What to do, what to do?
Direct confrontation wasn't a skill I polished often. There wouldn't have been a point to it. My role among my fellows was to monitor the graveyard and make sure none found the artifact that laid beneath. That I excelled in, considering my concept centered around territory and it's relationship with the dead. I hadn't been in a proper fight in the decades since I had t that scarred fool with her grandiose ambitions and words laced in honey.
I was considering shaking off so of the rust if I survived this.
The Vessel was holding her own well enough that she wouldn't be dead in the next couple of instants, mostly because of my intervention. She still found herself in the periphery of Rhode's attacks. aning she collected burns rather quickly.
I was doing worse.
But only because I had to deal with more.
Despite needing extrely creative application to create spells that would be useful for combat, I was still in the third circle. Which ant I was leagues ahead of the two in front of in terms of mana quality and consumption.
Dead King's World.
I didn't know how spells earned their nas, but this one was an apt description for the desert I had created. Thirty-six Sentences and half my tolerance for just this spell. It was the reason we were still alive.
Surrounding us was not grass or trees or bushes.
We were in a land of bone powder and skeletons. The sky was tinged a hue of crimson to match the eye that looked down at us in judgnt. In the distance, giants of many forms stood, watching our struggle with alien purpose.
The mineral mage created a javelin of stone and sent it flying towards . Bone powder burst between us to act as a cloud to capture the projectile. It didn't so much as make it out the other side.
The man cursed, but didn't try to move.
I owned these lands. Wherever they stepped led to wherever I wanted them to be.
Which was often in the way of the Vessel's blade.
That strategy earned us a few strikes before the both of them decided to stay still and rely entirely on their ranged magic.
We were still losing.
If only the idiot wasn't having a seizure, then maybe we'd stand a chance.
I had a couple other spells for combat. None of them could counter our opponents effectively. My constructs were either burned away or struggled against stone armour and the control I had over our environnt didn't extend to anything offensive.
I could use my blessing to imbue anti-magic into the bone powder, but otherwise it was useless.
And the skeletons? They were just set dressing since our opponents refused to move. I had a handful of spells that would help if the situation arose, but those weren't likely to do much either.
If the Vessel let her spirit control her then we'd at least be able to kill Rhode.
Considering her injuries, it'd also an her death, so it was for the best that she didn't.
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Resting in my soul, a thing of six arms and exposed gore opened one of its three eyes to look down at from its throne. On its head rested a a rusted crown. Its expression was unreadable as it lacked the skin to form any.
"Prancing jester. Sentintal fool. Dancing in the graveyard to an audience of no one."
I rolled my eyes. The day I wouldn't have to listen to your input would be a balm to my soul.
The demon didn't respond, closing its eye and returning to its rest.
Just in ti for Rhode to cast a greater spell.
Fla licked his arms and burned away the sleeves of his tunic. He had a controlled smile, showing just a bit of teeth as a horde of fla birds escaped his flesh. Hundreds of fla constructs rushed towards the Vessel, and enough ca for to keep distracted.
I cursed under my breathe and activated a spell.
The Eye.
There was a pulse.
Then the giant eye illuminating my world blinked.
My senses ca back slowly.
The first was my hearing, taking in the rustling of trees and the small crackle of a campfire. Then it was sll. So kind of at wafted into my nose. It made my tummy grumble.
I sat up with a groan after enough ti passed that I knew I wasn't dreaming.
"Why'd you idiots make a fire?" my voice was hoarse.
"Oh! You're awake. Was starting to wonder how long it would take."
That voice.
It wasn't the one I should've heard.
I shot to my feat despite my body's protests, eyes imdiately searching for my weapon. I found it sheathed on the grass between and Kogan.
He took a puff from his pipe.
"C'mon now, we're friends, aren't we? No need to rush to murder!"
I stared.
I was so fucked.
"Goddamn, no cursing or raging? I thought you would've cared for your friends at least a little more than that. Though I guess witches just think different."
"Where's Xae?"
He raised a brow and humd. "That crazy chick? No idea. Your witch friend did a bunch of insane magic. It was a sight to see! Thought we actually got sent to one of the hells. Anyway, he did sothing else and dropped us back into the forest. Took a bit to find you, don't know where anyone else is. Hence the fire!"
My heart rate cald a little. I couldn't tell if he was lying, but he had no reason too. Probably.
"So what now? Why aren't I dead?"
"Co sit by the fire and I'll tell you all the deets I can before fla boy cos strutting along."
I stared.
I walked over to the other side so that I'd be facing him. He enjoyed his smoke while I waited for him to say sothing. Damn. My pipe was in my bag, I'd probably have to buy a new one.
What a weird thought to have with everything that had happened.
"I'm not a good story teller, so I'll just be direct. That Rhode fella wants to eat ya! No, I don't an taphorically."
I assud my befuddlent must've been amusing considering the chuckle it produced. "What?"
"Yeah, yeah. Whole lot of unimportant details. Basically Iona—wait, do you know who that is?"
I shook my head.
"Damn, you need to consider educating yourself. That's just sad. Anyway, she wanted Rhode for the upcoming war and knew about his preferred cuisine. Bunch of other bullshit to even get that information, but I don't think it matters since the elk is dead."
That information was a blow that struck at rubble.
I scrunched my brow. "What does Loklan have to do with this?"
"Doesn't matter."
"Damn, you do suck ass at stories," I huffed. "So what now? I just stay here and wait to be eaten? I'd rather you just killed ."
He rolled his eyes and shook so powder out of his pipe before adding more crushed whatever the fuck. Must've been sothing good, he seed to be enjoying it.
He let out another breath.
"See, that's how it would normally go, but that witch friend of yours changes things.
"I have a feeling there's more than just you two."
I sighed and nodded.
He smiled. All teeth and no mirth.
"Nice. Well, I know Iona would prefer a bunch of insanely advanced witches over one fire boy. Wouldn't even have to worry about any political blowback! I'm such a genius."
"That assus you can even deal with them," I grumbled.
"Oh. Trust , I can. Information is hard to contain unless you pounce on it imdiately. Combine that with helping two of their mbers survive this ss? Sounds like a pretty good position to ."
I sincerely doubted that. Alvir had to be telling Umi about all this.
I'd be surprised if he even stepped foot in Anik.
Speaking of, where were they?
Alvir...should've known about this, shouldn't he? Why didn't he tell ? Maybe I was thinking too far into it, the man wasn't omnipotent. Just could track shit from two hundred miles away. No big deal.
I wondered if...no.
Best not to think about that now. Too fresh and it wasn't at all the ti.
"So we're killing Rhode then?"
"You accepted that surprisingly fast," Kogan said. "No distaste for working with the ever so dreadful gangster?"
My eyes blazed for a mont. "I don't have to justify myself to you."
Kogan humd and shrugged.
"Fair enough."
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