awmaher
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Chapter 385 - Running Mushroom
🕑 Added 2024-10-21 02:22:33 +0000 UTCI finished my outline for Book 6 over the weekend and I'm so happy with it. This book's going to be hype. Hopefully the most hype of all of them so far.
The wasteland stretched out around them, offering them little in terms of cover. Small dunes and jagged rocks dotted the landscape, but they were hardly enough to hide the entire group. Hump’s gaze flickered to the skies. The shades were weak individually, but there were too many to kill quickly. A battle might attract the attention of other enemies, or even alert the warlocks to their presence.
General Korteg’s face was grim as he gazed at the quickly nearing shades. “Kestra raise a veil. We’re going to try and avoid this conflict.”
“Yes, General.”
Hump’s eyes went to one of the Chosen of Lady Light, her golden cloak shimmering at her back.
“It must be perfect,” Hump said. “The slightest leak of essence may draw them to us.”
“Illusions are our speciality, young wizard,” Kestra said, smiling at him. “Worry not.”
She stepped into the centre of the force, moving quickly into position and summing her blessings. Trails of gold swept up from her sceptre, only to disappear. Hump sensed nothing as her powers worked, the only sign anything was going on a gentle shimmer in the air, like the thinnest strand of mist.
“It is ready,” Kestra said. “They will not see us, and they should not sense us.”
Hump admired the illusion. From within, it was as if they’d been surrounded in a layer of glass, faintly warping the surroundings though still perfectly clear.
“Thank you, Kestra,” the general said. The general then turned his attention toward Hump and Randall’s parties. “Tell me more about these shades. Will they find us here? And more importantly, will they follow us?”
“Our blessings have left behind a trail of essence, General,” Dylan said. “It’s likely that they will sense it and be able to trace it back to us.”
“Even if they do, they are weak creatures of single-minded focus,” Hump said.
“So weak it may be simpler to wipe them out,” Randall suggested.
“These creatures are no challenge to kill. Frostfire and flame devastate them.”
“There is no telling what else we might draw to us if we attack,” General Korteg said. “We must be nearing the temple now. A battle here could risk our discovery. No, stealth is our greatest ally right now. Anara, tell me more about this plan of yours.”
“Of course,” Anara said. “I won’t bore you with the details, but my method will create a trail of essence that leads away from us and will continue to do so until the shades have drained it of its strength.”
“That sounds like a good plan,” Hump said. “As long as Anara’s distraction works, we should be able to sneak away while they are distracted without the use of any blessings. The trail will cease, and they will, with any luck, follow the residual power we have left in our wake back to the temple far, far away from us.”
“Well then, as long as nobody disapproves, I will begin now,” Anara said. “Our time grows short, and I cannot do it from here. Are there any Chosen of Vesta here that possess a blessing allowing for short range teleportation with the strength to transport three people.”
“I can do it,” Lorissa said. “It takes me a about twenty seconds to prepare it in each direction.”
Hump saw the moment Dylan’s face dropped as his girlfriend was the one to volunteer. Stepping out of the crowd, she appeared tense but ready, her hand gripped tightly around her staff.
Anara’s gaze sharpened on the young woman. “You are, Lorissa, correct?”
The girl smiled and nodded. “That’s right.”
“Thank you. I need you to take me to that hill.” Hump followed her finger to a rocky outcrop in the distance. It was the highest point in the surrounding area, but other than that, there was nothing that distinguished it. He glanced back toward the encroaching shades. The swarm was approaching fast. A minute away, perhaps. He couldn’t tell if they’d been spotted yet.
“And Wizard Humphrey,” she said. “I will need your services too.”
“You will?” Hump asked.
“My plan will require a flame.” She gave him a smile. “Yours is close to hand.”
Hump glanced at his party members who gave a shrug and then he went forward. “Then you shall have it.”
Hump gathered with the two women, instructing Nishari to remain with Celaine as he approached. He gave Lorissa a smile as he approached.
“Hold onto my cloak,” Lorissa said. She began to channel her blessing, divine essence rising from her. Seconds passed. Hump felt the power wash over him and he permitted it access. Then, they moved.
It was unlike the portals Hump had been in. Hump’s stomach churned. The world spun—literally. Dunes of sand spinning as he vanished from one place then appeared in the next. He stumbled, looking around to try and place himself yet failed to do so. The illusion cast by the Chosen was impervious, but he knew he had to be staring at them.
Suddenly, he felt a little self-conscious. He was looking at them like an idiot, meanwhile, there were likely two hundred people staring straight at him. Doing his best to look like he knew what he was doing, Hump turned to Anara.
“How can we assist?” Hump asked.
“Keep watch and wait,” Anara said. “I will tell you when I need you.”
From a bracelet on her wrist, she produced several dried mushrooms, their shrivelled forms resting in her palms. Without hesitation, she began to channel her blessings into them.
“What is she doing?” Lorissa whispered; her brow furrowed in confusion.
“I’m not sure,” Hump said, watching closely.
“These are running mushrooms,” Anara said. “They grow in regions prone to wildfires and have developed the unique trait of standing up and fleeing when they sense fire nearby. Their spores are launched into the air with tremendous force, propelled by essence to rise beyond the canopy and be carried away in the wind and smoke.”
Hump leant in closer, watching as they expanded under Anara’s power. “Why have I never heard of them? I’d have thought such an interesting item would be well known amongst potion makers.”
“I discovered it while travelling in the southern lands of Nilesh,” Anara said with a shrug. “It is a long way to go for mushrooms, but they have proved useful before. I once baited a wraith from its grave using such a method, so I expect they will do the job well here too. The only problem is that they stink.”
Her attention never wavered as she continued to pour her power into the dried mushrooms. Slowly, they began to expand, their caps growing wide and thick as they sprouted thin, spindly legs. The air around them filled with a putrid smell like rotten flesh, so strong Hump almost gagged. Soon, they were too large for Anara to hold. She placed them on the ground, and they continued to grow, expanding until they were as thick as a tree and almost as tall as Hump.
“Now use your fire,” she said.
Hump held a hand beside the plant. “Spark.”
A flame appeared above his palm, and he poured essence into it, holding it closer to the mushrooms. Suddenly, they were running, leg-like roots churning the sand as they fled across the wasteland. Their awkward but surprisingly fast movements kicked up sand as they went. Hump felt essence building, then the first puff of essence erupted from their caps, pink like Anara’s blessing, and in them were hundreds of glittering spores that floated out in all directions, slowly falling to the ground.
“Get us back, Lorissa,” Anara said sharply, not wasting a second.
Lorissa nodded, already focusing again. Hump grabbed onto her cloak just as the cloud of shades began to turn toward them, their dark forms moving faster than before.
“If they didn’t spot us earlier, they sure have now,” Hump muttered.
Lorrisa’s blessing enveloped Hump. The world spun once more. Seconds of whirling motion past and then Hump was back amongst the others, his legs shaking from the disorienting teleportation.
“We are done,” Anara said. “Now… we watch.”
Hump stumbled back toward his own party, then turned just in time to see the swarm of shades descend, their ethereal bodies swirling like a dark storm as they pursued the fleeing mushrooms. The creatures dove to the ground, hungrily devouring spores left in their path, completely distracted by the false prey.
“Reminds me of birds over the lake,” Dylan said.
“In what way?” Emilia asked.
“They would go wild for stale breadcrumbs that I used to toss into the water, diving down before flying back up almost exactly like that.”
“Sounds a lot cheerier than have your life force siphoned away until nothing but a husk remains,” Celaine said.
“I said it’s similar,” Dylan said. “I didn’t say I preferred the shades.”
Slowly, the shades continued farther away. Hump exhaled in relief. The tactic had worked.
“Success!” Count Daston said cheerfully. “Well done.”
“It is far too early to celebrate our success,” General Korteg said with a smile. “It’s time for us to move. Kestra, can you maintain that illusion until we are well out of sight. Once we are certain we are free of them we will summon our blessings once more.”
“What if the shades return?” someone asked.
“If they return, we will be forced to destroy them,” Korteg said simply, his tone brooking no argument. “We only have so much time for such… distractions. Elenvine needs us. Our king needs us! We do not have time to avoid risks.”
For fifteen minutes, Hump enjoyed the peace and comfort that was walking. Never had he realised just how much he had taken such motion for granted, and never would he again. Those fifteen minutes were bliss, but all good things have to come to an end eventually.
General Korteg did not wait long before reactivating the blessings across the force, and then, once more, they ran. Hump kept Nisha close by his side for the rest of the journey, the little dragon’s presence a comfort amidst the harsh monotony of their journey. The group pressed on through the wasteland. They might as well have been running in circles for all the change it would have made. Rocks, sand, dunes—it was the same everywhere. Hump was almost wishing they’d fought the shades just for something more to do other than running.
Hump kept Nisha close for the next hour before sending her back up into the air to scout. It seemed they were past the worst of it now. The run continued. Hump was past the point of exhaustion now, falling to the monotony of running. He’d managed better than he’d expected. Even amongst the Chosen, a few of the spellcasters were struggling, but as miserable as it was, Hump felt like he still had fire in his blood. The transformation he’d undertaken in Drakalyn had left him with strength and stamina that few wizards could match without undergoing alchemical enhancements.
As the group continued their march, the initial adrenaline of their escape had long since worn off, replaced by the steady rhythm of exhaustion. Hump’s legs ached, his breath coming in short, laboured bursts, but still, he pushed on. He was past the point of feeling pain, his body now moving on sheer willpower and memory of stamina. The repietitive thud of his boots on the sandy ground became almost meditative… almost.
Despite the fatigue, Hump couldn’t help but marvel at how well he was holding up. The transformation he had undergone in Drakalyn had gifted him with strength and endurance beyond what he had ever imagined. Wizards were not usually so lucky as to have dragon blood running through their veins, and it made up for many of the weaknesses that came with a focus on spellcasting. Even amongst the Chosen, a few were struggling, their steps growing heavier. Sweat streaked their faces, and Hump couldn’t imagine how bad it must be for those in armour.
When at last the warlock temple came into view, Hump hardly believed his eyes. He’d wondered for a while now if they had gone wrong. What if the path led to a trap, or worse, nothing? The artifact they were following had been taken from the warlocks after all, yet now, the temple was before them, and all doubt left Hump’s mind.
It rose from the wasteland—an ancient monument, its dark stone walls carved with sigils and runes though there was no sense of essence. The temple was enormous. It dwarfed the one that connected to Fort Nordric. Massive columns flanked the entrance, each one etched with intricate symbols that seemed to shift and shimmer as the light caught them. Hump wondered if the temple somehow contained its essence in a way that shades couldn’t detect, or perhaps it was warded against such foes.
Unlike the last temple, the guard was well established. Dark figures moved along battlements, patrolling quietly.
“This is… more than I expected,” Bud whispered at his side.
Hump nodded in agreement. It was far grander than he’d expected. It made sense though. Elenvine had been the capital of Alveron since its founding. It was only natural that its connection point in this realm would be just as imposing. He scanned the structure, searching for obvious weaknesses in its defence, but it was clear that there would be no easy infiltration. The warlocks were ready for a fight.
“I count a hundred men just on the walls,” Celaine whispered. “We could be outnumbered here.”
“I do not think that matters with the count and general at our head,” Bud said.
“Maybe.” Hump frowned. “Unless word of the attack on the other temple reached them.”
“I don’t think it’s likely anyone escaped,” Dylan said.
“Not unless they weren’t there for the attack.” Emilia looked at them. “A group of warlocks could have been on their way to the temple, only to discover the scene we left behind.”
“Either way, we’ll find out soon enough,” Hump said grimly. “There’s no way I’m doing anymore running. I don’t care how many warlocks we’re up against.”
Comments
lenkite
"A group of warlocks could have been on their way to the temple, only to discover the scene we left behind.” How did the warlocks get to this temple before them then ?
BaguaBrady
Good stuff! A repeat paragraph here or there for proofreading
George R
Awesome chapter really excited for what you have in store
NameGame
I feel concerned that the shades may make another untimely appearance. Thanks for the chapter.
