traveler. There can''t be anything here." The dwarf kicked the stone he had tripped on. "It does seem like stonework though."


    They turned in a circle. At first, they merely looked, but after several minutes, they started to point in different directions, noticing the structures around them. Each took turns commenting on the structures that they saw. After some time passed and the two poked around at the buildings a bit, they gathered back together near Abad''s little hut.


    "This is odd," the woman said, her hand raising to her chin. "This was a sizable settlement."


    "The stonework is excellent. Only my people could do better," the dwarf replied.


    The pair took a few steps closer to Abad''s hiding place. The warlock slowed his breathing as much as he could. He hoped they wouldn''t hear him.


    "Wait... I feel something." The elf looked around. Then, turning toward the gazebo, she started walking toward the old structure... and the magic circle that contained his lingering essence.


    "Damn it all..." Abad muttered. He''d have to confront them. She seemed completely at ease in the forest. He knew a ranger when he saw one. She''d be able to pick up his trail from the circle, either by his essence or by his tracks. Once she picked up on his trail, he knew he''d be caught, and it would seem way worse for him if they found him hiding like some thief.


    He called upon the star he was born under for the first time in ages. Channeling some of the mana he recovered over the past few hours, he masked himself into the form he had always liked to use in these situations. Thinking back to the only impressions he had left of his mother, he made his skin fair and lightened his long black hair until it was a light blonde color. Once the magic took hold, he knew his eyes would appear to be golden to others, masking him in the traditional look of the sun elves. With a deep breath, he shoved the old metal door open, which groaned loudly as he did, and stepped outside of his hiding place.


    The two adventurers turned, raising bow and axe as they did. "Who goes there?" the dwarf asked. "Are you our little monster come out to play?" The man grinned. Abad knew he could see in the dark, but a dwarf''s night vision wasn''t as keen as his own at this distance. The elf''s eyes, however, narrowed as she saw him.


    "Monster? Can''t say that I am." Abad replied as he walked toward them.


    "He''s an elf. But I can feel magic coming off of him. Something feels off." She drew her bowstring back, readying herself to shoot if he did or said the wrong thing.


    "An elf? Bah, I thought it was time for a fight, not an ass beating." The dwarf wasn''t nervous at all. He planted the knob of his axe in the soil. "He doesn''t look like much. Don''t be so unfriendly, girl." The elf glared at him but loosened her bowstring.


    "I''m a simple mage of some small power. That''s why you feel magic coming from me." Abad lifted his hands so they could see he was unarmed.


    "Why are you out here? You''re far away from anything important. It''s pretty strange to find a mage with no entourage in a place that the maps don''t show." Her eyes were trained on him, and her fingers never left her knocked arrow.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    "I''m..." he hesitated a moment, searching for a lie. A moment later, the lie came to him. "I''m a bit of a historian. I read about an old temple of Yslene that was built before the Dark One''s rise. If you look in that building over there," he pointed to the large stone building that held the goddess''s statue, "you''ll find her statue. It''s even well-preserved! Who would have thought? A statue of Yslene preserved in this day and age!" He did his best to sound like a giddy academic. In some sense, he supposed he was one.


    "Yslene? Then this place is old. No one has worshiped her in centuries. Seems like your uncle or whatever was wrong"


    The dwarf shuffled. "Who''s that?"


    "The moon elf goddess."


    "Moon elves? They''re all dead." The dwarf bowed his head. "Goddess shelter them." He placed his hand over his heart, lifting his eyes to the sky. Abad could see a small pendant around his neck, which the dwarf fingered as he prayed.


    The elf loosened the bowstring more. "Interesting... How did you get out here? This place is two weeks from the nearest settlement." The elf''s eyes remained narrowed on him.


    "I..." True lies were often the most believable. "I found a picture of the teleportation seal in a library. It referred to the seal that''s carved into the ground of that building over there." He pointed to the gazebo. "Unfortunately, it''s badly decayed. Like a fool, I cast a teleportation spell but didn''t account for the weathering this place had suffered. When I cast my spell, it went haywire. I almost died, and I lost my familiar, most of my equipment, and for some reason, I also lost..." How did adventurers talk about their power? "I lost most of my levels somehow."


    "I''ve never heard of that happening before." The dwarf looked toward the elf. She shook her head.


    "Me neither. People lose levels if they stop training or doing quests, but it takes years. I''ve never heard of a failed spell causing someone to lose them like that."


    "Then perhaps I have received Her ire for some reason?" Abad had felt her ire his entire life.


    "Perhaps." The elf relaxed. The pair walked toward him. He did the same. Extending his hand, the dwarf took it in his large, meaty, gauntleted hand.


    "Firtz." The man''s grip was iron. Maybe these two were stronger than Abad had assumed.


    "A-Nis." The elf didn''t extend her hand, instead pulling out an orange and peeling it with a knife she retrieved from her belt.


    "Abad-Shai." Abad''s heart froze. He hadn''t thought of giving a fake name. Damn, he was rusty. He mentally began pulling on his essence in case he''d need to burn these two alive. Putting on a friendly smile, he hoped that the title Nocturne had given him, [Lord of Nothing], worked the way he thought it did. Cheeky bastard. Lord of Nothing indeed.


    "Abad-Shai, huh?" The elf slipped an orange slice in her mouth. "I feel like I''ve heard that name somewhere."


    "Bah, it doesn''t matter. For what it''s worth, I''ve never heard of you. And I''m old as hell and been places." The dwarf slapped his shoulder. "No offense."


    "None taken. I''m not particularly well known, and my studies are limited to subjects that few find interesting." He thought for a moment, then decided it couldn''t hurt to say more. "I''m a bit of a collector. Whenever I see something interesting, I get fixated on it. That''s how I ended up here." He had been rather infatuated with the King of Saern''s throne. And his beautiful wife. It wasn''t really much of a lie.


    "Maybe you should work on that." The elf popped another slice of the orange in her mouth. When she did, Abad noticed a long scar down the right side of her face.


    He laughed. "Maybe I should. But, seeing as I''m stuck out here and don''t quite know where I am, would you two mind pointing me back to civilization?"


    The elf snorted. "I wouldn''t call Farnfoss civilization."


    "Bastards, the lot of them." The dwarf spat.


    "Farnfoss?"


    "A small town at the edge of Nolei. Pretty uninhabited out here, and the townsfolk aren''t exactly a friendly lot. A couple of the bastards tried to corner A-Sha, hoping to get a new slave or some such, but the girl carved them up. Good one, that girl is." The dwarf smirked at the memory.


    A-Sha had to be A-Nis''s sister. Among some elven peoples, surnames came first, and it was rare for elves to share surnames if they weren''t family. Sun elves ordered their names the opposite way, however, at least since the humans arrived from whatever world they were from. A-Nis wasn''t one of his people. For that, he was grateful. The Shai surname wasn''t well regarded, entirely because of him. "Still, I need to stock up and figure out my next steps." It wasn''t exactly untrue. Abad wasn''t much of a hunter, and he''d need something to eat at some point.


    "Do you have any tracking skills? Ever been trained?" The elf asked, eying him up and down critically. "You don''t look like you''d be able to find your way back, even if I told you the way."


    "I did a bit back in the war, but my ser¡ªmy troops mostly did the scouting."


    "Your troops?"


    "Yeah, the troops I commanded in the war." Had he said something wrong? It couldn''t have been that long.


    "The war?" The dwarf asked. "Which war?"


    The one that he had been a general in, when he almost brought the Ten Kingdoms to their knees before deciding to infiltrate the court of the strongest kingdom after his forces and their forces hit a stalemate. "The war against the Dark One''s children. You know, the War of Shadows." That''s what they called it, at least. He and his fellows called it the War of Domination.


    The two looked into one another''s eyes. Something passed between them. Abad pulled upon more essence, readying himself.


    "The War of Shadows?" That was five centuries ago. My grandfather fought in that war, even killed a demon with his bare fists. Damn near lost his hands. I saw the scars myself when I was a lad. My dad was born around that time too, back when the girl here wasn''t even a gleam in the Goddess''s eye." The dwarf ribbed A-Nis and looked Abad up and down. "You sure you don''t mean the Scion''s War? Or the War of the Nations?"


    "I don''t... I don''t know what those are."


    "I thought you said you were a historian?" The elf''s jaw set. Her fingers tightened around her arrow.


    "I am, but I mostly focused on ancient history, from before the Dark One. I''ve never heard of the Scion''s War. What happened?"


    "Haven''t heard of it? It''s basic knowledge!" The dwarf scratched his eyebrow, shuffling a bit. "From my memory, one of the Thirteen broke out of the seal and rallied some monsters. He was put down by the Hero of the West and resealed."


    Seal? Hero of the West? "Do you know anything about the War of Shadows?" Dread began to fall upon Abad.


    "Yeah, a bunch of the Dark One''s children tried to burn the world down. Damn near succeeded too. They got put down by the Hero and sealed in the Great Seal under the Tower of the Sun."


    "What happened to the Seven?"


    "Who''s that? Never heard of them." The dwarf laughed. "You mean the Five? The hero''s companions all went on to found major institutions that do all kinds of work today. Lad, are you sure you didn''t lose some memories in this little magical mishap of yours? You hardly look a day over a hundred. I really don''t think you''re older than my grandpa was, Goddess preserve him."


    "Maybe..." the elf paused, thinking. "Maybe his spell sent him through time? What year do you think it is, Shai?"


    "Just Abad, if you would. Well, last I remember, it''s 4E 592."


    The two looked at one another again. "Abad, it''s 5E 443. The fourth era ended with the War of Shadows in 4E 597." Her eyes filled with compassion for the first time, and the dwarf patted his arm.

 XIII. Allies, for Now

    Abad''s mind reeled. He knew it had been some time, but it had been lifetimes! He had been asleep for centuries!


    Seeing his shock, the two let him soak in the news for some time, consoling him the best way they knew how. Firtz was kind and had words of wisdom to share, mostly about accepting one''s lot in life and knowing that there was always a plan, even if it was hard to see. A-Nis was mostly silent, but for the first time, she reached out and squeezed his shoulder. The dwarf did the same.


    Outside of his familiar and the grimoire, he hadn''t been touched in what he now realized were centuries. It felt nice.


    After he felt sorry for himself for some time, he took a deep breath, decided there was nothing else to be done, and put it past him. It''s not like he had any real friends or family in the previous era to mourn anyways, and maybe, just maybe, his enemies were all dead too.


    Once he recovered, he led the others in the direction of the old temple. Firtz wanted to see the Yslene''s statue, and A-Nis was curious about the teleportation circle. She explained as they walked that there were many teleportation circles in this age. Most small and mid-size towns had at least one for public use, and there were often several more dedicated to shipping and governmental uses in larger towns and cities. People frequently traveled around the country to tie themselves to new circles, allowing them to travel between the towns and cities with ease. Once tied and registered with the local governing body, people could use them for a small fee.


    He asked about private teleportation networks, curious if they still existed in this age. She noted that some people used them, but they were mostly unnecessary. They were largely linked to criminal activities since they were difficult to track, so it was illegal to establish teleportation circles without registering them first. If caught, the punishment was several years in any number of work camps, from mines to farms to foresting.


    He had never let criminality stop him before, but if it really was so easy to travel now, he would save many hours and thousands of gold using the existing networks. Plus, it would force him to explore this new world he found himself in. He''d likely set up some private circles for his own use at some point, but that could come later.


    They puttered around for a while since they both were curious about the old buildings dotted throughout the settlement. After an hour or so of opening rusted doors and scraping away moss and plants, they made their way to the temple. Abad watched from the doorway as Firtz knelt down in front of the old statue, holding the holy symbol that hung around his neck between his palms and whispering soft prayers to Yslene.


    In their conversation before, Abad had learned that he was a paladin of some renown among the dwarves. He had been gathering new companions for many years after his old party retired. He said with a grin that A-Nis was the first person he recruited and that he couldn''t have chosen better. A-Nis had nodded in agreement. Seeing him pray in front of the statue, Abad realized that, despite his boisterous personality and lack of formality, he was more devout than he let on.


    A-Nis wasn''t religious, claiming that she "worshiped the hunt," whatever that meant. Leaning against the doorway of the temple, he watched her poke around the gazebo for a while. Apparently finding little of note, she began searching around for something or another in the brush. He could hear her talking to herself as she did, oranges peels trailing behind her as she searched. Then, after an hour of prayers from the dwarf and ambiguous tracking from the elf, she suddenly knelt down and pulled something out of the brush. Walking over, Abad asked what she found.


    "Bones. Looks like the monster we were tracking ended up dying here." Her voice was flat. She didn''t seem pleased.


    "You mentioned something about that earlier. Do you need proof that it died?"


    She nodded, pulling a dagger out from her belt. Sawing at the skeleton''s vertebrae as she pulled. With some sawing and twisting, she managed to wrench the sun-dried skull free and shoved it into a sack. "Just this."


    "So you don''t need to kill it then?"


    "Sort of." The woman stood, turning away from the brush and throwing the sack over her shoulder. "The guild needs proof of the kill. I just got it. I just failed the quest I was on though, so they''ll know I wasn''t the one to kill it. We''ll get paid half for that." She sighed. "It happens. Part of the job."


    "What were you tracking?"


    "A big cat." She sheathed the dagger in her belt again and walked toward the temple."We got a quest from the guild that said it had killed some livestock and snatched a kid, so we figured it''d be worth checking out. We tracked it into the woods, but we lost the trail a week ago because of the heavy rains that''ve been pelting the region. I finally picked the trail back up, which led us here. Didn''t expect to run into anyone else since it''s so damn desolate. But now that we''ve met you and the trail''s ended, I guess we can go home and call it a job complete. Not a total win, but it works out. We can help you get back to the world too, if that''s what you''d like."


    "I..." Abad didn''t know what he wanted. He was stranded in a world he didn''t know.


    "Look, there''s not much out here. This region has been mostly dead since the War of Nations. With the outer towers weakening, the worst you''ll probably get out here is some dense mist storms and the occasional monster. The walls are still good in this area, so the scary stuff is mostly kept out. But, whatever got the cat had to have been pretty tough, so I wouldn''t be so sure there isn''t something big out here with us. Stay if you''d like, but it''ll either be really dull or a short grave. Dice roll on that." She looked down at the cat''s bones again, kicking one.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The cat had been picked clean. There were clear tooth marks on its thick bones, meaning something had definitely eaten the creature. The tooth marks were too coarse and misshapen to belong to an animal, and two of its limbs were missing. Whatever got it was big. He figured it probably was a monster of some kind. Abad didn''t know if he wanted to go toe to toe with something big enough to kill a ten-foot monster cat just yet.


    Abad thought a moment longer but decided what he wanted to do. "Yeah, I actually would like that. I''m not one to take charity though, so I''ll pull my weight."


    "Don''t worry about that." Firtz'' voice called out behind them. "We don''t get attacked often, but when we do, we hold our own. We''ll be your escort." His eyes unfocused for a second, then he gave a little chuckle. "And look at that. The Goddess just provided me with a new quest, just for you." He slapped Abad''s arm.


    The dwarf really was quite strong. Despite Abad''s [Resilience I] enchantment, he could feel the short man''s strength with every playful slap. He''d get a bruise before too long.


    Firtz raised his axe above his head. "Grab your sword my good man. It''s time to quest!" When Abad didn''t raise anything, he looked the elf over, lowering his axe as he did. "Well, you can raise your wand. Staff. Orb?" He looked for any casting implements Abad might be holding. "Whatever you use, raise it up and travel with me, my good elf!" Laughing, the dwarf marched away from them, past the gazebo, and into the wilderness beyond.


    "Firtz, wrong way buddy." A-Nis called.


    The dwarf chuckled, turned on his heel, and marched the other direction.


    ***


    It turned out that was the wrong direction too, but Firtz took it all in good stride.


    By nightfall, they reached a small camp nestled at the base of a fallen tree. A campfire was already going. Around the fire sat another elf. She looked remarkably like A-Nis but a bit younger. She was dressed in armor, but her bracers were off. She had noticeable scars on her forearms and face. Her blue eyes, lighter than her sisters, glowed in the fire light.


    A-Nis whistled, and the elf''s head popped up.


    "Took you both long enough!" The elf stood. A moment later, she embraced A-Nis in a bear hug while Firtz began unloading his gear. "Sister, I''m happy you''re safe." A-Nis bristled at the hug. "Nice to see you too, Firtz."


    "Bah, we''ve been marching all day. I gotta get these boots off, then we can do the hugs and crying and all that." He had already pulled one boot off. The smell hit Abad immediately. He shuffled away from the dwarf.


    "Who''s this?" The girl gestured toward Abad with her chin.


    "A scholar we found in some old ruins out there. Said he teleported here, but the spell screwed up, and he lost all his levels."


    "A-Shani. A-Sha to my sister. Shani to everyone else." The woman extended her arm. Abad clasped it in the way of the common elves, forearm to forearm. "Lost your levels?" The girl''s face scrunched up as she looked him over. "Never heard of that."


    "Us either, but that''s not the wild part. Listen to this." A-Nis explained the situation to her sister while Firtz started cooking.


    After a few minutes, the smells of fire and sizzling meat and onions reached Abad''s nose. His stomach churned harder than it ever had. Abad realized he was starving. He chuckled to himself. If it weren''t for his talent [Dark One''s Shadow], he''d likely be a hollowed out husk of a man by now. He inwardly thanked the Dark One for the gift of not needing to eat much.


    Abad sat next to the old dwarf while Shani and A-Nis talked with one another. Taking the opportunity, Abad chatted with Firtz, his eyes frequently drifting to the cast iron pot the dwarf was tending as they spoke.


    It turned out that Firtz was far more intelligent than he had expected, though his interests differed from Abad''s considerably. The man was equally devout as he was sharp, with verses and prayers peppering the man''s speech. The ability to weave allusions into one''s words was a quality that Abad appreciated in the past, and while he didn''t particularly enjoy the religious allusions the dwarf relied on, he still enjoyed his wit.


    After some time, the meal was finished, and a bowl of steaming stew was placed in Abad''s hands. He was merciless. He had wolfed down half the bowl by the time he realized the dwarf was waiting for him. The man had his holy symbol in hand and was ready to give grace. Abad imagined burning the old dwarf alive for stopping him from eating his meal, but he wanted more, both today and in the future. Firtz was a good cook.


    He dropped his spoon into the wooden bowl and lowered his head in faux prayer.


    "Bless us, O Goddess of Life, who provides us the land on which our food grows. Thank you for creating the sun that gives life to the grain and grass that fattens the creatures that feed us. Bless us with strength to fight for Your will."


    The elves both nodded. This was a ritual they clearly had been subjected to many times.


    "Goddess be praised." Abad murmured before gobbling down more stew.


    "Are you a believer, lad?" Firtz'' grey eyes took Abad in.


    "Not really. The Goddess and I haven''t always been on good terms." For many, many reasons."


    "You can always change your ways if you need."


    "See, I''ve heard that many times, but even when I tried, I was still punished. So, She and I keep one another at arm''s length, I think."


    "You never know, lad. Maybe she has plans for you that you just don''t know yet. After all, if you were truly so hated by her, wouldn''t you have died in those ruins? Or perhaps when you cast your spell?"


    Abad thought a moment. He had dodged death more than a few times. If he ever saw Her, he''d have to ask Her what the hell She wanted from him. As far as he could tell, She mostly wanted him to linger on and suffer forever. "I suppose so. I guess I''ll find out what''s in store for me as I keep moving forward."


    The rest of the dinner was eaten in relative silence. The girls murmured to one another from time to time, and Firtz told stories about his past. After his third bowl, Abad was stuffed.


    After dinner, the little group began to set up for bed. Armor and weapons were discarded, and the elves plopped onto their hammocks. The dwarf was insistent that true dwarves slept on the ground and proceeded to lie down on the hard earth with nothing but his cloak for a blanket and his breastplate for a pillow. Abad, having nothing but his cloak, tried to curl up next to the fire, but the cool night air chilled his bones. He threw a couple logs into the fire and fell into a fitful sleep.

 XIV. Whats That Smell?

    Over the next week, Abad got to know the adventurers fairly well. They weren''t strong per se, but they were competent, working with the rhythm and efficiency of veterans who knew each other inside and out. They also had good rapport, frequently laughing and joking together. They were stiff with Abad at first, but once they had spent several days with him, they acted like he had always been a part of the group.


    They took shifts on watch at night, which Abad participated in once he had been able to recoup enough mana to defend himself properly. The watches were typically uneventful, though a loud crack of a branch in the distance did put him on alert one night. It sounded suspiciously similar to what he had heard back at the temple. While trees and branches falling wasn''t uncommon in a forest, it still made him wary.


    He tried to reach out with his senses a few times, but he never picked anything up. Still, he decided he would stay alert in case there truly was something out there.


    He learned that the group had two others members as they traveled. Firtz'' nephew, a cleric named Ulfgar, had stayed back to take care of the group''s resident scoundrel, a half-elf bard named Enya, who had gotten injured on their last quest. Abad also learned that he was sweet on A-Nis, and despite her insistence that they weren''t a thing and that he was mostly a pest that had decided to tag along with them a year before, Abad did catch her talking about him a little too frequently.


    Likewise, he had noticed that Shani and Firtz were quite close. Shani was a few years younger than A-Nis and hadn''t joined with her sister and the dwarf until five years before. She had been determined to complete her apprenticeship with a renowned sword master in the north before leaving to become an adventurer. Since then, he learned she had been indispensable to the group''s operations.


    It wasn''t unheard of for races to intermingle, and age gaps were complicated with races that lived for centuries, and elves were known for their strong emotional connections. Seeing the two''s seamless dynamic, Abad decided to her ask about it. "So, you and Firtz?" He left the question unsaid.


    "Yeah?" She didn''t catch his meaning.


    You two seem pretty friendly." Their feet stomped along the old, ill-kept dirt road they had found the day before. She stopped for a moment when she finally realized what he meant.


    "Gods, no!" The girl snorted, slapping her gauntleted hand against Abad''s forearm. She did that a lot, and she was almost as strong as Firtz. He had definitely developed a bruise under his shirt. "We''ve just adventured together for years now." She laughed, then leaned into him and whispered. "Plus, you know. He''s a dwarf. Not exactly my type. The smell and all." She lifted her fingers to her nose and pretended to gag.


    "Your string bean body has the appeal of oatmeal anyways!" the Dwarf shot back, his hearing much better than he let on. "No, lad. I''ve got a real woman back home in the hold."


    "Yeah, a real woman you haven''t gone home to in two years." A-Nis chided him.


    "Ah, that. See, we both like our space. When you reach two-hundred years together, you need breaks every once in a while. That way, when you see them again, you can lock yourselves away for a week or three and make up for lost time." A huge smile crossed his face, his grey eyes twinkling with excitement. "Can''t wait."


    "Ugh, spare me the details!" Shani cried out, stomping ahead. The dwarf laughed heartily as he followed her. A-Nis smiled and shook her head as she dropped back to bring up the rear.


    ***


    As they traveled, the group probed Abad about the past. In return for being helped out of the dense forest (he really wouldn''t have been able to find his way out), he answered their questions as best he could.


    Yes, the Dark One had actually existed. Yes, the thirteen were as bad as they said. Yes, there used to be ten kingdoms (there were apparently seven nations now). Yes, Yslene was real too, though Abad was surprised to hear she hadn''t had followers since the end of the last age. Apparently, the last of the moon elves all walked outside of the Great Walls and were never seen again.


    No, the Shadowspawn of his time didn''t eat babies. No, the humans hadn''t always been on Reial as they now claimed. Yes, the Great Hero existed and was as incredible as they claimed. Abad frowned at the last one, but Shani beamed. The Great Hero was her personal hero. Her face flashed in his mind. And her damn holy sword sticking out of his chest.


    In turn, Abad asked them more questions about the present. In doing so, he came to learn how much of the past was forgotten in this age. Some things, such as the Divine Hammer of Shen or the Library of Xosh, were still common knowledge, while the Night of Red Flames and the Dragon Emperor of the Frostfell Mountains had faded from collective memory completely. He had tried to explain that the latter was even the big threat several hundred years before the Dark One, but the trio said he couldn''t have been that bad if he wasn''t remembered anymore.


    Luckily for the world, they told him that the dragons had nearly disappeared not too long after the War of Shadows had ended. There were still rumors about them from time to time, but there were few credible sightings and even fewer direct interactions.


    In all their talk, however, more than anything, he felt out of time. There were so many little comments and phrases he didn''t understand. He tried to follow, but the people and places and things they spoke about so casually were largely foreign to him. He was learning, but it felt isolating. And he had never felt isolated before. At least not since he was very young.


    It didn''t feel great.


    It was also odd to see the stars shining down upon the world each night. Being locked in his coffin for so long, he had grown accustomed to the soft glow of the seals he had carved into its lid. Seeing the darkness between the stars reminded him of the vastness of everything and his own place within it. Perhaps he was merely a speck before, but he had always felt like so much more. Today, in this moment, in this time, he wasn''t so sure.


    He thought on this many times as they walked up the endless dirt road, but no great conclusions came to him.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    ***


    The smell hit them first.


    It was noon on the eighth day, and they had just sat down for lunch when the wind changed.


    "It smells like death," Shani whispered. She looked green. She explained days before that, while she liked to fight, she hated the death that followed.


    "That''s because it is." A-Nis was already up and had her bow in hand.


    "That''s a person''s guts." Firtz stood, putting his bowl of food down on a nearby log. His hand reached for his axe.


    Abad stood with them. It was certainly death, and fairly fresh by the smell of it. He reached out with his senses. It was vague, but there was death some ways up the road. But there was something else too. Something... Something else was moving about. Its essence was thick, but obscured. "There''s something out there. It''s decently powerful. Keep your eyes peeled."


    The others had grown used to Abad using his magecraft and elven senses to sense things. The girls could do it some, but his abilities were far more attuned than theirs. They simply scanned the forest, looking for threats. None presented themselves.


    The four of them put their packs together at the side of the road, continuing to search the forest for movement as they did. There was nothing. However, the birds stopped chirping as the seconds ticked by, and a dreadful stillness settled around them. Shani adjusted the straps of her breastplate with one hand. Her mail rattled loudly in the deafening quiet.


    "Can you tell where it is?" A-Nis had knocked an arrow to her string.


    "No idea. Whatever it is, it can cloak its presence. I can barely detect it."


    "Well, that doesn''t sound ominous at all..." Firtz grumbled.


    "Something is on the side of the road." A-Nis hissed. She drew her bow, her fist drawn to her ear, then let an arrow fly, which disappeared into the brush.


    Abad could see it for an instant before whatever it was darted back into the brush. It was large and seemed to run on all fours. A branch cracked in the direction it had disappeared. A-Nis let loose another arrow, but there was no indication it hit anything.


    "We should move." Firtz suggested. The others agreed and gathered up their gear, emptying their plates and shoving them into their bags. "Goddess protect us," the dwarf said.


    [Bless]


    Abad felt the uncomfortable light of the Goddess descend upon them. The others perked up, seeming more energized than before. He replicated the movement despite not feeling the benefits nearly as acutely. He felt stronger, but it made him feel queasy.


    The party walked up the road, each of them scanning the forest in whichever direction they were facing. They were on a gentle incline, so whatever was ahead was obscured by the ground. Once they reached the top, however, they could see something in the distance. Without the earth blocking it, the stench fell on them twice as hard.


    They pressed on, and as they got closer, they could make out what it was. A pair of overturned wagons lay on the road, their wheels shattered and their cloth covers torn. All around them were bodies. Blood was everywhere.


    "Gods." Firtz muttered.


    As they drew closer, they could see the carnage more clearly. Each body had been brutalized, and many had their limbs torn off. Despite their pitiful state, it couldn''t have been long since they had been killed. A day or two at the most based on the condition of their bodies.


    "I don''t know what could have done this. There aren''t many monsters in this region." A-Nis covered her nose with her shawl as she spoke.


    "Looks like it was an escort of some kind." Abad pointed out several mail-covered bodies scattered among the corpses. "They didn''t stand a chance." Abad stretched his senses out, but whatever was out in the forest was distant now.


    "We need to look for survivors. See what you can find, boys. A-Nis and I will keep watch." Shani commanded the men, waving them towards the carnage. Not willing to argue, Abad walked forward, undeterred by the death.


    Stopping at the nearest body, Abad inspected it. It was a human man, maybe middle aged. His breastplate had been ripped open, and his guts had been pulled out. Half his face was eaten, and he was missing both legs, obvious bite marks showing they had been eaten off. From the look of the bites, each was torn free in one bite.


    Abad inspected the bodies one after the other on the left side of the road while Firtz did the same on the right. Each was in a similar or worse condition. None had wounds that would have marked a battle among humans or the like.


    No. It had been a slaughter.


    Several heads were torn off or missing, and most of the bodies were half-eaten. Nearly all of them were missing limbs. A couple bloodstains on the edge of the road suggested some had been eaten completely.


    Inspecting one of the stains, he found a book in the gore, a woman''s hand still clutching it tightly. He reached down and picked the book up, pried the hand off, and flipped open the pages. Many of the pages were stained with blood, but some were still legible. He smiled to himself when he realized what it was. It was a spellbook. It''s pages were worn with use, and many of them were dogeared and tattered, but it was in decent condition. He flipped through, getting a sense of what it contained and the power of its previous owner. As he did, his scroll unfurled. He willed it to move into his mind''s eye. He didn''t want to risk the others seeing what he actually was.


    <hr>


    [Traveler''s Spellbook]: A simple spellbook of middling quality. It has a strap, allowing the wielder to carry it with ease.


    1st Circle Spells


    [Arcane Light]: A simple spell to conjure a glowing orb, illuminating dark paths for a limited duration.


    [Stone Shield]: Summons a small barrier of stone in front of the caster, offering brief protection from minor attacks.


    [Candlelight]: You conjure a small flame that can be used to ignite inanimate objects and inflict small amounts of fire damage to a target.


    [Swift Step]: Temporarily enhances the caster''s speed, useful for quick escapes or covering short distances faster.


    2nd Circle Spells


    [Mirror Image]: Creates a several illusionary duplicates of the caster.


    [Gust]: Summons a controlled burst of wind, useful for pushing back enemies or clearing light obstacles.


    [Arcane Bolt]: Fires a bolt of magical force, dealing moderate damage to enemies.


    [Invisibility]: Causes the caster to go invisible until they attack or cast another spell.


    3rd Circle Spell


    [Flaming Sphere]: Conjures a medium-sized rolling sphere of fire that the caster can control for a limited time, dealing significant burn damage to anything in its path.


    <hr>


    He spent some time flipping through the pages. He had known most of these spells in the past, had recorded them in his old spellbook. The good ones at least. Some were somewhat useful to him while others, like the light spell, were only used by the races that lacked darkvision. It was fine, though. Having more spells would be useful. And, the book had a strap, so he wouldn''t have to fiddle with it as he walked.


    Closing the book, he slung it over his shoulder and continued his grizzly work. After some time, he finished inspecting the bodies on his side of the road and leaned against a nearby tree to think. There were only a few creatures that ate flesh in this way and left this much carnage behind when they did.


    An ogre was his first thought, but that didn''t feel right. Ogres didn''t sneak around like what he had seen and felt earlier, and they didn''t usually live in forests. They generally stayed in remote areas that had little activity and big game, like badlands or mountains.


    He was pulled from his thoughts when he heard something behind him. Casting his senses toward the wagons, he couldn''t feel anything inside. However, there was definitely a noise coming from the wagon. Abad cursed himself. He should have been more careful!


    "Hiding, are you? Come out and play, little monster." Firtz raised his axe and approached the wagon cautiously. The girls moved, closing in on the wagon on either side. Kneeling down, he pushed the tattered cloth of the wagon top aside and darted inside.


    Then there was screaming. It was high pitched. There was a scuffle, more screams, then Firtz reappeared, dragging something behind him.

 XV. They Came from the Woods

    It was a child.


    The boy flailed and kicked and bit at the dwarf, fighting to get loose from his iron grip, but it was futile. Eventually, the boy relented, sagging as the dwarf dragged him, tears flowing freely down his face. "Don''t eat me!"


    "I''m not gonna eat you, boy!" Firtz said as he shoved the boy back against the wagon, practically throwing his tiny body against the hard wood. "But I gotta be sure you''re a boy and not some damn monster about to pounce!" Firtz reached for his holy symbol and placed it against the boy''s skin. Nothing happened.


    "It''s safe. The boy is what he appears." Abad reassured Firtz as he approached. He didn''t sense any darkness within the boy. He didn''t sense much of anything really. The child barely had any essence at all. He was weak. Nothing.


    His holy symbol having no effect, Firtz loosened his grip on his axe, and the dwarf''s thick muscles untensed. He let his holy symbol fall away from the child. "What are you doing here?" The dwarf''s voice was filled with compassion now. He began searching the boy''s body, looking for injuries. Despite the carnage around him, he was relatively unscathed. Firtz reached into his belt pouch and pulled out a bit of dried meat. "Here. Eat."


    The boy looked nervously at the morsel, hesitated a moment, then snatched and hungrily devoured it. "Mommy... Daddy... they''re..."


    "It''s okay child. We''re here now." The dwarf''s voice was compassion itself.


    Abad had no reason to care about the boy. In the grand scheme of things, he didn''t matter. He was an insignificant thread in the tapestry of the ages, a background color woven into the scenes depicting greater men''s deeds.


    But still... despite that knowledge, something stirred in the warlock. Again, with the feelings. He felt pity. The boy had likely lost everything here. His life would forever be changed. A fleeting memory taunted Abad then, but it slipped away before he could grab hold of it.


    "What happened here?" Abad snapped, frustrated at his inability to remember. Firtz looked over his shoulder and glared at him.


    "What my friend here is saying is, when you''re ready, we''d like it if you''d help us learn what happened to you. Take you''re time though, lad. I promise you''re safe." Firtz moved his body so he shielded the boy''s view of the death around them.


    The boy ate a while, then cried, ate some more, and finally was able to speak. "the men told us to go to the big wall. Mommy said the shaking made holes, so we had to go look."


    "Holes?" That caught Abad''s attention. The walls were thought to be indestructible in his time. No one had ever breached them or even made a dent into the Wilds beyond. The only way in or out were through the gates under the eight towers. "Why were they inspecting the walls?"


    "There were tremors a few weeks ago." Shani entered the conversation, holstering her shield on her back. "We heard some rumors that several cracks opened during one of the bigger earthquakes. There was still a commotion in town about it when we got there, but the local governor promised that everything would be okay, especially since scouts hadn''t seen anything coming into the kingdom from the Wilds. They placed some barricades and sent some of the Legion to patrol the area. Still, there must''ve been some serious damage if the Legion needed to be sent out."


    "Anything about that make sense to you, Abad?" A-Nis had pulled her hood up to keep the stench of the corpses at bay, but by the wrinkling of her nose, it did little to block out the smell. Like rotten watermelons.


    "Not really. At least in our time, the theory was the wall''s dual purpose was to keep the forces of the Dark One confined to Elysium while they kept the Wilds outside out. The Goddess made it a prison and a sanctuary, at least according to the theories." A prison for his "father" and people like him. "The walls couldn''t be breached or damaged in my time. They were indestructible."


    "Well, not anymore. The outer towers have been failing for a long time, and it''s been more and more common to hear of things from outside getting in. That might explain what happened to our cat. Lucky we found you when we did, otherwise you might be food for something bad." She walked a few steps and pried a sword from one of the corpse''s hands. It was a young adult by the looks of him. The blade was wet with black ichor. She looked it over a moment before tossing it back down.


    "Do you have any other family nearby?" The dwarf gently pulled the boy away from the wagon, ushering him towards the girls while still keeping his body between the child and the bodies the best he could.


    "I don''t know." He shook his head. Tears started to run down his face again. "Daddy..."


    "It''s okay. We''ve got you. You''re safe." Firtz picked up the boy in his thick arms. "We''re going to Farnfoss. You''ll come with us, okay lad? The boy nodded in his arms, burying his face into Firtz'' shoulder.


    "How far away are we?" Abad asked.


    "A little less than a week by foot," Shani replied. "There''s a large trade road a day or two ahead though. If we''re lucky, we can find some merchant or farmer to carry us the rest of the way before whatever is out here gets brave. Let''s get going. We''re too close to this thing for my liking. And it''s getting closer. Even I can feel it now."


    Her words pulled him away from his thoughts and back to the present. Whatever that thing was, it was just outside of sight, watching them as they talked.


    ***


    Firtz marched down the road at the front of their little group, humming as he rocked the child in his arms. The others followed, A-Nis kept watch behind while Abad and Shani looked to the sides. The creature had been following them for hours. For the first time since he had met the three, there were few words exchanged as they walked. Everyone stayed on high alert.


    Knowing there was a trade road ahead, they moved at double speed to create distance and gain ground from the wreckage and the creature, but it followed tirelessly. It was always just out of sight, but it''s essence was dim. Only the occasional crack of a branch or the rustling of some bushes told them that it was still close. They had hoped it would break off if they made enough distance, preferring the guaranteed meal behind to the fight it would face ahead. However, night fell, and still it followed.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    They didn''t set up camp. Instead, they decided to march on through the night. However, their pace slowed as the night wore on as all but Firtz grew tired. The moon was high in the sky when they finally decided to take a break, lest they be too tired to fight if they were ambushed. The dwarf never stopped rocking the boy, who had fallen asleep in his arms. He still was in the lead, guiding the group by the faint glow of the moon.


    As they stopped to breathe, a loud crack of another branch sounded on the right side of the road ahead of them. Abad''s senses began screaming at him. Whatever it was, it had gotten close. Very close. Firtz'' hands gripped the child tightly. His blue eyes gazed around until he seemed to decide something. He gently woke the boy, who began crying as he awoke.


    "It''s okay, boy. I''m still here." Firtz rocked him. "I need you to wake up for me now. We may have to fight the big old monster. Can you be brave for me?"


    The boy wiped his nose and sniffled. He nodded. "Y-yes...." His words were so timid.


    "Good boy. If we''re attacked, I want you to run away. Run down the road that way." Firtz pointed west. "Don''t stop running until you can''t anymore, and then run even more. Can you do that for me?"


    "I''ll try." The boy replied.


    "You will." Firtz ruffled the boy''s hair as he set him down. "You''re a strong one. I know it. We''ll find you tomorrow, okay?"


    "Okay." The boy''s eyes were wide as saucers.


    There was movement behind the group then. Turning, Abad saw it. Its glowing green eyes were visible for a moment, reflecting the moonlight above, and a large, gangly arm wrapped around the tree it was hiding behind. Their eyes met. When it saw it was spotted, it slinked back into the shadows.


    It was large. Very large. Not quite ogre sized, but still nearly twice his own height.


    The four of them closed ranks, putting their backs together, the boy in between them. The creature stalked around them just out of sight, likely trying to find some opening it could exploit. It was at the edge of the forest line now, dashing from shadow to shadow in the trees. Whatever it was, it was clever. It never stayed still long enough for an arrow to hit it. It seemed like it was getting bolder too. Each step was faster than the one before, more calculated. Abad could tell that the stalemate would come to an end soon.


    [Burn the Weak]


    A ball of flame appeared in his hand, illuminating a dozen yards around them in deep red light. The creature squealed and backed away, crashing through the forest to get away from Abad''s flames. That gave him information. He had a sneaking suspicion what the creature was now. If he was right, they might not survive the night, especially if there was a hive of them. "I think it''s a troll." He whispered to the group. "If it is, we''ll need fire, and plenty of it. I''ll take care of that part." He grinned. He hadn''t killed anything in far too long.


    "Bah." Firtz muttered. "Those creatures give my people nightmares." He rose his axe high, readying himself. "My hold is near the western border of Elysium. They sneak into our mountains from time to time. Nasty things." He frowned deeply. "Boy. Wait until we can see the monster before you run. Once you see us attack, run as fast as you can. We''ll keep you safe." The boy nodded, his eyes nearly falling out of his skull. His cries were whimpers now.


    "Wait, hold on. Trolls?" A-Nis asked. "In Nolei? That''s unheard of."


    "I''m almost certain that''s what it is. I can only think of two other things that size, and neither of them could track us this well and be so stealthy. If it''s a single troll, we''ll probably walk out of here. If there are more, we''ll likely die." Abad felt that twinge again as the boy shrieked. "If we''re not careful that is. We can do this." He hoped his lie would help.


    The second the words left his lips, he felt something to his side. A loud footstep shook the ground. The girls sprung to action, the boy screamed, and the dwarf roared and charged.


    ***


    It was all Abad could do to dodge the arrow that whizzed past his face. It cut directly through the flame in his hand, catching on fire as it did. Ducking, he turned toward the source of the sound. A wall of green flesh was all he could see, a small burning arrow buried in its warty skin. The skin was flaking away, the fat underneath bubbling around the arrow. It jumped back and snarled.


    A troll. It was a troll. Trolls were some of the most reviled creatures known to inhabit the surface and the Upper Depths. The beast stood taller than a full-grown bear, and its thick skin was more like scale mail than flesh. It roared, opening its gaping maw to reveal dozens of jagged yellow teeth. Green spittle dripped from its cracked black lips as it watched Abad with a hungry look.


    [Mighty Rush]


    Before he could act, the dwarf barreled past him, slamming into the giant''s chest. The giant''s body wrapped around the dwarf''s as they tumbled several feet back.


    [Volley]


    "Get back!" A-Nis screamed, letting loose several more arrows, each of them finding a vulnerable spot in the creature''s body. It yelped as each landed, still trying to untangle itself from the ball of muscle and steel that had knocked it over.


    [Holy Nova]


    The troll scrambled to stand, but a wave of light exploded from the dwarf''s holy symbol. The flesh of the creature''s front half was burned away in the holy light. It squealed and threw the dwarf off, but Firtz was back up in an instant. He charged, swung his axe, and connected with the creature''s kneecap. The axe cut clean through.


    "Did you feel that?!" the dwarf laughed madly. "You''re not leaving alive, creature!" As the troll fell down onto its stump, he slashed again and again.


    Abad could see the flesh mending from the damage inflected by the holy energy, but it wasn''t fast enough. It roared in pain, swatted at the dwarf, and clipped his leg, sending him flying. Before it could recover, three more arrows buried into its chest, and Shani charged.


    [Heroic Strike]


    Her blade flashed, and the creature''s arm fell away at the shoulder. The creature cried a pitiful cry, wheeled around, and slashed with all its might.


    [Perfect Block]


    A ghostly shield appeared around her metal one, reflecting the troll''s attack back onto itself. A loud crack sounded from its elbow. The creature yelped as it tried to drag itself away. Firtz leapt on it again, carving at its neck with all his strength, nearly severing the creature''s head in one strike. The troll''s head tangled by a thread, its teeth gnashing and biting at the air.


    Seeing his opening, Abad threw his fire at the creature''s gaping neck. Like paper thrown into a bonfire, it''s skin erupted. A retched gurgling scream sounded from its gaping neck hole. Its remaining arm flailed at its burning neck as the skin flaked away, revealing layers of muscle and fat beneath. The smell of foul-smelling meat wafted over the battlefield, making Abad''s stomach turn. Its fat began to bubble and ooze as its skin burned away completely, Abad''s flames unrelenting as they consumed it. Within moments, the creature lay in a puddle dead on the ground, its remaining leg spasming.


    "Damn trolls... I''ll need new armor after this." The dwarf murmured as he stood again, reaching down to tear off his ruined greave. "Where''s the boy?"


    Shani responded. "Gone. Ran off. We''ll find him later." She began pounding her sword into her shield and shouting, baiting the creatures to come to them instead of the boy.


    A moment later, several growls and whoops sounded from the trees. Abad reached out with his senses. There were more of them. At least four.


    "More are coming! Get ready!" Abad said has he conjured another ball of flame with [Burn the Weak], illuminating multiple sets of green eyes in the forest.

 XVI. Meat

    Two more trolls exploded from the treeline, rushing Firtz.


    [Volley]


    A-Nis saw them in time and let loose a flurry of arrows, causing one of them to veer away back into the forest. She kept the pressure on it, firing arrow after arrow as it weaved through the trees. The other troll slammed into Firtz, who had just enough time to raise his axe before the massive thing''s bulk crashed down on him. Abad threw his flames at the creature, which screamed as its skin burned away. Firtz began hacking at it''s legs, trying to cut it down to his size.


    Abad heard something behind them. Just as he turned, another troll exploded from the treeline on the other side of the road. A-Nis didn''t have time to react to the new creature. She was clipped in the shoulder by the creature''s fist just as Shani lifted her shield to block it''s strike. In retaliation, she heaved, cutting the creature''s arm off at the elbow.


    The new troll''s attack gave the creature who escaped into the treeline enough time to exploit their vulnerable position. The troll roared as it exited the treeline, a dozen arrows littering its body, and slammed its bulk into the sisters, overrunning them. The warrior was thrown forward but rolled, preventing the brunt of the attack, but A-Nis was trampled by the surprise attack, the creature falling on top of her.


    Abad threw his flames into the armless troll''s stump. A hellish scream emitted from its lips. It gripped its cauterized arm as it stomped back into the forest. A loud crack sounded from the pile of troll and elf that writhed on the ground, the woman''s screams muffled by the troll''s bulk. Firtz roared and slammed his axe into the creature''s spine, causing it to fall limp on top of her.


    [Heroic Might]


    His muscles bulging and with a massive heave, Firtz threw the troll off her and pulled her up. Her face was bloodied, and her bow was shattered on the ground where she had been pinned.


    The warlock reached out with his senses just in time to catch the armless troll''s attempt at a surprise attack. Without thinking, Abad let loose his flames, striking the creature directly in the face as it exited the trees. Within seconds, it was twitching on the ground in death spasms. He grabbed a nearby branch and lit it on the dying troll''s flames, scorching the other two before they could regenerate. He was using too much mana and didn''t want to reveal his warlock abilities if he didn''t have to.


    Shani ran to her sister and looked her over, he eyes filled with love and concern. Leaving them to check on one another, Abad searched with his senses again. There were a half dozen more trolls surrounding them in the woods, held back by the burning flesh of their fallen allies. They were hazy, indistinct, but he could feel them. There was something else too. Something much bigger coming toward them, but it was further off. Too far to be an immediately threat.


    "We should move! Now!" Abad shouted at the group. None hesitated. Firtz had already caught up to and scooped the boy up in one arm, and Shani helped her sister hobble as they ran. Knowing the creatures would be more reluctant to attack him, he held himself back, calling upon more flame with [Burn the Weak].  He would be able to cast one, maybe two more spells before pulling on his life force, and he didn''t have much of that to spare anymore.


    Life force.


    He turned and sprinted back to the burning corpses. One by one, he reached down and touched the still-twitching flesh and cast [Essence Transfer]. Motes of blue and red energy poured from the creatures. They had far more essence within them than the old corpse had back in his vault. He felt his power grow substantially... and inside of their life and mana essences, there was something else. He could feel a small black ball of... something.


    "I''ll catch up!" He shouted to them as they ran away. They shouted back at him to hurry as another troll exited the treeline ahead of them. He focused on the black ball of essence, his senses soon fading, leaving him heedless of the battle happening around him. He could hear the dwarf shout, the girls calling to one another, the boy''s cries as they ran, but none of it mattered. All that mattered was here, floating in front of him, just out of reach.


    He reached out to it with will, pulling a mote of black to him. It slowly floated onto the skin of his palm, then sunk in, entering his spirit. There, he felt his soul surge as the little black ball melded with the corruption within him, and words burned into his mind.


    <hr>


    [Shards of the Dark Lord]: You have found and consumed a fragment of your progenitor''s power. Through his dark might, you grow stronger.


    You have gained the [Devour the Weak] Shadowspawn talent.


    [Devour the Weak] (Passive): Damage you inflict heals a small amount of your life force. Your magic is particularly potent against beings that share your dark heritage.


    You have reached level VII.


    <hr>


    Coming back to his senses, he heard the sounds of battle. Another one of the trolls was down, Firtz carving into its outstretched arm as it futilely tried to defend itself from his attacks. Past him, the girls were fighting back a particularly ugly and large troll. The boy was running down the road as fast as his little legs could take him. They kept saying a word. His name.


    "Abad! We need some help over here!" A-Nis screamed, stabbing and slicing with her dagger as the troll pressed its attack. One of her arms hung limply.


    "Come on, hurry up!" Shani cried, the troll slicing into her leg with its claws.


    [Heroic Strike]


    She returned the gesture by taking half its head.


    [Burn the Weak]


    He conjured a second ball of flames and ran to them. When the wave of dread cascaded over the first troll, he looked away from Firtz and received a ball of flames for its trouble. Abad sprinted past, toward the girls and the half-headed troll. He threw his other spell with all his might. When the flames hit its exposed brain, its head lit up light a candle. It took faltering steps toward the forest as its brain meat sputtered and smoked. Before it reached the edge of the road, however, he lifted his hand and conjured another ball of flames with [Burn the Weak]. He cursed his fate that he didn''t have time to study the spellbook and learn another spell.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    He threw the ball of deep red flames at the injured creature. Already wounded, the flames ate away at the creature, consuming it in a flash. Abad felt some of its life energy flow into him as thin wisps of flame floated back and sank into his skin. Wobbling forward a couple feet, the flaming half-headed troll collapsed at the edge of the road, its body collapsing into ash.


    He decided he would use as much life force as needed. They wouldn''t survive if he held back. He''d deal with the repercussions later.


    [Burn the Weak]


    His flames consumed the troll Firtz had torn apart, its severed flesh burning to ash in seconds. Firtz rushed to the girls and placed his hand on A-Nis, whose arm was torn and bloodied.


    [Lay on Hands]


    The thick gash on her forearm closed, and she picked up a second dagger that she had dropped with her half-healed arm. Shani''s leg was bleeding and half her face was soaked in blood.


    [Lay on Hands]


    Firtz laid his hands on her next, then grumbled. The wound on Shani''s forehead closed, but her face was still swollen. "I''m out of mana. Mage, you''re helping, but you''ve got some dark magic. We''ll have a talk once all this is done, yeah?!"


    Abad cursed his luck. "If we survive, sure, but keep your head about you!"


    The man''s steely gaze looked him over. He nodded. "How many are left?"


    "Maybe the same amount? Most are about as strong, but one is much stronger. None are that way now." He pointed behind them. "The strong one is heading up the road from the wagons."


    Firtz rushed forward and braced himself in front of them all, facing the trees the way that Abad had pointed. The rest of them readied themselves behind him. "Come on out, you rat bastards!"


    Focusing with his senses, Abad could feel the presence of the trolls. His senses were getting more acute. He wasn''t struggling as much to feel them out. His scroll unfurled in his mind.


    <hr><hr>


    [The Hunted]: By using your senses to hunt those who would hunt you and your allies, you have honed your perception to a greater degree.You have honed your elven senses to a greater degree.


    You have upgraded [Fey Senses] to [Fey Senses II].


    You reach Level VIII


    Choose an Enhancement:


    <ul>


    <li>


    [Mana II]: Increases your mana reserves by a a sizeable amount, allowing for greater spellcasting endurance and more complex incantations.


    </li>


    <li>


    [Potence III]: Amplifies the potency of your spells to a significant devastating degree, increasing the damage and effectiveness of each cast. This enhancement further weakens enemy resistances, greatly improving your chances of bypassing magical or physical defenses, making your magic a force to be reckoned with.


    </li>


    <li>


    [Willpower I]: Bolsters your mental fortitude, granting increased resistance to fear, charm, and other mind-affecting effects. This heightened willpower allows you to maintain focus under pressure and resist external control.


    </li>


    </ul>


    <hr><hr>


    And then, he could feel it. He could feel them.


    There were four more. Three to the north, one to the east. The one coming up the road was much stronger. It was moving slowly, deliberately, observing them as they fought.


    "Where are they at, mage?" The dwarf shouted.


    "I''ll call them!"


    He selected [Mana II], hoping the increased mana he''d receive from the selection would allow him to survive the fight. Mana poured into his spirit as the words took shape on his scroll''s page. He felt every nerve in his body tingle as it did.


    [Burn the Weak]


    Wicked flames appeared in Abad''s hand again. He would have to pull on some of his life force soon, but he should be okay. When they saw the flames, the creatures fell still. He could feel them watching. Between his aura and the flames, Abad knew they''d be wary, but their fear wouldn''t last long.


    Suddenly, something entered his aura, screamed, pushed through.


    "Left!" The group turned. A troll charged out of the darkness but was cut down by the focused effort of the three before it could do anything, then was burned away by Abad''s flames.


    A roar came from the other side. "Straight ahead!" Abad shouted as another troll erupted from the treeline. Still another emerged from the right.


    [Burn the Weak]


    "I''ve got this one, take the one to the right!" The party obeyed, charging the one he called for them, leaving him alone. He held his flames in front of himself, and the creature, eying it and him with hungry rage-filled eyes, slobbered as it tried to get around the hungry flames. The troll to his right squealed as the trio cut into it.


    They worked well as a team. The troll didn''t stand a chance.


    Abad could see the dumb creature in front of him thinking. It smiled a cruel idiot smile as it concluded something. Giggling, it darted to the right, but its eyes gave it away. The second its foot hit the ground, it cut back to the left, but Abad saw the feint. He slammed his flaming fist into the creature''s face. It''s head ignited instantly, its skin peeling away as its flesh cooked, the fat melting like a candle. Within seconds, its eyes popped, and it began to claw at itself before falling down, dead.


    He felt some life force flow back into him from [Devour the Weak], but he was tiring. His mana was low. He was beginning to feel his head pound. The three had cut down their opponent, so he rushed forward and burned it away with another [Burn the Weak]. His aching head began to pound. Before it could burn away completely, Abad placed his hand on the smoking creature and cast [Essence Transfer]. He was once again filled with some mana and life force, but this troll was far weaker than the last, and there was no mote of dark power within.


    "You may be dark, lad, but you''re quite the mage!" Firtz roared as he turned down the road, ready to end the fight. Shani was visibly tired, and her eye had swollen shut. A-Nis looked worse. She was panting, and blood covered her limbs and tunic. She was favoring her right leg.


    "One more. Be ready!" He warned them.


    He closed his eyes. He could almost see the final creature in his mind. It was a troll, but far larger. It was watching from the shadows of a tree just out of sight to the east. He could feel the creature''s malevolence, some cruel intellect guiding it. The other trolls were dumb things that were drawn to combat by hunger, but this thing was cunning. It had sized them up, watched as its fellows were cut down to figure out their strategies. Let its fellows wear them down so it could finish them off. "This thing is much stronger than the others. Ready yourselves."


    "Stronger? Bah, we''ve killed nine. This''ll be cake!" The dwarf raised his large axe and looked around, waiting for the final creature to reveal itself, and reveal itself it did.


    It marched out of the forest, bearing its toothy maw as it emerged from behind a large oak. It was huge, standing at least twelve feet and was almost as wide. It''s long limbs dragged on the ground, its huge fists balled. Black, wiry hair covered most of its body. It howled at them, beating its chest.


    Then it spoke.


    "Meat. No fight. Die now."


    Abad was taken aback. Trolls couldn''t speak. Barely could think. He''d only ever heard tales of one troll that was able to learn the common tongue: Thrakkar. But Thrakkar had been crossed with an orc in one of Zaros'' experiments. This thing was far bigger.


    "It''s talking..." Shani hissed.


    "I see the great Goddess has given us another gift tonight!" Firtz spat on the ground and laughed heartily. The laughter sounded silly in the face of such a threat. "Your speech won''t save you from our blades, foul thing!"


    "Small warrior fall like others." The creature sniffed the air, pointing at Abad. "Elf smells strange. Eat him last. Eat you first!" It pointed at A-Nis.


    The troll exploded forward, moving with far more speed than anything they had faced. Before either warrior could react, it slammed into them, a wild backhand sending Firtz flying twenty feet up the road, it''s house-sized chest throwing Shani into Abad. They landed hard on the ground, only recovering just in time to see the beast snatch up A-Nis in a hand bigger than her torso. Lifting her overhead like she was nothing, he shook her violently then threw her. She flew at least as far as Firtz had, struck a tree, and landed in a heap. She didn''t move.


    "A-Nis!" Shani screamed.

 XVII. The Flame

    The elven warrior moved like the wind.


    [Heroic Strike]


    She cut off several of its fingers.


    [Shield Bash]


    She slammed her shield into the creature''s leg, shattering its knee.


    [Battle Roar]


    She screamed a bloodcurdling scream, and Abad felt stronger than he had. The troll swiped at her, but her blade flashed.


    [Counter Strike]


    Half of its hand flung into the air and landed a couple feet away from Abad. He watched as the woman held off the mighty creature with everything she had, her love and pain spurring her on. Using the opportunity, Abad channeled as much energy as he could spare into [Burn the Weak], the flames cascading up his arm. He could feel his fingers go numb from the strain. First circle spells could only handle so much mana. Their simple weaves broke down easily.


    Giving as much essence as he could to his spell, the flames in his hand doubled in size, sparking and sputtering with excess energy. The warrior saw his spell and rolled away from the massive beast. A wall of flame rolled off of him, engulfing the troll and setting the bushes behind it aflame. Its fur incinerated in a puff of acrid smoke, and the creature recoiled away from him, clutching at its back in agony. Abad grinned as its leather skin caught on fire, flaking away in the soft breeze.


    Shani pressed the attack, slicing into the creatures stomach, side, leg¡ªeverywhere she could reach. The troll was falling back, trying to escape the warrior''s merciless blows. He smiled. They would win. He began pulling on more essence, but he was beyond spent.


    [Burn the Weak]


    He gave as much energy as he could to the flame, which roared to life in his hand. He concentrated, calling on anything left, but the candle only grew slightly.


    And then, Abad''s grin faded.


    Something was wrong.


    It wasn''t enough. As fast as Shani struck, the wounds would close. Fingers were growing back. Skin was repairing itself. Even the burnt flesh on its back had begun to knit itself together after the flames sputtered out.


    The troll giggled, then attacked Shani with more ferocity than they had seen. Abad threw his flame at it, but the creature hardly seemed to notice as its skin caught on fire, sputtered, then the flame went out. It was everything she could do to hold the creature off. The creature cackled as if the injuries meant nothing. She severed its hand again, and it attacked with the stump. A deep cut exposed its thighbone, but it didn''t even hobble it. Shani cursed under her breath as she realized, as had Abad, that their attacks weren''t doing any lasting damage.


    Abad tried to join the fray, trying to preserve what little life force and mana he had left, but the attempt merely almost got him crushed.


    "Stay back! You''re in the way!"


    [Hobble]


    She stabbed into the creature''s knee, the blade emerging from the other side, slowing the troll slightly.


    The troll giggled again.


    "What''s so funny?" She screamed at the monster.


    "You weak, meat! I strongest!" The monster lunged and snapped its teeth at the girl, catching the edge of her shield. With a mighty heave, it ripped the shield away, tearing it from her arm. There was a loud crack, and the elf screamed in pain. She was thrown several feet and tumbled to the edge of the road. She cradled her arm to her chest, the hand pointing the wrong direction. When the troll charged at her, Abad summoned another ball of [Burn the Weak]. He threw the meager thing, then immediately vomited.


    The troll turned and snarled at him. Abad didn''t have anything left. He had put everything in that last spell. It''s only purpose was to buy Shani time to get away, which she used to rush toward A-Nis. He could maybe attack one more time, but that was a big maybe. His vision was swimming. He hoped the creature couldn''t resist his next move. It would be the only thing that would save him. The ability might cost him his life if it didn''t land.


    [Burn the Weak]


    His flames roared as they struck the troll''s chest, but they quickly went out, the skin healing almost as fast as it had caught alight. He tore some essence from the creature, healing a bit, but it wasn''t enough. The troll was strong, resilient. The monster took a lumbering step toward him, its instincts telling it to be wary of more flames, but its eyes showing it knew better. It could see the warlock was done.


    "Bad meat. Bad elf meat. Why you smell bad, elf meat?"


    He thought a moment. Did it really matter anymore? He was done with this. The hiding. "You know what? I''ll show you why I''m bad meat." He was going to die. He knew it. And if he was going to die, he''d go out in his true, glorious form. He let his [Mask of Many Faces] fade. His skin turned back into its rightful color. His black nails glinted in the moonlight. He felt a portion of his mana free up.


    He heard a sharp gasp from the left, but he didn''t dare take his eyes off the troll.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    The troll took a step back. "Eater..." It snarled the word, eying him warily.


    <hr>


    [Eater]: Bestowed by the troll Graul, this title marks you as one who consumes what others would discard, taking strength from the remnants. When you consume the essence of an enemy, you gain a brief but potent surge of energy, temporarily enhancing your body, mind, and spirit, and sometimes catching glimpses of their final memories or emotions.


    <hr>


    "Eater?" He felt it. The name resonated with something inside of him.


    [Burn the Weak]


    Flames sprang to life in his hand.


    "Eater. Bad one. Hungry one. Hurt. Bad meat." The troll snorted and growled, backing up several more steps but never letting its eyes move away from Abad''s.


    "Yes. Eater." He smiled his wicked, terrible smile. "That''s what I am." He took a step forward. "How about this, my kind troll. Why don''t we make a deal?"


    "Grawl no deal. Grawl eat meat. You meat!" the troll pointed its nearly-restored pointer finger at the warlock."Meat die. Grawl eat!" Then, in a mockery of thought, its dumb eyes looked through him for a moment. Then a horrible jagged smile spread across its lopsided face. "Eater leave? Grawl eat, eater leave? No eat eater. No eater burn Graul."


    The words washed over Abad. It wanted him to leave. It wanted him to abandon the others. It didn''t want him to fight anymore.


    And that''s when Abad realized something.


    He didn''t have to. He could just walk away, right then. He had his out. No one would ever know. He could just walk away, and these three would be a footnote in his own legend, destined to be forgotten by everyone but him. Shani screamed, but he couldn''t hear her over the sound of his thoughts.


    The troll''s smile widened. "Eater leave now?"


    "Abad..." He heard the woman''s voice. It was pitiful. She could see his thoughts. That''s when those words came to him again. The ones from his dream.


    Would you make the same choices, Abad-Shai, Lord of Nothing?


    He thought about the last week. It had been... not fun, exactly. Pleasant. They had been his companions. They took him in. They trusted him. He couldn''t remember the last time someone felt that way about him. He liked Firtz'' surliness and excitability. The man cooked well. Shani was proud and kind. A-Nis was honest and forthright. They were good. Fundamentally good. Nothing like him.


    No one from his past had been kind. Honest. None of them would ever risk revealing their hands. There was always an angle. Something to gain. Some political maneuver to outpace a rival. Depose an enemy. They used one another. They used everything. He used everything, consumed everything in his quest for glory.


    These people weren''t like his old allies. They weren''t like him.


    It was stupid. The situation was impossible. If he did nothing, they would die. If he tried to help, they would still die, but he would die with them.


    The choice seemed so simple.


    But what would he gain by leaving them? Would he live longer? Maybe. Or maybe he''d be hunted down this very night once the creature had its fill. And if he did survive, what then? Would he wander alone, sacrificing everyone and everything to some dark destiny that was determined to make him suffer?


    No.


    He would simply continue to exist, with nothing and no one at his side.


    His blood ran hot. Abad wouldn''t run. He wouldn''t surrender. He wouldn''t turn tail and run. He was many things, but he wasn''t a coward. He wouldn''t be bested by some monster. He wasn''t about to be eaten by some disgusting creature in the woods at the edge of nowhere. No misshapen thing would be his master. No one would command him.


    He stepped forward proudly. The creature''s smile faded. It was afraid.


    It should be.


    If the Great Hero herself couldn''t end him, then this Graul stood no chance. He was destined for far more. He was more. He wouldn''t die at the hands of some misshapen mongrel. And these three were part of his legend. They were his now. And he didn''t give away his things for free.


    "I''m done with this game, Graul."


    "Eater no deal?"


    [Burn the Weak]


    "No deal."


    Abad pulled everything from his ring, channeling it all into the spell. Flames roared up his arm. The troll backed up a step, confused.


    That''s right. Recognize me for what I really am.


    "I have one deal for you, monster." He took another step forward. He pulled on every ounce of essence he had, every bit of life force within. He burned every single mote of light buried in his black spirit. And then his spirit itself caught alight. If he would die, he''d die his way, in a blaze of glory. "You can run now. Right now. If you do, you might live."


    The troll laughed heartily. "Me no die. Who you? No one. Me Graul! Me strong!" he roared to the sky.


    "I''m Abad-Shai, Master of the Vault. Eater. And the Dark One''s Heir. I am your death."


    The creature giggled, but it''s smile slowly faded as Abad''s flames grew brighter. It took another step back.


    "Oh? Do you want to take my deal?" Abad''s shirt smoldered as his spirit''s flames consumed his sleeves. His bracers burned around his forearms as they grew red hot. He had never pulled on this much life force at once. He had never been willing to die before. His vision swam and his ears rang. Everything hurt. He felt himself slipping away.


    "No deal, meat."


    He gave it all.


    His spirit burned.


    His body burned.


    Everything was fuel for his spell.


    The troll''s eyes were wild. Its instincts and mind were at war with one another. It began drooling. It took a step forward. Then it stepped back. It grunted and roared. Charged forward. Squealed at the heat rolling off of the warlock and rushed backward.


    "Graul no die! Graul strongest!" It roared again, beating its chest in protest to the flames.


    Abad''s vision was a black tunnel. His shirt was on fire. His skin sizzled under his bracers.


    He ignored it all. All the pain. The fear of death. The weakness. He looked inward. There, deep inside, at the edge of his burning spirit, there was something. It glowed at the edge of nothingness. If he could just reach it... He tried. It was so close. Just out of reach... He reached as far as he could, but the boundary of his spirit pushed him back. The troll took another step forward, its tongue licking its lips. Its instincts were winning.


    One of their deaths was imminent.


    Then, at the edge of death, his spirit dissolved. Everything within him burned to ash. The chains holding him back snapped. He was no longer Abad. He was the flame.


    His eyes opened. Fire erupted from them. His clothing burned away. His ring melted. His bracers fused to his skin. The winds roared around him. The earth beneath him smoldered, then began to melt, pools of obsidian forming around his feet. The forest around him was ablaze.


    The only thing he could see was the troll. The only thing he could feel was hate. Elation. Joy. Freedom.


    Power.


    He roared with all his centuries of rage, his throat burning as hot magma erupted from his lips, splattering on the ground in a puddle of liquid stone. The area around him shined as if the sun itself were ignited within him. The troll screamed in fear. It turned to run away, but it was too late.


    Abad raised his hands, and the thing that was at the edge of his burning spirit finally came into the light. He grabbed it.


    [Hellfire]


    Sand liquefied. Rocks exploded. Trees shattered. Flesh became ash. Everything was swept up into the flaming cyclone.


    In the center of it all, there was only the flame.


    And when the flames became flickers, which cooled to wisps, became cinders, a pile of smoldering bones were all that was left before him.


    Abad smiled. He was strongest.


    And then the darkness claimed him, and he was gone.

 XVIII. Dreams of Dead Men

    Master?" He woke with a start. His eyes were bleary, and drool ran down his face. He wiped his cheek and sat up. He had fallen asleep on his desk again. A little creature was standing on it, hands on her hips and a scowl on her face.


    Wait. Had he fallen asleep?


    "Master, you can''t be falling asleep like this all the time. Mistress is going to beat you again if she catches you." She pointed a clawed finger at him, waggling it as she spoke.


    She was scolding him.


    Her voice was familiar. Her face was familiar. He felt an ache in his heart for the slightest moment, but then it was gone.


    "Wha-what happened?" He asked, sitting upright. He looked around. He was in his study. The walls of the wooden room were lined with bookshelves filled with books and a variety of implements and ingredients. There were several piles of books around his desk, each emblazoned with runes and sigils. A window revealed that it was night outside. It was pitch black.


    "Silly master. Always forgetting things. Falling asleep. What would you do without me?" She patted his head, then hopped off his desk. "Don''t worry. You can always take care of the chores tomorrow. I''ll do them today, okay? You keep studying." The little thing smiled, her fangs pricking her lower lip as she scampered away.


    He sat back down. He had to study. He had to read the books. He opened the one he had fallen asleep reading. The pages were burnt. The runes were ruined. No wonder he''d fallen asleep reading it. He threw it aside and grabbed another. Opening it, he found the text to be illegible. He tried to focus. The words seemed to rearrange themselves, but he couldn''t make them out.


    Nothing was sinking in. It was too hard. It was always so hard.


    Wait. Wasn''t he on the road?


    On the road. Something happened there. What was it?


    The little imp was back beside him, a book in her arms. "Master? You look worried. Are you okay?"


    The student shook his head and rubbed his temples. Something had happened. Was happening? What was it? He felt so scrambled.


    The young elf wracked his brain. No matter how hard he thought, he couldn''t remember. He decided that it was probably nothing important. The only thing that was important was impressing Aughra. She said he had more talent than anyone, but he wasn''t driven enough. If he didn''t work harder, he''d never be as strong as her.


    "I''m okay. I just didn''t sleep well is all." He patted the imp''s head. "Don''t worry about me."


    "I''ll always worry about you. It''s my job, silly. Don''t you remember?" She smiled up at him. He always liked her smile.


    He read some more. It made little sense, but at least he could say he was getting work done. Before long, however, his stomach growled. He was famished.


    "Are you hungry, Master? I think they might have dinner prepared." The imp skittered away from the desk and into the doorway, beckoning him to follow her. He groaned. Aughra wasn''t a great cook, but at least he would be fed. She was probably just finishing up dinner. He sniffed. It smelled good. Really good.


    He followed the imp.


    As he left the study, that feeling that he had forgotten something came back. Wasn''t he supposed to be doing something?


    Dinner. That was it. He was hungry.


    He watched the imp walk down the hallway. The walls weren''t wooden. He realized he wasn''t in their old cottage. No, he was somewhere else. The hallway was stone. There were doors on either side. Some were open. There were treasures in them. He was filled with pride. They were his treasures.


    A thought flickered in the back of his mind, but it burned into smoke before he could make anything of it. He shrugged and kept following the imp down his vault''s hallway, toward the great hall.


    "Abad, wake up!" A voice came from somewhere. He looked, but he couldn''t see its source.


    He reached out with his mind, searching. Searching for...


    What was he looking for?


    "Come, master! They''re waiting for us!" The imp waved him on. "You''re acting so funny today. Keep up!"


    The warlock blinked. Ah yes. Dinner. He stretched his muscles and groaned. He had been working all night, branding the new slaves. He had acquired them a week before, and some of them had decided they wanted to revolt. He gave the leaders to the orcs, then took some extra precautions with the rest. He looked at the scepter in his hand. [Final Law] would ensure they stayed loyal. They would obey without question now. They had no choice.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "Come on!" She called to him, pulling him from his thoughts.


    His stomach growled, and he followed his little servant toward the great hall. Something smelled good. He was so hungry.


    When they reached the archway dividing his back rooms from the great hall, he found two large iron doors.


    He hesitated.


    Had he always had doors dividing the back rooms from the great hall? He tried to remember. He didn''t think so, but maybe he had forgotten. It made sense to seal off his personal quarters. He didn''t want anyone snooping around back there. Not that they could. His vault was for him and him alone.


    "Go in. It''s time to eat." She pushed the doors open. Shaking his head, he entered. The room was large. Over a dozen banners decorated the walls. Servants lined the walls. There were six of them. People were sitting at his dining table. Thirteen of them.


    "Abad, Wait! Stop!" The voice shouted. He could barely hear it now. He wiped his eyes. He felt tired. He must be exhausted from the campaign stretching on. It had taken much longer than he had hoped, but the time was coming. The Ten Kingdoms would fall soon. He would be victorious.


    "Something''s wrong with him!" The voice again.


    "Why can''t I see you?" He asked the voice. The people at the table didn''t hear him. He looked back the way he came, but there was only darkness.


    "Master, please. Everyone''s waiting." The little imp pleaded. He entered, and the doors shut behind him.


    "A damn devil!" He felt his body tense. Who was a devil?


    A servant came and guided him to his chair. "Welcome, Great King. We hope you enjoy the feast."


    It was a party. What was it a party for? He had forgotten.


    The servant pulled the chair at the head of the long iron table out for him, and he sat upon it. It was comfortable. Felt right. As he sat, the guests stood and the servants bowed. He waved for them to seat themselves. He placed his hands on the table. The surface was rough, rusted, pitted. He gestured at a servant. He was ready to eat.


    A servant appeared and placed his meal in front of him. A massive cut of meat, bone-in. Thick black bread. A goblet full of red wine. The latter looked excellent. He drank deep. It was delicious.


    "Hear! Hear!" Someone shouted from the other side, raising their goblet.


    "Hear! Hear!" The others followed.


    He took another pull of his wine. It tasted odd. Swirling it, he realized something. The wine wasn''t wine. It was blood. He downed the entire glass, and the servant poured him another.


    He felt stronger.


    What were we celebrating? He wondered.


    Ah, yes. His ascension. His return to the throne. Of course. How had he forgotten?


    "My dear children, it is wonderful to see you again. It has been far too long." His voice wasn''t his. It was far too deep, booming. He looked down. His arms were black. There were flames dancing under his skin. He drank more.


    "Hear! Hear!" The table cheered.


    "Would you like some more, my lord?" The voice sounded familiar. He turned to face it. The man''s eyes were black pits. Abad nodded. The man bowed deeply and filled his goblet with more of the excellent blood. Swirling the crimson liquid, Abad drank his fill. He felt life returning to him.


    "Please, wake up!" The voice again. Strained. Where was it coming from?


    His mind swam for a moment, then things came into focus. He was where he was supposed to be. He was home. He looked around the great table, at each of his guests. No. Not guests. His children. He was surrounded by his family.


    They spoke with one another. Laughed as they told tales, sharing stories of their lives. They seemed to have hidden meanings as they spoke. They were so polished. They said the right things, laughed at the right times.


    He took another sip of the blood.


    His children smiled politely when their eyes met his. Cheered when they were supposed to. These were his sons and daughters, his obedient children.


    It was their place to obey. To fawn over their father. To serve him forever.


    After another cup of blood, one of the serving women excused herself. He frowned. He hadn''t permitted her to leave. He looked her over. She was immaculate, dressed in revealing black clothes that accentuated her perfect form. Her dark eyes met his.


    "Why do you go?" He called after her. He didn''t want her out of his sight.


    She smiled demurely, bowing as she did. "I wish to prepare a bath, my lord. Please excuse me." She bowed again and left without saying anything more.


    Another drink. Another round of polite laughter from his children. The woman''s eyes though... her body... they called to him.


    "My dear children, continue to enjoy yourselves. I wish to retire." Each child rose and bowed deeply, then sat back down, enjoying the festivities. He rose, ascending the stairs to his bed chambers.


    He found the door ajar. Inside, candles flickered, casting shadows upon the walls. He stepped into the dim room, closing the heavy oak door behind him. There was a soft rustling coming from the bed ahead of him. It was the serving woman.


    She was clothed in her thick black hair, flawless alabaster skin and nothing else. He was pleased. Every inch of her body was perfection, like a statue of the perfect female form carved from marble. Her piercing sapphire eyes gazed upon him with adoration and lust. A smile curled her ruby lips. She crawled across his bed, effortlessly gliding across the silk sheets.


    "My lord. I''m pleased that you''ve come. May I show you my devotion?" Her hands reached for his. She pressed her lips to the backs of his hands


    "Yes. Worship me." He grabbed her throat. Pulled her plump lips to his. Her tongue danced across his lips. She pulled his shirt off, revealed his muscular form. "Show me your passion." Her lips left his. They pressed into his neck. His chest. His arms. His hands. She worshiped him entirely.


    He reached down and lifted the woman''s chin until she gazed upon him once again. She was beautiful beyond words. He leaned forward to kiss her red lips. He could taste her sweetness. Their tongues danced together.


    Then he pushed backward onto the bed. Her legs spread wide as she awaited him. He climbed atop her. He grabbed her wrists. She whimpered softly. A tear trickled down her cheek, staining his skin. Abad growled with lust. Hunger. He buried his mouth into her neck and bit. She moaned. More blood. It was exquisite.


    Her moans grew louder. Filled with ecstasy. Then, they were piercing. Filled with pain. Her voice changed. It wasn''t hers. She was screaming.


    "Abad!" The voice said. It was female. Abad kept biting, digging into her neck. Hot red blood gushed from her flesh. Skin tore. Blood filled his mouth.


    "Abad-Shai, stop!" A new voice. Male. Familiar. Abad growled, his claws tearing into her wrists as he fed.


    "Stop him!" A third voice.


    His head swam, the world around him twisted, and he woke up.

 XIX. Goodbyes

    Abad was biting something soft. Warm. Living. His fingers were wrapped tightly around its wrists. His fangs were buried in its supple flesh. Blood filled his mouth, dripping from his lips and down his chin. Two hands were pressed against his chest, pushing him away. He growled as he pressed against them, then he roared as two more grabbed his shoulders and threw him backwards. He flew, rolling painfully in a pile of smoldering coals, singeing his back before slamming into the stump of a smoldering tree. He snarled at the unknown attacker, then froze.


    He saw Firtz holding Shani, whose hands were pressed to her neck. She was bleeding. A lot.


    [Lay on Hands]


    A soft light emanated from his hands, sinking into her tanned skin. A few moments later, Shani''s grip on her neck loosened. The river of blood stopped.


    "You goddamn tainted bastard!" The dwarf roared, charging at Abad. The warlock didn''t have time to react before he was pinned against the tree by the dwarf''s powerful arm. He coughed as Firtz pressed his muscular arm into Abad''s windpipe. "What are you playing at, devil? Was this all some game to you, you goddamn filth?!" The dwarf spat into his face.


    What was he talking about? What was happening.


    Firtz brought his large fist down upon Abad''s head. His vision exploded into stars. The man raised his fist again, but Abad''s lifted his arm deflected the next strike. That''s when he realized his skin wasn''t pale but dusky grey. His fingernails were sharp and black. They could see him. He pushed back against Firtz, keeping the dwarf at bay the best he could. For a time, they struggled against one another, neither wanting to give ground to the other. But, the dwarf was the stronger of the two. Abad''s strength gave out, and the paladin''s next blow struck true.


    And the next.


    Again.


    And again.


    "Stop!" Someone shouted to their side. The fists didn''t stop.


    Abad tried to deflect the strikes, but he couldn''t keep up. Completely spent, he stopped struggling against the powerful dwarf and allowed him to land blow after blow without any resistance. Each punch knocked him back to his senses, replacing the confusion and hunger with white-hot pain. His lungs screamed as he began running out of air.


    "Firtz, stop!" Shani screamed. She was hobbling over to them.


    Firtz strained, something washed over him, and he stopped punching. He was panting heavily, his chest heaving from exertion. Sweat dripped from his brow. His face was twisted in rage. The arm against Abad''s throat dropped away, allowing air back into the elf''s lungs.


    Coughing for several moments, Abad caught his breath. He realized where he was. Remembered what had happened. Knew they had seem him. The real him. He began laughing a dark, bitter laugh. "Not too bad for an old timer. I felt that, dwarf." Abad choked the words out the best he could. His right eye had swollen shut. His lips were bleeding. Every part of him hurt. And he was tired. Utterly and completely tired.


    Firtz tried to strike him again, but Shani grabbed his arm.


    "Don''t..." He lowered his arm again.


    "What do we do?" A-Nis shambled over. She looked horrible. Half of her body was bruised, and thick dried blood covered the entire side of her head. Her shawl was wrapped around her neck, keeping her neck still. "We need to go. Now. More of those things could show up."


    "Not until we deal with this rotten bastard." Firtz had retrieved his axe and looked ready to use it. "He brought them here. Why else would trolls show up like this?"


    "Firtz, stop." Shani commanded.


    "No." Firtz'' face was pure rage.


    "You need to listen to me." Her face was set.


    "Why would I listen to you after that?!" Firtz roared. "He tried to kill you! If I hadn''t woken up, you''d be dead, and we''d be next! And how could he have known exactly where they were the whole damn time?" The dwarf kept the axe raised. "He''s been planning this since we met!"


    Shani kept her hand on his arm, keeping him from being able to strike. Her neck was raw. Clear bite marks decorated it, but blood wasn''t flowing from them any longer. "I saw him. Saw what he was. But he didn''t do this to us. Didn''t try to hurt us. He saved us, you idiot. He almost died fighting that thing! We''re alive because of him!"


    Firtz looked at her. She guided the dwarf''s arm down.


    "He wasn''t breathing, so I tried to help him." Her gaze fell upon Abad. Her eyes were sad. Disappointed. "I knew the tainted can recover if they drink blood, so I cut my finger." She held her finger up, revealing a healed slice through the pad. "That''s when he came to. When he... when he attacked me. I thought I could help him, but I was wrong, and I almost paid for it. But it''s over now. We have bigger fish to fry. Look around. Our supplies are gone. Look at our wounds. It''s not worth it."


    Firtz scowled. "It''s always worth it to cleanse the world of filth." But even as he said those words, he backed away. He paced back and forth in front of Abad, seething. Then, he turned to Shani. "If you''re sure."Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    "I am." She sounded resolute. "There are no good choices. He could be a threat. Maybe he did plan it all. I don''t know. It could have all been a game. But I watched him kill that thing. Kill many of them. I watched him nearly burn himself away to save us. I don''t think someone would go that far just to trick us. What could he possibly gain from it? I think he saved us, and he doesn''t deserve to be paid back with death, even if he''s..." she looked down at him again, taking in his true form with equal parts pity and sadness, "... not who we thought he was."


    Abad chuckled. "I thought I''d be able to hide it a while longer. I guess I failed." He sounded so bitter. Felt so bitter.


    The girl smiled a sad smile, "I''d say you failed spectacularly at that." She turned to face Firtz and A-Nis. "Please, I know you both want to do what you think''s right, but it wouldn''t sit well with me. I might be wrong, but I can''t believe he has any ill will toward us. I knew there was something off about him since we met, A-Nis and I both did, but he doesn''t deserve to die out here. Not after what he did for us." Her tone softened. "We can''t kill him today. It isn''t honorable."


    "Bah," Firtz huffed. He glanced between them both, clearly weighing whether or not he should argue further. "Alright lass, fine. We won''t end ''im, but I won''t travel with him either. Don''t trust his kind." The dwarf stomped a bit more, then added, "and we''re having words about this sooner rather than later, girl."


    "I don''t care." A-Nis said. "He killed the troll. It''s dead, we''re alive. If barely. Whether he''s tainted or not doesn''t matter to me. We''re alive now, and I''d like to stay that way. Even if we did fight, I''m in no shape to take him down anyways."


    "Great," Firtz growled. He walked off toward his belongings. "I''m grabbing my things. Get ready to head out."


    A-Nis turned, but Shani kept looking at him. She seemed like she wanted to say more.


    Before she could speak, he cut her off. "Some great hero, sparing a wicked monster like me." Abad laughed again. "The last great hero, Dark Father curse her name, didn''t give me the same luxury. In that small way, I suppose that makes you the better of you two." He spat blood out of his cracked lips. "But I''m alive, and she''s dead, so I suppose that makes me the ultimate victor." He glared into the girl''s blue eyes with his one good one. "And I''ll outlive you too. Every one of you."


    He saw her flinch, just as he intended, but she didn''t rise to the taunt, nor did she reply. Instead, she turned and joined Firtz in preparing to leave. As they did, he looked up at the night sky. It was changing from the black of night into the dark purple of dawn. Turning his eyes back to the trio, he watched as the they grabbed whatever was left. Most of it had burned away in his spell, and what remained was heavily damaged. Soon, though, they had gathered what they could and readied themselves.


    Shani walked back up to him. "Was any of it true? Did we ever know the real you? Or was it all just a lie?"


    "Does it matter?" He kept his good eye focused on her.


    She didn''t waver. "It does to me."


    Abad found he couldn''t hold the warrior''s steel gaze. "Yeah, most of it was true. I did fail at a spell. I didn''t know where I was. I am out of time. And I did enjoy traveling with you all, even if I''m just a monster to you." He turned to Firtz. "I told you the Goddess and I were at odds. I meant it, just not in the way you thought."


    The dwarf ground his teeth then spoke. "You''ve got a choice now, son. Find a better path." The dwarf turned away from him and began marching up the road. "Let''s go."


    He watched as the girls turned to follow. All of them were worse for wear, but Abad winced as he watched A-Nis. She could barely walk. She wouldn''t make it. And he shouldn''t care. He wanted to let them go. But he owed them for their help, for getting him back to civilization, and he hated feeling indebted. He tried to let it go, but he couldn''t.


    "Wait." He called out. Firtz didn''t stop moving, but the girls both turned. "I can help A-Nis. She won''t make the trip in her condition. We all know it. Call it payback from a man who hates to be indebted to others." He wobbled onto his feet and walked over to the bits of bone left from the large troll. "Come here for a moment."


    "We don''t need any of your black magic, devil."


    "Firtz... he''s helped us so far. If he does anything off, we''ll take him down. But he''s not wrong. A-Nis broke her neck, and your magic isn''t enough to fix her." She looked to Abad. "If you can help my sister, we''ll be forever grateful."


    A-Nis looked pained as she shuffled toward him. Every step was clear agony for the woman. She stopped just out of reach. "Can I trust you?"


    Abad looked her in the eye. "In this, yes."


    "Then do it."


    Abad reached down and picked up the largest bone from the ashes. It was charred and still smoking, and the marrow was scorched. Holding it in one hand, he took the final step toward her and reached out to her, placing his empty hands it on the elf''s neck.


    A-Nis hissed through her clenched jaw, pulling away slightly. Her eyes snapped open wide. "That hurts you bast¡ª"


    "Shush," Abad interrupted her. He reached into his spirit, or what was left of it.


    [Essence Transfer]


    He nearly passed out from the pain. He barely could draw on enough mana to cast the spell. There was nothing for a moment, then small motes of essence started floating out of the charred bone. They were faint, barely visible in the purple gloom of dawn. They floated up and into his body, restoring him slightly, but he willed as much of it as he could into her.


    "What is it? What''s he doing?" the dwarf asked. His curiosity had gotten the better of him.


    "I can pull the last of the life force out of this body and give it to her. It won''t heal her completely, but it''ll hopefully fix her up enough to get to town." As their connection opened up, her told her flatly, "This is going to hurt."


    She didn''t respond, but her blue eyes were filled with fear.


    "Brace yourself." He guided the troll''s essence into her broken bones. Several loud snaps and pops sounded from her neck, and she nearly dropped to the ground. Abad caught her just in time. He held her as he guided the rest of the monster''s energy into her body. Her spirit drank it hungrily.


    Tendons reattached. Muscles knitted back together. Fractured bones healed. She groaned as the essence did its work, and after several minutes, she was healed. At least more than she was.


    Once the pain subsided, she stood and tested her neck. She winced as she turned her head, but she could move it. "You could have warned me first."


    "I don''t think you would have done it had you known. But you''re tough. Most people would have passed out. My magic doesn''t feel soothing like priestly magic does." He smiled weakly at her. "You''ll be able to turn your head more after a few weeks or so. If Firtz can heal you more when he''s recovered, you might get there sooner, but I still wouldn''t overexert myself."


    Shani approached and took her sister onto her shoulder. Two sets of blue eyes met Abad''s. The warrior''s still had that sad look in them, but alongside the sadness was something else. He hadn''t seen it often in his life. It looked like gratitude. "Thank you."


    "Our debt''s paid now." He shuffled. "Get going. I''ll wait a few hours before I follow."


    She sighed. "Take care of yourself."


    Firtz walked up to him, standing less than two feet away, his arms crossed across is barrel chest. "We have no favors left between us, devil. Don''t let us see you again." The dwarf hooked his arm around A-Nis''s back, and together the three travelers walked away without looking back.


    Abad watched them leave.

 XX. Act Two Character Sheets

    Abad-Shai


    Shadowspawn Elf Warlock of the Mask


    Level VIII


    <hr>


    Elf


    ??¡î¡î¡î


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Fey Senses II] (Passive/Active, Reserve ?): Elves possess heightened perception, blending their superior physical senses with an innate connection to magic. You can see in the dark, hear acutely, and use mana to detect magic around you if you dedicate mana to this ability. At rank II, your physical and magical senses are more honed and precise.


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    The Mask


    ???¡î¡î


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Illusion Magic] (Passive): You have the ability to weave subtle deceptions, clouding perception and bending reality to your will. You can learn spells that create illusions, deceive the senses, and manipulate perceptions of the world around you.


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Mask of Many Faces] (2nd Circle, Active, Reserve ??): Due to being born under the sign of the Mask, you can dedicate a portion of your mana to change subtle elements of your appearance.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Shadowspawn


    ?????


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Dark One''s Shadow] (Passive): As an inheritor of the Dark One¡¯s essence, you are immortal and do not age past your prime. You also require less food, water, and air to survive, but you bear the marks of corruption upon your body.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Devour the Weak] (Passive): Damage you inflict heals a small amount of your life force. Your magic is particularly potent against beings that share your dark heritage.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Warlock


    ????¡î


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Summoning]: (Passive): You can call forth entities from other realms, who lend you their strength and skills. You can learn spells that summon, bind, and empower creatures and objects to serve and protect you.


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Familiar] (1st circle, Active, Reserve ?): As a warlock, you have permanently dedicated a portion of your mana to summon and bond with a mythical creature that serves as your familiar.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Blood Magic] (Passive): Your life force fuels your magic, allowing you to cast additional spells at the cost of health. You can learn spells that draw on blood and life energy to strengthen your casting.


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Essence Transfer] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?+?/?): The user can transfer a small amount of health or mana to or from a willing target.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Fire Magic] (Passive): You wield the essence of flame, strengthening your power over physical and spiritual fires and increasing your resistance to them. You can learn spells that summon, control, and unleash fire in its many forms.


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Burn the Weak] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?): You conjure a small, searing flame that can be thrown at creatures within sight, igniting and inflicting fire damage. This spell is especially effective against vulnerable or injured enemies, dealing additional damage to those already weakened.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    </ol>


    <ul>


    <li style="list-style-type: none"> </li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    EnhancementsYou could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Mana I] (Passive, Perk II): Increase your mana reserves by a small amount, allowing you to cast more spells.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Mana II] (Passive, Perk VIII): Increases your mana reserves by a a sizeable amount, allowing for greater spellcasting endurance and more complex incantations.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Potence I] (Passive, Perk IV): Increase the potency of your spells, increasing their range, power, and duration by a small amount.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Potence II] (Passive, Perk VI): Further amplifies the strength of your spells, making each cast more impactful and destructive. This enhancement also slightly reduces resistance to your spells, increasing the chance of bypassing defenses.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Titles


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Lord of Nothing]: Mockingly bestowed upon you by your former servant and ally Nocturne, you are marked as one who wanders lost, forgotten by both allies and enemies. You have lost everything and everyone you have ever known and will be forced to wander, struggling to claim anything, until you find the thing that you aren''t willing to sacrifice in your path to power.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Master of the Vault]: Bestowed upon you by the mighty Grimoire, last creation of the Archmage Aughra, this title marks you as a true keeper of lost knowledge and forgotten relics. You will always know in what direction your vault lies and the best path to get there, and you have a second sense for finding valuable items and equipment.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Eater]: Bestowed by the troll Graul, this title marks you as one who consumes what others would discard, taking strength from the remnants. When you consume the essence of an enemy, you gain a brief but potent surge of energy, temporarily enhancing your body, mind, and spirit, and sometimes catching glimpses of their final memories or emotions.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Quests


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Walk a Thousand Miles]: You have lost your sense of purpose, and the world is now a mystery to you. Travel the land and discover your path.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Power Lost, Power Gained]: You have lost your former power. Regain your former glory, that you may reclaim your place in this world.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Finders Keepers]: Your personal belongings have been stolen. Of them, your cloak, your scepter, and your spellbook are most precious to you. Take them back.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Equipment


    <ul>


    <li>[Traveler''s Spellbook]: A simple spellbook of middling quality. It has a strap, allowing the wielder to carry it with ease.


    </li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Achievements


    <ul>


    <li>[If You Only Had a Heart]: Through the ashes of your former glory, you have found a new source of power: compassion. By opening yourself to another''s suffering, you gain the ability to both give and take the essence that binds all living things.</li>


    <li>[Consume the Pain]: You have found the remnants of a tortured soul¡ªits body chained to a bed, its empty eyes seeming to plead for release. The corpses suffering lingers, trapped in the essence that lingers in its old bones. By consuming it, you grow stronger.</li>


    <li>[Make the Impossible Possible]: Only the daring reject common sense and drill their way to a greater tomorrow. For successfully casting a spell you were certain you won''t survive casting, you grow stronger.</li>


    <li>[Shards of the Dark Lord]: You have found and consumed a fragment of your progenitor''s power. Through his dark might, you grow stronger</li>


    <li>[The Hunted]: By using your senses to hunt those who would hunt you and your allies, you have honed your perception to a greater degree. You have honed your elven senses to a greater degree.</li>


    </ul>

 XXI. An Olive Branch

    He stood alone on the side of the road, watching the three adventurers limp away into the darkness. After a few minutes, they disappeared into the gloom. When they were gone, he simply watched the darkness for a time, having neither words nor thoughts. He stayed like that a while, then, with a massive sigh, he finally looked away.


    He didn''t regret anything. He had proven his strength, and he had saved them. Likewise, this wasn''t an unexpected outcome, really. He knew from the second he decided against killing them that their time together was limited. Mortals and monsters like him didn''t mix. There was never any world where it would have worked out between them. At best, they were a means to an end. At worst, they were a threat in the making.


    Still, he had enjoyed their company.


    Turning away from the direction they disappeared, he looked toward the remains of the battle. The trolls were incinerated. Hardly anything remained of them. The ground was charred, and thin sheets of obsidian covered the earth in patches. Several of the trees were still smoking, and most of the bushes had burned away. No grass or leaves had survived in a thirty-foot circle around where he had stood when he cast his spell. He smirked at everything he saw. He had tasted his former power, and it was delicious.


    Hearing a creaking in the woods, his entire body tensed. He whipped his head around, which made his head spin violently. Steadying himself, he searched the area. He couldn''t handle another fight right now. He hoped the spell he had pulled out of the void would make any other trolls in the area think twice about pursuing them, if there were any left. Luckily, the sound was only a bough of one tree scraping against another. He relaxed.


    And his muscles relaxing allowed him to feel how fatigued he actually was. He was completely spent. Searching around, he found a comfortable-looking stump just outside of the blackened ring of earth. Finding nothing better to rest on, he limped over to it and sat down. And, for a time, he did nothing much at all. He listened to the sounds of the forest. There were crickets and some sort of whooping bird deep in the trees. Without thinking, he tried to reach out with his senses, hoping he could find any lingering or lurking threats, but a wave of nausea washed over him. He gave up on the thought immediately and simply used his ears. He didn''t hear anything besides the sounds of forest.


    Using the calm to focus, he began to meditate. He cleared his head for some time before he focused inward. It took quite a bit longer to focus than usual, but slowly, he felt his consciousness descend into his spirit. He winced at what he felt. His spirit body was in tatters. He could feel mana leaking out of gaping holes in the tapestry of his soul. It wasn''t completely torn through, likely due to the blood he took from Shani, but his spirit felt as bad as his body did. He would have to avoid using any essence for some time.


    Before returning to his physical body, he searched for the sigil of the spell he cast in his fight against the troll. He found it at the very edge of his spirit. It was completely ruined. He likely had burned the spell out by casting it the way he did. Spells sigils could only handle so much, and despite being a sixth circle spell, his offering of his entire being to the magical construct must have stretched it to its limit. He felt its loss deeply. He had spent two years perfecting that spell. He had specifically designed it to burn away his enemies if he ever got ambushed.


    In truth, he was surprised he had been able to recover it from the darkness beyond his spirit at all. It was far beyond his current skills. He supposed that his willingness to die and the burning of his spirit had allowed him to push beyond his limits. Without Shani''s blood, he would have certainly died. Even with it, he was shocked he was in as good of shape as he was. He''d have to think on it later and figure out how. Since she was still alive, he couldn''t have drank that much of her essence, certainly not enough to be moving. But he was.


    He returned his senses to his body, and the crushing weight of fatigue hit him. Looking around, he felt the near-silence weigh upon him. He had always had minions and allies by his side. However, in this moment, all that was left was him.


    It was only him.


    As he thought, he unconsciously fiddled with the troll bone he had used to heal A-Nis. Looking down at it, he noticed he could feel a soft nagging sensation pulling at him from within it. It dawned on him that there was something left in the charred bone in his hand, something that hadn''t flowed into A-Nis. Gently reaching out with his senses, careful not to pull on too much mana, he could feel a small mote of black inside the bones. Gently, he coaxed it into his spirit. The act pushed him closer to unconsciousness, but he welcomed it in anyways. He had nothing left to lose.


    When the dark mote entered him, his stomach knotted. His scroll burned with black words.


    <hr>


    [You Are Strongest]: By dredging up forgotten abilities from your past life, you were able to defeat Graul the troll, a creature far stronger than you and absorbed his dark essence. In being willing to sacrifice everything, you have grown stronger.


    You learn the [Embrace of the Abyss] Shadowspawn talent.


    [Embrace of the Abyss] (Passive): Darkness and shadows strengthen you. When in darkness or shadow, you gain a moderate increase to your physical abilities equal to one rank of any enhancement, and existing enhancements grow one rank stronger. You also become more difficult to detect with both physical and magical senses as long as you¡¯re in darkness, stacking with ranks of the [Stealth] enhancement.


    You reach level IX


    <hr>


    Taking everything he could from it, he let the bone drop from his fingers. It crumbled away when it hit the ground. Looking down at his arms, he saw that they were cracked and scarred above his bracers. Clear fluid wept from under them, but a quick attempt at pulling them off revealed that his skin had fused to the metal. Only then did he realize his ring was gone as well, with only a thin blister marking where it had rested on his finger. His pants had half burned away, and other than his boots, his outfit was gone.


    Feeling its loss deeply, he looked over toward where he had thrown his pack down before the battle, but all that was left of it were its metal buckles, the dagger Selene had left for him, his now scorched spell book, and a soot stain that used to be his pack.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    And clothes.


    The good ones from his vault.


    All of them.


    With a groan, he collapsed onto the grassy bank where he sat, willing himself to drift off to sleep. Sleep didn''t come. He lay there for some time, watching the clouds roll past overhead as dawn approached. A light breeze blew over him, carrying away the stench of ashes and smoke that hung in the air. He wanted nothing more than to fall asleep now, but his mind wouldn''t allow it. So instead, he sat there, listening to the wind and the insects and the birds, wishing his mind would empty.


    He wondered about what he would do next. Where was he going? What was he supposed to do? What did he want to do? He''d spent countless hours plotting revenge in his little coffin. He chuckled to himself as he remembered how frustrated he''d been in his little stone prison. He had gone over every single detail of his future return to the world over and over again. Seethed and gnashed like an impotent shadow at past slights. Plotted and planned his revenge again and again on the ones who put him in that sorry state, and against the ones who never came to assist him. Against everyone, really.


    But there was no revenge to be had. It had been five hundred years. If anyone was left, and that was a big if, they would have lived lifetimes. They would have seen the death of a past age and the birth of a new one. They would have experienced and seen much while he was locked away in the Depths, forgotten. Would the petty squabbles of a distant past even matter anymore? Did any of his peers and allies even still exist? Immortality didn''t mean they couldn''t be slain. And from what he learned, most were sealed away or forgotten. Perhaps they got to experience a taste of what he did in the end?


    He sighed. His throat rattled as he did. More than anything, he was exhausted. And he was weak. Barely could kill some trolls. He had no allies. No power. He was worse off now than he was when he first died. Worse even than being locked in his vault. At least then he knew how he fit into the world. He knew what the future would bring. Now he was lost.


    He was nothing.


    The tower''s light peeked out through the leaves of the trees, casting red-gold rays through the scattered clouds. Time had passed as he brooded, and the coolness of dawn burned away into the warmth of morning.


    Laying there, he let his mind wander as he waited for sleep to take him, and when it finally arrived, he embraced it eagerly.


    ***


    He awoke several hours later to the sounds of voices. He stirred and yawned. Sitting upright, he rubbed his sore muscles. Sleeping on the hard ground for days on end had taken its toll, leaving every one of his limbs stiff and protesting. While much of it had leaked through the holes in his spirit, his mana had regenerated somewhat while he slept, enough to cast his disguise, which thankfully used very little mana. The nausea returned, but he swallowed it down. As it did, he saw a mid-sized cart crest the gentle slope that the three adventurers had disappeared down.


    Driving the cart was a woman, maybe twenty five, with fair freckled skin and the clothes of a trader of moderate wealth covering her frame. Her long sandy blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail. Two men sat on top of crates on the cart bed behind her. Both of the men looked similar enough to her that it was clear they were related. The men were laughing and chatting away as they drank what looked like ales from glass bottles, while the woman was looking in his direction.


    "Hey there!" One of the men shouted in Abad''s direction, "We heard you needed a ride!"


    "Yeah! Hop on!" called the other man slurred, waving his bottle at the warlock.


    The woman steered her oxen with skill, their movements perfectly controlled by their master. Abad stood up and waited for them to approach. A few moments later, the woman pulled the cart up and spoke to him. "Hey, are you Abad-Shai?"


    "The one and the same." Abad croaked.


    "My caravan ran into some travelers on the road a while back. They seemed pretty torn up, so we scooped them up. One of the elf girls was pretty insistent there was someone out here that needed to be picked up too, so I told them I''d take care of it since we were already on the way out here. You''re lucky too; we don''t come out this far often. The dwarf seemed grumpy about it, but I''m getting paid, so here I am. And by the looks of it, you''re not better off than them." The girl grinned. She had the wide smile, easy friendliness, and gleam in her eye of a shrewd trader.


    "I appreciate it." He gave silent thanks to Shani, who undoubtedly had been the one to extend this final olive branch to a poor sinner like him. The woman in the cart leaned over and opened the door to the cart''s driving bench. When she leaned over, Abad noticed a marking on her neck. A brand. It looked like a bird''s outstretched talons. It reminded him of the markings that used to be used by slave traders in his time. Like the brands he had burned onto others countless times. He wondered what it meant now.


    He reached up and grabbed the wooden cart''s siding, but he didn''t have the energy to pull himself up. Seeing him struggle, one of the two men jumped off the back of the cart and helped Abad climb up onto the wooden seat. When he was seated comfortably and the door was shut, the driver clucked her tongue, whistled sharply, and the cart jerked forward.


    After they had turned around, she introduced herself as Keila. The men were Rhys and Serus. They were all three siblings, with her being the eldest. The two men were twins. There was a comfortable rapport between the three, but the men seemed to constantly fuss and argue. One, Rhys, was more crass and outgoing. Serus was more serious and calm, if only barely. Abad chuckled at first over their antics, but after a while, their drunken bickering became grating. He''d get over it, though. Anything was better than walking right now.


    He made idle chitchat with them for a time, but eventually a comfortable silence fell on the group. One of the men had began snoring in the back, and the other was nodding off. The woman spoke after the second brother began snoring. "So, what happened back there? It looked like something went down on the road. We don''t usually see that sort of damage except from raiders, but raiders typically avoid the old kingdom roads. Too risky."


    Abad shrugged. He really didn''t want to talk about it, but he didn''t feel like he could keep quiet forever, especially since the woman had gone out of her way to retrieve him. "Some trolls attacked us on the road. Big, ugly things. Don''t remember much beyond that, except my magic went pretty haywire. Ended up burning everything up, but we survived."


    Keila sucked in her breath through clenched teeth. "Damn." She eyed him up and down, something passing behind them. "That''s some bad luck right there. Trolls aren''t too common around here."


    "Yeah." She didn''t seem too surprised by a troll attack. "Have you heard of other troll attacks in the area?"


    "Sometimes. We came from Wysten in the north, and there were some sightings out that way a few weeks ago. The guards had to fight off a lone scout, and some adventurers had a run in with a group of them a while later. Took one of them down, so the guards have been on alert ever since."


    Abad nodded. Even one troll would be tough for the average person.


    "I wonder if it was the same troupe. Those things can travel fast and far from what I hear." Rhys had awoken and was opening another bottle.


    "Who knows?" Abad looked back at the man. He was taking a long pull of the drink. "Mind if I have a drink? I''m parched."


    Rhys grinned broadly, reached into the crate he was sitting on, and handed him an unopened bottle. "To better days." He clinked Abad''s beer.


    "Hey, grab me one too." Serus yawned.


    "Coming right up!"


    Abad pulled the cork out, smelled the ale, and drank heartily.


    It was pretty good.

 XXII. The Road Ahead

    They made good time as they rolled down the road. Keila had some skill that strengthened the oxen, so they didn''t tire easily, making it so they didn''t have to stop often. She was pushing them hard since she said she wanted to catch back up with the caravan before reaching Farnfoss, but her brothers both took bets that they wouldn''t. The brothers asked Abad to join in on their bet. Seeing her talent, he told them his money, if he had any, was on their sister. The two chuckled, saying she had already set her talons into the elf and that he should watch out. She waved them off and flicked the reigns. Looking her over, he admitted to himself that the woman was attractive, with the freckled skin and athletic build of someone who traveled often.


    They had gotten to speaking about romantic conquests at one point in the afternoon. The woman was largely unashamed of herself and shared her tastes and preferences openly, causing her brothers to chime in with their own exploits. While she was more open than most women, the men¡ªespecially Rhys, from this claims at least¡ªwere doubly so. Apparently, he had a taste for the lower things in life, and brothels were one of his favorite pastimes. From their stories, they had established a bet early on in their relationship about who could "bag" the most bodies, and Rhys had won it handily. Abad noticed Serus had a gleam in his eye when his brother told their story but thought little of it.


    Keila had gone about describing her preferred type at one point during their conversations. From her descriptions, Abad was it. At least his disguise was. He wondered to himself what the harm would be. While he didn''t want anything tying him down, he couldn''t deny it would be fun to shake off the centuries-long rust with an eager partner.


    When he was less exhausted, he''d think about it more. In the meantime, they fell into comfortable conversation, talking about anything and everything and nothing at all.


    While he wanted to win their little wager, he hoped deep down that he was wrong. He really didn''t want to catch up to the others and especially didn''t want to see the dwarf again. The man''s axe flashed in his mind. He was certain Firtz would have used it had Shani not been there. He also felt like he owed another debt to Shani, and he hated debts. At least ones that weren''t in his favor. It frustrated him that he wouldn''t have an opportunity to resolve it.


    At one point in the mid-afternoon, Keila steered the wagon down a side road, and after a couple of hours, they came to a small wooden hut. The men unloaded several long boxes into it, then came back with a large money box and returned to the back of the cart. When asked, they explained that their patron, a man named Bolton, used these huts to trade with hunters and other people who lived in the Wilds. They explained this hut was much further out than their usual route, but the purchaser apparently paid very well, so there they were. It was a lucky chance that they had run into the others.


    They doubled back around, and by the time they hit the main road again, it was dusk.


    When nightfall came, Keila reached into one of the smaller crates on the back of the cart and withdrew several items. She handed them to Abad then. They were worn clothes, a blanket, and a small tarp. "Take these. They''re not worth much, but we can''t have you going around like that now can we?" She eyed him up and down like a vulture looking for food. "As much as it pains me to admit it. You''re not bad on the eyes."


    He grinned at her comment. He found her frankness refreshing. "Perhaps when we have some private time, I''ll let you see more. Trust me when I say you haven''t seen anything yet," he smirked at her, watching a grin spread across her face. He felt something forgotten in him stir. She would be a welcome distraction if things continued this way.


    "Get some sleep, big boy. You''re not going to be able to do much of anything if those bags under your eyes get any worse." She sauntered past him and patted his chest.


    He nodded, realizing for the first time how truly exhausted he actually was. "Yes ma''am."


    "Good boy." She smirked and pushed him off.


    He thought he''d stay up a while and read the spellbook he had found, which had just barely survived the fires due to some simple protection enchantments and the fact it got torn away from him during the fight. However, once he set up his little bed on the ground next to the fire, he fell asleep before they had even finished making dinner.


    ***


    The second day went much the same. They ate breakfast, broke down their camp, and made great time. While Abad had figured their little detour the day before had cost him his wager, the brothers started grumbling that they might actually lose their bet by midday, which made Keila grin like a madwoman. She bore down on her oxen even more, spurring them on. They continued this way until mid-afternoon, when they came to a crossroads. Abad had been asking about the region, wanting to learn as much as he could from the well-traveled woman, and to her credit, she had done her best to teach him everything she knew about the area, which was a considerable amount.


    As they reached the crossroads, she slowed the oxen and spoke. "This is where we found your friends yesterday."


    Abad was impressed. They had made considerable distance in the hours after they had split. The dwarf likely hadn''t let them rest, sputtering and grumbling the whole time as they marched. Abad could see it clearly.


    She pointed to the road on the right, which he learned was to the north. "This road is called the Old King''s Road. It connects Evron, Nolei, and Malrith. North brings you to Wysten, and past that''s Carlen. Go even further, and you''re out of Nolei and in Evron." She gestured south. "That way''s Malrith. There''s not a whole lot out that way. A small town called Lyrine, then nothing but tiny villages and hamlets, and a whole lot of castaways and hunters. Lots of wild Beastkin. Not a lot of merchants go that way. The roads are too rough, and there aren''t enough people keeping the monsters and bandits in check. Too many shadowfiends and darklings out that way too. And once you reach the wall, you hit the Mirewood Swamp, which covers most of the area around the Tower of Water, and there''s bad stuff in those waters from the rumors. I don''t recommend it."


    "How common are those monsters? Shadowfiends? Darklings? I''ve never heard of them." Abad asked as he lay down on some crates in the back of the cart, looking up into the sky as clouds floated high above. Some of the monsters, like trolls and ogres, he knew, but others he had no knowledge of. They might have been new names for old things, but they could very well be new things as well. He couldn''t know for sure until he saw them himself.


    "Not very. They mostly stick to the reaches, near the walls. Since the towers are weakening, the mist doesn''t seem to get picked up and sent back to the Great Tower anymore. Mist isn''t that thick out here, but things happen and monsters form. Plus, there are old beasts from the Wilds that sneak in, so it''s best to steer clear. There''s plenty of strong stuff in the Waelds and Crownlands, but the population is high there too, so most of the scary stuff gets put down fast. There''s not much population out here, so monsters tend to stick around a while."If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    From her description, mist likely was the word people used these days for ambient mana. Mana that was allowed to go stagnant often took on a life of its own, so it was important to store it in mana crystals before it did. The Tower of the Sun also collected and burned it to create the light that bathed Elysium. It was interesting to him that mana wasn''t being recycled by the towers anymore. Did that mean the Goddess''s land was failing?


    Rhys chimed in from the bench. The man had needed a break from his brother, so he and Abad switched spots. "Plus, we''re on the way to the darker months, so it''s natural there are more monsters. Will be until Darkfall."


    "Darker months?" There had been no darker months in the past. The towers had always been the same, day after day. Only the moon crossing the sky ever changed. "What do you mean?"


    "Yeah, you know, when the Great Tower gets dark?"


    "I don''t understand."


    "The yearly cycle? Gets dark, then people bring their offerings to the capital. When enough fragments are offered, the great orb springs back to life. The Goddess forgives our wickedness or some such nonsense. Damn, where''ve you been living? This is basic stuff."


    Locked in a coffin for five hundred years."Sequestered away in study for many years. Didn''t have time to get out much." There was so much about the fifth age that he didn''t understand.


    "I''d guess so. Never heard that accent before, and you don''t know anything. Must''ve been pretty far away from civilization if you''re missing this much information. Gonna have to teach you to walk next, I think." Rhys slapped his shoulder. "And Keila here definitely has some things she wants to teach you."


    Serus chuckled when Keila smacked Rhys.


    "Better me than the whores you''re always going on about when we get to each town!" She shouted at her brother.


    "Hey now, those are very fine ladies."


    "Even Liara?"


    "Oh, especially Liara."


    "Well, I for one think that Abad is very educated and interesting, unlike you unschooled drunks."


    "Hey now, that''s uncalled for! we are not unschooled!" Serus laughed, grabbing two beers out of what they lovingly called the beer crate.


    "Switch up, elfie. Serus is calling me." Rhys was already climbing over the bench.


    ***


    The third day went much the same as the other two, except Keila was even more determined to catch the rest of the caravan after some tracks in the road told her they weren''t far. However, dusk began to fall before they caught up, so Keila decided they''d have to make camp since the oxen were tired and they were still a day out from Farnfoss.


    As the sky grew darker, the brothers suggested they go out for firewood, so he joined them. They fanned out, looking for the best pieces to burn in the thick brush. However, there wasn''t much usable wood in the area. Everything was either wet or green. It seemed like the spot had been picked clean, which made sense since the road was fairly heavily traveled. Before long, darkness settled upon them, making visibility low, at least for the humans.


    Eventually, he found a few serviceable boughs, but when he gathered them up in his arms, the skin under his bracers screamed at him. He gritted his teeth through the pain and managed to hold his load, if just barely. Turning back toward the wagon, he froze.


    The little boy they had rescued was standing in front of him, a wide lopsided smile on his face.


    "Boy... how did you get here?" Abad asked cautiously, not daring to make a move. He hadn''t heard the boy. Hadn''t sensed anything at all.


    The boy stared at him. "I followed."


    Abad looked him over. He seemed healthy, but he was off somehow. The boy cocked his head to the side a little too far. On his neck, he could see a mark. It was glowing.


    "I''m sure you were scared. You made it very far." Abad didn''t dare move. There was no way the child could have come so far on his own. He began to call pull on his mana, but his spirit wasn''t even close to mended. He couldn''t cast anything.


    "Oh, I wasn''t worried. Not one bit."


    His head twisted to the side more. He began giggling louder and louder until, all at once, it stopped. The boy''s head shot back, a loud crack sounded from his neck, and his body stood at an unnatural angle. A soft gurgling escaped his throat, then he doubled over, vomiting a spray of black ooze from his mouth. Abad took several steps back and cast out his senses, but he still couldn''t feel anything at all.


    The boy shot back up, eyes toward the sky, and more black liquid began bubbling out of his mouth. His body began jerking, and a choking, crunching noise escaped his lips. His mouth began to widen more and more, distending obscenely until his jaw cracked. His lips split, and black liquid dripped from his ruined mouth. His tongue wriggled obscenely, spraying bile and drool everywhere. The boy''s eyes rolled wildly within their sockets. His rib cage expanded, and with sickening cracks, one, two, three ribs popped in his slender torso.


    Then, the skin of his neck split, and something inside of the child began to crawl its way out of his mouth.


    The boy''s mouth spit out tendrils of putrid ooze, which hissed as it landed on leaves and grass. His skin began bubbling and splitting, releasing steamy clouds of foul-smelling gas. Stretched to its limit, the last of his ribs cracked, and his torso expanded, tearing open his abdomen. Blackened organs spilled forth, followed by gallons of vile pus.


    A smooth black creature fell to the ground then, hissing and chittering in the leaves. It writhed as it struggled to stand up, it''s legs wobbling unsteadily as it did. Then, four eyes, like a cat''s, opened and bored into Abad''s soul.


    Abad had seldom known fear in his life. At that moment, he was afraid.


    The creature cocked its head and considered him for a moment. Then, it dove into the boy''s remains. Slurping and tearing followed as it devoured them.


    Abad threw the sticks in his hands at the creature and ran as fast as he could. A moment later, he erupted into the small firelight that Keila was carefully tending. She shot up onto her feet, and her brothers both appeared a second later. Each of them held something different. A stick. A sword. A beer bottle.


    "What? Are you okay? Keila rushed to him.


    "Monster!" He cried, placing himself in front of her as he turned to face the forest. He scanned with every sense known to him. But nothing came. After a few moments, the three siblings relaxed.


    "Calm down. What''s wrong?" She lowered her small sword.


    "The boy turned into a monster! We have to leave, damn it!" Without waiting for her response, Abad pulled Selene''s dagger out and held it in front of himself, pointing it at every noise of the forest. But still, nothing came. There was no sound. No creature. No essence. Nothing.


    The woman and her brothers stared at him, incredulous. She sheathed her sword and put something she had retrieved from her belt pouch back, then patted his shoulder.


    "It''s okay. You''ve been through a lot. Why don''t you sit down for a while? Food''s going to be ready soon."


    "...Been hitting the dust, I think."


    "...No wonder the others left him."


    Keila gave her brothers a sharp look, then turned back to Abad. "Just settle down for the night. Get some rest. You''ve been through a lot. You''ll feel better tomorrow." She patted his shoulder. "We may not look it, but we can take care of ourselves."


    He was still panting heavily, sweat pouring down his forehead. Every nerve felt on edge. He knew what he saw.


    She sat back down and continued making their dinner. Before long, the brothers came back with more kindling and started tending to the cart and oxen.


    Abad continued to search for any indication that what he had seen was real, but there was nothing. Nothing. After a while, once he had eaten and calmed down, he walked back to where he had seen the boy, finally accepting that what he saw might have really been a phantom of his own making. Still nothing. No corpse. No ooze. Just a normal forest floor.


    He shivered.


    After scanning the trees around him one last time, he began picking up the logs he had thrown down.


    And there, under all of the sticks and branches, was something in the dirt. It was small and whitish. Digging into the ground, he picked it up with his fingers. It was smooth except for one side, which was sharp and jagged. Rolling the small object in his palm, he couldn''t quite see what it was in the dark. He carried the object back to the campfire and looked at it in the firelight. Pouring a little water on it to clean it off, his breath caught.


    It was a child''s tooth.

 XXIII. Claimed

    He woke up feeling groggy and drained. His muscles ached terribly from sleeping on the hard ground for what had now been almost two weeks. Every breath hurt slightly, but at least he supposed he was grateful he was able to breathe. He shuddered as he imagined being back in his coffin. Stumbling upright, he saw the trio had already pulled themselves up into the cart and were quietly eating breakfast. He wandered over to the cart and opened the door, climbing into the seat.


    "Well?" Serus asked. "Feeling better this morning?"


    "Yeah, you damn bastard! You scared us all half to death with your little stunt last night." Rhys shouted, but a sharp look from Keila quieted him down fast. "What the hell happened, anyway? Looked like you saw a ghost."


    Abad fished into his pocket and pulled out the object he found out. Holding it up in the morning light, he waited for them to take it in before speaking. "It was a tooth," Abad said, tossing the small white thing at Rhys. The man caught it with his meaty fist, then unwrapped his fingers. Looking between the tooth and Abad several times, his face blanched.


    "Gross." He held the tooth like it was something poisonous and tried to give it back to Abad, but the warlock didn''t extend his hand to take it back. After a moment, Rhys threw it at him.


    "So you say it came out of a monster?" The question came from Keila.


    "Yes. We met a boy in the wreckage of the wagons we found, where you all met me. We kept him near us until the troll attack, but we told him to run off once there was an opening. I didn''t know if he had been found and picked up by the others, but I think it''s safe to assume he didn''t. That''s what I saw last night. The boy. Something... tore out of him. Split him open like a rotten fruit." The words sounded insane even as he spoke them. He knew of no magic that could do such a thing. But it was the truth. The tooth was evidence of that.


    Abad glared at the brothers, daring them to challenge him. The woman watched the unspoken challenge with a light smile on her face, nibbling her breakfast as she did. Serus broke first, shrugging his shoulders and returning to eating.


    "The others did tell us about a boy the morning we found them. Told us to keep an eye out for him. Seems like something got him. Sad." He scooped a healthy bite of porridge into his mouth, relatively unperturbed for a man who just heard a child had split open feet from their camp last night.


    "Do things like that happen a lot around here?" Abad asked, wondering if this new world he found himself in had been overrun with monsters like that. Ones that hadn''t existed back in his time.


    "Not much that I know of. But you hear things traveling like we do. Some cultists bring back horrors on special nights. Thankfully, word is that hasn''t happened in years. Trolls in the forest aren''t unheard of, and I''ve heard rumors of darklings in caves further north, out in Evron. Gloomfangs are everywhere near the wall. Other than that, probably the most dangerous things you''ll encounter on the road are bandits. They''re the scariest thing out there for the most part." Rhys had finished his meal and was strapping down the oxen as he spoke.


    Keila''s eyes had dropped to her near-empty bowl. She was stirring around the last of her porridge. "Shame about the boy."


    "Yeah, it is. Can''t save ''em all though. We''ve got enough on our plate, being claimed and all."


    Claimed? "What does that mean?"


    "You really don''t know anything, do you? Claimed means we''re owned by someone else. Someone rich and with a class. He gets our money and loyalty, and we get protection and resources in exchange. We don''t starve to death on the streets because of our master. He makes sure we don''t end up dead or robbed by brigands, because his profit goes up if we''re doing well. Plus, the fact that we get a portion of profits incentivizes us to sell more." Serus had jumped down and helped his brother with a stubborn harness.


    "What about the brand? Does that indicate who owns you?"


    Keila shot a glance back. "It tells the guards whose cut they need to pass along. Each region has different laws and taxes. Keeps things organized, at least until a few years ago." She shook her head, "Times are tough."


    Abad didn''t quite understand everything that she said, but it sounded like slavery. "So, slaves?"


    The three laughed. "Yeah, pretty much. We were orphaned young. It was either the mines for us and the brothels for Keila or being claimed. Wasn''t a difficult choice to make. And besides, the man claiming us is very wealthy and always treats his vassals well, as long as we do what he asks. Gives us fair wages, and we don''t live under constant threat of punishment. Plus, he even invests some of his essence in us. Makes us faster, stronger, tougher¡ªworth more as assets that way. We wouldn''t be half as strong without him." Serus smiled as he spoke. He obviously held deep affection for his master, despite being, as Abad put it, a slave.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    Abad chewed on this information, turning it over and over again in his mind as they resumed their travels.


    ***


    The next morning, they ate and arrived at the ferry. A dozen wagons lined up before them. Keila called out to another driver, who answered and waved.


    "Guess we owe you, sis. You actually pulled it off."


    "Goddamn right you do. Told you I''d catch up." She placed her hands on her hips and grinned. She loved winning.


    "Yeah, yeah." Her brothers mumbled in unison. Both of them fished out bags and handed them to her.


    A guard, dressed in some worn mail and holding a halberd, walked up to the cart, greeted her, then checked some papers she handed him before handing them back a moment later. "Nice to see you, Keila." the man shifted his halberd awkwardly. "You look... good. Well." He shuffled awkwardly. The man was younger, about the same age as Keila as far as Abad could tell. He noticed the man avoided her eyes as he spoke.


    "And nice to see you Gregor. You been well?" She was equally stiff.


    "Yes, very. Kids are gettin'' big now." He smiled. "Want to see a picture? Got one of those fancy ones done up a while back by a traveling mage." His eyes sparkled, and he finally looked at her.


    "Not really."


    "Yeah, okay." He deflated. One of the brothers snickered. "Well, have a good trip across. We''re pretty backed up right now. Everyone''s heading inland with Darkfall approaching. Be patient, ''kay?"


    "Tell Shari I say hi." Keila turned away from him, ending the conversation. The man meandered off, back toward the ferry.


    Abad asked the question with his eyes when Keila looked back up. Rhys answered it.


    "Keila used to be sweet on him when we were younger. Always got excited to come to Farfoss. Little man promised the world, but he didn''t want to move away from his aging parents, least that''s what he said. Turns out, he didn''t love our dear sweet sister enough to not make kids with someone''s else''s sister instead." He chuckled as Keila''s face grew red.


    Serus smacked his brother. "Be nice. She was torn up something fierce. Fought us tooth and nail for months. Don''t rock the boat, man." He placed a hand on Keila''s shoulder. "Don''t listen to him."


    She set her jaw. "Well, I''m over all that now. It''s just me, my two idiot brothers, and the road now."


    Abad grinned at them, then contributed. "We all have a past." He tried to make himself seem approachable, even if most his past were almost certainly dust and bone by now. "Part of life. We come together for a time, enjoy one another, then we part. One way or another."


    Keila glanced at him sideways and lifted a brow, then smirked. "You might be onto something there." She looked forward. "I hope you''ve got good memories because mine all taste bitter."


    "I have nothing but bitter memories." Abad frowned. He hadn''t meant to say that. It just came out.


    Serus nudged him, and Abad realized the girl was searching for something on his face. Their eyes met. She was pretty, something he had thought many times as they traveled. Her blue eyes bored into him, looking for something that he couldn''t place. He simply shrugged at the woman and said, "it''s a long story."


    "We''ve got time now." She smirked, noticing him evaluating her, then leaned back. "Want to talk about it?"


    Abad spent the next hour relaying stories from his past to the siblings. He changed every story so that it revealed little, but it was enjoyable to talk about the past with them. The longer they talked, the more alive he felt. At least he did until the story about the Night of Red Flames. His mood soured immediately.


    "Woah woah woah, you weren''t involved in that shit, were ya?" Rhys looked him over.


    He had forgotten how long ago that night was.


    "It... It''s complicated." He had said enough.


    "You''re a geezer! Goddess''s shining ass, no one would guess you were that old. You barely look thirty, or whatever age that is in elf time."


    "Wow..." Keila whispered. "You''ve seen a lot."


    Serus nudged him. "Looks like you won her over, old man."


    Rhys chimed in, "He''s right. Women like mysterious, tortured men with sad pasts. You''re nailing it!"


    Keila scoffed, smacked them both, and shook her head. She blushed furiously, with even the tips of her ears turning red.


    ***


    They grew bored and quiet as the ferrymen did their work. The brothers cracked open some beers, and even Keila took one, saying it would be a while anyways, so she might as well have some fun too. After several hours, the ferry returned for what had to have been the tenth time, and another carriage boarded. The wagon was loaded sideways, allowing him to see a few figures through its windows.


    He tensed.


    Inside the wagon, a figure shifted. The woman''s black hair shined as it caught the afternoon light. She looked bored watching the ferrymen tie the wagon down. She sat stiffly by the window of the carriage, and just visible behind her were her two companions. It was them. They seemed to move and talk as if nothing had happened to them days before. Firtz healing likely had patched them up by now. Abad wanted to avoid confrontation altogether, especially given the dwarf''s final words to him, so he tried to duck a little into the cart''s bench, but it was no use. As the ferryman called to one another, readying the ferry for launch, she looked up.


    For a moment, their eyes locked. He knew it. So did she. Neither did anything. They simply observed one another silently. Firtz'' head popped into view. Shani turned her head, and the two chatted and talked. A moment later, she looked back at him. Her blue eyes sparkled, catching the afternoon light as it danced across the river''s surface. They reminded him of Angra''s golden eyes, not in color but how they sparkled. He missed the little imp.


    Just as the ferry began to launch, Shani nodded to him, then turned to the others as the ferry floated away. He watched as the wagon made its way across the river, never looking away until it landed on the other side.


    Keila noticed and looked at him with questions dancing behind her eyes.


    Abad shifted in his seat, "Let''s just say there''s been bad blood between us, and it isn''t resolved yet." He thought a moment, then added, "It won''t be resolved."


    "One of those bitter memories?" Keila asked softly.


    "Yeah, one of those bitter memories."

 XXIV. A Brief Respite

    When night fell, a different guard approached them and told them the ferrymen were taking off for the evening. They had made it far in the line, being three away from heading over the river, but this would be it for the night. The entire cart groaned.


    The guys hopped off the back of the cart and began setting up a small camp, while Keila hopped down to tend to the oxen. Abad, having nothing to do, decided to head down to the river to clean himself up. He hadn''t been so disgusting in a very long time. Grabbing the small sack that Keila had given him to replace his ruined pack, he wandered down to the riverbank and quickly found a private spot, just past the bend, where the river was shallow and calm enough to clean himself up. Stripping off the clothes that Keila had given him, he walked down to the water and finally made an effort to peel off the bracers he had worn since he left the vault.


    His skin was red and blistered all around the metal bands. As he carefully tried to pry them off, the bronze stuck to his skin. After some gentle working, the metal began to peel away, but some of his skin peeled away with it, revealing oozing flesh beneath. He hissed at the sudden pain as they finally wrenched free. Giving himself a minute to recover, he set the bracers to the side and took careful note of his wounds. While red and weeping, they weren''t overly inflamed, and there were no signs of infection. He felt a wave of relief.


    After several minutes of washing his wounds, he picked his bracers back up. They were blackened and charred on the outside. Turning them over, he noted that the sigils and runes that were engraved on the inside had faded completely. Looking down at his arms, he realized that the runes had been burned onto his skin. However, besides being interesting, he didn''t think much of it. A wave of disappointment hit him. The bracers had become junk. They weren''t particularly strong or worth much, but they were one of the only things left from his old life.


    Sighing, he threw them down into the mud.


    Giving himself a few minutes to indulge in self-pity, he finally recovered and decided he''d try something out. He stretched out his arms and pulled out a small amount mana from his spirit, careful not to draw very much from his tattered inner self. Forcing the mana into the runes decorating his skin, he was surprised to see the runes shimmer for a brief moment before going dim again. He had heard of tattoos being used to enchant people''s bodies, but he had never heard of branding being a viable option. He''d have to explore this new discovery later.


    Sitting on a large rock in the mud, he listened to the crickets chirping and water trickling around him. It was peaceful here. Serene. Part of him wanted to enjoy this simple life of travel and relaxation, but he knew that, as always, it wouldn''t last. It never did. He would inevitably be drawn back toward whatever chaos was brewing in this age. Whatever thread in the tapestry of fate that allowed him to come back wasn''t done with him yet. He could feel it. It might be a day, or a week, or a year, but it would come for him, whatever it was.


    As the night got darker, he stepped into the cool water, letting it sink into his aching bones. He soaked for a while, desperate to clean the grime of the past weeks off of his skin and wash the stink from his hair. He smelled like ox shit, dirt, and burnt troll. The water only magnified his stench, so he knew he''d need more than water to cleanse himself. He returned to the riverbank and retrieved the small bar of soap that Keila had given him the day before when they had found a stream. He returned to the water and began scrubbing. Failing to reach his back, he wished yet again that Angra were there. She always loved baths, and she could reach the center of his back. He also missed her presence. He hadn''t ever realized how much she comforted him, always being there.


    However, despite her absence, he felt relaxed for the first time since he had left his vault.


    "Thought I''d find you out down here." A woman''s voice. It was Keila.


    "I''ll admit it. I''ve never been one to enjoy being filthy." He didn''t stop scrubbing.


    "I figured as much when we hit that stream yesterday. You looked mad trying to scrub the road off of yourself."


    He laughed. "I''m sure I did."


    She tiptoed up to where he had placed his sack, then set her own down beside it. A moment later, she began to strip. He looked away, but she giggled. "Don''t worry. You don''t get by on the road by being modest. Plus, I don''t mind if you look." A moment later, he heard small splashes as she stepped into the water. It wasn''t long until she swam up to him. "This is nice." Her words came out as soft breaths.


    "It''s not a proper bath, but it''ll do." He looked toward the lights in the distance that likely marked the town they''d reach in the morning. Realizing he was souring the mood, he added, "Yeah, it''s nice."


    She swam close to him. Looking toward her, he saw that her eyes were locked on his. "It would be nicer if you held me. I can''t touch here, and its cold."


    Keila''s floated up and draped herself against him. Her breasts, firm and full, pressed against his chest. He hesitated for a moment but decided to let his instincts guide him. He wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her close. When he did, she shifted, and her lips pressed against his. He felt himself tense for a brief instant, but her hands weaving into his hair made him melt. Their tongues intertwined.


    They tested one another as they kissed, probing and teasing and finding a rhythm. She tasted good, like honey and alcohol, and her lips were soft. For several minutes, he forgot about the rest of the world and focused solely upon exploring her. Her heavy breaths suggested she enjoyed his exploration. Her fingers worked their way through his long damp hair, then slowly crawled toward his face as they kissed. Before they rose too high, he grabbed them and brought them back down to his neck. He didn''t want the moment to end because of his horns, hidden beneath his spell. She pulled away and looked confused for a moment, but he ran his fingers along her cheek, snaked them to the nape of her neck, and pulled her face towards his. Their lips came back together, and she kissed him deeply, moaning as she did.


    He needed this.


    She pulled away again. "Want to make a good memory with me?"


    He gazed into her eyes. He knew this was nothing. They were two travelers seeking comfort in one another. It was nothing but a diversion. He kissed down her neck. She arched backward as his kisses traced across her throat, tracing the curve of her neck down to her collarbones. Wrapping his hands around her firm buttocks, he lifted her upward, helping her wrap her legs around his waist. Her body trembled.


    She leaned into him, lowered her head onto his shoulder as he returned to her neck, and whispered in his ear. "I think you''re beautiful. Sad, and beautiful."


    With that, she melted into his grasp. He lowered her, letting her wrap her arms tightly around his shoulders. Their chests met once again, bare skin sliding across bare skin. He let go completely, allowing himself to sink into the girl''s embrace as she gave herself to him. Even if it was nothing, he''d allow himself to fall into this brief moment of relief in his otherwise bitter existence.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    ***


    That morning, the four travelers packed up early and quietly got in line for the ferry. Luckily, they were up before the other carts and wagons and were able to board the ferry first. They prepared breakfast on the way, and other than a few good mornings, none of them talked as they crossed the river. The brothers were both hungover, and Keila gave no indication that anything had happened between her and Abad the night before. He decided to honor that choice. He felt much the same way.


    Before long, they were unloaded and rolling down a paved road toward Farnfoss. A few crossroads marked paths to other towns and villages in the area. Once they had passed a few, Rhys noted they would be there soon, and sure enough, the cart rolled over a large hill, and there in the distance was a small walled town.


    "Can''t wait to take a few days off." Rhys grumbled.


    "Can''t wait to hit the brothel more like." She smirked at her brother.


    "That too, yeah." He smirked back. "Not all of us get what we need on the road."


    She shot a look more deadly than any spell of Abad''s.


    Farnfoss wasn''t much to look at. It had a simple wooden palisade that seemed to be more for keeping livestock contained and marking borders than for actual defense. There were some fields and farms surrounding the settlement as well as some large buildings along the riverbank. Most of those seemed to be warehouses and an occasional mill, but one looked more official. It bore banners of green, black, and silver. Abad could make out a few guards going to and fro around the building.


    Before long, the cart rolled its way up the gate. There were a few carts and wagons ahead of them. The guards lazily checked each wagon before it entered, and before long their cart was next in line.


    "Papers." The guard asked with yawn, his eyes surrounded by dark circles under his ill-fitting helmet. Another guard approached Abad on the other side of the cart, looking even more tired.


    Keila fished out the papers she had given to Gregor the day before. Handing them over, the guards did a quick once over of the cart, looking as if they had done so a thousand times.


    "Who''s your patron?"


    Keila pulled her shirt away to reveal the brand on her neck. "Bolton."


    The guard''s eyes narrowed on her, then settled on Abad for a moment before they walked backward and waved them through. A moment later, they were through the low wooden walls of Farnfoss and onto a busy road.


    Inside the wooden fence, the town wasn''t much more to look at from the inside as it was from the outside. Hundreds of buildings were placed here and there with no discernible pattern or order, animals and people filled the narrow streets, and the smells of bread, urine, and horse mixed together to create a truly unique bouquet of pastoral fragrances. The smell reminded him of his travels around the countryside in the past. It was oddly comforting to be somewhere that reminded him of his own time. He had never particularly enjoyed the country, but he didn''t hate it either. It was an acquired taste.


    "What now?" He asked aloud as they rolled on.


    "We''re headed for an inn called The Green Lady. We''ve got business there first, then we have to resupply. After that, we''ll be staying here two weeks. At some point, our boss will be in town. Odds are, he''ll want to meet you, then you''ll be off to new frontiers... unless you plan to join the patronage?" Her eyes lingered on his. "We''d have to ask Bolton, but he might be okay with it. Might be better to have a connected patron than to go it alone. Bad things happen to loners around here. You said you''ve left your old group, so this might be the opportunity you''ve been waiting for." Her tone suggested she''d like this outcome.


    He knew he wouldn''t accept being anyone else''s vassal. "I think I''ll have a go on my own, but thanks." Her eyes grew dark for a moment, but a smile crept back over her face just as fast.


    "Sure you don''t want to try? Could be worth your while" She was really trying to sell him on the idea.


    He didn''t even know what went into it. "What would becoming claimed entail?"


    "Well, you''d sign a contract agreeing to the conditions of claimancy. You''d do a ceremony, he''d brand you with his brand, and you''d be claimed. You''d be able to gain a class that he''d choose for you, but you already have one, so that doesn''t matter. More importantly for you, you''d have access to resources, connections, and allies. And, really, you''re pretty lucky. The odds of meeting someone who will sponsor you like Bolton does is pretty rare. Most patrons are choosy, but he''s strong enough that he doesn''t have to be. He just prefers the strong, and really talented newbies like myself." She shot a look over at her brothers. "And those idiots, even if they don''t look it."


    "Hey! Look who''s talking." Serus was finally coming around. He had drank far more than the others last night and was proportionately more hungover.


    "I appreciate the offer, but I am not one to serve. It''s not in my blood." He bared is teeth in a smile.


    "Ah, okay. I understand." Her face dropped, if only barely. "If I had been able to earn a class, I probably would feel the same way."


    "Is it really so difficult to gain a class now?" It hadn''t been too difficult in the past, for mortals or for his kind.


    She looked away from him and back at the road she was navigating. Her brain was working behind her eyes. After a moment, she spoke. "Not everyone is so fortunate these days. There aren''t that many class quests offered by the system, and too many people are doing them. Plus, lots of people unlock their class, then can''t keep training it. Losing your levels is worse than not getting them at all. People get desperate." Her jaw clenched. "I don''t think Bolton will take a mercenary. Looks like we''ll be splitting up soon." She looked away from the street and back toward him for a moment. "Hopefully, not too soon though. I''d like you to stay long enough to have an audience with him at least. Plus, I''d like the company."


    They drove for a time, weaving off the main road and onto a few side streets. Farnfoss wasn''t particularly well laid out. Abad couldn''t make much sense of it. After a few more minutes of silence, she perked up again and spoke. "So, you''re a mage? What''s that like."


    "Overrated." He laughed a single, cold laugh.


    "Are you strong?" She gave him a funny look.


    "Not particularly. At least, not anymore."


    "I see." She left it there.


    They turned down an intersection and rolled up a large hill and eventually ended up in front of an old building made of thick wooden boards and stone. It was in decent shape compared to many of the other huts in the town, which didn''t say much. The exterior showed signs of repairs, though they seemed half abandoned at this point. The sign, The Green Lady, displayed a woman clad in ivy leaves reclining upon a tree branch, a crown of thorns adorning her forehead.


    "This is it!" Keila''s voice was cheerful, even if her eyes weren''t. "I need to meet with some suppliers, and the guys have to get down to the warehouses on the far side of town to unload and stock up." She hopped off the cart and turned to him. "So this is where we''ll say goodbye, at least for now."


    Abad turned to exit his side of the cart, but, looking down into the thick mud below, decided to get out the other way. The brothers were waiting for him to climb out so they could jump into the cart''s bench, so he grabbed the sack Keila gave him and hopped down to the woman.


    Stretching his weary limbs, he decided to capitalize on the moment. "Thank you for your charity. All of you. I appreciate you coming out to pick me up, even when I didn''t have anything to offer. And while I can''t say you two were much to look at," he nodded at the brothers, who smirked, "I certainly appreciate you letting me sit up front most of the time." Keila smiled widely at that remark, pushing his chest playfully.


    Rhys snickered. "Did a bit more than sitting, I think." Serus elbowed him, causing him to yelp, and Keila blushed.


    She gathered herself a moment, and when the cart started to roll away, she said, "Come up to my room tonight. Room 302. We''ll grab some dinner, ''kay?" Her eyes were an invitation he knew he would take.


    "I will."


    "Oh, and Abad." She took out a small bag and threw it to him. "You helped us with the cart on the way. Here''s some pay. It''s not much, but it should get you a bath and a couple meals. Gotta be presentable now that we''re in town, and I know how bad you want a real bath."


    A bath. That''s what he needed. More than life itself.


    With that, she broke off, disappearing into the inn. Looking around, he didn''t see anything of interest in the vicinity, so he made his way down the street, hugging the shoulder as he did to avoid the numerous potholes and other unspeakables littering the dirty cobblestone road.

 XXV. Brands

    As the three siblings headed off on their various errands, Abad walked to the side of the Green Lady and down the nearest alley he could find. Once there, he looked both ways to ensure he couldn''t be seen, then adjusted his [Mask of Many Faces]. Rather than use the facsimile of what he thought he would have looked like had he been born of the sun, he instead changed appearance to something he had grown familiar with as of late¡ªhe made his skin tan, his eyes blue, and his hair black. Once he felt the spell take hold, he looked into a nearby puddle on the street and smiled. He looked just like a common elf. The mental image he held was that of A-Nis and Shani, and it worked perfectly. No one would recognize him now.


    It took Abad quite a while to meander back onto the road they had come in on. The streets really were a maze. Along the way, he got up close and personal with the many, many side streets of the town that were in various states of disrepair. He also came up with a common elf name as he walked: Arun-Sun. He had killed a man with that name centuries before, and it was the best he could come up with on the spot. Abad hoped none of the dead man''s descendants were in the region to give him his retribution. Just as he decided on his new name, he arrived at the main road.


    As he emerged onto the thoroughfare, he was greeted by the sights and sounds of hundreds of people, animals, and even some tamed monsters, heavily muzzled and wrangled, going about their business. Each shop seemed to be busier than the last, with everything one would expect from a town being available. Fruit, vegetables, assorted goods, a blacksmith, a cobbler, there was everything a frontiersman could need. Looking to the east, he could see the gates they had passed through earlier still admitting carts and wagons into Farnfoss, the guards lazily admitting them one after another. Considering he could barely move without risking bumping into someone or something, he could hardly believe that more wagons could fit in the space, but somehow the people flowed around them as they went about their business, seemingly oblivious to the sheer density of the place. Abad sighed. He hated towns like these.


    He had seen plenty of towns just like this in the past. Busy in the late morning, hot, and smelling worse than any place had a right to by the evening. It seemed like a fairly average town for the Verge, though the three-and-four-story buildings lining the main road did mark it as a fairly large and profitable one. Most of the buildings seemed to have apartments above and storefronts below, and many of the buildings were in decent repair. Most needed a healthy coat of paint or two to look truly new, but they weren''t falling apart or abandoned. Everything was in relative repair, at least in this part of town. When a woman opened a window above him and tossed the contents of a chamber pot a few feet from him, he was pulled from his observations and decided to keep moving.


    To distract himself from the smell of everything, Abad focused instead on the chatter around him, soaking up any useful information he could glean from their discussions. Many of them discussed goods and sales, the arrival of more caravans and wagons that brought fresh supplies, and several talked about "Darkfall," coming, which he remembered the siblings mentioning. He still couldn''t quite believe that the towers were in such a state that the light actually failed every year. They had stood for thousands of years in his time, and they had only gone out once¡ªwhen the Dark One first bubbled up from the Depths and into the lands above. Had the towers been failing and the walls crumbling in his time, he and his siblings would have been far more successful in their war. There were countless monsters and beasts in the Wilds that would have easily fallen under his sway if they could have been brought into Elysium.


    Another thing he couldn''t believe was the variety of the mortals around him. There were many of the usual suspects: humans of course, some dwarves in heavy leathers hawking metallic and stone wares as one would expect, nearly invisible halflings flitting through the crowd. There was even the occasional elf here and there, though they, like him, seemed uncomfortable with the stench and sheer proximity to others Farnfoss forced upon them. The latter group made him chuckle inwardly. He didn''t often feel much affinity for his people, but he realized their prissiness was one of his primary character traits.


    However, among the old faces were new faces too. Goblins had apparently been civilized in this time, and somehow they had acquired significant social status. Many of them were merchants and vendors and were dressed in relative finery compared to the muted browns and greys of the commoners. Alongside them, there were a variety of people that looked like humans but had animal features. Cat ears here, a wolf tail there, goat eyes in a hawker''s head. Those certainly hadn''t existed in the past. This last group interested him the most.


    The animal people reminded him of all of the experiments Zaros had done in the past. The man had crossed all manner of monsters and beasts together, like the orc-troll cross Thrakkar that he had been reminded of in their fight days before. However, the beast creatures in Farnfoss were far more domesticated than anything Zaros had created, and they lacked the aesthetics that the man had preferred. Unlike his creations, which were often horrific and monstrous in appearance, most of the animal people looked human or perhaps elven, save for the ears, tails, fangs, and patches of fur that covered them in no discernible pattern. Some of these people looked more animal-like, but most were somewhat "normal" looking. The only unifying marker each had was a brand on their necks. He decided he''d have to ask someone about their history when he had the chance.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    He realized to his delight that his desire to collect information was still as alive as ever. He was particularly known in the past for his assets, and one of the most important assets he offered was information. And bathhouses were often excellent places to get it. Whether through the idle words of others or the perfumed words of a bathhouse attendant, there was much to learn in such places, and his desire to collect information was how he had first been introduced to their luxuries. Selene had been a fan of frequent baths, and the woman had dragged him along enough times that he had acquired her refined tastes in leisure. In time, he had solidified many deals in their perfumed interiors, made dozens of connections, and learned the subtle gossip that was the undercurrent of every village, town, and city. He wondered what he''d find in this one.


    As he weaved his way up the road, another type of creature stood out to him. They seemed like a cross between a halfling and a dwarf, standing shorter than the latter but being stouter than the former. Their hair and eye colors were far more varied than either of those races as well, with brownish greens and bright reds seeming to be fairly common among them. He overheard a man arguing with one, who screamed that he was a "crooked gnome." He figured gnome must be the race''s name and hopefully not an insult. Most of them wore beards similar to dwarves, though he noticed that their women didn''t have small beards like dwarven women. He concluded that he was quite certain these creatures hadn''t existed years ago, but he still was struggling with gaps in his memory. After thinking on it for a time, he was fairly certain that he wouldn''t have forgotten an entire race.


    He had branded members of each of the races in his time. It was a personal challenge of his to collect two of each for his collection, and he wouldn''t have let one go uncollected. He shook his head at the memory. How frivolous had he really been back then?


    He began to wonder if the Tower had called another race to Elysium over the past five hundreds years. The humans and halflings had arrived on Reial at the end of the third age, and the dwarves, goblins, ogres, and the like had arrived in the second age. The towers and Elysium had been established by his people under the Goddess''s direction at the beginning of the first age when the Dragon Emperor arose in the far north, bringing with it the monsters from the Depths and sparking the cycle of the ages in the first place. Perhaps other races began to be called to Reial with the birth of each age? Again, he decided he''d learn the history later. After he got a bath.


    He had always had a talent for finding the lotus symbol that marked bathhouses no matter what corner of Elysium he found himself in. At least in the old days, he could. He was hopeful that the symbol hadn''t changed since then. The symbol for bathhouses was modeled after the lotus stones, which were typically large stones imbued with special enchantments that enabled water to flow from a hole in their center in quantities based on the amount of ambient mana in the area. They could be designed for a number of uses, but the most common in his time had been for bathhouses. They were difficult to make, at least in the past, so they weren''t terribly common in households, but most towns had at least one bath with a stone large and reliable enough to provide the populace with both a bathhouse and clean water for a population. He prayed to the Dark One that this was still true today.


    After weaving down the street, he finally found what he was looking for. The symbol was on an archway that led down a narrow alley that was capped with a large wooden door with the lotus symbol emblazoned on it. He walked down the alley eagerly, reached for the door, and opened it. When it cracked open, he was greeted to the warm, moist perfumed air that signaled that a bath truly was available inside. A surge of emotions washed over him then. Before that moment, he had come to the conclusion that he hated this town, but the fact that a bath existed within it elevated it in his evaluation. He knew that their offerings would be limited when compared to his own vault''s, but beggars couldn''t be choosers.


    For a moment, as the door swung open, he thought about his vault for the first time in a while. He didn''t know when he''d see it again. Just getting there would take months, and then he''d have to dig his way down through the stone and into the depths, where countless monsters kept themselves hidden below the surface, and he was confident that was a task that was well beyond him at the moment. Even if he did so, he didn''t even know if the vault survived Nocturne''s meddling. He hoped it had.


    He sighed, but that brought more perfumed air into his lungs, thus returning him to the present. He was greeted to the gaudily decorated interior of the establishment. There was chipped gold plating on just about everything that could be plated, and the furniture looked old and worn, but he figured it would do.


    It would be fine. He would enjoy it... stepping into steaming hot water again... cleaning the grime of the road off... washing in warm water...


    The familiar scent of perfume, even if it was cheap, brought a smile to his face. However, his smile faded when the gangly head of a goblin popped out from behind the counter on the far side of the room. The creature had a seedy grin on his face. He never trusted goblins in his time, and he suspected he shouldn''t now.


    "Welcome, honored guest. How might we serve you on this fine afternoon?"

 XXVI. Feyra

    "I''m in need of a bath," Abad said, affecting an air of disinterest. He knew the tactics of salespeople and wouldn''t be goaded into parting with more of his limited funds than necessary.


    The goblin''s fake smile broadened. "Then you''re in for a treat! We''re running a sale for new patrons today. The fee is two crystals for an hour in the communal pool, an additional crystal per extra hour, four for a personal room, another crystal for access to our fine soaps and oils. Five crystals for a body servant to assist you, eight crystals for a massage, and twenty crystals for..." his red eyes gleamed in the dim glowstone light, "... private relaxation with some of our highest-rated staff members." As the words left his lips, a group of attractive men and women, all of them some version of animal person and each branded with a lotus symbol on their neck, walked out of a side room. Two of them, one massive bullman and one sleek bald woman whose flawless skin glinted in the soft light, were far more healthy looking than the others. Looking closer, Abad realized the woman glinted due to the fine scales decorating her skin. Those two were the highly rated staff, he assumed.


    He looked the creatures over. None of them looked unhealthy exactly, but they didn''t look well either. Most were a little too thin, their eyes a little too dark. Each was dressed in bathing clothes, which really amounted to a small bra for the women and thin bottoms for all. The goblin clearly knew how to market his staff, though it was clear he didn''t care for them well unless they made him good money. He reached out with [Fey Senses] and nearly retched. All of them, save for the goblin, the two animal people he had noted before, and a woman at the far end of the line, had severely diminished essence. It was as if it was being drained away from them, and several had almost none left to give. But where could it be going? By what means was it being taken?


    The goblin saw his hesitation and spoke, "Ah, contemplating our special services are we? Odana is an expert at inducing relaxation in men, and Kimari," his eyes turned toward the bull man, "is known for his strong touch for those who have the taste for it." The goblin''s tone disgusted Abad.


    He had little interest in "special services," being too proud to pay for what had always been freely and eagerly offered to him. The suggestion in the goblin''s words made his low estimation of the creature drop even further. He had always found using servants in that way to be distasteful. Far too often, the appetites of other masters were too crude and vulgar. He found them to be counterproductive and often outright destructive to his goals.


    Once they learned their place, servants were possessions to be polished and elevated. Each was a symbol of their master''s wealth, status, and power, thus they needed to be well-cared for. Education, proper attire, combat training, weapons and armor, grooming and feeding, growth in their unique talents; every expense was an investment that compounded with every passing year. And loyal servants were effective servants. If treated well, a servant might die for their master. Treated poorly, a master might die at their servant''s hand. Many had over the centuries.


    He had tried many times to explain these finer points of rule to his peers, but few listened. He was often called fussy for it. But his hoard extended far beyond the riches, knowledge, and art he had collected. In the past, his greatest treasures were those who served him, like his loyal familiar. They were the treasures seen most by others. While he had never cared about them as individuals, once polished to a mirror finish, his servants had brought him much pride, one of the only true emotions he had felt in his life. At least until lately.


    Now, it felt like ashes in the wind. It didn''t matter how many he had bound to him or how dutifully they served. He still died, and he was still stranded in this new age, a castaway adrift in a time that wasn''t his.


    Looking over each of the servants, most were demure and submissive. However, when his eyes fell on the white-haired wolf girl at the end, the one with more energy than the others, he saw something interesting. Her yellow eyes showed defiance as they locked onto his, and her tail slowly swished as she considered him, like a predator observing its meal. She made no attempt to hide her disdain. Marks on her skin showed that she had been whipped recently, meaning she didn''t want to be here. She would hold no loyalty to the goblin, marking her as the safest among the attendants. There were questions he needed answers to, and a disloyal servant was good for that. If he could get her to open up, she could could be useful.


    He pulled out the bag Keila had given him. Opening it, he poured the contents into his hand. Thirteen small circular stones glowed with a soft inner light in his palm. It wasn''t much, so he reminded himself to not be too greedy, lest he spend it all. He thought for a moment, then he made his decision.


    "I''ll take the private bath, an extra hour, the oils, and a body servant. That one." He pointed to the wolf girl.


    He deserved this.


    She scowled as he pointed at her, her ears laying flat on her head and her teeth baring in the soft light. Her tail swished more aggressively.


    "My good sir, that one is new and quite... inexperienced. I recommend Jorva, as her skills will guarantee your satisfaction." The goblin pointed at another woman.


    Abad glanced at her. She was youngish, maybe in her mid-thirties if these creatures aged at the same rate as humans, and she had some sort of sheep or goat ears, two small horns on her head, and a soft smile on her lips. Her lowered eyes and gentle demeanor marked her as well-versed in her work. He reached out with his senses. She was nearly empty inside. "No. I''m sure she''s wonderful, but the one I indicated will be perfectly fine." He handed all thirteen crystals to the goblin, whose eyes gleamed as he took them. However, as the little green man turned toward the wolf girl, she practically snarled, causing him to hesitate. "My lord... other members of my staff are¡ª"


    "It''s fine. I wish to bathe now."


    The man bowed and held out his arm to welcome Abad into an archway on the far side of the greeting room. The wolf girl huffed as she was beckoned to follow, and her footsteps were nearly silent as she padded along behind him. They passed through a large room, which was the communal bath. Men and women of all shapes and sizes occupied the waters. He could see the dirt and grime built up on the bottom of the pool. He didn''t regret his choice to take the side room at all. After several moments, he was guided into said private room, which contained a smaller pool with water pouring from a pipe set in the wall. He grinned. This would be perfect.


    The goblin closed the door behind the wolf girl, who made no attempt to mask her hatred of him as she leaned against the wall furthest from him, her arms folded across her chest. Without paying her any mind, he stripped everything off and sank into the pool, sighing as the waters began to scour the grime off. While his river bath had been serviceable, this was the beginning of true cleanliness, and he had heard that cleanliness was next to godliness. He hoped that soon he''d be practically divine.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    A few moments of bliss later, the door opened again, and a tray of assorted tonics and soaps was placed on the lip of the pool by a woman. She nodded to him professionally before quietly slipping out again, but not before she glared daggers at the wolf girl, who scoffed. He chuckled as he picked up a small bar of soap and began his holy ritual.


    As Abad purified himself, the woman kept her eyes trained on him, obviously wary of his intentions. Her nose twitched subtly from time to time, and her tail swished in frustration.


    "They haven''t broken you yet, I take it?" he asked casually, not looking at her.


    "They will never break me." The girl growled. "I am stronger than any of the other weaklings here. I''ll endure."


    He laughed, the sound echoing throughout the bath chamber. "Good. You have fire." He gestured at the water. "What''s your name?"


    "You don''t deserve to know."


    "Maybe yes, maybe no. Can''t know until we''ve learned more about one another, can we?"


    "You''re just another filthy Te''ra looking to make my kind submit to you. I refuse." Her golden wolf eyes bore into his.


    "Te''ra?" He hadn''t heard that word before.


    "Humans. Elves. Short ones. You."


    Ah, it was a word for mortals.


    "Come, bathe with me. I have absolutely no intention of making you submit to me, and I honestly couldn''t care less if I got what I paid for. But you might as well be comfortable. You''ll be stuck here with me for three hours. You might as well make yourself comfortable."


    "No."


    He shrugged. "Have it your way." He went back to scrubbing, turning away from her. She may have been a waste of time, but the water felt fantastic.


    "Why do you smell?" Her words were sharp and clipped.


    "Pardon?" He turned toward her.


    "Why do you smell?" she repeated.


    He frowned. "Because I was on the road for almost two weeks and couldn''t tend to myself properly. When you spend days riding behind two oxen, you get the distinct pleasure of breathing ox shit for hours on end." He smiled again as he lathered his long black hair. It felt good to have his natural hair color on display. "But that''s all over now. The dark times have ended, at least for the moment."


    She didn''t respond. Again, she sniffed the air and replied, "No. I smell shit and mud from the Te''ra every day. You smell like something else." Her brows were scrunched.


    "I''m a mage of moderate power. Perhaps you smell that on me?"


    "You are no mage." He eyes narrowed. "I know mage smell."


    Her nose was keen indeed. He decided to change the subject. "Why are you here? Obviously, you have no love for this place."


    Her glare intensified. "They came to our forests, hunted us. My people are not permitted to be unclaimed. My mate and I were taken. He killed seven of them before they captured him. I killed eleven."


    "And where is your mate now?"


    "I do not know..." A shadow crossed her face. "He is alive. I know it."


    "I''m sorry. What happened next?"


    They brought us to a castle, where I was bought like cattle. By that filthy Te''ra." She nodded toward the door.


    She meant the goblin, he realized. "Filthy indeed. Goblins are quite foul. At least in my time, they were."


    Her eyes narrowed further. "Your time?"


    He pretended to pay her no mind. "I am elven. I have lived for a long time."


    "You don''t look it." Her eyes narrowed. "I''ve known Elara Te''ra. You smell different."


    "Tell me more. Who sold you? What happened after you were sold?"


    She huffed. "A man. Omara Te''ra. He had brown hair. Claims many. Sells more. They brought me somewhere near, took me to him, gave me this mark." She pointed at the brand on her neck, her teeth baring as she did. It was wickedly inflamed, with clear fluid weeping from the torn tissue. "I cannot leave. When I do, my bones ache, and the farther I get, the more pain I feel until I am made to return."


    So it worked somewhat like the brands of old, but the compulsion and pain didn''t sound like what Keila had described claiming to be. From Keila''s description, a patron chose a vassal or visa versa and they both were supposed to benefit. Claiming was supposed to be willing and reciprocal, but the wolf girl''s words proved otherwise. How was it these creatures could be bound unwillingly?


    She scowled at him. "Why do we speak of this? Do you wish to shame me further by forcing me to relive my failure?" Her eyes glowed with rage. "Do not lie to me. I can smell your lies."


    "No, I simply wish to know the story of the girl with the furious eyes. And I''m getting useful information from you as I do."


    "Information?" She said the word slowly. "Why?"


    "I''ve been away for many years. I don''t know much. Your tale has clarified things I didn''t know. Thank you."


    She didn''t respond. Tired of standing, she made her way to the edge of the pool. Hesitating a moment, she slowly descended into the water, staying as far away from him as she could as she did.


    "I know nothing about your people. Can you explain to me who and what you are?"


    "Lupana Fey''ra."


    "Which means?" He eyed her as she sunk into the warm water, stretching out her long limbs. Her white ears flicked in the steam. Looking down, she seemed to consider the soap bubbles covering the surface of the water. A moment later, she pulled away her bathing clothes and placed them on the marble lining the pool.


    "Wolf people."


    "And how did your people come to be in these lands?"


    "The Sod''ra created us in the old war. We were warriors, workers, servants. We fought bravely and served with honor. When the war was over and the Creator was taken from us, the Te''ra said we were dangerous. We were not allowed to be free."


    "What war?"


    Her eyes narrowed again. "Scion''s War is the name the Te''Ra use."


    Ah, so they were native to this world after all. Only Zaros of the Seven or Tarn or Avara of the Thirteen had the power to twist life in this way. He had an idea which of his "friends" had escaped the seal. "Interesting. Thank you for that information. I am..." He realized using his fake name wouldn''t work with her. "I am Abad-Shai."


    "I do not care."


    "I don''t need you to. I am simply being polite." He laughed again. "Do you have a name? Or shall I simply call you wolf girl?"


    Her lip twitched. "Zethari."


    "It''s nice to meet you, Zethari. Will you teach me more while I bathe?"


    "No. Why do you smell?" She asked again.


    He laughed. "You are stubborn, aren''t you? That''s not such a bad quality. I am known to be quite stubborn myself when I find something that interests me." He eyed her for a moment. It would be risky to reveal himself, but he was sure his estimation of her was correct. She hated her predicament and would reveal nothing to the others. As long as she didn''t panic, he''d be fine, and he wanted more information. She would only give him what he wanted if she trusted him more, and she seemed to have a soft spot for the Sod''ra as she called them. "Very well. If I tell you why I smell, will you help me learn the ways of this time?"


    She said nothing, didn''t move a muscle, but her eyes were fixed on him.


    "Don''t be too surprised now." He let his [Mask of Many Faces] fade. As the spell receded, he watched as his skin turned to its natural grey and his nails grew black.


    Her eyes went wide. "Sod''ra. Nightstalker." Her voice carried both surprise and awe as the word tumbled from her mouth.


    His scroll opened in his mind, and a new entry emblazoned onto it.


    <hr><hr>


    [Nightstalker]: With the silence of a stalking predator, you move without sound. When following an unaware target, your perception sharpens, revealing even the slightest movements of your prey.


    <hr><hr>


    He smirked at his new title. "Is that what Sod''ra means?" He lifted a brow at her.


    "Yes." Her voice became quiet as her entire demeanor changed. For the first time since they met, her eyes softened. "You are a friend to my people."


    "So you''ll answer my questions?"


    She nodded.

 XXVII. Those Who Rule

    Abad learned much from Zethari.


    Her people, the Fey''ra, were persecuted almost everywhere. Some were still free and mostly lived in small nomadic tribal groups in remote places in the Reach and the Verge to avoid enslavement, but most had been captured at the end of the Scion''s War.


    The Lupana were viewed as the most dangerous of the fey''ra due to their natural strength and aggression, traits she considered sources of pride. They had been the front-line soldiers in the Scion''s War. She herself had been a warrior in her tribe before she was captured in the east. She was one of some renown by her own telling. He believed her. Her muscular body was littered with scars, and her words held no hint of hubris, only confidence.


    She also explained that, while slavery was technically illegal in the seven nations, the beastkin were considered half-monsters nearly everywhere. They legally had to be claimed, which enabled them to be tracked and found by their patrons if they fled or caused harm. If they couldn''t find a patron, they were conscripted into the Legion.


    In Nolei, she said that being claimed was worse for her people. The lords and lawmakers looked the other way here, slavery was for all intents still alive, and more recently, the fey''ra couldn''t resist their masters, as evidenced by her trying to flee several times but not being able to. She said that was unheard of when she was a child, but she had seen firsthand the damage caused by the brands through the other bath attendants. They were all shells of themselves.


    Interestingly, she also claimed that his kind, the Nightstalkers, or sod''ra as she called them, were persecuted as well. None were allowed to be free. Every one of his kind was either killed, imprisoned, or conscripted. He was surprised to hear there were more like him in this time. He expected he''d be the only one he''d ever see in this age.


    She also told him that he would face worse than her people if others found out what he was. Abad''s experience with Firtz proved that. The dwarf had been kind and honorable in every way one would expect of a hero. All it took to shatter that illusion was Abad''s true form.


    As they talked, Abad insisted the girl rest and enjoy herself. He knew if she did, she would speak more. She clearly hadn''t been used to such gestures or luxuries, staying on guard for nearly the entire first hour, but after some time, she began to relax. With that relaxation came stories.


    Stories of her tribe and their battles against the Te''ra and monsters alike. Stories of her family and friends. Stories of her victories against the other warriors. Stories of their hard times and their good. Stories of her coming of age. And stories of her mate. The last subject made her voice soften and her edge fade.


    The two had courted for several years and agreed to their tribe''s mating ceremony a mere year before they had been captured. While the two had known one another for years, having met often as children when the clans met to trade, they only courted after she forced him to make his intentions clear. She said he remained pitiably weak-willed regarding her until then. As the son of a chief and her being a warrior''s daughter, their marriage had bonded their two tribes together. Her eyes shined as she spoke of him.


    Near the end of his allotted time, a soft knock sounded on the door. Abad had just enough time to recast his [Mask of Many Faces] before the goblin''s ugly little head appeared in the cracked door. When he saw the girl sitting away from her client and using the bath supplies, his face soured. He opened his mouth to chide the girl, but Abad cut him off.


    "I requested that she sit away from me and use what I purchased. Is that a problem?" The tone of his voice promised violence if challenged. The goblin took a step back.


    "Oh, no sir. Please, enjoy yourself, sir. I''m simply coming to remind you that your time is nearly up. You must pay again to stay longer."


    "I think this will be quite enough."


    The goblin nodded and left them alone again, shutting the door behind him.


    "He wilts under the slightest threat." She smirked.


    "The weak often do. When they have power over others, they abuse it. When they don''t, they scrape and fawn."


    She nodded again. She scanned him for a moment. "Are you among the powerful?"


    "I was."


    She was quiet for several moments. "You speak to me like a person." The wolf girl''s tone softened. "What game do you play with me? What do you gain in treating me this way?"


    "Nothing," he responded, but he knew it was a lie. She deserved the truth. "No, that''s not quite true. I needed information, and you seemed the least likely to tell others about what we talked about."


    "You are honest."


    "I have no reason to lie to you, and I think you''d see through it if I did." He rose from the steaming water. "Maybe if I were who I used to be, I''d have some other angle. Or maybe I''d simply claim you. Who knows? Today, information is enough. There is too much I don''t understand, and I feel like there are movements around me that I can''t perceive until I know more. You''ve given me much. For that, I''m grateful."


    He climbed out of the pool and toweled himself off.


    "What do you mean your time? You keep saying that." She rose from the bath and reached for her own towel. The tension that marked her before was gone. Looking her over, he could see the brand on her neck clearly. It was raw. It hadn''t healed well.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "Let''s just say that I''ve been away for a very long time." He wrapped the towel around his waist and walked to her. The wound on her neck needed to be addressed. "May I?" He pointed at her neck.


    Her brow furrowed. "The filth who captured me burned me with their tool and left it like this."


    He reached his hand toward the angry wound, but she flinched. "I can help," he said softly.


    She hesitated a moment, then nodded. He reached out and touched her neck. It was on fire.


    [Essence Transfer]


    He willed some of his restored life force into the woman. The act made his vision swim, and he teetered. Her clawed fingers dug into his arm as she caught him. A moment later, he removed his hand from her neck and watched as her damaged skin knitted together. Within a minute, the wound was healed, though the brand remained.


    She seemed confused, so he gently took her hand in his and lifted it to her neck. She gingerly touched her skin with her long fingers. For the first time, her face screwed up, and her eyes shined before she swallowed the feeling away. "Why did you do this? Why help me?"


    "I can heal and have energy to spare. Why let you suffer?"


    His scroll unfurled.


    <hr><hr>


    [A Friend in Need]: Through an unexpected act of compassion, you healed a person in need while expecting nothing in return. This selfless gesture stirs something deep within you, awakening a new spell bound to your growing sense of empathy.


    Your [Blood Magic] skill becomes [Blood Magic II]


    [Blood Magic II] (Passive): Your mastery over blood magic deepens, allowing you to draw on your life force with greater efficiency, casting blood-fueled spells at a reduced health cost. This level of skill also enables you to learn more advanced Blood Magic spells, expanding your arsenal in exchange for careful management of your own vitality.


    You learn the [Sanguine Gift] spell.


    [Sanguine Gift] (2nd Circle, Active, Cost ??): Sacrifice a portion of your life force to briefly grant yourself or an ally enhanced reflexes, strength, and stamina, amplifying their physical abilities in a burst of vitality.


    You reach level X.


    Choose an Enhancement:


    <ul>


    <li>


    [Mana III]: Increases the reserve of magical energy coursing through you, further boosting your mana pool and enhancing your endurance when casting.


    </li>


    <li>


    [Life I]: Fortifies your life force slightly, making you sturdier and harder to wear down in combat.


    </li>


    <li>


    [Resilience I]: Grants you increased endurance against poisons, diseases, and other conditions that would weaken or slow down ordinary beings.


    </li>


    </ul>


    <hr><hr>


    He thought a moment, then selected [Life I]. He had had enough close calls lately and had no wish to die.


    The woman looked him in the eyes and simply said, "Thank you, Nightstalker."


    He gazed into her golden eyes. They reminded him of the imp''s in a way. He supposed that may have contributed to his desire to help her. Why else would he? He had seldom bathed without the little creature by his side, and this experience soothed his sense of loss. He realized with each passing day how much he missed her company.


    Something else nagged at him though. When he had touched her brand... "May I try one more thing?" She nodded. He placed his fingers on the healed wound and focused inward, trying to feel where his spirit touched the brand. At first, he couldn''t feel anything. The magic was fairly weak and unassuming. As he focused more, however, he could feel the simple sigil that governed the spell. It felt familiar, but he didn''t know from where or what its purpose was. It was some form of black magic, however. He would need to study further to figure it out.


    The goblin came back and poked his small head in. As he did, Abad dropped his hand. "My good sir, here are your clothes." The creature''s eyes gleamed when he saw Zethira in what he likely assumed was a compromising act. Abad wanted to burn the look off the disgusting creature''s face. Her usual scowl returned as she heard him.


    The simple clothes Keila had given him looked clean and pressed. He would be a real man after this. He nodded to the small creature, who exited, leaving the door open this time. Abad shut the door again, giving himself and Zethari some measure of modesty as they dressed. When they finished, Abad reached for the door, but she stopped him.


    "What do you intend to do?" Her voice held none of the hardness of before. Instead, there was a sliver of desperation.


    "My only goal is to find my path. To do that, I need money, so I''ll have to find work. After that, I have no goals as of now."


    A few tense seconds passed before she spoke again. "Will you bring ruin to the Te''ra?"


    "No, I don''t intend to. I don''t care much for them, but I have neither the power nor desire to do so." He tried to open the door, but she held his arm."


    "I know you do." He sighed. "You are meant for more than this. But I can''t break the bond you have to the establishment or its master. At least not yet."


    "Could you help me kill him? You are a Nightstalker. You choose who lives and dies. I might go free if you did."


    That solution would be far easier, but also more complicated. He didn''t particularly want to kill anyone. "I don''t believe that''s the best course of action for me right now. Especially if my road ahead is going to be as difficult as you say." He tried to move, but she held him fast.


    Her golden eyes looked into his. "Are you a kind master?"


    The question caught him off guard. Only the little imp had called him master in an age. Was he a kind master? He didn''t know. He suspected the opposite had been true.


    "I am no one''s master anymore. The only one who called me that is gone, and I can''t find her."


    "All Sod''ra are masters. You cannot help it. It is in your nature to rule."


    He hesitated. Was that true? He would be a liar if he said he hadn''t thought of it. Having loyal followers who enacted his will in the world. Even if he found a path separate from the one he once walked, he would need allies if he wanted to reclaim his former power. But did he truly want to relive his history? He knew where that path ended.


    She continued, seeing him hesitate, "I am no fool. I see how they look at me. What they expect of me. I see what the others do. I have avoided my fate thus far, but I... will not be able to do so forever. And I cannot find Rennar stuck here in this cage. Claim me, Nightstalker, and I will serve you faithfully and proudly."


    He thought on it a moment. She was strong. Capable. Proud. But that''s not what he wanted. He thought about the party he''d traveled with and the siblings. He wanted allies. Friends. Not servants. "I don''t want any servants. I''m sorry." His mind roiled. If these creatures were creations made by his fellows, how much responsibility did he hold to help them? His mind said little, but his heart said much. "But I will find a way to help you. I promise you that."


    <hr><hr>


    [Oath to Zethari]: You swear an oath to Zethari, vowing to aid in her liberation and prove your commitment to her people by confronting her captor¡¯s allies or dismantling a significant element of the forces that keep her bound.


    <hr><hr>


    Her eyes filled with relief. She must have seen it too.


    He opened the door. "Give me time."

 XXVIII. An Expedition to the Wall

    After his bath, Abad went back to the Green Lady. He changed his [Mask of Many Faces] back to his familiar image on the way. It was late afternoon by the time he returned, but none of the siblings had made it back to the inn. Having neither a room nor money, he sat down at one of the small tables in the corner of the tavern and finally pulled out the bloodstained, heavily charred spellbook that he had found on the road.


    He hadn''t had the time or the willingness to study it while he traveled, and even if he had, he was so drained that the attempt wouldn''t have been worthwhile. His spirit was only now recovering from his little stunt against the trolls, and even the act of transferring a small amount of life force to Zethari had taxed him. He hoped that by taking the [Life I] perk, he would avoid moments like that in the future.


    He wondered to himself why he had done what he did in the baths. He was under no obligation to help Zethari, and he certainly wasn''t in any condition to purchase her. He admittedly had no idea how he''d manage to gather the funds necessary to do so. However, thinking about the moment he shared with the wolf girl, he smiled. Even if it was a struggle to admit it, it felt... not bad to help her. Still, doing so would take time and resources he didn''t have. His sense of self-preservation, a constant companion in his life, was failing him lately.


    Not being able to do anything about it then, he shook the thought away.


    Pulling the book out of his sack and placing it in the table, he marveled at the thing. He couldn''t believe it had survived. The book didn''t look like much. It had a thick cloth-bound cover with a few simple preservation enchantments stitched into the fabric. However, as he peeled the front open, there were more runes carved into the back of the cover. The owner or original maker had taken their time to protect the thing. He appreciated that. He had gone to many lengths to protect his own belongings, and he could completely understand the care that the owner had put into the book.


    He flipped the book over and opened the back cover. There were many more runes carved into the back as well, but what caught his eye more was some text on the final page. He hadn''t noticed the writing when he briefly scanned the book over on the road, and something inside of him danced at the realization that he could potentially learn more secrets from whoever the mage was. Flipping through the pages, he realized that the previous owner had kept a diary that she had written on the final pages of the book.


    Looking around to ensure he''d be left alone, he saw a maid heading toward him. He waved her off, then began to read. The handwriting was neat, precise, and written in an efficient cursive script.


    <hr>


    To the one who finds this spellbook,


    My name is Barha Yein. I''m a mage of some small power and a scholar of little renown. I hope my spellbook finds you well. If you''re reading this, it means that I have fallen, either by harm on the trail or, hopefully, after dying a peaceful death surrounded by loved ones. If the former, I pray my death was quick and painless. I have always feared conflict and don''t wish to suffer. However, whatever happens, it is the Goddess''s will. I must take solace in that. I''ve decided to keep a small journal of my journey to the wall. It is a rather dangerous trip, and I''d hate for what I find to be lost. Ideally, I''ll use these notes to inform my scholarly work when I return. However, the world is a dangerous place, and my work researching the walls, which is my specialty, suggests that I should keep a memento in case I don''t return.


    <hr>


    5E 443, 16th Gloamsend


    As I said before, I was hired to travel with a group of investigators to the Great Wall. After the quakes several months ago, new holes have been reported along the Wall south of the Tower of the Moon. An agent came to the guild and said they needed a mage. Since I''m one of three mages in Farnfoss, and I''m the only one who actively studies the Wall, I accepted the offer to join the expedition. In truth, I took the job without hesitation. My academic curiosity was peaked, and the money was more than lucrative. I''ll be able to live well for some time on what they''re offering¡ªthree hundred crystals! I''ll be able to move out of the southern district and to the western one with that kind of money!


    Here''s to hoping it all goes smoothly. I purchased a powerful fire spell in case we run into any undead out there, and there are reports of trolls to the north. I''m not well-versed in that kind of magic, but I should be able to pull it off.


    <hr>


    5E 443, 22nd Gloamsend


    It took us five days to reach the Wall. When we did, we found that it had in fact collapsed south of the Tower of the Moon, and the hole was much larger than I expected! I wonder what we''ll find inside?


    Since we arrived, we''ve encountered small numbers of undead and other foul creatures of the wilds in larger numbers than we anticipated, but aside from losing one of our guards to a ghoul attack, we''ve remained largely safe. It''s a shame about the man, but that''s the price of knowledge. There is little to report yet, but I''ll write soon. This little diary is helping keep my mind straight.


    <hr>


    5E 443, 24th Gloamsend


    We spent two days mapping and scouting the opening, and tomorrow we''re going to move on inside. I''m beyond excited.


    <hr>


    5E 443, 25th Gloamsend


    We started exploring the wall''s interior today. So few people have ever stepped inside the Wall before. I feel like I''m exploring new ground! How will the guild see me if I published my findings? Who knows? I might end up a professor in Saern if I find something in here. We''ve had to fight through undead since we arrived, but most of them are dry and old. They hardly put up a challenge. I''m going to pray it remains so.


    <hr>


    5E 443, 26th Gloamsend


    I got to investigating more today. The monsters have been more frequent and powerful within, but thanks to the excellent mercenaries hired from that patron named Bolton every talks about by High Lord Stralvor, I''ve been mostly left to my own devices. Because of them, I''ve largely been free to do my research.


    What I''ve found so far has been concerning. The ancient enchantments lining this section''s interior have largely failed, which I can only assume led to the collapse. Worse, for as far into the walls as we''ve ventured, most of the wards within appear inactive. If this is the case through the entire Wall, I fear what will come in the future. It''s possible the decay is limited to only this section, but I find that unlikely. There is very little ambient mana charging these seals, and what mana is available has gone to feeding the monsters and undead we''ve encountered.


    While it''s true that the walls bordering Nolei and Evron are more decayed than the others, I can''t believe that the damage hasn''t spread elsewhere, and word from the west suggests that the walls there have crumbled in Istaera as well, but that''s beyond the scrope of my current research.


    Tomorrow, we''re going to push further into the walls. The structure appears stable enough, though our resident dwarf says that there is some small risk of the stone collapsing.He assured us it should be relatively safe, however.


    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    I''ve never been one to journal, but this is actually keeping me sane.


    In addition to my little ramblings, I''m including drawings of the sigils and seals I''ve found inside. Most of them are protection and preservation sigils, at least as far as I can tell. Once I return to Farnfoss, I''d like to try my hand at replicating them. Ta-Li''s going to be so jealous!


    <hr>


    Abad''s interest was peaked. The sigils were in fact old protection seals from before his time. They weren''t magics he was proficient in, but if he took up enchanting again, he might be able to replicate them.


    He appreciated the woman''s thoroughness. Every detail of the seals was replicated in the book. He often appreciated that about scholars. He''d always enjoyed their company since his own passions and interests were somewhat aligned with theirs. However, he often got irritated with the scholarly penchant for descending into pedantry and theory instead of action. That, coupled with their lack of material ambition, meant they spent more time arguing in their towers than making their will known in the world. What point was there for all that knowledge without a desire to use it? This scholar, it seemed, had some measure of ambition more than the average mage. He found himself wishing he could have met her.


    He flipped to the next page and continued reading.


    <hr>


    5E 443, 28th Gloamsend


    We made significant progress yesterday, but things haven''t gone well. While exploring one of the many corridors we found, a small group of revenants of some kind attacked us. Though we dispatched them quickly enough, several of our men were injured, which meant we had to slow our pace. I tried to continue my explorations, but between my nerves and the injured, I struggled to make any meaningful progress. Worse still, a sense of unease has fallen over the group. We''ve found some evidence of tampering within the walls. While old, it is clear someone created runes to counter the old protections.


    Worse, there are noises deeper into the Wall. Many in our group are considering returning to the wagons, but I''ve asked if we can wait a little while longer. I framed my suggestion as if the injured men should rest, but the truth is I feel like I''ve only just started my research. I pray that they can hold on a little longer. As long as we can rely on the priest''s light, we should be able to remain here. I found an interesting rune in the room that the revenants came out of. I''d like to analyze it further.


    <hr>


    5E 443, 29th Gloamsend


    When the first cracks in the Wall appeared, many were shocked to learn that they were filled with monsters. Soon after, undead began to populate them. The necromantic arts were banned centuries ago for obvious reasons, and the number of times they''ve been created in recent days is thankfully few. Finding such creatures within what was thought to be a hallowed space like the Wall was a shock to my brethren centuries ago. I wonder what they would think if they learned the sheer number of the creatures buried within?


    We lost one of our men last night in another attack. Our expedition leader made the call to return to the outside. I suppose he''s making the right call.


    Alas, I have little time to write more. I have drawn the sigil I found deep inside the wall. I don''t understand its purpose at all. I''ll have to replicate it when we return to Farnfoss.


    <hr>


    Abad looked over the sigil. As he did, his mind spun. A rune flashed to life in his mind''s eye, and its description burned itself onto his scroll.


    <hr><hr>


    [Secrets of the Wall]: By reading the last words of one destined to die, you have regained a portion of your former strength. Though only a small kernel of knowledge, these words unlock further understanding.


    You gain the [Black Magic] Warlock talent.


    [Black Magic] (Passive): You possess an affinity for dark, potent forces that lie beyond the mortal realm. Shadows and negative energies respond to your call, enabling subtle manipulation of fear, weakness, and despair in others. You may now learn Black Magic spells, tapping into powers that corrupt the living, obscure perception, and invoke primal dread.


    You learn the [Corruption] Black Magic spell.


    [Corruption] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?): Draw on the shadows to infuse a target with negative energy, weakening their defenses and dulling their senses. This spell saps the target¡¯s physical and mental resilience, leaving them vulnerable to further attacks and susceptible to effects that prey on fear and confusion.


    You reach Level XI


    You have unlocked the maximum number of talents for the [Warlock] class. You may now unlock a class specialization by finding and completing a class specialization quest.


    <hr><hr>


    He felt the final talent meld with the seal in his spirit that signified his class. He couldn''t help but grin as the seal "flashed" as his final talent unlocked. He''d done it! He finally had a taste of the power he once wielded. And [Corruption]? The spell itself was weak, more an inconvenience that anything overwhelmingly deadly, but that was inconsequential. Unlocking the ability to harness the dark energies once again would be more valuable than any weapon in his arsenal in time, and the uses of the dark arts themselves would grow and increase his power significantly. This was a tangible step forward in his path to power. He thanked the woman for her sacrifice.


    However, why had the sigil for [Corruption] been carved into the Wall in the first place? Who had done it? For what end? He wanted to go there and see it himself. If one spell could be learned, perhaps more awaited in the boundary of Elysium?


    He continued reading, hoping to find more clues within the text.


    <hr>


    5e 443, 32nd Gloamsend


    It has been some days. I have not had time to write. Things have worsened. Another member of our team died today. We don''t know how. Something attacked him when he was out of sight. Whatever it was left only bloody stains behind. I''ve come to regret requesting we stay longer. We marched all day and night and are only stopping to rest for an hour before moving on. We hope to escape by tomorrow evening.


    <hr>


    5E 443, 1st Solclaim


    Two more have disappeared. This place is not for mortals like us, and I feel eyes watching us at all hours. We''ve made it most of the way back to the entrance, but we haven''t escaped yet. No one slept. We''ve hardly eaten. I only managed to close my eyes for a brief hour before being awoken by screams. We searched for the guards but found nothing except a broken sword and shredded armor. The others think it''s the undead, but I''m not so sure. I can just barely sense something in the shadows, and ghouls leave bones.


    <hr>


    5E 443, 2nd Solclaim


    <hr>


    We made it back to the wagons by midday. I cannot remember feeling such relief before in my whole life. All thoughts of rewards have fled me. I simply wish to get home. Once I get some sleep, I plan on documenting everything I experienced within the Wall and sharing my notes with the Guild. The High Lord must consider sealing the walls so that no one else can enter and nothing can escape. There are horrors within that place. Every shadow moves, and each sound holds hidden malevolence. I''ve heard tales of terrible places where the veil between realms wears thin, creating rifts or gateways to other places, and I suspect that the interior of the wall is one such place. We are five days away from Farnfoss. I eagerly await returning there.


    <hr>


    5E 443, 3rd Solclaim


    We found a child on the way. He wasn''t injured but was scared. We''ve taken him back with us. He said his parents were eaten by monsters. What else is out here with us?


    <hr>


    5E 443, 4th Solclaim


    There are noises in the forest. They sound like wolves, but I fear they are much worse. I may not survive. Goddess preserve us.


    <hr>


    That was the last entry in the journal. Turning the book to face its normal orientation, Abad thought for a while.


    The sounds she had heard in the last entry may have been the trolls, but perhaps not. He had seen firsthand the carnage they had inflicted, but something seemed off. And why had the boy been in the forest? He supposed the boy never said his mother and father were in the caravan, but that seemed flimsy. He wished he had known the significance of the brands at that time. He couldn''t recall the shape of the brand on the boy''s neck. Who was he claimed by? Why was he out there?


    Still, if what she wrote was accurate, there was knowledge within the walls that he wished to acquire, but he doubted he had anywhere near the power to face whatever was within alone. Perhaps in time, he would have the resources necessary to do so, but today wasn''t that day.


    The woman had mentioned "the guild" several times throughout her writings. He wondered which guild she meant. It was unlikely she meant the Adventurer''s Guild. From what he had learned from Firtz and the girls, that guild wasn''t associated with scholarship. Perhaps Keila or the brothers could point him in the right direction? At the same time, why had Bolton''s company been involved in the search, and why hadn''t the siblings known about it? He supposed they didn''t know everything their patron did, and they had come from the north, but it still seemed odd.


    He needed to know more.

 XXIX. A Bright Spot in the Slums

    After a few hours, Abad had managed to memorize the [Candlelight] spell. It wasn''t as powerful as [Burn the Weak], but it also didn''t burn with deep red hellfire, so that was something. However, to his eternal shame, the second and third circle spells would take him much longer to learn. He found it frustrating how much more slowly he could ingest information now. If the Goddess''s system offered him a [Focus] or [Comprehension] perk in the future, he decided he would take it.


    By the time he had finished his studies, it was dark outside. His head was throbbing by the time Keila sauntered through the door from whatever errands she had been doing. When she saw him, she smiled and made her way over to his table. He stashed the spellbook and invited her to sit.


    "Always keeping yourself busy, I see." Her eyes sparkled.


    "It''s in my blood. I can''t help myself."


    "Well, would you like to eat with me tonight? Or are you too busy to spend time with me?" She pretended to pout.


    "I can make an exception this time." She sat down before he even finished his sentence.


    Within moments, they had ordered their dishes. He had intended to order an inexpensive meal so as to not be a burden to the woman, but she insisted he order whatever he wanted. When he still ordered simple fare, she took over and ordered for both of them. When the food came, his stomach grumbled violently. Before him sat a massive steak cut fresh and bread slathered in butter and honey. Abad ate and drank happily. It was by far the best meal he had eaten in five hundred years.


    They kept their conversation light. Neither of them was particularly interested in offering up much about themselves or their dealings, so they instead exchanged banter and flirted between the many rounds of alcohol the woman ended up ordering for them. Before long, they ended up in her bedroom.


    ***


    Abad awoke with Keila''s body pressed against him. She was breathing softly in the early morning light, which trickled through the curtained window of her small room at the Green Lady. The window gave him his first good view of the Goddess''s tower since he had woken up. It was beautiful. While the tower itself was merely a sliver cutting high into the sky, the orb at its top had begun to glow with a warm radiance that lit the world below. It was magnificent. He felt an unfamiliar tug in his spirit. The part of him that was born of the sun called him toward it, pulling him toward his people''s legacy. A somber thought filled him then. The things he had done... he was forsaken by his own people and the Goddess herself. He would never be welcome there.


    Shaking away those unpleasant thoughts, he forced his eyes away from the tower and looked around the room. Like most finer frontier inns, the room was well-furnished with rich woods and tapestries adorning the walls. The furniture was simple and rustic, with heavy iron nails and intricate joints binding the room and its belongings together. A small desk was against the wall opposite the bed, and he could see a pile of papers and quills laid neatly on top, along with a small wax cylinder and stamps. A chest of drawers stood sentry beside it.


    He hadn''t realized the woman was so connected to her patron''s doings. When he had met her and her brothers on the road, he assumed she was a simple trader or lowly caravan merchant, but after their discussions, he concluded her position was more significant. That was useful, and more, it was interesting. He was grateful that Shani had sent her to him. Not only had she likely saved him from another troll attack, but she had given him a willing companion. He had missed the touch of another, and the kindness she showed him warmed something within.


    As his thoughts flowed and he considered what the coming days might hold, the woman stirred beside him. Slowly, she woke up, patted him on the chest, and got ready for the day. He watched as her freckled, fit body was quickly covered with finely cut and colored merchant''s clothes. When she finished belting her belt, she threw him some new clothes. She had been a kind benefactor since the day he had met her, and that kindness was still being extended. After he dressed, she handed him another pouch of crystals. When he tried to resist, she claimed that the money she spent on him was well worth it considering the entertainment he provided her. She called it performance pay.


    Shortly after, she grabbed a satchel and turned to leave the room, so he dressed, slung the battered spellbook he found over his shoulder, and followed her. The two exited her room and made their way to the dining room, where her brothers were already seated. Serus was practically green, which Abad learned was normal for the man, and Rhys had a large smile on his face. Keila told him the night before that he had, in fact, been enjoying the brothels after all and was currently sweet on a woman who worked in one. However, before Kiela could tease him, he got the first word in.


    "Look at the two lovebirds! Looks like she really did sink her claws into you, you damn elf bastard. Keep showing up like this, and I might force you to make her an honest woman!" Rhys was all smiles. Serus groaned at his brother''s loud voice.


    "Don''t know if anyone can make me honest, Rhys." She rolled her eyes.


    "Ain''t that the truth."


    "How''s your favorite whore doing?" Keila prodded at her brother, which Abad had learned was a daily ritual. He was beginning to enjoy their banter. The bickering was part of their charm.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    "Excuse me, but she is a courtesan. Big difference." He turned his nose up and pretended to be upset.


    "Fancy whore," Serus added, sweat pouring from his brow. A serving woman brought the suffering man some juice, which he downed as fast as it appeared.


    "Damn right she is." Rhys huffed and downed a full glass of juice. "Said she wants to run off with me. Leave all this shit behind, start a new life somewhere out in the fields where she can grow wheat or some shit."


    "And you said..."


    "Hell no. I''m not cut out for farming." Rhys laughed.


    "Better than our job," Serus groaned. "Least you''d be free."


    They all quieted down for a moment before breaking into conversation again.


    "Speaking of our work, we have news." She shot her brothers a glance.


    "Yeah?"


    "Bolton''s coming tomorrow afternoon, and we''re going to receive our next shipment of goods in two or three days. After that, we''re heading northwest." She was all business then. That was the dichotomy that was Keila.


    "Where to?"


    "A city called West Dronar."


    "Never been, but I heard it''s nice. You coming, Elfie?" Rhys asked as their food arrived.


    Keila gave Abad a look, then spoke. "You''ll meet with Bolton, right? See if he''ll hire you to help. He''s been notified about you and is eager to meet."


    He knew he wouldn''t ever serve another, but he didn''t want to turn her down outright. "I will. Just tell me when." She gave him another look he couldn''t quite place, but before he could consider it, it was gone, replaced with her usual smirk.


    She stood and stretched, shot him a wink, and grabbed her pack. "Well, I''ve got work to do before Bolton gets here. You boys behave." With those words, she vanished out the front door of the inn.


    Abad tried to get more information out of the brothers, but they were engrossed in their meals and spoke little. Before long, the three men finished eating. After breakfast, he bid the brothers goodbye and left to wander the town.


    ***


    By the time he made it to the east market district, the tower was shining brightly. Taking in the sights and sounds of the town, he steeled himself against the smell and told himself that he''d find something to enjoy while out. Pulling the sack of crystals out from his belt, he counted twenty-five of the stones this time. Performance pay indeed.


    Like before, there were vendors and hawkers of all kinds in the market, but he figured he''d do well finding new gear this day. He wouldn''t stay in Farnfoss forever, so he might as well start the process now. He made his way to a general supply shop and purchased a backpack, a cast iron pan, a sleeping blanket, and a variety of other odds and ends to round out his travel supplies. From there, he made his way to a tailor and purchased a new cloak. His funds were nearly spent, so he stopped, making sure he kept enough for some jerky or trail rations. He didn''t want to assume Keila would continue to fund him, but he had a feeling she''d keep trying.


    After his purchases were complete, he continued making his way through the market. Now that he had what he needed, he''d be able to observe the people. The same mishmash of races was present as before. Humans, elves, dwarves, gnomes, beastkin, and more. All were engrossed in their own goings-on. However, he noted as he observed that many of the poorer members of the crowd had brands that marked them as claimed.


    Deciding to leave the main thoroughfare, he cut down a nearby alley. A young boy dashed past him, carrying what looked to be some apples, followed shortly by an angry vendor running in his direction. Before the man could catch up, Abad pretended to accidentally knock over a plank of wood, and the man splattered onto the ground in a heap. Picking himself up and cursing, the man shot Abad a look that could kill, but the warlock simply shrugged his shoulders. Cursing, the vendor continued to give chase. Abad laughed. He''d been a street urchin once. The boy deserved those apples.


    When he reached the end of the alley, he crossed through another small side street and continued on down another alley. It was dark and narrow and didn''t smell any better than the streets, but he felt at ease there. There was something comforting about the unlit pathways. He supposed others wouldn''t feel so safe in such confines, but to him, he felt most at home there, where it was easy to lose himself in the winding streets.


    He let his feet carry him wherever they wished, and soon he was in a completely different part of town. The hustle and bustle of the market was replaced with the worn down, quiet desperation that marked places riddled with poverty. The area he was in was dirty and cluttered. Trash and debris filled the streets, and the houses were falling apart and abandoned. Several buildings he assumed were derelict had small heads poking out of the windows, watching him warily as he walked by. The infirm and poor sat against the buildings, silently begging for anything passersby might offer. Still listening to his instincts, he gave the worst-looking of the homeless a crystal. The man thanked him, but Abad merely waved him off.


    The only bright spot in the whole slum seemed to be a temple, its doors opened wide. Several people were visible in prayer and meditation inside, and a portly, elderly human handed out food and bread to whoever approached him. As he did, he greeted them, blessed them, and patted them on the shoulders. Abad almost smiled. His childhood home was similar to this one. It was cold and dirty and bitter, but the people did their best to look out for one another, and a priest similar to this one had served the community well. He had even given Abad treats in the festival times... at least until they learned what he truly was. A flash of the man''s face, screwed up in righteous anger, torch in hand, filled Abad''s mind. He felt an old anger well up in him, but he shook it off.


    Walking to the priest, Abad said, "You have a very kind spirit, sir. The children will remember you well for the kindness you show them." He placed a crystal in the bucket at the man''s feet.


    The old man groaned as he lifted himself up from his stooped position and wiped crumbs from his white robes. "Thank you, my son. The Goddess smiles on your generosity."


    "I can only hope."


    "There is no need to hope. What brings you to our fair town?" The elderly priest asked.


    "A series of events somewhat out of my control brought me here. But I seek to find my path now."


    "Oh yes? And what path might that be?"


    It was a simple question, but he didn''t have an answer. "I suppose I''m still discovering that for myself."


    "I would say trust in the Goddess, but I sense that you are not the type to believe." His eyes seemed to pierce through Abad. "Be wary, stranger. If you choose not to walk the paths laid out for us, you risk walking a lonely road indeed. Know that we are all instruments of the Goddess''s will, whether we intend to be or not. May She guide you on your path." With those words, the elderly priest patted his arm, placed a treat in his palm, and went back to distributing bread and blessings to those who sought them.


    Abad bowed his head in respect and said goodbye, unsure how to respond to the man''s ominous message. Turning, he continued on his journey, unsure of where his feet would take him.

 XXX. Act Three Character Sheets

    Abad-Shai


    Shadowspawn Elf Warlock of the Mask


    Level XI


    <hr>


    Elf


    ??¡î¡î¡î


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Fey Senses II] (Passive/Active, Reserve ?): Elves possess heightened perception, blending their superior physical senses with an innate connection to magic. You can see in the dark, hear acutely, and use mana to detect magic around you if you dedicate mana to this ability. At rank II, your physical and magical senses are more honed and precise.


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    The Mask


    ???¡î¡î


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Illusion Magic] (Passive): You have the ability to weave subtle deceptions, clouding perception and bending reality to your will. You can learn spells that create illusions, deceive the senses, and manipulate perceptions of the world around you.


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Mask of Many Faces] (2nd Circle, Active, Reserve ??): Due to being born under the sign of the Mask, you can dedicate a portion of your mana to change subtle elements of your appearance.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Shadowspawn


    ?????


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Dark One''s Shadow] (Passive): As an inheritor of the Dark One¡¯s essence, you are immortal and do not age past your prime. You also require less food, water, and air to survive, but you bear the marks of corruption upon your body.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Devour the Weak] (Passive): Damage you inflict heals a small amount of your life force. Your magic is particularly potent against beings that share your dark heritage.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Embrace of the Abyss] (Passive): Darkness and shadows strengthen you. When in darkness or shadow, you gain an increase to your physical abilities equal to one rank of any physical enhancement, and existing enhancements grow one rank stronger. You also gain the become difficult to detect with both physical and magical senses as long as you¡¯re in darkness, stacking with ranks of the [Stealth] enhancement.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Warlock


    ????¡î


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Summoning]: (Passive): You can call forth entities from other realms, who lend you their strength and skills. You can learn spells that summon, bind, and empower creatures and objects to serve and protect you.


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Familiar] (1st circle, Active, Reserve ?): As a warlock, you have permanently dedicated a portion of your mana to summon and bond with a mythical creature that serves as your familiar.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Blood Magic II] (Passive): Your life force fuels your magic, allowing you to cast additional spells at the cost of health. You can learn spells that draw on blood and life energy to strengthen your casting. At Rank II, your mastery over blood magic deepens, allowing you to draw on your life force with greater efficiency, casting blood-fueled spells at a reduced health cost. This level of skill also enables you to learn more advanced Blood Magic spells, expanding your arsenal in exchange for careful management of your own vitality.


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Essence Transfer] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?+?/?): The user can transfer a small amount of health or mana to or from a willing target.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Sanguine Gift] (2nd Circle, Active, Cost ?+?): Sacrifice a portion of your life force to briefly grant yourself or an ally enhanced reflexes, strength, and stamina, amplifying their physical abilities in a burst of vitality.


    </li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Fire Magic] (Passive): You wield the essence of flame, strengthening your power over physical and spiritual fires and increasing your resistance to them. You can learn spells that summon, control, and unleash fire in its many forms.


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Burn the Weak] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?): You conjure a small, searing flame that can be thrown at creatures within sight, igniting and inflicting fire damage. This spell is especially effective against vulnerable or injured enemies, dealing additional damage to those already weakened.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Candlelight] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?): You conjure a small flame that can be used to ignite inanimate objects and inflict small amounts of fire damage to a target.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">: Launches a small flame projectile toward an enemy, enough to cause minor burns or ignite flammable objects.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li>[Black Magic] (Passive): You possess an affinity for dark, potent forces that lie beyond the mortal realm. Shadows and negative energies respond to your call, enabling subtle manipulation of fear, weakness, and despair in others. You may now learn Black Magic spells, tapping into powers that corrupt the living, obscure perception, and invoke primal dread.


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Corruption] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?): Draw on the shadows to infuse a target with negative energy, weakening their defenses and dulling their senses. This spell saps the target¡¯s physical and mental resilience, leaving them vulnerable to further attacks and susceptible to effects that prey on fear and confusion.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Enhancements


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Mana I] (Passive, Perk II): Increase your mana reserves by a small amount, allowing you to cast more spells.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Mana II] (Passive, Perk VIII): Increases your mana reserves by a sizeable amount, allowing for greater spellcasting endurance and more complex incantations.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Potence I] (Passive, Perk IV): Increase the potency of your spells, increasing their range, power, and duration by a small amount.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Potence II] (Passive, Perk VI): Further amplifies the strength of your spells, making each cast more impactful and destructive. This enhancement also slightly reduces resistance to your spells, increasing the chance of bypassing defenses.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Life I] (Perk X): Fortifies your life force slightly, making you sturdier and harder to wear down in combat.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    TitlesA case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Lord of Nothing]: Mockingly bestowed upon you by your former servant and ally Nocturne, you are marked as one who wanders lost, forgotten by both allies and enemies. You have lost everything and everyone you have ever known and will be forced to wander, struggling to claim anything, until you find the thing that you aren''t willing to sacrifice in your path to power.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Master of the Vault]: Bestowed upon you by the mighty Grimoire, last creation of the Archmage Aughra, this title marks you as a true keeper of lost knowledge and forgotten relics. You will always know in what direction your vault lies and the best path to get there, and you have a second sense for finding valuable items and equipment.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Eater]: Bestowed by the troll Graul, this title marks you as one who consumes what others would discard, taking strength from the remnants. When you consume the essence of an enemy, you gain a brief but potent surge of energy, temporarily enhancing your body, mind, and spirit, and sometimes catching glimpses of their final memories or emotions.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Nightstalker]: With the silence of a stalking predator, you move without sound. When following an unaware target, your perception sharpens, revealing even the slightest movements of your prey.


    </li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Quests


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Walk a Thousand Miles]: You have lost your sense of purpose, and the world is now a mystery to you. Travel the land and discover your path.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Power Lost, Power Gained]: You have lost your former power. Regain your former glory, that you may reclaim your place in this world.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Finders Keepers]: Your personal belongings have been stolen. Of them, your cloak, your scepter, and your spellbook are most precious to you. Take them back.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">


    [Oath to Zethari]: You swore an oath to Zethari, vowing to aid in her liberation and prove your commitment to her people by confronting her captor¡¯s allies or dismantling a significant element of the forces that keep her bound.


    </li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Equipment


    <ul>


    <li>[Traveler''s Spellbook]: A simple spellbook of middling quality. It has a strap, allowing the wielder to carry it with ease.


    <ul>


    <li>


    1st Circle Spells


    [Arcane Light]: A simple spell to conjure a glowing orb, illuminating dark paths for a limited duration.


    [Stone Shield]: Summons a small barrier of stone in front of the caster, offering brief protection from minor attacks.


    [Candlelight]: You conjure a small flame that can be used to ignite inanimate objects and inflict small amounts of fire damage on a target.


    [Swift Step]: Temporarily enhances the caster''s speed, useful for quick escapes or covering short distances faster.


    2nd Circle Spells


    [Mirror Image]: Creates several illusionary duplicates of the caster.


    [Gust]: Summons a controlled burst of wind, useful for pushing back enemies or clearing light obstacles.


    [Arcane Bolt]: Fires a bolt of magical force, dealing moderate damage to enemies.


    [Invisibility]: Causes the caster to go invisible until they attack or cast another spell.


    3rd Circle Spell


    [Flaming Sphere]: Conjures a medium-sized rolling sphere of fire that the caster can control for a limited time, dealing significant burn damage to anything in its path.


    </li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Achievements


    <ul>


    <li>[If You Only Had a Heart]: Through the ashes of your former glory, you have found a new source of power: compassion. By opening yourself to another''s suffering, you gain the ability to both give and take the essence that binds all living things.</li>


    <li>[Consume the Pain]: You have found the remnants of a tortured soul¡ªits body chained to a bed, its empty eyes seeming to plead for release. The corpse''s suffering lingers, trapped in the essence that lingers in its old bones. By consuming it, you grow stronger.</li>


    <li>[Make the Impossible Possible]: Only the daring reject common sense and drill their way to a greater tomorrow. For successfully casting a spell you were certain you wouldn''t survive casting, you grow stronger.</li>


    <li>[Shards of the Dark Lord]: You have found and consumed a fragment of your progenitor''s power. Through His dark might, you grow stronger</li>


    <li>[The Hunted]: By using your senses to hunt those who would hunt you and your allies, you have your perception to a greater degree. You have honed your elven senses to a greater degree.</li>


    <li>[You Are Strongest]: By dredging up forgotten abilities from your past life, you were able to defeat Graul the troll, a creature far stronger than you, and absorbed his dark essence. In being willing to sacrifice everything, you have grown stronger.</li>


    <li>[A New Friend in Need]: Through an unexpected act of compassion, you healed a person in need while expecting nothing in return. This selfless gesture stirs something deep within you, awakening a new spell.</li>


    <li>[Secrets of the Wall]: By reading the last words of one destined to die, you have regained a portion of your former strength. Though only a small kernel of knowledge, these words unlock further understanding.</li>


    </ul>

 XXXI. No Reason to Get Involved

    It was evening before Abad discovered a new part of town that wasn''t just dilapidated slums. By that point in his journey, he had noticed his surroundings had taken a drastic turn from bad to worse. There was more trash. More homeless. More anxious parents and bony children. More desperation. However, as he came across a large square filled with dozens of shabby stands, he realized he had found something new.


    It didn''t look like much, but it was still an improvement. Most of the stands were filled with old, wilted produce and shoddy wares, but the buildings had been painted sometime in the last decade, and each one had a door. Where the eastern marketplace was packed with shops selling everything under the tower to reasonably affluent townsfolk, here dozens of women with bright clothes and painted faces leaned against the wall of a gaudy building on the far side of the square, while beggars fought to clean the shoes of disinterested customers. Signs advertising gambling, alcohol, and more promised debauchery around every corner. The sheer desperation of it all brought a smile to his old soul. He was home.


    He saw many similarities between this place and his memories of Eran. There were places to gamble, smoke, drink, fuck, buy wares, both honest or stolen, or beat someone half to death within sight. And signs of violence, whether a black eye or a missing tooth or bruising on the wrists, were everywhere. It wasn''t quite a mirror to his home long ago, but he enjoyed the sense of familiarity he had felt ever since turning south in Farnfoss. He couldn''t say he liked it necessarily, but it was nostalgic. He could feel the struggle.


    As he passed through the stands of junk, he stopped a couple of times to listen in on the talk around him. There was a lot of gossip to overhear, but very little information to digest, unfortunately. However, as he was about to move on, he heard a familiar voice coming from an alley alongside the gaudy building. Walking over and turning the corner, he saw Rhys, clearly drunk and teetering, laughing and telling jokes with a group of men. Abad went to take a step toward him but remembered that he wouldn''t recognize him with his Arun-Sun disguise. So instead, he listened.


    "...And I swear, if I had known that girl was Fey''ra, I''d have jumped ship. Fucking dog. Should''ve smelled it. Bitch had some enchantment hiding her ears, but the fucking tail was right there, and I didn''t even notice it! Even had fleas!" The men he was with, an unsavory group of thugs by the look of them, all cackled. Rhys threw back the bottle in his hand and downed the last of the brown liquid inside. "Alright boys, I''ve got more in me tonight. I''m off."


    Rhys started walking toward Abad, his steps unsteady as he did. Abad watched as he muttered to himself, but just as they would have collided, Rhys looked up, and their eyes met. For a moment, he seemed confused. The man''s bleary eyes searched his, but not finding what he was looking for, his face screwed up in a sneer. "Fuck you looking at, elfie? You wanna end up like the last guy who fucked with me?" The men behind him chuckled.


    "What happened to the last guy who challenged you?"


    Rhys''s mouth twisted into a cruel grin. "Why don''t you try me and find out?"


    "You''re drunk." Abad could feel his anger rise. He would have never allowed someone to speak like this to him in the past. He quelled the violent impulse.


    "Damn right, I am. And I''m about to get me some. Tail or not, Fey''ra girls are fucking great in the sack." Rhys grinned. His teeth were stained red with wine. "Not that I''d expect some small pricked elf like you to understand. Now get the fuck out of my way."


    "Don''t let me stop you." Abad moved aside to let the man go past. As Rhys passed, he thrust his shoulder into Abad''s chest and patted his cheek.


    "Good elf. You know your place." He brushed past and disappeared around the corner. A moment later a door opened, and he heard the man''s loud voice fill the interior of the brothel.


    Abad frowned as Rhys disappeared. The man had never acted like that before. He wasn''t exactly kind, but he''d always had an easy wit and charm about him. The man he just interacted with was nothing like the one he had breakfast with. While alcohol sometimes brought out the worst in people, he realized he had never really gotten to know the brothers that well. Both of them, and even Keila to an extent, kept their inner worlds private. He hadn''t minded since he also didn''t want to share much, but it occurred to him that he didn''t really know them at all. He had only ever assumed the brothers were simpletons driven by their baser desires, but that assumption might need reassessing.


    Deciding he''d seen enough of that spot, Abad walked away, but when he looked over his shoulder, he noticed the thugs were eying him like vultures looking for fresh meat.


    ***


    As he wandered away from that square and further down the road, he found himself in streets that were nicer than most of the slums but not quite as nice as the area he had left. He figured this part of Farnfoss must have some sort of trade or commodity that allowed it to flourish more than the slums that surrounded it, but he couldn''t find anything meaningful that would indicate what that could be.


    He meandered for a while, but eventually, he came upon several thugs pushing around a halfling hawker selling cheap baubles and near-rotten fruit. The two men, humans of some size and physicality, had no trouble tormenting the little man, who could only impotently whine as they abused him. The hawker begged the men to stop, but they continued shoving him, knocking his table of trinkets over onto the dirty road as they did.


    Abad watched the events unfold dispassionately. He had no reason to get involved. This wasn''t his fight. However, while the situation wasn''t his business, he was still frustrated from his encounter with Rhys earlier. He''d never been one to be openly disrespected, and it wasn''t sitting with him well. He had been grinding his teeth since the encounter and desperately needed to vent. A couple of nobodies in the bad part of town would be excellent fodder to unleash on...


    No. He needed to keep that part of himself in check.


    A memory filtered into his mind. Like the poor halfling being beaten in front of him, his father¡ªhis real one¡ªhad been that hawker. From what Abad could remember of his father, he was a slight man of little power who was regularly abused by others. That weakness had been his death. Abad could remember finding his father face down in a red puddle, his throat slit and body broken. He could remember the raindrops falling on his face as he cried. His mother had blamed Abad. Said his birth had driven them out of their village and made them outcasts. Made them easy targets. He had never forgotten her words. He had resented them for many years, but today he wasn''t so sure she was wrong.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    As he got closer, the thugs escalated their bullying of the frightened halfling. It would get violent soon. Sure enough, there was a slap. Then another. A kick. The halfling whimpered as he stooped to pick up his wares


    He was close to them. He didn''t want to get involved. He tried to walk past them, but as the largest thug took a heavy swing at the halfling, Abad reacted without thinking. He caught the man''s fist before it landed. The thug''s eyes opened wide as he realized what had happened, and the other man cursed.


    "The fuck you think you''re doing, elf?" The man whose punch he had stopped snarled at him as he jumped back. A crooked smile slowly crawled over his face, causing the scars that marred his cheeks to grow into craters. He looked as if he had some form of pox that had healed poorly. He also had a brand on his neck. It was the talon symbol that Keila and her brothers wore.


    "I''ve been enjoying a lovely stroll through your town, but you two are ruining the ambiance." His voice was steady. He was ready. A smile was on his lips. He needed this, just like he had needed Keila, the adventurers'' company, and his little imp. He wanted this.


    The larger man who had been holding the halfling glanced at his companion before speaking. "You fucking stupid? Move on before you piss me off, elf." Behind Abad, he could hear the murmur of voices. A small crowd was forming.


    "Please, don''t bother with me, good sir. It was my fault..." the halfling whined as the pox-faced man strode forward. The man was enormous and heavily muscled, with a thick black beard and rotten breath Abad could smell from a yard away. The man shoved his chest hard, sending him backpedaling a few feet.


    The gathered onlookers whispered among themselves.


    "... Elf''s gonna die..."


    "... Bolton''s man, bad luck..."


    "... I feel bad for the nutter..."


    The light smile never left Abad''s lips. This moment felt exactly like home. Except this time, he wasn''t a boy. He might be less than he was, but he was still powerful, and bold. And he was itching for a fight. Abad straightened and stalked towards the first brute. As the thug clenched his fists and and pulled back, Abad let his instincts guide him.


    The man''s massive arm flew forward, but Abad''s instincts were off. The warlock tried to dodge the attack, but he veered the wrong way, catching the punch on the right side of his face. His right eye exploded in pain, a sea of stars filling his vision as the men chuckled. He was thrown to his knees.


    "Not much of a fighter, are you? Guess you got a death wish." Abad could see the other man backing up as he dragged the hawker along with him. The small man was visibly shaking as his assailant sat on a nearby crate.


    Looking back to the man who punched him, Abad grinned a toothy grin. He could feel blood flowing from his mouth. He spat a glob of blood onto the ground as he stood back up and readied himself. "Never was, but there''s always time to learn from you trash. And I have nothing but time." The man''s grin left his stupid face. He roared, charged, and threw a wild right hook, but this time, Abad dodged left. A cross followed, and Abad ducked under it, striking out with his right fist and hitting the man directly on the chin with everything he could. It wasn''t much, but the man''s head jerked backward. The warlock followed his punch with a kick to the man''s gut, sending him sprawling backward onto the dirt. He smirked. While he wasn''t much of a fighter, he had trained with some of the best fighters ever born of the Dark One''s corruption. He wasn''t totally hopeless.


    He followed up his kick with a quick stomp to the prone man''s ribs, eliciting a scream as something crunched under Abad''s boot. The man on the crate shouted in surprise and shot up, kicking the cowering hawker as he charged. As the thug ran toward Abad, the warlock watched the small man scramble away into the crowd. Just as the thug''s wild punch flew, Abad reacted just in time to roll to the side, his instincts feeling sharper than they were.


    Before the second man could press his advantage, Abad sprang to his feet. His balance wasn''t perfect, but he had adjusted well enough. He ran backward, avoiding several strikes until he found the nearest wall and pressed himself against it.


    As his large foe rushed him, Abad grabbed a nearby board and swung. The massive man swatted the board away and punched, but Abad ducked just in time to avoid the blow. The man cried out as his fist collided with the stone behind the elf. Abad stepped close and lashed out with a hard uppercut that stunned the man briefly. Without pausing, he swung an elbow upward, crushing the man''s nose and causing blood to pour out of his ruined face. However, the man was able to grab Abad''s collar and slammed his knee into the warlock''s stomach. Air burst from his lungs, and he choked as his chest spasmed.


    Staggering back against the wall, he struggled to catch his breath as the giant collided with him. Abad tried to squirm away, but the man grabbed him again and began raining blows onto his body. With each strike, pain exploded across his bruised and battered torso. He slowly sunk toward the ground, guarding his head and neck the best he could against the man''s strikes. Movement through the thug''s legs revealed that his companion had recovered and was approaching. That wasn''t good. He figured it was time to get serious.


    [Sanguine Gift]


    He pulled on his own life force and mana to reinforce his body. His heartbeat quickened, and he could see his pulse in the corners of his eyes as his body surged with power. The man above him paused his attack and pulled him upright to thrown him back against the wall. Seizing the opportunity, Abad lunged forward and struck the man with a series of rapid blows to the throat. He felt something within the man''s neck snap. Blood bubbled out of the thug''s mouth as he gasped. Letting go of the warlock, the thug doubled over and stumbled away, croaking as he clasped his hands around his neck.


    Behind the wheezing man, the large brute had finally made it back within range. Shoving his friend aside, the hulking bruiser threw a punch that landed square on Abad''s chin, throwing him back into a pile of crates. His entire vision exploded into stars. Blindly, he tried to pick himself up, but the man closed the gap and kicked him hard in the chest, sending Abad flying through the crates and back onto some hard cobblestones. His vision returned, he scrambled backward, and there, in between the buildings, he found the thing he needed.


    Abad felt his entire body surged with power. He was surrounded by the shadows now and could feel his [Embrace of the Abyss] roar to life.


    In a flash, he was back on his feet. He could feel blood trickling from another fresh cut in his lip, and his muscles screamed at him, but he didn''t care. As the brute marched into the alley and toward him, Abad couldn''t help but smirk at the man. "Are you sure you want to do this? You could still walk away, you know?"


    He was answered with a growl and another haymaker. Abad slid sideways to dodge the strike, then sent his fist flying into the center of the man''s chest. Something snapped, and the man doubled over. The man threw a wild backhand, but Abad lifted his leg and drove his foot into the man''s knee. With a loud crack, the leg crumpled, sending the thug to the ground with a yelp.


    "Over here!"


    A series of calls pulled Abad''s attention away from the beaten thug. The crowd had piled around the entrance of the alley, and several long halberds could be seen behind them. Guards. Abad launched a second kick into the man''s side. Abad laughed. This was what he had missed! The danger, and challenge, and threat. The thrill.


    "What are you laughing about?!" The brute whined. Abad kicked the man in the back of the head, causing his face to plant into the dirty alley. Reaching down, he placed his hand on the brute''s back, his eyes watching as the guards fought their way through the crowd.


    [Essence Transfer]


    Red essence tore from the man''s body and filled his spirit. He could feel the heat surging inside. It felt like warm liquor in his belly.


    He wanted more.


    He pulled more and more, and when the spell was spent, he nearly cast it again, but the guards were getting close. He saw the man''s crystal pouch hanging from his belt and pulled it free, then cast another spell.


    [Sanguine Gift]


    Using some of the man''s stolen life force, he empowered his body once again and ran down the alleyway, disappearing into the darkness of the maze-like streets beyond.

 XXXII. An Old Man

    Once Abad was safe, hidden on the roof of an old building several blocks away from where he fought the two men, he let himself relax. He watched carefully, observing as guards swept past his position and scoured the street. Several dozen men hurried by over the next thirty minutes, but none bothered to look up. Even if they had, his [Embrace of the Abyss] would make it impossible for most to see him. For those who could, he shifted his [Mask of Many Faces] once more, this time switching back to his blonde Abad persona. He''d need to retire Arun-Sun until he left Farnfoss.


    Finally, after waiting a while longer, Abad crept back out into the street and made his way back toward the Green Lady. Along the way, he wondered what had come over him. It wasn''t completely unlike him to get into fights on impulse. He had proven himself a fair share of times in the previous age against all manner of enemies, and today''s fight was yet another proving ground. His experience today and recently with the trolls proved that part of him was still alive and well. He supposed his actions were the cost of acting on instinct, but still, he''d need to be more intentional moving forward.


    However, Rhys''s behavior also wore away at that part of him that tolerated no insult, and seeing those men harass that halfling, a wave of emotions and memories washed over him. At the time, fighting seemed appropriate, even righteous. And that was concerning to Abad. When had he ever been righteous?


    As the thought arose, his scroll unfurled.


    <hr><hr>


    [A Flicker of Light]: In a moment of defiance against your darker instincts, you chose compassion over indifference, stepping into the fray to save a life that would have otherwise been lost. This small act of mercy marks a turning point, a subtle shift toward a path you never thought you¡¯d tread.


    You have gained the [Elven Grace] Elf Talent.


    [Elven Grace]: Your elven heritage gifts you with heightened reflexes, allowing you to react faster than most mortals. This talent provides a boost to all evasion and movement perks, you are sure-footed in all manner of environments, and your footsteps are nearly silent.


    You have unlocked the maximum number of talents for the [Elf] racial class. You may now unlock a class specialization by finding and completing a class specialization quest.


    You reach level XII.


    Choose an Enhancement:


    <ul>


    <li>


    [Evasion I]: Your reflexes improve to match those of a wild predator, such as a lynx or cheetah. You gain an increase in reaction speed and agility, allowing you to better dodge attacks and move fluidly.


    </li>


    <li>


    [Intellect I]: Your mind becomes as sharp as that of a practiced scholar, enabling quicker analysis and improved memory retention. This enhancement bolsters your ability to solve problems and navigate complex scenarios with precision


    </li>


    <li>


    [Focus I]: Your awareness of your own body and mind deepens, akin to the self-mastery of a disciplined monk. This enhancement improves your ability to resist mental influence, endure pain, and maintain composure in challenging situations.


    </li>


    </ul>


    <hr><hr>


    Despite his vow to take an intellect perk when he had the opportunity, he decided on [Evasion I]. He''d have time to study eventually, but he wouldn''t survive long enough to do so if he couldn''t weather fights against nobodies. Being able to defend himself seemed prudent.


    Remembering the crystal pouch he had taken from the thug, he pulled it out and counted the contents within. He laughed as the stones poured out of the pouch. There were over one hundred scintillating crystals in the pouch! Why take a low-paying job if he could simply rob the thieves who robbed the poor? He wondered if there was a fable about such a character. Abad-Shai, Saver of Halflings, Fighter of Thugs, Collector of Ill-Gotten Gains. It certainly had a good ring to it.


    But no. He would never be anything so goodly. That would be too far against his nature.


    He slipped the pouch back into his pocket and looked over at the tower that topped the hill. He had noticed it for the first time when he was exploring earlier that day. It was beautiful, built from pure white marble. There was a large walled estate at the bottom of it, and even from blocks away, he could make out the massive steel-bound gate surrounding the walled estate. He decided he wanted to investigate it.


    He hopped down from the roof with more ease than when he had jumped up and began to make his way back to the Green Lady. As he did, another question came to mind. Why had Keila''s fellows been harassing the man in the first place? From the way Keila had talked about it, her patron took many vassals but prioritized people who had skills and talents useful to him. The men he had fought on the south side of town had none of those things. Likewise, if the men Rhys was talking to also were Bolton''s vassals, it was clear that the man took in the lowest dregs of society. How did that work into Keila''s version of things? Or, conversely, why would she lie? Even if he had been considering taking her up on her offer to join them, his mind was firmly made up now.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    As he approached the tower, he noticed several guards armed with pikes and armor keeping watch atop the walls surrounding the estate. Not seeing any immediate threat from them, he looked through the gate. In the courtyard between the house and the walls, there was a statue of a woman. She had long flowing hair and a gown of billowing cloth that seemed to twist with an imagined wind. In her outstretched hand was a fruit of some kind, and upon her head, a crown. He stared at the sculpture in awe for a moment, curious how an immaculately crafted statue could have ended up in such a dumpy town at the edge of nowhere. The craftsmanship was immaculate.


    "Beautiful, isn''t she?" A soft male voice rumbled several feet behind him. He hadn''t heard or seen anyone approach. Abad turned to see who spoke.


    Standing nearby was an elderly man with pale skin. His head was shaved bald, making it easy to see every line etched into the man''s forehead and under his sharp green eyes, and he wore a neatly trimmed beard. The man had thin lips and a firm jawline that was marred by a long scar that cut a furrow in his beard. A robe hung loosely across his shoulders and fell all the way to the ground, which surprised Abad because it meant he hadn''t heard the sound of fabric brushing against the road''s surface. Most striking of all, however, was the necklace the man wore, hanging over top of the plain robe. It was made of links of finely crafted chains and embedded with emeralds. Unlike anything Abad had seen in weeks, his finely-cut clothing was far nicer than anything he had seen in town.


    "Yes," he answered cautiously. The older man had an aura about him. He exuded authority in every regard, and there was a twinkle in his eyes that made the warlock curious. Abad could feel his mana from ten yards away. "She really is." The man looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn''t place him.


    "You like art?" The older man smiled.


    "I enjoy all manner of finer things in life. Art included, though I have little knowledge of more modern pieces. Perhaps you can enlighten me regarding this piece?"


    "That woman was the founder of this town. She built it and guided the original settlers here after freeing them from enslavement. She was known as Lady Phyn Civilia to most, but to the commoners of the town, she was known simply as Lady Fortune." He smiled. "She really was stunningly beautiful." The old man shifted and stretched before gesturing down the lane. "Could I buy you a drink, stranger?"


    Abad nodded hesitantly, then followed the man. After walking several blocks, Abad spoke up. "Who do I have the pleasure of speaking to?"


    The man either pretended to ignore or didn''t hear that question. "And what brings you to Farnfoss?"


    "I wandered in. Nothing more."


    "I see." The elder''s words seemed heavy to Abad''s ears. "You''re the one who was attacked by the trolls, correct?"


    Abad''s feet stopped moving. "And you know this how?" He pulled up mana from his spirit. He was willing to use violence if he needed to, though he was quite certain the man would swat him away like a fly with the amount of mana radiating from his spirit. The dwarf must have told the man about Abad''s identity. He would have been far more careful, but since they had sent Keila to pick him up, he hadn''t been able to fashion a new disguise at the time.


    "No need for alarm, Mr. Abad. Information is my trade." The man looked over his shoulder, smiled, and waved him on. "I have nothing but goodwill toward you, so please quell that surge of mana I feel roiling inside you."


    Abad blinked in surprise. He released his mana but remained ready in case he needed to draw on it. "Well, in that case, tell me more about yourself."


    "There isn''t much to say. I am a simple man of many years who makes it his business to know what happens in the world, and occasionally, if someone interests me, I send an invitation for a meeting." His tone changed slightly, growing warmer. "However, you are interesting enough that I came personally."


    "Should I feel honored?"


    "That''s up to you. Ah, here we are." The man ducked down an alleyway and the smell of roasted duck filled Abad''s nose. Scanning the area with every sense he could, he didn''t sense any threats, so he followed. Down the alleyway, a flight of stairs descended into the ground. Torches lined the walls of the tunnel as it stretched almost fifteen yards forward before ending at an archway. Inside was a large room where several patrons were seated in large, comfortable chairs situated around private booths set into the walls. Tapestries dampened their conversations so that little sound traveled across the room, causing even Abad''s sensitive ears to not be able to pick up much of anything.


    Abad turned back to the man, but despite the two of them being close to one another, he found his host already seated and waving the warlock over. Again, the man was silent, and fast. He was certainly more than he appeared to be.


    Taking a seat in a large plush chair across from the man, he waited for the man to continue the conversation. When he didn''t, he tried small talk. "Your establishment, I assume?"


    A soft smile played on the man''s lips. "Yes, it is." A serving girl approached. "Two whiskies, please." She nodded and vanished. "I do apologize for being so cryptic, but I detest when others overhear conversations I am interested in. This is a safe space to speak."


    "It doesn''t bother me. I feel much the same." Abad was waiting for any hook to sink into. Whiskey was a liquor that humans from the other world enjoyed. Was this man an otherworlder?


    "So, what business does one of the Seven have in Farnfoss?" the man asked as if he were asking Abad about the weather.


    Abad had to fight off the urge to burn the man alive right then and there. He might not be able to defeat him, but he''d cause as much pain as he could before he was gone. "The Seven? What is that?" He could tell the man didn''t buy it. Who was he?


    "Now, now, no need to play games, friend. As I said, I mean you no harm. Now, let''s start over, shall we?" The man waved his hand, and Abad felt his [Mask of Many Faces] fade away. The serving girl brought their drinks but didn''t bat an eye at his true appearance. She didn''t even give an indication that it had changed. If Abad hadn''t been so concerned about the man sitting across from him, he would have been impressed by the display. "I''m surprised you haven''t guessed my identity, given what has transpired." A mug of water floated through the air and settled gently on the table as if held by unseen hands. "We met a few times, long ago. I''m a little offended you don''t remember me, though I suppose I don''t look much like I did."


    Abad hesitated for a moment longer, wracking his brain for the man''s identity, then it hit him like a lightning bolt. "Kasimir, High Mage of Saern, and the Hero''s brother."

 XXXIII. Kasimir

    The man¡ªKasimir¡ªsmiled warmly at Abad and leaned forward to rest his elbows on the table. "The one and the same. Would you like to introduce yourself fully now?"


    Abad laughed. "I''m Abad-Shai, Master of the Vault, Eater, Nightstalker, Lord of Nothing."


    "Lord of Nothing?"


    "Don''t ask. I''m working on that one. I have to find something I''m not willing to lose, but I don''t have anything left." Abad shrugged and grinned. "So I guess I''m stuck with it."


    Kasimir returned his grin, taking a sip of the amber liquid and swirling it in its glass. "If these five centuries have taught me anything, there''s always more to lose, my old friend."


    He supposed the man was right. "Well, it certainly feels like I don''t have much. I''m nothing more than a powerless drifter living off the charity of others these days."


    "You''ve lost some of your edge in your old age, Master of the Vault. The old you would have burned half this city to the ground once he learned who I was. I have to say, I like this new you."


    Abad chuckled, shaking his head. "Maybe so." He considered Kasimir. He was the Hero''s younger brother, but despite that unfortunate condition, the two of them had gotten along well. Unlike the Hero''s other companions, the man had been more amenable to working with him than his fellows. They had numerous encounters over the years and actually worked together on some research when they were younger, before Abad had joined the Black Conquest. The last time he saw the man was at Saern''s court, when Abad had a sword rammed through his chest. "You owe me a bottle of wine, you bastard."


    Kasimir froze for a half-second, then erupted into laughter, slapping his knee and rocking back. "I''d completely forgotten about that!" They had wagered a bottle of wine when Abad was still masquerading as a nobleman. The bet was simple: the princess of Saern had to choose between a handsome duke of Istaera or an obscenely wealthy archduke from Volkash. Abad knew her well enough to know that she would choose the handsome man, but Kasimir had bet that she''d do her duty. Abad won, but he never was able to collect on account of the whole dying thing. The high mage took another sip of whiskey, giggling as he did.


    A question burned into Abad''s mind as he thought about their past together. "Is she still alive?" Abad asked. Kasimir''s eyes met his. Something in his expression reminded the warlock that he had been gone a long time.


    "She is, yes."


    "Does she know about me?"


    "Not yet, no."


    "Will she?"


    "Oh yes, most definitely." Kasimir raised his cup to Abad''s question and drained it. "It won''t be too much longer now."


    "Great..." Abad really didn''t want a run in with the man''s sister. Another thought came to him. "You should be dead. Why aren''t you?"


    "A wizard never tells his secrets." He winked at the warlock.


    "If you''ll tell me yours, I''ll share mine."


    Kasimir smiled thoughtfully. "No, that''s quite alright. I rather like the mystery of it all. Some things in this world ought to be left as mysteries. They make life far more interesting."


    Abad gave up the inquiry. Kasimir had never given up anything he didn''t want to, and the elf was certain that quality hadn''t changed over the centuries. "What will happen when she finds out about me?"


    "Oh, Faye has mellowed out over the past five centuries. She spends most of her time in Saern soaking up the Great Tower''s light and running a school."


    Abad snorted. "The bloody bitch of Saern, spending her time teaching? Ridiculous."


    "I agree," the high mage smirked, "but that''s what she did back on Earth, so she returned to her happy place I suppose. Considering the Goddess gave her the gift of immortality, she has a long time left to pursue whatever she wants."


    Abad would be stuck with her forever it seemed. "Speaking of that... What do you want? Why are you here talking to me?"


    "Hmm?" The man affected an innocent look. Kasimir was always so cryptic.


    "What do you want? If you want to put me down, feel free. I have neither the power nor desire to fight you. I only ask you make it quick."


    "Why would I want you dead?"


    The warlock smiled softly. "No offense, but shouldn''t a great hero like Kasimir the High Mage be purging evil from the world? And after everything I did? I''m fairly confident you should be challenging me to a duel right now for the good of Reial, or for Justice, or for the Goddess''s honor or some such heroic nonsense."


    The mage smirked. "In all the years since you left this world, I''ve learned much. And one of the most important things I''ve learned is that none of us are innocent. You say you did evil and ought to be purged? Think about how many I''ve slain. How many threads I''ve cut. How many changes I''ve wrought in the fabric of destiny. We said we did it for the good of the world back then. They told us the Goddess herself called us to be her champions. But we butchered as many as you did, and is the world better for it? We did everything we were tasked to, purged evil from the land, created a shining land of purity and light, and now what you see around you is the result. I''d have you tell me what you think of it."


    The words slowly sunk into Abad. Was the man truly suggesting he''d come to understand moral relativity after all these years? "It''s not much different than before. There is desperation, poverty, and abuse the same as there always was."


    "Indeed. Evil hides itself better in the daylight of our little utopia, but it still festers behind false faces and gentle smiles. Sure, monsters and man-eating beasts need to be taken care of, but the true issues, the ones that harm the highest number of people, come from us, not the monsters. And since we sealed all of your fellows away, we don''t even have to excuse of blaming your kind. Sure, we try. There are some descendants of your kind out there, but they''re no more harmful than anyone else."This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Abad thought about Rhys when Kasimir mentioned false smiles. "So what, have you given up on the heroics? You planning on retiring and letting the world crumble?"


    Kasimir took a long sip of his liquor. "Yes and no. The great game must be played, and I''m too stubborn to stop. My old allies and the surviving members of my party have long since retired from worldly affairs, settling into their roles as custodians and overseers of the peace. Or teaching, in the case of my sister. I suppose they''ve earned that right. For me, it''s not enough to sit on a rocking chair and doddle like an old man until death takes me."


    Abad could relate to the feeling. "So what then? Why are you here?"


    "Another thing I''ve learned over these past centuries is few things happen by coincidence. My meeting you here in this shit hole is certainly no coincidence. You surviving a fatal attack was no coincidence. You meeting that little band of adventurers that I hired was no coincidence. Destiny has brought us together again, and I figure I should listen to it." He smiled again. "Plus, it''s nice to see a familiar face. I get to see fewer and fewer of them with each passing year."


    It was difficult for him to admit, but Abad felt the same way. Kasimir was one of the only things that remained form his old life. In a way, it was comforting seeing him again. He felt less isolated. However, a sour thought came to him. "Destiny has no right meddling in my affairs. I''m tired of destiny." His words were bitter, and he realized how true they were. "It''s never brought me anything but pain."


    "I think all of us who''ve seen too much feel much the same, Abad." He ran a hand over his face, his fingertips brushing the scar on his jaw. For a moment, his smile faded. Kasimir looked tired. "But when you''ve seen it like I have, you start to see the movements on the board instead of the pieces. You being back is a large movement, but I don''t know what it means yet."


    "You always were annoyingly cryptic," Abad commented.


    "And you always were passionately self-absorbed."


    "To our failings," Abad lifted his glass in salute. Kasimir mirrored the gesture. They each took another sip, enjoying the silence and company for a time. While they weren''t exactly companions, this was the closest Abad had felt to himself in a very long time.


    "What do you intend to do with your new life?" Kasimir asked after finishing his drink, studying Abad closely as he did.


    "People keep asking me that lately. I don''t know."


    "I hope you''re not considering returning to your former one."


    "Well, that would depend. Are there any weak, decadent kingdoms in need of a dark lord to conquer their lands and bed their queens?"


    "There''s no shortage of them throughout the land, though they won''t get you much. The old lords cling to their rustic manors and fading power in this new age. Their sons squabble in border raids and fight in dueling greens over petty grievances. No grand men and women exist in the nobility anymore." The old mage sighed. "The aristocracy is not nearly as interesting now. You''d be supremely disappointed."


    "How truly unfortunate for me." Abad sipped his drink. "No, I don''t think I''m eager to return to my old life. Like I said, destiny has provided me nothing but loss. I''m trying to forge my own path now."


    A smile lit the old mage''s face. "I''m happy to hear it. Truly. You all deserved better."


    Again, Abad was surprised. He never expected to get sympathy from the Hero''s brother. A question popped into his mind. "What do you know about the towers failing? Why does the Great Tower go dark now?


    "Don''t know much about it." The mage''s eyes twinkled.


    "Bullshit you don''t."


    "Mysteries, Abad. They''re more interesting. It''s all about the journey, my friend."


    "Oh, you prick. We both know you love feeling like a know-it-all. Now spill it."


    He laughed. "The Goddess''s creations, her conduits for divinity, they''ve begun to decay. Part of it is because of time, another is because of the tampering of your fellows, and the last is something else. That part I don''t fully understand." The mage''s expression faded into neutral seriousness. "Even gods cannot last forever I suppose. Look at Yslene."


    "Careful, you might be struck by lightning for such blasphemy." Both men smiled, remembering a time long passed.


    "Indeed," the man chuckled, "perhaps I should repent later."


    There was a pause in the conversation. Abad finished his glass and set it down lightly, looking at the empty vessel wistfully. "So the era of the Goddess is coming to an end, then?" It wasn''t much of a question. He had come to that conclusion the moment he heard about Darkfall.


    "In a manner of speaking." Kasimir reached into a pouch and drew forth a golden coin. One side depicted a beautiful woman dressed in a flowing dress with rays of light erupting from behind her. She held scales in one hand and the horn of plenty in the other. On the other side of the coin was the image of a knightly figure with a large sword surrounded by flames. His large form was covered with thick armor. He recognized the images as depictions of the Goddess and the Dark One. "For centuries, the world has existed in balance between two sides. Light and dark. Right and wrong. Good and evil. These concepts were created to describe the relationship between opposing forces. Opposing forces that naturally counteract the other. When the scale tipped too far towards one, the other rose to match. They created harmony between opposites." He set the coin on the table, Goddess face up. "But now, there is no Dark One, and the Goddess''s light is fading. She has retreated from this world and left it in our care, but it will not last much longer. Without one, the other ceased to have meaning. At least that''s what I think."


    "So what then, will all you great heroes simply sit back and let it all fade?" He frowned. Had the people of this time grown so complacent? What was the purpose of all the mortals'' vaunted heroism if none of them was willing to save their world?


    "The Age of Adventurers is over, my friend. Sure, small timers wander around fighting monsters and doing good where they can, but nothing has stirred this world for centuries. The last gasp was when your dark sibling Avara woke up and created the beastkin, but that was a long time ago. The light of this world is fading, and no one seems keen to stop it. They merely want to keep hold of the scraps they''ve claimed for themselves. The ones like me mostly have our hands tied. Between endless layers of treaties and alliances and plots, all we seem capable of is squabbling in circles. Meanwhile, the darkness grows ever deeper around the edges of the empire, and the shining lady fades ever further from view..." Kasimir''s voice was soft, but strong. "Without an enemy, we have turned to ourselves."


    "So am I to be the enemy of this age? Do you wish to rally against me? Because I have no intention of playing that role now." Abad eyed him carefully.


    "It doesn''t matter what either of us want, I fear. If it were up to me, I''d see you live a peaceful life of your choosing. However, I suspect this world is pulling us all onward, whether we choose it or not. My suggestion to you is to simply act as you will. Follow your instincts. The rest of the story will tell itself."


    Abad snorted. "How vapid and poetic. Have you taken up being a priest now?"


    The old mage laughed. "It is what it is," Kasimir replied with a shrug. He stood up. "Abad, I''m happy to have met with you. You''re as stubborn and proud as ever. I always liked that about you. Let''s see one another again soon." Abad nodded as the mage began to leave, but Kasimir paused mid step. "Take care of yourself, Abad. And... enjoy yourself, okay? Life isn''t worth living if you don''t enjoy it." With that, the man turned to go.


    He wanted to know more, but he also wasn''t interested in forcing answers from him. He knew Kasimir well enough to know the man wouldn''t reveal anything he didn''t want to. Looking down at the table, he saw he left the coin behind. He knew Abad would have wanted it. He pocketed the item and watched the old mage leave. When Kasimir disappeared, he sat a while and sipped his drink. After a few minutes, the serving girl returned and handed him a bottle of wine.

 XXXIV. A Bottle of Wine

    An hour later, Abad was back at the Green Lady Inn. It was late, so he walked lightly up the stairs and went straight to Keila''s room. He didn''t know if the woman was still awake, but a light under the door indicated that she was. He knocked on the door, and her soft voice sounded from within.


    "Come in."


    He turned the knob, and the door creaked open. He found Keila at the small desk in the room, her face smudged with ink and a sea of papers on the desk in front of her. Her blonde hair was loose, falling down past her shoulders.


    "Look at the charmer bringing a bottle with him. Think that''ll get you out of trouble for being so late?" She turned the desk chair around and gestured for him to sit on the bed. "I thought you''d run off, and I''d have to have you tracked down."


    "No chance." He placed his pack next to the door and sat down, unstrapping the belt around his waist and setting it to the side. As he sat, he groaned. Despite absorbing most of the thug''s life force, he was still sore.


    "Want to talk about it?"


    "Not particularly. You?" He pointed at the papers.


    "Nope." She set down her quill and tidied up the paperwork before stuffing it in her desk''s drawer. "Tell me anyway."


    He smiled despite himself. "I went for a walk today and ran into an old acquaintance of mine. We had a couple of drinks and caught up. It was just a long day is all."


    She eyed his face. "What happened?"


    He looked in the mirror and noticed his eye was a little swollen even through his disguise. He''d have to improve his [Mask of Many Faces] spell in the future. "I got caught on a narrow street. A wagon''s rigging tore loose and hit me in the face when I tried to get out of the way," he lied.


    "Shame. You shouldn''t let anything hurt that face of yours. It''s one of your best assets." She grinned as she stretched her neck. "We had a couple of guys get jumped by some elf vigilante today. It caused quite the commotion. Bolton''s going to be livid, but we''ve already put a bounty out on him. People are saying it''s an elf from Vellath working with the adventurer''s guild, or maybe some wannabe hero trying to cause problems for us. Apparently, there''s a few adventurers in town that match the description." Her hands left her neck and started twirling around strands of hair as she spoke. "Do you know anything about it?"


    "Not at all," he lied. "Why would the guild have it out for you?" A tinge of guilt struck him. He knew he had been reckless before, but he hadn''t factored in anyone else when he attacked the thugs. Since he had modeled his persona after A-Nis and Shani, if they were still in town, they might be in danger.


    "Let''s just say that not everything we do is perfectly legal, and we take our business seriously." Her jaw hardened. "It''s not really our fault though. The laws are archaic and don''t account for the times. It''s not our fault we have to get around them. Otherwise, there''s no money to be had and people starve." Her tone had risen, and her words grew quicker, the heat behind them clear. "Half of every town in the nearest three regions is in shambles while nobles throw away food every day. We have to survive somehow. Lucky for us, we have a patron, but not everyone does. They either die in the streets or..." he waited for her to finish, but she didn''t. "Sorry, mind if we pour that? I could use a drink." She pulled two glasses out of her desk.


    He popped the cork out and poured their glasses full. "Cheers." They quietly drank together.


    "As Rhys would say, Goddess''s shining ass, this is good!" She took another swallow. "This must have cost a fortune!"


    He shrugged. "My acquaintance gave it to me."


    "Well he gave you quite the gift. I''m pretty sure you should be calling him a friend, and a damn good one at that."


    "I''ll let him know next time I see him." He let the subject drop.


    She eyed the pack he had placed near the door. "So I take it you''re not planning to come with us?"


    "I''m not sure." He sighed and took another sip of wine. "Even if I do, I need gear. And if I don''t come, I''ll be ready for what comes next."


    She sat eyeing him a few minutes. "You know, Abad. I like you, but you''re kind of depressing sometimes. You''ve got a great deal that fell into your lap and a pretty woman throwing herself at you, but you''re so damn mopey. You don''t want to commit to anything and seem determined to drift." She looked him directly in the eye. "Why?"


    He stared back for a minute, then took another gulp of wine, draining the glass. Pouring another, he took a breath and spoke. "I''m afraid I wouldn''t be any use to your organization."


    "Everyone needs mages. Even if you''re not that strong, and I think you might be being modest about that, we could always use you."


    "No, it''s not that." He tried to frame his thoughts but struggled.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    "What''s holding you back?" She refilled her glass and sipped it.


    "Lots of things," he said simply, finishing off his second glass.


    "Like what?"


    He took a deep breath and arranged his thoughts. He didn''t know why he was about to share this much information with her, but his run-in with Kasimir had him wanting to talk to someone. He trusted her to at least listen to him, but he still wasn''t willing to reveal all his secrets. "For starters, I''ve made mistakes I''m not proud of. The religious would call them sins. My past is littered with bodies."


    "So? Who cares? You''re here, alive and well. Why put that burden on yourself?"


    Abad blinked. Feeling bad about himself was a new feeling he''d been indulging. He supposed he hadn''t learned to process it. "I guess I''m coming to terms with things is all," he replied darkly. "I feel like I''ve paid for my mistakes in some ways, but also not at all."


    Her head tilted. "Life isn''t fair. What happened, happened. You can''t undo the past. Bad shit happens every day. Good people are cut down, and terrible people flourish. There''s no sense to it, and there''s no reason. All you can do is move forward, ya know? Besides, most people have things in their histories that weigh them down. I know I do. But you know what? No one cares. And I get to keep living my life. That''s all that matters."


    He took another breath. Her callousness reminded him of himself. Who he used to be. "I used to feel the same way. I used to not think one bit about others. Still don''t in many ways. But I lost everything to get here, and there''s nothing to show for it. Even my..." He finally could admit what the imp meant to him. He wondered why it took so long. Why couldn''t he ever admit it? "The one who''s been by my side through everything without hesitation is gone, and it''s my fault. I don''t even know if she''s alive. I hope she is. I want to find her. There are things I need to say. But I''m too weak, and I''m alone, and I don''t want to be anymore." He looked up, finding her eyes. "It doesn''t lead to a pleasant end, thinking the way you do."


    He rolled the glass around in his hands. Her eyes shined with empathy. She leaned in and pecked him on the cheek. "You have me."


    He laughed. "I don''t understand why. I appreciate you caring for me, but it makes no sense to me."


    "I told you a few times now. You do good work." Her eyes sparkled. "Just consider joining up, okay? Really. It would make things so much simpler." Before he could respond, she leaned forward and pressed herself to him. A few minutes later, the rest of the world didn''t matter.


    ***


    Before breakfast ended, Abad asked the group for advice on his next steps. Keila said he should just keep his head down. Serus agreed, but Rhys offered up a different solution.


    "You''re a mage, right? Why don''t you go down to the Mage''s Guild and see if they need any work done? The guild here in Farnfoss isn''t much, but I bet they''d need some help."


    Keila and Serus both glared at him. The woman chided her brother. "I''m still trying to convince him to come with us, Rhys. If he gets attached to this dump, that''s less likely." She turned her attention to Abad. "Why don''t you just stay put and rest? You''re still not fully healed from everything you went through anyway." She gave him her most convincing doe eyes, but he shook his head. She pouted.


    "I appreciate the concern and charity, but I really need to do something. I can''t just keep leeching off of you all. It''s not who I am."


    "I told you, you''re being paid for your services, mister. They''re highly valuable." She winked at him.


    "Gross," both brothers said in unison.


    Abad steered the conversation back on track. "Where''s the mage''s guild located?"


    "Southwest side of town. Pretty rough down there, but you should be alright," Rhys offered.


    "Perfect, thank you."


    They all stood, Keila paid the bill, and they left on their errands. Abad accompanied Keila to the main road, and the pair walked from the east market district to the west. While the eastern market was decently put together, the western side was clearly far more affluent. The buildings were taller and better kept, and there were far more vendors with products he could actually see himself buying. Once they reached the western market''s center, the woman stopped outside a large building.


    "Bolton arrives today. Be back at the inn by mid-afternoon, okay?"


    "Got it."


    She nodded at him and disappeared into the building. She was all business, which wa one thing he liked about her.


    From the western market, Abad followed the directions Rhys had given him, but he took his time. It was still early, and he hadn''t explored any parts of the town outside of the two trade districts and the slums. He was curious how it compared to the other areas. As he made his way, he found the buildings quickly went from reasonably well-kept to barely held together. The bricks and stone of the market districts turned into old wooden planks. Even those looked less sturdy and much older as he went on, with mismatched wooden boards decorating the walls of what mostly were shacks. The cobblestones became sand and clay, which became dirt and mud. This section of the town was noticeably worse than the others.


    Winding his way through the dirty streets, he saw children playing in the mud and people selling various nearly rotten foods and cheap goods. The crowd largely consisted of dirty, poor humans, many skinny beastkin, and a handful of members of the other races. Some people were better dressed and more clean, but they looked out of place and uncomfortable, almost certainly weaving through the streets on unknowable errands. He noticed most people in the area had brands on their necks, though many of the brands looked faded or worn.


    Few of them looked up as they went about their business, but eventually, he met the eyes of a common elf that was walking toward him. They emitted a tired acceptance that he had never seen in the fair people in the past. He had noticed that this new age had weathered the race, stripping them of the vitality that had always been associated with his people. It was disconcerting to see such a noble creature reduced to a shell of his former self. Abad held little love for his people, but he still felt pity for the man. As the elf brushed by, something hit his side. He looked to find two stout dwarves who had run into him. The one he ran into cursed in their language. Abad had never learned the dwarven language due to the dwarves'' secretive nature around their native tongue, but a curse was a curse in every language. Abad apologized for getting in his way, but the dwarf glared and continued on.


    He continued on, but after several more streets, the hairs on his neck stood up. Something was off. Turning, he scanned the street, looking for anything, or anyone, obvious. He didn''t see anything. Still, the feeling of being watched stuck with him. Scanning again, he reached out with his senses. He didn''t detect anything, but he still had a strong sense that someone was following him. He continued on, staying wary.


    After several more streets, he finally found the Mage''s Guild symbol: three stars floating around a central eye. Crossing the dirty street, he brushed himself off, stamped his boots, and entered the weathered, modest building.

 XXXV. No Good Deeds Go Unpunished

    The Mage''s Guild was small and musty, its air heavy with the smells of parchment, dust, and mildew. Books, scrolls, and papers were littered everywhere, and a variety of differently shaped stones, some glowing and some not, were scattered about. Two people were working at a large desk across the room. One was a young elf. She had thick spectacles and brown hair, and she wore blue robes, a cloak, and a large belt with a pouch that was filled with all manner of items. She had ink basically everywhere one could have ink, with splotches on her face, in her hair, and all over her robe.


    The second was one of those short folk he had noticed several times in the market. A gnome if he remembered right. The gnome had a long green beard that fell from his chin, but his mustache and jaw were cleanly shaved. The chin beard had leather braids woven through it. Other than his beard, the gnome had a small dusting of hair atop his head, but otherwise, he was bald. An odd-looking conical hat sat on the desk next to, which the man used to blot his perspiring forehead as Abad approached.


    Other than these two, no one was in the guild house. There were other desks, but each of them had a thick layer of dust coating them, except for one pushed against the far left wall, which looked relatively well-kept compared to the chaos that filled the place. Both of the mages were completely engrossed in whatever papers they were scribbling on.


    "Hello and good morning," Abad offered to the two. There was no response. Walking forward, he stood in front of their desk. He waited awhile as the two worked on what looked like scrolls, but as time went on, they still didn''t acknowledge him. He cleared his throat. No response. Walking the rest of the way to the desk, he tapped on the wood. Only then did both of them look up. The man shouted in surprise, and the woman squeaked before smiling nervously and speaking.


    "Oh hi! Welcome to the Mage''s Guild, Farnfoss branch. What kinds of magic and mysteries can I help you with today?" Her voice was high-pitched and reminded Abad of a tea kettle. Her eyes were wide and innocent behind her oversized spectacles. By the way she spoke, it was clear she wasn''t used to talking to people.


    "I''ve come to see if the mage''s guild in town has any need of a mage of moderate power. I''m seeking work and experience and thought this would be the best place to come."


    She looked confused, then frowned. "Do you have qualifications? Mage''s seal? Recommendations? Degrees from the University of Fykani or Nian? Oh oh! How about certificates? Or a five-year adventurer''s license? We''d take any of those, really. Several would be even better."


    Abad shrugged. "Sorry, I don''t have anything like that."


    "Then how can we know you can help us?" The gnome grouched at him, looking up his long nose at Abad. His eyes were the same green as his hair. The man looked critically the warlock.


    "Are credentials really necessary? I''d be happy to show you some practical skills instead."


    "Practical skills? What kind of hedge mages do you take us for? We can''t simply go hiring anyone that walks in the door!" the man said with a huff. "Credentials are essential. How else would we even know who you are?"


    "My name is Abad-Shai," he offered to the man, who sneered.


    "Ta-Li," the girl squeaked, but the gnome merely huffed. "Fizzle, don''t be rude to him."


    Fizzle grumbled. "Fizzle Stoneberry, of the proud Stoneberry clan." His face settled into a frown. "You''ve likely heard of us, I''m sure."


    Abad hadn''t, though the woman''s name seemed familiar. "Is there a job board or anything? How does your establishment work exactly? I''m looking to make an income using my skills."


    "We do post some requests here, and licensed mages are able to accept them, perform the tasks requested, and earn money, or, if you aren''t yet qualified, you can work up the ranks to earn a license by doing side work."


    "Side work?" Abad hated where this was going.


    "Writing scrolls, charging enchantments, running errands, that kind of thing." The girl was visibly shaking. They obviously didn''t have many visitors. He was beginning to see why.


    The gnome noticed the girl''s nervousness and took up the conversation. "Six months of unpaid work, followed by six months of lightly paid work, and you''ll qualify to begin studying for the mage''s exam. Three years of study will put you on the list, and within six months of being on the list, you have a fifty percent chance of being selected for testing. Then, you can travel to the capital of any of the seven kingdoms and take the exam. There''s a ten percent pass rate. It''s easy really."


    Easy indeed. "And that''s the only way to work with your guild?"


    "Indubitably." The man lowered his head and returned to his work.


    "I''m very sorry!" She sounded like a tea kettle now. "The process is complicated, but magic is so very dangerous. In the wrong hands, who knows what could happen! I hope you understand." She bowed repeatedly, sweat flinging from her forehead as she did.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "I see. Thank you for your time. I''ll think on your offer and..." He knew he wouldn''t be back. "I hope you have a great day."


    The girl bowed, and the gnome''s only response was a cough. However, when he turned, the girl called out to him. "Wait!"


    He turned.


    "That spellbook... Can I see it?"


    Ta-Li. He realized where he heard the name. This was the guild that Bahra had alluded to then. He''d completely forgotten. He walked back to the desk and handed the girl the spellbook. She opened it, and her eyes immediately filled with tears. The old gnome stood up and patted her on the shoulder.


    "Where... where did you find this?" The girl said, her voice wavering.


    "I found it on the road to the east. It was..." he decided a lie would be better than the truth in this moment. "It was cast aside. I found it on the ground. A ways away, there were bodies. They had been killed quickly. I buried them. They looked like a group of adventurers or travelers."


    "I see..." the young elf sniffled. "I thought that might be the case." She wiped her tears and handed him the book. She composed herself for another few moments. "May I keep this?"


    He hated to part with it but didn''t have the heart to take it. "Of course. There are some notes in the back of the book. I couldn''t make heads or tails of them. Maybe they will be better suited in your hands." He didn''t want to lose them, but it was what it was. He made up his mind to visit the walls personally.


    "Thank you."


    "Would you mind if I took a page out of it? There''s a spell I was working on that I''d like to complete."


    "Of course." She handed the spellbook back to him.


    Abad opened the spellbook up to the invisibility spell, neatly folded the page, and cleanly tore it out. With a nod, he stepped back toward the door. As he did, he realized that he felt like he''d done the right thing. With a soft smile, he opened the door and stepped into the light.


    ***


    Not eager to stay in the area, Abad returned to the western trade district. Before long, the mud and filth of the slum turned back into the well-kept cobblestones of the market. The feeling of being watched had returned as he left the guild and stuck with him as he walked. However, every time he tried to sense what it could be, he couldn''t find anything. He wondered if it was just his nerves. He supposed he hadn''t been in such a derelict place in many years. They weren''t often the most comfortable of places.


    As he turned onto the main road, he noticed a crowd gathered around something. A half-dozen guards were working hard to control the crowd as they murmured and pushed to look at whatever it was.


    When he approached, he realized what had triggered the crowd. There was a large seal carved into the ground, and a large gilded carriage had suddenly appeared atop it. As he pushed closer to see what was happening, he overheard people talking.


    "... must be someone important..." a man nearby murmured.


    "... I hope it''s a Prince!" squeaked a thin teenage girl standing nearby.


    "...One of those patrons no doubt..." a third man added.


    The carriage door swung open, and a massive man dressed in rich clothing stepped out onto the small step that fell when the carriage door opened. He had on a silk shirt and high trousers. His dark skin looked like coffee with milk in it, his dark brown hair was cut short, and he had cruel-looking hazel eyes. The man eyed the ground warily and remained on the carriage''s step. A guard hurried over to greet him. Abad could just make out a second figure behind him, but that was all he could see from his angle. He got closer to listen.


    "Bors," the guard said. The man nodded. "What business do you have in Farnfoss?"


    "You already know why I''m here, and you''re taking our time. Stamp my papers and let us through." The large man handed him a paper similar to the one Keila had given Gregor days before. The man eyed him. The guard''s expression fell as he read the document. The guard waved his hand, and a small halfling man in official-looking clothes ran up. The little man looked flustered but took the document and quickly stamped it. The big man snatched the paper out of his hands, climbed into the coach, and the driver clicked his tongue. Two magnificent horses carried the gilded carriage forward, which made its way down the cluttered road as the door snapped shut.


    Abad walked up to the seal as the crowd began to disperse. The seal itself was large, being at least ten yards across. The magical inscription seemed straightforward, but he didn''t understand how it could allow for so much material to be transported long distances. The old seals could only teleport people and their belongings, and even then sometimes items didn''t make it. He walked up to one of the guards.


    "Excuse me. I''m new to Farnfoss. What was that commotion about?"


    "You a foreigner or something, boy? Mind your own damn business." The guard had already lost his professional edge and looked bored like all the rest Abad had seen in this town. The man spat at the ground, narrowly missing Abad''s boot.


    "I am. Just arrived several days ago, in fact," Abad responded with a false smile.


    "Teleportation seal. Let''s you move from one city to another without walking. Costs more than you got, I''d guess."


    Abad fished out the crystals he''d stolen from the thug. "How much?"


    The guard eyed the pouch hungrily. "Fifty crystals to tie to the seal."


    Abad''s stomach churned. He needed to start earning money, or he''d be destitute again before long. "Done." He pulled out the crystals and handed them to the guard. A moment later, the small halfling man puffed his way over.


    "Got a customer? Thank the goddess. We''ve been starving here lately," the man panted.


    "Walk me through the process."


    The halfling nodded and led him towards the seal. "Come." The man beckoned him into the seal. "Watch closely now." He traced a small symbol in the air, which left a shimmering line as his fingers traced the air. "This ties your spirit to the seal, allowing you to return to it whenever you choose, for a small fee on either side of course."


    Abad traced the symbol, and a cool wave of energy rushed over him, then slowly dissipated. The man nodded at him. "Now, if you''d simply sign here, and here..." Abad worked through several pages of paperwork, and by the end, he was the proud owner of his first teleportation seal tie. The little man even gave him a brochure and a map.


    Throwing the items into his pack, he began heading back to the Green Lady. Along the way, he decided to stop at the bathhouse to clean up before he met with Bolton and to see Zethari. He didn''t feel any closer to helping her, and that bothered him more than it should.

 XXXVI. The Infamous Patron

    As Abad reached the bathhouse, he noticed the carriage had just started to roll away down the busy street. Several large armed men lingered outside the alley, clearly stationed to guard it during its stop. The stoutest of the lot, a dwarf who was at least as wide as he was tall, was wearing full plate armor despite the heat while the others were more modestly armed and armored. Judging by their equipment, Abad knew these men would be far more challenging than those he''d defeated the day before. He hoped they''d leave him alone.


    Luckily, while the men eyed him warily as he walked up, none of them spoke or attempted to impede his progress into the alleyway that ended with the bathhouse. Weaving through them, he made his way up the opening and pulled on the large wooden door''s handle. The smell of cheap perfume greeted him once again. A moment later, the same little goblin man as before sauntered out the side room, this time with a large genuine smile on his face.


    "Welcome!" The goblin didn''t recognize him at first, but awareness slowly crept into his eyes. "Ah, honored guest. Welcome back. How might we serve you today?" His grin widened into the same sleazy smile as before, revealing his jagged teeth. "As a reminder, your prices last time were introductory. You''ll be paying full price this time."


    "That''s perfectly fine. I have an important meeting today and would like to clean myself up. I also would like Zethari to assist me once again." Abad pulled out his money pouch to pay for the services. He hated wasting more of his ill-gotten gains, but he had to. He had thought of several ideas for helping her escape, but he''d need to analyze the brand once again to do so. His renewed access to the [Black Magic] school opened doors he hadn''t considered before.


    The goblin''s smile diminished a hair. "My kind sir, she is not available. Might I suggest someone else?"


    "Is she with another customer? I''m willing to wait."


    A gleam in the creature''s eye made Abad''s stomach knot. "No... Unfortunately it wasn''t working out between us, so she''s been returned to her previous patron. He said he can find a better use for her elsewhere."


    Abad swallowed. "I see. Where might I find him then?"


    The man shook his head. "I''m sorry. That information cannot be shared. I''m sure you understand."


    "I see." He had an idea of who her previous patron was. "I just realized I may have less time than I thought. I will return in a day or so. I apologize."


    The goblin said something, but Abad was out the door before the creature got a few words out. The guards still meandered outside as he reached the road. Each of them eyed him. It likely seemed suspicious leaving so soon. He nodded his head and tried to step past, but one of them placed a hand on his chest.


    "Problem inside?"


    Abad shook his head, noting the glares of all four of the guards. He felt them close in around him as the dwarf who put his hand on Abad''s chest smiled. He was missing a front tooth.


    "Is there a problem?" Abad didn''t have the patience. He could just make out the carriage turning in the distance. It was heading toward the inn.


    The dwarf dropped his hand, but as Abad went to move past him, another of the men grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. Abad realized he was the same man as yesterday, the one with the scar on his jaw. He grinned a lopsided grin. "You''re the elf from yesterday, ain''tcha?" The man pulled him close.


    Abad stiffened. He needed to leave but didn''t want to cause a scene. "I''m sorry?"


    "Yeah... Yeah you are. You look different, but you got the same eyes. Fancy meeting you here, elf. You''ll fetch a pretty penny, just like those bitches we''ve been tracking down."


    Bitches? Abad cursed to himself. The girls were still in town. He''d messed up. "Just a traveler who came to town today is all. I don''t know what you''re talking about." The man''s expression told Abad he wasn''t fooling the man. "I''m making my way back to the Green Lady for a meeting with Bolton." He hoped the name would help ward them off. By the confused looks on their faces, it worked.


    "Abad!" A familiar woman''s voice called from behind them. The man''s grip on his shoulder loosened, so he shook himself free and turned to see Keila sauntering up. "Right on time." She glared at the man whose hand had been on the warlock''s shoulder. "Touch him again, and you''ll lose your hand." She reached to the saber on her belt.


    The man stepped backward. He looked flustered, and his mouth tried to shape words, but after a moment he just coughed and mumbled, "My apologies ma''am. He looked like the guy who attacked us yesterday is all." All four guards were sweating now. Keila smiled at them as they obeyed her.


    "Of course, boys. You''re doing your job, but you have the wrong man. Abad here is traveling with me, and he''s about to meet the boss. I''d hate to have to tell our patron that you were the reason he was late."


    All of the men seemed to turn white. "Sorry ma''am. Sorry, sir." they mumbled, stepping aside.


    Abad bowed his head toward the men as Keila hooked her arm in his.


    "Shall we?" she asked after a final look at the men.


    He didn''t say anything as he took her arm.


    ***


    The pair said little as they walked. She seemed far more stiff than usual, her arm tense in his. After a few minutes, Abad could tell he had made a mistake coming to see Zethari. While he had learned much from the interaction, he realized the shrewd woman next to him had likely learned just as much as he had from the interaction. However, despite overplaying his hand, he would have lost Zethari''s trail by not going to the bath house, and he finally learned what Keila''s organization did.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "So... It was you, huh?" Her words were soft, and the question wasn''t really a question. "Good work. You shook them up good."


    "Yeah. And you''re a slaver?"


    "Yeah."


    They didn''t say anything else. Within a half hour, they were back at the inn, but Keila stopped him from entering.


    "No, this is just the shortest way. We''re going to the manor." She pushed him onward, toward the manor with the large tower and the statue that he had noted before.


    "So, we need to go over some ground rules." She wasn''t looking at him. "He''s... erratic. Speak only when spoken to. If he asks you something, be precise with your answers and don''t ramble. The boss doesn''t like people beating around the bush. Be respectful. Don''t ever insult or curse at him. Never threaten him. You''ll be dead before you finish taking in a breath if you do."


    "He''s that powerful?"


    She hesitated for just a moment. "Yes. The most powerful man in the city by a huge margin, and likely one of the strongest in the region." Her tone carried weight to it. This person truly scared her. "If you show weakness or appear stupid, you will be treated as such. You''re neither of those things, so don''t come off as them. Don''t lie, but never reveal too much about yourself. There''s something you''re hiding from me, and I can appreciate that. We''ve kept many secrets from one another. But he won''t honor that choice the way I have. Don''t give him leverage. Do all of that, and you''ll prove yourself useful. Don''t, and..." She let the words hang. She knew that he knew what she was now. She didn''t need to say it.


    "Got it. Do you regret not telling me the full story earlier?"


    She scoffed, turning her cold eyes on him. "Not at all."


    "If you had, I would have disappeared."


    "Yeah, which is exactly why I didn''t." She sighed. "It may have been selfish, but Rhys already had a claim on you if I didn''t try to take you on, so I''ve done the best I could. You wouldn''t have made it out of the city had I not been keeping my claws sunk into you as he always says."


    "Not sure whether to thank you or kill you and run," he admitted.


    "Welcome to my world," she said with a bitter laugh.


    ***


    Before long, the pair was at the gates of the opulent manor. They were open, and the large carriage was parked to the side, the two gorgeous white horses unattached and grazing. Keila led him through the entrance, but Abad felt himself pass through an energy field as they did. It felt like it covered the entire grounds of the estate. It was some sort of protection spell. Feeling the powerful magic, he paused to get a closer look at their surroundings. The manor''s walls were three times his height, and there were guards everywhere, both in the yard and on the walls. There was a stone staircase ahead that led to two large doors, and an additional door was set into the stone wall on the far side of the yard, which he assumed led to servant''s quarters.


    Hoping to learn more, he reached out with his senses and nearly gasped. Every guard there, and even the horses, was stronger than anyone else he had met since he had been in Farnfoss, save for Kasimir and possibly Firtz, Shani, and A-Nis. Reaching out toward each of the guards, he realized that each had energy within their spirit that was theirs, but it was dwarfed by another pool that far exceeded their own. The energy was black, like that which lived inside of him. Even Keila felt stronger in this place, though the darkness of the others was limited inside of her, small enough that he hadn''t noticed until now.


    Returning to his senses, he saw a long box set behind the carriage. A cart had been pulled up behind it. The box looked similar to the one that the trio had dropped off in the woods when he first met them. He realized in that moment that Keila and her brothers weren''t dropping off supplies the first day they had met. They were dropping off people. As he looked toward the box, Keila pulled at his arm, urging him to hurry along. He tried to keep up with her measured steps, but the box likely contained Zethari. Reaching out, his assumption was confirmed. He could feel her energy, though the woman felt far weaker than she had mere days before. She felt almost as hollow as the other bath attendants had when he first went to the bath house. He tried to press his essence into her, let her know he was there, but he didn''t know if it worked as Kaila dragged him along.


    They walked under the statue of the woman he had seen before then. Looking up, he felt like the woman was familiar, but there was no inscription or name plate to designate who she was. Her faced nagged at him though.


    "Come on, Abad." She pulled him from his thoughts as she dragged him forward toward the stone staircase that led into the manor. When they walked up to the two large front doors, the massive man he saw at the teleportation seal emerged. He nodded politely towards them and beckoned for them to enter. As they passed him, Abad detected a strong hint of black in his aura.


    "Bors." The woman holding his arm said curtly.


    "Keila." The man''s deep bass rumbled back.


    Bors was infused with the same shadow essence as the rest, but it had completely taken over the large man''s spirit. There was little if anything he could point to that was the man''s own essence. The man, Bors, shut the doors behind them as they stepped into the manor, then escorted them up another large staircase ahead.


    The manor was opulent. Rich mahogany walls were gilded in gold and covered in murals. Each mural held depictions of heroic moments, and each was painted with as much precision and skill as he could imagine. It had to have cost a fortune. He didn''t recognize the scenes depicted in all of them, but as they climbed the stairs, he started to think some were familiar. By the second landing, many of the murals depicted events that occurred during Abad''s life. The beginning of the War of Shadows, when the thirteen sacked Aelora. The Siege of Istaera, when Abad had joined the thirteen in their conquest. The Battle of Ruusicaan, when they had finally broken Saern''s armies and invaded the Kingdom Under the Tower.


    At the very top of the staircase, on the left side of another set of doors, a mural showed his own battle with the Divine Hero on the mountaintop overlooking the Dark Lord''s ancient castle, Draekenspire. He could see his own figure painted on the wall, his grey skin and black horns casting a shadow against the hero''s light. That was when he had nearly defeated her. Only the timely arrival of her companions saved her from him. It was the moment he realized defeating her in single combat wouldn''t work.


    They reached a second double doors at the top of the staircase. These doors opened as they approached, but no person seemed to perform the action. It was a parlor trick to impress the weak, but Abad appreciated the theatrics. Inside the doors was another grander room still. It was filled with treasures.


    His heart stopped.


    They were his treasures. The ones that used to inhabit his vault. Armor, swords, magical items, scrolls, and countless other wondrous things were set atop pedestals throughout the room, sparkling as light from a window set in the ceiling lazily illuminated them from above. Mirrors reflected the light, ensuring that each item was perfectly illuminated. Abad''s head swam as he took it all in. He realized who the statue represented.


    And there, in the center of the room, was a man with short brown hair, bright blue eyes, and a grin that could melt stone. He was fit, tall, muscular, and handsome, and his presence radiated equal parts nobility, confidence, and cruelty.


    Abad had finally come face to face with Keila''s infamous patron... and in his hands was a golden, raven-headed scepter.

 XXXVII. Words Leave the Scroll

    Bolton gave Abad an exaggerated bow, and with a flourish of his hand, he spoke. "Welcome, Abad-Shai, Master of the Vault." As the man finished his gesture, a wave of magic washed over him. Abad''s [Mask of Many Faces] dissolved away, revealing his true form. Keila gasped and let go of his arm, stepping several feet back.


    "Apologies. That was rude of me. I thought she''d have figured you out by now." Another movement of his hand, and another flash. Keila and Bors disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving him alone in the room with the man. He realized then that the man had unlocked several of the scepter''s abilities, even if Abad knew he couldn''t tap into it completely since Abad was still its master. And he knew Abad was weak.


    "And who are you that you know so much about me?" Abad asked, keeping his expression calm and disinterested.


    "Why, I''m Bolton, the great patron of Nolei and Lord of Farnfoss." He grinned at Abad, but when Abad didn''t respond, his smile faded into a neutral expression. "Truth be told, I''m master of nearly everything I see. Who could stop me when I have this?" He held Abad''s scepter aloft. His scepter [Final Law] looked the same as it always had, the rubies set into its raven eyes glowing with a soft red light. He felt the object call out to him as the man waved it through the air. It yearned to return to its master. "Though... I suppose your existence proves I may have some rivals left in this world." He rolled his wrist, and the scepter flashed. Abad tensed, but nothing happened to him. "It''s as I thought. It still recognizes you despite serving me all these centuries."


    "Centuries?" The implication startled him.


    "Indeed, my friend." The man laughed and took several steps down from the dais he was on. "See, when that woman hired me to raid your little vault and steal all your treasures, I obviously couldn''t say no. How could I have with how much she offered? But she wouldn''t let us go." His face soured. "Then, one by one, we started dying. I don''t know what kind of curse you placed on your treasure, but it did its job. When all but a few of us were dead, we fled east. That bitch broke us, forced us to stay with her with these." He pulled his collar away to reveal a brand. It was a rose, Selene''s symbol.


    "She kept us alive for years, putting parts of herself into us, making us immortal, ageless, and strong. But were never able to leave her side for long without experiencing pain. We moved from place to place, always running. The heroes would find us again and again, until we set up shop out here, in a little backwater called Far Moss. And while we were together, I learned. I pretended to obey her completely. Then, the moment I could break her leash, I did." He laughed, throwing his head back in a wicked laugh. Abad could feel the black essence radiating out of the man''s spirit. It was at war with his energy, which was fractured and torn.


    "When I finally drove a knife through her black heart and took everything that was hers, oh the world was mine for the taking then!" The man threw up his hands in celebration of his accomplishments. His maniacal laughter made the hairs on Abad''s neck stand up. His mortal spirit wasn''t capable of containing their black essence. No wonder Keila feared him. The laughter continued for a while, but it stopped, the man lowered his hands and looked directly at Abad. "Tell me¡ªhow were you brought back?"


    Abad would give the man nothing. "I have my tricks. What do you want from me? Why did you summon me if you already know who I am?"


    "See, when I first heard Keila had found an elf mage, I thought I''d make a quick buck off you. Either you were strong enough to serve me, or I''d sell you off to someone who''d pay. Mages get a premium." The man was close now. His breath was sweet, but a subtle smell of decay crept into Abad''s nose. The man was rotting from the inside out. He''d have perhaps a year or two left before the black essence devoured him. "Keila''s brothers assured me you were strong, so I wanted to meet you and find out if you''d be useful." The man walked a slow circle around Abad. "But they never mentioned your name. My fault, really. I don''t learn people''s names unless they matter. But they let it slip that you were named Abad-Shai the last time we talked. I asked myself, where had I heard that name before? Where indeed?"


    He stopped circling and walked back to the dais. Abad felt that feeling of being watched again. "But then, after thinking about it, it came to me: That stupid elf I robbed with my old mistress. The one who got himself cut down by a woman from another world who decided she''d play hero. And [Final Law] just proved my little theory right. You are him¡ªthe very same Abad-Shai who once owned all of this." He swept his arms out at all the treasures decorating the room.


    Abad felt sick. The corruption inside the man twisted his stomach into knots. His very existence revolted him. "I see."


    Bolton continued until he was back on his throne. "Do you? Then let me ask you, oh great Master of the Vault, what will you do now that you''re alive and facing the man who murdered your precious Selene?" His face screwed up in a sneer. "What will you do to the man who claimed everything that you were?" He kicked his legs over the chair''s legs.


    "I can''t beat you," he said.


    "That''s correct. No one can. Perhaps that old man thinks he could, but he''d be mistaken. In this place, I hold dominion. I''m in control of everything."


    "You''re very powerful," Abad offered neutrally. The man was unstable, and Abad didn''t want to instigate his wrath, even if the scepter wouldn''t directly harm him. He didn''t know what else the man was capable of.


    "That''s also correct." He leaned forward and rapped his fingers against [Final Law]''s haft. "Join me. Let me bring you under my wing and put you to good use. I could give you everything you wanted, and you won''t even die this time." He cackled. "I can feel you''re a shadow of what the legends said you were, but I can give you power beyond reason, wealth beyond understanding, and servants aplenty to satisfy any thirst you might have. Just serve. Obey, and I''ll make sure you get everything you desire. We can do what the Thirteen and your little band never managed. Together, we can overthrow the nations. Take power away from the lords. Not through force but through control."


    The promise sounded familiar. He had lived that dream once. He knew where it led. "And what do you think you can control, Bolton?"


    "Everything, eventually. Everyone. With this, I can make and break the laws of this world." He held [Final Law] up into the soft light. "This little toy of yours has given me the power to rule." The man''s smile fell again. His eyes narrowed. "I can break any agreement, change the terms of everything. Vassals are slaves. Contracts are binding oaths. Everything becomes mine eventually." His words came more quickly and with more force as he shot out of his throne and ran forward, his finger pointed out and jabbing the air as he stepped up to Abad''s face. "And I won''t tolerate you or anyone else taking what''s mine. So let me ask again. Will you serve?"


    Abad could sense it, just beneath the surface. [Final Law]''s power called to him. Its energies rippled out of the man''s frame, beckoning its master to claim it. It was in control now. It had instigated this meeting. Perhaps it had been from the beginning. Why else had he ended up here?


    [Final Law] thrummed with power, waiting. The man before him had no idea what it meant. What it did. Why it existed. The true nature of the object remained hidden from the man. It revealed only slivers of itself, doling out what it believed would tempt whoever wielded it and take their strength from them. It stole everything its wielders had to fuel its hunger. This was why he and his companions had fallen apart. This was why his companion Yurades had been driven mad. His staff would corrupt, twist, and consume those who didn''t understand. All but himself. Abad was its only master, and even he struggled with the thing. Aughra passed it on to him along with the grimoire when she died. Only he could wield its true power.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    It whispered to him then, promising him untold power... and in that moment, he realized something.


    He didn''t care.


    "No. Thank you for the offer, but I won''t serve you. I also can''t beat you, but I don''t want to. I may need more power, but I don''t want that anymore." Abad took a step backward, his eyes locked on the scepter''s ruby-red eyes. It called to him, begged for him to command it. He willed himself away from it. After some struggle, he pulled away.


    The man''s madness erupted into violence, and he struck the floor with the scepter. Black and red power flared around the rod, lashing at the stones beneath them. The energy left blackened streaks on the marble. "Why must you test me?" Spittle flecked out from his lips.


    "I''m not interested in your offer," Abad responded softly, keeping his distance. "I don''t want anything from you, and I don''t intend to stop you. I just want to be left alone." He took another step back. "I won''t interfere with you, that I swear. I just don''t want this." Abad spread his arms out wide to encapsulate the room. "All of this was a dead man''s. It means nothing to me now."


    His scroll unfurled in his mind''s eye. For the first time, words left the page.


    <hr><hr>


    You have failed the [Finders Keepers] quest.


    You have failed the [Power Lost, Power Gained] quest.


    <hr><hr>


    Abad smiled as the quests left his scroll. As much as [Final Law]''s power tempted him, the cost was too high. He knew nothing he did with the thing would end in anything constructive, and he suspected that it would have destroyed him eventually if he tried to wield it again. Whether through his own temptations or another inevitably coveting the object, he''d die again, and he didn''t think he''d come back twice. It was better this way.


    "And why should I believe you?" The man''s face scrunched up into a furious grimace.


    Had Abad been so paranoid and small and insecure? Had he truly acted this way when faced with a perceived threat?


    He had, he realized. He had been worse. Far worse.


    "Because I''m going to walk out of here, retrieve the wolf girl in the box outside, and you''ll never see me again."


    The man screamed at Abad''s words and swung the scepter again. A crackling burst of shadowy energy struck Abad in the chest, but the energy didn''t harm him. Instead, the shadows poured into him, filling his soul with more power than he''d felt in centuries. It wanted him to claim it, even as black liquid spilled from Bolton''s mouth, the scepter taking from the man everything it promised.


    <hr><hr>


    [Call of Darkness]: The creation of your dread predecessor beckons you to claim your birthright. As shadows infuse your very soul, you gain a glimpse of your true power.


    You gain the [Nightmare Aspect] talent.


    [Nightmare Aspect]: By channeling your inner rage, you can transform into a shadow beast, gaining unnatural strength, agility, resilience, and an aura of terror. Your appearance alone can break the spirits of weak enemies, and all damage you inflict drains your foes and restores you.


    You have gained the [Devour Essence] Blood Magic spell.


    [Devour Essence] (2nd Circle, Active, Cost ??): Target an enemy or recently deceased creature within range. Drain a portion of their essence, dealing moderate damage to a living target or consuming a fragment of their energy. The drained essence replenishes a portion of your health and mana.


    You reach Level XIII


    <hr><hr>


    He felt the power enter him, and despite every ounce of willpower, he felt his body change. His bones began to snap and pop, and the infinite rage of his forebear entered his black heart. The man shrank as Abad grew, his body transforming into a being of pure nightmares. Abad felt himself slipping away. His will faded as the darkness infected his spirit...


    A look of horror washed over the little man in front of him. His screams filled the hall. Shadows poured from the scepter, but they only fueled the beast the little mortal found before him. The warlock''s thoughts became only whispers as the beast took control.


    "You have no idea how long I''ve waited for this." The beast rumbled, his voice shaking the very ground. A thick feathered tail sprouted from his hip and fell to the ground. Black wings unfurled from his back. He could see a large black beak extend from where his lips should be. The creature that had been Abad stepped toward the man who''d stolen everything from him. "Give it to me."


    Bolton raised the scepter with shaking hands and pointed it at him. Bolts of black and purple lighting shot from the scepter''s tip, dancing across the nightmare''s scales and entering every pore of its skin. The beast felt pleasure as the energies absorbed into it, giving it more power, but a small voice screamed within. The monstrous creature quashed it.


    "The staff belongs to me!" The human spat as he took several steps backward. More dark energy poured forth from the scepter''s tip, striking the ceiling of the tower and shattering it. Heavy bricks crumbled down on both of them, crushing a few nearby displays. One of the stones struck the man''s shoulder, which shattered. He fell to the ground. Dust and debris filled the room.


    The nightmare''s tail wrapped around the man''s legs and wrenched him forward. The man''s legs snapped from the strain. Pulling the weak mortal to him, the beast reached down and grabbed the would-be conqueror''s head in its taloned hand. Leaning down, it let its hot breath wash over him and relished the stench of fear oozing from his pores.


    "Goodbye, pitiful creature." The words that emitted from its beak were deep and garbled.


    [Devour Essence]


    The little mortal screamed as black energy tore out of his skin, splitting him open like a rotten fruit as it left his feeble frame and poured into its rightful master. The shadows snaked around the beast like lovers who''d long been spurned. The dark tendrils danced across the monster''s skin, slowly bleeding into it as the little man dangled, impotently writhing to escape. Soon, the man stilled, and his weak screams faded as darkness encased his body. Then, the corpse twitched as the shadows devoured him, leaving nothing behind¡ªnot even ashes as the beast consumed everything that the man was. Only the scepter fell to the floor with a heavy clatter.


    The beast could feel as the thick barrier that encased the manor faded, and shouts sounded in the distance. The beast didn''t care. Nothing else mattered in that moment but the object beneath him. Reaching down, the black nightmare felt its sheer power just beyond its fingertips. This is what it was. Who He was. He would devour this world and consume every single pitiful life in it until all the light of that weak little Goddess was snuffed out. Then He''d consume her too. He reached toward his birthright. The glorious scepter that was destined to be His.


    His taloned fingers nearly touched it, but they hesitated.


    A small voice within called out to Him. Images filled His mind. He imagined Bolton standing over Selene, a dagger in her breast, a wicked smile painting his face as he reached across her gasping body for the scepter. He saw Selene in the darkness of his vault giggling as she obtained His most prized possession. He watched Aughra shrivel away, the object taking everything from her. And He saw Himself alone, left in a dead world of darkness.


    That wasn''t what the voice within wanted wanted. It wasn''t what He wanted.


    He stood straight and took a deep breath. Focusing inward, He reached out to the voice, and the voice reasserted control. Abad could feel all of the power inside. He knew what he could do with it. He knew what he would do if unchecked. But he also knew at that moment who he was and what he''d been missing. What he''d lost in this life that was never his to choose. What he''d given away in his pursuits.


    And he knew exactly what needed to happen.


    He roared, pushing the shadows from his spirit. They exploded from his mouth, pouring back into the scepter and out of his soul, as his body began to change, They flowed out of him reluctantly at first, but they quickened as he gained resolve. Soon, they cascaded from him into the rod on the floor, and he slowly became Abad-Shai again.


    However, as the transformation was half-complete, he felt a resonance from his pack, which had torn away from him when he''d transformed. A horn blared in the distance, startling Abad. He heard screams, fighting, and sounds of combat. A familiar woman''s voice shouted nearby. He reached out with his enhanced senses. Screams outside the door behind him. He braced himself as he felt a wave of energy, and the door to the room exploded, showering cinders across the room. As the cinders and smoke cleared, a figure walked through the ruined doorway and into the chamber.

 XXXVIII. Im Proud of You

    "I see you''ve been having fun, Abad," a man''s voice said as a figure entered the room. As the smoke cleared, Abad could make out the smoldering remains of a dozen guards behind him. Among them was Keila. Abad''s heart clenched.


    "Kasimir?!" Abad''s face had only half transformed back. His words were alien and guttural.


    "I knew you couldn''t resist taking that little coin I left you. I''ve been able to watch everything. It was only a matter of time before you returned to your old ways. It''s in your blood." The man''s voice was calm and casual as if he were discussing the weather. From behind the mage, Shani, A-Nis, Firtz, and two other people he didn''t recognize emerged, one a red-haired dwarf and the other a brown-haired half-elf, fanned out and drew their weapons.


    When they saw him, Shani gasped, A-Nis grimaced, and Firtz roared. "I told you we shouldn''t have let that tainted bastard live!" Firtz bellowed and drew a handaxe. An instant later, Abad barely dodged it as it flew past, the axe lodging into a nearby display case.


    "I''ve rejected it, Kasimir!" Abad screamed as he willed his [Nightmare Aspect] to fade. His bones creaked and popped further in response. He was nearly normal again.


    Kasimir laughed and pulled something from his pocket. A moment later, a wall of energy surrounded them. Abad recognized it. It was an [Unbreakable Shield]. "You five, go release the slaves and finish off the guards. They won''t be much anymore without their master. You''ll be of no use here. I''ll finish this."


    Firtz growled, and the others looked skeptical, but the adventurers reluctantly left, though the half-elf hesitated for several moments, a curious look on his face.


    "Why?" That was the only word that Abad could conjure. It passed through his reformed lips as he watched his world burn away, again. He choked as tears filled his eyes. He hadn''t wanted this. He hadn''t wanted to return to this life. He finally realized how much he hated it. How much he hated being the monster everyone thought he was.


    Kasimir looked pained for a moment, then pointed at the scepter. "I told you. It didn''t matter what we wanted. The second you woke up and decided to return to this world, your fate was decided."


    "You knew, didn''t you?" It struck Abad then. Nothing had been chance. His run-in with Firtz and A-Nis. The troll attack and being forced to reveal himself. Being found by Keila. All of that had been orchestrated by the ancient man standing before him. "Why would you do this to me?"


    Kasimir sighed and stood tall. "Once upon a time, there were heroes and villains. They clashed and struggled against one another. The people lived in fear, but also in solidarity. True heroes were born, and they vanquished the forces that ruled over them. They defeated the villainous mages, put down the dragons that tormented their kingdoms, and destroyed the monstrous armies that rose to devour them time and time again. There was peace for many years. But that peace didn''t last. A new evil arose¡ªone far greater than the others¡ªbut this one couldn''t be fought on the battlefield. It came in the night, unseen and unheard. It corrupted the kingdom''s citizens, and turned them against the land and their fellow countrymen. This evil was born of their hearts, and they paid for it with the blood of their brothers and sisters."


    "I don''t care! I just want to be free!" Abad screamed at the man, spit flying.


    "And why should your wants matter to us?" The man''s voice rose. "It was you, Abad! It''s always been you and your disgusting kind. You were the reason we came to this world. To destroy the darkness that had been plaguing it." As Kasimir spoke, he twisted his hands, and a dark seal appeared under Abad. Tendrils of shadow began crawling up Abad''s ankles. "But without an enemy, these pathetic people will consume themselves, and I won''t let that happen."


    His face twisted for an instant as he spoke. Something lay underneath. His face wasn''t his.


    "That''s why you''re going to take in every single drop of your brethren''s black essence today. Then, you''ll continue the crusade you and your friends started an age ago." He smiled. It looked off, as if his lips were too wide. "I did it with one of your dark brothers centuries ago, but he was too weak. Again I tried with another, but he too was sent back into the seal. I tried again later with your black sister, and while she did better, she failed too. I''d hoped her creations would continue the cause, but they were too frail. We crushed them too easily. They''re little more than tools now. You''ll be much better, I think. That''s why you''ve been brought to me again. You''re a gift from the Goddess."


    "And if I refuse?"


    The ancient mage smiled a sad smile as if the words pained him. "You can''t. I''ve seen how it plays out. Again and again, I''ve watched the world unravel. We try to stop the future, but it''s too late. Our pathetic squabbles ensure that the world breaks. In a few years, a decade, a century, it consumes itself." He shook his head. "But with you, we''ll have centuries longer to plan. An age, perhaps. Your creations will be pulled from the Depths and fuel the towers. The beastkin will follow your will. The weak and corrupt will flock to you. And we will rally against you." He chuckled darkly. "And this time, there won''t be any stupid mistakes. I won''t let you choose your path like the others did. We will grow stronger and survive, because we have you, old friend, and I''ll be the one to guide your wrath."


    The black essence crawled from the seal up his legs, swirling and writhing against his flesh, burrowing deep within him. It wasn''t like the scepter. It didn''t obey him, see him as its master. As the essence entered his spirit, he heard their words. He could feel them sinking into his mind, whispering dreams of conquest and destruction into his heart. As the shadows reached his core, his scroll unfurled.


    <hr><hr>


    [A Dark Lord''s Rise]: Though you sought freedom from the shadows of your past, fate¡ªand the schemes of others¡ªhave bound you anew to a mantle you did not seek. The cycle continues anew.


    You receive the [Dominion] Shadowspawn talent.


    [Dominion]: By infusing your words with your essence, you gain the ability to alter reality itself. Creatures, environments, and objects must adhere to your whims, provided your mana and essence reserves can sustain the change. The strength of your influence scales with your intent, the scope of the alteration, and the resistance of the target. The world bends, reshaped not by steel or spell, but by the simple utterance of your will. Dominion is yours to claim.


    You reach Level XIV


    Choose an Enhancement


    [Focus I]: Your mental clarity improves, enhancing your ability to concentrate and reducing the likelihood of spell disruptions. This heightened focus increases your casting precision and slightly boosts your resistance to mental effects.


    [Mana III]: Your mana reserves increase significantly, granting you the ability to cast more spells before experiencing fatigue. This enhancement is ideal for prolonged battles or intensive magical tasks.


    [Life II]: Your overall health increases, making you more resilient to physical damage and slightly improving recovery speed from injuries. This enhancement also bolsters your vitality, enabling you to endure harsher environments and prolonged exertion.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    <hr><hr>


    He didn''t want this.


    As his mind faded, he selected [Focus I] as fast as he could, and the words burned onto his scroll. But before they finished doing so, his scroll faded away. He could feel the darkness consuming him. A pulse of black shot through his core. His body shivered, shook, and grew, transforming him back into that beast of scale, feathers, and shadow. He grew taller and broader with each passing second. His black wings spread from his shoulders once again. His arms and legs expanded as large claws sprouted from his fingers and toes. The black beak sprouted from his face, black and shining in the dim light, and a hunger arose from deep within.


    This time, however, he felt the familiar weight of the crown on his head as he finished transforming. In a flash, a bolt of black flame shattered the dome above as Kasimir''s black seal faded and the [Unbreakable Shield] shattered.


    Taking a single step forward, he watched as the man''s eyes filled with fear. The mage whispered words, and black blades of ice exploded from his palm. They were nothing compared to the beast. They melted away, doing nothing.


    Step.


    The beast could see the woman the warlock had spent so much time with, her body scorched, her eyes staring at the ceiling, unseeing.


    Step.


    She was just like the pitiful elf within¡ªa slave, controlled by another''s will. And now she was dead.


    Step.


    A small voice inside the beast screamed to help her. The beast hesitated, then acquiesced. The voice gave the beast words.


    "[Live Once More, and Be Free]."


    The beast''s words rewrote reality. The woman''s wounds disappeared, and she screamed as her fading spirit was thrust back into her restored body. Her eyes grew wide as she saw Him. She stood and ran. The voice thanked the beast.


    Step.


    Movement from the side.


    Step.


    The brown-haired half-elf watched from the shadows. He didn''t matter.


    Step.


    Rage. Another spell shot from the little mage and failed. Irritating insect. The beast swatted the old man across the room. The elderly man slammed into the wall near the door, and the spell concealing him faded. All that was left of the mage was a skeletal corpse, twin red pricks of light glaring at Him.


    Step.


    Seeing the pitiful being who thought it would be His master drew out the darkness from within. It consumed Him.


    The small dot that was the warlock tried to hold back the endless tide of hate that filled him, but the little elf''s will was but a pebble standing in the way of a raging river. The speck of resistance was consumed in the raging torrent...


    ***


    "...Boy..."


    ***


    She could feel it. Her Lord''s feelings in His final moment.


    Disbelief.


    Pain.


    Fear.


    She could almost see His death. Then, in an instant, the link binding them snapped as His energy vanished. Gone. The young orc dropped to her knees. Her hand gripped her chest. What happened? How could He have died?


    ***


    She lived in a haze for many years. Her master was gone. She was free to do as she pleased. Free, but lost. She didn''t know what to do. For many years, she traveled. Learned. Grew stronger.


    For so long, she dedicated herself completely to serving the being, working to help Him become great. He was her world. When He abandoned her, when He died, her purpose fled with Him. After many years, she came to feel like she had moved on from her failure. She would live on. He would have wanted that.


    ***


    Then, she felt it. His essence, calling out to her from the edge of oblivion. His soul sang out for her. And she answered. Of course she did. What choice did she have? She would find Him.


    ***


    She found the town His spirit was in. There were shouts, fires. Curses over the wind. She walked through the gates. Guards called to one another.


    "Over here!"


    "Don''t like it escape!"


    "Grab it!"


    "Halt!" A guardsman approached. He looked her over, then grabbed her arm, dragging her forward. She cursed and broke his grip. He spun around, leveling a blade at her. Another appeared. "Halt now!"


    She lifted her raven-headed scepter, her faithful old companion, the one He made for her. A pulse of light. Their eyes went wide.


    [Greater Command]


    "Kill yourselves."


    They fell on their own blades.


    She continued.


    A guard ran at her.


    [Devour Essence]


    Another stabbed at her.


    [Finger of Death]


    Another lunged.


    [Reaper''s Grasp]


    Their strength became hers. More came. More fell.


    Then, an alley. Bodies. Fire. Blood. A small shack. Filthy. A small boy. His eyes were red. Glowing. He held his side. More blood. A man approached the boy, blade raised.


    [Death''s Whisper]


    The man died.


    The boy was Him. She felt it.


    "Mom... my mom is dying." Tears. "I can''t save her."


    She looked beyond, into the pitiful shack. Blood. Shallow breaths. Golden hair. A dagger in her chest.


    "Help me. Please." More tears.


    She walked up to Him then. She placed an arm on his shoulder. He looked up at her. So innocent. He was afraid, but He trusted her.


    "...The monster is this way!"


    "...Come on men!"


    "...Don''t let it escape!"


    She heard the voices. The boy''s face was so earnest. They should leave now. She didn''t have to help the mother. The mother didn''t matter. She only needed Him.


    She reached out with her senses. The mother wouldn''t survive.


    But His eyes... So alike. And not.


    Kinder.


    More compassionate.


    More mortal.


    "I will try."


    ***


    "...I''m proud of you..."


    ***


    Abad could hear the screams of the monster that was him shaking the foundations of the mansion. He pushed with everything he had, and the darkness that had almost consumed him relented. In a single great motion, he raised his taloned hand and swiped downward, and the shadows poured out of him like a waterfall. The black seal reopened, and the black mass oozed from his spirit into the magical construct. The marble tiles shattered as the energy poured out of him. The hungry seal took it all. The black energy sank into the runes, flowing from him back into that black space between worlds. He screamed as his bones cracked and twisted, until his voice was his own again, until the final drops of darkness went back to whence they came.


    Then, he was Abad again.


    He fell to his knees.


    "No!" the old skeletal man cried, hobbling towards him. "What have you done?"


    His scroll unfurled.


    <hr><hr>


    You lose the [A Dark Lord''s Rise] achievement.


    [Breaking the Chains of Fate]: When faced with the mantle of the Dark Lord, you choose freedom over power, rejecting your fate and forging your own destiny. The cycle is broken.


    Your [Elf] heritage transforms into the [Sun Elf] (????¡î) heritage.


    You gain the [Scion of Lost Light] Sun Elf talent.


    [Scion of Lost Light]: The remnants of a forgotten brilliance burn within you, a beacon of hope and defiance against the encroaching darkness. You and all allies within your aura gain increased resistance to shadow and necrotic damage, and your fire and light spells are infused with the Lost Light of Reial.


    You reach Level XV


    <hr><hr>


    "Sorry to disappoint you," Abad gasped, a soft smile on his face.


    He did it. He was him. He was Abad-Shai.


    "How did you resist? Why?!" He screamed as the remnants of the seal beneath them faded away into motes of darkness. The mage looked lost, confused. The visage he had cast over himself had shattered, revealing the corruption beneath. Kasimir''s face was gaunt and skeletal, his decayed skin pulled taut against his bones. The smell of rot hung about him like a cloud.


    "I didn''t want it." He replied honestly. "Not anymore."


    "The future!" Kasimir bellowed, his voice strained and inhuman. "You''ve doomed us all! Thrown it all away! For what?!" Magic began to surge from the ancient being. The lich, Abad realized. That''s how he''d survived all this time.


    "I don''t care," Abad responded. "You said it before. I''m self-absorbed. I chose to be free." He turned to where he saw the half-elf before. He could just make him out behind the rubble. "There''s a woman trapped in a box outside in the courtyard. Please rescue her. She needs a real hero, one better than me. I''ll finish this." The man vanished, and the sound of footsteps filled the chamber before disappearing down the stairs.


    His scroll unfurled.


    <hr><hr>


    You have completed [Oath to Zethari].


    You gain the [Pack Bond] enhancement.


    [Pack Bond]: Grants an increase to your ability to work seamlessly with allies, enhancing cooperative efforts and tactics. Additionally, you gain a boost to perception when near companions.


    <hr><hr>


    "It''s too late. He won''t reach her in time. I''ve instructed my forces to kill the branded here. I said they were all too far gone, pawns in your schemes. And if she still lives, I''ll ensure she dies. Slowly. And it''ll all be your fault." Kasimir spat as magic pulsed around him.


    "The Goddess disagrees." Abad reached down and hesitated as his hands hovered over his scepter.


    Could he do this?


    He grabbed it. Absolute power filled him. The Power threatened to drown him again, but instead of losing himself, this time he crushed it. The scepter bent to his will. He was his own master, no one else''s.


    The second he grabbed the scepter, Kasimir screamed, and a wave of magical energy surged off the man like the sun itself. A howling filled the air, and the room shattered.


    Without thinking, Abad leaped toward his pack, grabbed it, and drew on the scepter''s power, willing himself to be anywhere but there.


    [Teleportation]

 XXXIX. [Final Law]

    Abad landed hard on cold dry stone. Biting winds violently whipped around him as he rolled and leaped to his feet, ready for anything. Luckily, he saw that he was alone.


    His scroll unfurled.


    <hr><hr>


    As the Dark One''s power surges into you, [Final Law] grants you [Mana IX], [Potence X], [Essence IX], [Focus VI], [Resistance IV], and [Resilience V]


    [Final Law]: This ability allows the bearer to rewrite, alter, or break any established rule, code, or edit all magical contracts, oaths, or laws. Through this power, the wielder can dissolve pacts, unravel spells, or rewrite agreements to the terms the wielder decides.


    [Teleportation]: Harnessing advanced spatial magic, you transcend distance, allowing instant travel to a known or marked location.


    <hr><hr>


    He felt every single fiber of his being surge with power. Using this new power, he reached out with his senses and could feel every tree, every bird, every beast, every stone, and something else, something hidden from his sight and far below. He exhaled, and the winds roared around him. His very breath was power. The cold wind cut at him, but it was nothing compared to the inferno that was his spirit. Soft snow fell from the sky, but it vaporized as it touched his aura. He pulled upon everything within him, and the mountaintop thrummed with power. Readying himself, he looked around, taking in his surroundings.


    He saw mountains in every direction. Turning, he could see the Great Tower rising high in the sky in the distance, a white line cutting through the deep blue of dusk. At its top was the Orb, which had grown dim as night approached. Looking the other way, he saw a massive wall stretching in every direction, and another tower, massive but smaller than the first, cutting through the dark sky. Looking down the mountain, he saw a decrepit castle lying far below. The land felt familiar. Looking down at the castle, he realized where he was. He stepped back. A large seal was carved into the mountaintop, and in the center was his raven symbol.


    He was on Draekenspire, where he had fought to Hero long ago.


    "Wherever you run, I''ll find you." Kasimir''s voice echoed in his mind. A breath later, the man appeared.


    Abad threw his pack off the side of the mountain and leveled [Final Law] at the man. "A fitting place to end up, isn''t it?" His voice echoed through the mountains, shaking loose snow and dirt from their peaks.


    "You don''t seem to understand. All that you are belongs to me. It''s been foretold. And once I peel the weakness out of that little mind of yours, I''ll bring you back. Again and again. You''ll be useful to this world, monster." The withered husk that used to be Kasimir took a step toward him. The mage waved his hand, and a green energy surrounded the entire mountaintop. [Dimensional Anchor]. They were stuck until one of them fell.


    Abad channeled energy into the scepter.


    [Candlelight]


    Flames exploded from the raven-headed rod. The snow hissed violently as the flame scorched the mountaintop. It looked different now. Lighter.


    Kasimir laughed. "That''s all you have? After everything, all these years, that''s what you use in our final battle? Where''s the power you brought against my sister? Don''t make me laugh."


    Abad''s ball of flame shot forth, but the ancient mage raised a barrier of energy, deflecting it.


    [Teleportation]


    Abad vanished just as the flames dissipated through the barrier, reappearing on the opposite side of the mountaintop.


    [Burn the Weak]


    Deep red flames cascaded up his scepter and wreathed his arms, but they were no longer only blood red. Small motes of white fire danced within them. Kasimir turned and spoke more words of power, but the man was too late. The hellfire exploded toward the withered mage and erupted as it struck him. His shrieks melded into the howling wind as his robes burned away and his leathery skin peeled back, revealing the skeletal frame beneath. As they guttered out, the lich gave a creaking laugh.


    "I cannot die. Not truly. It doesn''t matter what you do. There is no defeating me."


    Abad laughed at the man''s words. "I remember thinking the same, once."


    "You brought ruin to everything you created!" Kasimir spat back. "I watched your empire burn!" As he spoke, the man raised his staff and sent bolts of black lighting at him. "I could never be like you, filth! Everything I do, I do for this world!"


    [Rulebreaker]


    With a pulse, Abad unraveled the spell itself. The bolts of lightning dissipated as if they never existed at all, scattering only a sea of dust into the air.


    [Teleportation]


    Abad teleported into the sky, to the edge of the barrier.


    [Burn the Weak]


    Again, the fire flashed and cascaded downward, consuming the lich''s body. Kasimir screamed and stumbled, trying to block the blow with his arm, a magical shield sprouting from a bracer on his bony wrist. The flames licked up and down the shield, but the white motes penetrated it, blackening the bones beneath.


    [Teleportation]


    Abad teleported behind the lich and spoke, infusing his words with his power of [Dominion]. "[May the dead rest]"


    Purple tendrils coalesced from Abad''s scepter, then snaked into the ground around him. An instant later, they shot from the ground around the lich and swirled along his frame, revealing black runes along his bones. As the purple energy ate at them, the creature''s frame to wavered. The mage screamed as the magic began to pull at him, seeking to rip his spirit out of the false body it was housed in. In a flash, the man vanished.


    Abad''s eyes darted back and forth. He reached out and felt the man nearby but didn''t see him. He looked up and was struck in the chest with cold black energy. Black ice crackled over him, freezing him to the spot. Kasimir teleported again, reappearing directly before him. The man''s hand flashed out, sending shards of obsidian black ice through the air.


    [Teleportation]


    Before Abad teleported, the shards embedded themselves into him, piercing into his stomach and chest. He teleported several feet away but fell to the ground, clutching his chest. Another wave of black ice washed over him, piercing his legs. A shadow loomed over him. He felt the power of his scepter drain out of him as the ice shards drew on his essence.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    [Sanguine Bond]


    He pulled on his life force to reinforce his body. He coughed up blood as he jumped backward, tearing free from the ice just as the lich struck downward with a scintillating black blade, which gouged into the mountain as it were made of paper.


    [Candlelight]


    The ice melted off his skin as flames wreathed the scepter, but blood poured from his wounds where the ice had been.


    [Corruption]


    The black runes flashed as the weakening spell resonated with them, enhancing his [Dominion]''s effects. That might buy him some time. The lich was faster than him.


    [Devour Essence]


    He reached out with his soul and absorbed every ounce of energy within range. Motes of energy flowed out of the lich, torn free from his bones. It crawled out of the rocks, the snow, and the air itself and tore every ounce of essence from the land, leaving the mountaintop cracked and barren. He felt his wounds close, but he was still badly wounded.


    "[May the dead rest]!"


    The glowing runes etched into the lich''s bones glowed in response to Abad''s words, but before the spell could do much, the mage teleported away again


    "[No injury shall fell the child of¡ª"


    He felt a spell wash over him. His words died on his lips.


    "Did you truly think you could overcome me, demon spawn?" Kasimir reappeared in front of Abad, and a wave of force threw him back onto the ground. The lich leaped forward and stomped on his hand. The warlock screamed as his fingers broke. Another stomp, and another, and another. Abad rolled over and tried to summon flames, but a wave of purple energy struck him, throwing him through the air. [Final Law] slipped from his ruined hand and skittered away. As it did, Abad could feel all the pain the scepter had masked wash over him. Along with the pain, his spirit diminished to a fraction of what it had been, leaving him drained and exhausted. The winds bit at him, burning his skin. The sky was growing black, but even with the empowerment of his [Embrace of the Abyss], he knew he was sorely outmatched.


    Another spell. Roots sprouted from the ground, entwining him, pulling tight against his flesh until he thought he''d pass out from pain.


    [Devour Essence]


    Abad pulled power from the spell, but it wasn''t enough to break it. He screamed as his fingers cracked back into place.


    Kasimir approached and grabbed his throat. The lich intoned a spell, and the same black seal as before appeared on the ground. Within seconds, shadows crept up the vines to his body, enveloping him.


    "When you woke, I rejoiced. You have no idea how long I''ve waited. Ever since you disappeared from this world, I''ve been disappointed time and again. All those useless descendants, every one of them falling short. I tried several of them, you know? Most didn''t even do enough to be written about. I knew I needed you. But everywhere I looked, I couldn''t find you. I had nearly given up hope... until I received a vision. The Goddess granted me her grace, despite what I''d become. She provided me with a path back to salvation." Kasimir pulled Abad''s face down, forcing the warlock to look him in his empty eye sockets.


    "I knew you''d awaken eventually. I knew you couldn''t have died. You''re too tenacious for that. And when I received my vision, I ensured you''d be pulled to Farnfoss, where I had long tried and failed to retrieve that little rod of yours. I knew you''d be pulled to it, so I let events play out how they would. And everything was as I saw it. Fate provided me with you. How does it feel to realize you never had a choice, little shadowspawn?"


    Abad shivered from the cold as the shadows bit into him. He tried to move and struggle, but he was held fast. He descended into his spirit and pulled on everything he could, channeling it into another spell.


    [Burn the Weak]


    Flames exploded around him, the dark red and white cascading like an inferno. His skin burned, blistered, and boiled, but so too did Kasimir''s bones. The lich''s arm smoked, and his bones blackened. The lich jumped back as the vines holding Abad incinerated. He fell to the ground. He could barely move.


    The shadows from the seal sunk into him further, tearing at his spirit, but something felt different this time. They were repulsed by something inside of him. They were unable to claim him fully. With what remained of his will, Abad reached for that thing that so repulsed the darkness. For the first time in his life, he sensed something else inside his soul. A small mote of light shined inside his black spirit, feeding on the flames and shadow. And that light illuminated something deep within him. The shattered embers of [Hellfire] began to glow in the light''s presence.


    "I wonder," Kasimir remarked as the flames engulfing him guttered out. "Why do you even care? It''s not like this world will ever embrace you."


    [Devour Essence]


    Abad pulled energy from the lich, restoring some of his power, but the mage was so far beyond him now that it felt like drawing water from a glacier. Either way, he drew on the lich''s energy and his own remaining strength. He channeled all his pain, loss, grief, and hatred into his final spell. He wouldn''t survive. He knew it. But he''d go out his way. He was done being a pawn.


    [Devour Essence]


    He tore everything he could from the lich, who cackled as he did. "What a pitiful end this has come to! Such wasted potential, you are. At least you''re going out with some dignity, I suppose."


    Abad was shaking terribly from the cold as the snow buffeted him. Blood coated the white stone, painting it crimson. He glared at the lich and wobbled to his feet. As he did, he pulled on that smoldering rune inside of him one last time and grinned. Flames licked at his skin, then roared out of him. He didn''t try to resist. He simply gave himself to the spell, just like he had against the trolls. The magic raged uncontrollably, so he let go. He didn''t care. He''d burn it all away, one final time, and be free.


    "Ah, one last diabolical stand against a hero? Fine. Do your best, monster." The lich waved his hand, and the silence spell fell free. The mage knew he couldn''t use [Dominion] without the scepter''s enhancements and seemed bored talking to himself. The black runes were still etched on his bones, but they were fading. If Abad didn''t end him here, he''d regenerate in time. This was the moment. He''d either end them both or die trying.


    Flames wreathed Abad''s entire body. As they consumed him, he spoke. "I''ve always been one to make grand speeches and pour on the theatrics. You know that better than most, Kasimir." The flames burned away at the shadows snaking out of the seal. Abad drew on them, willing them into him, feeding them to his spell. The black seal burned away into the night, consumed. Kasimir''s demeanor shifted, his teeth gritting as he began to smolder from the heat. Abad felt something move behind him, but he ignored it, focusing everything on this one moment. He couldn''t falter. This spell would be the greatest in his life. He felt his inner light merge with the rune within his spirit, and his scroll unfurled for the final time.


    <hr><hr>


    Your [Hellfire] spell has been restored.


    [Hellfire] transforms into [Eclipse]


    [Eclipse] (5th Circle, Active, Cost ?????¡ó¡ó¡ó¡ó¡ó): When cast, a massive explosion erupts around the caster, engulfing the area in a swirling inferno light-infused flame.


    <hr><hr>


    He laughed at the words on his page. He''d done it. He''d become more than he was. He opened his arms wide and tilted his head back. "Kasimir!"


    The red points of light in the lich''s skull narrowed.


    "This time, I''ll keep it brief. I''m done. I''m sorry the centuries have worn away at you like they have. I wish it could''ve ended better, for both of us." Magma poured from his lips as he spoke, sputtering on the ground. He grinned as his spirit ignited, burning away one last time. "See you on the other side, old friend." And with those words, he let go.


    [Eclipse]


    Scintillating flames burst from his chest, roaring into the air, until a vortex of light, shadow, and flame burned everything away. And for a brief, wondrous moment, all of creation shone brilliantly as he was engulfed in flames of purest white. The mountaintop exploded. Stone and flame roared as the clouds above burned away. Everything was consumed.


    He felt himself burning away, a smile still on his cracked lips as death approached. The darkness came to claim him. But just as he felt himself slipping away, a field of red energy appeared around him, blocking out the heat, and he felt a small amount of life force enter him. The flames roared around the red shield, which crackled against their ferocity, as he fell to his knees, panting, but alive. For several long moments, as the flames illuminated the world, he wondered how. A few minutes later, the flames died out.


    Glancing up, Abad saw the lich was smoking and charred, looking ragged and broken. His bones were black as night, and the light in his eyes wavered, barely visible even in the dark of night. Reaching out with what was left of his spirit, his head swimming as he did, Abad sensed that the lich had nearly been consumed, but it hadn''t been enough.


    "That was a very good try." The creature walked to the edge of the platform and reached down. He stood up with [Final Law] in his skeletal hand. "But as I said, This is fate."

 XXXX. The Thing He Refused to Lose

    Kasimir''s energy grew as he hoisted the scepter, though not as much as Abad''s had. The scepter still was his, for now. However, as the lich pointed the rod at Abad, he accepted that he couldn''t stop the mage. There was nothing more he could do. He already gave his best.


    "I have all the power you once wielded in my hands right here. With your defeat, I should be its master, no?" The skeleton almost seemed to grin as he waved the scepter around. Shadows poured from the implement, surrounding the mountaintop in a black dome. It caused the black sky to darken further, blotting out the last of the tower''s fading light. The creature stomped up to Abad and kicked him in the chest. Abad felt a rib crack as he was thrown back.


    [Devour Essence]


    Hardly anything pulled from the lich''s spirit. The creature had little left to give, even with [Final Law]. Abad barely managed to stand back up with what he took. He was so close.


    Kasimir cackled. "Perhaps I don''t need you after all." He swung the raven-headed scepter and hit Abad in the arm, throwing the elf onto his side. The warlock screamed as his arm nearly broke. "I realize my error now. I''ve been relying on you creatures when I merely needed this right here." He brandished [Final Law], not realizing he was weak enough to be affected by the object''s dark will. "Begone, foul thing."


    The black seal appeared under them again, but this time, there wasn''t enough light with Abad''s spirit to stop the shadows from entering him. Within seconds, Abad felt his mind fade into the void. He looked up at the lich and smiled softly. "At least I''ll die as me. Do it. Set me free."


    This was his time.


    "Goodbye, Abad." The lich placed a foot against his throat, forcing him to stay still. Pressing his skeletal foot down, Abad choked as Kasimir began whispering foul words. Abad knew the spell. [Soul Shatter]. It would rip his soul apart. The seal would claim his essence, but he''d be gone. A fitting end, he supposed. He''d never really existed anyway.


    Then, he saw a shadow cut through the black dome above.


    Just as the scepter began to glow with a sickly green light, the black shadow shot downward, striking Kasimir''s skeletal arm. The lich screeched as his spell fired harmlessly off the mountaintop. The shadow landed on the stone and transformed. As fast as it fell, the thing leaped back up, driving two silver blades into the mage''s arm. Wrapping its body around the lich''s limb, the blades flashed as it stabbed again and again, hacking at bone and sinew until black essence poured from the man''s ruined limb.


    Kasimir roared as he tried to claw the little creature off. He grabbed its fire-red hair and wrenched back, his bones creaking as he did. For a brief moment, everything stood still. Then, with a final heave, there was a sickening crack, and the little creature''s head wrenched backward. Its little body went limp, and two small daggers clattered to the ground. [Final Law] fell a second before the lich''s arm rattled against the ground and crumbled into dust. The mage threw the little creature to Abad''s feet. It rolled until its golden eyes met his. They were filled with love as they gazed upon him, and a small satisfied smile lit up the woman''s face. Red motes floated from her body and filled Abad''s spirit a final time.


    Everything disappeared in that moment. All he could see was her. Then, with a heartbroken scream, Abad leaped to his feet and charged the man, willing his last dregs of magic and life into [Sanguine Gift]. The lich tried to reach for the scepter but was too slow.


    [Burn the Weak]


    Scintillating flames roared to life in Abad''s palms as he slammed into the creature, throwing them both back onto the stone platform. The two tumbled to the ground, but Abad was on top of the man before he could recover. He struck the lich once, twice, then pressed his flaming thumbs into the skeleton''s gaping eye sockets and pressed down. The lich''s skull crackled and groaned from the intensity of the warlock''s flames. Abad felt the lich''s remaining energy enter him through the flames as his skull smoked. The lich screeched, but Abad didn''t stop.


    [Devour Essence]


    Abad tore the mage''s energy from him and used it to empower his flames. The lich writhed and twitched as the flames bit into him, cascading around the black runes etched into his bones, which began to bleed like ink on white paper across his charred bones. Abad could smell the sharp acrid odor of scorched bone filling the air. Blood poured from his nose as he pushed as much of himself as he could into his spell. His flames sputtered from the tears that streamed down his face.


    [Devour Essence]


    The lich struck him, but Abad felt nothing as more energy entered him. He pressed on, feeling the lich''s skull crack under his palms. The air was filled with the mage''s cries as his skull crumbled. Empowered by the imp''s presence and the darkness around him, he pushed everything into his spell, fueling it with every bit of pain within his black spirit, until there was only dust, and then he burned that too. The lich''s screams faded on the wind, but still, Abad burned it all away until all was silent save Abad''s ragged breathing. Only then did he let the flames gutter out. Blood poured like a river from his nose, but he didn''t care. He tried to stand, but he couldn''t, so he crawled toward his beloved familiar. Reaching her, he lifted her to his chest, cradling her body.


    Her breaths were shallow and weak. "... Master..." Angra whispered, looking up at him with those same loving eyes he remembered. He leaned down, planting his forehead against hers. Her red locks mingled with his. He was silent. There were no words. He hugged the girl tight, her limp arms swinging as he did.


    She struggled to speak. "...I missed you so much... All this time... It was so lonely without you..." Her voice broke.


    His throat clenched. It struck him. She had always been there. She sacrificed everything for him time and again, but he never gave it a second thought. He realized in that moment she was his most prized treasure, the one thing he''d most valued, and now he would lose her too.


    She gasped as she spoke. "...I didn''t... want to die alone...like you did..." A weak smile pulled at her cheeks. Tears welled in her eyes. "...A voice told me to stay here... She told me I''d see you again if I did... I''m happy I listened..."


    He couldn''t breathe. Couldn''t speak. Her breathing slowed as he cradled her against his chest. He searched his mind for anything that could save her. Some spell, some ability, anything. As her chest began to rattle, he tried to heal her, but he couldn''t even do that. He had nothing left to give. That''s when he noticed a sliver of sparkling essence float off her red skin. He watched as it danced in the wind, then faded away. Her essence was returning to the world.


    He lifted her to his face. Tears rolled down his cheeks. Her skin had begun to cool as he held her. "No..." He was too weak. He couldn''t save anyone. Not back then, and not today. She was dying, and there wasn''t anything he could do about it.


    He looked around, searching for anything. And at the edge of the platform, he saw it. [Final Law].If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    Still cradling his beloved familiar in his arms, he crawled to his scepter. Reaching it, he took it in his hand and pulled it toward her.


    He felt the power of the scepter cascade into him as [Final Law] recognized its master. The rod''s strength poured through him, fortifying his soul, his body, and his spirit. He pulled on it all and cast a spell.


    [Essence Transfer]


    Essence poured from him into Angra''s broken body, but it bled out of her and into the night.


    [Essence Transfer]


    Descending into himself, he tapped his core. His body shook as he poured himself into the spell. His vision went black with the effort, but still, she faded.


    "[No]," he whispered, lacing his words with power, and the mountains shook with his voice. "[I refuse to lose her too]." As he exerted his will on reality, pushing against the very fabric of creation, he could feel the enchantments binding her breaking down. He couldn''t undo this. With each passing second, she faded more. Her body began to grow translucent as the enchantments giving her shape decayed. "[NO]!" His voice thundered through the world, echoing off of everything, shaking the earth itself. Power swelled within him, and [Final Law]''s raven eyes sparked and glowed, but still, it wasn''t enough. Abad felt the flow shift. The world''s essence was spent and what was left began to bleed back into him, finally freed from the spell that summoned an age ago.


    His voice became hoarse as he screamed, unleashing the full might of his will. The earth shook violently as reality rebelled, but he didn''t care. He wouldn''t lose her. He refused. A torrent of energy flowed through him and into Angra, but it returned to him through their bond.


    And then those words came to him once again. Would you do it again if you could? Would he make the same choices again? Would he hold fast to his nature and unleash death, chaos, and ruin upon the world? Or would he choose a new path? He looked down at his beloved familiar, then at the scepter. The same one his mistress gave him an age ago. He had all the power in the world, but he couldn''t save even one thing he loved, time and time again.


    He threw his head back, screaming in defiance at the sky above, shaking the foundations of Reial. He heard rumbling in the distance. An avalanche of snow and stones careened from the mountains, raining into the valleys below. His roar reverberated across the skies and echoed through the valleys, into Elysium, and the Wilds, and the Depths below.


    "[Please]." His words whispered through the world, carried on the winds to unknown places.


    Then, silence.


    His red eyes pierced the night as he looked at his fading companion. He brought her body to his chest, his eyes searching hers. They were dim now, and her breath was nearly spent.


    [Teleportation]


    The world bent, and everything went black. An instant later, he was back at the teleportation seal in Farnfoss. Shouts and cries filled the air, and dozens of people were running to and fro as armed soldiers filled the streets. One of the guards noticed him collapsed within the seal, shouted, and drew his sword. Focusing, Abad imagined Selene''s statue.


    [Teleportation]


    This time, he appeared in the center of the manor''s courtyard, Selene''s beautiful face looking down on him from above. Dozens of Bolton''s men had been rounded up, and many fey''ra were being escorted into the courtyard. He heard shouting behind him. Amid the crowd were a pair of elven women and the half-elf Abad had seen before in the throne room. The man was shouting to the many armed and armored figures present, trying to create order out of the chaos. Next to the girls was Zethari, and behind her, amid the many chained people, was Keila. Abad tried to rise but couldn''t. He looked around for anything that could help him, and Zethari''s eyes met his. She cried out, and the various people present noticed him for the first time.


    "[Help me]." His voice echoed through the courtyard, his empowered words washing over them. He tried to stand again but fell, the little imp in his arms fading further, her breath rattling horribly. Even with the scepter''s power, he couldn''t keep using [Dominion].


    Zethari darted forward and picked him up as if he were nothing. "Nightstalker. Guide me."


    "Take me to the throne room." His voice croaked.


    Zethari nodded and took him in her arms. She charged, and in an instant, her powerful legs took four steps at a time. Mere moments later, they were in the room. He heard dozens of footsteps trailing them.


    "[Be sealed]." The doors to the throne room slammed shut. His nose was bleeding again. "I need to find something. If this is my vault''s treasure, there should be several small red stones here somewhere." He scanned the room and realized it had been torn apart by Kasimir''s spell. Nearly every display case was splintered or completely destroyed. He knew they wouldn''t find it in time. The imp''s essence was nearly spent.


    She was nearly gone.


    "[Stone of souls, reveal yourself]." He nearly passed out. For several moments, nothing happened, and Abad despaired. But then, a soft glow emitted from the far side of the room.


    Zethari set him down, disappeared into the clutter, and reappeared with the small glowing object. Taking it into his hands, he pressed it to Angra''s breast.


    [Soul Trap]


    The faded imp glowed brightly as the essence that made up her physical form began to break apart. As it did, the small rock glowed a deep crimson. Her body began to dissolve into hundreds of motes of black, red, and gold light, but the motes were muted and weak. There wasn''t enough of her left. The motes dissolved before they could enter the stone. She needed more. She wouldn''t survive without more. She''d be gone forever.


    He looked at [Final Law] and made a choice.


    [Corruption]


    He tore apart the enchantments that had created the scepter. The wooden haft cracked, and shadows leaked from the object as its dark will begged him to stop.


    [Essence Transfer]


    He channeled the scepter''s energy into himself, then into Angra''s essence. The black inscriptions upon [Final Law]''s haft began to fade, then a wave of shadows erupted from the wood, obscuring the throne room in darkness blacker than the darkest night. Cold, black winds tore at his skin as each sigil shattered. He fed the energy to her, whispering soft words to his dearest friend, willing her to come back. He felt as the wood and metal grew cold until it crumbled in his hands, the raven-head handle falling to the ground with a dull clang. As [Final Law] turned to dust, he kept channeling its foundational magics into his familiar. And as her final breath escaped her breast, her body broke into thousands of scintillating motes, which gently swirled around him.


    He froze.


    He failed.


    He''d lost everything.


    For a long moment, he sat, paralyzed, watching the essence that was his dearest friend swirling lazily around him.


    Then, a soft thin ray of light pierced through the ruined ceiling of the manor and illuminated the swirling essence. At first, it was soft and dim, but as the moments went on, more and more light filled the air, until the entire space glowed with light. The motes of essence resonated with the light and began to shimmer as they merged into one another., growing stronger as they combined with the shadows released from the scepter.


    The cloud of combined essences coalesced and entered the red stone. The orb grew brighter as it filled, and before long, every wisp that made up Angra was sealed inside the crystal. Abad clutched the orb tightly to his chest, tears streaming down his face. His breathing was shallow, coming in painful, labored gasps as he held her spirit close. Her presence within the crystal resonated with him, calling to him, comforting him, reassuring him.


    He''d done it. He''d finally saved something.


    His scroll unfurled.


    <hr><hr>


    [The Thing You Refused to Lose]: There comes a moment when even the most resolute must face a choice that defines their very soul. You have sacrificed great power for the sake of what you cherish most, proving that your heart is not for sale, even to the allure of ultimate power. For this, you are rewarded not with strength but with the return of what you hold most dear.


    [Familiar] has been lost.


    You may summon a new familiar in a year and a day.


    [Lord of Nothing] has been lost.


    <hr><hr>


    As he cradled his dear familiar, Abad heard a series of thuds, a loud creaking filled the air, and the doors to the room collapsed as the last dregs of his power disappeared. A group of soldiers entered the room.


    "We''ve got him cornered now! This is your end, foul beast!" Abad watched the speaker, a young man, draw his sword, his brown eyes shining with courage and conviction.


    Zethari growled, and Abad watched as the woman grew to twice her height. Her form twisted and shifted until she became a great humanoid wolf. She howled at the men, who backed away in fear, their conviction lost in the face of such a mighty creature.


    "Stand down!" A strong woman''s voice sounded from behind them. The half-elf entered the room, with Firtz and the others following closely behind. And behind them was the Divine Hero, Faye, her piercing blue eyes boring into Abad''s soul.

 XXXXI. A New Path

    Faye, the Divine Hero, the woman who drove her holy sword into his chest five centuries ago, walked into the room. Her eyes never left Abad''s.


    She looked exactly as she had. A lithe, athletic build, short black hair, piercing blue eyes, a soft, kind smile. Even when looking at her mortal enemy, she radiated calm and compassion. She appeared to still be in her early twenties, but her eyes were filled with the wisdom of centuries.


    Her lips parted, and she said the first words he''d heard from her in five centuries. "You look like shit."


    He couldn''t help but laugh, but the sound that emitted from his cracked lips was more of a croaking sob.


    "Everyone but my team, out," Faye spoke the command, but the soldiers didn''t budge.


    "Lady Faye, we¡ª"


    A single look from the woman had them all shrinking back and retreating into the hallway.


    Her words caught him off guard. He rested his forehead on the red stone and waited for whatever it was that was happening to unfold.


    "I won''t pretend I understand everything that''s happened." She walked towards Abad and kneeled before him, setting a hand on his shoulder. "But I think I know enough." The pressure on his shoulder was soft and comforting. He looked back up at her. She wore fine but simple garments of blue and white etched in gold. Unlike her past self, who wouldn''t have been seen without the Hero''s Regalia, she didn''t seem to bother even arming herself. Yet, for how harmless as she seemed, Abad was humbled by her aura. He knew without question that the Goddess herself stood at her side, and even if he still had [Final Law]¡ªno, even if he had all of his old artifacts and power¡ªhe''d still be nothing more than the shadow of the woman kneeling next to him right then. "My brother?"


    "It''s over," Abad replied softly. His words were strained as he stared at the floor. He would die now. He knew it.


    "I''m glad." His head shot up. What did she mean?


    "This is wrong." A deep voice sounded from the hallway. A man in heavy plate armor entered the room. "You cannot interfere."


    "I''m already involved," Faye said. She lifted her gaze and met the newcomer''s. "This is the Goddess''s will. Don''t get in the way." Though spoken calmly, the power behind her words had weight. The man took a step back, and everyone, Abad included, shivered at her words.


    Faye smiled again at Abad as the others gathered around. "What will happen to your little friend?"


    His fingers brushed the red gem. "I don''t know. I don''t know how to bring her back, but if I''d done nothing, she''d be gone forever. I couldn''t let that happen." His eyes drifted to the raven-head that used to be [Final Law]. "All the power in the world doesn''t mean anything if I can''t even save the things I love."


    "You''ve changed," Faye spoke softly. She reached up and stroked his cheek with her hand. "The Goddess told me that you would make a choice here today. That I would know what you chose when I saw you. It seems you chose well, old friend."


    The term confused him. "Old friend?"


    "Yes. Don''t you remember what you said to me at the end?" She lowered her hands and rose to her feet.


    Abad thought back to his death by her hands. So much had happened between then and now that he''d forgotten what he said.


    "You promised me you''d come back." Her piercing blue eyes met his red. She looked on him without hate, judgment, or anger.


    "I..." He remembered his last words. "I promised I''d come back and prove to you that there is justice in this world." Tears filled his eyes as he gazed at her, then back down at the soul gem that housed the imp. She extended a hand to him. Zethari bristled, but Faye''s presence soothed the wolf girl. Soothed them all. He took it.


    "I prayed that day that I''d never have to see you again." Her soft smile faded. "I hated you, then. I hated all of you. I was so sure I was righteous and right, and when you died, I celebrated." A tear streaked down her cheek. "Then I watched, lived, and learned how the world actually worked. I watched my friends die, and I watched my brother become a shadow of himself. Our self-righteousness became his only cause. He was so sure he was right, but I came to pity you. Then, after many years, I felt compassion. Your suffering was needless, a tragedy of your birth. You may not have been innocent, but you never had a choice." She grabbed his hand. "I never thought I''d get this chance. To help someone I hated at the moment they became more."


    Abad had no idea how to respond.


    "With your choice today, this is your new beginning, to be someone better than you were. The Goddess looks with favor upon your actions, and while you are not pardoned for all the harm you caused, you may live anew with her blessing." Her lips fell into their easy smile again. "And mine."


    "He''s a monster!" A voice sounded from the entry.


    "My lady, what does that mean for him? Won''t he serve a lifetime in prison?" The half-elf asked. She glanced at him and shook her head. Her answer surprised Abad. "He''s free. The man who did so much harm is dead. The man before you served a sentence worse than most. Justice has been served." A soldier tried to speak, but a look from her silenced him. She took a deep breath. "Tell me, Abad-Shai. What do you intend to do now?"


    Abad considered the question. For years, he knew only war and battle, victory and defeat. But he''d learned much since he was awake again and had the beginning of an idea of what purpose he had in this new world. "I think I have a role to play in this age. I''ve heard that there are more of my kind in the world and that they suffer greatly. I''d like to find them and see if the rumors of them are true. If they are..." a grim thought crossed his mind, "then I''ll do what I must. If they aren''t, then perhaps there is something I can do to help them. I''ve seen firsthand how others treat my people," Firtz shifted uncomfortably, "so I believe there''s much to be done."This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "That''s a worthy goal, Abad."


    He looked toward Zethari next, whose golden eyes met his. "Also, the actions of my fellows and I still affect the world today. Our belongings and spells and artifacts, like [Final Law], have harmed countless people, and even those who once served us suffer for their service. Like the fey''ra," he pointed to Zethari. "Because of Kasimir''s manipulations and the actions of my dark sister Avara, Zethari''s kind both exists and is feared because of the evil they once caused. We caused. We made the problem, so I want to help find a solution. Even though their existence is only indirectly connected to me, I feel..." he hadn''t ever felt this feeling he was feeling before, "... responsible for them."


    "Responsible for them?" Faye asked, her eyes widening. "You have changed, Master of the Vault."


    Abad nodded. "Yeah." His hands clenched, and he held the red stone close. "Like me, they didn''t choose to enter this world. They were tools. Because of that, they''re feared and hated. They suffer because of our fights, our mistakes, made before they were ever born." Her eyes showed she understood his meaning. He sighed. "I want to change that. I want to fix our legacy so that this world may become a place in which they... in which we can thrive instead of survive."


    Faye chuckled as she folded her arms over her chest. "It will be difficult to convince the people to accept them. They still remember the pain. You were just as dangerous when we fought against you an age ago, and those memories of our past war echo through this land even now. How much more for their kind?" she nodded to Zethari.


    "Then I''ll just have to try harder." Abad smiled at the thought. This felt right. "Besides, I doubt I''ll be alone in this cause. After all, it''s a big problem, and it will require big solutions. Perhaps solutions endorsed by the Divine Hero herself?"


    She grinned, offering a hand again. "It seems like a worthwhile goal. I will support you in any way I can."


    "And we will be happy to offer our assistance." Firtz stepped forward, bowing his head slightly as he did. "I''m sorry for how I treated you, lad. I hope you''ll forgive me." The girls nodded in agreement.


    Abad smiled at them. "There is nothing to forgive. In another life, you would have been right to feel the way you did. But you showed me a hint of something when we traveled together, and I''ve been finding that same thing more and more the longer I''ve been alive again." He bowed to the dwarf, trying his best to not topple over as he did. "Thank you. For sparing me that day." He looked at the girls then too. "All of you."


    "Enough!" The man behind Faye bellowed. "Do not pretend that he has any real choice in this matter! We can''t allow a shadowspawn to go free!" Several of the other soldiers voiced their approval behind him.


    Zethari snarled beside him. He could see her body growing.


    Faye raised her hands. "Then what would you have us do, Bashar? Would you kill him? Send him to some hole where he might rot, alone, for eternity? After destroying a powerful evil and defeating the one who has perverted the bonds that should bring us together no less? If he should die, what then of the leadership of this land? You are truly blind if you think he deserves to be put down when so many others allowed far greater evil to come to pass." That was the Hero Abad remembered. All fire.


    Abad watched as the man approached. He was large, with grey eyes, pale skin, and a thick blonde beard. "I''d have us follow the law, which clearly forbids shadowspawn from being free!" The man''s face was screwed up in rage. "Why stop justice?"


    "He''s evil!" A soldier shouted.


    "A monster!" Another called out.


    "Stike him down now!" A third shouted.


    "And you''d betray the Goddess''s will to see your own sense of justice fulfilled, huh?" The room was silent at Faye''s challenge.


    "Divine Hero, I understand your words, but¡ª"


    "But nothing. This matter is closed." Her eyes narrowed. "If anyone wants to threaten this man, they can do so after dealing with me." A brilliant flash emitted from the woman, and instead of clothing, she was wearing the Hero''s Regalia and carrying her legendary weapon and shield. Golden light swam across her body, and the sword in her hand radiated light and power. "It''s been a long time since I''ve used these. I wouldn''t mind shaking off some rust." She smiled, and the image of the wisened woman vanished, replaced with an almost child-like giddiness. "Wouldn''t it be fun? Why don''t you strike first, Bashar? I''ll even give you a handicap." She threw her shield over her back and placed her left arm behind her back.


    The light that emitted from her filled the entire room. Her brilliance obscured her features and blinded Abad, who was forced to cover his eyes. She had been powerful in the past, but she was on a whole new level now.


    The man, Bashar, backed up. "No, my lady. Please, forgive us. It''s just..."


    Something crossed Faye''s face, and she looked down at Abad. "Abad-Shai. Will you serve faithfully as my vassal, from now until we relinquish our bond or one of us passes from this mortal realm? If so, swear your oath before me and the Goddess." She smiled at him and extended her hand


    Abad hadn''t ever thought he''d serve another, but he understood what was happening. Neither of them had a choice. He chuckled. He figured if he had to have a patron, being the vassal of the strongest person in Reial wouldn''t be so bad. He wobbled up to one knee. Zethari reached her clawed hand out and stabilized him as he threatened to topple over. "I will, Faye."


    His scroll unfurled.


    <hr><hr>


    You have accepted Faye the Divine Hero as your patron.


    <hr><hr>


    The soldier''s face turned a deep shade of red, but he bowed and turned on his heel. "Men, we have other business to attend to."


    The soldiers followed, but as they did, Abad felt a cold chill roll down his spine. "Faye. There is a woman outside in chains. While she''s done wrong, she did everything in her power to assist me. Without her, I wouldn''t be here right now. Might she receive a pardon as well?" He paused, then added, "Or at least have mercy shown to her?"


    Faye tilted her head. "After everything you went through, you still wish to help her?" She knew more than she let on.


    "Yes. She was as much a slave as I was. With the brands that Bolton created using [Final Law], she had no choice. If it''s not possible to release her, can you at least help her? Please?"


    The Hero''s eyes grew distant for a moment. "Yes. I believe she can be of use to the world as well. I accept your request." She turned to the half-elf. "En-In. Please retrieve the blonde woman outside. Tell them I requested it."


    The thin man bowed. "Yes, my lady."


    He felt his muscles unwind. He nearly passed out as they did. "Thank you, Faye... I''m in your debt." A few minutes later, En-In returned, and Abad dipped his head to Keila, who was shocked by the sight before her.


    "Um... Hi... Great Divine Hero, ma''am..." Keila mumbled as she tried out an awkward, unpracticed half bow, half curtsy.


    Faye''s smile never left her lips. "You seem like a clever girl. It''s good to know that you helped our friend here make the right choice today."


    "Uh.. Well..." She looked to Abad, whose eyebrows raised slightly. He tried to convey to the woman that it would be better to not argue with the Divine Hero. "I did what I could to help. He''s not so bad once you get to know him."


    "Well, you''ve done us all a service, and that service deserves to be repaid. We can discuss it over a meal." She glanced back at Abad. "Maybe after our friend here gets some rest. He needs it."


    As the last word left her lips, Abad fell over. It was time for him to get some well-deserved rest.

 XXXXII. Act 4 Character Sheets

    <div>


    Abad-Shai


    Shadowspawn Sun Elf Warlock of the Mask


    Level XV


    <hr>


    Sun Elf


    ???¡î¡î


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Fey Senses II] (Passive/Active, Reserve ?): Elves possess heightened perception, blending their superior physical senses with an innate connection to magic. You can see in the dark, hear acutely, and use mana to detect magic around you if you dedicate mana to this ability. At rank II, your physical and magical senses are more honed and precise.


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Elven Grace]: Elven heritage gifts you with heightened reflexes, allowing you to react faster than most mortals. This talent provides a boost to speed, agility, and reaction time, particularly in combat and hazardous situations, you are sure-footed in all manner of environments, and your footsteps are nearly silent.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Scion of Lost Light]: The remnants of a forgotten brilliance burn within you, a beacon of hope and defiance against the encroaching darkness. You and all allies within your aura gain increased resistance to shadow and necrotic damage, and your fire and light spells are infused with the Lost Light of Reial.</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    The Mask


    ???¡î¡î


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Illusion Magic] (Passive): You have the ability to weave subtle deceptions, clouding perception and bending reality to your will. You can learn spells that create illusions, deceive the senses, and manipulate perceptions of the world around you.


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Mask of Many Faces] (2nd Circle, Active, Reserve ??): Due to being born under the sign of the Mask, you can dedicate a portion of your mana to change subtle elements of your appearance.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Shadowspawn


    ?????


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Dark One''s Shadow] (Passive): As an inheritor of the Dark One¡¯s essence, you are immortal and do not age past your prime. You also require less food, water, and air to survive, but you bear the marks of corruption upon your body.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Devour the Weak] (Passive): Damage you inflict heals a small amount of your life force. Your magic is particularly potent against beings that share your dark heritage.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Embrace of the Abyss] (Passive): Darkness and shadows strengthen you. When in darkness or shadow, you gain an increase to your physical abilities equal to one rank of any physical enhancement, and existing enhancements grow one rank stronger. You also gain the become difficult to detect with both physical and magical senses as long as you¡¯re in darkness, stacking with ranks of the [Stealth] enhancement.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Nightmare Aspect] (Passive): By channeling your inner rage, you can transform into a shadow beast, gaining unnatural strength, agility, resilience, and an aura of terror. Your appearance alone can break the spirits of weak enemies, and all damage you inflict drains your foes and restores you.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Dominion]: By infusing your words with your essence, you gain the ability to alter reality itself. Creatures, environments, and objects must adhere to your whims, provided your mana and essence reserves can sustain the change. The strength of your influence scales with your intent, the scope of the alteration, and the resistance of the target. The world bends, reshaped not by steel or spell, but by the simple utterance of your will. Dominion is yours to claim.</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Warlock


    ????¡î


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Summoning]: (Passive): You can call forth entities from other realms, who lend you their strength and skills. You can learn spells that summon, bind, and empower creatures and objects to serve and protect you.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Blood Magic II] (Passive): Your life force fuels your magic, allowing you to cast additional spells at the cost of health. You can learn spells that draw on blood and life energy to strengthen your casting. At Rank II, your mastery over blood magic deepens, allowing you to draw on your life force with greater efficiency, casting blood-fueled spells at a reduced health cost. This level of skill also enables you to learn more advanced Blood Magic spells, expanding your arsenal in exchange for careful management of your own vitality.


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Essence Transfer] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?+?/?): The user can transfer a small amount of health or mana to or from a willing target.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Sanguine Gift] (2nd Circle, Active, Cost ?+?): Sacrifice a portion of your life force to briefly grant yourself or an ally enhanced reflexes, strength, and stamina, amplifying their physical abilities in a burst of vitality.


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Devour Essence] (2nd Circle, Active, Cost ??): Target an enemy or recently deceased creature within range. Drain a portion of their essence, dealing moderate damage to a living target or consuming a fragment of their energy. The drained essence replenishes a portion of your health and mana.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Fire Magic] (Passive): You wield the essence of flame, strengthening your power over physical and spiritual fires and increasing your resistance to them. You can learn spells that summon, control, and unleash fire in its many forms.


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Burn the Weak] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?): You conjure a small, searing flame that can be thrown at creatures within sight, igniting and inflicting fire damage. This spell is especially effective against vulnerable or injured enemies, dealing additional damage to those already weakened.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Candlelight] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?): You conjure a small flame that can be used to ignite inanimate objects and inflict small amounts of fire damage on a target.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Eclipse] (5th Circle, Active, Cost ?????¡ó¡ó¡ó¡ó¡ó): When cast, a massive explosion erupts around the caster, engulfing the area in a swirling inferno light-infused flame.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li>[Black Magic] (Passive): You possess an affinity for dark, potent forces that lie beyond the mortal realm. Shadows and negative energies respond to your call, enabling subtle manipulation of fear, weakness, and despair in others. You may now learn Black Magic spells, tapping into powers that corrupt the living, obscure perception, and invoke primal dread.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Corruption] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?): Draw on the shadows to infuse a target with negative energy, weakening their defenses and dulling their senses. This spell saps the target¡¯s physical and mental resilience, leaving them vulnerable to further attacks and susceptible to effects that prey on fear and confusion.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Enhancements


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Evasion I] (Perk XII): Your reflexes improve to match those of a wild predator, such as a lynx or cheetah. You gain an increase in reaction speed and agility, allowing you to better dodge attacks and move fluidly.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Focus I] (Perk XIV): Your mental clarity improves, enhancing your ability to concentrate and reducing the likelihood of spell disruptions. This heightened focus increases your casting precision and slightly boosts your resistance to mental effects.</li>


    <li>[Life I] (Perk X): Fortifies your life force slightly, making you sturdier and harder to wear down in combat.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Mana I] (Perk II): Increase your mana reserves by a small amount, allowing you to cast more spells.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Mana II] (Perk VIII): Increases your mana reserves by a sizeable amount, allowing for greater spell-casting endurance and more complex incantations.</li>


    <li>[Pack Bond] (Oath to Zethari): Grants an increase to your ability to work seamlessly with allies, enhancing cooperative efforts and tactics. Additionally, you gain a boost to perception when near companions.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Potence I] (Perk IV): Increase the potency of your spells, increasing their range, power, and duration by a small amount.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Potence II] (Perk VI): Further amplifies the strength of your spells, making each cast more impactful and destructive. This enhancement also slightly reduces resistance to your spells, increasing the chance of bypassing defenses.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Titles


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Master of the Vault]: Bestowed upon you by the mighty Grimoire, the last creation of the Archmage Aughra, this title marks you as a true keeper of lost knowledge and forgotten relics. You will always know in what direction your vault lies and the best path to get there, and you have a second sense for finding valuable items and equipment.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Eater]: Bestowed by the troll Graul, this title marks you as one who consumes what others would discard, taking strength from the remnants. When you consume the essence of an enemy, you gain a brief but potent surge of energy, temporarily enhancing your body, mind, and spirit, and sometimes catching glimpses of their final memories or emotions.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Nightstalker]: With the silence of a stalking predator, you move without sound. When following an unaware target, your perception sharpens, revealing even the slightest movements of your prey.


    </li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Quests


    <hr>


    Equipment


    <ul>


    <li>[Invisibility Scroll]: Causes the caster to go invisible until they attack or cast another spell.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Achievements


    <ul>


    <li>[If You Only Had a Heart]: Through the ashes of your former glory, you have found a new source of power: compassion. By opening yourself to another''s suffering, you gain the ability to both give and take the essence that binds all living things.</li>


    <li>[Consume the Pain]: You have found the remnants of a tortured soul¡ªits body chained to a bed, its empty eyes seeming to plead for release. The corpse''s suffering lingers, trapped in the essence that lingers in its old bones. By consuming it, you grow stronger.</li>


    <li>[Make the Impossible Possible]: Only the daring reject common sense and drill their way to a greater tomorrow. For successfully casting a spell you were certain you wouldn''t survive casting, you grow stronger.</li>


    <li>[Shards of the Dark Lord]: You have found and consumed a fragment of your progenitor''s power. Through his dark might, you grow stronger</li>


    <li>[The Hunted]: By using your senses to hunt those who would hunt you and your allies, you have your perception to a greater degree. You have honed your elven senses to a greater degree.</li>


    <li>[You Are Strongest]: By dredging up forgotten abilities from your past life, you were able to defeat Graul the troll, a creature far stronger than you and absorbed his dark essence. In being willing to sacrifice everything, you have grown stronger.</li>


    <li>[A New Friend in Need]: Through an unexpected act of compassion, you healed a person in need while expecting nothing in return. This selfless gesture stirs something deep within you, awakening a new spell.</li>


    <li>[Secrets of the Wall]: By reading the last words of one destined to die, you have regained a portion of your former strength. Though only a small kernel of knowledge, these words unlock further understanding.</li>


    <li>[[A Dark Lord''s Rise]: Though you sought freedom from the shadows of your past, fate¡ªand the schemes of others¡ªhave bound you anew to a mantle you did not seek. The cycle continues anew...</li>


    <li>[Breaking the Chains of Fate]: When faced with the mantle of the Dark Lord, you choose freedom over power, rejecting your fate and forging your own destiny. The cycle is broken.</li>


    <li>[The Thing You Refused to Lose]: There comes a moment when even the most resolute must face a choice that defines their very soul. You have sacrificed great power for the sake of what you cherish most, proving that your heart is not for sale, even to the allure of ultimate power. For this, you are rewarded not with strength but with the return of what you hold most dear. </li>


    </ul>

 II-0. A Dream of the Past

    "Bastard!"


    "Monster!"


    "Quiet! He''ll kill us too!"


    "You''ll pay, you fiend!"


    "Come, boy. Stay close."


    Bitter words fell from the impotent villagers'' impotent lips. They had watched as the warlock''s magic cut down their brothers and sisters, fathers, sons, and daughters, their little rebellion crushed, and now they had the gall to complain. Abad-Shai, the greatest of the Seven and the most powerful of the Dark Lord''s successors, felt his ever-present grin fade.


    He was done with this farce.


    "[Kneel]."


    The crowd of forty or fifty villagers were thrown to their knees, their heads pressed into the mud.


    "You seem to misunderstand our relationship. Let me clear the air." He carefully stepped through the many, many fresh corpses bleeding out in the mud, careful to avoid staining his expensive new shoes. "You are mine. You are all mine. You will always be mine. Resist me, and be put down like rabid dogs." He smirked and gestured to the bodies. "Like this lot." A wracking sob shook the body of a woman in the crowd. "Serve well, and be rewarded. Our agreement is simple." The wicked elf stepped through the bodies and stood before his remaining villagers.


    "[Gaze upon your master]."


    Their heads were wrenched upward, their eyes forced to gaze upon his grandeur. He looked into each''s eyes. Some were filled with fear. Others were consumed by sadness, and still others with anger. The warlock ensured each could gaze into his soul and learn the truth. There was no mercy in his black heart. There would never be any. He was power personified, and power had no use for mercy.


    After taking his time, he could see they understood their lot in life. However, just as he went to release them, words sounded behind him. They stopped the wicked, terrible, glorious grey-skinned elf dead in his tracks. He turned to face the disgusting sound.


    "It''s good we got here when we did." A short stout human wrapped in armor was walking down the wide village road flanked by a tall swarthy human man and a thin, short human woman. The speaker smiled a broad toothy grin and reached to his belt, pulling out a large two-handed mace. The others drew their weapons with him.


    So they were doing this, then.


    The warlock frowned, his shaped eyebrows twitching. "What might I call your merry little band, then?" He bowed deeply. "I am Abad-Shai, of many titles of which I''m sure you''re well aware."


    "Of course, Mr. Shai." He bowed much less low. "I''m Darius of the Tower''s Watch." The man grinned wider. "These are my two partners: Landon, Master of the Blade, and Helia, Mage Hunter. I''d introduce our companions Saria and Elaine, but sadly you''ve made that impossible, seeing as you slew them a week ago." The man walked forward, stopping on the other side of the field of bodies the warlock had left in the street.


    "Ah, the adventurers who snuck into my chambers last week? They interrupted a very fine evening I was having with my dear concubines. I offered for them to join, but they refused. A pity, really." He pulled something out of the pocket of his immaculately cut trousers. "However, you are wrong in one small way. I am well-acquainted with both of them now." He purred as he held his hand out, revealing two glowing red gemstones.


    "Darius, those are soul stones!" The woman to his left hissed. "They can be revived!"


    "Then that''s what we''ll do, lass. They deserve better than to be an evil bastard''s tools," the man spoke grimly, the large mace leveling at his foe.


    The elf sighed dramatically. "I ask that you put away your weapon before this escalates." He pocketed the stones again. "I''m truly not in the mood today. I''ve been forced to correct the behavior of my subjects, and that forced me to part with many of my resources." He gestured at the bodies on the ground. "I am far more interested in accumulating than losing, so today is a dark day indeed. I would hate to take out my anger on your three."


    He knew their looks. They wouldn''t comply. At least he''d tried.


    A pity once again.


    "I''ll have to insist that you surrender. Now." The human smiled. "See, you may have had the advantage against our companions, but we''re ready for you now, and you''re in the light of the Great Tower. Monsters like you stand no chance in the Goddess''s light. Against heroes chosen by the Goddess no less, her name be praised!" The man pressed a hand to his forehead. "And with the knights of Saern on the way, all we have to do is keep you pinned down until reinforcements arrive."


    "My, my. You sure do presume much about us terrible, wicked, evil monsters." A golden scepter appeared in the warlock''s grey hand. "Let me show you what happens when mortals presume." The elf lifted his scepter, and his eyes locked onto the human female on the far end of their formation. "Mage Hunter, was it?" He sneered and reached out to the three with his senses. The large man was fairly powerful for a mortal, but the other two weren''t much. However... "You have darkness in your soul, girl. I think I''ll claim you. Unless you wish to share your little secret with your friends?"


    The young woman shifted nervously under his gaze. She gripped her staff tightly. "Darius, Landon. He''s strong. Be care¡ª"


    [Silence of the Grave]


    Her words died on her lips. Twines of magical thread tore through her lips, sealing her mouth shut. Her muffled cries filled the air as she clawed at her lips, trying and failing to rip the threads.


    The girl''s companions whipped their heads around for the instant and closed ranks around her. That was all the grey-skinned man needed.


    [Greater Invisibility]


    The elf vanished.


    ***


    [Dispel Magic]


    The stout man shouted words of power, and a wave of light shot from his outstretched hand. However, the creature was out of the spell''s range.


    "Bastard''s hiding," Darius grumbled. The two men pressed their backs against one another, flanking their ally as her muffled screams filled the air.


    "He''s probably headed for the shadows."


    "No shit. Thanks, buddy. Keep your eyes peeled."


    [Mass Reveal Magic]


    Darius cast his spell, granting his companions the ability to see one another''s system notifications so they could strategize better. If lucky, the Warlock hadn''t had time to block his system commands, giving them an edge. This fight would be difficult, but he believed they''d prevail. The swordsman wasn''t so sure.


    A long pause ensued. Both the paladin and the warrior watched warily as the townspeople shivered in the cold morning air. None had dared stand. Their fear of the wicked mage was palpable. They waited, and waited, and...


    [Devouring Cloud]


    A plume of black mist swarmed around the heroes. They coughed, their faces turning red and swollen. Blood and bile forced their way out of their eyes, ears, and mouths as they breathed in the black mist. A moment later, they fell to their knees.


    "My, my. Some heroes. I almost feel bad. I''ll refrain from using my magic against you." The creature''s voice sounded from all around them. Landon struggled to lift his head. Through watering and bleeding eyes, he could make out a young child clutching her mother, watching from the safety of a nearby doorway as he writhed in the street. Beside him, Darius managed to force out some words.


    [Mass Greater Cleanse]


    The toxins of the spell faded. Darius spat the blood and bile that filled his mouth to the ground, and Landon wiped the viscera from his beard. The peasants had grown completely silent. Every one of them watched. Turning, he could see Helia still clawing at her lips.


    [Purify Curse]


    Her cries softened, and she looked up, her lips bloodied and torn. Streams of bloody tears streaked down her face. Landon helped his lover up, and the three pressed their backs together.


    They heard laughter from nearby. "That''s very good! Stand and fight, noble heroes." The warlock''s disembodied voice sounded from everywhere and nowhere. "While your fellows aren''t much, you are a true servant of the Goddess, my good man. You have earned a measure of my respect." The monster appeared a few feet from the paladin, a wide smirk on his face. "Few have claimed that right. You should be honored."


    The paladin raised his eyes to the sky. "Great Goddess, bestow upon us your blessing, that we may smite this fiend from your golden land!" The man spoke with fervor, spittle spraying from his bloodied lips.


    [Goddess''s Blessing]


    A golden glow surrounded them, and the paladin could feel his strength double in Her divine radiance. He felt tears stream down his face. "Thank you, Goddess. We will not fail!"Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    The trio exploded, their movement faster and sharper than before. In an instant, they were set upon the evil creature, but he was fast. The man laughed as he ducked under a sword strike, weaved around a lance of ice, and leaped clear over the swing of a mace. Each of his movements was deliberate and calculated as if he had done this dance many times before. However, despite his effortless movements, the three adventurers began to gain ground. A lucky sword strike clipped the man''s leg, slowing his movements just enough. He began to backpedal, creating distance from the group, but the mage was too quick.


    [Ice Wall]


    A thick wall of ice appeared behind the monster, causing him to slam into it as he moved backward. He tried to dart to the side, but a well-placed sword strike stopped the movement. The creature glared as he held his scepter out and waited for them against the ice.


    The three advanced on the creature, murder in their eyes. The paladin''s mace swung widely, clipping the creature''s shoulder as he dodged to the other side. A sharp crack sounded from the man''s ruined shoulder, and Landon capitalized on the blow.


    [Perfect Strike]


    He struck before the creature could move again, scoring a long gash across the man''s chest and belly. He could see a brief flash of black blood dribble out of the wound before it stitched closed. The creature was healing! It darted in the other direction.


    [Ice Wall]


    A second wall of ice closed off the direction the monster was trying to flee to, leaving him vulnerable to the paladin''s mace.


    [Holy Smite]


    Darius''s holy mace struck the fiend in the ribs, which shattered under the strike.


    "Get back!" the mage screamed to her companions, who obeyed on instinct. They had trained countless hours for fights just like this.


    An [Ice Lance] exploded from Helia''s staff. The pale blue ice flashed forward and struck the monster directly in the chest just as he turned to escape the other direction, pinning him to the ice wall.


    [Blizzard]


    A hail of ice shards rained down from the sky, obscuring their sight as hundreds of icy needles fell to the ground. They watched as the ice pierced the monster countless times, its black blood spilling to the ground and covering the icy walls. A wave of cold air and mist washed over them, and they stood side by side, panting and waiting, watching for any sign that the creature might survive their attacks. Slowly, the mist retreated, and the broken body of the monster lay on the ground, its body still, wounds open, black blood blowing freely onto the earth.


    "I think we did it." Darius huffed. He was completely drained. He''d had to overcharge every spell just to have an effect. The monster was formidible indeed.


    "Be careful. It may have some fight left," Landon added as he wiped the bloody tears from his face. "That felt too easy."


    "I can''t feel anything. I think we may have won." Helia loosened her grip on her staff, her frozen hands sticking to the metal.


    A few cheers sounded from the crowd of onlookers. Several of the peasants took a few tentative steps forward. One older woman dropped to her knees in prayer to the tower above them, giving thanks for the end of the beast''s reign.


    The heroes watched as the corpse on the ground melted into sludge, oozing away into black ichor, which quickly bled away into the wind.


    "Did we... did we do it?" Landon asked no one.


    "Boy, we''re going to be fam¡ª" Darius''s head jerked back violently as a single choked cry sounded from his throat. His partners spun to him. Helia screamed. His eye had exploded, blood coating an invisible thing jutting out of the gaping socket. A wicked, high-pitched giggle followed as something faded into view. It looked like a small woman, but red and with small bat wings sprouting from her back. The creature''s golden eyes met hers, and it cocked its head to the side and gave her a wicked grin. With a sickening squelch, the tip of its tail pulled free from their friend''s skull.


    [Flash Strike]


    Landon''s sword cut through the air in a breath, but the little creature was too fast. It jumped into the air, kicking Darius''s body to the dirt, and vanished.


    "Shit! Helia, get ba¡ª"


    A ball of black flame shot from a nearby house, striking Landon directly in the face. His skull exploded.


    ***


    Helia screamed as she watched her oldest friend in this world die. They had spent so much time together. They had so many plans. She''d loved him. She felt hot tears fall down her face. She turned toward the house. For an instant, the peasant woman who had been guarding her child grinned, her red eyes gleaming with delight before she vanished.


    [Ice Lance]


    A bolt of ice struck the doorway, shattering half the home, but Helia didn''t feel the spell connect. Her hands shook violently. Tears streamed down her face as her head darted from place to place, trying desperately to find where the monsters had run to. There was a shimmer behind her, but there wasn''t anything when she spun around


    [Dispel Magic]


    She screamed a wave of antimagic shot out of her, and for an instant, she could see the creature before he pulled his cloak around him and faded away again. A noise sounded behind her. As she turned, her head snapped to the side, and her whole world was pain. She fell to her knees and whimpered, the entire side of her face burning. She couldn''t see out of her left eye. Tentatively, she reached up and touched her face with her shaking hands, and her fingers told her that she was missing part of her jaw. The overwhelming pain hit. She vomited.


    She tried to scream. She wanted to scream, but all that came out was a muffled groan and blood. So much blood. She looked up to see the tip of a golden scepter, its raven head inches from her remaining eye. Tears welled up in it.


    "Oh come on. I haven''t even had much fun yet." The man sounded bored. "Heal yourself and fight me! This can''t be all the great Mage Hunter has to offer."


    Helia whimpered and begged, crawling toward the man''s legs. As she reached out to touch him, he stepped back and placed the golden scepter between them.


    "Don''t do that." His voice promised death.


    Helia stopped. Blood poured from her face, soaking the cobblestone street she crawled on. She vomited again.


    "You humans. So emotional. Even though you''re promised a life after this one, you act like cowards. You all say you have a purpose, that you serve some greater cause, but when the moment of your death comes, you wither like flowers in a mild frost." He knelt just out of reach. "Let me ask you, what would you do if faced with the choice? What if you could live on instead of rotting in the ground? What if I could promise you a real life after this one? No risk. No guesswork. Would you take that choice?" His words came out smoothly as he reached the raven head of his scepter down to the woman''s jaw, forcing her ruined face to look up at him.


    She screamed when it touched her and nearly blacked out from the pain, but she knew she''d die if she faded. She sobbed, tears and blood streaking her face. She nodded weakly, struggling to stay upright. "Y..ye.. y-y-yes." The words hurt her so badly.


    "Good girl." The man''s head turned to his side. "Angra, go play with those two for a moment. I have business with this one." Abad-Shai smiled at Helia as the little creature appeared on his shoulder, her face still stretched into a wicked grin. It giggled gleefully at his words and skittered off. Helia watched in the corner of her eye as it jumped onto Darius''s chest. A second later its claws dug into the hole it had created in his skull.


    Her whole body shook as she waited for what came next.


    ***


    The warlock reached forward then and brushed her long brown hair away from the good side of her face. She looked beautiful, in the way a ruin was beautiful. Her brown hair had been tied back tightly when he first saw her, but her hair had fallen loose when he''d struck her, giving her a messy, bloody unkempt look that contrasted strongly with the soft elegance she''d exuded before. Her single remaining blue eye met his gaze. She was filled with fear. He traced his fingers across her jaw, moving from the good side to the ruined side. As he did her whole body shook. The shock was taking her. She groaned as he touched her gaping wound.


    [Essence Transfer]


    ***


    Her world became pain. She screamed, but the sound felt distant. All she should feel was fire as power flowed from his fingers into her face. She heaved as her vision went black. She felt something entering her. It devoured her from the inside and filled her with its dark power. It whispered promises of conquest. Of power. Of vengeance. And it felt good. She didn''t know how long she existed in that place, only that, as the pain dimmed, she felt herself sobbing on the ground, her arms wrapped tightly around her legs.


    Slowly, she gathered herself and looked up, and all she saw was his fangs gleaming in the light of the tower. She reached up and touched her face. It was perfectly healed.


    "My.. my lord... Thank you... for this gift. I will be loyal. I will obey. Thank you, thank you, thank you." The woman bowed her head to the ground, praying to any gods that would listen. None responded. Something on the back of her hand burned. She looked down to find a symbol on her hand. It looked like a raven with chains around its legs.


    "Come now. I am nothing if not merciful, dear woman." The man reached down and placed his arms under her back and legs. He lifted her like she was nothing more than a baby. "And as I said, I prefer to accumulate resources. You will be useful to me."


    As he spoke, she looked at her skin. What had been pale before was now a dark grey. Her head felt heavy. Reaching up, she felt two sharp horns on her head. She was like him now.


    He carried her away from the peasants, but after twenty or so feet, he didn''t feel the correct level of deference emanating behind him. He turned.


    "[Prostrate yourselves before my new servant]."


    The villagers were thrown back to the ground. He continued walking.


    "My dear Helia. I''m glad that you''ve chosen to come with me. I have much need for an accomplished mage such as yourself, especially one with so much darkness in her heart. While the others would have been a pain, you, I believe, will be most useful to me." His words were soft and soothing. They filled her with ease. His aura had frightened her before, but she was filled with comfort now. This man was power itself.


    Behind them, the sound of the imp''s claws plunging into Darius''s corpse filled the air. She looked back... and felt nothing. She had cared about the man before. He was a good friend. Why didn''t she care anymore?


    A voice spoke to her. He was weak. That was why. He deserved what he got. She looked to her former "lover." He was weaker still. Nothing compared to the man carrying her. A small voice in her head cried out at her callousness, but she crushed it. She was more now. She would be more.


    She''d never be powerless again.


    "You''ve had your fun, Angra. Come along now." The imp giggled, then followed. The man lifted his hand away from the mage''s back for a moment and snapped his fingers.


    [Soul Prison]


    Two motes of light escaped from her former companions and floated toward the elf. They floated to his pocket and disappeared. A moment later, he carried her into the carriage, and the door snapped shut. The horseless carriage began to roll away, leading her away from the small village and toward her dark future.


    ***


    Abad watched the events unfold.


    Helia. He''d shaped her early in his dark reign after he had claimed a large swath of land from some Duke. She was the fourth of his Seven, and the first he''d created from his own essence. Unlike the others, who schemed and plotted and resented, she was utterly devoted to him.


    When he transferred his black essence into her, her spirit readily devoured it. When it did, he hadn''t been surprised. In their first meeting, when he reached into her soul, he saw it. It was stained. That darkness allowed his essence to take hold so easily. She hardly even resisted.


    Like so many, her story was tragic. She had killed her family in her original world. She was nineteen when she died. She was abused by her father, beaten for speaking. She wasn''t his. She was neglected by her mother. Helia was the child she never wanted. They kept her isolated. Thrust upon her some book that held power there. The girl had hated them for years and planned her way out. Yet, when she came of age, there was no out. She began plotting. The opportunity came one night. She put some form of alchemy from her world into a dinner she had made them, made them sleep, then left the doors to their home open in the dead of winter. They all died that night. As the cold took her, she felt at peace.


    Then she woke up in Reial. She was to be a tool of the Goddess. Helia came to resent Her too.


    She said many times that she was grateful for the life he gave her. She said he gave her purpose in a way her old life and the Goddess never could. He liked how pliable she was. She took every lesson to heart. She took his black essence in without complaint or resistance. In the end, she was perhaps the greatest of his Seven, not in power but in loyalty. None of the others held her single-minded devotion. Even her form reflected his own better than any other of his creations.


    He had showered her with praise and affection. She was one of the shining gems of his hoard. He wondered what came of her.


    Abad continued to watch as the carriage rolled away. Just as it escaped over the horizon, he heard humming behind him. He turned, but there was only a bright light. He tried to speak, but no words came. He felt black arms surround him.


    He woke up.

 II-I. Unravel the Chains That Bind

    Abad-Shai, Master of the Vault, Eater, Nightstalker, slept for days.


    After his fight with the mage-turned-lich Kasimir, he had been broken. It took everything he had to defeat the lich, and he would have failed had it not been for his familiar Angra''s sacrifice. After she nearly faded away, he had managed to seal her spirit in a soul gem before she was lost forever, but he was still working on figuring out how he''d bring her back to the world. In the meantime, he was exhausted. He''d burned himself out saving his oldest friend and had been given strict bed rest by his new patron.


    Faye, the Divine Hero, the very person who was responsible for his first death five centuries ago, became his unlikely benefactor and patron. She had watched for centuries as her brother fell further and further into despair, and once she received word that Abad was alive again, she traveled to Farnfoss to meet with him, only to find him bloody and half dead. Contrary to Abad''s expectation that she''d put him back in his grave, she had instead supported him, granting him a pardon for his past deeds and taking him on as her vassal, which allowed him to avoid a very lengthy prison sentence given his immortality.


    At her orders, he was taken to one of the manor''s more lavish rooms and was tended to every day by a variety of healers and priests, including the surly dwarf Firtz and his nephew, whose name Abad finally learned: Kjormur. The younger red-haired dwarf was surprisingly mild-mannered, if overly serious, and pleasant when compared to his grumpy uncle. During his past two weeks of healing and rest, he had been forced to endure torments no man should have to. Bitter tonics and potions were poured down his throat several times a day, and healing light was channeled into his corrupted body, which made his skin itch. Despite these torments, his body slowly mended from the variety of wounds it suffered during his final battle with Kasimir, and his spirit was beginning to heal as well after his desperate casting of [Eclipse] against the Hero''s brother.


    In those two weeks, the wolf woman Zethari rarely left his side. She often growled at the people who filtered in and out of his room. When asked, she said she had no reason to spend time with and didn''t trust the te''ra, or mortals, and that she was perfectly content guarding him as he rested. He asked why she stayed by his side, explaining that she didn''t owe him anything, but she only responded that he had saved her life, and her people took life debts seriously. Beyond that, she felt that her people were bred to serve the nightstalkers, known as the so''dra to her people and the shadowspawn to his, and she believed that he would liberate her people once he healed. He had said as much before he passed out and still felt that path was appropriate for him. Despite that, he often told her she should go find another room in the large manor and rest, but one look from those feral yellow eyes of hers was enough to end any conversation.


    Keila, Abad''s friend and lover since he had woken up, also stopped by occasionally despite Zethari''s obvious hatred for the woman. While not directly involved with capturing Zethari and her mate Rennar, Keila''s connection with the large slaving ring in western Elysium made her an easy target for the wolf girl''s ire. Rightfully so. However, Zethari often gave them privacy nonetheless, but he and the blonde woman hadn''t been able to have a true heart-to-heart since he learned she had been lying to him from the moment they met.


    According to Keila, Faye had said that Keila wasn''t about to get a free ride just because she''d helped Abad. As such, she''d been put to work righting the many wrongs done by her and her fellows. Luckily, the woman was shrewd, clever, and hard-working, and she took to the work readily. She felt like Faye had given her a new direction, one that allowed her to use her natural talents for the greater good instead of for the enrichment of wicked people like Bolton. In the small moments when they could talk, she gushed to Abad, sharing details of her life and duties. However, he noticed something odd about her demeanor. Although she seemed pleased to share updates with him, there always seemed to be something else on her mind. One evening, when Zethari had stepped out, Abad finally asked her what was wrong.


    "Hey..." He looked at her intently from his bed once she stopped talking about her day. "Is something the matter?"


    "Hmm? What do you mean?" Keila''s eyes didn''t meet his.


    He smiled at her, but a pinch in his side had him wiggling around until he found a more comfortable spot to rest. His rib had in fact been broken, and badly. It was mending, but it often hurt. "Ever since I woke up, you''ve seemed... anxious. Like there''s something you want to talk to me about."


    She didn''t speak for a while, and her eyes still didn''t meet his. After a minute, she seemingly found the words and spoke. "I''m sorry." Her voice shook. She kept staring downwards, as though ashamed. "For everything that happened between us. I lied to you so much. Lied to everyone. I hated everything that we did so much, but I still did it. I''m just grateful I get to right some of those wrongs." Her eyes grew misty, but she blinked her tears away.


    "There''s nothing to forgive. It''s not like I was being exactly honest either. I mean, you couldn''t get away from me fast enough when you saw what I really looked like." He laughed and gestured at his horns, and she finally looked up and smiled.


    "I suppose your horns are an acquired taste. I''ve grown used to them now." Her smile faded. "I never had a choice. This fucking thing kept me trapped in a life that disgusted me," she gestured to the mark on her neck. It had faded slightly after Abad destroyed [Final Law] to save Angra, but the brand was still active. He could feel it. Now that Bolton was dead, it would slowly bleed away her energy not to him but into the void. That is unless Abad could figure out how to unravel it, which he''d been working on in between the bitter tonics and the heavy naps. "I know I don''t deserve pity, but I still wish I could be forgiven, you know?" Her eyes finally met his. He understood her meaning.


    "Keila..." He spoke softly. "You don''t know everything, but you know enough now to understand my past. You can''t imagine the horrors I committed in the name of what I called justice. I destroyed lives, ended nations, waged war, and harmed countless innocents. I killed and tortured without remorse, and I enjoyed every bit of it. I twisted life itself when it suited me, and when I did, I didn''t feel a thing." He gestured to his horns. "I believed it was in my nature." His words felt hollow. "No. It is in my nature. I''m born of the essence of the Dark Lord himself." The memories rushed back, and his expression darkened. "That''s why I have to try even harder now to be more, otherwise I''ll just keep hurting people."


    "Yeah..." A soft smile played on her lips. Her eyes twinkled as she gazed on him again. "After the first time... in the Vitas river... I had claw marks on my back and butt. I thought we got too rough, but I understand them better now." She took his hand in hers and ran her fingertips along his sharp black nails.


    He laughed. "Sorry about that. They''re not exactly claws, but they''re pretty sharp."


    "Yeah, you need to be careful with those things." Her smile wavered. "I''ve been thinking about something you said when we first met. You really weren''t lying back then. Back when you told me about yourself." There was a hint of sadness in her words. "You really don''t have anything but bitterness behind you, huh?"


    "Yeah, but I hope to change that moving forward." He smiled at the woman. "And it all hasn''t been so bad recently. Thank you for being there for me. I''d have been far worse off without your support."Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    She smiled, reached out, and squeezed his hand. "I''m happy I could be there."


    A few minutes went by as neither could find the words.


    She found them first. "So, Faye told me the two of you have history?" That brought a laugh out of him, given its understatement.


    "Yeah... Let''s just say we go way back. I''ll let her tell the story when you two get the chance."


    "Sounds good..." The room grew heavy again with unspoken words. "Abad... I." The words died on her lips.


    He understood. "It''s okay. Just know that I appreciate you, and I want you to be happy. I think you will do well with Faye. She seems to have plans for you, and you are more than capable. I think you''ll do far more good out there with her than you ever could with me. She even told me the other day that you also became her vassal. I''m proud of you." He squeezed her hand. "Follow your path, Keila."


    Her eyes started to water again. She rubbed her face to try and wipe away the tears, but they flowed freely. "Thanks." She smiled. "I''ll be around if you need me, ''kay?" She squeezed his hand one last time and left the room.


    They had only ever enjoyed one another''s company. Still, she ended up being a good friend in the end. Abad hoped things worked out well for her. He felt like she would accomplish much, and he wanted the best for her.


    He settled back into his pillows and fell into a light sleep.


    ***


    Abad awoke sometime later. He heard Zethari stir next to him on the small cot that had been placed beside his bed. His thoughts wandered back to Keila. He sighed deeply. The wolf girl beside him stirred again, and her eyes opened, meeting his.


    "Nightstalker." Her voice was gravelly. "How do you feel?"


    Abad considered her question. He focused his mind inward for a moment, sensing the state of both his mind and body. He''d recovered much. "Much better, thank you." He chuckled. "You know, you can call me by my name, right?"


    "I wouldn''t dishonor one of my creators in such a way." She rose from the cot, stretching her lithe body in a way that displayed her incredible musculature. The woman was nothing but muscle and power personified.


    He thought for a moment. How could he have a more normal relationship with the woman? An idea occurred to him. "I command you to call me by my name," he replied with a smirk. "Would you disobey the order of one of your creators?"


    She frowned. "No. Sod''ra should be respected."


    "How are you supposed to respect me if you refuse to call me by my name when I ask you to?" The irony wasn''t lost on her, given how she suddenly growled.


    "My lord... Abad-Shai...?" She grimaced as she spoke his name. "I feel that we should get on our way soon. The te''ra whisper to themselves about the nightstalker and his pet. They believe we will bring ruin to them." She smiled, her fangs gleaming in the morning light. "Not that I would mind. They are weak. I would strike them down if you but asked. That woman could not stop us before we brought ruin to many, night¡ª Abad-Shai."


    He waved off the notion with a flick of his wrist. "Don''t worry about them. The te''ra say many things they don''t mean. You should learn to pay their words less mind. It''s their actions that matter most, and they have shown themselves to mean well."


    She shrugged. "Easy for you to say. You have preyed upon their kind for ages. We have not had your experience and do not understand them." She withdrew into herself for a moment. "Perhaps I should practice understanding them better." She thrust her fist into her hand. "Odana often said it was best to understand the prey before the hunt. I will heed your advice."


    "All I ask is that you think on it, Zethari." Odana. He remembered that name. It had been one of the women at the bathhouse. The snake woman. He would need to go to the bathhouse soon, once he learned how to undo [Final Law]''s brands. The fey''ra there had been badly treated by the goblin proprietor. He''d resolve that little issue. He sat up in bed. "Zethari. May I observe your brand?"


    She tilted her head but obeyed. Pulling down the front of the thin blue shirt she wore, the mark came into view.


    "Come closer."


    She stood and sat at the side of his bed. He reached his hand up and placed his fingers on her neck. She twitched at his touch, still being unused to gentle gestures. "Thank you," he whispered as he closed his eyes, concentrating on the mark and delving with his senses into her flesh. He reached into the brand. The magic within was still active, but with the power of the scepter no longer sustaining it, he knew that the magic within could more easily be manipulated than before.


    "Abad-Shai." Her voice held a hard edge.


    He realized his hand on her neck was more intimate than he had intended, but he had little choice. He needed to touch the brand to delve into it. Even if he weren''t at a quarter of his power in that moment, he''d still need to be in contact with her. "If I don''t learn how these brands work, I won''t be able to undo them. Please, tolerate me a while longer." A pang of guilt hit him then. He had crafted similar brands in the past and had never cared to learn how they could be undone. He never had cause to do so. He''d never freed anyone. He delved into the brand''s foundational magics and tried to understand how it worked.


    The sigil within the brand wasn''t so complicated. It was a form of black magic that corrupted the nature of the patron-vassal relationship. That dynamic of the Goddess''s system didn''t exist in his time, so the brand didn''t work exactly the same way his brands had, but the concept was similar. He could understand the foundational principles with the help of some supplementary reading he''d been engaging in. He had ordered books from the Mage''s Guild and learned more over the past month of bed rest.


    Once Ta-Li and Fizzle, the only two remaining chartered mages in Farnfoss and the two resident members of the local Mage''s Guild, had caught wind of who and what he was, they had personally come to visit him. Ta-Li, being one of the few people in this age who actually knew who he was, had stars in her eyes, and even the taciturn Fizzle had shown him respect once the man had read about his exploits. They offered him any services they could provide, and Fizzle had put his name in for testing, saying that Abad had long ago met the requirements for joining the Guild. He thanked the man and decided he''d take up the opportunity if it presented itself. A day later, a stack of books arrived in his room.


    What he learned from the books was interesting.


    The Goddess had been petitioned in the time of the Hero of the West when Abad''s dark sister Avara was scourging the land. After being petitioned, the Goddess blessed mortals with the ability to swear allegiance to one another. She did this because, after Abad''s time, the population of Reial exploded, and the monsters that had been everywhere in the Fourth Age had largely receded to the dark places of the world. It became difficult for mortals to unlock the heroic classes that seemed so ubiquitous in his time, so the Goddess granted mortals the ability to empower one another. A patron, someone with a heroic class, offered their vassals power, security, and community, and the patron in turn gained loyal retainers.


    Unlike the brands, however, the relationship was reciprocal and agreed upon when the contract was entered. Generally, either party could end it at will if they chose, though social pressure and politics often had a hand in the dynamic, and some individuals and groups, like his kind and the fey''ra, weren''t permitted to live without patrons due to their inherent power and the risk they represented. Generally, they were given unilateral contracts rather than bilateral ones.


    However, Bolton''s use of [Final Law] had perverted that relationship. He had given patrons absolute power over their vassals, and vassals who disobeyed their masters forfeited their very essence to their patrons. From what Keila told him, patrons who were displeased with their vassals, or claimed as they were often called, would give them unfulfillable orders, forcing them to forfeit their life force and live in pain. Abad had asked Zethari why the goblin hadn''t done so to her in the bathhouse, but she merely smirked, saying she had caused trouble when he''d tried. He didn''t pry further.


    Finally, after many minutes of analyzing the brand, he came upon something within. It felt like a knot of black energy wound around the sigil inside the brand.


    [Corruption]


    He cast his black magic into the knot, and a moment later, the brand''s magic unraveled. Opening his eyes, he watched as the mark faded from her skin, a small black cloud filling the air as it did.


    [Essence Transfer]


    He willed the black essence into his spirit, and it didn''t hesitate to enter him. It resonated with the shadows within his black¡ªbut far less black than it used to be¡ªspirit.


    As the mote of black entered him, his scroll unfurled in the air, and words burned themselves on the page for the first time in weeks.


    <hr><hr>


    You have received the [Unravel the Chains That Bind] quest.


    [Unravel the Chains That Bind]: Free those enslaved by forbidden magic by discovering those inflicted with it and dismantling the enchantments that keep them bound.


    <hr><hr>


    As he and Zethari read, she smirked. "I told you you would help my people, nightstalker."

 II-II. Vassal

    Once Abad finished unraveling the magic inside the fey''ra''s brand, the brand wept blood and fluid. He healed her wounded neck with [Essence Transfer]. Abad hated how much the magical construct was designed to inflict pain, but he knew it was what he would have done had he created it. He realized it made him feel guilty.


    However, his feelings softened when he watched the wolf girl. Zethari looked relieved as her clawed hand caressed her neck. She glanced over at him, looking thoughtful and appreciative. "You did something."


    He nodded. "I figured out how to undo the magic. You''re free."


    Her eyes softened. "It feels... good," she admitted while looking away. He could see her eyes shining in the dim light. "To be free. Thank you, nightstalker."


    Abad nodded and groaned as he sat up. His ribs hurt. He threw his legs over the edge of his large bed. "I can imagine."


    "Nightstalker." She knelt before him. "You have proven yourself worthy of your title. I swear to serve you well. " Her words were filled with reverence and passion.


    "No kneeling," Abad groaned again, pulling her upward by her shoulders. "You don''t need to kneel. You don''t owe me anything, and I''m no ''my lord.'' Not anymore."


    She pulled back, uncomfortable and confused. "I do not understand. Why do you reject my service? Is my oath not good enough for you?"


    "No... It''s not that. Not at all. You misunderstand." Abad searched for the right words. "I don''t want servants now. Just friends." He smiled at the woman, but she frowned back.


    "I cannot be free. Not anymore. If you do not accept my service, I will be given to the Legion or to some other te''ra, and I do not wish for that. I cannot bear the shame." Her golden eyes gazed into his, the passion in them evident. Please, allow me to serve you, to be free at your side. You are a good man, and you are powerful. I will fare better serving you than any other I would be forced to serve. You treat me as a warrior. I am valued as your ally. You show me kindness. Let me pledge myself to you. I will be your weapon. My people were created to be the weapons of the sod''ra. It would be the greatest honor to be so for you." She looked away from him as her words faded.


    She wanted this. She wanted to serve him out of choice, not force. He felt his heart clench.


    Abad considered her words. While he hadn''t wanted to recreate an element of his old life that he had been feeling guilt over, he was aware the Legion would conscript her if he didn''t accept her offer. He couldn''t allow that to happen. "Okay. I accept your oath, Zethari." He breathed deeply. This was happening. He thought back to his own oath to Faye and began to shape the words. "Zethari." Her golden eyes met his. "Do you swear to stand by my side through blood and fire? To lend me your strength? Do you swear to hold sacred my honor as I would hold yours, to never turn on me in anger or spite, to trust in me as I trust in you, for as long as we choose?"


    "I do. I will be your weapon in the night."


    He felt a magical presence wash over them. His scroll unfurled.


    <hr>


    You have accepted Zethari, Lupana Fey''ra Warrior, as your vassal.


    <hr>


    Zethari


    Lupana Fey¡¯ra Warrior


    Level IX


    <hr>


    Lupana


    ????¡î


    <ul>


    <li>[Feral Instincts] (Passive): Your instincts are honed to a razor edge. At rank II, you react with lightning speed to danger and can anticipate enemy movements with uncanny accuracy.</li>


    <li>[Enhanced Physique] (Passive): Your Lupana heritage grants enhanced strength, agility, and resilience, making you tougher and faster than most mortals.</li>


    <li>[Pack Tactics] (Passive): When working with allies, your attacks and abilities become more coordinated, increasing their effectiveness and dealing additional damage when striking an enemy your allies are also targeting.</li>


    <li>[Howl of the Alpha] (Active, Cost ?): Let loose a powerful howl that emboldens your allies and demoralizes enemies, temporarily increasing the damage and defense of allies within range and reducing the effectiveness of nearby enemies.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Fey¡¯ra


    ???¡î¡î


    <ul>


    <li>[War Form] (Active, Reserve ???): Take on a powerful war form, blending the primal strength of your Lupana heritage with the supernatural grace of the Fey¡¯ra. In this form, you gain increased physical strength, heightened agility, and enhanced durability. Your senses become razor-sharp, and you radiate an aura of intimidation.</li>


    <li>[Magic Resistance] (Passive): A faint shimmer of otherworldly magic surrounds you at all times, providing minor protection against magical attacks and heightening your resistance to mind-altering effects.</li>


    <li>[Locked]</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Warrior


    ??¡î¡î¡î


    <ul>


    <li>[Warrior¡¯s Arsenal] (Passive): You are skilled with a variety of weapons and can adapt quickly to different fighting styles. Additionally, you can learn a limited number of Warrior class abilities.


    <ul>


    <li>[Cleave] (1st Tier, Active, Cost ?): Swing your weapon in a wide arc, striking multiple enemies in front of you. This skill is ideal for crowd control and delivers increased damage to groups of weaker foes.</li>


    <li>[Riposte] (1st Tier, Active, Cost ?): A defensive skill allowing you to counterattack after successfully blocking or dodging an attack, dealing significant damage to your attacker.</li>


    <li>[Focused Strike] (2nd Tier, Active, Cost ??): Channel your strength into a single, devastating blow aimed at a vulnerable point on your enemy, dealing heavy damage and potentially bypassing some defenses.</li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    <li>[Battle Stance] (Active, Reserve ?): Shift into a combat stance that enhances your speed and precision, granting a temporary boost to your physical stats and increasing your critical hit chance.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Enhancements


    <ol>


    <li>[Evasion I] (Perk II): Improves your ability to dodge incoming attacks, increasing your agility and reaction time.</li>


    <li>[Might II] (Perk IV, VI): Increases the potency of your physical abilities, allowing your strikes to deal more damage and penetrate defenses more effectively.</li>


    <li>[Resilience I] (Perk VIII): Increases your stamina and reduces the impact of injuries, allowing you to endure longer in combat.</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Titles


    <ul>


    <li>[Alpha]: As one destined to lead, your presence inspires loyalty in allies and hesitation in enemies. Allies gain a small morale boost when near you.</li>


    <li>[Defender of the Pack]: Your commitment to protecting your companions has granted you a minor aura of resilience, reducing damage taken by those within your immediate vicinity.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    QuestsIf you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    <ul>


    <li>[Find Your Mate: Rennar] (Quest, Personal)


    <ul>


    <li>Objective: "Your heart seeks Rennar, the one who stood beside you in battle and life before fate tore you apart. Search for the mate who once shared your bond and prove whether your connection endures."</li>


    <li>Steps


    <ul>


    <li>Trace the Past: Discover the path Rennar took once he was taken from you.</li>


    <li>Honor the Bond: Recall and embody the values you shared with Rennar through a significant act of strength or leadership.</li>


    <li>Confront the Unknown: Face those who stand between you and Rennar, whether enemies, obstacles, or doubts.</li>


    <li>Reforge the Connection: Reunite with Rennar and reaffirm your bond through words and action, proving your loyalty and love.</li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Equipment


    <hr>


    Achievements


    <ul>


    <li>[Warrior of the Clan]: Born into battle, you earned your place as a warrior through countless trials, honing your combat instincts to perfection.</li>


    <li>[Protector of the Wilds]: Your strength has defended your homeland and kin, earning you a reputation as a guardian feared by your enemies.</li>


    <li>[Defender of the Pack]: You defended your clan against overwhelming odds, proving your strength and loyalty. Not even the mightiest foes can break your resolve.</li>


    <li>[Ogre Slayer]: You stood alone against an ogre, defeating the massive beast through sheer strength and cunning. The echoes of your triumph inspire others.</li>


    <li>[Alpha Ascendant]: You claimed your rightful place as alpha by defeating a rival in a test of might and leadership. Your dominance is undisputed.</li>


    <li>[Unbroken Chains]: Even while outnumbered, you stood your ground against eleven slavers, striking fear into their hearts before succumbing to their combined efforts.</li>


    <li>[Iron Will]: You fought off an enchantment meant to enslave your mind, demonstrating unyielding willpower in the face of magical coercion.</li>


    <li>[A Leap of Faith]: In a moment of vulnerability and defiance, you chose to place your trust in one who could have been your enemy, forging the first link in a chain of mutual respect and loyalty.</li>


    <li>[Serve the Creator]: By choosing to serve one of your people''s creators, you have forged a bond of loyalty and purpose, accepting their guidance to achieve a greater destiny.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    You may grant Zethari one of your talents as an enhancement.


    <hr><hr>


    He thought a moment, but the choice seemed obvious. He chose.


    <hr><hr>


    You grant Zethari, Lupana Fey''ra Warrior [Embrace of the Abyss].


    <hr><hr>


    After several moments, the magical energy faded, but he felt something. Focusing on the sensation, he realized he could feel Zethari''s presence in the back of his mind. Just as he could see her and feel her with his [Fey Senses], he could sense her in a way that was reminiscent of how his bond with Angra felt. His fingers found their way to the red crystal on the bed next to him. The crystal felt warm to the touch. It reassured him. He almost could hear the little imp''s words of support as he touched the crystal that housed her spirit.


    He waved away his scroll and focused on the woman in front of him. Her eyes were twinkling with an unfamiliar light, and she stared at him for a long while.


    "Thank you. I would not have been happy serving a te''ra. They disgust me." She smiled then. He realized he hadn''t ever seen her happy before. "And I believe that you will bring us glory, in battle and in life." They sat like that for a while, seemingly looking at one another for the first time. He wondered if she could feel his presence too. He hadn''t been able to feel Faye at all. He wondered why.


    He watched as a shadow crossed her face. Her hands traced up to where the brand on her neck was. While the magic was gone, the mark was still there. Her brows knitted as she felt the mark on her pale skin. It had faded, but it would never be gone. Or would it?


    He lifted his hand and touched her neck. She flinched but didn''t pull away. He closed his eyes and focused. He decided he''d try something new. Without opening his eyes, he warned her, "This will hurt, but I''ll be as careful as possible." He could feel the tension in her muscles. She was nervous. "Trust me." A moment later, he felt her nod.


    [Candlelight]


    He willed a small amount of mana out of his spirit and into his palm. He could feel the small flame ignite between his skin and hers. As the heat grew, she flinched. A soft groan escaped her lips.


    [Essence Transfer]


    As the smell of burned skin filled the air, he channeled his life force into her. A moment later, he willed the flame away, lifted his hand, and opened his eyes. Instead of Bolton''s brand, the mark on her neck had been replaced. On her skin rested a ring of three ravens in a stylized ouroboros. Each of the ravens had chains around one leg, but the chains were broken.


    "It''s done," he said to the woman. He watched as her face softened, the pain slowly fading away. Zethari''s eyes grew as she reached to her neck. She stood and walked to the mirror on the far wall and touched the mark on her neck.


    "Is this your symbol?"


    "It is now."


    "I will wear it with pride." She nodded and fell into silence as she looked at herself in the glass. Several minutes went by before she spoke. "When I was young, my people trained day and night to fight for your kind. We believed you would return one day and guide us to our true purpose. Some believed we would fight one final battle. Others believed we''d be led to a promised land." She gazed off as though remembering. "I always believed the stories. I believed we were supposed to serve. But none of you came." A frown spread across her face. "And when the te''ra came and stole my packmates, no gods appeared to stop them. When they finally captured me, I prayed to the black wolf. I asked him to come release me from the wicked mortals, to guide me to my purpose." Her jaw clenched as she remembered. "I nearly lost faith. As I was chained, I believed I would be freed. When Rennar was taken from me, I thought only of vengeance. When I was sold to that disgusting gik''ra, I wished to die. I tried to take my life then, to die with my honor intact, but the magic stopped my claws." Her eyes grew misty. "I''m glad I did not die then." She turned toward him again. "Now that you have come, I see that all happened as it was meant to. I am glad you came to see me when you did, and I am glad that you chose to reveal yourself and help me. And I am glad you chose me to be your shadow."


    His throat tightened. He had never had someone be grateful to him before. Not like this. He didn''t know what to say, but he tried. "I''m grateful I was able to save you and that you''ve agreed to be by my side."


    She nodded.


    ***


    After speaking with Zethari a bit more about how they would serve each other moving forward, Abad sent her to find clothing. Her rags were barely holding together, and he didn''t want to be known as some slumlord patron. However, when he reached out for his pack and the stolen crystals within it, he realized for the first time in several weeks that he no longer had his pack. He remembered he''d thrown it off Draekenspire when he was preparing for his battle with Kasimir and hadn''t retrieved it before returning to Farnfoss. Not that he would have been able to in the state he was in. He cursed to himself.


    "How did I not remember?" He pressed his forehead into his hands and laughed.


    "Is something wrong?"


    "I don''t have any money to give you." A thought came to him. "I know you don''t like her, but Keila might¡ª"


    "No." Her words were final.


    "Okay, well... Maybe Faye would spare you some clothes? You''re about the same size as her."


    "I accept." She stood. "I will go find the warrior woman." With those words, she left the room.


    Once she left the room, he changed into simple black cloth pants and a black tunic, then walked over to the small mirror attached to the wall. While they weren''t exactly fine clothes, Keila had managed to track down a few decent outfits for him. Even if they''d be walking different paths, he was grateful how much the woman looked out for him. She really ended up being a good friend.


    He took a deep breath. It was time to get moving. He felt like there was much to do, but he didn''t know what would should come first. He''d learned how to unravel the magic within the brands, so that would be a priority. He could possibly teach the healers how to do the same with their own magics given time. He also saw Zethari''s quest. She had told him about her mate when they first met, and he knew she felt his loss. Also, he needed to earn money. He wouldn''t be able to help much of anyone without it.


    With a sigh, he finished putting on his boots and left his little room for the first time in weeks.

 II-III. The Path Ahead

    A few minutes later, Abad was upstairs outside the room that had housed all the treasures that had once filled his vault.


    The doors hadn''t been replaced yet, so when he turned and entered the room, he saw Faye. His legs stopped working. The woman had an impassive look on her face as she spoke to some Legionnaire. Her short black hair had been pulled back in a tight bun, and she wore similar clothes as before, the whites and blues accenting her pale skin. She''d only briefly visited him once over the past few weeks, and he hadn''t gotten used to her presence yet.


    Being honest with himself, it was still a shock seeing her in the flesh.


    To quell his discomfort, he looked around the room. Someone had cleaned the throne room up substantially since he''d collapsed there, and most of the damage had been cleared away. Unfortunately, many of his treasures were also missing. He expected as much. The more dangerous items would likely be stored somewhere safe, and the less hazardous ones would almost certainly be sold to fund whatever projects Nolei was invested in.


    Looking back to the hero, he could see their conversation was ending. He willed his feet to move, cast [Mask of Many Faces] to adopt his usual sun elf persona, and crossed the distance between them. When she noticed him, she nodded.


    "That will be all." The legionnaire nodded and turned to leave, but she froze when she saw Abad. The woman likely knew who he was. Her hand instinctively reached for her weapon, but he merely smiled at the woman and shrugged. She visibly shivered and marched past him.


    "It''s good to see you on your feet." Faye approached him and stopped just out of reach. Perhaps she felt as uncomfortable as he did. "Do you feel rested, Abad?"


    "Yes, I feel recovered, if still a little weak." He didn''t know where to take a conversation with the woman who had been his mortal enemy for centuries, so he let her take the lead. He saw the woman''s mind working behind her eyes, but neither spoke for a long while. He let the silence fall around them.


    Seemingly deciding on a topic, Faye spoke first. "I like Zethari." A smile played on her lips. "She''s rough around the edges, but she''s direct. She''s honest too. She''ll be a good companion for you as you continue on your way."


    "She is..." He smiled. "Honestly, I owe her my life. Without her support, I''d be dead. The soldiers would have cut me down in the courtyard."


    "Well, I''m grateful she was there, and I hope she continues to watch your back. A vassal like her is a true asset." Their stiffness was clearing, if only slightly. "I''m not surprised you chose to take her on."


    He grimaced. "I wasn''t sure about that at first, but I didn''t want her to be forced into servitude again."


    "You don''t want to have vassals?" She tilted her head. "That surprises me. You always seemed to enjoy it in the past, oh great dark lord." A little grin fell on her lips.


    He frowned. He had enjoyed it in his past life. Far too much. "I''m trying to do things differently these days, you know?"


    She nodded. "Fair enough."


    He chuckled. "It is funny, though, that I can''t seem to escape repeating my actions. History always seems to repeat itself."


    "History rhymes, but it doesn''t have to repeat. for you or me." She moved closer and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Don''t feel bad for wanting the companionship of others. You need friends. We both do."


    He considered her words. He''d never had... those before. Not really. "I suppose you''re right. Perhaps you and I can even try to cross that bridge." He smiled at her. "At least one day."


    Her smile widened. "We shall see. But I''d like that." She lowered her hand and turned. "I hope you don''t mind. We''re using your old belongings to help fund repairs to the town. Once your scepter broke, a whole lot of the beastkin attacked their masters and escaped. After seeing how they were treated, I don''t blame them." She gestured to a pile of belongings lying on the far side of the room. "We''re also using your stuff to fund our prosecutions for the known slavers in the region."


    They were doing something about it then. Good. He laughed. "That stuff hasn''t been mine in five centuries. Outside of the stone in my pocket, I don''t need anything else. Plus, I don''t even know what became of my vault, so it''s not like I can store it all anywhere. Let them find new homes to decorate."


    Faye nodded and gestured to a stack of papers and documents on a nearby table. "Many of the local aristocrats and businessmen aren''t thrilled with our operation. We''ve already prosecuted many, but they know the noose is closing around them. They plan to fight us until it does."


    "Do they know who I am yet?" Abad asked.


    "Yes. Everyone does. At least they know who the other you is. I''d recommend using your disguise when in town. And change your name. I don''t know what you were thinking using your actual name, but... that was a dumb idea." She stuck her tongue out at him.


    "Yeah, that was a bit out of my control. I didn''t think of it when I met Firtz and A-Nis, and when I split up with them, Shani told Keila my name, so I had to go with it. I had another disguise, but I... kind of attacked some of Bolton''s men and didn''t have enough time to come up with a new one before Kasimir found me."


    "Thanks for that. Saving them. They''re good people."


    "Yeah, they are." He hoped he''d be able to see the dwarf and two elves again before he left Farnfoss.


    Her blue eyes met his. "I like Keila too. I think she''ll go far with a little direction." She rubbed her hands together. "You always did pick them."


    He laughed. "What does that mean?"


    "You always seem to choose the best, brightest, and most driven people to invest in. I wish I had that instinct. I tend to accumulate yes men. That''s why I haven''t taken a vassal in... oh, a hundred years or so?" She shrugged. "But the second I met her, I knew why you saved her. She''s a smart one, even if she''s a bit on the wild side."


    "Definitely." A smirk crossed his lips. He thought about the many times they spent in bed together, but a moment later, he cleared his throat to shake the images of her from his head. However, he could tell she''d read his thoughts. She rolled her eyes at him.


    "Dog."


    "Never claimed otherwise."


    They both laughed.


    Her eyes grew distant. "When we were at the court in Istaera, before I learned who you really were, we three would all joke like this. Despite his many mistakes, it makes me miss the man my brother had been. I haven''t thought of those days in a long time, but you being here now brought all these memories to mind. It made me consider the friendships that I''ve lost. It''s nice being able to laugh with someone like this again."


    "Do you not have friends?" He couldn''t imagine a woman like her not having close ones.


    "No." She sighed. "I''m immortal, like you. I''ve lost more friends than all but the oldest elves at this point. I guess I just... stopped trying, you know? Plus, most people don''t want to get to know Faye; they want to gain access to the ''Divine Hero,'' or whoever they think she is." She said her title sardonically, her face screwing up like she ate something sour. "That''s why I left it all behind, at least as much as I could. I founded an orphanage and a school. Everyone leaves the silly little hero alone now that she''s piddling her immortality away on urchins. It''s been nice and peaceful, at least until recently." She glared at Abad. "Until some asshole went and decided to wake up and get my crazy brother all hot and bothered."Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    Abad sighed. "Sorry. I''m glad he''s dead. But... sorry anyway."


    "I''m not."


    "You were aware of what he was?"


    "Yeah."


    "Were you aware of what he did?"


    Her eyes narrowed. "Not until recently. Like I said, I put all that nonsense behind me and wanted to focus on living for a while. I thought Kasimir might have put it all behind him too. He seemed like he was in a better place. I thought maybe if he focused more on helping people than chasing his delusions, maybe he''d grow."


    "Why didn''t you do anything about him?"


    "Even if he''d gone off the deep end, would you kill your own brother?" Her blue eyes searched his, and a moment later she laughed. "Nevermind. Stupid question."


    Abad chuckled and refused to answer her. After their laughter died down, they were both quiet for a time. A thought came to him, one he''d wondered more than a few times. He worked up the courage to ask, "What happened to Maelynn?" When her eyes didn''t register the name, he added, "The Queen of Istaera."


    Her face fell. "Oh..." She seemed to search for the words. "When you died, we had to help her escape. Whatever enchantments you placed on the king faded, and he ordered her executed. She was..." She hesitated again. "She was with child. We couldn''t let that happen."


    "With child?" He felt his heart drop. Could he have sired had a child? "Was it..."


    "I don''t know. We lost track of her once we helped her escape to Osreva. None of us ever saw her again. I tried to find her after... everything, but I couldn''t.


    He felt a wave of very complicated feelings wash over him. Had he had a child? If he had, he''d try to find them. If they had his curse, they''d still be alive. He''d find them. He pushed the feelings away and affected a smile. "So what comes next, oh mighty Divine Hero? What noble deeds shall I perform in your name?"


    "What makes you think I know? Your next moves are entirely up to you." She smirked. "I''m just a schoolteacher. What you do isn''t my business. Now, if you happen to decide to help free every single slave in the world, that would be wonderful. If you help lift people out of poverty, I''d love it. But I''m not here to tell you what to do." She paused for a moment, then added, "Just... don''t go nuts out there. Or at least if you do, don''t involve the innocent."


    He scratched his chin in thought. "Why take me on as a vassal then?"


    "Because you''d be a nuisance in the Legion, and it would be a waste if you rotted in a hole somewhere." She paused. "And also, I''d hoped we might be able to mend bridges one day. There was a time I cared for you deeply. You were a good friend, or so I thought."


    He realized that they had been friends. Sure, he was living a false life as a duke he murdered, but he had actually enjoyed her company, even if he also plotted to kill her when the opportunity arose. "Yeah. I felt the same. As much as I could, anyways."


    She smiled at him, but her eyes got that far-off look again. "If you want direction, how''s this: why don''t you explore the Seven Nations? See what needs to be fixed, see where your power will best be put to use." She grinned. "Take a vacation, Abad! Spend some time acclimating to the world, then come to Saern and visit my school, Light''s Hope. Once you know what you want to do, seek me out. Then, we can discuss what comes next."


    He considered her proposal for a moment. "Okay. That''s what I''ll do."


    His scroll unfurled.


    <hr><hr>


    <ul>


    <li>[The Sevenfold Journey]


    <ul>


    <li>Objective: Traverse the Seven Nations¡ªNolei, Evron, Malrith, Deneir, Istaera, Osreva, and Volkash¡ªto uncover their mysteries, forge alliances, and unearth the truths hidden within their borders.


    <ul>


    <li>


    [Trace the Shadows of Nolei]: Venture into Nolei¡¯s forested lands, where dark magic weaves through ancient trees and threatens all who enter.


    </li>


    <li>


    [Seek the Fey¡¯s Blessing in Evron]: Traverse Evron¡¯s mystical forests and lush plains, where feykind and mortal tensions demand delicate negotiation.


    </li>


    <li>


    [Navigate the Swamps of Malrith]: Brave the treacherous swamps of Malrith, uncovering secrets hidden beneath its wet and shadowy depths.


    </li>


    <li>


    [Harness the Magic of Deneir]: Explore the central plains of Deneir, where magic pulses through the heart of Elysium, shaping the land and its people.


    </li>


    <li>


    [Sail the Sapphire Coasts of Istaera]: Cross the shores of the western lakelands, uncovering the riches and dangers that lurk in its trade coves.


    </li>


    <li>


    [Survive the Wastes of Osreva]: Journey through the vast desert of Osreva, past towering mountains and an active volcano that guards its fiery heart.


    </li>


    <li>


    [Ascend the Peaks of Volkash]: Confront the jagged, mountainous terrain of Volkash, where the echoes of the Dark One¡¯s rise still haunt the land.


    </li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    </ul>


    <hr><hr>


    She smiled as she read his scroll. "See, even the Goddess agrees. Take the win." She gestured to a pile of belongings on the far side of the room. "Also, I found something you might want."


    Curious, he followed her toward the pile. She dug around for a moment, then pulled out some piece of black cloth.


    His heart caught.


    "I thought you''d be happy to see this again." She handed the fine cloth to him.


    It was his [Cloak of the Raven]. He''d crafted it as an apprentice, and while it wasn''t particularly powerful, he''d always kept it as a memento. His fingers ran over the black cloth, countless memories washing over him as he did. The object felt good in his hands. He reached out with his senses. Its enchantments had weakened, but they were still mostly intact. He smiled. He supposed if he had to have any of his old artifacts, this was the one that was closest to his heart. "Thank you, Faye."


    "Don''t sweat it. You always wore that old thing, even when you were pretending to be someone else, so I figured you''d want it back." She smiled, but her expression fell a moment later. She gestured to the rest of the pile beside her. "However..."


    "Don''t worry about it. The Master of the Vault will find new treasures to hoard, I''m sure. While I feel different in many ways since waking up, I don''t think that part of me has changed much."


    She stared at the pile for a moment. "Are you...?"


    "I''m good," he reassured her as he threw the cloak across his shoulders. "This is enough." It felt good on his back. His cloak even cracked dramatically as he turned. He couldn''t help but grin. The two of them left the pile behind, walking back over to where she''d initially greeted him.


    As they did, a pair of people entered the room. The tension was palpable. Zethari and Keila had arrived at the same time, and while the blonde woman looked like she was trying to disappear into herself, Zethari''s face could kill. Keila''s clothes, blue and white, contrasted perfectly against Zethari''s dark tunic and pants. The fey''ra''s clothes matched Abad''s, and Keila''s Faye''s. He didn''t know if matching clothes was a thing, but he sensed this wasn''t the time to ask.


    Keila looked at Abad and shrugged. "None of Faye''s clothes fit, so I got her new clothes. It''s the least I can do."


    The wolf girl huffed and marched up to Abad. "When are we leaving?"


    Abad looked back to Faye, who shrugged. "Soon. Once we tie you to the teleportation circle here..." He paused. That would require money. He really wished he hadn''t thrown his pack off the mountain, even if it wouldn''t have survived [Eclipse]. Just knowing it was probably shoved between some rocks near the peak made it worse than if it were destroyed.


    "I do not ever want to come back here." Her jaw set. "We should leave."


    "All the same, we may need to, so I think it''s still wise." He shuffled. "But we''ll have to get some money first."


    Faye smiled. "I think that''s my cue." She pulled out a bag from her desk and handed it to him. "Here are some funds. That''s get you to Evron at least. After that, you two can figure your lives out." When she noticed Abad''s confusion, she added, "It''s what patrons do. Don''t worry about it. It''s not a debt or anything, you silly man."


    "Thanks." He felt awkward about the gift but dropped it. He''d pay her back one day.


    "We will pay you back for this gift, Faye," Zethari told her. The wolf girl''s face softened as she looked at the hero.


    "Oh Goddess, you''re both weird." Faye shook her head and ushered them forward. "Don''t worry about it. Now come on. I have a meeting in half an hour, and as much as I''d love to keep chatting, the Hero has a few more duties to resolve before heading back home." She started to usher them out of the room, but Abad stopped her.


    "I figured out how to undo the brands." The room fell silent. Keila and Faye looked at him in surprise. He took a second to glance over at Keila. "Watch." He walked up to Keila and placed his hand on her neck. Unlike the wolf girl, she didn''t flinch. If anything, her body sank into his touch.


    Dark One''s breath, he''d miss her.


    He closed his eyes, reached out with his senses, and found the knot of black magic within the brand.


    [Corruption]


    The black knot unraveled, then snapped. He willed the small black mote that was released into his spirit, but just as it merged into him, he felt Keila throw her arms around him.


    "Thank you." Her arms squeezed him tight.


    A smile split his lips. She deserved better than she got. This would be a step forward. He gave her a quick squeeze back, then pulled away. "I can teach the healers how to do the same. Anyone with healing skills should be able to learn this, though I have no idea how they''ll do it with their own magic. At least I can teach them how to find the magic within."


    Faye nodded, thoughtful. "I''ll have Firtz and Kjormur come with some of the Legion healers. They''ve been working on it but haven''t had any success. With this, they might be able to start making real progress." Her grin came back. "Now, git. I have work to do, and I want to sit here and do nothing before I have to meet with these assholes." When the three of them turned to leave, Faye spoke again. "Not you, Keila. You know the merchants guild better than most. You''re not getting out of this."


    Keila groaned. "Fine, fine... But Abad?" Her eyes met his. "Let''s talk later, okay?"


    "Sounds good."


    The blond woman walked to the hero, and he and the wolf girl turned and descended the stairs.

 II-IV. A Place to Call Home, from Time to Time

    Within two hours, Zethari was tied to the seal, and they were making their back to the manor. However, on the way, he decided to swing by the bathhouse. Most of the fey''ra there had been heavily drained by the goblin proprietor before, so he wanted to see if he could help them before he left town. He crossed the street, and after ten minutes, they turned down the familiar alley toward the bathhouse.


    "Nightstalker..." Zethari''s voice was apprehensive.


    "I know. But we should do this. We can help."


    "Okay." Her voice was tense, but she followed.


    He reached the door, opened it, and was greeted with the same cheap perfume he remembered. However, as he entered the establishment, he was surprised to see not the goblin proprietor but the snake woman he''d noted the first time he entered the establishment. She stood behind the front desk adorned in a finely cut dress and a light professional smile.


    "Hello, honored guest." The snake woman, Odana if he remembered right, greeted him. She was dressed in fine clothes of black and gold, which accentuated her shimmering complexion perfectly. The woman was absolutely beautiful, with plump lips, a full figure, and smokey painted eyes. She was utterly captivating. He could tell she had some form of presence enhancement because she practically pulled the room toward herself. He was certain no one could look upon her and not feel as he did.


    While she maintained an air of professionalism with him, her lidded eyes opened wide when Zethari entered behind him. "Zethari!" The woman rushed around the desk and wrapped her arms around his vassal. The wolf girl squirmed a little as she did but didn''t stop the gesture. "We thought you were..." The woman squeezed her tight.


    "I was spared that fate by this man," Zethari said, finally relaxing and hugging the woman back. He''d never seen her be vulnerable like that before. "Thank you for your concern, Odana."


    Several other attendants poked their heads out of the archway to the baths, and Abad could hear them saying Zethari''s name in hushed tones. A few minutes later, each of them was pouring out of the baths to greet the wolf girl. She seemed uncomfortable at first, but soon she was smiling and laughing with her former peers. He was happy she could relax that way with them.


    While they were catching up, Abad reached out with his senses to examine them. Most of the attendants still felt weak, with Odana and the bull man being the strongest by far. Unlike before, however, most of them had recovered some of their essence. He assumed that meant the goblin was no longer in the picture. As he glanced around, he couldn''t see the green bastard anywhere.


    "He''s gone," Odana said, answering his unasked question. She walked up to him, each movement smooth and tantalizing. "He ran with a handful of te''ra when the legion came. We felt him leave. Now that he''s distant, our strength returns."


    "I''m glad." Abad''s eyes flicked back and forth between the various fey''ra. "Are you in charge here now?"


    "Yes and no." Her full lips pursed. "No one is running this place now." The woman scowled. "I''ve been keeping it afloat for several weeks, but it''s only a matter of time before they come and take us away. Without a patron, we are not permitted to stay." She glared at nothing, though there was no true heat. She simply seemed deflated.


    He didn''t know how to help them, but there had to be a solution. Soon, a thought came to him. "Would you make enough money to run this place if you could find a patron?" As he spoke, he stroked his chin.


    "Yes. We can maintain operations as is. And perhaps we could even offer more services or increase our rates if we gain another servant to fill the baths and get better supplies. Even without offering... some services" her face screwed up, "we should make more than enough without that gikra skimming so much off the top. We live here in the lower levels as well, so it should be easy to survive. It would be far better than it was before, at least."


    "Would your patron have to be present in the city?"


    She began to understand his thoughts. "No. He''d simply need to give us his name and support." Odana''s eyes flicked to Zethari, who was watching them with an amused look on her face. Something wordlessly passed between them. "Do you wish to take on our burden, my lord? We are capable of paying our rent and salaries as long as the te''ra allow it, so the investment would be minimal."


    He thought for a long while. While he wanted to help them, he couldn''t afford to throw around gold like he once could. Yet, in the same breath, this seemed like a win-win. It was already a functioning business, and he wouldn''t need anything from them. It would give him a place to return to when he needed to rest as well, which would be a boon... "Yes. I will take you on. I require nothing more than a room to return to from time to time and access to the baths. In turn, you will have my unqualified support."


    Odana laughed. The sound was light and full of joy. "The Black Serpent guides you, my friend. This is wonderful." Her eyes met his. "Then it is settled." She sauntered toward him. "Do you expect payment now, or..." He didn''t understand her meaning at first, but gently pushed her away as he did.


    "No payment." He swallowed. Whatever power she had was potent. "Thank you. I simply wish to help."


    She seemed confused for a moment, then nodded. A genuine smile spread across her face. "You are face too kind, my lord."


    "Nightstalker, you continue to impress me." Zethari said. The smile drifted off Odana''s face, and she stared at his vassal.


    "Zethari..." He whispered.


    Odana''s eyes widened, and she took a step back. "Nightstalker?" The others looked at one another when they heard the word.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Knowing there was no longer a point in concealing it, he shrugged and let his [Mask of Many Faces] fade. The group gasped collectively when they took in his true form. Each of the fey''ra stepped back, a few lowered their heads in prayer, and one even dropped to their knees. He tried to stop them, but it was useless. He simply waited for them to do whatever they felt was right.


    After several minutes, he decided to break the tension. "I came here today to remove your brands. Once the marks are gone, you''ll not have to worry about the weakening effects you were suffering from again, and you''ll be free to choose your own paths." He approached Odana. "May I?"


    "Whatever you wish, sod''ra." She pulled her dress back and revealed her brand, which was on her shoulder. He pressed his hands to it, and she shivered. He performed the same process as before, and minutes later, she had his sigil on her neck. The group roared when they saw what he''d done.


    One by one, he approached the fey''ra and held his palm on their brands. Some were on their necks, but others had them on their arms, legs, hips, or torsos. One by one, he removed their magic and replaced their brands with his own personal seal. After around an hour, he was shaking from exertion, but the task was complete.


    As he finished, his scroll unfurled.


    <hr><hr>


    [Those Who Rule]: By claiming new vassals and gaining a base of operations, you have strengthened your ability to influence the world. Vassals provide new skills, resources, and information you wouldn''t otherwise have access to, and your new location grants you the space needed to store materials, house companions, and generally be left alone when needed.


    You reach Level XVI


    You gain the [Quasireality] Mask Talent.


    [Quasireality] (Passive): Your mastery of deception allows you to blur the line between illusion and reality. All illusions you create are imbued with a fragment of reality, enabling them to partially interact with the physical world. These quasi-real illusions can deal minor damage, exert force, or create subtle environmental effects, confounding your enemies and enhancing your trickery.


    Choose an Enhancement:


    [Mana III]: Increases the reserve of magical energy coursing through you, further boosting your mana pool and enhancing your endurance when casting.


    [Life II]: Fortifies your life force further, making you stouter than all but the strongest mortals.


    [Resilience I]: Grants you increased endurance against poisons, diseases, and other conditions that would weaken or slow down ordinary beings.


    <hr><hr>


    Feeling as exhausted as he was after undoing their brands, he felt like now was the time to increase his life force further, so he chose [Life II]. He felt his energy return as the additional life force granted by the system entered him, but he was still tired.


    Seeing how exhausted he was, Odana escorted him to the pools and forced him into the hot water. She decided they would close the establishment for the moment, giving everyone time to chat and relax. He watched as each of them sank into the waters, the worry on their faces replaced with comfort. As they sat in the waters, he spoke to each and began to learn their names and pasts. As he did, he realized he felt like he was doing something truly good for no other reason than to help. It felt good.


    Zethari approached his side. Looking her over, he realized her face was downcast. "Zethari?"


    She struggled to find the words for a moment, then asked, "Do you think we could hunt for my mate, Nightstalker?" She lowered her head slightly, clearly not confident in his response.


    "Yes. I was hoping to do so. As soon as I teach the healers here how to break the brands, we will leave."


    Her yellow eyes met his, and the tension began to leave her face. "You are sure?"


    "Absolutely. Will we be heading north or south?"


    "North."


    "Okay. Then that''s what we''ll do."


    Words burned onto his scroll again.


    <hr><hr>


    You have obtained Zethari, Lupana Fey''ra Warrior''s quest [Find Your Mate: Rennar].


    <hr><hr>


    Her face lit up when she saw the words.


    "Thank you, Nightstalker." She shuffled up beside him, threw an arm around his shoulders, and stiffly hugged him. She''d never done anything like that before with him. He felt like they were getting closer. After a moment, she lowered her arm and shuffled away, but he appreciated her gesture.


    Odana floated up next to him. "Will you complete the ritual now, Nightstalker?" Her slitted green eyes shone with anticipation.


    "Indeed." He arranged the words in his mind. "Odana, do you swear to honor me as I honor you and serve as my seneschal in this place of water and rest? Do you swear to be my vassal for as long as we both choose?"


    Odana bowed her head. "I do."


    He felt that same power as before wash over them, and his scroll unfurled.


    <hr><hr>


    You have accepted Odana, Ophida Fey''ra Courtesan as your vassal.


    You may grant Odana one of your talents as an enhancement.


    <hr><hr>


    He granted her [Illusion Magic]. He figured she could put illusions to good use once she learned some spells. Once he established a new spellbook, he''d come back to Farnfoss and teach her.


    When she realized what he''d given her, her eyes widened, but she remained composed. "Thank you, Nightstalker. I am filled with honor." The snake woman leaned forward and kissed him on the forehead. "What of the others?"


    He noted her class. That''s why her presence was so compelling. Another thought occurred to him. "Since you have a class, can you take vassals?"


    "Yes, as long as I have a patron, I am legally allowed to do so."


    "Then you are the patron of all the others here. Make sure you do what''s right by them, Odana, or the Goddess will smite us both." Abad laughed. "And trust me, it''s not very fun being smitten." She seemed confused, so he added, "I won''t be here that often. This will allow you to do everything you need to do here without any issues."


    "Thank you, my lord."


    "Just Abad. You don''t have to be formal with me."


    "Thank you, lord Abad." They''d have to work on that eventually.


    She swam away and began gathering the others. As she did, Zethari grabbed his shoulder and forced him to face her. "You don''t know her well. Are you certain?"


    "You''re right. But I know you, and you clearly trust her."


    The wolf girl looked at him with an unreadable look. A moment later, she nodded and said nothing more.


    Odana approached him, the other fey''ra behind her. "May I...?"


    "Of course."


    She began the ritual, and all took turns swearing themselves to her. Once it was done, each bowed to both Abad and Odana. He felt a surge of emotion but quelled it. When he did, he felt something through his bonds with Zethari and Odana. It wasn''t as strong as his bond with Angra, but it was there, and it grew with every vassal the snake woman gained. It seemed that her having more vassals connected them further. He''d need to study the phenomenon further to understand how it worked.


    Once they were finished, he spent time cleaning up, got dressed, and turned to all of them. "I will be gone for some time, so be well. When I return, I look forward to speaking with all of you again and see how much you accomplish in between. Thank you for trusting me enough to swear allegiance to me." He bowed to them, then recast his [Mask of Many Faces]. "Until then, I bid you all a fond farewell."


    With that, he turned, exited the establishment, and walked back to the main road with a large smile.


    This felt right.

 II-V. Brands and Allies

    It was early afternoon by the time Abad and Zethari got back to the manor. As they walked through the manor''s gates, he saw Firtz and the others up ahead talking to a group of people in healer''s garb. It looked like Faye had already arranged the meeting with the Legion''s healers, and they were ready for him.


    A-Nis noticed him, so he waved and approached. "Nice to see you all." The group of legionnaires grew quiet when they saw him, but he ignored the awkward silence. They likely already knew who he was, and he didn''t care to engage with their misgivings about him. Instead, he looked at the adventurers and said, "Faye asked you to meet me I assume?"


    "You figured out how to undo that black magic then, yeah?" Firtz grumbled. "We''d been working on it for weeks. Figures you''d do it, you damn¡ª"


    "Uncle..." Kjormur chided the old dwarf. Abad couldn''t help but laugh. The old dwarf was nothing if not consistent.


    "Sorry lad, old habits. Can you show us how it''s done? We have a few claimed ready if you are." He gestured toward a small group of people sitting on the manor''s front steps.


    "Yeah, I can do that." He was still tired, but he''d manage with his new enhancement.


    From the tired, worn appearances of three people, two fey''ra and one halfling, sitting on the manor''s steps, he could tell without even needing to reach out with his senses that they were largely drained of their essence. He walked over to them and found the weakest of the bunch, a young girl with rabbit ears and dark circles under her eyes. He kneeled down to her so they were face to face. He thought back to the compassion Firtz had shown the boy on the road and tried to channel some of that energy in his demeanor. He''d never been good with children. "Would it be okay if I tried to help you?" He asked the girl softly. After evaluating him for a moment, she nodded. He reached out and placed his hand on her brand, which was on the back of her hand. As he did, he turned to face the healers.


    "Watch closely with your senses."


    He began to delve into the brand''s magic with his power. As he did, he explained to the group how to find the magical knots inside the brands and undo them, all while slowly working his magic into the brand binding the young girl. He noted that, unless they had magic like his, they likely wouldn''t be able to sense the black magic directly but would have to go by feel and intuition. To help them understand the process, he took each step slowly, ensuring that the healers could follow his steps as he worked to unravel the enchantment within. He kept his eyes open and watched each as he worked, checking for understanding. From the looks on their faces, they weren''t having an easy go of it.


    When he finally unraveled the knot and consumed the small mote of black within, the healers began talking to one another. It was clear they''d struggled to follow along. That wasn''t unexpected. Black magic was already rare and difficult to interact with, and the subtle magic woven into the brands was hard even for him to detect. It had taken him numerous tries to find it.


    "Do you want me to show you again?"


    "Yes. Please," Kjormur said. Several of the Legion healers nodded in agreement.


    "Okay, I''ll go slower this time. "He walked to the second fey''ra, a young boy who looked like a slightly older version of the girl. Siblings, he assumed. "May I?"


    "Yes, sir." His nose twitched. Abad realized he could smell him like the others could. He winked at the boy.


    Like the girl, the boy had a brand on his hand. After some time, he completed the second brand, then the third, and after the third demonstration, he could see the relief on the former claimeds'' faces. He could tell that they could feel the magic binding them fade away. However, while he knew the halfling would now be free, the fey''ra children wouldn''t be so lucky. He frowned.


    Turning to the small crowd of healers, by their conversations, they seemed to understand the principles he had explained. He knew they couldn''t do it exactly as he had, but they seemed confident enough after his demonstrations that he believed they could replicate it well enough given time and experience. Hopefully, word would spread through the legion quickly. From his understanding, his scepter''s magic had spread to at least three of the nations, so there were many more people to help, fey''ra and te''ra alike.


    He knelt down and spoke to the two fey''ra again. Both were little more than children. He felt that they deserved better. "Do either of you have parents or family nearby?" When both shook their heads, he knew what he''d do. "The scary wolf lady over there and I are going to help you." He turned and pointed at Zethari. Her ears were twitching, and she had a scowl on her face. He grinned and turned back to the kids. "There''s a place in town that''s going to take you in. You''ll find friends there. If you''d like," he added. Their eyes were filled with anxiety. "You''ll be safe there."


    They didn''t respond for a time, but eventually their heads nodded. The boy spoke, "Okay..."


    "She''ll take you there shortly, okay?" They both nodded in response. When they did, he gave them a smile and stood back up.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    "Good job, Abad." Shani walked up to him, A-Nis and En-In in tow. "I''m glad you were able to put your knowledge to good use." The woman smiled and tossed him something. He caught it. It was a bag. Opening it up, he found at least as many crystals as Faye had given him before. "For the trolls. We got a good payout from the guild, and I convinced the others that it was only right to give you your cut if we ever met up with you again. We wouldn''t be here without you, so you more than earned it." She put out her hand. "It was good to fight beside you, Abad. Maybe we''ll do it again someday, eh?"


    He smiled and nodded at the warrior. Ever since they met, she''d had his back. "Yeah, I hope so." He shook her hand. Her grip was firm. Something passed between them, something that felt a lot like mutual respect. It felt good.


    A-Nis walked up then. "Yeah, you did good. And I appreciate you helping me." She lifted her hand to her neck and squeezed. "I don''t think I''d have made it had you not helped me. You may be a little scary, but I think you''re a good guy. I''d fight with you anytime."


    En-In chimed in. "I only met you when you fought Kasimir, but you were incredible." His eyes traced to A-Nis. Abad could see the puppy in him then. "And you saved her, so you''re a hero in my book." He blushed when A-Nis looked at him. Firtz wasn''t wrong when he''d said the boy had it bad.


    He smiled at the trio. He actually felt like he''d made allies.


    Indulging in the feeling for a moment longer, he eventually let it go and turned to the mansion. "I need to go check in with Keila and Faye. I had something come up that I need to run by them. Do you know where they are?"


    He heard heavy footsteps behind him and turned. It was the red-haired nephew of Firtz, Kjorumur. The dwarf nodded and pointed to one of the doors across the courtyard. "They''re in a meeting with a representative of the adventurer''s guild. Should be done any minute. We''ve got a meeting with the Hero next."


    "What are they meeting about?"


    "Looks like that blonde woman is staying in town as Faye''s representative. They''ve got plans to turn this place into a sanctuary of some kind. I didn''t get all the details, but that''s what I heard at least."


    He wasn''t surprised the two of them had been quick to develop plans. With two driven women like Faye and Keila, that was bound to happen.


    Realizing he was stuck, he spoke to the adventurers. "Zethari and I are leaving tomorrow. I''m happy we all got to meet again, and I hope it won''t be the last time." Abad meant it. He rather liked this party.


    "Bah, what do you mean? We hardly got to talk. This isn''t good enough! We should all go to dinner! That''s a proper way to say goodbye. Over drinks and food, not in a dusty courtyard." The dwarf marched up to him and glared, his meaty hands on his hips.


    "It''s okay. We don''t¡ª"


    "I''m not taking any rejections, elf. We''re eating at that place, the one up on the hill, and that''s final. They''ve got good food, even if the tavern mistress runs the place as tight as a legionnaire''s ass before battle. I don''t know how the guy takes it! Boy, what''s that place called again?"


    "The Green Lady," Kjormur replied.


    "That one!" Firtz met Abad''s eyes and shuffled. "It''s the least we can do. So say yes, and let''s bury the axe."


    Abad laughed. "Okay, yes. I''ll go get dinner with you lot tonight. Sounds fun."


    "Good man, you know when to respect your elders. Maybe you''re not so bad after all," the dwarf rumbled and slapped his shoulder. He''d forgotten about this group''s habit of doing that. He felt like the bruises they''d given him on the trail had just healed.


    When he rubbed his shoulder, Keila exited the doorway across the courtyard. Faye followed behind her, and a group of officials filtered out after them. The women looked stressed, but from the smiles on their lips, whatever they''d organized had been successful. At first, they didn''t notice him, but when she looked up, she saw him and her shapely lips broke into a wide grin. She crossed the courtyard and hugged him.


    "Hi, I''m Keila. I''m Abad''s..." His eyes met hers. After their recent conversation, he had assumed there was nothing left to say, but he got the impression they had the same thought in that moment. "... I''m Abad''s friend. We''re both Faye''s vassals."


    "Chosen by the Hero herself, huh? You must be made of sterner stuff," Firtz bellowed. The man had only one volume.


    The adventurers all introduced themselves in turn. As they did, Shani and A-Nis both gave him looks, and Shani nudged him. So much for being subtle.


    A moment later, Faye walked up. "I know you all know Abad''s talents, but I have to say that Keila here is a pro at negotiations. I hardly had to say anything, which was great since I''m terrible at them." Faye looked at her vassal appreciatively and patted her shoulder. "Good job in there."


    "Thanks. It helps when I have the support of the Hero though. You''re kind of a great credibility builder."


    "Oh, is that how you see me?" Faye chided her, but the smile never left her face.


    Abad spoke to Keila. "We''re going to the Green Lady tonight. You in?"


    "Sure, as long as..." She looked toward Zethari, who scoffed.


    "I''m going to go back to the bathhouse. I''d like to spend more time with Odana and the others before we leave." Zethari didn''t bother to wait for a response before walking to the children. A legionnaire went to stop her, but a single glare from Faye had him back peddling. Zethari knelt down and whispered some words to the children, and they hopped up and put their little hands in Zethari''s. As they walked by him, both children looked at Abad with wide eyes. Just as she reached the gates, she called over her shoulder, "I''ll see you in the morning. Be ready, Nightstalker." With those words, she disappeared.


    "Well, okay then." Keila''s eyes were sad for a moment.


    "Faye?" Abad asked the Hero.


    "Unfortunately, I have more to do. I''ll talk to you both later. Come along, adventurers. Let''s get this over with so I can take a nap. I am an old lady after all, even if I don''t look like it." The Hero turned and walked up the stairs, but she stopped at the top. She turned and looked back down at Abad. "Before you leave tomorrow, make sure to come and say goodbye." With that, she disappeared into the building.


    "I''ve got one more errand today. Care to join me, Abad?" Keila asked, her blue eyes twinkling at him for the first time since she learned what he was.


    "Sure. Sounds fun." He held his arm out, and she took it. He turned to the others. "See you tonight?"


    "Aye, see you then," Firtz answered before he and the others walked up the stairs and into the manor. Turning on his heel, Abad guided the blonde out onto the street and toward the eastern market. A moment later, she laughed and pulled him in the other direction.

 II-VI. A Date

    Keila brought Abad to the merchant''s guildhall, which was situated on a quiet street just off a large plaza in the western market. She told him she''d be a short while and to make time before strolling off across the street and into the hall. Abad shook his head as the woman disappeared. The competence and confidence, enhanced tenfold by her new station in life, radiated off of her. She really was something.


    Walking back to the market, Abad looked around at the various shops and stands and tried to decide what he wanted to do. After leaving his old gear on Draekenspire, he needed to gather traveling supplies again before leaving town, but he also wanted to enjoy himself. He decided he''d prioritize leisure first. He strolled up the road and scanned for the most interesting shop he could find, and a short while later, he spotted a clothing shop. Weighing the bags of crystals in his hand, he decided it couldn''t hurt to take a little peek. Just a little one. He didn''t have to buy anything. He could just browse. There was no harm in taking a peek. He could trust himself.


    As he walked through the front door of the spacious shop, he saw an older halfling couple working on clothes at cluttered workstations. A pleasant bell jingled, and both people looked up as he entered and gave him warm, honest smiles. Even the bastard he used to be loved honest people like these. He always made it a point to make them his. Through the carrot if they were receptive. The stick if not.


    "Hello and welcome!" The man said, standing from his little stool and hobbling toward Abad. When he reached him, he took Abad''s hand in his. The man was older and stooped, with the crooked back and tough hands of a laborer past his prime and the honest smile of a genuine soul. "We''re happy to have you on this fine day."


    "Hello, good sir. I''m looking for some clothes and heard your shop was the place to go," he lied, but flattery never hurt anyone.


    "I thank you for your kind words. We have the oldest shop in all of Farnfoss!" He stood straighter and puffed out his chest, the pride evident on his wizened face, before deflating again. "Allow me to show you our selection!" He led Abad over to a series of racks of clothing. The fabric was decent, and the stitching was well done. "Just tell me what you''d like, and I''ll get it for you."


    Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the man looking at him for a while. He was doing that peculiar thing the elderly did when they looked for any opening to talk. Not seeing one, he turned and looked out the window. "It has been a lovely Soulclaim so far. It''ll be the last good week I think."


    Abad decided he''d take the bait. "I suppose so." This would be Abad''s first Darkfall. He didn''t know what to expect, and the man seemed harmless enough.


    "You have plans, my good man?" Abad looked down at him. The man''s brown eyes sparkled as he continued before Abad could answer. "All our kids are coming in, even the ones from Risselton. The missus and I are looking forward to it. It''s been a few years since we''ve had the whole family come, and with the sorry business with the beastkin, we didn''t know if they''d come. Luckily, the Hero graced us with her presence. Who knows what would have happened if she hadn''t come when she did? The Legion don''t take kindly to uprisings, especially out here in the Verge."


    "It is a shame what the beast folk endure. What all endure." While the beast folk made up the majority of the enslaved and indentured, the other races were not exempt, though their servitude seemed more like debt peonage.


    The man looked him up and down. "Your kind don''t often have much compassion for them. Your words are welcome to these old ears." The man shuffled up to him. "When our kind were enslaved by the humans ages ago, you fought to free us. I am happy to see members of your noble race extend that same kindness to others."


    Abad hadn''t known about that part of the halfling''s past. He only knew they began to arrive on Reial when the humans did in the third age. The halflings had an oral tradition that spanned back centuries, but few knew it. "I''m glad to be an exemplar of my race, then." He smiled at the man.


    They talked more as he browsed, and soon he found something he liked. Then another thing. And another.


    Abad told himself he''d be good...


    ... And an hour later, he left the shop with several new outfits. The couple stood in the doorway and waved to him as he shoved the clothes he purchased into the new pack that he''d also bought. It was nicer than his old one. Completely worth it. He needed something to carry his things in, after all. He vowed to himself that he wouldn''t lose this one too. Looking at the bill, he cringed when he saw how much he''d spent. He just couldn''t say no. It was his one true curse.


    "Good timing!" He heard Keila call out. She crossed the street and took his arm. "I can''t say I''m surprised." She pointed to a pant leg that was sticking out of his new pack. He shoved it in and strapped the bag shut. "Your eyes always did sparkle when I gave you new clothes."


    "I can''t help myself," he murmured.


    "That''s alright. Good clothes make already handsome men like you even better." She winked at him. "Let''s get you some supplies. I doubt you''ll be back anytime soon, and I can''t have you starving on the road, now can I?" She pulled him towards the market. They wandered the shops and stalls for a time, grabbing one thing here, another there, and soon he had just about all the things he would need. Looking at his bag of crystals, he was surprised to find that he''d managed to stay within budget too, mostly through the help of Keila''s excellent bartering skills and her willingness to buy him "gifts," which mostly amounted to her simply buying him things. He and Zethari should have enough rations and supplies to last them a month as long as they traveled with a wagon or caravan.


    Once he paid for the last of the supplies, she turned to him, her blue eyes sparkling in the afternoon light. "Now that that''s done, care to join me for a little date, my mighty dark lord?"


    "She told you about that, huh?"This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "She told me enough."


    Abad nodded to the blonde and held his arm out. With a broad smile, she took it, and they wandered around the market with no clear goals.


    While aimlessly browsing the shops and stands, holding up little odds and ends to one another as they did, he smelled something cooking nearby and couldn''t stop himself from walking toward its source. Whatever it was, it smelled great, like spices and red meat, and was coming from a nearby food cart. As they approached, he saw that the source of the smell was some sort of meat on sticks that a man was grilling over coals. He was basting them with some thick brown sauce, which caramelized as the drippings caused flames to spark up and lick up their sides.


    "Oh, zintra! That''s one of my favorite foods from Malrith." She turned to Abad, her face perfectly shaped to convince him of whatever it was that she wanted, and he knew he''d obey. "It''s reallllly good. We should try some!"


    Both of their stomachs grumbled, and they chuckled to one another. He went to pull out his crystal pouch, but she waved him away and bought three.


    When she approached, she handed him two and smiled. "Seriously, it''s the best."


    "You really don''t have to buy everything you know."


    "I want to." Her eyes begged him to challenge her. He didn''t. "You just wait. It''s going to be the best thing you''ve eaten this week."


    While she guided him to a nearby bench, he took a bite.


    She wasn''t wrong.


    The meat was delicious. It was some sort of ground meat mixed with aromatics and spices and covered in a sweet and savory sauce that had just enough heat to make him sweat. He''d definitely be looking for zintra again as he traveled.


    He and the beautiful woman sat and ate and watched the crowds go by, enjoying the scenery and each other. Unlike most other parts of Farnfoss, the buildings here were well-maintained, and the roads were cleaner than anywhere else. The smell of the river lingered here too, and gulls occasionally called out from the small docks in the distance. The bells he heard tolling from time to time when he rested in the manor were here as well, and they rang out just as he considered them, calling out for all the children of the Goddess to listen.


    He felt a frown fall upon his lips. Would he ever be able to hear that sound and feel welcome? He wasn''t sure. He felt closer to Her now than he ever had, but she still felt so far away. Maybe one day he''d be able to ask her directly.


    Another thought came to him. What would his teacher think of his actions of late? Surely she would see them for what they were: Weakness. Folly. He had been more frivolous in the past month since he woke up than the near-century he''d lived before it. Aughra likely would have scolded him for his stupidity. In all their years together, she demanded he focus on his goals and visualize the world he wanted to create. Today, he hardly had any idea of what that looked like. Wander the seven nations? That hardly was concrete or actionable. He was just wasting time.


    "Hey." Keila reached up and turned his head to face hers. While beautiful, her face was unreadable. "Don''t get lost in there." She pointed at his head. "You have a habit of doing that. It''s not good for you. Just be in the moment." She lowered her hand and wrapped her fingers around his.


    He squeezed her hand. She was right. Ruminating wasn''t productive. "Yes ma''am."


    "About time you showed me the respect I deserve." She thrust her chin upward in mock nobility and side-eyed him. "I demand this level of respect when you return to Farnfoss, peasant."


    "I would never dare to insult you, milady." He bowed his head. "Excuse my lack of decorum. I know not the ways of this time."


    She giggled, then leaned over and kissed his cheek. "At least you''re learning."


    Her kiss caused something in him to move. He couldn''t stop from asking. "What are we... What is..." He couldn''t shape the words, but her eyes showed she understood him.


    Her fingers unraveled from his, and she looked at the ground and smiled a sad smile. "I was shocked when I learned what you were. It''s not easy..." She looked at him, then back at the ground, "The stories about your kind aren''t for the fainthearted, and you''re one of the real ones, not one of the sad castaways I''ve met."


    "I understand." That was all he could say.


    "That''s not all though. I was also ashamed of myself. I''ve lied to so many people, and I''ve hurt so many. I always used the excuse that I didn''t have a choice, and I still believe that, but it doesn''t change the fact that I did what I did. These hands have hurt a lot of people. I''ve been struggling with that." She gazed at something invisible in her palms. From the look on her face, she didn''t like what she saw. "I didn''t know how to process it all. Still don''t."


    "It can''t have been easy." His life had never been uncomplicated, and he knew hers had been much the same.


    She turned back to him. "But being all guilty and distant isn''t fair to you or me. We have a chance to do better. And now that you''re leaving, I won''t really have the chance to show you who I can be. Who I want to be. I may never see you again, so I feel like I owe it to myself to have one nice day with you before you''re gone. To show you a little bit of who I am, without all the baggage." She reached out and squeezed his hand again. "Despite everything, I enjoyed being around you. I enjoy being around you. And I still think you''re beautiful, and maybe a little less sad than I''d originally thought. You''re a big mope, but you''re sweet, and you''re thoughtful, and you make me feel seen. Plus, you saved me, and I''ll never forget that." She looked into his eyes. "I hate to admit it, because it''s going to be way harder when I do, but I''m going to miss you." She leaned into him, rested her head on his chest, and sighed.


    "Me too." He admitted as he wrapped his arm around her. A slight breeze rolled off the water nearby, and it rustled her hair. He brushed a stray strand that had flown loose from her ponytail back behind her ear, and she looked up at him, her eyes filled with more than friendship. He pulled her close and held her tight.


    They stayed like that for a while, just holding one another and being together. Then, he began to hear a soft noise coming from nearby. It sounded like music. He stood up and pulled her up to him.


    "Do you hear that?"


    "Hear what?"


    "Come on."


    He listened intently as they weaved through the streets. As they got closer, he realized that it was indeed music. Turning down an alleyway, in a courtyard wedged between two buildings, three musicians played soft music to a large crowd of onlookers. They didn''t seem in appearance or dress to be performers, but they sounded excellent. They looked more like locals with some talent who enjoyed their craft. The song was unfamiliar, but it pulled something out of the depths of his memory. It reminded him of home. His first home, long ago. There was always music in elven cities. Music was life for his people.


    The woman wrapped her arm around his waist. "Care to sit with me?" She pointed to a nearby bench with a large smile. Not waiting for him to answer, she pulled him toward it, sat him down, and sat next to him, throwing her legs across his lap as she did. As they listened, the woman weaved her fingers into his. As the musicians played, she slowly swayed to the music, her head resting on his shoulder. As he listened, Abad thought back to his home, his childhood spent enjoying music beneath the trees. In that moment, he realized he felt the most peace he''d felt in centuries.


    They listened for a long time, until the afternoon faded into early evening, and soon enough the two were rising with the rest of the audience members as the musicians finished their final song. They clapped, and Abad stood and placed a few crystals in the little hat they''d set out for tips. As he did, Keila caught up to him and hooked her arm in his, and they wordlessly made their way to the inn with smiles on their faces.

 II-VII. Dinner with Friends

    Abad and Keila weaved their way through the busy streets of Farnfass toward the Green Lady Inn. The streets were still crowded, though they were clearing out as darkness fell on the city. The last calls of merchants closing shop filled the air, and hawkers desperately tried to wave down anyone they could find to peddle their wares to before the day was done.


    Soon, the pair turned down a road, and the Green Lady was in sight. A familiar group was standing out front, and a very irritated dwarf paladin was arguing with an equally irritated dwarf woman. His shouts boomed down the street as the woman waved a lethal-looking rolling pin at him. Firtz was gesturing wildly with his meaty hands as she dug a bony finger into his chest, all while Kjormur was desperately attempting to placate the pair. Across the street, the elves all sat back chuckling at the scene.


    "What do ye mean I cannae bring my axe int'' th'' ''n? It''s nae a crime!" As they approached, Abad realized he''d never heard Firtz'' dwarven accept slip out so much. He''d always done a good job of masking it.


    "''Sgottae sty ohn teh rack ootside!" The woman snapped, gesturing towards a large metal locker. Through its open doors, several large weapons could be seen within.


    "It''s gonna get stolen ya daft wench! Do ye wanna pay fir tha?"


    "Hoo''m I sposed ta do tha! Look''t mae!" She screamed, her accent thick. She shook her rolling pin before continuing. "Thas nowt buht bonnes and fat on mee! Ne a coinne aboot!"


    "Aye!" He growled. "An'' it''ll stay tha weh ifin ye dun ge'' ouh mah weh!" He pushed past her toward the front door, but she grabbed his collar and wrenched him back into the street like a stray dog before he could enter. As Abad reached them, he could see several patrons watching the show in amusement through the windows.


    Firtz tried to push past her again, but the woman grabbed his shirt collar and yanked him back out, practically taking him off his feet as she did. "Ya bloody boot! Cahn I help ye wi'' summat?" She glared at Firtz, whose face was fully red by then. He was huffing and puffing, and his hands were visibly shaking with anger.


    Abad spoke. "Friends, I''m sure your weapons will be fine. The weapons get locked up in a box at night, and they tag them with sort of tracking magic. Surely we don''t need to cause such a scene? Let''s head inside and have a pint." He held up his bag of crystals. "On me." He cursed himself again. He wasn''t used to being poor.


    Firtz spun around, fists raised, ready to put down whoever was speaking to him. Only when he noticed Abad did he deflate a little. Abad noticed Shani prod A-Nis with her elbow when she saw them, a big smile on her face. A-Nis handed her a small pouch.


    "You daft bastarhd! Ye think I planned to start a fight! That bi¡ª"


    With a resounding crack, the dwarf woman smacked him across the face, ending the ill-considered words before they could leave his lips. The dwarves started screaming again, but a moment later, she ripped the axe off his back and threw it in the locker, slammed it shut, and brushed her hands on her apron. Only then did she seem to cool off.


    She turned, gave a curtsey, and said softly and in perfect common, "Lovely to see you again Miss Keila. It''s always a pleasure." Her eyes met Abad''s. "And with that handsome elf of yours no less. You''re a lucky man, elf. Don''t break her heart, else I''ll give you the what for." She shook her rolling pin at Abad.


    "It''s nothing like that, Braghda. He''s just a good friend, one who''s leaving soon. We wanted to meet with our friends before he left." Her words were light, but he could hear the sadness in them.


    "Sure lass, sure." She glared at Firtz. "Can''t speak to your choice of friends, but you''re a good one. I''ll ensure you get the night''s finest." She smiled, excused herself, and entered the building.


    "Bah, they''ll steal it, sure as goblins are green. Weapons don'' groh on trees ye know!" He shouted at the door, which slammed shut.


    With the conflict resolved, the elves stepped up. "You seem ready to go, Abad." Shani pointed at his pack. "We didn''t know if you''d actually end up doing it. Hard to leave a sure thing at home for an empty road and a cold bedroll."


    Keila''s arm tightened on his. "It''s not like¡ª"


    Shani''s eyes met hers, and something passed between them. Keila''s words fell away.


    "The boy''s got adventure in ''im. And like I always say, time apart builds the fire. I got a lady back¡ª"


    "He knows, Firtz." A-Nis brushed past him. "You told him five times when we were on the road. You don''t have to say it again, you bloody boot." A-Nis prodded at him using Braghda''s words. "I like that one. I''m keeping it." She smiled.


    Deflated, he mumbled, "Well, it''s true..."


    "Should we eat, or are we going to stand here all night? Because I''m fine with eating alone if you all want to enjoy the night air." En-In made for the door.


    "Bah, let''s git." Firtz marched past, following En-In''s lead. "I''m gettin'' an ale afore tha'' wench gets work''d up ''gin an'' tries te poison me."


    Abad laughed and followed. They entered the establishment and were met with the sights and sounds of good food and live music. Abad turned and smiled at his companion, who flashed him a wide grin back. They hadn''t expected two rounds of good music. Weaving their way through the tables, they found a long one next to the fire. Several patrons shouted greetings to the party and even more called out to Keila.


    The innkeeper, a plump, round man, bustled up and greeted everyone with a broad smile on his face. "Ah, the famous adventurers return! Welcome welcome!" The man''s eyes flicked over to Abad and then fixed on Keila. "Oh! And Miss Keila! Welcome back. And with your elf friend no less. Always a pleasure." He nodded.


    "For us as well. The usual, please, Rodhan."


    The innkeeper took everyone else''s orders, then yelled, "Coming right up!" and waddled away, the wide smile never leaving his face.


    The tavern was bustling with life. As he''d noticed when he stayed there weeks before, most of the patrons were wealthier, with the yellows and reds and blues of wealth separating them from the muted colors of the common people. Several men, likely merchants, smoked pipes and talked at a round table in the far corner of the room, and several obvious business deals were taking place throughout the space. In a nearby corner was a pair of musicians strumming a lyre and a wooden flute, weaving a melodic song that brought to his mind open skies and deep, sun-lit watersUnlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Conversation bubbled up at their table, everyone chatting about one thing or another. A-Nis began explaining her role as a ranger to Keila, whose eyes sparkled as she listened to the intricacies of different bow techniques. Firtz had already downed a pint and was arguing with Kjormur about something in dwarven, and Shani butted into A-Nis'' conversation and began bragging about how she studied with a great master in the north, which caused Keila''s eyes to sparkle even more. A-Nis sulked as she realized she was being outdone.


    Taking it all in, he realized something.


    As he sat and listened to the music and the conversation, he realized this is what he''d missed since waking up. Even the bastard he''d been had loved good company and pleasant music. He''d lived for it. And while his current incarnation was less fond of chaos, he was happy to know he still enjoyed a good story, a fine meal, and pleasant company. Seeing all these smiling faces made him yearn for something more, but he couldn''t quite place was it was. His hand found itself in his pocket, and he began fumbling with the soul stone that held Angra''s spirit. It was warm and soothing to the touch, as always.


    Angra... He''d find a way to bring her back. Then they''d explore the world together once she was whole again. He wouldn''t feel complete until she was back by his side, or perched on his shoulder more like. His heart ached as he thought of her.


    Some voices rang out in the din, and Keila squeezed his hand and excused herself. He watched as she walked across the room, greeting a dozen people on her way to speak with the men who''d called to her. He marveled at how she effortlessly managed the competing interests before her. She could give him a run for his money, and she didn''t even need magic to do it.


    "She''s nice," En-In said in an off-hand fashion as he twirled a stick in her fingers. "Too bad you aren''t staying longer, eh?"


    "We knew this was coming." Abad sighed. "At least Faye is setting her up with some new prospects. Life will carry us in different directions soon enough, and all that will be left will be a good memory."


    "With someone in your situation, I would guess you have many such memories." Abad turned to consider the half-elf. They''d not had much time to get to know one another. In truth, he hadn''t thought much of him until this moment.


    "What do you mean?" Abad asked the brown-haired man. "What do you think my situation is?"


    "You''ll outlive us all," the man said flatly. "You''ll be around forever, as long as you don''t get killed, and you''ll meet thousands upon thousands of people in your time in this world." He shrugged. "I used to think that would be enviable, seeing the world like that. I''m a bit of a historian and used to dream of seeing more than my time. But then I lived longer than my little life at that point, and I''ve already lost many. Now I''m not so sure." His hazel eyes gazed through Abad. "And after meeting a real immortal, two no less, I''m even less sure. People don''t seem made to experience the world like that. Faye seems tired, and you seem destined to go from place to place until you burn yourself out like an oil lamp with no fuel. We mortals take life''s gifts because our time here is limited. You don''t have that limitation. In time, I wonder if there will be anything left to keep you here, or will it only be you and Faye in an empty world?" He wondered aloud.


    The young man was perceptive and more eloquent than he''d expected. "And what would you do, if you were in my shoes?"


    En-in laughed and looked at the ceiling. "Probably throw myself off a bridge. Or maybe climb to the top of one of the towers, leap, and let the wind carry me away like dust. At least that would be a novel experience."


    Abad couldn''t hold back the laugh. "You''re dark."


    "I''ve been called worse."


    Abad laughed again. "I feel like there''s much to do until I find the nearest tower."


    En-In smiled. "That''s the difference between us. I''m only in it for the thrill. You want meaning." He shook his head, took a drink, and added, "Don''t ask me what that could be though." He looked toward Keila. "If I were you and there weren''t a bridge nearby, I''d settle down with a woman and live a life. Then I''d do it again, and again. If my time was endless, why not? Sounds like a fun game, trying a flavor of everything. Don''t you feel that way?"


    He didn''t. Not now. "I tried, once. But no, I don''t think that would be enough for me. " He drained his tankard and yelled for another. The portly man nodded to him.


    "Then you''re already one up on me. Maybe someday I''ll find my thing, or my person. Or maybe I''m destined to live my life with no direction or drive, a slave to the whims of others. Maybe I''ll settle down, and all this adventuring will fade behind me like the rising mist of a forest. Until then, I''ll keep wandering. It''s all I can do, really. It keeps me entertained." He smiled.


    "Will you keep traveling with this crew?" Abad gestured to the group. "You seem to like them."


    "They tolerate me. That''s enough. I''ll stay with them as long as it feels right to." His eyes drifted to A-Nis. His eyes glowed at the sight of the ranger. "A few years perhaps, or a few decades, or until the sun burns itself out if the theories are true. I think I''m where I should be right now."


    Their drinks came. Abad clinked mugs with En-In. "That''s enough of a reason, I think. There are far worse ones."


    Suddenly, Firtz broke away from his argument with Kjomur and looked to Abad. "Where''d ya find the lass?" He took a pull of his ale.


    "That''s the woman Shani sent to pick me up on the road."


    The dwarf''s eyes went wide. "Ah, I thought I recognized her!" He threw his beer back. "Bah, I said it too. I said that you were a good one I did. Deserved a second chance. They all argued with me, but I had my way in the end."


    A-Nis rolled her eyes. "You said you''d kill him if you saw him again for two straight weeks."


    "I did no such thing, you damn string bean." His face grew red.


    "Uncle..." Kjormur softly chided the drunk dwarf.


    "Yeah, well... maybe it took a minute or two... but we''re all here now. Cheers!" The dwarf downed his pint in one go.


    "Cheers." Abad took a sip of his drink.


    "And to think, we''d be traveling with a tainted bastard like him. Good in a fight, I''ll give you that. Never seen someone make that much fire before!" Kjormur tried to drink his drink, but it was already empty. He lifted his glass and called for Rodhan.


    "Tainted? Who''s that?" Keila had walked back to the table with a refreshed drink for both herself and Abad.


    Firtz hiccuped. "The damn man ye''ve been sitting next¡ª" A smack from A-Nis shut him up.


    Keila sat down next to Abad. "This guy?" She wrapped her arms around his chest. Her breath smelled of cloves and liquor, and her words had grown slurred. "Seems nice enough to me." She squeezed him tight. "I kind of like him."


    "Oh, careful lassie. He''ll burn ye up! Ye should''ve seen him. Twenty, no thirty trolls all fell like grains of sand against him. Boom, boom, boom!" He slapped the table for effect. "One by one, he took them down, burned ''em away like they were nothing. And we three," he gestured at A-Nis and Shani, "we stood no chance against the trolls or the flames. If it weren''t for him, we''d be troll food!"


    "Uncle..."


    "Not now lad, I''m telling a story."


    "But Uncle."


    "Not now, Kjormur. I''m talking the elf up." He turned and raised his hands. "And then¡ª" His words were cut off as their food arrived. Every member of the group received a feast from the Braghda, who was standing in the kitchen doorway with a proud smile on her face. The food filled the table from one end to the other. Piles of hot meat steamed on platters covered with fresh bread and vegetables. A moment later, only the sounds of forks on plates filled the air.


    After that, the hours rolled by. Everyone ate, drank, and sang along with the music. Stories were told and jokes shared, and eventually, the party began to filter out, back toward wherever they were staying. Before long, only Keila and Abad were left. They held one another, listening to the music. As the music came to an end, Keila nodded toward the stairs.


    "I got us a room..." Her blue eyes met his.


    He took her hand in his and walked her upstairs. They both stumbled as they climbed the narrow steps. A few minutes later, they were outside the same room they''d stayed in before. She opened the door and guided him inside. When he shut the door behind him, she pressed her body to his.


    "Show me."


    "What?" her blue eyes bored into his. He understood her meaning. He took a deep breath and let his [Mask of Many Faces] fade. He felt nervous as she looked at him, her eyes searching his face. She ran her fingers up his cheeks and to his horns, softly brushing her fingertips along them. He set his jaw and waited as she inspected him. The real him.


    A soft smile spread across her face. "That''s the man that saved me..." She pressed her lips to his. "I like this you." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his lips again. "Want to make one last memory before you go? I promise this one''ll be the best one yet."


    He didnt respond with words.

 II-VIII. Goodbye, for Now

    <div>


    Abad woke to the light of dawn creeping through the curtains of their small room. The sky outside was still the dark blue-grey of early morning, but a hint of orange marked the beginning of a new day. He felt the heat of Keila''s body against his and listened to her soft breaths. Her arm was draped across him, and her head rested on his chest. He held her close, breathing in her scent, then kissed her forehead.


    He committed the moment to memory.


    He felt her move. "Not yet," she murmured.


    He kissed her forehead again and watched as her blue eyes slowly fluttered open. With a soft smile on her lips, she reached up and rubbed his cheek before placing a small kiss on his lips. He tried to speak, but she covered his mouth with her hand.


    "Just a few more minutes." She rolled over and scooted her back toward him.


    He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. "Okay."


    They lay like that a while longer, but as the morning light grew brighter, he felt her yawn. With a groan, she sat up, and the blanket fell away, revealing the curves of her back. He committed that to memory as well. She stood up and looked over her.


    "Like what you see?"


    "Very much so."


    She smirked at him and twirled, then began to dress herself. He groaned and joined her. She eyed him as he put his pants on, and a moment later his boots were on his feet and his shirt was over his shoulders. When they were dressed, he went to cast his [Mask of Many Faces], but she guessed what he was thinking and stopped him.


    "You shouldn''t hide so much of yourself."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Your natural hair looks good. I like the black. When you travel, go as yourself. At least as much as you can."


    He considered her words before adopting his usual form. "I will."


    They left their little sanctuary and walked down the stairs to the dining hall. The stairway smelled wonderful, like bread and sugar, and when they exited the narrow staircase, Abad could see that a large breakfast had already been prepared. The smells drew him toward a nearby table, where he discovered an array of foods and treats laid out on a table for two.


    "I told Braghda we''d be hungry when we woke up. She said she''d make us something special." She smiled at him and beckoned him toward the table. A tall carafe filled with dwarven kafen and a smaller ceramic pitcher of some sort of juice was set on the table, and two empty plates waited for the hungry lovers. Keila quickly piled a plate with sausage links and flakey sweet rolls while Abad filled her cup with kafen and buttered some toast. He wasn''t often that hungry due to his nature, but this morning he was famished.


    Keila took a bite of her roll and savored its flavor. He poured a glass of kafen and took a sip. The brown liquid was bitter and slightly spicy and warmed his stomach as it flowed through him.


    "So, I suppose you''re planning on leaving right away, eh?"


    "Yes, after I meet with Faye."


    "Then I''ll accompany you," Keila declared. "She and I have a dozen tasks to complete today, so I might as well get started early." She yawned, then downed an entire sweet roll.


    "Aren''t you tired?"


    "A little," she admitted with a mischievous smile, "but it was worth it."


    It had been.


    They dug into the breakfasts, savoring the flavors, and before long, they finished, thanked the dwarven cook, and left the inn, but not before Keila grabbed a large glass of kafen to go. A short while later, they were climbing the manor''s stairs. At the top, he saw Faye, head in hands, half asleep at the little desk she''d set up in the former treasure room. On second glance, Abad realized she wasn''t half-asleep. She was just asleep.


    "She does this sometimes," Keila explained with a grin on her face. "Works too hard and collapses on her scrolls or in her papers." She walked up to the Hero and placed her hands on the sleeping woman''s shoulders. Faye jerked upright, eyes blinking rapidly in surprise. A large puddle of drool was left on the desk.


    "Huh, wuh..." Her words were confused, and her face was etched with sleep lines and covered in ink. "I was awake. I was just resting my eyes." She took her sleeve and wiped her face. Unfortunately for her, doing so smeared black ink all over her cheeks.


    "Here," Keila handed Faye the drink she''d taken from the Green Lady. "You look like you need this more than me."


    Faye smelled the brown liquid, groaned, and drank the entire cup in one go. When she finished, she shuddered. "I hate this stuff. It''s like bad coffee from Earth, but twice as bitter. But damn if it doesn''t get you going." She handed the glass back to Keila. "Thanks. I was up all night going over all these agreements." The woman''s eyes cleared as she spoke to the blonde. After a few moments, she looked awake. Only then did her eyes focus on Abad, as though noticing him for the first time. "Morning Abad.. When''d you get here?" she asked.


    "Just now." He paused before adding. "Nice ink. Looks good on you."


    Faye absent-mindedly brushed at it, causing it to streak even more. Seeing the black on her fingers, she shrugged. "Wouldn''t be the first time." She smiled. "You''ll be off soon?"


    "Yeah."


    "Well, I have something from an admirer of yours." She opened the desk drawer and pulled out a book. "That mage over at the guild seems totally smitten with you, or at least with some of your past magical exploits. She gushed about some spell you made for at least fifteen minutes yesterday." She walked back toward him. "She showed up yesterday with this book and told me to tell you that this will be a great place to start again." Faye handed him the book. Opening it, he saw magical inscriptions on the pages within. Ta-Li had written him a new spellbook. He hadn''t realized he''d such an impact on the girl and felt grateful she''d learned some history. He''d have to thank her one day.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "There''s also this." She reached into a drawer and pulled out a small leather bag and tossed it at him. "It''s an advance payment." He caught it. Looking inside, he saw that it was another bag of crystals. "That''s the first half of your payment for the job you''ll be taking. I got you a job going north toward Evron with a merchant caravan. It''ll be leaving the eastern gate in a few hours. You''ll be a guard, and you''ll get paid the second half when you reach some town called Syrenthal."


    He hadn''t expected to take a job so soon. "So no vacation?" He asked wryly.


    "No rest for the wicked, friend." She shook her head. "Stuff came up, and I need you to check it out." She walked up to him. "I need you to go to the reach out between Evron and Nolei. There''s word of attacks in the region, and several villages have been destroyed, at least according to reports. I need you to figure out what''s happening out there. The guild says trolls have been on the loose, which I know you''re aware of, but the stories I''ve heard don''t match up with troll attacks. There are bodies left behind," she scowled as she spoke. "Some people are saying monsters killed the villagers, others are claiming brigands, and still others are saying it''s some dark spirit or the undead." She placed a finger on her ink-covered chin. "I need you to learn exactly what happened there, and whatever it is, I need you to stop it." She patted his chest. "A big strong warlock like you shouldn''t have any problem with that, right?"


    He nodded. "I''ll work it out."


    As he agreed to the job, his scroll unfurled.


    <hr><hr>


    <ul>


    <li>[Echoes of the Empty] (Quest, Shared)


    <ul>


    <li>Objective: Investigate the mysterious disappearances of villages in the Reach between Evron and Nolei. Discover the truth behind the attacks, confront the force responsible, and decide the fate of the region.


    <ul>


    <li>Trace the Shadows: Speak to survivors and investigate abandoned villages to uncover the source of the attacks. Seek out clues to track the attackers¡¯ movements and intentions.</li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    </ul>


    <hr><hr>


    As he read the final words of the quest''s objective, he frowned. He didn''t like how the Goddess''s system worded the task. He didn''t have time to dwell on it, however.


    He heard footsteps behind him. Turning, he saw Zethari enter the room. The wolf girl''s yellow eyes met his, and she nodded.


    "Nightstalker."


    "Zethari."


    "Are we ready to go?" The wolven woman asked.


    "Almost." He turned back to Faye. "Anything else?"


    "Oh!" She walked back to her desk, reached into another drawer, and pulled out a leatherbound booklet. "These are your traveling papers. You''ll need to get them stamped each time you stop at a town or city, at least when you''re not traveling with a caravan. My seal''s in there, so no one should give you much trouble. Just don''t lose that, or you''ll be screwed." She handed them over, and he tucked the small book safely away in his pack. "Also, I''ve been looking through the records here since I talked to Zethari. I found a record of a Rennar in Bolton''s files. He definitely was sold to someone in Evron. You''ll be hitting two birds with one stone by taking this job."


    He felt Zethari shuffle next to him. "Thanks, Faye." He bowed to her, but a moment later, she walked up and wrapped her arms around him. He tensed up, not knowing how to handle the gesture. Slowly, he untensed and simply accepted it, then hugged her back.


    "Be safe out there, old friend." She whispered. She released him and stepped back. "May the Goddess guide your path."


    "And yours."


    He turned to Keila, whose eyes had softened.


    "Don''t go getting yourself hurt or dead," she said as he walked up to her. She stood on her toes and kissed his lips. "And think about me here and there, alright?" She leaned close and whispered in his ear. "Because I''ll sure think of you." As she pulled away, her gaze hardened. "Now get out of here. No lingering goodbyes." She pushed him toward Zethari. The wolven woman turned on her heel, and they walked away, down the stairs, and toward the eastern gate.


    But before he left the manor, he changed his [Mask of Many Faces]. Instead of his mother''s blonde, he changed his hair to black to honor of Keila''s suggestion, and to honor himself.


    ***


    They arrived at the gate a half-hour later, weaved through the wagons entering the town, and found a dozen covered wagons arranged in a long caravan stretching down the eastern road. A large crowd of people was finishing their preparations for the journey, and standing at the rear of the caravan was a familiar group of people.


    Firtz and Kjormur were talking to a man in fine clothes, and the girls were throwing some gear into the rear wagon. A-Nis looked up, smiled, and waved. He smiled and waved back as they grew near.


    "Are you taking this job too?" He called out as he got closer.


    Shani and A-Nis walked up to him and Zethari. "Yeah, we got the job through the guild. Are you coming too?"


    "We are indeed."


    "Oh, good. Honestly, I didn''t know what we''d do if we ran into large troupe of trolls again. I''m happy to have your firepower."


    En-In jumped out of the wagon and walked up. "We''re glad to have you both along. This will be much safer with a powerful caster and a fey''ra like her." The man nodded toward Zethari. "I saw what she could do in the manor, and woo boy, I''m happy she''s here."


    "I am here to protect Abad-Shai, not you, mutt."


    En-In smiled at the jab. "Of course, but I''m sure if something dangerous came along, you''d be kind enough to offer protection to the rest of us."


    "Do not expect it. I will perform our duties to the letter, and you are not part of those duties. Your deaths are not my concern."


    He chuckled and leaned on a wagon wheel. "She always like that?" he asked Abad.


    Abad let the question drop.


    Just then, man''s voice called out. "Come on you bastards! It''s time to get moving!" A tall, slender man yelled from the front wagon. The large crowd of people began finding their wagons, and Abad approached the man Firtz and Kjormur had been talking to.


    "You Ka-Zadin?" The man asked Abad. Faye had been kind enough to give him a new cover.


    "I am."


    "Excellent. Faye highly recommended you. Welcome aboard. We''ve provided you a wagon with the other group we hired. That will be adequate, I assume?" The man looked at him expectantly.


    "That would be perfectly fine. Thank you."


    The man gestured at Zethari. "You can keep that one muzzled, correct?" Abad could feel her hackles rising through their bond.


    "I''m not a dog, ape," Zethari growled.


    Abad held up his hand. "You''ll be pleased with our performance. I can guarantee it." Abad could see the woman''s tail twitch, and her long fingers were clenched into tight fists.


    The man eyed the fey''ra warily before pointing to the rear carriage. "We''re about to head out. Make yourselves comfortable. The journey is long. It''s five days to Wysten, and there are reports of both brigands and trolls on the way. Rest up."


    "Thank you." He grabbed Zethari''s arm and led her to the wagon. The others had already climbed in. They followed suit. As he climbed in, he saw that A-Nis and Shani were up front, the reins in the elder sister''s hands. Firtz was sitting on a crate, Kjormur had a hat over his face, and En-In was tuning a lute.


    Zethari sat as far back in the wagon as she could and turned to face the rear. Her expression was dark. Abad could see she was seething.


    "Hey," he whispered as he sat next to her. "I understand how you feel, but let it wash off of you. Don''t take it to heart."


    The wolven woman glowered at him. "I understand these te''ra are cruel and stupid, but why should I tolerate it?"


    "Because this is the best chance we have right now to go north with relative ease, and we have to head that way to find Rennar anyway, right? Let''s not make more trouble for ourselves."


    Her ears twitched, and a soft growl rolled off her lips. She snorted. "If you wish it, I will endure this, but not for them. For you and for my mate only."


    "It won''t be forever. Let''s just play nice until we get paid and find our own way. Okay?"


    "If that is your command." She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against a crate. "But I will not fawn. No amount of commands can make me forget my pride."


    "No one''s asking you to bow to them. This is a job, nothing more."


    Her tail batted the bench. "They deserve nothing less than a sharp knife across their throats. Then the forest could claim them."


    "That may be, but it won''t be our knife. Is that clear?"


    Her eyes remained closed, but her chin dipped once in answer.

 II-IX: Act 1 Character Sheets

    Abad-Shai


    Shadowspawn Sun Elf Warlock of the Mask


    Level XVI


    <hr>


    Sun Elf


    ???¡î¡î


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Fey Senses II] (Passive/Active, Reserve ?): Elves possess heightened perception, blending their superior physical senses with an innate connection to magic. You can see in the dark, hear acutely, and use mana to detect magic around you if you dedicate mana to this ability. At rank II, your physical and magical senses are more honed and precise.


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Elven Grace]: Elven heritage gifts you with heightened reflexes, allowing you to react faster than most mortals. This talent provides a boost to speed, agility, and reaction time, particularly in combat and hazardous situations, you are sure-footed in all manner of environments, and your footsteps are nearly silent.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Scion of Lost Light]: The remnants of a forgotten brilliance burn within you, a beacon of hope and defiance against the encroaching darkness. You and all allies within your aura gain increased resistance to shadow and necrotic damage, and your fire and light spells are infused with the Lost Light of Reial.</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    The Mask


    ???¡î¡î


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Illusion Magic] (Passive): You have the ability to weave subtle deceptions, clouding perception and bending reality to your will. You can learn spells that create illusions, deceive the senses, and manipulate perceptions of the world around you.


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Mask of Many Faces] (2nd Circle, Active, Reserve ??): Due to being born under the sign of the Mask, you can dedicate a portion of your mana to change subtle elements of your appearance.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Quasireality] (Passive): Your mastery of deception allows you to blur the line between illusion and reality. All illusions you create are imbued with a fragment of reality, enabling them to partially interact with the physical world. These quasi-real illusions can deal minor damage, exert force, or create subtle environmental effects, confounding your enemies and enhancing your trickery.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Locked]</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Shadowspawn


    ?????


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Dark One''s Shadow] (Passive): As an inheritor of the Dark One¡¯s essence, you are immortal and do not age past your prime. You also require less food, water, and air to survive, but you bear the marks of corruption upon your body.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Devour the Weak] (Passive): Damage you inflict heals a small amount of your life force. Your magic is particularly potent against beings that share your dark heritage.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Embrace of the Abyss] (Passive): Darkness and shadows strengthen you. When in darkness or shadow, you gain an increase to your physical abilities equal to one rank of any physical enhancement, and existing enhancements grow one rank stronger. You also gain the become difficult to detect with both physical and magical senses as long as you¡¯re in darkness, stacking with ranks of the [Stealth] enhancement.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Nightmare Aspect] (Passive): By channeling your inner rage, you can transform into a shadow beast, gaining unnatural strength, agility, resilience, and an aura of terror. Your appearance alone can break the spirits of weak enemies, and all damage you inflict drains your foes and restores you.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Dominion]: By infusing your words with your essence, you gain the ability to alter reality itself. Creatures, environments, and objects must adhere to your whims, provided your mana and essence reserves can sustain the change. The strength of your influence scales with your intent, the scope of the alteration, and the resistance of the target. The world bends, reshaped not by steel or spell, but by the simple utterance of your will. Dominion is yours to claim.</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Warlock


    ????¡î


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Summoning]: (Passive): You can call forth entities from other realms, who lend you their strength and skills. You can learn spells that summon, bind, and empower creatures and objects to serve and protect you.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Blood Magic II] (Passive): Your life force fuels your magic, allowing you to cast additional spells at the cost of health. You can learn spells that draw on blood and life energy to strengthen your casting. At Rank II, your mastery over blood magic deepens, allowing you to draw on your life force with greater efficiency, casting blood-fueled spells at a reduced health cost. This level of skill also enables you to learn more advanced Blood Magic spells, expanding your arsenal in exchange for careful management of your own vitality.


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Essence Transfer] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?+?/?): The user can transfer a small amount of health or mana to or from a willing target.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Sanguine Gift] (2nd Circle, Active, Cost ?+?): Sacrifice a portion of your life force to briefly grant yourself or an ally enhanced reflexes, strength, and stamina, amplifying their physical abilities in a burst of vitality.


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Devour Essence] (2nd Circle, Active, Cost ??): Target an enemy or recently deceased creature within range. Drain a portion of their essence, dealing moderate damage to a living target or consuming a fragment of their energy. The drained essence replenishes a portion of your health and mana.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Fire Magic] (Passive): You wield the essence of flame, strengthening your power over physical and spiritual fires and increasing your resistance to them. You can learn spells that summon, control, and unleash fire in its many forms.


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Burn the Weak] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?): You conjure a small, searing flame that can be thrown at creatures within sight, igniting and inflicting fire damage. This spell is especially effective against vulnerable or injured enemies, dealing additional damage to those already weakened.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Candlelight] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?): You conjure a small flame that can be used to ignite inanimate objects and inflict small amounts of fire damage on a target.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Eclipse] (5th Circle, Active, Cost ?????¡ó¡ó¡ó¡ó¡ó): When cast, a massive explosion erupts around the caster, engulfing the area in a swirling inferno light-infused flame.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li>[Black Magic] (Passive): You possess an affinity for dark, potent forces that lie beyond the mortal realm. Shadows and negative energies respond to your call, enabling subtle manipulation of fear, weakness, and despair in others. You may now learn Black Magic spells, tapping into powers that corrupt the living, obscure perception, and invoke primal dread.


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Corruption] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?): Draw on the shadows to infuse a target with negative energy, weakening their defenses and dulling their senses. This spell saps the target¡¯s physical and mental resilience, leaving them vulnerable to further attacks and susceptible to effects that prey on fear and confusion.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Enhancements


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Evasion I] (Perk XII): Your reflexes improve to match those of a wild predator, such as a lynx or cheetah. You gain an increase in reaction speed and agility, allowing you to better dodge attacks and move fluidly.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Focus I] (Perk XIV): Your mental clarity improves, enhancing your ability to concentrate and reducing the likelihood of spell disruptions. This heightened focus increases your casting precision and slightly boosts your resistance to mental effects.</li>


    <li>[Life I] (Perk X): Fortifies your life force slightly, making you sturdier and harder to wear down in combat.</li>


    <li>[Life II] (Perk XVI): Fortifies your life force further, making you stouter than all but the strongest mortals.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Mana I] (Perk II): Increase your mana reserves by a small amount, allowing you to cast more spells.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Mana II] (Perk VIII): Increases your mana reserves by a sizeable amount, allowing for greater spell-casting endurance and more complex incantations.</li>


    <li>[Pack Bond] (Oath to Zethari): Grants an increase to your ability to work seamlessly with allies, enhancing cooperative efforts and tactics. Additionally, you gain a boost to perception when near companions.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Potence I] (Perk IV): Increase the potency of your spells, increasing their range, power, and duration by a small amount.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Potence II] (Perk VI): Further amplifies the strength of your spells, making each cast more impactful and destructive. This enhancement also slightly reduces resistance to your spells, increasing the chance of bypassing defenses.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Titles


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Master of the Vault]: Bestowed upon you by the mighty Grimoire, the last creation of the Archmage Aughra, this title marks you as a true keeper of lost knowledge and forgotten relics. You will always know in what direction your vault lies and the best path to get there, and you have a second sense for finding valuable items and equipment.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Eater]: Bestowed by the troll Graul, this title marks you as one who consumes what others would discard, taking strength from the remnants. When you consume the essence of an enemy, you gain a brief but potent surge of energy, temporarily enhancing your body, mind, and spirit, and sometimes catching glimpses of their final memories or emotions.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Nightstalker]: With the silence of a stalking predator, you move without sound. When following an unaware target, your perception sharpens, revealing even the slightest movements of your prey.


    </li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Quests


    <ul>


    <li>[The Sevenfold Journey]


    <ul>


    <li>Objective: Traverse the Seven Nations¡ªNolei, Evron, Malrith, Deneir, Istaera, Osreva, and Volkash¡ªto uncover their mysteries, forge alliances, and unearth the truths hidden within their borders.


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Trace the Shadows of Nolei]: Venture into Nolei¡¯s forested lands, where dark magic weaves through ancient trees and threatens all who enter.</li>


    <li>


    [Seek the Fey¡¯s Blessing in Evron]: Traverse Evron¡¯s mystical forests and lush plains, where feykind and mortal tensions demand delicate negotiation.


    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    </li>


    <li>


    [Navigate the Swamps of Malrith]: Brave the treacherous swamps of Malrith, uncovering secrets hidden beneath its wet and shadowy depths.


    </li>


    <li>


    [Harness the Magic of Deneir]: Explore the central plains of Deneir, where magic pulses through the heart of Elysium, shaping the land and its people.


    </li>


    <li>


    [Sail the Sapphire Coasts of Istaera]: Cross the shores of the western lakelands, uncovering the riches and dangers that lurk in its trade coves.


    </li>


    <li>


    [Survive the Wastes of Osreva]: Journey through the vast desert of Osreva, past towering mountains and an active volcano that guards its fiery heart.


    </li>


    <li>


    [Ascend the Peaks of Volkash]: Confront the jagged, mountainous terrain of Volkash, where the echoes of the Dark One¡¯s rise still haunt the land.


    </li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    <li>[Find Your Mate: Rennar] (Quest, Shared)


    <ul>


    <li>Objective: Your heart seeks Rennar, the one who stood beside you in battle and life before fate tore you apart. Search for the mate who once shared your bond and prove whether your connection endures.


    <ul>


    <li>Trace the Past: Discover the path Rennar took once he was taken from you.</li>


    <li>Honor the Bond: Recall and embody the values you shared with Rennar through a significant act of strength or leadership.</li>


    <li>Confront the Unknown: Face those who stand between you and Rennar, whether enemies, obstacles, or doubts.</li>


    <li>Reforge the Connection: Reunite with Rennar and reaffirm your bond through words and action, proving your loyalty and love.</li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    <li>


    [Echoes of the Empty] (Quest, Shared)<ul><li>Objective: Investigate the mysterious disappearances of villages in the Reach between Evron and Nolei. Discover the truth behind the attacks, confront the force responsible, and decide the fate of the region.


    <ul><li>Trace the Shadows: Speak to survivors and investigate abandoned villages to uncover the source of the attacks. Seek out clues to track the attackers¡¯ movements and intentions.</li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><hr>


    Equipment


    <ul>


    <li>[Cloak of the Raven]: This elegant black cloak, woven with threads of shadow and adorned with subtle feather-like patterns, embodies the freedom and cunning of the raven, granting the wielder the ability to levitate in shadows and transform into a raven for one hour a day.</li></ul><hr>


    Achievements


    <ul>


    <li>[If You Only Had a Heart]: Through the ashes of your former glory, you have found a new source of power: compassion. By opening yourself to another''s suffering, you gain the ability to both give and take the essence that binds all living things.</li>


    <li>[Consume the Pain]: You have found the remnants of a tortured soul¡ªits body chained to a bed, its empty eyes seeming to plead for release. The corpse''s suffering lingers, trapped in the essence that lingers in its old bones. By consuming it, you grow stronger.</li>


    <li>[Make the Impossible Possible]: Only the daring reject common sense and drill their way to a greater tomorrow. For successfully casting a spell you were certain you wouldn''t survive casting, you grow stronger.</li>


    <li>[Shards of the Dark Lord]: You have found and consumed a fragment of your progenitor''s power. Through his dark might, you grow stronger</li>


    <li>[The Hunted]: By using your senses to hunt those who would hunt you and your allies, you have your perception to a greater degree. You have honed your elven senses to a greater degree.</li>


    <li>[You Are Strongest]: By dredging up forgotten abilities from your past life, you were able to defeat Graul the troll, a creature far stronger than you, and absorbed his dark essence. In being willing to sacrifice everything, you have grown stronger.</li>


    <li>[A New Friend in Need]: Through an unexpected act of compassion, you healed a person in need while expecting nothing in return. This selfless gesture stirs something deep within you, awakening a new spell.</li>


    <li>[Secrets of the Wall]: By reading the last words of one destined to die, you have regained a portion of your former strength. Though only a small kernel of knowledge, these words unlock further understanding.</li>


    <li>[[A Dark Lord''s Rise]: Though you sought freedom from the shadows of your past, fate¡ªand the schemes of others¡ªhave bound you anew to a mantle you did not seek. The cycle continues anew...</li>


    <li>[Breaking the Chains of Fate]: When faced with the mantle of the Dark Lord, you choose freedom over power, rejecting your fate and forging your own destiny. The cycle is broken.</li>


    <li>[The Thing You Refused to Lose]: There comes a moment when even the most resolute must face a choice that defines their very soul. You have sacrificed great power for the sake of what you cherish most, proving that your heart is not for sale, even to the allure of ultimate power. For this, you are rewarded not with strength but with the return of what you hold most dear. </li>


    <li>[New Allies, New Resources]: Through cunning and diplomacy, you have claimed new vassals and secured a stronghold, bolstering your influence over the world. These vassals bring unique skills, resources, and invaluable knowledge, while your base of operations provides a haven for your companions, a repository for your growing wealth, and a sanctuary where you can chart your course in solitude. The foundations of your power grow stronger with every alliance you forge.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr><hr>


    Vassals


    Odana, Ophida Fey''ra Courtesan


    Zethari, Lupana Fey''ra Warrior


    <hr>


    <hr>


    Zethari


    Lupana Fey¡¯ra Warrior


    Level IX


    <hr>


    Lupana


    ????¡î


    <ul>


    <li>[Feral Instincts] (Passive): Your instincts are honed to a razor edge. At rank II, you react with lightning speed to danger and can anticipate enemy movements with uncanny accuracy.</li>


    <li>[Enhanced Physique] (Passive): Your Lupana heritage grants enhanced strength, agility, and resilience, making you tougher and faster than most mortals.</li>


    <li>[Pack Tactics] (Passive): When working with allies, your attacks and abilities become more coordinated, increasing their effectiveness and dealing additional damage when striking an enemy your allies are also targeting.</li>


    <li>[Howl of the Alpha] (Active, Cost ?): Let loose a powerful howl that emboldens your allies and demoralizes enemies, temporarily increasing the damage and defense of allies within range and reducing the effectiveness of nearby enemies.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Fey¡¯ra


    ???¡î¡î


    <ul>


    <li>[War Form] (Active, Reserve ???): Take on a powerful war form, blending the primal strength of your Lupana heritage with the supernatural grace of the Fey¡¯ra. In this form, you gain increased physical strength, heightened agility, and enhanced durability. Your senses become razor-sharp, and you radiate an aura of intimidation.</li>


    <li>[Magic Resistance] (Passive): A faint shimmer of otherworldly magic surrounds you at all times, providing minor protection against magical attacks and heightening your resistance to mind-altering effects.</li>


    <li>[Locked]</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Warrior


    ??¡î¡î¡î


    <ul>


    <li>[Warrior¡¯s Arsenal] (Passive): You are skilled with a variety of weapons and can adapt quickly to different fighting styles. Additionally, you can learn a limited number of Warrior class abilities.


    <ul>


    <li>[Cleave] (1st Tier, Active, Cost ?): Swing your weapon in a wide arc, striking multiple enemies in front of you. This skill is ideal for crowd control and delivers increased damage to groups of weaker foes.</li>


    <li>[Riposte] (1st Tier, Active, Cost ?): A defensive skill allowing you to counterattack after successfully blocking or dodging an attack, dealing significant damage to your attacker.</li>


    <li>[Focused Strike] (2nd Tier, Active, Cost ??): Channel your strength into a single, devastating blow aimed at a vulnerable point on your enemy, dealing heavy damage and potentially bypassing some defenses.</li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    <li>[Battle Stance] (Active, Reserve ?): Shift into a combat stance that enhances your speed and precision, granting a temporary boost to your physical stats and increasing your critical hit chance.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Enhancements


    <ul>


    <li>[Evasion I] (Perk II): Improves your ability to dodge incoming attacks, increasing your agility and reaction time.</li>


    <li>[Might II] (Perk IV, VI): Increases the potency of your physical abilities, allowing your strikes to deal more damage and penetrate defenses more effectively.</li>


    <li>[Resilience I] (Perk VIII): Increases your stamina and reduces the impact of injuries, allowing you to endure longer in combat.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Patron


    Abad-Shai, Shadowspawn Sun Elf Warlock of the Mask


    Bond I


    <ul>


    <li>[Embrace of the Abyss] (Passive): Darkness and shadows strengthen you. When in darkness or shadow, you gain an increase to your physical abilities equal to one rank of any physical enhancement, and existing enhancements grow one rank stronger. You also gain the become difficult to detect with both physical and magical senses as long as you¡¯re in darkness, stacking with ranks of the [Stealth] enhancement.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Titles


    <ul>


    <li>[Alpha]: As one destined to lead, your presence inspires loyalty in allies and hesitation in enemies. Allies gain a small morale boost when near you.</li>


    <li>[Defender of the Pack]: Your commitment to protecting your companions has granted you a minor aura of resilience, reducing damage taken by those within your immediate vicinity.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Quests


    <ul>


    <li>[Find Your Mate: Rennar] (Quest, Shared)


    <ul>


    <li>Objective: Your heart seeks Rennar, the one who stood beside you in battle and life before fate tore you apart. Search for the mate who once shared your bond and prove whether your connection endures.


    <ul>


    <li>Trace the Past: Discover the path Rennar took once he was taken from you.</li>


    <li>Honor the Bond: Recall and embody the values you shared with Rennar through a significant act of strength or leadership.</li>


    <li>Confront the Unknown: Face those who stand between you and Rennar, whether enemies, obstacles, or doubts.</li>


    <li>Reforge the Connection: Reunite with Rennar and reaffirm your bond through words and action, proving your loyalty and love.</li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Equipment


    <hr>


    Achievements


    <ul>


    <li>[Warrior of the Clan]: Born into battle, you earned your place as a warrior through countless trials, honing your combat instincts to perfection.</li>


    <li>[Protector of the Wilds]: Your strength has defended your homeland and kin, earning you a reputation as a guardian feared by your enemies.</li>


    <li>[Defender of the Pack]: You defended your clan against overwhelming odds, proving your strength and loyalty. Not even the mightiest foes can break your resolve.</li>


    <li>[Ogre Slayer]: You stood alone against an ogre, defeating the massive beast through sheer strength and cunning. The echoes of your triumph inspire others.</li>


    <li>[Alpha Ascendant]: You claimed your rightful place as alpha by defeating a rival in a test of might and leadership. Your dominance is undisputed.</li>


    <li>[Unbroken Chains]: Even while outnumbered, you stood your ground against eleven slavers, striking fear into their hearts before succumbing to their combined efforts.</li>


    <li>[Iron Will]: You fought off an enchantment meant to enslave your mind, demonstrating unyielding willpower in the face of magical coercion.</li>


    <li>[A Leap of Faith]: In a moment of vulnerability and defiance, you chose to place your trust in one who could have been your enemy, forging the first link in a chain of mutual respect and loyalty.</li>


    <li>[Serve the Creator]: By choosing to serve one of your people''s creators, you have forged a bond of loyalty and purpose, accepting their guidance to achieve a greater destiny.</li>


    </ul>

 II-X. The Road

    With a lurch, the rickety wagon jerked violently to the side. One of its horses brayed and whinnied as one of the wheels caught against a large stone in the road, then slowly rolled over it. The entire left side of the wagon lifted into the air, then slammed back down to the ground, rattling the half-dozen crates within and extracting from the fey''ra another pained groan. Abad watched as Zethari''s face turned from sick to green, and Abad transferred a little essence into her as he rubbed her back.


    "Why..." she groaned, "is the road... so rough..." She gagged as the last word left her lips.


    "Just a little ways longer," he promised. He knew it was a lie, but any hope was good in times like these.


    "You... lying... bastard..." she huffed.


    Behind them, he heard Kjormur stir. The dwarf''s heavy footsteps plodded up to them. "May I help?"


    "I don''t¡ª" Zethari''s words were cut off but another jolt of the wagon, and her cheeks flared as she held back with everything she had. She tried to speak again, but all that came out was a gurgle as she dry heaved, then nodded to Abad.


    Kjormur reached down toward the wolf woman and placed his hand on her back. He closed his eyes and whispered some soft words, and a warm light began to emit from his hands. "Goddess of Light," he chanted, "see to this woman and ease the pains of this world. Take away the burdens that afflict her so that she may walk freely under the stars and hunt under the moon''s light once more." Abad felt his spell take hold, and Zethari''s face softened. She slumped against the back wall of the wagon, her arm dangling out the opening, and breathed deeply.


    As he removed his hand, Kjormur shot Abad a glance. The warlock nodded in thanks, and the priest returned to his crate.


    "The te''ra..." She moaned, "...helped... a little." Her eyes closed.


    Abad took her hand and channeled more of his essence into her, trying to reinforce the dwarf''s magic. He could feel their energies mingling within her, and her face softened further. After a few minutes, her eyelids floated open, her yellow eyes meeting his. "You have as well... Thank you."


    En-In''s strummed some notes on his lute. The half-elf had kept up with his music the entire two days they''d spent on the road, thus far, and he gave no indication that he planned to stop. Not that Abad was complaining. The man was an excellent musician, and his tunes kept the weariness of the road at bay, if barely. While the others snapped at him from time to time, Abad welcomed the music.


    The rains had started that morning and had only grown heavier as the day wore on. Abad also noticed that the light from the tower had dwindled significantly as the end of Soulclaim approached. It was only a little over a month until this Darkfall event everyone seemed anxious about, and Abad was excited to finally see it. However, the caravan leader had suggested that they needed to make good time before then. He said the mist began to accumulate as Darkfall approached, and with the mist came monsters.


    However, between the rain, the poor condition of the northern branch of the Old King''s Road, and a large tree that they had found blown over onto it that morning, they hadn''t made great time, and the journey to Syrenthal took three weeks in good conditions. And, with the constant rumbling and shaking of the carriage on uneven ground, even his fortified body was growing tired. His whole body felt sore from the rattling and rocking, and the others seemed equally beat up. The only ones who seemed no worse for wear were Firtz and Kjormur.


    Abad looked forward to tying to new portals across the land. While guard work was relatively lucrative, he''d never been a fan of traveling this way. Perhaps in a fine carriage, one with supports to make the ride smooth, he could enjoy himself, but a wagon like this was no way to travel. If for no other reason, he looked forward to the day he obtained a higher level of wealth and privilege than he currently had.


    He felt Zethari''s hand go limp. The woman had finally fallen into a fitful sleep. Letting go of it, he turned and withdrew from his pack the book Ta-Li had written for him. Opening it up, he found dozens of arcane inscriptions, and each them was annotated in elven. Some of the spells were in magical traditions he no longer had access to in his current state, but many of them were ones he''d used before and could learn now. Her hand was steady, and she was incredibly detailed. He appreciated the woman''s scholarly tendencies.


    Thinking back to Bahra''s choice of writing notes in the rear of the book, he flipped it over and opened to the back page, where he found a note:


    <hr>


    "Abad-Shai, Scion of the Black Flame and Dark Scholar,


    At first, when I heard your name, I assumed it could only be a coincidence. While our people rarely share names, it was possible someone simply adopted a historical name as a sort of honorific or as showmanship. Yet, when the rumors reached my ears that you indeed were the Abad-Shai, I was elated. As a young apprentice, you were among my greatest heroes, a mage who defied all odds and learned arts beyond the ken of our elders, breaking the chains of societal bounds and elven customs alike. I admired and feared you in equal measure. The things you have done are truly terrifying, yet equally inspiring.


    My mother and father told me stories of you and the horrors you wrought on your enemies. I, being born to parents who''d lived many centuries, received countless second-hand accounts of your many exploits, both great and terrible. Your skill as a mage, a warlock, and more has rarely been rivaled in the centuries you''ve said to have been gone, and while I abhor many of the choices you made that led to your downfall, your achievements, while horrible to many, are admirable to me.


    For years, I felt guilt over my fascination with you and your kind, but today, as I sit alone in my room in the Mage''s Guild, I feel as though I might burst with anticipation at seeing you again. You, who broke the boundaries of magic and peered further into the abyss than any other, have so much to offer. You could teach us new ways and assist us in breaking the chains of tradition that keep us shackled to the past. I know I should feel that way, but I do.


    If you ever return to Farnfoss, I''d like to discuss some theories with you concerning magic and artifice, for I believe there is much I feel you could illuminate for me. I have been limited by the knowledge of this time and would take any opportunity to explore the boundaries of magic under one so esteemed. I understand that you have lost much of your power, but there is no doubt in my mind that you will reclaim it. You are among the privileged few with the potential to shake the foundations of this world. I cannot wait to see what wonders you will unleash.


    To help you on your path, I have compiled many spells that I believe will assist you in your travels. Please, do not hesitate to call upon me if ever you return. Until then, I will trust that our paths will cross again someday.


    Sincerely,


    Ta-Li


    <hr>


    He hadn''t thought much of her when they met. She seemed mousy and inconsequential, little more than a background character in the stage play that was his bitter existence. But if this letter was true, maybe there was more there to examine. It seemed clear that she was looking for mentorship despite her status as a mage. He hadn''t sensed much power from either of the resident mages in Farnfoss, so if she was anything like his apprentices in the past, she likely lacked both the power and aptitude to grow her powers independently past her current state. He was certain he could shape her in time, but did he want to?Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    He hadn''t considered spreading his knowledge again. In truth, after seeing the fate most of his apprentices faced in the past age, he''d been reluctant to consider taking on new apprentices. Aside from Helia, who was his best and brightest pupil, most had died horrible deaths or had been consumed by the dark powers he taught them. As he gazed upon the words written by this mage, he felt that fear deep within his chest. As much as his vanity was tickled by Ta-Li''s words, he didn''t see himself spreading his art ever again. He anticipated it would die with him one day.


    Still, he owed the woman a visit if and when he returned to Farnfoss. She''d done him a service by writing him this spellbook and deserved that much.


    He turned the book back over and began flipping through the pages, searching for the first spell he wanted to relearn. As he did, he heard a voice behind him.


    "How''s she doing?" Shani crawled over a crate and sat next to him against it. She was wet and cold, so he handed her one of the blankets he''d purchased. She quickly wrapped it around herself.


    "She''s finally asleep. She told me she''s only been on a wagon one other time, and that was when..." he looked over to the fey''ra, who was sleeping, and lowered his voice, "when she was captured."


    Shani scowled. "It''s disgusting how their kind are treated. If it were up to me, I''d hang every slaver."


    He thought of Keila. "I understand how you feel, but sometimes things aren''t always so simple. It''s easy to take life but difficult to give it."


    Her blue eyes scanned his face. "I would have thought it impossible for anyone but the Goddess to grant it, but I''ve heard that you... that you brought Keila back." Her gaze lingered on him. "Is that true?"


    "Yes. And no." He shrugged. "It''s complicated."


    "What do you mean?"


    He tried to think of the words to explain how [Dominion] worked. "Let''s say that the Goddess''s land, Elysium, is governed entirely by her laws. The souls that dwell here are under her purview, the land is guided by her word, and the very nature of reality follows her will. At least the will that she instilled in it when she guided my kind to create it in the first place." He checked her eyes for understanding. She seemed to be following. "Magic, or at least most forms of it, simply channels her words into tangible effects inspired by the memories of mortals as they return to her tower to be reborn. Every class, like your warrior class or Firtz'' paladin class, has talents formed from mortal memories as they return to the source, and just about every spell comes from her words when she formed this land.


    "So we learn to do what our ancestors did."


    "That''s right. And the more something is done, the easier it is to learn but the more muddled and imprecise the archetype."


    "Why do they exist at all?"


    "Because we beings only have so many paths we can follow, and every mortal returns to the light before being spun out again in a new form. Their memories, however, stay with the Goddess and are given as gifts to mortals. From my understanding, the archetypes, or classes as we know them now, were systematized when the humans arrived on Reial, shaped by myths from their world, but the actual classes and talents come from the memories of the countless mortals who have lived and died in this land since the beginning of the first age, when the Goddess descended on the land."


    She seemed to understand him. "That makes sense. This is her land."


    "Yes, but her will isn''t the only will in this world, and it didn''t come first. Before her, there were countless other gods, like Yslene, and before them, the world was wild and untamed. And it was shaped by the individual wills of the people and beings who inhabited it. No one thing bound everything together, and the magic and abilities from those eras were similarly unbound. One''s will shaped this world, and the stronger the will, the more the world could be shaped. That''s the origin of my powers, the primordial chaos beyond the Goddess."


    She was silent a while. He could see her mind working behind her eyes. "Then why do you use the system at all? If you can simply make things happen, why do you need her magic?"


    "Because enough beings who practice what I practice and who are what I am have died and returned their knowledge to the system. Even though my kind isn''t mortal, we aren''t monsters. We are infused with the energies from beyond this land, but we are still of this land. The part of us that is of this place returns to the light when we die, and enough have done so that even my magics are bound to her laws now. All but one."


    "Which is?"


    "[Dominion]."


    She shook her head. "How does it work?"


    He thought a moment. "Words have power, right?"


    "Sure. The quill is mightier than the sword and all that."


    "Kind of. With [Dominion], I can speak my will into existence. I just say what I want, add my essence, and the Goddess''s world bends around my will. With enough willpower and essence, I can even break her laws, but inevitably her laws overcome mine again in time. The amount of power needed to overcome her completely in Elysium would be far beyond anything anyone could possess. However, I can still break and bend her rules, and anything I do in that time has a chance of remaining. That''s how Keila was brought back."


    Shani gave a disbelieving laugh. "Really? So you can just create life, raise the dead, stuff like that?"


    "Yes."


    Her smile faded.


    "With enough power, I can do anything I can imagine. Before I destroyed [Final Law], I had enough power to do most anything I could imagine, though probably not quite at the level of creating life. My dark father could do far more, but he was a being that rivaled the Goddess, and I''m not so arrogant as to believe I could be like him. However, for a brief moment in the manor, I could see the mountain I''d need to climb to reach him. But that vision is lost now."


    "Can anyone learn this?" She looked afraid.


    "No. It''s limited to my kind and those with enough darkness within to take on our essence. The dark one''s children, the Thirteen, have variants of this ability, but their individual natures color it. Only two of my old companions and one of my servants had this power, and I wasn''t the best at wielding it."


    "What about her? Could you do something like that?"


    He looked to Zethari. "Making new life is much harder than twisting existing life. Only our dark father could create something from nothing. However, I have an idea of how the fey''ra were formed, and it doubtless was through [Dominion]. Kasimir even told me which of my dark siblings shaped them. If I grow stronger, I might one day be able to do the same, though I don''t know if I would, or could. I''m less... creative, I suppose, than some of my fellows. I have an easier time imagining things being in their proper places than I do imagining new things. Call it a personal limitation. Plus, I wouldn''t want to bring another race into this world to suffer, and one''s will is important when shaping the world. I lack the will."


    She fell silent. He could tell he''d unsettled her, and she took time to process his words. "So that''s how you brought Keila back? You brought her back to her proper place?"


    "I suppose you could say that. I didn''t feel as though she should die then, so I ensured she didn''t. However, had her soul been claimed by the Goddess''s winds, I wouldn''t have been able to do what I did. She had only just died, and her spirit was still tethered to her body. Had it been any longer, or had her body been more damaged, I wouldn''t have been able to help."


    "So ever your power has limits." She said more than asked.


    "Right now, I can barely do anything. Every word I speak is like casting a spell. I could pull off a couple of single-word commands before needing rest, and even then the Goddess''s law would overpower me soon enough." He shrugged. "It''s not something I''m eager to do anyway. [Dominion] is tantalizing for many, but I''ve seen its limitations and its downfalls. Plus, the backlash can be painful. If I falter, the rebound can be... bad." He shuddered. He remembered a time he''d had hoofs for a month. "Also, if others learn about what I can do, people tend to have certain ideas about what I should do. I''ve seen first-hand the tragedy that such thoughts bring." His hand subconsciously sought out Angra''s soul stone. His fingers brushed against her warmth. "Unlimited power corrupts."


    She considered his words, then nodded. "I''m happy you feel that way. I feel safer knowing you''re wary of abusing your powers."


    He couldn''t suppress the chuckle. "I''ve abused them enough in my long life."


    She didn''t match his laughter. Instead, she frowned and was silent. "I don''t envy you."


    He laughed. "You shouldn''t. My existence is one of struggle and strife. Even when I grew into an adult and became powerful, I still found myself in constant struggle. I expect that will remain the same for me now." He looked backward, toward the town they''d left. "It''s part of why I left Farnfoss. Trouble finds me, and far too many there knew who I was. It''s better to stay moving." He turned back toward the road ahead. "But this time, I seem to be blessed with a few friends along the way. I think that will make it easier."


    She gave him a soft smile. "I hope so." With that, she stood up, placed a hand on his shoulder, then crawled back to the front just as A-Nis glared at her. The elder sister was drenched and shivering.


    As she took her seat on the driver''s bench, he realized he hoped so too.

 II-XI. Something in the Road

    Four days of traveling later, the party was mostly bored. Riding in the wagon had turned from monotonous to unbearably dull, and with the heavy rains, they couldn''t even stretch their legs or walk.


    Each of them had found ways to entertain themselves. En-in had taken to fleecing the caravan merchants in the evenings after attempting to swindle the party. He pouted after being forbidden from playing card games in their wagon once they discovered his cards were marked. Shani had sharpened her sword and oiled her gear at least twenty times, and A-Nis had fletched about a hundred arrows. The dwarves largely slept and discussed their holy book in Dwarven, and Zethari remained at the edge of nausea. Everyone was soaked and exhausted.


    The sisters, being the only seasoned drivers, had rotated driving duties every hour or so in an attempt to stay somewhat dry, but it made little difference. The entire wagon was dripping and soaked, the weatherproof canvas no longer able to hold back the constant rainfall. Luckily, according to their employer Ulrich, they''d reach Wysten tomorrow, the next day at the latest, and would have two days off. They were all looking forward to it.


    Abad spent most of his time reading the tome Ta-Li gifted him. He''d managed to commit to memory a new spell, one that would come in handy on his travels: [Minor Illusion]. While it was only a first circle spell that created small illusions of sight or sound, with his [Quasireality] talent, he''d be able to use the illusions for more than simple trickery. When a shadow becomes as sharp as a blade or an illusory ball of flame is as deadly as the real thing, his illusions could be weapons and tools. More importantly, the ability to bend reality caused his enemies to overestimate him, which was always beneficial.


    He''d not made much progress outside of that one spell, however. While he understood the theories behind most of the spells, he had to recreate the mental frameworks associated with every spell he wanted to cast, which took time. It was long, arduous work to internalize the principles connected to each spell, and it took even more time to solidify the glyphs and sigils that represented them within his spirit. He could cast the spells the old way, running through each incantation slowly to produce the spell''s effects, but he''d need mana crystals to do so, and casting magic in that way was inefficient and slow. If he could get his hands on some low-grade crystals, or if he had time to make some, he might be able to use them to speed up the formation of new glyphs within his spirit, but he hadn''t seen any mana crystals since he''d been awake again and didn''t know where he could find them.


    He''d also tested his new talent as they traveled. Rubbing his hands up his face and across his scalp, he found that he could pass his fingers through the horns hidden by his [Mask of Many Faces]. They felt like they were there when he focused on them, but when he moved his hand around his scalp, his fingers passed through them with only slight resistance. It was a strange feeling, as though his fingers were moving through heavy air, but it comforted him. He wouldn''t need to worry about losing his horns in a fight, and he felt more comfortable knowing that he wouldn''t accidentally catch a horn on a stray branch or rope or something. More importantly, others wouldn''t be able to detect them.


    Due to what he considered his fortuitous birth under the sign of The Mask, he''d made extensive use of this particular element of his birthright throughout his long life. Illusion magic had always been his most prominent tool. He''d managed to unlock his birth sign as a child, a year or so after he and his parents had been forced from their home when his people discovered what he was. Since that day, he''d overcome any number of challenges through its use. He was sure that his birth sign was in no small part why he''d been so successful in life. Unlike his siblings and allies¡ªbesides Selene, who miraculously didn''t manifest visible signs of corruption¡ªhe''d lived a life of relative ease while they were stuck wandering the edges of society. He''d eternally been grateful for his parents'' good timing.


    Outside of testing [Quasireality], he''d inspected his scroll for some time. He''d unlocked all but one of his talents at this point and knew that leveling would slow once he did. He believed that, because he was more remembering his talents than unlocking them for the first time, he''d leveled exceptionally fast since he''d woken up. He''d also been in near-constant danger as well, which made leveling easy, but he knew that wouldn''t last forever. He''d either need to keep chasing more and more danger, or he''d need to pick up another class. In the past, he''d also been an enchanter, but his long sleep had deprived him of that skillset. In time, he decided he''d try to take up that profession once again. He also had some class specializations in the past as well, but those were gone too. He didn''t know where to begin to unlock those, so he set aside that thought for now.


    Outside of his magical training, his focus was dedicated to keeping Zethari somewhat active. The wolf woman''s nausea was improving through his and Kjormur''s efforts, but the days were rough on the woman, and her sleep was fitful. There didn''t seem to be anything that could help take away her nausea permanently. Abad realized at some point that her animal nature might be affecting her in some way that didn''t affect him or the mortals. He didn''t know the principles behind it, but animals rarely seemed comfortable traveling in wagons or carts, so he assumed that traveling in this way was difficult for her kind. He''d need to travel with other fey''ra to test the theory, but it was the best idea he had at the moment regarding her perpetual sickness.


    For now, all he could do was study, train, and support the fey''ra, hoping that would be enough for whatever was coming next.


    ***


    As evening approached on the sixth day, Ulrich''s voice sounded in the distance, calling for the caravan to halt. A moment later, he heard the man call for the party, so Abad hopped out of the back of the wagon, his boots squelching in the mud as he did, and he made his way to the front of the line of wagons. As he approached the front of the caravan, he could see something lying in the road through the heavy rain. Several somethings. When he reached Ulrich, he could see the forms more clearly. They looked like humanoids, but each body was much larger than a human or an elf. A pit opened up in his stomach.


    "What is it?" Abad asked Ulrich.


    "I don''t know." The man''s eyes never left the road. "They''re large, whatever they are." A wave of rain and mist obscured the road. Abad heard the others approach behind him.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    "What''s going on?" Shani asked.


    "Bodies." Abad gestured up the road. "Big ones."


    "How many?" Firtz asked.


    He reached out through the mist and rain to the bodies. He could just barely feel them at this distance. The last dregs of their spirits were still clinging to their corpses, though one of them felt like it held on longer than the others and had more essence left. "Feels like five. I''d say they''ve been here for a day or so. There''s hardly anything left." He reached out with his senses in every other direction but couldn''t feel anything else. "Doesn''t seem like whatever got them stuck around."


    Ulrich whistled. "Happy to have a mage on board." The man looked away from the road and to Abad and the others. "Mind inspecting them?"


    "Not at all." Abad turned to the others.


    "Some of us should stay behind in case this is an ambush," Firtz said. "I''ll keep the ranger, my nephew, and the boy. You take the string bean and the wolf. If anything happens, we''ll come to your aid."


    Agreeing with the man''s logic, Abad nodded to Shani and Zethari. Shani drew her weapons, and for the first time in days, Zethari had a gleam in her eye.


    "Everyone in the wagons!" Ulrich called to the caravan. The few people who''d filtered out walked back into their vehicles and closed their doors and windows. Abad wished they''d had a wagon with real walls and not just a cloth tarp as he watched them. They had to be more cozy. he decided then and there that he''d purchase a nice carriage or wagon in the future.


    A minute later, Ulrich entered his own wagon, and before he closed the door, he gave Abad''s group a nod before snapping his door shut.


    "Okay, let''s go," Abad said to the women.


    The three of them made their way up the road, slowly closing the distance to the corpses. As they got closer, the smell of rot mixed with the damp scent of the rain and mist.


    "It''s a wonder we didn''t smell it sooner," Shani said.


    Zethari wrinkled her nose. "I did."


    "How far can you smell?"


    "Far."


    As they approached, Abad could make out details. He saw large, green bodies strewn about on the ground. They were trolls. One lay on its back in the middle of the road, its belly torn open, while the others seemed to have been hacked apart, but none of them had been eaten. Whatever had killed them had simply left them for scavengers. He could see maggots wriggling in the trolls'' flesh, and the stench of rot was nearly unbearable as they got close. Zethari covered her face with a scarf she''d found, and Shani gagged. "Keep watch, Shani." He remembered she didn''t like corpses and spared her the next part. She nodded to him, her eyes filled with gratitude, before turning and keeping watch.


    "Whatever took these down was skilled. And strong," The wolf woman said. She knelt next to the closest troll, which was in the grass on the right side of the road. She began inspecting the body. Abad did the same with the others. Inspecting the next troll, it was immediately apparent that whatever had attacked them was powerful. Huge chunks of flesh were torn away from the troll''s hides, and their limbs had been shattered. He knew from experience that troll flesh was tough, and if they didn''t die after being wounded, they could simply grow their limbs back in minutes to hours. It took significant, repeated trauma for a troll to die without flame, and they had more stamina than most other creatures. To take one down that way took great effort. To kill five was no small feat.


    "I see no footprints," Zethari called from the grass.


    "They''ve probably washed away by now," Abad answered.


    "There has to be something. Even rain can''t wash away all traces in a couple of days. Let''s start searching." Shani replied. The women broke off and began searching the surrounding area.


    He walked up to the largest troll, the one in the middle of the road that was most intact, and inspected it. It was large, though not as large as Graul had been, and its belly was torn open. Its entrails had been pulled out and thrown across the ground. Its limbs were torn, and countless wounds littered the corpse.


    The creature had been brutalized.


    Its chest was covered in huge, gaping wounds that looked like claws, and its hands and face were mangled. An eye was gouged out, and its ears were missing, the flesh torn from its skull. A large claw mark ran down its face, so he walked around the body to inspect it. As he did, the corpse shuddered. A single, wracking breath emitted from its mishappen mouth.


    Abad stepped back. "Hey, this one''s still alive," he called out. Zethari and Shani turned toward him and began approaching the creature. He reached out with his senses. This was the one that had more energy than the others. While its essence was barely tethered to its corpse, it was indeed alive, teetering at the edge of life and death. As he watched, its chest rose, and it breathed out again. Its one remaining eye opened, and the green orb hazily gazed at him. Shocking Abad, who still didn''t understand how these creatures could talk, it tried to mouth words, but only a weak hiss emitted from its throat.


    "It can''t regenerate. Its wounds are too severe." Shani said. "Should we put it out of its misery?"


    "Soon. But bear with me a moment. You won''t like this." Abad reached out and touched the creature''s shoulder.


    [Essence Transfer]


    He gave the troll a small amount of his life force, just enough to regenerate some and possibly speak. The troll''s entrails quivered, and the tears in its chest closed slightly.


    "Me... feel..." it choked, black fluid erupting from its lips torn lips, "master..." Its green orb focused on Abad.


    "I am Eater." He approached the troll''s good eye and placed his hands on the creature''s head. He gave it more energy. Its entrails began quivering like tired snakes, trying to pull back into its ruined body.


    "Eater..." More black fluid flowed from the creature''s lips, and the wounds on its chest began to close.


    "Abad..." Shani''s voice was filled with caution.


    "It''s okay." He didn''t look away from the creature.


    "What happened here?" He gave the thing another shot of energy. If he gave it much more, it would surely heal, but he was confident he could incinerate it if it became unruly.


    "Attack... Master... Ran... Caught..." The wounds on the creature''s chest had nearly closed, and its arm began to twitch.


    "What is your name?"


    "Drugg." The creature''s breathing stabilized.


    "Are you from from Graul''s tribe, Drugg?" The troll''s head moved up and down.


    "I, eater, killed Graul."


    "You Fire Eater. You strong." The creature''s entrails began to pull back into its stomach, pulling in dirt and sticks with them. Abad gave the troll more essence. "I Drugg." The creature said, "I strong. Not strong like Fire Eater."


    "Where did you come from, Drugg?"


    "Far. Outside wall. Came. Found master. Found..." It''s dumb eye gazed into the sky. "Purpose."


    Purpose? That was a high concept for a monster. "What purpose is that?"


    The troll''s arm moved. Shani leveled her sword at it. "Make... master happy." It turned its eye toward Abad again. "Make home. For Drugg. For master."


    "Are there others like you?"


    "Yes."


    "How many."


    Its eye narrowed at him. "No tell." Its entrails had mostly pulled back into its stomach, and the dirt and sticks started pushing out of the gaping wound in its belly, which had begun to close. "You not master."


    He gritted his teeth. "[Speak]." A wave of power rippled from his words, and the creature''s jaw opened against its will. Abad could feel his power overwhelming its mind.


    Its hand jerkily pointed to the northeast. "That way. Many." The wound on its stomach had nearly knit shut. "Master gone. Tribe ran. Many dead."


    Abad knew it was almost time to end this. "What killed them?" He gestured to the corpses.


    The creature tried to sit up, but its arm snapped. It fell back into the mud with a loud plop. It turned its head and looked at Zethari. Its mouth curled into a snarl. "Her."

 II-XII. Building Bridges

    The troll tried to sit up again, but this time, a silver sword burst out of its throat, slicing through its flesh.


    [Burn the Weak]


    Deep red flames, flecked with motes of white, roared to life in Abad''s hand. The troll''s green eye locked onto his hand, and fear flooded its features. It tried to scramble backward, but before it could make it a single foot, Abad threw his flaming hand forward, and the red flames flowed off his hand and engulfed the creature. It screeched as the fire caught, its skin igniting and hissing as it did, until the creature''s flesh flaked away until nothing but bones were left.


    [Essence Transfer]


    He drew all of the remaining essence from the dead trolls, feeling the motes of energy enter his spirit, then got to work burning the remaining bodies. Within minutes, there was nothing but wet soot staining the road.


    However, as the final mote of life entered him, a vision flashed through his mind. He could see a large hill, a twisted, black tree at its top, and standing at the top was a robed figure. He tried to focus more, but the vision left him, and he was standing on the road again.


    "Are you okay?" Shani asked, and he felt Zethari approach him from behind. Her strong hands pressed against his chest. He hadn''t realized he''d wavered.


    "I am." He turned to Zethari. "Thank you." She nodded and let go.


    He burned the rest of the remains, and when his cruel work was done, he took stock of the women. Shani was looking at Zethari, but the wolven woman was looking toward the trees.


    "Sorry. I don''t know if you wanted more information from it, but I didn''t want to take any chances." She wiped the blade on a scrap of cloth she picked up from the ground.


    "No, you made the right call. It was nearly regenerated. We don''t need to take any unnecessary risks." He nodded to the woman, then scanned the area, making sure he''d burned everything away.


    "What did he mean by ''her''?" The elf asked.


    Abad thought for a moment. "I believe it was referring to other lupana, or possibly other fey''ra, like Zethari. That''s my best guess at least. Obviously, Zethari has been with us the whole time, so it couldn''t have been her." He looked back toward the fey''ra. Her jaw was clenched. Her yellow eyes scanned the treeline, clearly looking for any evidence that her people had been there, but from her face, he could tell there was none. "I would have guessed a griffon or chimera had done this if it weren''t for the troll''s words, but we have a lead now. I''d guess that some of her people have escaped since Bolton''s death. I know it''s not much, but that''s my hunch."


    "Nightstalker." She looked away from the forest and toward him. "My tribe. My people. Do you think...?" She didn''t ask the question, but he knew what she meant.


    "It''s possible. We will do everything in our power to find out, my friend. We may need to find this cave and check. There could be something else to learn there." Plus, he might be able to find traces of this "master."


    Shani''s voice was hard. "I don''t want to fight a bunch of trolls, and I especially don''t want to fight whatever the hells can kill them like this. If the fey''ra did this, they''d slaughter us if they caught us unprepared."


    He nodded to the woman. "There''s no guarantee that they''d attack us the way they did these monsters, and even if we do find the fey''ra, I doubt we''d need to fight. Zethari and I can talk to them."


    "I will not allow harm to befall you, Nightstalker." Her yellow eyes met Shani''s. "Or your friends." She scowled as the final word left her lips.


    The elf woman let out a deep breath. "Thank you, Zethari." Her voice was strained. The fey''ra''s words didn''t seem to comfort her.


    "Let''s get back to the caravan. There''s no guarantee all the trolls are dead or that we aren''t missing something. We should have Ulrich push for Wysten to be sure we aren''t caught out here unprepared. Experience has taught us how cunning these creatures can be." Abad turned and marched back to the wagons. When he arrived, Ulrich popped out of the door of his wagon.


    "What was it? Everything okay?" The man asked.


    "Trolls. All but one were dead, and the last was nearly so. We aren''t sure what killed them, but whatever it was, I don''t think we should make camp tonight." He didn''t want to implicate the fey''ra. The mortals were cautious enough as it was around them. "I suggest we push hard today and reach Wysten. We don''t want to be caught out here."


    The man nodded and shouted to the caravan that they were leaving. The other party members were a few wagons up, weapons drawn, and when they heard the calls, they headed back to their wagon. A few minutes later, everyone was loaded up, and they were rolling away.


    "What was it, lad?" Firtz asked Abad as he settled in.


    "Trolls. We think some fey''ra took them out." The others looked at him curiously, so he told them what he''d learned from Drugg.


    En-In''s eyes narrowed as Abad finished. "I knew the fey''ra were powerful, but I had no idea they were that strong."


    Zethari scoffed. "We were forged by the sod''ra to be their weapons. You think we would be anything but lethal?"


    The half-elf''s eyes were filled with caution. "I mean no offense. It''s just shocking."


    "I agree. It''s hard to believe that a being so small and... beautiful..." A-Nis said, "is capable of such destruction."


    "If it weren''t for the laws forbidding us from taking our true forms, you would not feel as such." Zethari snarled at the woman. "Our claws would rend the flesh from your bones, our teeth would tear away the soft meat of your throats. We would drink your blood and lap at your marrow." She grinned at A-Nis, revealing her sharp canines. "If only we were free of you filthy te''ra, I would show you just how lethal we can be."


    A-Nis''s eyes narrowed. "Zethari, you''re frightening."This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Zethari snorted and turned away from her, her face settling into her typical sneer. "Pretty, weak, useless little things." Her words were low, laced with a deep growl. "If it were not for the Nightstalker''s wishes, I''d not tolerate your weakness." The woman smiled a cruel smile. "You are no warrior. Go find a man to make you a broodmare, and leave us warriors to our duty. Your pretty face would be better used that way, te''ra."


    "Zethari, stop," Abad warned the woman, but he could see the fury in her eyes. He knew she was frustrated. They had found a possible lead, but they were no closer to finding her mate. Looking toward the others, he saw the tension on their faces.


    Firtz reached for his axe. "I''ll not tolerate your threats, beast. Stay your tongue lest you lose it." The dwarf''s face was red, and his words promised violence.


    The fey''ra''s yellow eyes snapped to the dwarf. "You wish to test your words?" She stood up and bared her clawed fingers.


    Firtz stood. "If it''ll teach you your place." He stood and readied his axe.


    The fey''ra stood, and he saw her muscles swell. The buttons placed throughout her clothes began to pop open as she began to grow. He knew what would come next.


    Watching their petty squabbling, Abad could feel his blood boil. Deep within his spirit, the darkness called out to him, beckoning for him to reach out and take it. He could assert himself with a single word. He could end their squabbling in a single command. He could take the reins and force them into line. His line. All he had to do was give in to the darkness and exert his will. It would be so easy. Just a single command. A single word. He felt his face flush. His hands flexed. He could taste it... Their submission. Their obedience.


    "[Sit]!" His words were laced with raw authority, and both the dwarf and the wolf girl were thrown on their butts. Even the wagon stopped for a brief second, the draft horses neighing in protest as their legs froze for an instant. "All of you. Enough."


    "These disgusti¡ª"


    "[Silence]." He felt his head swim. As weak as he was, [Dominion] was taxing. He let his [Mask of Many Faces] go, freeing up some essence. His red eyes bore into her. "You will not threaten our allies again. If you do, I will end you. Do you understand?" He felt the darkness coursing through him.


    "Why should we¡ª"


    "Do. You. Understand."


    Her eyes fell away from his, and she gave a small nod.


    He felt his blood cool, if only a little. He took a deep breath. He had to contain himself. Get a grip. He looked to Firtz, who was sputtering indignantly. "If you insult my vassal again, I''ll treat it as the threat that it is. You know what I can do. Do not test me." The dwarf''s eyes filled with rage, but Abad ignored it. "You may insult me all you want. You have done so time and again. I will take whatever you have to give with grace. I deserve your scorn." He pointed to the fey''ra. "Zethari does not. Your kind has harmed her gravely, and I will not tolerate her being harmed again, in body or in word." He glared at the group, meeting each of their eyes. He let them all feel the power of his wrath, his gaze searing into each. "We''re allies for now, and that''s the end of it. If either of you has an issue, take it up with me." The dwarf looked like he was going to say something, but Abad stared the dwarf down. "Do not make an enemy of me, Firtz. I''d like to keep the axe buried."


    The dwarf closed his mouth and huffed.


    He took a few more deep breaths. "I know we don''t trust one another. How could we? There''s bad blood between our kinds. But, I''d like to start trying to build bridges with you all, and that won''t happen if we''re at one another''s throats." He looked to Zethari, whose eyes were downcast. He placed a hand on her shoulder. Her head snapped up, but she calmed when she saw it was him touching her. "I''m sorry, my friend. You''re going through much. I understand how hard it must be. I wish we were closer to finding him too. Forgive me."


    She looked away from him. "I would never dare take insult, Nightstalker. You are right." She looked at the group. "I apologize." Her eyes dropped again. "To all of you. You have helped me much on this journey, and you have shown me kindness. I am thankful." Her words were soft.


    "Him?" A-Nis asked.


    "My mate. Rennar. We are searching for him." Zethari said, her eyes not leaving the floor of the wagon.


    Abad felt the tension break. A-Nis nodded, a sad look crossing her face. Kjormur sighed, En-In rubbed his chin, and Firtz grunted.


    The latter finally spoke after several moments. "I often speak without thinking, and my temper is well-known," Firtz said. "Also, my people hold little love for either of your kinds. I suppose that prejudice has colored my view, despite the words of the Goddess and my own best efforts." The dwarf looked at Zethari, then Abad. "I will do better."


    Abad nodded to the dwarf. "Thank you, Firtz." Abad rubbed his face. "Now that we''ve gotten that out of the way, we need to talk about the real issue here."


    Kjormur sat up and gave him a hard look. "Which is what, exactly?"


    "The fey''ra." He pointed to the northeast, where the troll had pointed before. "If the fey''ra are indeed in the area and killing monsters, that means that they''ve managed to both escape their captors and survive. It''s only a matter of time before they begin attacking travelers, and if they''re already attacking in packs, then they''re going to be nearly unstoppable against regular folk." Abad looked at each in turn. "We need to find them and reason with them. We may be able to find a way to convince them not to attack people. They likely have few supplies, and with Darkfall approaching, they will become more desperate as new monsters form, which seems likely from everything I''ve heard. If we can''t find them and talk them down, they''re either going to be slaughtered, or they''re going to kill innocent people to obtain resources and shelter. I want to prevent either option from taking place."


    "There will be little to hunt for many months," A-Nis added. "Even if they have food and supplies, it will be many moons before they will be able to replenish them. If they have significant numbers, they will do what they must."


    Abad nodded to the ranger. "Exactly. I''m also uncomfortable with this ''master'' the troll spoke of. If he was telling the truth, then someone has taken control of a tribe of monsters. If that person is powerful enough to control that many monsters, they are likely dangerous." He thought against adding his final conclusion, but he decided that he should build bridges through honesty for once. "And if they can control monsters, they are likely one of my kind. [Dominion] is one of the few ways one can control the minds of monsters."


    "How so?" Firtz asked.


    "Every being with the power of [Dominion] subtly affects the minds of monsters." Zethari looked up at him. "It''s just how it works. Both our power and the power that creates monsters exist outside the Goddess''s laws. Monsters can''t help but be swayed by us." He saw something pass behind the fey''ra eyes. He hadn''t wanted to tell her that part of their dynamic since he wasn''t sure if it was the same with the fey''ra. After enough interactions with them, he had come to assume it worked much the same. "Direct application of [Dominion] can allow my kind to dominate the minds of all beings touched by the shadow, though it takes much power to do so. Trolls are one such being."


    "Can''t the dark mages of this world control minds too?" A-Nis asked. "There are tales of the witches of the north and their terrible magic that can turn the minds of the strongest men."


    Abad nodded. "It''s possible. Black Magic like the kind I wield also has some ability to do the same. It doesn''t work through the same principles as [Dominion] and is incredibly difficult to accomplish at large scales though. For a black mage to control the mind of a monster like that troll, they''d need a strong focus, and I''ve never heard of a warlock or witch controlling entire tribes." A thought came to him. "But if they have an object of power, like my old scepter, it''s possible." He looked toward his open pack, where he could make out the raven head of [Final Law]. "But for now, I''m going to assume it''s one of my people."


    En-In let out a low whistle. "If you''re right, we could be heading into a fight with multiple parties and a powerful mage, or a devil." His eyes met Abad''s. "No offense."


    "None taken."


    The half-elf continued. "So much for a simple escort job. This is sounding more and more dangerous by the moment. We''re going to need help, or we''re going to have to be smart."


    "If we can convince my people to help, we may have allies in battle." Zethari''s yellow eyes shone.


    Abad reached out and squeezed her hand. "We will try. I promise."

 II-XIII. Wysten

    It was late when they arrived in Wysten.


    Abad couldn''t make out much of the town. From what he could see, it didn''t seem like much. The entire settlement, including its fortifications and defenses, seemed to be built from wooden walls that had been hastily assembled, though the buildings were all stone, indicating that the town pre-dated the fortifications. The streets were little more than mud and clay, and with the heavy rains, there were puddles and mud everywhere, and the few people who were out on the road had mud caked halfway up their legs.


    The party were shown to an inn near the eastern wall by Ulrich. It was a ramshackle place with tiny rooms and cheap table food laid out in the main hall. The inn didn''t have any rooms available, but the innkeeper agreed to let them eat the table food, use the facilities, and sleep in the main hall for a nominal fee. The party was grateful for a roof over their heads, even if the food was basic and the conditions weren''t ideal. The fireplace was warm, and the inn was dry. That was enough.


    However, to Abad''s eternal frustration, there was a single problem. He''d gone in search of a bath, but there was none. Instead, the inn had a single large wooden trough in the basement that was filled with cold, dirty water. There was a fireplace in set into the wall that heated the water, but the wood had long since burned away, meaning the water was likely cold. Dipping a finger into the filthy brown water, his suspicion was confirmed. It was freezing. Worse, from the look of the water, it had clearly been reused many times throughout the day.


    Seeing the disgusting state of the tub, Abad had the urge to burn the establishment to the ground.


    "It''s not the best," Shani said as she entered the small bathroom. A-Nis walked in behind her and shut the door. The sisters began stripping down to their underclothes. Both were filthy. Shani had mud caked up her legs and on her arms and face, and A-Nis, while slightly cleaner, was completely pruned up, and her undergarments were soaked through from driving most of the evening.


    Abad smiled. While the omnipresence of communal bathing hardly inspired modesty in the races of Elysium, nudity to the elves meant little. Elven culture celebrated the natural form, and the women''s obvious comfort with him suggested that they saw him as one of their people. It felt good.


    However, the elven desire for purity and cleanliness was at war with their current situation.


    "At least there''s somewhere to bathe, even if it''s cold," Shani said, but her face screwed up as she looked at the water, and she didn''t move.


    "Yeah, we''ve had worse..." A-Nis replied, equally staying far from the water. "Remember that time in Beldan?"


    "Goddess, we were sick for weeks..." Shani murmured.


    He shook his head. He could do this. They needed to bathe. They couldn''t stay this filthy. He looked at the fireplace. No wood was left to burn to heat the tub. "I could heat the water myself if you two want to bathe first." He saw the hesitation in their eyes.


    "Nope. Not happening." Shani shivered as she pulled back on her clothes. "I''ll stay gross."


    "Yep." A-Nis pulled her soaked clothes back on.


    "How can humans do this?" Abad asked.


    "They''re disgusting. That''s how. Let''s go find the stable. They always keep a bucket and a pump for the horses. It won''t be much, but at least the water is fresh." A-Nis had finished dressing and opened the door.


    "Do you think there''s a bathhouse in town?" Shani asked as they left the room.


    "I hope so." Abad followed. They found the Firtz outside, towels in hand.


    "Ahhh," Firtz sighed. "I can''t wait." He gave them a confused look as he brushed past. "Not sure why you all are waiting, but I''m jumping in!" The door shut behind him, and a moment later, they heard the water splash out of the tub and onto the floor. Soft humming echoed out of the basement.


    "He''s going to die from the plague," Abad said. The women nodded.


    En-In, somehow far more clean than everyone else, nodded as they walked toward the front. Zethari was lying next to the fire. Abad could see she''d fallen asleep. He could never do that. She was far too dirty. Shaking his head, Abad walked up to the innkeeper.


    "Is there a bathhouse nearby?"


    The innkeeper was a tall man, even taller than Abad, with a thick beard and greying hair. "Yeah, five streets over to the north. You can''t miss it." He pointed toward what Abad could only assume was the north.


    "Thank you." He said as he walked out the door, followed by the women.


    They squelched their way up the muddy streets until they found the lotus symbol that hung over the door of the building. The party quickly ducked inside. The same cheap perfumes as in Farnfoss assaulted his nose, but these were somehow even more sickly sweet. An elf walked out of a side room, dark circles decorating the underneath of his eyes.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    "Bathing for the lot of you?" He asked in a dull voice.


    "Please," Abad said as he pulled out his crystal pouch.


    "It''s three gold per person or eight for the lot of you." The elf held out a pale hand, and Abad handed the gold to the elf, who yawned as the crystals fell into his hand. A moment later, he handed them some towels and simple soaps, and they were shown to the bath. The elf led them into a large, single room, similar to the one in Farnfoss, but this room had no side chambers. A single lotus stone was set into the far wall, steaming water dripping from the orifice.


    The three stripped down, and moments later they were soaking in the warm waters. Abad used a wash cloth to clean his face and neck while the sisters did the same.


    "Gods," Shani breathed out, her face a mask of pure relief. Her eyes were closed and her head was tilted back, black hair spilling out around the stone behind her. "I needed this. This trip has been a mess."


    He chuckled. "You''re not wrong."


    "I can''t believe how much mud there is in this region." A-Nis scrubbed her arms and feet, and as she did, the water around her turned dark brown. "I''ve never seen so much dirt in my life. Why does anyone even live here?"


    He shook his head. While the endless forests were beautiful, everything seemed dirty. Even Farnfoss, which was opulent compared to Wysten, was a dirt pit. The people there just happened to cover that pit with a few gems and silks.


    After scrubbing away the filth, they all melted into the water and enjoyed the warmth and comfort. Abad felt some of the pain of the day''s travel seeping from his tired muscles as the warm waters soaked into him. The wagon ride had been smoother on the second half of the trip, but it still was taxing. He was glad they were here, and since they''d pushed through, they''d have an extra half-day to rest before heading out to Syrenthal.


    "Hey Abad," A-Nis''s voice echoed off the stone walls.


    "Yes?" His voice echoed back.


    "Where are you from?" She asked. He could feel her blue eyes watching him.


    "Volkash. From a small grove called Eran, but we left when I was young and ended up in a city called Varkenth near the border of Istaera. That was after..." His people discovered he was a monster. He didn''t know how to finish the sentence. He let the words die.


    "Varkenth." She said softly, letting the word roll around her mouth. "I''ve never heard of it."


    "It doesn''t exist anymore." He sighed. "It was destroyed in the Night of Red Flames." He looked at her. "What about you two?"


    A-Nis was scrubbing her arms again with the cheap soap, and somehow more dirt came off. As the question washed over her, she stopped, and a distant look came across her face. "We''re from a grove called Aerenith in Deneir. The grove sits in the center of a lake and is completely self-sustaining. It''s beautiful." She smiled as she spoke. "I haven''t been back in many years, but I''m sure it''s the same as it''s always been."


    "Deneir is beautiful, and Aerenith is equally so," Shani added. "But I don''t like the groves there. They''re all so... insular."


    "Yeah, they are." A-Nis laughed, the sound echoing off the stones. "It''s why I was so excited to leave."


    "Why did you leave?" Abad asked.


    The sisters looked at one another. "A-Nis left first. Decided she''d be an adventurer and went to Saerne. A few years later, I sent a letter to my master in northern Deneir, and he took me on as an apprentice. That was about... ten years ago, right?" She looked at her sister.


    A-Nis shrugged. "Eleven, I think." She dunked her head underwater, and when she popped up, she wiped the water away from her eyes. She blinked a few times. "I''ll be happy to head home next year. In Blossomreach there are festivals. It''s a good time to go home."


    Shani''s smile grew, though it seemed forced. "It is a great time. The city smells like flowers everywhere, and there are dances in the square and plays in the theater. We both decided we''d head home in the spring." The sisters looked at one another again.


    "It would be good, I think," A-Nis said, her words echoing softly off the walls.


    Something passed between them, but it was gone as soon as it came. A moment later, A-Nis'' eyes met his. "You should come. The festivals are limited to our people and generally also limited to citizens only, but my father would vouch for you, and he''s close with the queen. I''m sure we could get you permission to join us."


    He felt hesitant, but something in their words resonated with him. He hadn''t seen an elven festival in centuries. It could be pleasant to experience one again.


    Seeing him consider their words, Shani added, "We''ll be home for a while too, at least until fall. You''d have time to explore and rest. And you''d get to know our people." Her smile faltered a bit. "Your people." She looked down into the water, and the smile slipped from her face.


    "Perhaps," he replied, not sure how else to answer. He was, however, flattered that she saw him as her people. Ever since he''d met her, Shani had been the most willing to extend him the benefit of the doubt. He was grateful for her thoughtfulness. "We have some time before then, but I promise I''ll think on it. Thank you for the invitation."He doubted he would take them up on it, but he appreciated the thought.


    "Will you ever go home, Abad?" Shani asked.


    He thought about his brief visit to the top of Draekenspire. It had been nostalgia-inducing being back in that place. He''d even gotten a glimpse of his dark father''s castle in the distance before Kasimir arrived. "I think I will." He wanted to see it again. The region had never been the most populated, in part due to the Dark One''s presence and in part due to its hostile landscape. However, he wondered if anything more had come of it since his time. "I''d like to see my homeland again. Perhaps Eran is still there as well. Call it morbid fascination or foolishness, but it might be nice to see what became of the land."


    "Little word comes from Volkash, and I''ve never been, but I hear it''s beautiful," A-Nis said.


    "It is. The mountains are tall, and the valleys are deep. The rivers are bright and cold and the snows fall all year." He thought about how the world grew darker as the year went on now. "I''m sure there is more snow now than in my time as well, but that matters little when there are hot springs, especially in the west. When I introduced Selene to the springs of Volkash, she said they were a greater pleasure than any she''d ever experienced."


    "Selene?" Shani asked.


    "An old ally." He realized that word didn''t encompass how he''d felt about her. "A friend, and sometimes a lover. Often a rival. She was the first ally I''d gained besides my teacher and my familiar." He tried to retain an air of lightness, but he knew he wasn''t succeeding. "We grew close of the years we spent together. She''s gone now, but I remember her fondly."


    "I see... Well, your home sounds lovely. Perhaps, after we go to Aerenith, we can travel to Volkash. I''m sure even Firtz and Kjormur would be moved based on your description."


    "Perhaps." He smiled and drifted back into his thoughts.


    Their conversation faded after that. A short while later, they were finished. Each of them pulled fresh clothes out of their packs, dressed, and made their way back to the inn, careful to not soil their clean bodies and fresh clothes as they made their way back to their temporary home.

 II-XIV. Ash and Smoke

    The caravan ended up staying three nights in Wysten. They''d explored the small town while they were there, but there was little of note. They''d bought some small foodstuffs at the market, and the entire group had bathed on the second day in the bathhouse, but those were the highlights of Wysten. Though he didn''t know if he''d ever need to return, he made sure to tie to the teleportation seal there as a precaution. It couldn''t hurt.


    Luckily, the relationship between him, Zethari, and the party had improved since their argument in the wagon. Firtz had gone out of his way to be pleasant, the ever-quiet Kjormur had come out of his shell a little, and En-In had struck up an unlikely friendship with Zethari, who inexplicably enjoyed his company. The sisters had remained open with Abad as well, sharing many elements of their life back home as they explored the town. Abad was relieved. If they were going to travel together for a time, he''d much rather them all get along than not.


    On the third morning, the wagons were loaded and ready to travel. By afternoon, the caravan was many miles east of the small town. The weather had improved significantly, so they were finally making good time. The sky was a deep blue, and the light of the Great Tower seemed to him half as bright as it was just a month prior. The air was cooler, and he noticed in the early morning that many of the puddles had turned to ice overnight. Some small part of him had resisted the idea that the world would actually change, but the evidence was undeniable. The light was fading.


    Looking toward the Great Tower, it seemed as if the orb of light was shrinking and pulling in on itself. As a result, darkness seemed to pool in the corners of buildings and underneath trees. The days were becoming shorter and the nights longer. Abad could feel it. The world around him felt... tired. Drained. The darkness called out to him. The shadows that filled the world, the ones that seemed so much deeper and more numerous now, seemed like old friends welcoming him home. While nearly every other being he saw seemed to draw into itself more and more as the days went on, he felt empowered. That thought troubled him.


    ***


    By noon the next day, they had ridden many miles to the northeast, following all the while a small river that ran in the same direction as the road. The caravan had settled into a comfortable rhythm, and with this road, whose name he''d not yet learned, being more open and dry than the Old King''s Road had been, the pace had been more steady.


    Zethari also seemed to get her bearings for the first time since they''d begun traveling, due in no small part to En-In''s entertainment. The man had taken to showing her all of his tricks, and she made an excellent audience. While the others rolled their eyes and scowled at his antics, the wolf girl seemed glued to his performances.


    "Again. I wish to see it again." Zethari was staring intently at the deck of cards in the scoundrel''s hands. He''d been performing card tricks for the woman since they''d started moving that morning, and she''d been amazed with his skill and speed. At first, he''d simply shuffled them from one hand to the other and done other similar basic tricks, but when he saw how much they excited her, he began showing her a dozen different ways to shuffle, all while keeping up a steady stream of banter. She was mesmerized.


    "You know," Abad said, watching En-In perform yet another card trick for the wolf woman. "If I didn''t know any better, I''d think you''re an entertainer." The half-elf''s hands moved with the fluidity of a performer. He wondered if En-In''s skills had a practical application beyond mere showmanship.


    "My friend, I am more than an entertainer. I am a magician. A savant. An artiste." He fanned the deck out again and presented it to Zethari. She reached out, her fingers hovering over each card as he smiled at her. She chose a card. "Keep that card, and don''t let me see it." He folded the deck of cards and placed them on a crate that he''d been using as a makeshift table. "Did you read it?" She nodded. "Good, now place it in your pocket."


    She did so, turning away from him as she did.


    "Excellent, now watch as the deep magic takes hold! "He spoke some nonsense words and gestured dramatically. "Now, you might ask yourself, how did he know which card I pulled? Furthermore, you may ask yourself how he ended up with the very card that''s in my pocket?" He lifted up his cap and pulled out a card. Waving his hands over it, he dramatically flipped it over, and Abad watched as Zethari''s eyes grew wide.


    "How did you..." She trailed off.


    En-In grinned." Is this your card?"


    She nodded furiously and snatched it from his hand. Abad could see her mind churning. The man wasn''t using magic, at least as far as Abad could tell. He simply was a master of his craft, using sleight of hand and pageantry to wow and beguile. While he''d seen similar performances over the years, he knew Zethari had never experienced anything like this, and the wide smile that lit up her face warmed his black heart. After her rocky start with the others, he was glad she could have a little fun, and he was grateful to En-In for reaching out to her.


    "Now, my good woman. Please remove the card you so carefully placed in your pocket."


    She reached into her pocket, then pulled the card out. Her jaw dropped as she flipped it over. The card was blank. "How?" she whispered.


    "A magician never tells his secrets." He took the card back from her and, with a flick of his wrist, made it disappear. With another flick of his wrist, the card had returned, but the numbers had changed. "That, my fabulous fey''ra friend, is true magic, and I am its master. Do not be deceived. My ways are not the petty magecrafts of these plebians." He smirked as he pointed at Abad and Kjormur. The dwarf rolled his eyes, and the warlock smiled. The man could have this one. "It''s connected to the old ways, of which I am well-versed"


    She laughed, a full, unrestrained sound that filled the wagon. "That was amazing. Do you have more?" Her eyes sparkled.


    "More? More, she asks!" He affected an air of injured pride. "I always have more, but I cannot spoil my audience too much... Perhaps I will show you later¡ªif the fates will it!" He picked up his cards, clapped his hands, and they vanished. "However, you''ve been quite the delightful audience." He placed a hand over his heart, then stood up and bowed dramatically. "Until next time, take this gift from me to you, my lady." Another card appeared in his hand. He held it out to her, but as she took it, it turned into a blue flower.


    She chuckled as she looked it over. "I will cherish it always, master of true magic."


    Abad smiled and shook his head. Of anyone to strike up a friendship, he never would have guessed it would have been those two. The others, too, had been warming up to her, but they were still tense and awkward at times. It wasn''t entirely their fault. She had a sharp tongue, but it seemed to be getting less sharp with each passing day.


    After stowing away his cards, En-In began playing his lute. Listening to his soft music, Abad looked out over the land. A moment later, Zethari made her way to the back of the wagon and sat next to him, gazing at the flower with a smile on her face.


    "Did you have fun?" Abad met her smiling eyes.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    "Yes, Nightstalker. While weak, the bard is very entertaining."


    "Hey!" En-In shouted from the front of the wagon, and Firtz began cackling.


    ***


    Abad had much time to examine the land as they traveled. A short distance to the south were the forests of Nolei, separated from them by the river that never drifted far from the road. They had been riding through long rolling hills that were dotted with small homesteads, but those were infrequent and scattered. In the distance, he could make out some cattle and sheep from time to time, but there weren''t many people to be seen outside of the occasional shepherd or farmer. As nightfall approached, a soft fog settled in over the land. It wasn''t thick enough to be troublesome, but the dampness in the air was chilling.


    He yawned. The wagons were making their way up a rather steep hill. He assumed they''d camp out at the top, which is what they''d done the night before. However, he saw Zethari sit up. Looking toward her, he saw her nose twitch.


    "Smoke." She sat up and looked to the front of the wagon. "That way."


    "Smoke? I don''t smell anything." Shani stood up and climbed onto the riding bench.


    A few minutes later, A-Nis popped her head through the canvas flap. "I think there''s a fire ahead. Good nose, Zethari."


    The fey''ra puffed up with pride.


    "We should be ready," Shani said as she climbed back into the wagon''s interior and began digging through her gear. She handed A-Nis her bow and a quiver, then began strapping on her sword and dagger. The elder sister belted on the quiver and gripped her bow, nocking an arrow as she did, ready to let loose at the first sign of trouble. A minute later, Shani crawled back up and took the reins from her sister''s teeth. Kjormur and Firtz were strapping on their heavy armor and drew their weapons, and En-In was belting daggers to his wrists. Abad simply readied his mind, focusing on the sigils within his spirit and preparing himself to cast. He was fully rested and would be able to cast many times before running out of steam.


    The caravan made its way over the crest of the hill and began to descend down the other side.


    "There''s definitely fire up ahead," Shani called out.


    The smell of smoke and fire grew more intense. Along with the smoke, Abad smelled another familiar smell. Death.


    Zethari looked at Abad. She smelled it too. He nodded to her.


    The caravan rolled a short distance further before stopping. He could hear Ulrich shouting, giving commands for the wagons to circle up. Being in a relatively open space, the wagons were able to do so with ease, and mintues later, the wagons had formed a defensive perimeter. As Shani parked their wagon, he and the others exited and made their way to Ulrich, who had a small group gathered around him. He was giving commands, and the other merchants obeyed him with little fuss. Abad could see several crossbows and the like being readied, and several personal guards, hired by the merchants individually, were loading their charges into the wagons and readying themselves.


    After the last of the merchants received their orders, Ulrich turned to Abad and the others. "My friends, it seems we will have to make use of your talents after all." The man turned and pointed down the hill. In the valley, Abad could make out a burning village. He couldn''t see movement within it, but his excellent vision revealed numerous bodies lying in the streets.


    "The village of Sythric." He pointed to the village. "Good, simple folk down there." Ulrich spat on the ground and cursed. "Were, by the look of it." He frowned. "I was hoping to stay here for a day. Got friends." He cursed again. "We''ll be walling up here. Go down and see if it''s safe. If not, we''ll need to know what we''re dealing with." The man turned and began giving more commands as he shooed away the few remaining stragglers back to their wagons. Several of the wagon windows opened as he shouted, and crossbows appeared in each.


    "Come on then, let''s get this grim work done." Firtz brandished his axe and marched down the hill.


    "Goddess shelter us in your light," Kjormur chanted in his strong, gentle voice, and a wave of light descended upon them as they were blessed. Abad could see Zethari bristle as the spell took root. It seemed like the Goddess''s magic felt similar to her as it did to him.


    They followed the old dwarf down the hill. As they did, the details of the village became clear.


    The sight made his heart sink.


    There was carnage everywhere. Doors were ripped from their hinges, windows were smashed in, and dozens of corpses littered the ground. The smell of death was heavy in the air, but there was something else in the air too.


    "What in the Goddess''s green world is that smell?" Kjormur''s face had screwed up as he looked around. His face was pale.


    "The undead," Abad said as the scent triggered his memories. "Be wary." The party had made their way into the edge of the village, careful to move from shadow to shadow as they did. However, outside of one building that was only just starting to catch fire, everything on the way to the village center was burned and broken, and no living thing remained.


    As they entered an alley between two homes, Shani covered her mouth, and En-In heaved. There were dozens of corpses piled in between two houses.


    "There are children..." A-Nis''s voice was filled with a mixture of rage and grief.


    "That smell..." Kjormur gagged.


    "They''ll raise soon." Abad lifted his hand.


    [Candlelight]


    He threw a ball of fire into the center of the pile. As soon as the flames touched the corpses, the smell of burning clothes and scorched flesh filled the air as the bodies began to smolder.


    A-Nis looked at him with a furrowed brow. "You can smell the difference?"


    "I''ve seen more than my fair share of the undead. I''ve learned the scent." The undead smelled like rot like any other dead thing, but they also had a distinct scent, like ash and bile.


    "It''s disgusting." Firtz spat on the ground.


    "We need to purify them, lest their souls never be reunited with the Goddess. There are rites..." Kjormur looked around at the corpses. He was turning a shade of green. "I''ll have to..."


    "Do it." Abad looked at the party. While the mortals were in various states of distress, he could see that Zethari was looking at each of the bodies with an unreadable look on her face. He followed her eyes and saw what had captivated her. A small human child lay at the edge of the pile. Large claw marks split her skin, opening her up from collarbone to navel. The girl''s unseeing blue eyes gazed into Zethari''s. He walked forward and touched her shoulder. She jumped, then pulled her eyes away.


    "I think... Her wounds..." He covered his lips with his finger. They''d deal with that knowledge later.


    He walked around the house, making sure to stay in the shadows. She followed. As they stepped around the house and into a village square, the scene was grisly. There were bodies everywhere. While many littered the ground, some where impaled on spears, while others were torn apart.


    "What kind of monster does this..." En-In said in a hushed tone.


    Zethari shuffled at his words. Looking down at the nearest corpse, Abad could see why. More claw marks were visible on it. "Nightstalker..." Her eyes, glowing in the fire, met his.


    He shook his head. Scanning the square, he saw movement on the far side of the square. "There." He pointed. A group of shambling figures were marking in an alley across the square. Abad motioned for them to be still. As they watched, the corpses began to twitch and move. The bones of one cracked as it pulled itself off a spear and fell to the ground with a sickening thump. A moment later, the thing pushed itself up and staggered toward the others, the wound in its chest oozing fluids. Many others began to twitch. "They''re starting to rise. We should get back."


    They headed back to the others and found Kjormur''s magic settling upon the corpses in the alley. As the dwarf worked, he gestured for the rest to crouch behind some nearby barrels. He could hear En-In vomiting. "Within a half hour, the whole village will be crawling with the dead. We need to warn the others. This place isn''t safe."


    "I''ll go," Zethari said.


    He shook his head. "I need you with me. En-In will go."


    "Shouldn''t we send Zethari? She''s faster." The ranger asked.


    "En-In can cast [Invisibility]." He remembered the man watching his fight with Kasimir from the shadows. "He''ll be safe." Wiping his mouth as he stood up, the half-elf nodded and disappeared. Soft footsteps faded into the night, and he was gone.


    Abad turned to Kjormur. "Are there any spells you know to protect us from them?"


    The man nodded. "There are. Give me a moment to pray." The man pulled a small booklet out of his pocket and began flipping through the pages. His lips were moving silently as he read.


    "Nightstalker." Zethari whispered to him. "Shouldn''t we destroy the undead before they rise?"


    He shook his head. "If we had arrived earlier, we might have had the chance to destroy them before they had did, but I don''t want to get caught in a fight only to end up surrounded." The smell of the burning corpses increased. They''d need to leave their spot soon.


    "We can take them," Firtz whispered. He pointed his axe. "I say we rush in there, take them out, and head back to the caravan."


    He shook his head again. "I don''t trust this. Why would someone raise the dead and leave them here?" He realized the caravan was largely unguarded.


    "They''re bait," Shani breathed.

 II-XV. Bait

    "Shit!" A-Nis shouted. As the word left her lips, dozens of howls filled with air.


    Zethari''s ears pricked up. She raised her nose to the air and sniffed. Whatever she smelled made her face drop. Without a word, she took off, running back to the caravan as fast as she could. Without hesitation, Abad and the others followed. Just as they rounded the burning house, a dozen figures burst from the treeline, their massive forms illuminated by the moon as they ran on all four limbs toward the wagons. The party broke out into a sprint behind Zethari. However, they were far too slow. The sounds of shouting and the snapping of crossbow strings rang out in the distance, and the creatures howled in defiance at the caravan''s defenders.


    The creatures were fast. They wove through the crossbow bolts with supernatural speed. Despite the rain of bolts cascading from the wagons, most of the projectiles missed their marks. Closing the gap, the creatures leaped at the wagons, smashing through windows, ripping through canvas, and bursting through doors. Within seconds of reaching the wagon, screams filled the night air.


    The fog grew thick as they ran up the hill. Abad could feel magic in the air. He could feel the obvious signs of magecraft, which summoned the fog to the area, but there was something else too. Scintillating motes sparkled around them as they ran, leaving trails of effervescence as their bodies cut through the night. He could feel the density of the mana in the air. He realized they were in the beginnings of a mist storm. He slowly and breathed deeply. The air was laced with power. He drew in as much as he could and readied himself for what would come next.


    As they neared the wagons, he could see at least two dozen figures struggling on and near the wagons, but with the fog, the figures blurred together, obscuring even his excellent vision. The screams of the humans grew louder and more frequent. The large creatures had torn the walls from several of the wagons and had snatched up both people and goods and were carrying them back to the tree line. Several of the guards lay dead, and others were being ripped apart as he and his allies rushed forward. Crossbows and bows continued to fire into the darkness, and at least one of the creatures lay on the ground, twitching as death took it.


    Finally in range, Abad reached out, pulled as much raw mana into his spirit as he could, and called upon the first of his spells.


    [Candlelight]


    Bright red flames appeared in his hands. He threw them at the nearest beast, who leaped back as the flames roared past him, falling onto some shredded wagon siding, which ignited. The three mortals who had been fighting it broke away and ran for the nearest wagon, disappearing inside. He fired a second and then a third time at the creature. The beast avoided both of his other spells, but, realizing the coming threat, growled in frustration. Several of the other creatures growled, a deep guttural noise that raised the hair on his arms, as they realized the coming threat.


    Realizing the humans wouldn''t be able to fight without their eyes, he shouted to the priest. "Kjormur! They need light!"


    From his right, Kjormur chanted a word of power. A ball of light appeared above them and illuminated the area. As it washed over them, the beasts shrank back, their vision blurred by the near-daylight of the dwarf''s spell. In that moment, the creatures'' true forms became clear. They were massive, humanoid wolves. Their front limbs were long and wiry, and their hands were shaped like human hands with long claws. Their legs were thick and powerful, and they ended in paws that gave them immense traction and strength. They stood tall, nearly as tall as the trolls had been, and their maws were long and narrow with wicked teeth and sharp canines. Their yellow eyes, identical to Zethari''s, glinted in the light.


    He drew on more of the ambient mana around him and began to cast another spell. He hadn''t had the chance to crystalize this one yet, so he began the incantation as the others rushed past him. His voice was low as he spoke the words of power, their power welling within his core. He''d only managed to memorize it that day. He silently thanked Ta-Li again as the final syllable of its incantation left his lips.


    [Armor of Shadows]


    Shadows erupted from his body, swirling and lapping at the space around him as he began to run again, the tendrils of darkness forming a skin of shadowy armor that melded to his skin. He felt his strength grow as his [Embrace of Darkness] talent was reinforced by the shadowy armor, and the cold chill of darkness filled his soul. Neither Yselene''s dim light nor the glow of the countless stars in the night sky could reach him. He was darkness itself.


    An instant later, his party met their foes in battle. Abad could make out a half dozen fey''ra still rushing around the wagons. A-Nis had stopped next to him and let loose a flurry of arrows, nearly every one of which met its mark. One arrow lodged into a fey''ra''s throat just as Firtz slammed into it, throwing the creature back and sending it crashing to the ground. The paladin slammed the butt of his axe into the creature''s head, and it went limp. Kjormur''s voice rang out as holy verses poured from his lips, his voice filling the battlefield. A ray of light shot from his hand, burning into the nearest beast''s arm, which yelped as it tried to circle around them. Glowing with a golden light, A-Nis targeted the creature, and her perfectly placed shots hobbled it. It tried to limp back to the treeline as it yelped and stumbled, only for an arrow to strike the back of its skull, throwing it face first into the dirt.


    He heard a side from the side. He had just enough time to cast [Burn the Weak], striking a beastkin in the face before it could lunge at them. It screamed and rushed backward, disappearing into the fog.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    A trio of wolves appeared behind them. As the nearest beasts roared and charged him, he could make out its massive snout, sharp claws, and glowing yellow eyes. Zethari, who''d stayed by his side, cried out. Her body swelled, and as the creature leaped into the air, she doubled in size, standing taller than any of the others, and grabbed it by its throat. She roared as she threw the creature, which soared twenty feet before landing in a heap next to the river. She rushed the downed creature. However, as it tried to stand up and its yellow eyes met hers, she slowed, and her transformation wavered


    "Zethari!" He tried to snap her out of it, but she stood motionless. These were her people. She knew it now.


    [Sanguine Gift]


    Pulling on as much ambient mana in the air as he could and pairing it with his life force, he buffed himself and the others, filling their veins with power. His vision swam as he cast the spell, but he shook it off as a red haze descended upon them. Their speed doubled as he felt their blood resonate with his. It was a risk using that much of his life force, but he wasn''t sure they''d survive without the boost.


    Howling came from behind him. Turning, he saw three more of the beasts running at full tilt from the tree line, their maws snapping as they burst from the trees and leaped over the river.


    [Burn the Weak]


    Blood-red flames roared to life in his hands. He threw them at the fey''ra, catching the final one mid-air as it leaped over the river. It screamed as the flames roared around it and stopped its momentum, sending the beast crashing into the water. The rushing river, having been fed by all the rain, swept the burning creature downstream, Abad''s hellfire refusing to go out even as it was submerged under the water. Its fellows looked back, then disappeared into the fog.


    Turning back toward the wagons, Abad saw Shani engage with two fey''ra. The warrior easily outpaced the beastkin, whose attacks seemed clunky and slow in comparison to her effortless grace. Her sword was a whirlwind of death that left deep slashes on the creatures, who, realizing they were outmatched, both tried to retreat from her, but the effort was in vain. The woman hamstrung one and, leaping into the air, slit the other''s throat. The first barely made it another step before an arrow buried itself into its eye.


    However, he could see Zethari was still frozen. He called out to the woman, but she didn''t move. She was looking toward the forest. He shouted again, but when she still didn''t budge, he turned and scanned the treeline. A massive figure loomed out of the woods. Its body was covered in fur. As the creature fully stepped into the moonlight, it was larger than the others, nearly as large as Zethari had been. Its glowing yellow eyes surveyed the carnage. Lifting its head to the sky, it howled, and dozens of yellow eyes appeared in the treeline.


    Zethari, still unmoving, began shivering. Abad ran to her. "Hey, we need you!" He grabbed her shoulders, but her body was rigid.


    "It''s..." She looked up at him, and her eyes were glazed. She looked back to the woods. "It''s my pack..." She whispered the word. He could feel her shivering under his hands. "It''s him."


    His hands tightened on her shoulders, and his voice lowered. "We will find a way, okay?"


    Her yellow eyes met his. They were wide. He wasn''t sure she understood his words. Behind him, he could hear footsteps. She blinked, and he watched as her body doubled in size once again. Her clothes, already unbuttoned and loose from her brief transformation, began to stretch as her body swelled. He turned to see a wolf-man leaping toward him, but her powerful arms snatched it out of the air, and she pinned the attacker to the ground and roared, snapping her jaws into its neck. A spray of blood coated the ground.


    "I will protect you." Her distorted, guttural voice sent a shiver up his spine.


    She rushed into the battle, and the sounds of her powerful blows filled the night. He turned back toward the large figure at the treeline, who was watching the battle, his yellow eyes shining in the moonlight. His fellows bled out of the trees and swarmed around him. The fey''ra, Rennar, gave a command, and Abad watched as the creatures fanned out, leaping across the river at oblique angles as they began to flank the caravan.


    He looked to his left. A-Nis had made her way to the others and had her bow drawn, and Kjormur and Firtz stood beside her, the priest lifting his bloodied mace and chanting. The paladin was covered in claw marks, but his healing was already sealing his wounds, the flesh stitching back together. Shani finished another fey''ra off and ran up to her allies.


    "Get inside the wagon ring!" Abad called out to them.


    The four fell back to the wagons. A-Nis loosed arrow after arrow as they moved, the shafts hitting their marks more often than not. Firtz''s axe severed the arm of a lurking fey''ra as they weaved through the wagons, and as it yelped, Kjormur''s mace crushed its skull. The ball of light floated overhead, casting the wagons in an eerie glow in the fog.


    He turned to find Zethari. She was twenty paces away and engaged with a pair of fey''ra, her powerful claws slashing at them, holding them back with practiced precision, her superior speed and strength obvious.


    "Stop!" Her distorted voice echoed around him.


    The two creatures merely snarled. Being sorely outmatched, the two broke away, and she didn''t give chase.


    "Get back to the wagons!" He screamed to his vassal. Turning toward his voice, she nodded and leaped over the wagons in a single leap. He turned to the caravan. He couldn''t make out many details in the thickening fog, but he could hear the sounds of the guards fighting with the creatures on the far side. He''d have to trust they could handle themselves. He followed his familiar.


    The lupana had created a large ring around the caravan, flanking every path of escape as they ran around the wagons, staying just out of reach of the crossbows. However, A-Nis had climbed a wagon and was firing continuously. However, her quiver was getting dangerously close to empty.


    "En-In!" He shouted to the air. "Get A-Nis more arrows!" He thought he heard the man shout. Abad squeezed between two wagons, and as he made it to the other side, he saw A-Nis pulling a full quiver up the side of her wagon.


    He looked at his party. They were bloody and tired, but when he reached out with his senses, he felt that they were strong enough. His voice was firm as he spoke, "I''m going to try something. Hold them off, and keep the survivors safe." The others looked at him with confused looks, but he didn''t have time to explain.


    Abad scanned the area with his senses. For there to be freshly raised undead nearby and a magical fog in covering the area, there had to be a mage of some power nearby. However, with the mana thick enough that he could feel the weight of it in the air, he couldn''t find their master from this range. It was as if he had gauze over his eyes.


    However, he could pull off other tricks that he''d once relied on in these conditions.


    He gave his [Cloak of the Raven] a mental command, and the thick fabric billowed out behind him. An instant later, his cloak had become great black wings, and, running forward, he flapped his wings and soared into the night air.

 II-XVI. The Master and Her Pets

    The air around Abad snapped and cracked in his ears as he darted through the sky. He watched as the fey''ra circling the wagons stopped and looked up at him, their yellow eyes tracking his movements as he flew overhead. He felt a smile spread across his face. Drawing on the mana around him, he cast a spell.


    [Candlelight]


    He conjured a ball of flame and threw it at the nearest fey''ra, a smaller female. His flames splashed before the wolf woman, who yelped as his fire seared his legs. She leaped away, barely escaping the full brunt of their heat as the ground ignited. Flying past, he threw a dozen more balls of fire at the others, breaking up their ranks and demoralizing them. He felt a grim satisfaction wash over him as he watched their tactics break down. Within minutes, the majority of the beastkin leaped over the river and began disappearing into the treeline.


    He followed the fey''ra as they fled, raining flames upon their heads as they ran until most disappeared into the forest. Once gone, he scanned the trees for movement. He could see dozens of eyes looking back at him, their yellow glow shining in the moonlight. Rennar, if the large fey''ra at the edge of the forest was indeed him, stepped out of the forest and glared at the warlock. The creature howled a challenge, one that Abad had no qualms about accepting.


    The pitiful creature.


    His blood called for destruction, and his oath to Zethari wasn''t nearly enough to quell his growing wrath.


    [Burn the Weak]


    A ball of blood-red flames roared to life in his hand. He threw it directly at Zethari''s mate, knowing that the creature, if he were anywhere as strong as Zethari, wouldn''t die from the attack. He hoped. The man leaped away at the last second, and the flames exploded where he''d been standing.


    [Burn the Weak]


    More flames appeared in his hands. He channeled more energy into this spell, using the mana in the air to overcharge it. Unlike [Candlelight], which was largely designed to burn materials, [Burn the Weak] was specialized for burning the living and could be infused with far more mana by design. It was less efficient but far more fun. Before Rennar could recover, he threw the ball of flame at the fey''ra. This time, it nearly struck him, but one of his pack mates jumped in the way at the very last second. The red flames ignited as they struck its chest. The beastkin screamed and howled as the unnatural fire tore into it. It tried to roll in the dirt, but Abad laughed at its pitiful attempt at survival.


    That wouldn''t work.


    Abad watched as writhed in agony before finally falling to the ground until it was still. He flew low and cast another spell.


    [Essence Transfer]


    He felt the fey''ra essence enter him, replenishing his life force. The beast was strong. However, as his own essence was replenished by the last embers of the beast''s life, he could feel the mist storm around them begin to subside. He wouldn''t be able to rely on it much longer.


    Dozens of fey''ra howled at him as he flew above them, their voices a mixture of rage as they watched their fellow burn away. Dozens more howls in the surrounding area answered their call. He looked deeper into the treeline. Countless more yellow eyes glinted in the dark, following his every move. There were far more of them than he''d realized.


    He drew on as much ambient mana as he could. The motes of light that had signified the mist storm faded as he did. He decided he''d use as much as he could and be done with it.


    [Burn the Weak]


    A ball of flame far larger than the ones he''d thrown yet erupted to life in his outstretched hands. The red flames burned in his hands, their heat warming his face as his fire roared in the wind. He pulled back and threw it as hard as he could, infusing it with some of his mana and life force. The massive ball of flames roared as they fell, struck a massive tree, and exploded, shattering the tree and igniting the forest around it. Several of the creatures screamed as they were sent flying, and more than a few ran from the trees to the river to quench the wicked flames.


    A voice screamed deep in his mind as he watched them.


    How could these pathetic creatures challenge him? They were but insects facing a god.


    Their glowing, hateful eyes glared at him from below, but he could see their will beginning to break.


    [Burn the Weak]


    He laughed as he threw another fireball toward them. They roared through the air before exploding against another tree. Then he sent another, and another. For each he killed, he cast [Essence Transfer] and replenished himself. The beasts did their best to dodge his flames and began retreating further into the trees, like the rats they were. Abad''s eyes illuminated the night air. His blood boiled with power. He could feel the cool wind against his teeth. He was smiling.


    As the creatures fled into the forest, Abad''s laughter turned to rage. His blood boiled at the thought of their insolence. He hadn''t permitted them to leave. Their role in his legend was to die. They were sacrificial lambs to be bled out on the altar of his majesty. Dozens of trees were on fire, but it wasn''t enough. He threw flame after flame, until the air around him was drained of mana, and his cloak failed for an instant. He fell ten feet before granting it mana and catching himself.


    As he did, the world seemed to grow smaller around him. The air in front of him shimmered, not with scintillating mana but a spell. Abad blinked and shook his head. For an instant, the world seemed to stop. Then, he began to fall again, plummeting to the ground. His cloak flapped wildly behind him, turning from wings to cloth. Then, he felt mana being torn from his spirit. His thoughts snapped back to the present. He''d let his nature get the best of him. He screamed as he fell, channeling as much mana into his cloak as he could spare, and, despite resistance from the hidden mage, the cloak turned back into majestic black wings, allowing him to control his descent. He landed with a thud, rolled, and stood on the far side of the river. A hundred yellow eyes gazed at him from the forest.


    [Burn the Weak]


    He pulled mana out of his spirit and conjured more flames. "Come out, beasts!" he shouted at the forest, searching for any movement. He was at war with himself. His heart raced as his blood boiled, his mind screaming for violence. He took a deep breath and focused. He had to remain present.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    For a long while, there was no movement. No sound. He could see their eyes, but even those had begun to disappear, or they were far enough in the trees that he couldn''t reach them. The predators were so silent that even he couldn''t hear them. He reached out with his senses, and his heart dropped. There were at least a hundred of them, though not all of them felt like the lupana. He could sense other breeds deeper in the trees. He''d hoped he''d be able to scare them off with enough fireworks, but with a pack that large, there was little anyone do. They would all die if he didn''t come up with another plan. He knew the creatures were being supported, or possibly controlled, by a mage of some kind. He needed to find them.


    He reached out with more care, looking for any indication of the mage''s presence. They couldn''t be far. The fey''ra weren''t stupid. They wouldn''t have stuck around to die without reason. For a time, he couldn''t sense them. The cool wind blew, whipping his cloak behind him. An owl gave a single mournful call. He simply waited for anything. Then, he felt a ripple of power, the barest of waves. They were probing him. He focused on that presence and let his spirit reach out. And there, off to the side, behind a tree, was the being who was looking for.


    "Show yourself." He pointed in the mage''s direction as he allowed his spell to fizzle. As it did, a slender shape stepped out from behind a tree. Their figure, slight and feminine, emerged into the clearing. She was human in form, though she wore a mask, painted with a cartoonish grimacing character of a face twisted in agony, to conceal her identity. Her body was covered in a thick black robe, and a hood was drawn over her head. Two black horns curled up from her forehead through holes set into the mask. In her hands was a gnarled staff. Her eyes, glowing and red underneath the mask, locked onto his as she lifted her staff.


    A wave of black energy erupted from it.


    "[Be Dust]." Abad commanded, and the wave of energy dissipated into a cloud of fine particles.


    The figure tilted her head, as if confused, then her eyes flashed red. The shadows of the night rose from the forest floor around her. A dozen fey''ra stepped out of the treeline on either side of her. They circled her, their yellow eyes glowering as they gazed upon him hungrily. The largest of the bunch, Rennar, stepped out behind her. He roared, then placed his hands on her shoulders.


    "Master..." The beast spoke. His creature''s words were garbled and hoarse. "Wishes... for... your... death..." The fey''ra''s words were staccato, forced. "Kill..." It pointed at Abad, and the other fey''ra tensed, a few took several steps forward, but they froze when Abad lifted his hand as if he would conjure more fire.


    The hooded figure reached her slender hand back to the creature. Her black-gloved fingers stroked the beast''s hand. The gesture was gentle and familiar, but her red eyes were cold.


    "Rennar," Abad said. "Your mate waits for you."


    Rennar''s ears twitched. "Mate... Dead."


    Abad shook his head and chuckled, a cruel smile spreading on his lips. "She lives. You attacked her this very night."


    "Impossible." The beast growled. He could make out the sounds of the creature''s jaw working. It jerked, then stopped. "Saw... Her... Die..." It growled and bared its teeth, snarling at him. "Lies... will... not... save... you..."


    The woman reached up and petted him again. "Listen not, my dear servant. This one is one of the false masters I spoke of. He''s nothing more than a fraud." She said in a soft, pleasant voice. It tickled his memory, but he couldn''t place it.


    "She waits for you in the caravan." He pointed his finger back to the wagons. "We''ve been searching for you. Come, and be united."


    "You see," the hooded figure continued as if he hadn''t spoken, "the pitiful fool lies to save himself." She petted Rennar again. "I would never do such a thing. I will always care for you and your people."


    The beast man looked at her, then back at Abad.


    "She''s there, I promise. I am no enemy to your kind." He held his arm out to the man and stepped forward. He heard footsteps approaching from behind him, but he didn''t dare look away. The wolfman took a single step forward, but the woman barred his way. Abad heard soft footsteps land on this side of the river, then Zethari appeared at his side.


    "Rennar," she called to her mate.


    The creature blinked and looked between her and the robed woman, his glowing yellow eyes wide in disbelief. "What... illusion... is... this?"


    She shook her head. "I am real."


    He blinked. The hooded woman placed her hands on the beast''s arm. "The man before you lies. Watch, and I will reveal them." She lifted her staff, and a wave of scintillating energy struck him. He watched as his skin became grey, and his shadowy armor faded. "See, he is little more than a weak imitation of the one you now serve." The wolf people snapped their jaws and took several steps forward.


    "Stop!" She shouted to her mate.


    At the sound of her voice, Rennar took a step toward them, brushing past the robed woman. He was stooped, and his massive claws scraped against the dirt. He shook his head and looked at his mate, whose eyes never left his. "Zeth... Ar... I..."


    The wolf woman raised her hand and reached for him. "Come. Be my mate once more."


    He stared at her.


    "[Serve]." The masked woman''s words rippled with power.


    Rennar''s face fell slack, and he shrank into himself. The man scampered back to the woman. The others did the same. Abad could see the brands on their necks flare as she compelled them to obey. The masked woman stepped around them, her eyes flashing red. "Did you truly think your petty bonds and weak power could take what I have claimed? You are a fool, dark brother of mine." The woman laughed cruelly, and the fey''ra howled. They began stalking toward the warlock and his vassal. "A shame, really. I could have used an ally, but you''ve sealed your fate by lacking the correct level of deference for your better."


    Zethari growled at them and stepped in front of her patron protectively. "This is my oath-holder, the Nightstalker Abad-Shai, the man who freed me from my bonds. Do not attack." Several of the creatures looked at one another and stopped.


    The robed woman took a step back as Zethari spoke. Her red eyes flashed beneath her mask. He knew who she was.


    "Rennar!" Zethari screamed, tears falling freely from her eyes. Rennar, his eyes dumb and mouth slack, didn''t seem to hear her. "Rennar! It is me!" She pleaded with them. "Sogel! Irin!" Her voice became desperate. "Why will you not listen!"


    Abad grabbed her by the shoulder. "We have to run." His eyes never left the masked figure.


    "No!" She screamed at him. "We''ve found him." Zethari''s eyes were filled with a mixture of desperation, hope, and fear. "You promised!" She screamed at him.


    His mind raced. They were far too exposed to take on this number of fey''ra. The beastkin began to fan out and flank them.


    Rennar didn''t reply, his jaw hung loose. A stream of drool fell from the side of his mouth as he stalked toward them. The woman lifted her hand and motioned for them to attack. As the woman''s hand fell, they rushed forward.


    [Devour Essence]


    He tore from the woman as much power as he could, then wrapped his arms around his vassal.


    [Armor of Shadows]


    Shadows bled out of him and wrapped around them both. He felt as one of the fey''ra bit into his skin, but the shadows, affected by [Quasireality], tore through its mouth and throat. It screamed and backed away, clutching at its mouth as its transformation faded. A dozen more blows followed, each screaming at his as they landed, but they were dulled substantially by his shadowy armor. He ran forward, compelled his cloak to unfurl, and leaped into the air. He held Zethari tightly as they soared clumsily to the other side of the river, then fell and landed hard on the rocky ground. The robed woman''s glowing eyes narrowed as he stood back up.


    "[Hold]."


    The fey''ra stopped in their tracks and turned to their master. She waved her pets off and walked to the riverbank.


    "Is it really you?" The woman''s voice was a whisper, her eyes still fixed on his.


    The shadows floated off him like mist. He knew that voice. "Aside from the Thirteen, who are sealed away, as far as I''m away there are only three people besides me who have the power of [Dominion]. Selene is dead, and Zaros would never take that form, so that leaves only one option." His voice was cold. The shadows around him roiled. "It''s been a while, Helia."

 II-XVII. His Old Student

    The woman tensed. After several moments, Abad watched as the tension drained from her body. She began laughing. It started low, like a cat purring, but slowly increased until she was giggling like a madwoman. The wolf people surrounding her bristled at the sound. Their eyes darted around, waiting for some indication of what their next course of action should be. For a long time, no instructions came.


    "Indeed, it has." The woman finally said. She lifted her hand and pulled away her mask. As she did, it disappeared into motes of darkness, revealing the woman''s face. He knew that face. He could see her pale grey skin, her long brown hair, and the long scar that marred the left side of her face, where he''d ruined then healed it long before. "And here I thought some upstart learned an old name and decided to play god." She smiled at him, her red eyes twinkling. "Welcome back to the world, master."


    Of all his creations, she''d taken to his form most readily. She was the most like him.


    "Thank you, apprentice." He smiled back at her. Despite the fight that would almost inevitably ensue, he liked seeing her.


    "You always did love your schemes. Why are you traveling with mortals?"


    "I''ve taken a job and am helping my vassal find her mate. Would you mind giving him over to me? I''d hate for this to turn ugly." He gestured to Rennar. "Do that, I''ll let you continue doing whatever it is you''re doing."


    "Let me? Master, no one lets me do anything. Not anymore." She petted Rennar''s arm. "And I rather like this one. He''s been most useful. Trade yours to me, and I''ll let <i></i>continue on."


    Zethari bristled next to him. "No. I rather like this one."


    She laughed. "You always did love your pretty women. Such a base desire, you silly man."


    He laughed. She wasn''t wrong. "I take it you''re the one who rallied the trolls over the past months?"


    "Unfortunately, no. They never would heed my call. Not like these fine specimens." She petted another fey''ra. "I''m glad. The trolls never would have served half as well as these. And now that most have been eradicated, these creatures, fey''ra they call themselves, has proven much better tools."


    "I see." So the trolls had a different master then. "Why did you attack us? Why did you destroy that village?"


    Her expression hardened. "These lands will be mine. I''ll do with them as I please."


    "Indulge me. I have an interest in them."


    She laughed and shook her head. "It''s so unlike you to care about these creatures." Seeing him unmoved, she spoke further. "The villagers were easy prey." She shrugged. "Nothing more. I''ve been locked away for too long and needed to test my power and replenish myself. Their livestock were succulent and their spirits were delicious." She licked her lips. "As for your little caravan, that was simply chance. I detected it a day ago and figured I''d be able to steal some supplies for my pets and devour a few more souls, so I timed the deaths of the villagers with your arrival. I thought it''d be more entertaining and efficient to split the party, as they say."


    "And the people who were taken by the fey''ra? The supplies?"


    Her red eyes stared into his. "Servants require reward and punishment. You taught me that, master. Failure requires punishment, lest you coddle weakness and dissent. Success deserves reward. The mortals will be an excellent bit of entertainment for my growing forces, and their goods will feed and cloth my servants."


    "It seems you heeded my lessons well. Take what you can when you can. What of me? Did you know I was coming?" He asked.


    She frowned. "No. I was having my fun, then I sensed the presence of one of our kind approaching. That''s what tipped me off about your little caravan. Lucky for me, I''ve received the Dark One''s Luck today. I get to see my dear old master again. How good for me." She smiled wickedly.


    He stepped closer to her and extended his senses. She was powerful, but not as powerful as she was. And while she was stronger than him in that moment, the gap wasn''t large. Either could be the victor if they fought. "And why are you here? In Nolei?" He asked. The last he''d seen her, she was in Volkash. That was centuries before, but he didn''t understand why she''d come here. There was little to be gained.


    "I have no need to explain myself to you further.''" She sneered as she said the final word. "Why would I even lower myself to speak to the likes of you? You taught me long ago that the weak are destined to be used by the strong. And you, in your weakness, should be groveling at my feet." She lifted her staff and slammed its butt on the ground, sending a wave of power into the ground that shook him. "So do it.<b> [Grovel]</b>."


    <b>[Devour Essence]</b>


    He tore essence from her as her words took hold. He felt her compulsion wash over him, but with her stolen power and his own will, he resisted it. Standing upright once again, he smirked. "You never were much of a judge of strength." He flexed his fingers as he readied himself. His eyes met those of his favorite student. Hers were cold and hollow. He could feel the shadows rolling off his skin grow thick, the power in the air crackling as he extended his will again. He had torn more than enough essence from the woman to close their gap further. She had to know it. "That was a good try. However, you still have much to learn."


    Helia''s brow creased, and her red eyes narrowed. "You won''t leave alive, master." The fey''ra around her snarled.


    "I don''t want to fight you. <b>[Talk to me]</b>." He commanded.


    "I..." Her mouth opened, then snapped shut as she fought his command. However, he felt his will overpowering her. "Damn you... Old fool..." She fought the compulsion for a time, but his will won. "I tried to find you... after you died..." She shivered, and her lips curled. "But <i>she</i> found me. Your whore brought me to this land. She used my talents, the very ones you taught me, to subjugate those who opposed her." She sneered at him, hatred in her eyes. "To keep me compliant, she bound me like all her other pets, using your stick and my magic to do it." She pulled away her robe to reveal a brand on her neck.


    "When she died, I rejoiced. I believed the world had become mine. Yet, some imbecile took her place and kept me bound like a dog on a leash. Ready to serve, like all the rest." Her eyes shined like rubies as she petted Rennar again, eliciting another response from Zethari. Helia smirked at his vassal. "But I was unruly. I really was quite a bad girl." She pretended to pout. "So he locked me away. For years, I sat in solitude in a hole in the ground. In time, I learned how to contact these creatures in my dreams. That''s how my bestest boy right here found me and set me free, after killing the mortals that had purchased him." She rubbed his arm as she spoke. "And now I''m here, speaking to you again."The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    "Very resourceful."


    "As I was taught."


    He frowned at her. "There''s a problem with your plan. Faye is here, and you''re not nearly strong enough to defeat her.."


    She smirked at him. "She won''t stop me. She can''t stop me."


    "And why''s that?"


    "I''m sure you know that Darkfall is coming. As it does, her power will fade. It will be gone before long, and then this world will belong to us again, for a time. When it''s ours, I''ll..." she paused, then narrowed her eyes on his. "I have some plans." Her eyes wandered to Zethari. "But you do not need to concern yourself with them." A wicked grin split her face. She held out her hands. "Instead, I have a proposition for you. I''ll ask once. As you did so long ago. What if I could promise you a real life after this one? I am nothing if not merciful, my dear master. <b>[Join me]</b>."


    Her words, a reflection of his centuries before, echoed in his mind. He felt her power wash over him. It shook his bones and rattled his mind. It took everything to resist, but resist he did. "No thanks. I''d like to explore this world as it is. I''ve rather enjoyed it, in my limited time back. I plan to continue to do so."


    She studied him with an arrogant grin. "What happened to you? Not only do you travel with mortals now, but you haven''t broken your pets?" She pointed to the caravan. "You always did have a soft spot for them. I never did understand why you indulged them so. I can''t understand it. Why stoop to the level of these animals when you can stand upon their shoulders?"


    "Helia..." He stepped toward his apprentice. Power rippled between them. The fey''ra shifted away from them. He could sense their unease. "I''m sorry."


    The woman recoiled, her face contorting into rage as she stared at him. "What?"


    "For what I did to you."  He stepped toward her. "For taking your life away and forcing you on this path, then leaving you alone in this broken world."


    "Stop," she hissed, spittle flecking her lips as her brow furrowed. "Why would you say such things?"


    He stepped closer. He could feel the mana swirling around her. "Because I was wrong." He could feel the voice within him writhing against his words. "If I asked you to stop all of this," he motioned at the carnage surrounding them, "and walk away, would you do so?"


    She stared at him for a moment. Then, her lips pulled back into a feral smile. "What kind of fool do you take me for?" She spat. "What, so you can tell the hero to come find me? Or so your little pet can hunt me down?" She looked around them. "Where is that little bitch anyways? Angra! Come out. I know you''re here. Once your master''s dead, you can serve me. I''ll treat you better than he ever did!" When there was no response, she looked back at him. "I know how you think. I''m sure she''s waiting for her chance to strike. Too bad that will never happen." The shadows swirled around her.


    He shook his head. "She''s gone, now. She died protecting me." He said the words so simply that they seemed to take her aback. He took another step closer to her. Less than twenty feet separated them. He could feel her aura clearly now. They weren''t so far apart.


    "Oh?" Her eyes lit up as she looked down at herself. "So you lost your little sycophant, and now you''ve found a heart? Come on, master. Don''t make me laugh." She cackled. "How pathetic!"


    Her laughter grated his ears and mind. But still, he pushed through it. "How long were you sealed away?"


    Helia''s laughter died. "What does it matter?"


    "If I''m to die, I want to know how your story went. You were one of my closest companions, Helia."


    She watched him for a long time, then looked back up to the moon, its silver light illuminating her face. "Two hundred years I sat in that fucking hole, watching that moon float overhead. Every once in a while, they threw me food or supplies, but they never listened when I screamed for release."


    "Two hundred years..." He mused. "I was sealed away for five. It was torment, wasn''t it?"


    Helia glared at him, her jaw flexing. She didn''t respond. Her aura wavered.


    "I killed Kasimir a month ago."


    She blinked, then narrowed her eyes at him. "Lies. You think you can trick me? You? As you are? No chance."


    He shook his head. "He found me in Farnfoss. Said it was fate that we met again. I told him I was the master of my own fate, but now I''m not so sure." Abad stepped within a dozen paces of the woman, with only the river separating them. "He wanted to use me, to create a new dark lord, so the mortals would rally against me. I killed Bolton, the man who killed Selene, and I struck him down on Draekenspire." He shrugged. "Then I destroyed <b>[Final Law]</b>."


    "That''s how I was freed..." Her voice was calm when she replied. "Why are you telling me all this? It changes nothing."


    "Because I can''t shake this feeling I''ve had since I''ve been back. Like I''m not the one in control. Like someone is pulling my strings." He met her eyes again. "Our strings. Why else would we meet like this? What are the chances that we''d find one another so easily in a world so large?"


    "I''ve already done too much, master." She sighed. He felt her aura waver more. "There is only one path for me."


    "You think I haven''t?" He laughed. "Even I''ve been granted pardon. By the Hero no less. We could do the same for you."


    "It''s not possible, master. This world won''t let me."


    "Then you feel it too? Like you''re losing yourself bit by bit? I don''t think we''re in control, Helia. Not fully. I made a choice, perhaps my first, a month ago, and that took everything I had. I think we''re puppets, Helia. But, for the first time, I''m starting to see a way out of these roles that we''re meant to play. I see a path where I won''t be pushed or pulled anymore, by the powers of this world, by our creator, and by the voice in my head." He took a breath. "Not trying to follow it isn''t an option. I don''t think that''s what being a person means, what being free means." The voice within him tried to claw its way out, but he visualized a box and closed it in. For the first time in weeks, it was silent within him.


    Helia crossed her arms and let out a slow exhale. "And what would you have me do, oh wise sage?"


    "Walk away from this." He pointed to the burning town, the forest, the fey''ra. "Walk away. Find a new path. Reclaim yourself. Be free. I don''t want this life anymore, and I don''t think you do either. Don''t you remember all the times you asked if we could set it all aside?" He gestured to the night air. "Now we can."


    "That''s..." She shook her head. "That''s ancient history. You''re offering nothing and expecting, yet again, that I''ll tag along with whatever stupid plan you come up with. Not this time, Abad-Shai. I won''t be your fucking puppet again!" She screamed, throwing out her arms. The shadows gathered around her in response. The fey''ra surrounding her shrank back as she stepped toward Abad. They each were at the very edge of the river. Her voice echoed through the night. "I am done walking behind you!" The river below began to boil. Flames cascaded down her arms.


    Abad didn''t react. His red eyes met hers, unwavering. Her aura was unstable. She was at war with herself. That gave him the opening he needed.


    "I''m going to kill you for what you did to me, and I''m going to break out of your shadow for good." She gritted her teeth.


    He felt his heart, which had felt so distant of late, break once again. The sadness seeped through him. He could feel its weight pulling him down. So long had he been the architect of others'' misery. What a fool he was to think that the dark seeds he''d sewn would simply bend for him. A single tear fell down his cheeks.


    Wiping it away, he felt another feeling roiling inside of him.


    Joy.


    The voice that he''d locked away broke free and filled his mind. A dark grin split his face, and the shadows rose around him as they answered to his command. "Do you remember when you first arrived at my tower?"


    She blinked. Her brow furrowed in confusion. "What does that have to¡ª"


    The voice in his head was deafening. He was compelled to listen to it. "Do you remember, Helia?"


    "Remember what?" She eyed him warily, the shadows around her writhing.


    "Do you remember how you begged for release?" His words were laced with magic. She froze at the memories his words invoked. "Do you remember the torment you endured to earn my favor?" Zethari backed away as the shadows roiled around him. The other fey''ra shuffled. He could feel his body swell with power. They began to back away, and several ran for the trees as his power overwhelmed hers.


    Helia''s eyes grew wide. "I..." she shook her head as her eyes met his. The truth of his words rang in the air.


    "I had a dream of you recently. In it, I remembered something." He smiled. He could see the glow of his red eyes in the fog. "I enjoyed breaking you, Helia. And I''ve been looking forward to this reunion. It''s time you remembered who rules here."


    <b>"[Kneel]."</b>

 II-XVIII. The One Who Rules

    Abad was filled with an immense sense of euphoria as he cast the spell. He reveled in it as he watched the woman standing on the other side of the river struggle under the force of his will. His aura slammed into hers. For just an instant, she resisted. Then, his strength and power forced her body to comply. He heard her knees crunch into the stones lining the river. She looked down in disbelief, her mouth hanging open as if trying to deny what had happened. Her eyes narrowed into a hateful glare as she stared up at him, then looked away, unable to meet his gaze. Tendrils of darkness spread around him, pulling in the night.


    His scroll unfurled. The page was stained black. This time, the words didn''t etch or burn onto the page. Instead, they stained the page like ink spilled on paper.


    <hr>


    <hr>


    <b>By discovering the source of conflict in the Nolei region, you have completed the quest [Echoes of the Empty].


    </b>


    <b>You reach Level XVII


    </b>


    <b>Your talent [Embrace of the Abyss] becomes [Embrace of the Abyss II].


    </b>


    <b>[Embrace of the Abyss II]: </b>Darkness and shadows strengthen you. When in darkness or shadow, you gain an increase to your physical abilities equal to two ranks, and existing enhancements grow two ranks stronger. You also gain the become difficult to detect with both physical and magical senses as long as you¡¯re in darkness, stacking with ranks of the [Stealth] enhancement. All shadow-based attacks and spells gain a boost in power.


    <b>You gain the [The One Who Rules] quest.


    </b>


    <b>[The One Who Rules]:</b> Helia, your former apprentice, has grown bold¡ªtoo bold. She claims power that was never hers to wield and stands as a rival in a world that should bow to you. The dark essence stirring within your soul commands you to act. You cannot allow her defiance to go unchallenged. Strength is justice, and your strength is absolute.


    <hr>


    <hr>


    He heard Zethari gasp beside him as she read the words, but he ignored her as the beast within him rose from the depths of his soul. Its screams of triumph filled his ears, overwhelming everything else as the bloodlust he''d repressed for too long consumed him.


    "Nightstalker." Her voice was cautious.


    He looked at his vassal. She needed to leave. "Go. Now. Go back to the caravan. Lead them away from here. And tell your pack to do the same. Quickly, before it''s too late."


    He heard her approach. "Nightstalker... I cannot leave you."


    He saw movement across the river. His vision went red.


    <b>"[Kneel]."</b>


    Helia struggled against his repeated command. The veins in his face bulged as he exerted his will upon her. He could see her resistance, and body, buckling. Her body trembled as his words filled her spirit. His soul''s dark magic radiated, wrapping himself and Zethari in shadows as it devoured all nearby essence.


    <b>"[Prostrate Yourself].</b><b>" </b>


    He smiled as, with a cry of anguish, Helia''s head was thrust downward, until her head buried itself into the rocky bank. She shrieked as she fought his power, but it was useless. He was lord here.


    A glimmer of realization struck him. He had a deja vu. Had he seen this scene play out before since he''d woken up?


    It didn''t matter. She would learn her place, or she would die.


    He heard Zethari step closer. "Abad-Shai." Her voice was firm.


    He looked at the woman with barely restrained violence. "Leave. Now."


    He looked away from his apprentice. The wolves around him were staring at him, waiting for orders from their fallen master. They paced and shuffled as they took in the horror before them.


    "They can''t stay here. Tell them to run and never look back." He ordered her.


    "But¡ª"


    <b>"[GO]!"</b> His word thundered through the area. The sound shook the ground and caused dust to rise. His vassal was thrown backward like a doll. The beastkin across the river staggered under the weight of his magic as the compulsion washed over them, compelling them to obey, and Helia was thrown from the riverbank, landing with a thud on the grass beyond.


    For an instant, his mind cleared. Through the fog of bloodlust, he felt his mind resonate with theirs. He heard his command reverberating in their minds and souls. He could feel the black knots within their brands unravel. He tore the black magic from them and devoured it. In turn, essence pulsed through every living thing around him. He could feel the trees, the grass, the stone, and every mortal, te''ra, and fey''ra around him. And he could feel Helia. The darkness he''d placed within her soul centuries before.


    It was his. It was all his.


    <strike></strike>


    He felt essence pull from every living and nonliving thing around him. Trees shattered. Grass withered. Several fey''ra buckled and fell to the damp ground, groaning in pain as he stole from them everything that fueled their being.


    He felt something slam into his back. White arms wrapped around him and forced him off his feet. The pitiful thing carried him several feet, but that was far enough.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    He fell to the ground and swung backward, striking the attacker''s face. He heard a woman''s voice cry out as she was thrown to the ground. He turned to find Zethari. He took a single step back, and a voice within told him to stop. He crushed it.


    As his magic rippled through the area, he turned to see the fey''ra retreating, fleeing into the trees without a glance backward. Howls filled the night air, likely calling their fellows to flee. Within moments, he was alone, save for the battered woman across the river, and Zethari, who stepped to his side once again.


    He could feel his muscles swell. His eyes burned. His mana flowed through his entire being. His bones thickened. His skin grew leathery, and the misty cloud that had formed over the river grew thick. Feathers sprouted from his arms as his bones snapped and popped.


    He howled into the night. The sound was warped, inhuman. A cross between the roar of a bear and the screech of an eagle. His shadow, cast by the light from the fires beyond, swelled. In the darkness, its wings spread behind him, casting the world around him in pitch-black darkness.


    "Leave," he whispered.


    His vassal grabbed his arm with all her strength as his body warped and shifted. Then, she, too, began to transform.


    He shook his head. An inhuman laugh emerged from his throat. She was nothing compared to him. The fey''ra''s transformations were but a pale facsimile of his own.


    "Leave." His distorted voice ordered. "Find your mate. Be free." He strained, using every ounce of willpower to hold the beast back. He didn''t want to hurt her. "I release you from your service. Be free."


    His scroll unfurled.


    <hr>


    <hr>


    <b>Your vassal, Zethari, Lupana Fey''ra Warrior, is released from your service.</b>


    <hr>


    <hr>


    He felt her grip tighten on his forearm.


    "I refuse."


    The creature he was becoming snapped its jaws at her. She shoved his head to the side, throwing him off balance. His wings flapped wildly, tossing dirt into the air behind him. He bellowed at the woman, but she didn''t flinch. Her lithe body turned into a great humanoid wolf. Their eyes met. Her glowing yellow wolf''s eyes bored into his.


    She reached for his hand. He allowed her to wrap her clawed hands around his. For a moment, his vision cleared. Her warmth filled him. His mind quieted. He lowered his head. But his eyes fell on Helia, whose magic was swirling around her as she crawled along the shore to reach her staff. With her touch broken, the beast within him erupted.


    In an instant, he towered over the fey''ra.


    The rage rose in his soul. Unbound. Relentless.


    He could feel it growing.


    The hunger.


    He would rend it all asunder.


    They would all suffer.


    ***


    Zethari held onto her patron with everything she had. Her heart warred with her. She wished to find her mate, but he master had given her a new life. She owed him a debt she''d never be able to repay. She could not leave him like this.


    His flesh shifted and warped into a monster as tall as an oak. She had never known fear in her thirty-two years on Reial. Not when she''d faced death countless times at the hands of men, monsters, and fell beasts. Nor even when she''d become a prisoner of the te''ra. But this... the creature before her scared her.


    It screeched into the night. The earth cracked beneath it. Mist cloaked the air. The great bird-like creature was like a god made manifest in their world. She wrapped herself around its arm, and it wrenched her into the air as if she were nothing.


    "NIGHTSTALKER!" She cried into the raging wind.


    Its monstrous head turned to stare down at her. Great red orbs glared at her as its head snapped, a wicked black beak striking out at her. She kicked off its hip and leaped away a fraction of a second before its beak struck. She was certain she''d be dead had its blow landed. She twisted and managed to land on her feet.


    She heard movement across the river. Darting around the raging monster before he, she watched has the hateful mage disappeared into the trees. Her heart ached. The woman deserved death for what she''d done. She''d die one day. Yet, today was not that day.


    She heard cracking above and rolled just in time to see a massive talon land where she''d stood. She scampered away, her tail low against her back as the towering monster cawed. She rushed back in and struck the thing''s leg, but it was like hitting a stone. He felt a finger break. She hissed in pain. The monster moved forward to strike her, but it seemed weighed down, sluggish. It was hesitating.


    She heard a noise behind her, but if she was to have any hope of surviving this fight, she had to remain alert and calm. A task easier said than done. Her skin tingled, and a shiver ran down her spine. She rolled to the side, dodging a massive bolt of purple energy as it crashed down where she''d stood. Before she could recover, a talon shot forward. At the last second, she reacted.


    <b>[Riposte]</b>


    She shoved its arm aside and launched herself at the monster''s chest. She dug her fingers deep into the creature''s tough feathered hide and struck its chest with her claws, leaving scratches across its chest and tore black feathers free. It screeched. She hung on for dear life as it thrashed until she was thrown free. She skittered across the ground and struck her head on something. Her vision exploded in a sea of stars. The world became a haze.


    Pain spiked through her body, threatening to undo her. Just then, she heard a voice, and something snapped in the night. She watched as something streaked through the air. Followed them, they struck the monster''s breast and stuck in its feathers. It bellowed.


    "I don''t know what''s happened, but we have to save him! Snap him out of it!" A man''s voice. The funny one. Hands grabbed her and hoisted her up. She felt something itchy in her head, and her dizziness faded.


    "Be sharp!," a voice, feminine and strong, spoke. "I don''t know if we can win, but we can wear him down a little before we go!"


    Zethari looked toward the voice. It was the elf, the younger sister. Shani was her name. Zethari had finally decided to learn it in the past days. These weren''t so bad. She''d enjoyed their company at times.


    She looked past the younger sister. The other te''ra were behind her. The funny one was at Zethari''s side. He''d helped her up. He''d healed her. The elder sister stepped in front of her sister and drew her bow again. The stinky ones were approaching.


    They''d all come to help. They showed more honor than most te''ra. She was grateful. She would need them that night.


    "He has lost himself," Zethari shouted. Her head hurt. She looked up to see the massive beast bearing down on them.


    She howled into the night, challenging the creature before her. Its red eyes narrowed on hers, and it hesitated. She knew those eyes. She could see something within.


    He wouldn''t kill her. Not yet.


    "Spread out!" She ordered. "Surround it!"


    Shadows of darkness reached beyond them, darting through the night.  They reached toward the village.


    "He''s calling the undead to him!" Someone called. One of the stinky te''ra. Zethari couldn''t tell who.


    The elf unleashed arrow after arrow into the beast. Its toughened hide repelled all but the best shots in spots where she''d torn feathers free.


    She howled once again. His spirit soared. No single foe had faced her in battle and won. She refused to be defeated now.


    To her surprise, she heard several voices join hers. Not the voices of te''ra. Her people''s voices came from the forest. She looked to the sound. Her pack heard her call. They leaped across the river, rushing to join the battle. At their head was a familiar face. Her heart clenched. She would fight by her people''s side once again. She would fight by Rennar once again. They would defeat the monster that had been her master. She would bring him back to himself. She would prove herself, or she would die.


    Either was acceptable.

 II-XIX. Act 2 Character Sheets

    Abad-Shai


    Shadowspawn Sun Elf Warlock of the Mask


    Level XVI


    <hr>


    Sun Elf


    ???¡î¡î


    <ol>


    <li>[Fey Senses II] (Passive/Active, Reserve ?): Elves possess heightened perception, blending their superior physical senses with an innate connection to magic. You can see in the dark, hear acutely, and use mana to detect magic around you if you dedicate mana to this ability. At rank II, your physical and magical senses are more honed and precise.</li>


    <li>[Elven Grace]: Elven heritage gifts you with heightened reflexes, allowing you to react faster than most mortals. This talent provides a boost to speed, agility, and reaction time, particularly in combat and hazardous situations, you are sure-footed in all manner of environments, and your footsteps are nearly silent.</li>


    <li>[Scion of Lost Light]: The remnants of a forgotten brilliance burn within you, a beacon of hope and defiance against the encroaching darkness. You and all allies within your aura gain increased resistance to shadow and necrotic damage, and your fire and light spells are infused with the Lost Light of Reial.</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    The Mask


    ???¡î¡î


    <ol>


    <li>[Illusion Magic] (Passive): You have the ability to weave subtle deceptions, clouding perception and bending reality to your will. You can learn spells that create illusions, deceive the senses, and manipulate perceptions of the world around you.


    <ol>


    <li>[Mask of Many Faces] (2nd Circle, Active, Reserve ??): Due to being born under the sign of the Mask, you can dedicate a portion of your mana to change subtle elements of your appearance.</li>


    <li>[Minor Illusion] (1st Circle, Active, Reserve ?): Harness the power of deception to conjure a fleeting illusion that manipulates sight or sound. This spell allows you to create a convincing sensory trick.</li>


    <li>[Armor of Shadows] (2nd Circle, Active, Reserve ??): While active, you develop a second skin of shadow that absorbs a portion of incoming physical and magical damage and obscures your form, making you harder to detect or target.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li>[Quasireality] (Passive): Your mastery of deception allows you to blur the line between illusion and reality. All illusions you create are imbued with a fragment of reality, enabling them to partially interact with the physical world. These quasi-real illusions can deal minor damage, exert force, or create subtle environmental effects, confounding your enemies and enhancing your trickery.</li>


    <li>[Locked]</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Shadowspawn


    ?????


    <ol>


    <li>[Dark One''s Shadow] (Passive): As an inheritor of the Dark One¡¯s essence, you are immortal and do not age past your prime. You also require less food, water, and air to survive, but you bear the marks of corruption upon your body.</li>


    <li>[Devour the Weak] (Passive): Damage you inflict heals a small amount of your life force. Your magic is particularly potent against beings that share your dark heritage.</li>


    <li>[Embrace of the Abyss II] (Passive): Darkness and shadows strengthen you. When in darkness or shadow, you gain an increase to your physical abilities equal to two ranks, and existing enhancements grow two ranks stronger. You also gain the become difficult to detect with both physical and magical senses as long as you¡¯re in darkness, stacking with ranks of the [Stealth] enhancement. All shadow-based attacks and spells gain a boost in power.</li>


    <li>[Nightmare Aspect] (Passive): By channeling your inner rage, you can transform into a shadow beast, gaining unnatural strength, agility, resilience, and an aura of terror. Your appearance alone can break the spirits of weak enemies, and all damage you inflict drains your foes and restores you.</li>


    <li>[Dominion]: By infusing your words with your essence, you gain the ability to alter reality itself. Creatures, environments, and objects must adhere to your whims, provided your mana and essence reserves can sustain the change. The strength of your influence scales with your intent, the scope of the alteration, and the resistance of the target. The world bends, reshaped not by steel or spell, but by the simple utterance of your will. Dominion is yours to claim.</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Warlock


    ????¡î


    <ol>


    <li>[Summoning]: (Passive): You can call forth entities from other realms, who lend you their strength and skills. You can learn spells that summon, bind, and empower creatures and objects to serve and protect you.</li>


    <li>[Blood Magic II] (Passive): Your life force fuels your magic, allowing you to cast additional spells at the cost of health. You can learn spells that draw on blood and life energy to strengthen your casting. At Rank II, your mastery over blood magic deepens, allowing you to draw on your life force with greater efficiency, casting blood-fueled spells at a reduced health cost. This level of skill also enables you to learn more advanced Blood Magic spells, expanding your arsenal in exchange for careful management of your own vitality.


    <ol>


    <li>[Essence Transfer] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?+?/?): The user can transfer a small amount of health or mana to or from a willing target.</li>


    <li>[Sanguine Gift] (2nd Circle, Active, Cost ?+?): Sacrifice a portion of your life force to briefly grant yourself or an ally enhanced reflexes, strength, and stamina, amplifying their physical abilities in a burst of vitality.</li>


    <li>[Devour Essence] (2nd Circle, Active, Cost ??): Target an enemy or recently deceased creature within range. Drain a portion of their essence, dealing moderate damage to a living target or consuming a fragment of their energy. The drained essence replenishes a portion of your health and mana.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li>[Fire Magic] (Passive): You wield the essence of flame, strengthening your power over physical and spiritual fires and increasing your resistance to them. You can learn spells that summon, control, and unleash fire in its many forms.


    <ol>


    <li>[Burn the Weak] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?): You conjure a small, searing flame that can be thrown at creatures within sight, igniting and inflicting fire damage. This spell is especially effective against vulnerable or injured enemies, dealing additional damage to those already weakened.</li>


    <li>[Candlelight] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?): You conjure a small flame that can be used to ignite inanimate objects and inflict small amounts of fire damage on a target.</li>


    <li>[Eclipse] (5th Circle, Active, Cost ?????¡ó¡ó¡ó¡ó¡ó): When cast, a massive explosion erupts around the caster, engulfing the area in a swirling inferno light-infused flame.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li>[Black Magic] (Passive): You possess an affinity for dark, potent forces that lie beyond the mortal realm. Shadows and negative energies respond to your call, enabling subtle manipulation of fear, weakness, and despair in others. You may now learn Black Magic spells, tapping into powers that corrupt the living, obscure perception, and invoke primal dread.


    <ol>


    <li>[Corruption] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?): Draw on the shadows to infuse a target with negative energy, weakening their defenses and dulling their senses. This spell saps the target¡¯s physical and mental resilience, leaving them vulnerable to further attacks and susceptible to effects that prey on fear and confusion.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Enhancements


    <ul>


    <li>[Evasion I] (Perk XII): Your reflexes improve to match those of a wild predator, such as a lynx or cheetah. You gain an increase in reaction speed and agility, allowing you to better dodge attacks and move fluidly.</li>


    <li>[Focus I] (Perk XIV): Your mental clarity improves, enhancing your ability to concentrate and reducing the likelihood of spell disruptions. This heightened focus increases your casting precision and slightly boosts your resistance to mental effects.</li>


    <li>[Life I] (Perk X): Fortifies your life force slightly, making you sturdier and harder to wear down in combat.</li>


    <li>[Life II] (Perk XVI): Fortifies your life force further, making you stouter than all but the strongest mortals.</li>


    <li>[Mana I] (Perk II): Increase your mana reserves by a small amount, allowing you to cast more spells.</li>


    <li>[Mana II] (Perk VIII): Increases your mana reserves by a sizeable amount, allowing for greater spell-casting endurance and more complex incantations.</li>


    <li>[Pack Bond] (Oath to Zethari): Grants an increase to your ability to work seamlessly with allies, enhancing cooperative efforts and tactics. Additionally, you gain a boost to perception when near companions.</li>


    <li>[Potence I] (Perk IV): Increase the potency of your spells, increasing their range, power, and duration by a small amount.</li>


    <li>[Potence II] (Perk VI): Further amplifies the strength of your spells, making each cast more impactful and destructive. This enhancement also slightly reduces resistance to your spells, increasing the chance of bypassing defenses.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Titles


    <ul>


    <li>[Master of the Vault]: Bestowed upon you by the mighty Grimoire, the last creation of the Archmage Aughra, this title marks you as a true keeper of lost knowledge and forgotten relics. You will always know in what direction your vault lies and the best path to get there, and you have a second sense for finding valuable items and equipment.</li>


    <li>[Eater]: Bestowed by the troll Graul, this title marks you as one who consumes what others would discard, taking strength from the remnants. When you consume the essence of an enemy, you gain a brief but potent surge of energy, temporarily enhancing your body, mind, and spirit, and sometimes catching glimpses of their final memories or emotions.</li>


    <li>[Nightstalker]: With the silence of a stalking predator, you move without sound. When following an unaware target, your perception sharpens, revealing even the slightest movements of your prey.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Quests


    <ul>


    <li>[The Sevenfold Journey]


    <ul>


    <li>Objective: Traverse the Seven Nations¡ªNolei, Evron, Malrith, Deneir, Istaera, Osreva, and Volkash¡ªto uncover their mysteries, forge alliances, and unearth the truths hidden within their borders.


    <ul>


    <li>[Trace the Shadows of Nolei]: Venture into Nolei¡¯s forested lands, where dark magic weaves through ancient trees and threatens all who enter.</li>


    <li>[Seek the Fey¡¯s Blessing in Evron]: Traverse Evron¡¯s mystical forests and lush plains, where feykind and mortal tensions demand delicate negotiation.</li>


    <li>[Navigate the Swamps of Malrith]: Brave the treacherous swamps of Malrith, uncovering secrets hidden beneath its wet and shadowy depths.</li>


    <li>[Harness the Magic of Deneir]: Explore the central plains of Deneir, where magic pulses through the heart of Elysium, shaping the land and its people.</li>


    <li>[Sail the Sapphire Coasts of Istaera]: Cross the shores of the western lakelands, uncovering the riches and dangers that lurk in its trade coves.</li>


    <li>[Survive the Wastes of Osreva]: Journey through the vast desert of Osreva, past towering mountains and an active volcano that guards its fiery heart.</li>


    <li>[Ascend the Peaks of Volkash]: Confront the jagged, mountainous terrain of Volkash, where the echoes of the Dark One¡¯s rise still haunt the land.</li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    <li>[Find Your Mate: Rennar] (Quest, Shared)


    <ul>


    <li>Objective: Your heart seeks Rennar, the one who stood beside you in battle and life before fate tore you apart. Search for the mate who once shared your bond and prove whether your connection endures.


    <ul>


    <li>Trace the Past: Discover the path Rennar took once he was taken from you.</li>


    <li>Honor the Bond: Recall and embody the values you shared with Rennar through a significant act of strength or leadership.</li>


    <li>Confront the Unknown: Face those who stand between you and Rennar, whether enemies, obstacles, or doubts.</li>


    <li>Reforge the Connection: Reunite with Rennar and reaffirm your bond through words and action, proving your loyalty and love.</li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    <li><b><b>[The One Who Rules]:</b><i> </i></b>Helia, your former apprentice, has grown bold¡ªtoo bold. She claims power that was never hers to wield and stands as a rival in a world that should bow to you. The dark essence stirring within your soul commands you to act. You cannot allow her defiance to go unchallenged. Strength is justice, and your strength is absolute.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    EquipmentUnauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    <ul>


    <li>[Cloak of the Raven]: This elegant black cloak, woven with threads of shadow and adorned with subtle feather-like patterns, embodies the freedom and cunning of the raven, granting the wielder the ability to levitate in shadows and transform into a raven for one hour a day.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Achievements


    <ul>


    <li>[If You Only Had a Heart]: Through the ashes of your former glory, you have found a new source of power: compassion. By opening yourself to another''s suffering, you gain the ability to both give and take the essence that binds all living things.</li>


    <li>[Consume the Pain]: You have found the remnants of a tortured soul¡ªits body chained to a bed, its empty eyes seeming to plead for release. The corpse''s suffering lingers, trapped in the essence that lingers in its old bones. By consuming it, you grow stronger.</li>


    <li>[Make the Impossible Possible]: Only the daring reject common sense and drill their way to a greater tomorrow. For successfully casting a spell you were certain you wouldn''t survive casting, you grow stronger.</li>


    <li>[Shards of the Dark Lord]: You have found and consumed a fragment of your progenitor''s power. Through his dark might, you grow stronger</li>


    <li>[The Hunted]: By using your senses to hunt those who would hunt you and your allies, you have your perception to a greater degree. You have honed your elven senses to a greater degree.</li>


    <li>[You Are Strongest]: By dredging up forgotten abilities from your past life, you were able to defeat Graul the troll, a creature far stronger than you and absorbed his dark essence. In being willing to sacrifice everything, you have grown stronger.</li>


    <li>[A New Friend in Need]: Through an unexpected act of compassion, you healed a person in need while expecting nothing in return. This selfless gesture stirs something deep within you, awakening a new spell.</li>


    <li>[Secrets of the Wall]: By reading the last words of one destined to die, you have regained a portion of your former strength. Though only a small kernel of knowledge, these words unlock further understanding.</li>


    <li>[[A Dark Lord''s Rise]: Though you sought freedom from the shadows of your past, fate¡ªand the schemes of others¡ªhave bound you anew to a mantle you did not seek. The cycle continues anew...</li>


    <li>[Breaking the Chains of Fate]: When faced with the mantle of the Dark Lord, you choose freedom over power, rejecting your fate and forging your own destiny. The cycle is broken.</li>


    <li>[The Thing You Refused to Lose]: There comes a moment when even the most resolute must face a choice that defines their very soul. You have sacrificed great power for the sake of what you cherish most, proving that your heart is not for sale, even to the allure of ultimate power. For this, you are rewarded not with strength but with the return of what you hold most dear. </li>


    <li>[New Allies, New Resources]: <i>Through cunning and diplomacy, you have claimed new vassals and secured a stronghold, bolstering your influence over the world. These vassals bring unique skills, resources, and invaluable knowledge, while your base of operations provides a haven for your companions, a repository for your growing wealth, and a sanctuary where you can chart your course in solitude. The foundations of your power grow stronger with every alliance you forge.</i></li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    <hr>


    Vassals


    Odana, Ophida Fey''ra Courtesan


    Zethari, Lupana Fey''ra Warrior


    <hr>


    <hr>


    Zethari


    Lupana Fey¡¯ra Warrior


    Level IX


    <hr>


    Lupana


    ????¡î


    <ul>


    <li>[Feral Instincts] (Passive): Your instincts are honed to a razor edge. At rank II, you react with lightning speed to danger and can anticipate enemy movements with uncanny accuracy.</li>


    <li>[Enhanced Physique] (Passive): Your Lupana heritage grants enhanced strength, agility, and resilience, making you tougher and faster than most mortals.</li>


    <li>[Pack Tactics] (Passive): When working with allies, your attacks and abilities become more coordinated, increasing their effectiveness and dealing additional damage when striking an enemy your allies are also targeting.</li>


    <li>[Howl of the Alpha] (Active, Cost ?): Let loose a powerful howl that emboldens your allies and demoralizes enemies, temporarily increasing the damage and defense of allies within range and reducing the effectiveness of nearby enemies.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Fey¡¯ra


    ???¡î¡î


    <ul>


    <li>[War Form] (Active, Reserve ???): Take on a powerful war form, blending the primal strength of your Lupana heritage with the supernatural grace of the Fey¡¯ra. In this form, you gain increased physical strength, heightened agility, and enhanced durability. Your senses become razor-sharp, and you radiate an aura of intimidation.</li>


    <li>[Magic Resistance] (Passive): A faint shimmer of otherworldly magic surrounds you at all times, providing minor protection against magical attacks and heightening your resistance to mind-altering effects.</li>


    <li>[Locked]</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Warrior


    ??¡î¡î¡î


    <ul>


    <li>[Warrior¡¯s Arsenal] (Passive): You are skilled with a variety of weapons and can adapt quickly to different fighting styles. Additionally, you can learn a limited number of Warrior class abilities.


    <ul>


    <li>[Cleave] (1st Tier, Active, Cost ?): Swing your weapon in a wide arc, striking multiple enemies in front of you. This skill is ideal for crowd control and delivers increased damage to groups of weaker foes.</li>


    <li>[Riposte] (1st Tier, Active, Cost ?): A defensive skill allowing you to counterattack after successfully blocking or dodging an attack, dealing significant damage to your attacker.</li>


    <li>[Focused Strike] (2nd Tier, Active, Cost ??): Channel your strength into a single, devastating blow aimed at a vulnerable point on your enemy, dealing heavy damage and potentially bypassing some defenses.</li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    <li>[Battle Stance] (Active, Reserve ?): Shift into a combat stance that enhances your speed and precision, granting a temporary boost to your physical stats and increasing your critical hit chance.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Enhancements


    <ul>


    <li>[Evasion I] (Perk II): Improves your ability to dodge incoming attacks, increasing your agility and reaction time.</li>


    <li>[Might II] (Perk IV, VI): Increases the potency of your physical abilities, allowing your strikes to deal more damage and penetrate defenses more effectively.</li>


    <li>[Resilience I] (Perk VIII): Increases your stamina and reduces the impact of injuries, allowing you to endure longer in combat.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Patron


    Abad-Shai, Shadowspawn Sun Elf Warlock of the Mask


    Bond I


    <ul>


    <li>[Embrace of the Abyss] (Passive): Darkness and shadows strengthen you. When in darkness or shadow, you gain an increase to your physical abilities equal to one rank of any physical enhancement, and existing enhancements grow one rank stronger. You also gain the become difficult to detect with both physical and magical senses as long as you¡¯re in darkness, stacking with ranks of the [Stealth] enhancement.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Titles


    <ul>


    <li>[Alpha]: As one destined to lead, your presence inspires loyalty in allies and hesitation in enemies. Allies gain a small morale boost when near you.</li>


    <li>[Defender of the Pack]: Your commitment to protecting your companions has granted you a minor aura of resilience, reducing damage taken by those within your immediate vicinity.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Quests


    <ul>


    <li>[Find Your Mate: Rennar] (Quest, Shared)


    <ul>


    <li>Objective: Your heart seeks Rennar, the one who stood beside you in battle and life before fate tore you apart. Search for the mate who once shared your bond and prove whether your connection endures.


    <ul>


    <li>Trace the Past: Discover the path Rennar took once he was taken from you.</li>


    <li>Honor the Bond: Recall and embody the values you shared with Rennar through a significant act of strength or leadership.</li>


    <li>Confront the Unknown: Face those who stand between you and Rennar, whether enemies, obstacles, or doubts.</li>


    <li>Reforge the Connection: Reunite with Rennar and reaffirm your bond through words and action, proving your loyalty and love.</li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Equipment


    <hr>


    Achievements


    <ul>


    <li>[Warrior of the Clan]: Born into battle, you earned your place as a warrior through countless trials, honing your combat instincts to perfection.</li>


    <li>[Protector of the Wilds]: Your strength has defended your homeland and kin, earning you a reputation as a guardian feared by your enemies.</li>


    <li>[Defender of the Pack]: You defended your clan against overwhelming odds, proving your strength and loyalty. Not even the mightiest foes can break your resolve.</li>


    <li>[Ogre Slayer]: You stood alone against an ogre, defeating the massive beast through sheer strength and cunning. The echoes of your triumph inspire others.</li>


    <li>[Alpha Ascendant]: You claimed your rightful place as alpha by defeating a rival in a test of might and leadership. Your dominance is undisputed.</li>


    <li>[Unbroken Chains]: Even while outnumbered, you stood your ground against eleven slavers, striking fear into their hearts before succumbing to their combined efforts.</li>


    <li>[Iron Will]: You fought off an enchantment meant to enslave your mind, demonstrating unyielding willpower in the face of magical coercion.</li>


    <li>[A Leap of Faith]: In a moment of vulnerability and defiance, you chose to place your trust in one who could have been your enemy, forging the first link in a chain of mutual respect and loyalty.</li>


    <li>[Serve the Creator]: By choosing to serve one of your people''s creators, you have forged a bond of loyalty and purpose, accepting their guidance to achieve a greater destiny.</li>


    </ul>

 II-XX. The Battle of Sythric

    Shani watched as dozens of lupana poured out of the forest. No, not just wolves. Fey''ra of all kinds were rushing from the burning trees and toward them.


    "We''ve got some company." She pointed her sword and heard the others groan.


    Her blood froze. There was no way they could face so many. They were dead. The fey''ra had been attacking the wagons only minutes before, and it took everything they had to hold them off earlier.


    However, she noticed that none were looking at the retreating wagons or the party. No. Their eyes were locked on the monster before them. Zethari howled, and the dozens of howls responded. They weren''t coming to finish her and her party off. The beastkin were rushing to their aid. "I think they''re coming to help!" She shouted as she pointed to the beast people.


    "Thank the Goddess." Kjormur groaned.


    "Form up!" Firtz shouted. He planted his back against his nephew''s, and Shani followed. Shani scanned the area. A-Nis had placed herself atop a nearby rock, her bowstring snapping endlessly, and En-In was finishing healing Zethari nearby. In the distance, she could see the undead shambling toward them.


    "Zethari!" Shani called to the woman. The wolf''s yellow eyes met hers. "The undead." She pointed to them.


    Zethari''s eyes followed, then grew wide. The woman howled, and a dozen howls responded. Some of the fey''ra broke off and ran that way.


    "I keep telling you he''s a goddamn devil!" Firtz shouted behind Shani.


    She turned and glared. "Oh, I thought you said you always knew he was a good one?"


    "I never said that, you goddamn string bean!"


    "Not now, Firtz!" She snapped at her longtime ally. "We don''t know what happened, but we''ve all noticed he''s felt off. There''s got to be a reason."


    "Yeah? Well we gotta live long enough to learn it, and I''ll not die for him today." The dwarf leveled his axe.


    "If it''s him or us, I''ll always choose us. But we should still try." He had made so much progress. She still didn''t believe he deserved to die.


    "Fine! But I''m not going easy on him." He leveled his axe at the monster. "What''s the plan, battle master?" He asked in his smarmiest tone.


    Shani didn''t have an answer.


    Her sister kept loosing arrows at the titanic beast towering over the area, but none of them seemed to slow it down. The thing had grown twice as tall as the largest troll, and it seemed to be growing more. "Fucker''s tough. I need more skin. Can you all do something about that?"


    Shani nodded. "Alright, we can do that." Zethari was watching them from afar. "We need to tear some feathers free!"


    Zethari nodded, then exploded into action. She reached the monster first. Her leap carried her high into the air as she unleashed a flurry of blows against the beast''s neck, shoulders, and face. It hardly seemed fazed. She ducked and slashed as a black claw came careening out of the sky. It narrowly missed the fey''ra warrior as she ducked under it. The woman used the opportunity to launch herself up and into the thing''s breast. Shani saw feathers fall free as she did, but the creature''s massive hand reached for the woman. Shani arrived just in time.


    [Perfect Block]


    The monster''s hand bounced off her shield and was repelled upward. She spun in, swinging her sword into its foot. She felt the sword bite through the feathers, tearing some free. Zethari howled as she leaped away, and Firtz filled the void, slamming his axe into the nightmare''s chest with the strength of five men. His axe buried into the monster''s body.


    Even the thing that had been Abad recoiled from a strike like that. The dwarf leaped backward and laughed as his magical weapon, blessed by the Goddess''s light, pulled motes of power from the monster. Three arrows struck where the axe had been buried, causing the monster to screech again.


    "Told ye I wouldn''t go easy. Take that ye damn monster!"


    "Hurry! Circle it and attack the back if you can, and keep moving!" Shani shouted as the mosnter nearly struck him. "Don''t get cocky!"


    "Kjormur cast [Bless] on them all. Shani felt her movements grow sharper. The world slowed a bit, and her muscles sang as they pumped with the Goddess''s light.


    [Perfect Block]


    She blocked another attack with her shield, and Firtz buried his axe into the monster''s leg. Just then, three fey''ra leaped onto its back and raked feathers free. It screeched, and a single flap of its wings sent all but Shani and Firtz flying backward. The air howled as it tore past her.


    "Abad!" Shani shouted. "Abad, snap out of it!" Her cries were drowned out by a series of screeches that erupted from it as arrows peppered the thing''s legs, chest, and neck. The began to stick everywhere the feathers had been torn free, and black fluid wept from them onto the grass below.


    Glaring at them all, the massive thing lifted its arms, and dark power poured out of it and rose into the sky. Her eyes followed the energy upward. A ball of black and purple energy filled the night sky. It hung there like a second moon.


    "I don''t like the looks of that!" Firtz shouted. He was sweating and shaking as he ran up next to her. "I knew the fucker was tough, but this is ridiculous! Whatever this thing is, it''s insanely strong."


    Another attack came barreling down from above. This time, Shani pushed Firtz aside.


    [Perfect Block]


    Her arm nearly buckled from the force of the blow. The thing was getting stronger.


    [Riposte]


    Before it could draw its arm back, she struck its wrist, and black blood sprayed across them. It smelled foul and tasted bitter.Stolen novel; please report.


    "We''re not backing down!" She shouted as she blocked another blow with [Perfect Block]. That strike nearly caused her legs to buckle. Her arms were shaking, and she knew that, without that skill, she''d be dead. Firtz saw an opening and attacked, and four fey''ra circled the creature, biting and nipping at every opening.


    She heard En-In''s voice from behind them. "The undead are almost here!"


    "Zethari, tell them all to fight the undead! If they don''t, we''re dead." Shani shouted.


    The fey''ra responded with a howl. The that were assisting them broke away and rushed to meet the undead in combat. As soon as the sounds left her lips, she was already back on the beast, striking it anywhere she could reach. Shani rushed in to assist.


    [Heroic Strike]


    Her sword flashed, and she felt her strength double. Her sword bit into the monster''s leg, and thick black blood oozed out of the wound she''d made. She tried to pull her sword free, but it was stuck in the monster''s limb. it swiped at her, and there was no time to dodge or block. She was sure she was dead.


    However, Zethari caught the limb, giving Shani time to pull her sword free and retreat, then tried to leap away, but its massive black beak struck at her.


    She was too slow.


    The bird-monster clamped onto her thigh, piercing her leg and lifting her into the air. Zethari shrieked, clawing at the monster as it thrashed her from side to side, and an anguished wolf''s cry sounded in the distance. A perfectly placed arrow struck the beast''s nostril, causing it to throw the wolf woman away like a child''s ragdoll. The woman landed on the ground and was still.


    "Heal her!" She saw Kjormur rush to Zethari''s side.


    For just an instant, the monster faltered. Another arrow sunk deep into its eye. It fell back another step. In that moment, Shani saw her group''s first advantage.


    "Press forward!" Firtz roared as rushed forward and swung his axe. It bit into the monster''s leg. Several arrows flew past him and lodged into the thing''s belly. Its hand tried to sweep Firtz aside, but Shani was there.


    [Perfect Block]


    Firtz roared and struck again and again. With each stroke, more power poured into Firtz until the dwarf seemed to be alight with holy flames. His axe began to glow. When it bit into the beast''s flesh again, the black feathers sizzled and burned.


    "That''s it!" Shani shouted. She stopped attacking and focused entirely on guarding her friend, but it took everything she had to do so. Each time an attack landed on her shield, she was pushed back. Her arm had long since gone numb. There was a sharp pain in her shoulder. However, she gritted her teeth and pushed through.


    A wave of holy light washed over the area, empowering them again. This time, the beast seemed to be weakened by the light. Arrows sunk deep into the beast''s breast as it wobbled, trying to regain its balance. Firtz approached from behind and slammed his axe into the beast''s knee, eliciting another screech as it was thrown onto its knees.


    [Flash Strike]


    Shani''s sword was barely a blur. It split the air with a loud whistle and tore into the monster''s throat. Blood poured onto the ground as it stumbled. A humanoid wolf''s form leaped over her and clawed at the monster''s face. An instant later, a beam of white light struck it in the other eye.


    "It''s working!" Shani shouted. She was breathing hard. She raised her sword as she charged again. "Don''t let¡ª" The ground shook beneath her. She was thrown from her feet. Something heavy slammed into her shoulder, and she heard a bone crack. She saw the sky for a long moment before she hit the ground, and everything went black.


    ***


    The goddamn idiot. That''s all Firtz could think as he hacked away at the idiot''s back. Sure, it had gotten bigger, scarier, and much harder to fight, but it was still a weak little elf underneath, one who was going to get them all killed.


    "Stupid fucking¡ª" The next swing of his axe connected. The axe sizzled against the monster''s skin, and the heat seemed to spread across his body, "¡ªidiot of an elf!" He continued shouting as he hewed into the monster''s flank. It shrieked in pain and struck him with a wing. He was thrown, but someone caught him. He kicked and bit, and whatever it was let go. He turned, bringing his axe to bear, and found a massive wolf man.


    "I will help." The man said. Its eyes were watching Zethari taking on the idiot elf from the front.


    Firtz turned back toward the village and could see at least a hundred undead doing battle with the other beast people. "Go help them!" He shouted while pointing.


    "My pack will do battle with them. I am needed here." The creature said with a snarl. Then, his body moved faster than the dwarf could follow. In an instant, he was upon the elf''s massive back.


    Firtz rushed in for another assault. Two more swings. He watched with satisfaction as black feathers fell free and black blood poured onto the grass, soaking the earth below.


    He heard Shani''s voice from his side. "Don''t let¡ª" Shani''s voice cut off. He watched as the string bean flew through the air.


    The dwarf''s blood turned to fire. All he could see was red.


    [Mighty Rush]


    He charged into the thing''s back. He could hear its shrieks filling the air as it was thrown onto its front. Firtz climbed its back and began hacking away at it as if it were ore. He wouldn''t lose any allies this day.


    "Boy!" He shouted to his nephew. "Heal the string bean!"


    "Not yet!" Kjormur shouted back. Damn kids not respecting their elder''s wishes.


    A lance of ice shot into the monster''s side. Firtz turned to see En-In warp into view. The youngin'' decided to join the fight. About damn time. He''d been holding back the whole time. What the hell was his problem anyway? The boy had talent and potential, but he acted like a giant baby.


    He could hear Kjormur''s spell song reverberating through the night air. Firtz felt the air grow hot, and a thin ray of light descended from the sky.


    "Get back!" He grabbed both the wolf people by the scruff and pulled, wrenching them free just as a wave of searing light descended from the heavens.


    The air shimmered for an instant before everything exploded into light. Firtz'' shielded himself from it as the idiot elf roared in agony. Firtz could smell scorched feathers and flesh as the holy light burned Abad. After a minute, the light began to fade, revealing the massive creature beneath.


    Its feathers were nearly burned away, revealing gray and black scaled flesh beneath. It shuddered as its scorched skin smoked. Massive wounds had opened across its body, weeping more black fluid, which spilled on the grass as the light faded away. Everything the blood touched rotted, and small motes of energy floated up, entering the creature''s skin.


    Firtz cursed. The monster was like nothing he''d ever seen or heard of. It was raw power.


    The monster that was Abad screeched, and black energy poured from its mouth, eyes, and wounds and soared into the sky above. The purplish moon grew dark and large as the energy entered it. As it did, the ground began to warp and split.


    "What in the hell..." The words died in Firtz''s throat. He stared dumbly as the abomination in front of him grew even more, and black energy began to ooze from fissures in the ground, swirling around it before rising into the sky.


    A dozen arrows peppered the thing''s exposed skin, causing it to falter and stumble. It screamed in protest to the night, but the arrows and continued attack by the two fey''ra weakened it. When it stumbled, a great wolf pounced onto its back. A flap of the monster''s wings sent it flying, but another took its place. En-In launched several frost spears into the beast, and Kjormur began preparing his next spell. Firtz channeled another [Holy Smite] into his axe and charged.


    He leaped into the air, channeling all the strength in his body as he swung his axe up, then, with a mighty heave, he drove it into the elf''s feathered skull. His axe, enhanced by the Goddess''s light, buried into his skull until Firtz felt it reach his brain pan. He heard the skull crack as he put every ounce of strength in his body into the blow. Black blood sprayed onto his face and neck. He spat it away, grimacing.


    With that final attack, the monster toppled. He knelt down to leave off the idiot''s back, but before he could jump, its skin crackled with black energy.


    "Get back!"


    The two fey''ra leaped away just as a wave of black energy burst forth from it. He was struck full force by the energy, which ripped through him, shattered his breastplate, and sent him flying. He spun end over end through the air until he landed on his side, hard. His axe skittered away. He coughed. His armor had crumpled under that last strike. He definitely broke a rib, or five.


    "Dammit..." He spat blood as he lost consciousness.

 II-XXI. A Dark Moon Rises

    En-In watched as a wave of energy from the Abad''s massive form struck Firtz. An instant later, he and the others were hit by the black energy too. He was thrown back. The air erupted from his lungs when he hit something hard, and for a moment, everything went black.


    When he came to, he saw that only A-Nis still stood. She was desperately shooting arrow after arrow into the shadowspawn, but the great being barely seemed to notice them. Its feathers had reappeared in spots, and now that it could focus solely on her, it blocked most of the arrows with its great arms before they struck. Its feathers had largely returned to its upper body and legs, though not its wings, which were a mess of feathers, scales, and burned flesh.


    En-In''s breath caught as he watched the woman. She was the very pinnacle of beauty, grace, and heroism in this dark, miserable world. The woman leaped over and dodged around every attack from the monster, her movements somehow faster than the god she fought. He struggled to look away, watching as the monstrous being that decided to descend to this mortal plane struggled against a goddess born of it. He would never be worthy of her.


    A nearby groan pulled his attention away. He shook his head and turned. He found Firtz lying face down in a pool of his blood. The man was out cold. Nearby, Shani was lying in a heap as well. Near her, Kjormur groaned. The man was awake, but his leg bent the wrong way. He couldn''t see Zethari or the other fey''ra that had been helping them. However, a few howls in the distance sounded like them. He didn''t know. He could only hope.


    Turning back to the monster, he watched as it gained ground. She was tiring, and her quiver was looking lean.


    A terrible thought bubbled up in him. He tried to resist it, but it disregarded his wishes.


    It was all up to him now.


    He braced himself against the rock he''d struck and wobbled to his feet. He wiped his hand across his forehead, which came away covered in blood. He tried to steady himself, but his vision swam and his body shook. He was scared. This was far outside of his skill set. However, when the beast screamed and charged at the woman that he... toward his friend, he moved without thinking.


    "A-Nis!"


    [Insibility]


    The woman''s eyes met his for a brief instance before she winked out of sight. The monster roared and swiped the air, but no sound emitted from the blow. He''d saved her. He breathed a sigh of relief until it turned its beady eyes toward him.


    "Oh no."


    He wasn''t built for this sort of fighting. He should be lounging on a comfortable bed in some court right now. Flirting with noblewomen. Being scrubbed by some serving maid that he was in the process of wooing. He shouldn''t be here.


    He lifted his hand and channeled some mana into a spellform he''d recently learned.


    [Ice Lance]


    A spear of ice shot out of his hand and struck the monster''s face. It shattered on its skin, doing nothing. En-In blinked. Nothing. No dent. No scratch. Not even a mark.


    However, as the monster gave him a cockeyed look with its beady black raven''s eyes, its beak working and wings pumping as it considered him, En-In realized he had actually done something.


    He''d pissed it off.


    But, in doing so, he gave A-Nis time to get away. He heard footsteps retreating into the night. He sighed. That was good...


    The monster took a step toward him. Then another. His eyes widened.


    "Oh shit." He turned as fast as he could. The ground shook as the creature closed the gap with every step. He knew he wouldn''t make it to safety. He ran toward some rocks near the riverbank. Luckily, they were big enough to conceal him. He jumped behind the nearest, crouched, and cast another spell.


    [Invisibility]


    He watched his body vanish from sight. For an instant, he breathed a sigh of relief. He leaned against the rock, shaking. If it couldn''t see him, he''d be able to slip away into the night to safety. Maybe he could heal the others. He wasn''t as good at it as Kjormur, but he was glad he''d learned how. It came in handy and took some of the burden away from the noble dwarf. If he got away and healed the others, they could regroup and try something new. He would be a hero. He''d save everyon¡ª


    A thunderous impact brought his attention back to the present. Rocks rained down upon him, and the air was filled with dust. He coughed as the panic set back in.


    "Shit!" That was stupid. Why''d he stop?!


    He darted out of from behind the rock just as a massive taloned hand crashed down onto it. He felt shards rain on his back as godlike being behind him picked up the remains of the stone and crushed them. He tripped on a stick, then quickly crawled back to his feet. The creature followed, likely following his footsteps. He was so dead.


    He sprinted to the river, not sure of where he was going, but a massive flap of the monster''s wings sent him soaring. He scrambled in the air, feeling weightless for the first time in his too-short life. He tried to grab something, anything, but there was only air. So he did the only thing that came to mind. He flapped his wings. It didn''t work.


    He plunged into the river, which was far too cold for his refined tastes. He pushed his prissiness away. It wasn''t the time! He didn''t know which way was up, so he chose at random. Three strokes later, he touched the river''s bottom. He spun underwater and kicked off the ground, emerging just as his lungs started to burn. He sucked in a breath of air, but the screech of the shadow monster pulled his eyes back to the shore. It was following him up the riverbank, using its hearing or sense of smell or something to track him. Wait? Didn''t Abad usually track people by their essence? Could this thing do that too? How much of Abad was left inside of it? The terrible thought struck him like a bolt between the eyes. He looked at the monster. Its black eyes weren''t directly on him, they weren''t far off. Its senses were keen.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    "Shit shit shit." He took a deep breath and dove beneath the water''s surface again. He let the river take him. Once he''d gone as far as he could on a single breath, he surfaced and looked toward the shore. The beast was still where he had been, clawing at the water to get to him. En-In was relieved. It seemed as if Abad''s intellect wasn''t present any longer. The elf would have never fallen for such a stupid trick.


    In the distance, En-In could see the weird purple orb thing in the sky behind it and shuddered. It was no longer a smooth sphere any longer. Instead, the energy rippled and danced. He knew that wasn''t good. It wasn''t good at all. However, when the bird monster turned its head toward him, he realized there was nothing he could do about it and let the river take him. He was just a simple musician and amateur mage. How could he possibly do anything about it?


    He emerged farther downriver. His invisibility hadn''t worn off yet. He thanked the Goddess for that. It didn''t take much damage to make it fade. The monster was still searching for him upstream, so he carefully swam to the riverbank and pulled himself out. He was about even with the smoldering village now and gave it a long glance. Only a few houses were still burning, the rest either abandoned or destroyed already. The battle was still underway between the fey''ra and the undead, but by the looks of it, the fey''ra were handily winning. Despite being fewer in number, the fey''ra were far more powerful. As he watched, he saw the beastkin using superior tactics and terrain to their advantage. They had corralled large groups of undead together and circled them. Darting in and out of buildings and between rocks and structures, the undead''s slow and unthinking responses couldn''t keep up with the hit-and-run tactics of the beast people...


    He had an idea. He dove back into the water and swam to the other side. As he pulled himself out of the water, he heard a noise from the monster upriver. It had found him. Heavy footsteps filled the air as he took off running. He reached the forest''s edge, turned to find the creature had already caught up to him, nearly screamed, then disappeared into the trees. His invisibility had worn off. Running ten or so trees into the burning forest, he was struck by a wall of smoke and ash. He coughed violently, but a deafening screech filled the air. He could hear movement, then the flapping of wings.


    "Oh no no no no no!"


    En-In didn''t know Abad''s nightmare wings were for more than show. How could they possibly carry him through the air? He was massive. He turned and ran deeper into the trees just as a massive impact rocked the forest. The trees around him cracked and shattered as the monster crashed down beside him. He screamed and ran the other way. He prayed that the creature wouldn''t be able to take off again amid the trees, and maybe, just maybe, they''d slow him down.


    When he''d run twenty, maybe thirty trees deep, something roughly grabbed him and pulled him to itself. He screamed again, but a hand covered his mouth.


    "Quiet." The voice, a woman''s, was deep and familiar, but he didn''t want to take any chances. He bit her hand, but it didn''t budge. "Funny one, do not do that. I will let go. Do not shout."


    He nodded. "Zethari?" He mumbled through her hand.


    "Yes," she whispered. "Come."


    She pulled him deeper into the burning forest. Trees crashed in the distance, but En-In was relieved that they did seem to slow the monster down. Once they''d gone a ways, a man stepped out from behind a nearby tree. He was a fey''ra, but he''d reverted to his human-like form, which he could only assume was to hide better. The man had long, thick grey hair, a short beard, and wolf ears. En-In felt envy. He was made of nothing but muscles and handsomeness. The bard could see other sets of glowing eyes in the forest around them. The man gestured for them to follow. As he did, another tree shattered in the distance. A short distance later, they entered a small opening in the trees, and two dozen fey''ra of all types stood within. The man turned to En-In as other fey''ra bled out of the trees. The bard''s body trembled. He knew the stories. He was going to be eaten.


    "Do not be afraid, friend of my mate." The man said calmly. "I am sorry we do not have time for formal introductions, but I am Rennar." The man nodded his head.


    "En-In."


    "Well met." The man frowned as another tree shattered in the distance. "I do not remember much from the past months. My mind is a haze. However, I remember that sod''ra, that horrible witch, speaking many times to me. I was..." he scowled, "... her prized pet. I was privy to much, though I understood little."


    "Anything would help now, Rennar. What do you know?"


    "The witch spoke often about some ritual. She said the stars are uniquely aligned this year. She planned to use this event to perform her magic. To do so, she claimed many souls. She would have claimed ours as well, but we have been spared that fate by the other sod''ra. In doing so, it seems he lost himself."


    En-In knew for certain then that these fey''ra were the cause of the disappearances that Abad had spoken of.


    "However, she was too weak to perform her magic without more essence, and she was waiting for the Long Night. It seems that the other sod''ra, the Nightstalker as my mate called him, does not have her limitations. He is stronger than the witch. He accomplished what she could not, but I fear that he now threatens us all."


    "What do you mean?"


    "I do not know much. The ritual was to summon a being to this world during the Long Night. She would absorb its essence and become a goddess. Yet somehow, the other sod''ra has usurped her plans, and now the ritual completes itself. She spoke of this being a possibility and was careful. It seems she was not nearly careful enough."


    "What does that mean for us?"


    "The ritual is reaching completion." He pointed to the sky. Within is something more powerful than even the Nightstalker''s true form. A god in the flesh. A bringer of death. A world eater. And it will have no master."


    "But how''ll we beat that?" En-In asked, trembling.


    The wolf-man placed a hand on his shoulder. "We won''t. We need to buy our pack mates time to escape. When it is born, we will all die. We can only hope to save as many as we can. My people have caused enough harm. I would see some good be done before I die."


    "Rennar, you should run with them. I will stay and fight. The Nightstalker is my oath-holder. It is my duty to fight for him, even if he has rejected me." Zethari said.


    Rennar growled. "No. I will not leave you. Not again." Something passed between them.


    "Then we will die together, my mate." The wolf woman smiled at En-In. "And you too. You will fight." Zethari''s voice left little room for argument.


    En-In''s heart pounded. A bead of sweat rolled down his cheek. His fingers twitched. His heart screamed for him to run.


    "Tell me, do you think you can harm the Dark God?"


    "The... Dark God?" He murmured. "No. Not at all."


    "Can any here?"


    He shook his head. "No, none of us can... except..." Kjormur. If anyone could, a servant of the Goddess could. "My companion is chosen by the Goddess. I''ve seen him harness her power. Maybe..."


    "I have seen his power as well. The Bright One rests in his spirit." Zethari added.


    "Good, then bring him to us. We will hold him off until he arrives." Rennar commanded.


    En-In shook his head. "No. Let''s lead it to him." He saw the resistance on their faces, so he added, "Plus, Kjormur''s injured. It''s the only way I can see it working. And if he''s going to pull off something big enough to hurt Abad, then maybe it''ll affect the thing in the sky too."


    "A good idea, En-In." Zethari placed a hand on his shoulder.


    "That is what we will do." Rennar transformed into his war form and howled. The noise changed pitch and tone as he did. En-In realized they could communicate complex ideas through their calls. A hundred howls returned his call, and he watched as the other fey''ra changed shape before their eyes disappeared into the trees. A moment later, he was alone. En-In didn''t like it, but he was trapped now. It wasn''t like he could escape.


    With a deep breath, he turned and ran after them.

 II-XXII. Judgement

    Kjormur groaned as he channeled healing light into his leg. He felt the bones snap as the Goddess''s light flowed through him. The pain nearly caused him to black out.


    As he mended his body, he heard the monster screeching in the distance. He looked up to see the monster running down the river, following something that couldn''t be seen. He hoped it was their resident scoundrel buying them time, then prayed that he''d survive. If it was him, En-In had done well. The farther away it was, the longer he had to heal and prepare. He felt the energy of his spell start to dissipate.


    "Goddess, preserve us. Let us vanquish this foe," he muttered. A final pop in his knee sent electricity down to his toes, but once the pain subsided, he knew he could stand. He used his mace to stand up. His shield had shattered in the last exchange, so he pulled the remaining pieces off his arm and threw them aside. Once he was on his feet, he searched for the others. Nearby, he saw his uncle on the ground. Farther away was Shani. Those were the only two he could see.


    His heart sank.


    [Detect Life]


    A haze appeared in his vision, allowing him to see the life force of nearby creatures. He sensed A-Nis in the distance. She felt relatively whole. Looking at Shani, he saw that her life force was strong enough, though she''d need healing in the coming days. Firtz, however... He rushed to his uncle''s side.


    [Heal Greater Wounds]


    All but the last wisps of mana left his soul and flowed into the old paladin. The man groaned. His entire breastplate had shattered, and it looked like his chest had shattered with it. Kjormur knew his spell wasn''t enough to heal him fully. Firtz stirred for a while, then groaned in pain. As he did, Kjormur watched as the monster leaped over the river, flapped its great wings, and glided into the forest. It landed, shaking the forest itself, and soon after, it was tearing through the trees as if they were little more than twigs.


    A terrible thought came to him. How could they possibly stand up against such a foe?


    "Boy..." Firtz coughed. Kjormur looked down to see blood dripping from his uncle''s mouth.


    "Uncle. Be still."


    "No lad. I need to help."


    "But you''re¡ª"


    "Quiet boy!" He forced himself up. "The others?"


    "Alive," Kjormur said hesitantly.


    "Good." The dwarf''s jaw set. "The elf?"


    "Chasing who I can only assume is En-In through the forest." He pointed. The monster screeched as it ripped through the trees to chase whatever it was that it was chasing.


    "The scrawny shit''s keeping it busy. Good." His uncle reached for his axe. "You have to cast a spell now. A big one." His uncle pointed at the ball of energy in the sky. "I don''t know what that is, but we can''t let it complete itself."


    "I used almost everything I had left healing you, Uncle..."


    "Bah, ye should have left me to rest." Firtz'' face softened. They both knew he wouldn''t have survived. The old man turned to watch the rampaging monster. As it did, a howl filled the air and was met by hundreds more. He watched as dozens of fey''ra broke from the treeline and rushed north.


    "What do I do?" He asked, his voice shaking.


    "You must gather your strength." The old dwarf began struggling to rise. He stood for a moment before falling back down.


    "Hold still, Uncle!"


    Firtz shook his head. "Just... give me a moment." He struggled upright again, leaning heavily on his axe as he did. He managed to stand. "There''s still fight left in me, boy." He laughed, but it turned into a cough that caused the man to spit blood. "Happens when yer a goddamn hero." He laughed again, then shuddered in pain. "With you out of mana, I guess I''ll have to show you all what I''m made of." His uncle leaned on his axe and limped forward. "I''ll get the job done, then I''ll smack that elf around from here to the tower and back once I''ve taken him down a few pegs!"


    Kjormur could hear his uncle''s bones popping back into place under what remained of his armor. A soft light began to emanate from the man. Firtz was healing himself. In that moment, Kjormur knew he''d never reach his uncle. The man truly was larger than life. he was one of the last true heroes in this world.


    Kjormur had so much to learn. "How... can you keep going?"


    "I''m a mighty bastard, remember?" His uncle chuckled. More blood fell from his mouth. "You all could learn a thing or three." His uncle lifted his axe. A faint glow began to surround it. Kjormur watched as his uncle''s shoulder snapped into place. "In the meantime, you''d best get praying. We''ve not got long. I can feel it in my bones. Whatever it is up there is beyond any of us, except for you boy." His uncle turned, and his grey eyes met Kjormur''s. "You''re stronger than you know and blessed by the power that governs this land. If anyone can do it, it''s you."


    Kjormur turned and watched as the black orb in the sky grew larger. It looked like a small purple-black moonlet. What would happen once it finished doing whatever it was doing? A feeling bubbled up in his gut. Whatever it was, it would likely be the end for them.


    The ground swelled, and fissures appeared around them. Black energy oozed out of the earth and rose upward, merging with the thing in the sky. Even more black energy floated from the town. Looking in its direction, he watched as the undead crumbled away, the energy animating them floating toward the thing in the sky. The fey''ra looked confused as their enemies disappeared. Several of their mournful calls filled the night.


    A pang of guilt struck him. He had wanted to save as many as he could. He had wracked his brain to think of a way to bring back the dead. He''d failed them.


    "Boy." Firtz had followed his eyes. "It isn''t your fault. It''s not any of ours, not even that damn elf. Sometimes things are bigger than we are, and we don''t get to control them." His eyes grew dark. "We don''t get to choose our place in this world. We have roles to play, and it''s difficult to escape them. You and I had a good run of it. We were born of nobility, raised right. We were both accepted without hesitation by the temple and supported every step of the way. In so many ways, we''ve been blessed." Firtz'' eyes drifted to the monster carving through the forest. "Not all are so lucky."The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Uncle..."


    "Shush, boy. I''m speaking. Let an old man ramble." The dwarf looked at the village again. "We can''t keep all people safe from all harm. I wish we could, but no one can. Not even the gods themselves, and much less us. But if we work hard and do our best, then we can protect those closest to us." His grey eyes met Kjormur''s. Something was behind them. "Do you want to do that, boy?" Firtz asked him. "Do you want to do what you can?"


    His head turned. How could he possibly do this? He wanted to, but how? His heart hammered in his chest. "Yes."


    "Then remember this. Sometimes it''s our time, and we ought to go willingly into the Goddess''s arms." His uncle''s grip tightened on his axe. "Don''t let it make you bitter. It''s how life goes. We live, we support and protect people while we''re here, then we go back to the stone. That''s the way it is, and that''s alright. That day might be today, or it might be a century from now, but it comes for us all. So, never let fear hold you back from what you have to do."


    Firtz was right. Kjormur was afraid. Deathly afraid. He''d never felt more fear than that moment. He took stock of it and tried to let it go. He felt some relief and spoke. "Why does it have to be this way?"


    Firtz walked up and clasped his forearm.


    His uncle''s grey eyes met his. "Ye''ve got a big heart, lad. Bigger than mine by far. Always have. But no one can protect everybody, and we can''t save everyone from themselves." His uncle squeezed his arm harder. "It doesn''t mean we shouldn''t try. And until it''s your time, you should live life the best you can and always follow your heart. And I''ll be with you every step of the way." A soft smile spread across his uncle''s face.


    A tear fell down Kjormur''s cheek. The weight of what was happening around them hit him like a falling tree. "Uncle..." He threw himself at his uncle, bringing the old dwarf''s body to his. The old man hugged him back.


    "Now do what you have to do. I believe in you."


    His uncle''s voice filled Kjormur''s heart. It gave him strength. And that wasn''t all. He could feel power radiating from his uncle''s spirit and filling him. His uncle''s heat spread through his whole being, filling him with his warmth. The light in his chest grew brighter as golden light filled his vision. His uncle let go, patted him on the cheek, and turned.


    Kjormur looked to the sky. The dark moon continued to swell in the night sky. It had grown twice as large as it had been. The shadows no longer drifted out of the earth like smoke. Instead, they poured like waterfalls into the sky. Small black shapes were forming on the ground, writhing like worms in a mass grave, and some began to hatch into gangly humanoid things. They made him shiver.


    He looked upward and gathered every ounce of willpower left in him. "Goddess, help me with this one." In response, he felt even more light enter his spirit. Something entered his mind. It was a spellform he''d never seen. He traced his fingers through the air, creating a glyph that burned brightly in the night. As he did, the area around him illuminated, becoming as bright as the day.


    A nearby crash pulled his attention away. He saw two shapes leap over the river, followed closely by the great black beast. In one of their arms, something was squirming. It looked like En-In.


    "They''re coming."


    The old dwarf smiled. "Good, because I''m about to show you kids how it''s done." The dwarf roared and charged the monster. As the old man ran, the snap of a bowstring told him A-Nis had joined the fray. A groan to his side revealed that Shani was standing back up. Her movements were unsteady, but her sword was held in front of her. She shouted something in elven and charged.


    His friends weren''t giving up yet, so neither could he.


    He returned to his prayers. The glyph flared. He could feel mana and light coursing through the spellform. He looked back to the evil moon overhead, watching the souls of the dead and the essence of the world swirl around it and enter its core. The orb began to ripple and pulse. Something was coming, and it wouldn''t wait much longer. He channeled his energy, but the spell was beyond anything he''d cast before. As he willed essence into the spellform, his thoughts turned to Abad.


    They hadn''t traveled together for very long. The man often seemed gloomy but was clearly haunted by his past. He oscillated between kindness, superficiality, and brooding, but Kjormur had never sensed malice within him. Instead, the elf seemed adrift. Like many people in this world, he was simply trying to find a way to belong. After the hardships he endured, losing so many so early...


    Kjormur had gone to the temple in Farnfoss and read the histories. He''d read the accounts of the War of Shadows. Of all the death and destruction. But, buried in the histories, were footnotes. And there, in one of the footnotes, he read about the purges. Countless lives were snuffed out in a matter of weeks. Tainted or not, family, friends, elderly, children. Thousands were brutally murdered in the name of justice. In the name of the Goddess.


    He had wondered since how things might have been different if compassion had governed people''s actions instead of hate. Hate and fear and loathing had poisoned people''s hearts, and the results were tragic. The elf... Abad was a product of that. Was it truly fair to judge him so harshly? Or condemn him outright for his afflictions? Kjormur didn''t think so. How much would be different had people been better? Had they reached out a hand instead of judged?


    It was not the place of mortals to judge. Only the Goddess had that gift. It was his lot to forgive. Kjormur would forgive him. He had done what he believed was necessary. He had survived in a world that had done its best to take his life away. Perhaps he''d strayed onto a crooked path by choice, but Kjormur believed all life had worth, even life such as his. Abad deserved peace like every child of the Goddess, but this world seemed determined to deprive him of it. And for that, Kjormur would always feel compassion.


    A sharp cry pulled him back to the battle. The two fey''ra had tackled Abad to the ground. He snapped and howled as he tried to fight them off, but they held him down with all their strength. Ice and arrows and steel slammed into it as his comrades pummeled it again and again.


    Black energy erupted from his wounds and soared into the orb overhead, feeding it. The monster that was Abad struggled still, but the orb in the sky stole his essence away. Abad had shrunk to half his size and could no longer fight against the onslaught brought to bear against him. Soon, darkness radiated from him in waves. Wherever the shadows touched, the land grew barren, and as it did, the orb above shimmered and doubled in size again.


    However, Kjormur wouldn''t let that be the end of this tale.


    "Please, Mother," He whispered to the Goddess, and his heart filled with her warmth. As he spoke, the Great Tower flared to life, and thick strands of white light emerged from the orb of light and snaked through the sky toward them. The Tower of the Moon, barely visible in the far east, flashed, and the orb at its peak, which had long since gone black, began to glow as well. Silver light poured out of it in long thick strands and into the sky, and the light of the Great Tower and its fellow met high above, the pure white of the one mixing with the pale silver of the other. Then, seven more lights flared in each direction, and more light filled the sky high above, meeting in the sky above the dark moon. Kjormur watched as the sky grew bright as the lights of the towers combined.


    "Great Goddess, aid your servant this day," Kjormur cried to the sky. "Help your faithful child vanquish this evil, and guide these poor lost souls back to your bosom!" His prayer finished, and mana and light flooded into his soul. The light of the sigil in front of his hands intensified until it became brighter than the orb at the top of the tower. Tendrils of light high above poured from the sky and into his outstretched hands. Then, it flashed downward, cutting a hole in the black moon above, and for an instant, something was revealed inside. Kjormur''s spirit trembled. Whatever was inside that thing, it made every part of his soul scream.


    As the light grew, it seemed to Kjormur like every ounce of darkness in the world was pulled into the black moon in response. A terrible thought came to him. This was the final moment. The Goddess and her antithesis would decide the future of this world right then, and he was the fulcrum. He couldn''t fail now. The world was in his hands.


    He held on with everything he had, and the final word of the spell came into his mind. He visualized it, then let it go.


    [Judgment]

 II-XXIII. The End of All Things

    Abad returned to himself just as a great spiritual weight pressed down upon him. He tried to resist it, but there was nothing he could do. He felt his body crumble away and let go.


    Then, everything went white.


    ***


    White, endless light. He''d never experienced anything like it. It washed over him, and he submitted to it, letting go of everything. His worries vanished. He let himself sink into that place that wasn''t a place, so like the void, yet entirely dissimilar. Unlike the profound emptiness of the void, which had been filled only by his impotent thoughts, this place felt... full. Soothing. After a time, he had no thoughts at all. He felt only sensations. And peace.


    For the first time, everything was clear. His entire awareness expanded beyond himself, and he could hear a song. All of existence sang with energy. A hundred million songs echoed throughout creation, and he heard it. Each voice called out to him. Each unique, each special in its own way. He listened and understood then that they were all a part of him, just as he was a part of them. And there, far far in the distance, he heard a particularly pleasant song. It sounded familiar to him. His consciousness slipped along through the astral sea towards it.


    He didn''t know how long he was in that state. It was impossible to tell. But in time, something came into view. At first, it was a black dot in the endless white of the astral sea, but slowly, ever so slowly, it grew. Abad watched as it approached with interest. Before long, a human-like figure appeared before him. Her skin was bronze, her hair flame. She gazed upon him with a soft smile. Abad reached for her, she him, and as they touched, the world twisted, and the white sea vanished.


    ***


    He gasped as a cold wind buffeted him. High above, the moon bathed everything in pale silver light. Countless stars shined brilliantly in every direction. He looked down. Under his feet was white stone, which continued forward for several paces before ending in a black line. He stepped toward it and looked over the edge. He could see the stone descend down, down, ever down, disappearing into clouds and mist. Between the clouds, he could make out terrain. Small dots of light shone here and there. He realized they were lights.


    He heard humming behind him. Turning, he saw a woman sitting in a large stone seat. Her hair was golden and adorned with countless scintillating gems, which glowed beneath the light of the full moon. Her eyes, golden, met his. She had a sad smile on her face.


    "Hello." She said. Her voice was melodic. Her golden eyes glowed with an inner light.


    "Do I know you?" He asked. It seemed as if he should, but he couldn''t remember her.


    She stood. Her hair spilled across her shoulders and trailed down to the waistband of her robe. Her golden eyes gazed into his red ones for a long while before she spoke. He felt something deep within him at the sound of her voice. "Yes and no." She curtsied, lifting the fabric of her fine blue robe as she bowed elegantly. "I am pleased to meet you, Abad-Shai."


    A buried memory surfaced. He reached for it, but it slipped out of his mind like grains of sand through his fingers. "I''m sorry. I can''t remember." He bowed.


    Her smile faded. "That is unfortunate, but expected." Her eyes searched him. After a time, she smiled and stepped forward.


    He instinctively backed away, but after a few steps, there was nowhere left to go.


    "How... How did I come here?" He asked, but there was no answer.


    "I brought your soul to me to converse. I wanted to see the man that you became with my own eyes."


    "Then you''re..." she smiled. He didn''t have to say it.


    The Goddess stepped close to him and placed her hand on his cheek. He froze, unsure of what she would do, until her hands slid around his body, and she embraced him. She held him close, her head against his shoulder. His lips parted to speak, but before he could, her lips pressed to his. Her hands caressed his face. Her breath warmed him. It smelled sweet, of honey. Distant memories floated into him as he kissed her back. They fell into an easy rhythm as if they''d done this countless times before.


    After several breathless minutes, she stepped back and clasped his hands. Her eyes met his. "That was my promise to you, all that time ago. One kiss for another. Do you remember now?"


    "I... I do... A little."


    Distant memories filled his mind. Visions of times long past. He couldn''t quite make them out, but he felt them as they filtered through him, pulled out of the dark depths of his mind by the Goddess''s touch. When she released him, he could only gasp. His heart pounded in his chest. Blood rushed to his cheeks. She felt so familiar. Her touch felt so familiar.


    "You have been bound to the world for so long. It''s inevitable that you''d forget." Her eyes turned to the ground, and she was quiet.


    They stood looking at one another for a long time. He didn''t know what to say.


    "I''m sorry for everything you''ve gone through." She pressed into him again, her head finding his shoulder.


    "I..." Resentment bubbled within him, but her embrace made his resistance falter. There was so much comfort in her embrace. He breathed deeply, catching her scent. She smelled of flowers and sunlight.Stolen story; please report.


    "It matters not whether you accept my words. Your suffering is real, and for that, I am sorry." She kissed his cheek, and warm light flooded through him. He shivered. His skin tingled and itched.


    He felt content with her in his arms. However, after some time, he spoke words that he didn''t know he felt. "Why does the world have to be like this?" He murmured, his emotions getting the best of him. Long-hidden feelings bubbled up in him. "Why did it have to happen to me?"


    "It was your choice, long ago." She smiled again, her eyes sad. "Know that you are not alone in your pain, dear one." She said as she took his hands. He shuddered again. "Everyone struggles in one way or another." She released him. "But we must endure it. To live is to suffer, but to not live is worse still."


    "And have you lived, Elesara?" Her name. He remembered her name.


    "Yes." She smiled. "Know that I have lived, Abad-Shai. Many times." She kissed him again, gently. "And know that I don''t blame you. You chose what you thought was best. You''ve always been stubborn, and proud, and powerful, and beautiful¡ªin all your forms. Also, you gave up your future for me, and for that, I''m eternally grateful." He saw the love in her eyes. Deep and abiding and timeless. "Now, it is time for me to do the same for you." She brushed a stray strand of hair away from his eyes.


    "I..." He remembered fragments. He tried to hold them, but they slipped away.


    "Worry not. What matters now is that I''ll do what I must for all my children." The Goddess sighed. "This era is ending. I know you''ve felt it. Faye believed we had more time. Her brother knew time was short. How little time, he couldn''t have known. None of them could. None but you and me."


    "A new age dawns, then?" He asked.


    "No. The end of ages has come. A god will be born tonight, and his advent heralds the final moments of this world. My children cannot survive what comes. Only you and your brethren will remain, and in what form, I don''t know." She pointed to the east.


    He followed her finger and saw it. A great black moon hovered over the land in the distance. Waves of fell energy poured from it. He could see the land below it crumbling away. Waves of black energy floated off of it. Everything they touched disappeared. It was consuming everything.


    "Was that...?"


    "One of my servants did what he could for the people of this world, and I supported him as well as I could. When he did, he showed you great kindness. Despite everything, he bore no ill will toward you. His compassion allowed you to come to me now." Her eyes filled with tears. "However, we failed. The divine beast will hatch soon, and this world will end."


    "Is there nothing to be done?"


    "There''s one thing left."


    "What are you planning?" He felt a wave of emotions.


    "I''ll use the last of my power to send as many as I can away from this place. I can''t save them all, but I can save some. And with them, I will send you away. It''s my final wish for you to live. You deserve to exist in a world that doesn''t keep you chained."


    A thought occurred to him as she spoke. A puzzle piece snapped into place. "You brought me back. You gave me the final push to wake up. You wanted me to be able to come here, didn''t you."


    A soft smile spread across her face. "I do give nudges here and there. You didn''t deserve to be stuck in that little hole of yours. And I suppose I was a little selfish. I wanted to see you again."


    Something arose within him. Words that were his and not his burst from his lips. "This world belongs to me. You belong to me. I won''t allow it or you to fade from my sight." He felt his body shake as he spoke, and as the last word left his lips, he wavered. She reached for his hand and took it in hers, stabilizing him.


    She looked away. "You''re always so difficult." She chuckled and looked back at him. "In our countless meetings, you have always been consistent." Her laughter faded. "If only..." she trailed off.


    "If only what?" He asked.


    "If only we had more time..."


    He watched for a while as the dark moon swelled and devoured more of the land. Massive black cracks appeared in the earth. It wouldn''t be long now. He felt some consolation in being beside the Goddess at the end. However, her words nagged at him. There was something hidden within them. Something he could sense but not quite grasp. If only we had more time. The words haunted him. He turned them over again and again in his mind.


    Time.


    He had nothing but time.


    "What chooses how much time is left?" He asked, his voice growing louder. The Goddess raised her eyebrows.


    "You do. You''re fate''s arbiter. I expected you to choose conquest or rule, but you chose to heal instead of following those well-tread paths. Thus, the world is ending. Had you chosen differently, perhaps a few years might have remained before the events of tonight occurred." She squeezed his hand. "Not that I blame you. You deserved to heal in one of your lifetimes. I''m glad."


    "What does that mean, had I chosen differently?"


    "Had events unfolded as intended, we may have had more time. Not that it would have mattered. In every path I see, this is the end." She turned to him and smiled. "And I would never deprive another of their will to choose. You did what you thought was right, and you found love and friendship once again. That brought more warmth to my heart than any event I''ve witnessed in many years. If I could go back, I would let you choose your path again and again, and I would nudge you along all over again." She sighed and closed her eyes. "You''ve earned it."


    "No, I haven''t." His voice was firm.


    "You do. I forgive you."


    "I don''t need forgiveness." His words were laced with venom. "Mercy. Compassion. Love. All useless. If they lead to this moment, with our world ending, I''ll throw them away." A massive crash filled the air. The earth collapsed in on itself far to the east then swirled up into the growing black orb. He felt the Goddess shift.


    "No." She glared at him. "Do not go back down that path. You have found a glimmer of who you were. Do not let it go."


    He shuffled. Something in her words felt right. He''d accomplished more through connection and compassion in less time than he''d ever accomplished through manipulation. But, he''d been far too reactive. His life of late had been nothing but him being thrust from place to place, at the whims of others. He had to be more. "You''re right..." He sighed. "But I can''t keep being the man I''ve tried to be since I woke up either."


    "What are you saying?" He reached out for her hands and clasped them in his.


    "There is a balance between who I was and who I became. And that man is needed now. "


    "I don''t understand."


    "This world is dead." He whispered. "But it doesn''t have to be."


    "Please, explain yourself."


    "You said I was fate''s arbiter."


    "Yes. That''s your role in this world. To create change and to direct fate."


    "Then I can choose differently?"


    "You could, but all paths lead to this moment. It''s just a matter of when."


    He squeezed her hand. She looked up at him, her golden eyes locking onto his. "You told me yourself. It''s for me to decide." He smiled. "If so, then while the road behind me might be set, the road ahead of me hasn''t been decided yet. So why couldn''t I change it?"


    "What''s done is done, Abad-Shai. Even a being like you can''t change everything. Now please, there isn''t much time left. I don''t wish for you to remain here. Live, for me."


    "No. I don''t accept this." He clasped her hand tighter.


    "You can''t do anything now. Please, go."


    "I''m not going to lie down and die." He grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. He kissed her a final time.


    "Abad, all paths end here. I can''t change it."


    "But I can."

 II-XXIV. Time to Wake Up

    Abad-Shai, Scion of the Black Flame, Scourge of the Ten Realms, the Dark Scholar, felt himself slowly pulling back together. Piece by piece, mote of essence by mote of essence, he gathered himself at the edge of the void between thought and form.


    A wanderer, the most substantial fragment of the most powerful entity to walk Reial, had been slain once again. However, this time it was his choice. He waited for many years as his body reassembled itself. He knew it would take centuries, but Abad-Shai was not worried. There was little to worry about in his state. He was a corpse in a coffin. That was his lot in life. It was the path he''d chosen, and he''d choose it again.


    In his previous life, he''d once had lofty ideas. He had it all planned out. After he failed to slay the Divine Hero and conquer the land with his allies, he had what he thought was a brilliant idea. If he couldn''t defeat her in single combat, he would try a new tactic. He decided to mask himself and managed to infiltrate courts, seduce noblewomen, and become close to a king. Then, he died at the Hero''s sword without achieving his goals.


    But, a lucky accident sent his soul to a coffin he''d constructed years before, where he remained trapped for centuries. His spirit floated in the darkness between worlds as he seethed and whined. For centuries, he gnashed his teeth, but the void slowly seeped into him. In time, he grew calm. Quiet. Introspective.


    Against all hope, he lived again. He''d awoken, overcome his past, earned friendship, found allies, and thought he''d found a new path.


    Then, he ushered in the end.


    He''d indulged in his fantasies of being mortal. Of having friends, and family, and a lover. He had wished to be redeemed, and the world paid the price. For all he''d gained, the world lost. His frivolities ended the world.


    He wouldn''t make that mistake again.


    He felt his shoulders rub against the sides of his too-small coffin. He laughed, the sound a dusty, croaking noise that echoed off the stone. It was just as irritating as he remembered.


    Growing tired, he willed his mind away and drifted into the void.


    ***


    He awoke after some amount of time. He felt something on his chest. Looking down, he saw a familiar figure in the soft silver light of the sigils carved into the sarcophagus''s lid. He reached up and brushed her hair as he remembered words from his final moments: "If this is the path you choose, I can offer you a final gift. You''ll need a companion for the path you''ve chosen. I can return her to you."


    He''d agreed without hesitation.


    After a flash of light, She''d handed him a small glowing red stone. Then, with the last of Her essence, he''d cast one final spell. The greatest in his long life. It shook the heavens. All of the world collapsed in on itself, and he found himself in the void for the second time.


    The memory of that moment was hazy, but in his too-small coffin, resting in his bony palm, he held a small black stone. He could feel all that had been within it.


    The other, the red stone the Goddess had given him, had become something else when he found himself back in his coffin. From it sprouted a small form. One that he was intimately familiar with. He felt himself slip away.


    ***


    Wiling his soul back into his decayed body, he reached out and again brushed the red hair of the one who rested on his chest. The soft glow of the sigils etched into the lid of his tomb illuminated her. She was small, the size of a large cat. Her body slowly restored itself like his. At that moment, she was little more than skin and bones. Her breathing was labored, her eyes sunken. But she was alive.


    A soft groan escaped her lips. She''d felt him stir.


    "Master..." She whispered in the darkness of their tomb. Her voice was hoarse.


    He pulled his spirit the rest of the way into his rotten body and spoke to her. "I''m here, Angra."


    She moaned. "I had a terrible dream..." Her breath came in gasps.


    "What happened?"


    "I dreamed that you were gone. and I... was all alone... forever." Her little body shuddered.


    "I''m here."


    "Good..." She nested into his chest. As she did, she sniffed, then coughed. "You stink." She lifted her emaciated arm, sniffed herself, and coughed again. "We stink."


    "It''s okay. Sleep more. We''ll be whole soon."


    "Okay..."


    "Sleep well, little one."


    "Master...?"


    "Yes?"


    "I''m happy you''re with me... I was afraid when I woke up, you wouldn''t be here..."


    He reached out and hugged her to his chest. She nestled into his bony form. "I''m here..." He held her close. Her breathing slowed, then stopped. When she was still, he drifted back into the void.


    ***


    Abad felt himself drifting among the vast emptiness that was the void. Slowly, carefully, he channeled his essence into his healing body once again. It had nearly been restored the last time he''d checked. He hoped it was finished.


    As his spirit filled his body, he could feel that he lost some of his power in his long sleep, but not nearly so much as after his first death. Somehow, whatever he''d done had preserved him against that effect. That would be useful.


    He felt the form on his chest stir. She was heavier now. "Master..." She yawned. "Is it time to wake up now?"


    He yawned in response. His body felt whole. He could feel as his chest rose and fell. He was alive again, and so was she. The Goddess''s final gift to him. "Yes. It''s time to wake up."Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    He reached up and pushed against the lid of the sarcophagus. It slid away, revealing the dimly lit vault beyond. He felt a wave of emotion as he saw its stone ceiling once again. He didn''t know if he would ever see it again. He had performed magic far outside the bounds of the world''s laws. He didn''t even know if he''d succeeded.


    Sitting up, his little familiar crawled off his lap and sat on the lid. The smell hit her first. "Ugh!" She exclaimed, holding her nose. "We really stink!"


    "Well, we''ve been in a coffin for five hundred years."


    "How do you know how long it''s been?" Her fiery eyes met his.


    "It''s complicated." He yawned and stretched. Blinking a few times to clear his eyes, he looked around his beloved vault and was confused. He assumed his vault would have been in the same condition as he''d left it. However, it had completely changed.


    Instead of discarded coins, broken chests, and toppled pedestals, everything was neatly ordered. Coins were sorted and stacked in chests and his remaining treasures and trophies were displayed on cleaned and polished pedestals. Someone had gone through a great deal of effort to make it nice again.


    He heard a noise behind them, and something tapped him on the head. Looking up, he saw glowing red eyes boring into him. The Grimoire!


    "Hello, Master of the Vault. Did you have a nice rest?" The book asked in its deep, rumbling tone. Abad stared at it as it spoke. He was speechless. How could it be here?


    "Grimoire?" Abad asked. "How is it that you''re here?"


    "A strange question, student of my maker." Its skeletal hand brushed its chin. It cocked its head to the side, thinking. "I don''t know what you did, but it felt as if a great force shifted this place from wherever it was to somewhere new. When the magic took hold, I searched the caverns surrounding the vault, but I found that they looped in on themselves. A magnificent feat, Abad-Shai. That alone is worthy of praise. You have come far." The skeleton placed a bony hand on his shoulder. "Being trapped as I was in this place, I simply decided to continue my work. After some time, I felt your essence enter that tomb of yours, so I simply worked and waited for you to awaken." It looked at him for a long time. "However, by your words, I see that not all went as you expected. Please, enlighten me. How is it that you have done what you''ve done, and what exactly did you do?"


    Abad reached down and grabbed the black orb he''d, then showed it to the book. "I cheated."


    The book almost seemed to blink its skeletal eyes at him. "Cheated?"


    "Things happened that were out of my control. So the Goddess and I worked together to contain that world inside this." The book leaned in and peered at the object. "Inside this orb is the world as it was when it ended."


    "Impossible! Even with that witch''s help, it is not possible to do what you say!"


    "And yet," He handed the object to the book, whose skeletal hands wrapped around it tenderly. It studied the object in the dim light. "I did."


    "This defies belief, young one." Abad felt its essence reach into the object. It gasped. "I sense many things within. Souls, memories, events. Too many to count... This is fascinating." The skeleton turned the object in his bony hands, marveling at it.


    Abad chuckled. "So now you believe me?" The book nodded.


    "Tell me of the end. I know nothing of this and wish to fill my pages."


    ***


    They sat on the coffin''s lid and spoke for a long time. The book asked endless questions as it attempted to grapple with the events that had transpired. Angra had listened wide-eyed as he spoke.


    "So I saved your life?" She puffed out her chest.


    "You did."


    "But then I died?" She deflated.


    "Yes. I managed to save your essence, but Helia stole your soul stone from me, and it shattered."


    Angra stamped her feet. "That rotten whore. I''ll tear her apart."


    "Then how was she returned to you, young one?" The grimoire asked.


    "She said I''d need help on my journey and asked who I''d need most." His gaze drifted to the imp, who blushed. "So I answered, and the Goddess pulled her essence back together and gave her back to me."


    "Stupid idiot..." She blushed deeply and stamped off.


    "And how did you do what you did? I still don''t understand."


    Abad thought for a time. How could he explain it? "I used [Dominion] and the Goddess''s remaining essence to anchor my spirit to the moment I first died, then shunted the vault into the astral sea, like making an arcane sanctum. Then, I used the principles for creating a soul stone, but instead of trapping a soul, I folded the world in on itself, creating that black orb." He shook his head. "I have no idea how I pulled it off, but I did."


    "How were you not sealed with that doomed world?"


    "At the last second, I threw myself from the Tower. When I died, my spirit was pulled into the void along with the soul stones, then back to my sarcophagus."


    The skeleton shook its head. "So is all of Reial gone then? Are we trapped in this place? I sense the Depths beyond, so that can''t be true, can it?"


    "No. Even with the rest of her power at my disposal, I couldn''t seal away an entire plane. Instead, she loosened her laws, and I was able to seal away everything past the moment Faye killed me."


    "Why then?"


    "Because that was the moment that came most easily to me. I spent so long in that coffin that it was easy to visualize."


    The skeleton continued to shake its head. "While creating an arcane sanctum is not unknown, no known magic could have done the rest. You did the impossible. I am humbled." The skeleton''s red points of light glowed in the darkness as the being considered him. "And you say that the Goddess assisted you?"


    He smiled. "Yeah. She reminded me of some things I''d forgotten. The memories are hazy now, but we''ve not always been at odds."


    "That history is unknown to me. For as long as I''m aware, you have been her sworn enemy. I''m surprised she''d deal with you."


    Abad laughed. "I realized that the enmity is a bit one-sided. But it''s not important. Not now."


    ***


    The book asked many more questions, but in time it was finally satisfied. He pulled itself out of the skeleton''s ribs and was scribing furiously as Abad stretched his limbs. He hadn''t moved in centuries, and everything hurt. Angra groaned as she stretched her wings, her little body hunched like an old woman as she did laps around the vault.


    He still couldn''t believe that any of it worked, and even more surprising was the fact that the grimoire had made the trip too. Not only the grimoire but its creations as well. Abad watched as the skeletons the grimoire had raised went to and fro, arranging, polishing, cleaning, and maintaining the vault. He appreciated the efforts but didn''t understand why. At long last, his curiosity got the best of him. "Book, why do you do all this? You''ve taken it upon yourself to maintain this vault of mine. Why?"


    His old master''s creation laughed. "I don''t know how long it has been from your perspective, but I was left alone for many long years. At first, I simply decided to repair the teleportation seal after that unfortunate mishap with your old ally. It had been ruined when you''d left. I wasn''t even certain you''d survived. However, with nothing else to do, I recarved it. I intended to find you; however, once I''d finished, this place had become a sanctum, and I was stuck in the astral sea. With nothing else to do, I went into torpor, but over time, the filth and decay wore on my nerves, so I decided to clean and rearrange things. It took many years to repair the damage, but I succeeded. In time, I found the act of maintaining this place soothing."


    "So it''s a hobby?"


    "Yes. It keeps me centered."


    "Fair enough." Abad laughed. He looked around at the bustling skeletons.


    Seeing where he looked, the grimoire spoke. "They have been my companions for a long, long time. Though they are mindless thralls, they obey without question, so we get along quite well."


    Abad smiled. "It''s good to be here again."


    "It''s good to have you." The skeleton seemed to grin. "So what do you intend to do now, dark one?"


    "I don''t entirely know. The path I chose led to the end, so I have to consider where I went wrong and what I can do differently." He looked over at Angra. Her yellow eyes met his.


    "Wrong?" Angra echoed.


    Memories of her loss came to him. "Yes. I need to consider what choices I''ve made, and what mistakes I must correct. The path I chose led to some comfort, but it wasn''t the correct one." His words were soft, almost a whisper.


    "I don''t understand."


    "I don''t either. Not fully, at least."


    "That''s not very comforting, master..." She shuffled where she stood.


    "Do you trust me?"


    Her eyes grew wide. She walked over, hopped in his lap, and nuzzled her head into his arm. "Of course. You''re my master."


    He stroked her small head. "Thank you, dear friend." He sat with her in his arms for a time, savoring the feel of her heat against his skin. He''d missed her terribly. "I''ll make sure to do it right this time." Her eyes met his. "And if I don''t, I''ll do it again."


    The grimoire stopped writing. "Explain."

 II-XXV. Try Again

    Abad looked at the book and smiled. "The Goddess may have changed one of her laws."


    "Which was?" The red dots in its skeletal face narrowed.


    "Death comes for all things, whether by time or tragedy. Mortals reincarnate. Immortals return to the void."


    "Yes, that is the Goddess''s law. The cycle of reincarnation fuels Elysium and keeps chaos at bay, or so her writings claim."


    He nodded. "And now, there''s an addendum." He took a deep breath. "When he dies, Abad-Shai returns to his vault."


    "The possibilities are... endless." The ancient tome whispered. It began furiously writing in its pages.


    Abad sat staring up at the vaulted ceiling for some time, listening as the quill in the book''s skeletal hand scraped against the pages of its tome. Angra''s heartbeat thudded against his chest. Her eyes were on his.


    "So you''ll never be free?" She whispered.


    "No." He spoke the word with finality. "Not until I succeed. And there''s no guarantee of success. I don''t even know if it''s possible. She didn''t think it was."


    Her face looked hopeful. "So we''ll just keep trying until it works?"


    "I will. You''re not leaving the vault again. I won''t lose you a second time. Now that I know this vault doesn''t go back in time, I don''t know that I''d be able to bring you back again." If she stayed here, he could keep her safe. She was the only thing that he couldn''t bring back since she wasn''t part of Reial anymore. "You''re not coming with me this time."


    "Master..." Her lower lip trembled, and her yellow eyes glistened. She gripped him tighter. He felt something wet against his skin. "That''s not fair... What will happen when you die? Who''s going to look after you? What happens if someone kills you and takes your corpse or cuts your soul apart? I won''t be there to protect you." He saw tears running down her cheeks.


    "Angra..."


    She was quiet for a moment. "What if you die and go to a new world without me?"


    The book kept furiously scribbling. Abad pulled his familiar into a tight embrace, holding her close. "If you stay here, you''ll be safe. No one can take you from me if you stay here. No one. You''ll be protected in this sanctum. I won''t have to worry about losing you."


    "But that''s not fair..." she cried softly into his chest.


    Abad sighed. She was right, but he''d made his decision. "I''ve decided."


    "And I''ve decided as well." The book''s voice boomed through the chamber, loud enough to make Abad jump.


    "What do you mean?"


    The grimoire''s covers snapped closed, and its skeletal body slid the book back between the skeleton''s ribs. It leaned forward and placed its hand on Abad''s head, its other on Angra''s.


    [Shared Fate]


    "While normally a curse, I believe you will find this spell a blessing. The little one will, at the very least. Your fates are intertwined. If one dies, both die. Your fate and your companion''s fate are now one." The Grimoire sat down on the floor next to them. It pulled its book back out and began scribbling once again.


    Abad shook his head and stared at it dumbfounded. How much knowledge did the object hold? He didn''t know any magic of that kind.


    Angra''s face lit up. "See? The stinky old book knows better than you. I''ll be fine." The book gave them both a sly look, or whatever counted as one for a pair of red floating lights in a skeleton''s face."Plus, you said it yourself. I saved you. You need me. Even the Goddess said so. I''m kind of a big deal. And I''ve seen your fighting. It sucks. You really do need me."


    Abad laughed, but doubt filled his heart. "Are you sure this will work, book?"


    The skeleton didn''t look up. "Of course. [Shared Fate] was your master''s favorite means of guaranteeing compliance. It''s one of the many things she never taught you."


    "I see. Then... Thank you."


    "Please. We both know it is for the best. As the little one said, your fighting ''sucks.'' You need to improve. Shall we start your lessons? You moved too quickly in your last life. You ought to stay a while and listen."


    Abad shook his head. "Unfortunately, there is little time."


    The book laughed. Dust shot out from its skeletal mouth as its cackling filled the renovated halls of Abad''s vault. "You have nothing but time, little immortal. Astral sanctums are outside time and space."


    "Reial was saved because I anchored my soul to the exact point in history when my life first ended. And I made the vault my sanctum. It''s a part of me now. As long as I remain in the coffin, the vault stays in the astral sea. The second I leave it¡ª"


    "You will rejoin the world, and your vault along with it," the grimoire finished. He could feel a small pulse of mana. The book was reaching out and scanning the world around it. Its red eyes dimmed. "Time continues. The Depths have returned to surround this place." It shook its head. "Could you not have created better terms?"


    Abad laughed. "Not exactly. The world was ending, and Elesara and I tried several options. None of them worked but this one."


    "Elesara?" Angra asked.


    "The Goddess."


    "You know her name?" Her eyes narrowed.


    "Yes. As I said, our relationship wasn''t always antagonistic." Hazy memories floated into his mind, but he pushed them away. They didn''t matter now.


    "Well, then, we''d better prepare, shouldn''t we?" The skeleton asked. "How much time until the world ends?"


    "If I don''t interfere and Helia finishes her ritual, Reial has three months. If things happen like they did last time, the world has a little over two months."


    "You have two months to change the world. How exactly do you intend to do this?" The grimoire continued scrawling on its page.


    "If I make the right choices, I might get more time."


    "You said that earlier. I didn''t understand it then, nor do I know."


    "I have to ensure Helia can''t complete her ritual. If I don''t, the world will end. If I do, I might have a few years more to prepare."


    "Do you believe that this is sufficient time to stop the end?" The book asked.


    "I have no idea. But I don''t intend to waste it." Abad stood. A great weight settled on his shoulders, but he welcomed it. Angra ran from his side and jumped into the air, her wings spreading behind her as she circled him. He noticed they had changed. She''d always had bat wings in the past. Now, they were adorned with black feathers.


    "I have an idea, dark one. Give me three days to complete my work."


    "I don''t have time for¡ª"


    "Do not argue. You will find much use in what I provide." He stood, put his book back into his ribs, and marched to the back halls.


    Abad watched as it walked away, but a thought came to him. "Book."


    Its skeletal body turned. "Yes?"


    "Would you be willing to write me a scroll?"


    "Of course. That task would be trivial."


    "Please create for me a [Teleportation Circle] scroll."


    The skeleton nodded, then disappeared through the archway that led to the back halls of Abad''s vault.


    "Hey Angra?"


    "Yes?" She landed on the ground, her feathered wings flapping several times to stablize herself.


    "Let''s go clean up. It''ll be a long time before we have access to a nice bath. We should take advantage of it."


    She grinned. "A girl likes it when she''s treated well, Master. You''re learning!"


    ***


    After their bath, one of the skeletons handed Abad a scroll. When he took it, the skeleton bowed deeply, then returned to its tasks. He unfurled it and understood its principles. He spent all of his time learning its contents.


    In three days, he was ready.


    Abad sat on the edge of his sarcophagus. Angra sat in his lap.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Curious about his current power, he pulled up his scroll. He needed to know where he was at. Abad watched as words etched themselves onto the ethereal page.


    <hr>


    <hr>


    Abad-Shai


    Shadowspawn Sun Elf Warlock of the Mask


    Level XVI


    <hr>


    Sun Elf


    ???¡î¡î


    <ol>


    <li>[Fey Senses II] (Passive/Active, Reserve ?): Elves possess heightened perception, blending their superior physical senses with an innate connection to magic. You can see in the dark, hear acutely, and use mana to detect magic around you if you dedicate mana to this ability. At rank II, your physical and magical senses are more honed and precise.</li>


    <li>[Elven Grace]: Elven heritage gifts you with heightened reflexes, allowing you to react faster than most mortals. This talent provides a boost to speed, agility, and reaction time, particularly in combat and hazardous situations, you are sure-footed in all manner of environments, and your footsteps are nearly silent.</li>


    <li>[Scion of Lost Light]: The remnants of a forgotten brilliance burn within you, a beacon of hope and defiance against the encroaching darkness. You and all allies within your aura gain increased resistance to shadow and necrotic damage, and your fire and light spells are infused with the Lost Light of Reial.</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    The Mask


    ???¡î¡î


    <ol>


    <li>[Illusion Magic] (Passive): You have the ability to weave subtle deceptions, clouding perception and bending reality to your will. You can learn spells that create illusions, deceive the senses, and manipulate perceptions of the world around you.


    <ol>


    <li>[Mask of Many Faces] (2nd Circle, Active, Reserve ??): Due to being born under the sign of the Mask, you can dedicate a portion of your mana to change subtle elements of your appearance.</li>


    <li>[Minor Illusion] (1st Circle, Active, Reserve ?): Harness the power of deception to conjure a fleeting illusion that manipulates sight or sound. This spell allows you to create a convincing sensory trick.</li>


    <li>[Armor of Shadows] (2nd Circle, Active, Reserve ??): While active, you develop a second skin of shadow that absorbs a portion of incoming physical and magical damage and obscures your form, making you harder to detect or target.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li>[Quasireality] (Passive): Your mastery of deception allows you to blur the line between illusion and reality. All illusions you create are imbued with a fragment of reality, enabling them to partially interact with the physical world. These quasi-real illusions can deal minor damage, exert force, or create subtle environmental effects, confounding your enemies and enhancing your trickery.</li>


    <li>[Locked]</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Shadowspawn


    ?????


    <ol>


    <li>[Dark One''s Shadow] (Passive): As an inheritor of the Dark One¡¯s essence, you are immortal and do not age past your prime. You also require less food, water, and air to survive, but you bear the marks of corruption upon your body.</li>


    <li>[Devour the Weak] (Passive): Damage you inflict heals a small amount of your life force. Your magic is particularly potent against beings that share your dark heritage.</li>


    <li>[Embrace of the Abyss II] (Passive): Darkness and shadows strengthen you. When in darkness or shadow, you gain an increase to your physical abilities equal to two ranks, and existing enhancements grow two ranks stronger. You also gain the become difficult to detect with both physical and magical senses as long as you¡¯re in darkness, stacking with ranks of the [Stealth] enhancement. All shadow-based attacks and spells gain a boost in power.</li>


    <li>[Nightmare Aspect] (Passive): By channeling your inner rage, you can transform into a shadow beast, gaining unnatural strength, agility, resilience, and an aura of terror. Your appearance alone can break the spirits of weak enemies, and all damage you inflict drains your foes and restores you.</li>


    <li>[Dominion]: By infusing your words with your essence, you gain the ability to alter reality itself. Creatures, environments, and objects must adhere to your whims, provided your mana and essence reserves can sustain the change. The strength of your influence scales with your intent, the scope of the alteration, and the resistance of the target. The world bends, reshaped not by steel or spell, but by the simple utterance of your will. Dominion is yours to claim.</li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Warlock


    ????¡î


    <ol>


    <li>[Summoning]: (Passive): You can call forth entities from other realms, who lend you their strength and skills. You can learn spells that summon, bind, and empower creatures and objects to serve and protect you.<ol><li><b>[Teleportation Circle] </b>(5th Circle, Active, Cost ?????): This spell enables the caster to establish permanent teleportation circles or teleport to existing circles that the caster has tied to.<ol><li>Portal Ties


    <ol><li>Temple of Yslene


    </li><li>Farnfoss</li><li>Wysten</li></ol></li></ol></li></ol></li>


    <li>[Blood Magic II] (Passive): Your life force fuels your magic, allowing you to cast additional spells at the cost of health. You can learn spells that draw on blood and life energy to strengthen your casting. At Rank II, your mastery over blood magic deepens, allowing you to draw on your life force with greater efficiency, casting blood-fueled spells at a reduced health cost. This level of skill also enables you to learn more advanced Blood Magic spells, expanding your arsenal in exchange for careful management of your own vitality.


    <ol>


    <li>[Essence Transfer] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?+?/?): The user can transfer a small amount of health or mana to or from a willing target.</li>


    <li>[Sanguine Gift] (2nd Circle, Active, Cost ?+?): Sacrifice a portion of your life force to briefly grant yourself or an ally enhanced reflexes, strength, and stamina, amplifying their physical abilities in a burst of vitality.</li>


    <li>[Devour Essence] (2nd Circle, Active, Cost ??): Target an enemy or recently deceased creature within range. Drain a portion of their essence, dealing moderate damage to a living target or consuming a fragment of their energy. The drained essence replenishes a portion of your health and mana.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li>[Fire Magic] (Passive): You wield the essence of flame, strengthening your power over physical and spiritual fires and increasing your resistance to them. You can learn spells that summon, control, and unleash fire in its many forms.


    <ol>


    <li>[Burn the Weak] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?): You conjure a small, searing flame that can be thrown at creatures within sight, igniting and inflicting fire damage. This spell is especially effective against vulnerable or injured enemies, dealing additional damage to those already weakened.</li>


    <li>[Candlelight] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?): You conjure a small flame that can be used to ignite inanimate objects and inflict small amounts of fire damage on a target.</li>


    <li>[Eclipse] (5th Circle, Active, Cost ?????¡ó¡ó¡ó¡ó¡ó): When cast, a massive explosion erupts around the caster, engulfing the area in a swirling inferno light-infused flame.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    <li>[Black Magic] (Passive): You possess an affinity for dark, potent forces that lie beyond the mortal realm. Shadows and negative energies respond to your call, enabling subtle manipulation of fear, weakness, and despair in others. You may now learn Black Magic spells, tapping into powers that corrupt the living, obscure perception, and invoke primal dread.


    <ol>


    <li>[Corruption] (1st Circle, Active, Cost ?): Draw on the shadows to infuse a target with negative energy, weakening their defenses and dulling their senses. This spell saps the target¡¯s physical and mental resilience, leaving them vulnerable to further attacks and susceptible to effects that prey on fear and confusion.</li>


    </ol>


    </li>


    </ol>


    <hr>


    Enhancements


    <ul>


    <li>[Evasion I] (Perk XII): Your reflexes improve to match those of a wild predator, such as a lynx or cheetah. You gain an increase in reaction speed and agility, allowing you to better dodge attacks and move fluidly.</li>


    <li>[Focus I] (Perk XIV): Your mental clarity improves, enhancing your ability to concentrate and reducing the likelihood of spell disruptions. This heightened focus increases your casting precision and slightly boosts your resistance to mental effects.</li>


    <li>[Life I] (Perk X): Fortifies your life force slightly, making you sturdier and harder to wear down in combat.</li>


    <li>[Life II] (Perk XVI): Fortifies your life force further, making you stouter than all but the strongest mortals.</li>


    <li>[Mana I] (Perk II): Increase your mana reserves by a small amount, allowing you to cast more spells.</li>


    <li>[Mana II] (Perk VIII): Increases your mana reserves by a sizeable amount, allowing for greater spell-casting endurance and more complex incantations.</li>


    <li>[Pack Bond] (Oath to Zethari): Grants an increase to your ability to work seamlessly with allies, enhancing cooperative efforts and tactics. Additionally, you gain a boost to perception when near companions.</li>


    <li>[Potence I] (Perk IV): Increase the potency of your spells, increasing their range, power, and duration by a small amount.</li>


    <li>[Potence II] (Perk VI): Further amplifies the strength of your spells, making each cast more impactful and destructive. This enhancement also slightly reduces resistance to your spells, increasing the chance of bypassing defenses.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Titles


    <ul>


    <li>[Master of the Vault]: Bestowed upon you by the mighty Grimoire, the last creation of the Archmage Aughra, this title marks you as a true keeper of lost knowledge and forgotten relics. You will always know in what direction your vault lies and the best path to get there, and you have a second sense for finding valuable items and equipment.</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    Quests


    <hr>


    Equipment


    <ul><li><b>[Vaultkeeper''s Pack]</b>: This unassuming leather pack is bound to the Vault of Abad-Shai. Placing items into the pack will transfer them to his arcane sanctum, and by reaching within and giving a mental command, items can be retrieved.</li></ul>


    <hr>


    Achievements


    <hr>


    <hr>


    He''d retained much of his strength. Losing a small portion of himself wasn''t bad at all compared to the last time he''d died. His level had remained intact, though his power decreased somewhat. It was nothing. Somehow, by anchoring his spirit to his vault, he''d been able to retain his growth.


    "Dark one." He turned his attention to the book as it entered the main hall.


    "My preparations are complete. Here." It tossed a pack to him.


    "You made me a pack? Was that something worth wasting three days doing?" He opened the pack and looked inside. He felt a strange pull on his body. "It''s enchanted?"


    "Yes." The skeleton looks smug, and the face on the book''s face grinned. "Try it. Reach your arm in."


    Abad frowned but did what he was told. As he inserted his arm into the pack, it vanished. "So you made it larger on the inside than the outside? That''s basic conjuration. Any hedge mage could do that."


    "Not precisely."


    "Oh?"


    It walked to one of the chests filled with coins. Grabbing a handful, it marched up to him and thrust the coins into his hand. "Drop the coins into the pack."


    He turned his hand over and dropped the handful of coins into the bag. When he did, he heard jingling in the distance. Clicking told him several of the skeletons were rushing to the sound. A moment later, two of them bent over, picked something up and approached. They were holding the coins he''d dropped in the bag


    "It bends space," Abad said.


    "Yes." The skeleton reached out and deposited several more coins into the open bag. The skeletons rushed toward the sound once again. "Anything you deposit will be sent to your vault. Now, you will truly live up to your title."


    "That''s... brilliant. I never thought to make something like this."


    "You couldn''t. There is much that remains for you to learn, young one."


    He shook his head. His teacher was still so far beyond him. "Book, will you come with me?"


    The skeleton shook its head. "You may only share your fate with one other." It turned its skull to him. "Plus, I have grown... attached to this place. You must go on alone. Or rather, with that imp." It chuckled. "Be off. You are running out of time." He gestured toward the repaired teleportation circle. "If any comes here, I will protect my home with my existence."


    "Thank you, book." He smiled. "Truly. Without you, I wouldn''t have made it this far."


    "Of course not. I am my maker''s creation. I was meant to be used."


    Abad laughed. "We''ll meet again."


    "We will."


    Abad focused his mind and drew upon his spirit. He fixed his mind on Yslene''s statue. He was behind, but he might catch up to his former allies if he hurried. He knew the path this time.


    He stepped into the circle and set his jaw. Angra stepped beside him and grabbed his hand.


    "Are you ready, little one?"


    "To save you again? I''ve never been more ready."


    He smiled. He could do it. Whatever the path was that lay ahead, he''d find it.


    [Teleportation Circle]

 II-XXVI. Back on the Silverway

    "Master, where are we?" Angra''s eyes widened as she took in the forest around them. She clutched Abad''s clothes and held him close. He surveyed the abandoned temple. It was exactly as he remembered it. The stone gazebo above him was still worn, the forest was still dense, and the teleportation seal below his feet was still faded.


    "We''re at an ancient temple to the Goddess of the Moon, Yslene."


    "Yslene?" Her nose scrunched up. "Why would you take us here?"


    "Do you remember how we separated after leaving the vault last time?"


    Her eyes looked empty. "I only really remember the story you told us. I don''t remember much... I just remember you weren''t there."


    He remembered how he''d lost many of his memories after his first death. He wondered why he retained them now. He''d have to think about it later. "We were separated, and this is where I ended up."


    "Oh..." She looked around, taking in her surroundings. "This is nice than wherever I was. I remember being cold."


    "You ended up on Draekenspire. Likely because that''s the place that was most significant to me in life. I don''t know why I was brought here, but I have a feeling it''s part of fate''s design."


    She squeaked. "Draekenspire! That''s right. I flew down into the valley and slept down at the castle. Our old bed was musty, but it was comfortable. I cleaned it up a lot. I''ll show you when we go." She looked up at him with a smile.


    "That sounds great, Angra." He patted her head and smiled. He didn''t have the heart to remind her all her work was gone. When she beamed up at him, he knew he made the right choice.


    Turning to the ruins, he searched for familiar landmarks. While he had many more memories this time, they still felt hazy. He tried to remember the details. What was the first thing he did? He remembered exploring the ruins. He found the temple and the statue of Yslene. He had been drained, so he took a nap, but he was interrupted when Firtz and A-Nis showed up. Then...


    The dead monster!


    He turned and went to the bushes where A-Nis had found its bones. After a few minutes of searching, he found them. The head was sawed off. They''d already come and gone.


    "Angra, can you transform and scout ahead?" He pointed to the northwest. "There should be a party of three adventurers that way. Find them for me and return." He might be able to catch up to them in time before the trolls...


    "Of course I can. That''s trivial for me!" His familiar''s body grew black, and her form shifted. An instant later, a massive raven with jet-black wings took her place. With a caw, she took off. He watched her fly away, then searched around for the deer trail A-Nis had followed. After some searching, he found it.


    The first time, it took them about a week to make it to the destroyed wagon, but he''d been slowing them down. However, if he hurried, he might just make it in time.


    He cast his <b>[Mask of Many Faces]</b> and marched into the forest.


    ***


    The smell of death assaulted him as he climbed a familiar hill. He knew he''d find the felled wagon at the top.


    After two days, Angra had returned. She''d found them in the forest, but they''d gotten close to the Silverway. Knowing they were still alive, he doubled his pace. He was much stronger than he had been, but he wasn''t adept at tracking like A-Nis and had to double back several times. Luckily, Angra helped by being his eyes. By the fifth night, he''d managed to make it to the Silverway.


    He knew, however, that he was likely too late. He could only hope they''d managed to survive without him.


    As he crested the hill, he saw the wagon in the distance. Vultures were picking at the corpses, and the smell was even worse than last time. He marched up to the bodies and saw that they were indeed further decayed than he expected. By his estimation, he was around a day late. He walked to the center of the felled wagon and cast a spell.


    <b>[Essence Transfer]</b>


    He absorbed as much essence as the bodies had left to offer. He turned to continue on, but a familiar book caught his eye. He walked up to it, pried Bahra''s hand off of the cover, and opened its pages. It was as he remembered it. That was good. Things hadn''t changed, at least as far as he could tell so far.


    He opened his <b>[Vaultkeeper''s Pack]</b>. Inside, the pack seemed normal, if well-crafted. The stitching was well done and the material was high quality, but it looked like something any traveler might carry. He knew it hid its secrets well. He placed the spellbook inside the bag, closed the flap, and gave it a mental command. He felt the smallest pulse of magical energy. Opening the flap again, he found the inside of the bag was empty.


    He mentally thanked the Grimoire.


    Another memory came to him. He turned to the wagon. He doubted the boy was within, but he had to check. Pulling back the torn scrap of cloth concealing the toppled wagon''s interior, he found the inside empty. He shuddered when he remembered what was inside the child. If the trolls didn''t kill the party, he feared the boy would.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    A nearby caw pulled at his attention. He''d had Angra fly ahead. By the sound of her voice, he could tell she found something. He searched the sky. She was circling overhead, guiding him west. His heart sank.


    He followed as the great black raven flapped her wings and guided him forward. He marched on


    ***


    Several hours west, he found what Angra was leading him to. Eight massive bodies littered the road. For a time, he let himself believe that the three had survived the ordeal. Their corpses were nowhere to be seen. However, any hope that his companions had survived was dashed when he found scraps of hair, bits of shredded armor, pieces of bone and flesh, and a broken bow.


    He cursed aloud as Angra landed beside him and transformed.


    "They''re only mortals, master. Don''t be angry."


    He shot her a look. She flinched.


    Calming himself, he walked to her and beckoned her to climb up to his shoulder. She happily obliged. "They were..." He paused. Allies? Traveling companions? No. "They were my friends, little one. And I''ve failed them yet again."


    Her soft hand rubbed his neck. "But you haven''t, Master. You didn''t have time. It''s not your fault."


    He sighed. It didn''t feel that way. "Help me find something of theirs. I''d like to have something to remember them by."


    She gave him a knowing look. "That''s like you. Of course, I''ll help." She hopped off his shoulder.


    "I don''t feel much like me anymore." He began searching for anything he could.


    They searched for a half hour before he found something suitable. Sticking out of the back of one of the troll''s heads, a hunting knife with a carved wood handle was lodged deep into its skull. He pulled it free, wiped it on a scrap of cloth on the ground, and placed it in his pack. As he did, he saw something glinting in the grass nearby. Walking to it, he found Firtz'' holy symbol. He packed that away as well. Angra approached with the hilt of a sword. He recognized it as Shani''s. He put it in his pack with its fellows, then willed the objects away.


    A loud crack nearby told him he wasn''t alone. Reaching out with his senses, he felt four trolls hiding in the treeline. One of them was much stronger than the others.


    "Come out, Graul. I know you''re there." He called out. Angra stiffened. He reached out his hand and ruffled her hair. "Fly away, little one." His jaw clenched.


    "Who you?" The massive troll stepped out from behind a nearby tree. Three others stepped out with him. They were covered in blood and gore.


    He let his <b>[Mask of Many Faces]</b> fade. He heard the four creatures suck in air as they took in his true form. They looked at one another.


    <b>[Burn the Weak]</b>


    "I''m Eater, and I''m ready to feast."


    ***


    Abad smelled like putrid smoke. Nothing he did could get the smell out. Not that it mattered. He''d avenged his friends and absorbed as much essence from the beasts as he could, empowering himself and healing the blisters that had formed on his feet. He was, however, getting hungry and had no way to get more food.


    He knew he wouldn''t reach Keila in time to hitch a ride this time, so he resigned himself to foraging. He slowed down as they walked and looked for anything he could find that was edible. He wasn''t much of a forager, but he did manage to find some mushrooms that he knew were edible, and Angra caught a small rabbit. That night, they had a small feast over an open flame. As they ate, he drifted into his thoughts.


    Before Abad destroyed Graul, the monster had screamed something about its master. From his experience with Helia, he knew the troll''s master wasn''t her. That confirmed the information he''d learned from Drugg in his last life. There was another master somewhere in Nolei. He remembered seeing a vision when the troll died. A hill with a tree on it, but that''s all he knew. He wished he knew more.


    The thought that there was another master unnerved him. Something told him that whatever force was working through the trolls, they were at least as powerful as Helia, but he had to assume they were more powerful. The fey''ra were designed to be obedient to the sod''ra. It was both a part of their culture and a compulsion. Trolls were not. And considering some of the trolls could talk, unless they''d evolved that ability over the five hundred years since his first life, he had a feeling he knew who their master was.


    Zaros had always enjoyed toying with life.


    Abad didn''t want to have to fight Zaros. At least not yet. The man was nearly as strong as Abad had been at his peak, and he was likely stronger now. And while Abad was stronger than he had been, he was nowhere near strong enough to take his old ally on. He''d need<b> [Final Law] </b>to be able to pull it off, but even that was an if. Zaros was as cunning as he was strong.


    A thought came to him. He needed to find Helia. If he could get to her first, he might be able to break her out of her prison. If he did, she would possibly feel more amenable to working with him. He could use a powerful ally like her. She''d once been his most devoted servant. If he could get her to return to the fold, he''d be in a much better position moving forward.


    He cursed himself again. He''d been upset when Graul appeared. Had he used <b>[Dominion]</b>, he might have compelled them to search for her prison. However, that would have likely tipped off their master that he was alive again and in Nolei. Until he was strong enough, he couldn''t risk that.


    He didn''t know what to do.


    "You look worried, Master." Angra took a bit of a charred rabbit leg and chewed it loudly.


    "Just thinking."


    "Yeah, well your thinking is making you look worried." She stretched, and he noticed her tail flick behind her. It reminded him of a cat stretching in the sun. "What are you worrying about?"


    He stared into the fire. "Things aren''t going well. I''ve already failed, and I haven''t even started."


    "So we''ll just have to start over!" She grinned widely, her little fangs bared.


    A new thought came to him. One that opened a pit in his stomach. "That''s another problem." A million thoughts shot through his mind. "What if there isn''t anything we can do? What if we''re destined to go back to the vault again and again, forever, because I was arrogant enough to think that I could change fate?" He looked up and met her eyes. They were glowing in the firelight.


    "Then we''ll make the most of it." Her voice was confident, as was the grin on her face. "Don''t worry so much. You''re too smart to keep failing forever. I believe in you."


    Abad felt something as he looked into her eyes. He''d missed her more than she would ever know. "Thanks, dear friend."


    "And?" She looked at him with smug satisfaction.


    "And you''re absolutely the best familiar ever."


    She grinned wide. "And...?"


    "I wouldn''t have made it this far without you."


    "Anddddd???" She jumped up and put her hands on her hips, her nose straight in the air.


    "You''ve got rabbit on your face." She squeaked and wiped her face, smearing grease and soot across her lips. He laughed. "That''s a good look on you."


    She continued wiping her face and huffed. "I hate you."