M.D.Syl
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Chapter 78 colorless
🕑 Added 2023-05-09 13:37:53 +0000 UTCAuthor notes:
This chapter is dedicated to Deniz for supporting me on Patreon.
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Chapter 78 This Day of Terror.
Ohhh friendship!
The mother of connections!
The one behind every good deal!
Hold onto her.
But don’t let her cheat you out of your gold.
Kilako, the Golden Prince of Gains.
The demon doesn’t even slow down when it notices me; if anything, it charges at us faster and shifts its focus to me.
Venomous snakes!!! “Myrsha! Lu myrsha ni!” <gravity! Don’t pull me!> I call out in a panic. I weave a swift chant patterns into the ‘Weightless Body’ spell.
With a sharp drain of mana from my necklace and thick purple smoke from my belt – I kick the ground in order to float upward. The pattern strain of a swift cast leave me unable to cast ‘Breeze’ , but the kick is enough to lift me out of Kolag demon’s reach.
Below me, Jerro rides Loyal’s back. He charges toward the monstrous creature, holding nothing but his cane like an odd lance. He seems so small in comparison. This creature just massacred an entire army by itself, but Jerro keeps on charging. Loyal! No!!!
Jerro stabs his the edge of his cane into the creature’s large middle eye just before it’s about to pounce on the poor Lepp.
The demon lets out a joyful moan, a loud sigh, and a sound similar to human laughter, all three voices at the same time. The voices change, they rise to a high pitch of a feminine giggle and go back to a low masculine guffaw, independent of each other. Before finally fading back into Kolag.
The quarterstaff clatters on the ground. I catch a glimpse of Kolag’s pale face. His black hair. His gray eyes. And then Jerro gets off my horse and covers Kolag’s head with the black metallic helmet. Kolag collapses in a heap of metal.
The battle is over, and there is no sign of King Luard. I look around in alarm, maybe he decides to show himself now when the demon is no longer a threat. But after a long minute of alertness, I decide to drop my guard. Luard had escaped. I cannot avenge Lezere’s death. And many men had lost their lives for nothing on this day.
Nothing but my ambitions… is the hag’s gift worth so much to me? Can’t I wait ten years longer to become a full mage? How many lives am I willing to throw away for the sake of ten years?! But without this power, I can’t protect myself nor the lives I care about…
I’m killing the lives I care about! I got Lezere killed! No. The King got her killed… I’m not to blame here! I’ll find and kill him! Waiting ten years to become a mage means ten more years before I can go home and see Wulf again… he might die if I wait that long… I've already waited nearly ten years, I refuse to wait another ten. Besides, holing up in the middle of nowhere with a group prone to infighting without any goals in mind is a bad idea…
The soldiers who are still alive, surrender immediately. I can see the terror in their eyes, they will not forget this day. It seems like I’ve started my reign over this place using fear. I didn’t plan to do that, I aimed to be a benevolent ruler beloved by her people. Yet, I have no choice about it now, this terror will haunt them for the rest of their lives. They’ll tell their families, and the rumors will spread.
But this is also a good thing. If it becomes common knowledge that I own such a powerful weapon – one that can wipe out armies, other apprentices or ‘sorcerers’ in the area will avoid me. They’ll not look for trouble, which in turn, will give me time to develop this place.
I cancel my 'Weightless Body' spell. "Latsa ni." <Lift me.> I use the jump spell to land safely. “Kolag?” He doesn’t respond. “Answer me!”
“He’ll be okay,” Jerro says in a tired voice. “He needs some sleep, I’ll make sure he gets it. This is one of the best outcomes I’ve predicted,” he states coldly.
“Best outcomes?! Lezere died! She…”
“The brute wouldn’t be dead if the hunter had listened to my instructions. He did not. He refused to kill the spy due to his hatred of my Lord. If you wish to blame someone, blame the hunter. Or that half Marrid who killed the brute to sate his own bloodlust. Not me. Now go. Your newly acquired people need you to address them, wasn’t that the goal of this day?”
I sigh and nod. I hand the surprised Lepp the two gemstones I promised him. He did hit the target, even if it wasn’t in the way I wanted him to.
I leave Kolag in Jerro’s hands. Jerro proved he could be trusted by running forward with that spear. I will not doubt him again… Though it’d be better if he could’ve predicted Lezere’s death in time to prevent it… He did… Berthold didn’t listen… Then why didn't he tell me to stop Lezere from going with Salik?! Maybe it means that Salik would've died if Lezere didn't go with him? And if Salik died, I wouldn't have an army to support me and others would've died... Regardless... It means Jerro isn’t omniscient either…
I make my way toward the city’s gate and stop near Lezere’s headless body. I look around for the head, ignoring the cheers from the walls. I finally find it ten meters away from the body, covered in mud. My friend’s empty eyes stare into the cloudy morning skies, her face twisted in a snarl even under the dirty rag that blocks her mouth.
I crouch, close her brown eyes and hug her head. Why?! Why every time I finally manage to reunite with people I care about, they just die?! Why?! Why does everyone leave me alone??? A rock forms in my throat, and now the tears are flowing. I bring the severed head back to the body, attaching it back as if it’d fix things.
“Goodbye... Lezere…” Why can’t I tell her I’m sorry? Because I’m not… I’m not sorry! I won this city! The population here is at least half of what the hag wanted me to have… maybe more. Why did Lezere have to ruin the celebration and die?! Why?!
Why did you have to die Lezere?! Why did you have to leave me in such a stupid way?!
“All hail the Queen!”
“Hail! Hail! Hail!”
The city gates open with a loud cheer. I touch Lezere’s shoulders, still warm. I try to drain this warmth into me, to absorb it, to keep some of her to myself. But there’s nothing left for a cold bitch like me.
I get up, wipe my tears and step into the city. My city.
Salik awaits for me right behind the gates. “Welcome, My Queen.” He gives me a theatrical mocking bow and tips a straw hat he now wears in my direction. Where did he get that awful hat? That brings a half-smile to my face despite my grief. Good! I need something to smile about, I need to swallow those tears!
“Thanks, Salik!” I hug him, ignoring the cheering crowd. I need a hug. “You saved our collective hides just now!”
The tall man is surprised by my hug, but he regains his wits and pats my back. “I’m sure you and the boy would’ve managed…”
“Where did you get my father’s flag?”
“The Maven of Mysteries gave it to me, where else? She ordered me to use it as your banner.” He breaks the hug with the same sarcastic grin on his face.
Makes sense… “Can I ask you to take care of Lezere? I want to plant a tree for her…”
His smile disappears, and he nods in acknowledgment. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Actually, wait. I will plant a tree for her after I avenge her. The king escaped.” I hug myself, feeling the chill in the wind. “Get some scouts to find him! I want him dead!”
“Right away, Berthold…”
“No! Not Berthold! Send some people I don’t know!” I’m tired of getting my friends killed for my ambitions…
“My Queen… does the permission to speak freely still applies?” Salik asks, raising a thick eyebrow at me.
“Yes, it always applies. Never be afraid to speak your mind with me.”
He nods grimly. “We should send Berthold, the guy is the best scout I’ve seen in the last fifty years. Keeping him holed up in the city makes no sense. You’re grieving. You don’t want to see your people dead, and I get that, but if you keep them from doing their jobs you’ll be the one dying at the end…”
He’s right… I’m just tired… tired of seeing the people I care for die… I didn’t see Lezere for a year… and now barely two weeks together and she’s already dead… “You’re right… Berthold can go.”
“You have to understand that if a leader is to…”
I don’t need a snaking lecture right now! “I said Berthold can go!” And if he dies?
“Eh? Ah, yeah ahem… ok, good…” Salik coughs and turns to speak with our short scout.
“Found a way to da’ palace!” Ryon announces, taking Salik’s place.
I don’t need it anymore… but: “Good work Ryon!” I can’t help but sniff.
“Don’ need your words! Gimme food! I’m hungry!”
I take a deep breath and force myself to smile. “Sure.” I pat his shoulder in a friendly manner. nice to see some things never change… “Ryon, can you teach me how to fight larger people like you do?” I need every advantage I can get…
“Ye! After ah eat!”
“My Queen.” Zoe performs a curtsy with a bright smile on her face.
“Yes?” You gambled on the right horse, and you know it. What are your goals now?
“Should I show you to your palace?”
Ah right, bootlicking… I really dislike this girl… Why? Because she’s opportunistic? Is she opportunistic? She joined me as a thank you for saving her and her sister and to learn magic… she’s not a bad person… and am I not opportunistic myself?
No, the reason I dislike her is that I don’t want to like her, liking people is bad for me… they always die… she’s done nothing wrong… it’s all me…
“Not yet, Zoe. Salik!” the man raises his head and Berthold gets closer as well. “Assign some of your men to the prisoners outside, recruit those who wish to serve us, and send home those who do not. I also want to know which one of them participated in Luard's atrocities, but I'd rather find out after we get full control over this city. Get the rest of your men ready to clear the palace with me. I want to make sure the king didn’t leave me a present there, or worse, waiting there for me.”
“Right away!” Salik leaves to give orders to the mercenary army.
“Um… Inara? Can I still call you that?” Berthold asks when Salik leaves.
I wish he had listened to Jerro… I’ll need to rectify that… Calm him down first, it won’t be of any use to scare him further. “Of course you can. As far as I’m concerned nothing's changed. So stop shaking in your boots every time I glance in your direction, Berthold. Frankly, it’s getting on my nerves. Can you please go back to boasting your wild ventures and talking about fairies?”
He stares at me with a gaping mouth.
I push his chin up, closing his mouth. “You’ll swallow a fly like that. Speak.”
He averts his eyes taking a step back from my hand, his cheeks burning red. Did he take it as a romantic gesture?! This guy is hopeless… “Ahem… yeah, well, can you tell me where you last saw the king? I need a starting point in order to track him.”
“We have a bit of a problem there, he teleported using magic. I have no clue where. I can only assume he teleported to the palace, but he could be anywhere.”
“I... I can’t create miracles Ina… My Queen. If I don’t have a starting point to track him from, I can’t help.”
That does make sense… “Very well… I’ll point you at the starting point when I find it.” He nods, turning to leave. “Oh, Berthold?” I call out. He halts, looking at me with expectation. “If you call me My Queen again, I’ll have to order your execution!”
I can’t help but snicker seeing the horror on his face. “Relax, ok? You have nothing to worry about, I’m good to my people. I practically threw myself out against an army earlier for a friend, and I consider you a friend too… so, please? Stop being so afraid of me? I’ll go down and beg you on my knees in front of all of these people if I have to.”
“I… I…” He stutters. I drop to one knee and his eyes open wide. “There’s no need for that. I get it, ok?! You won’t hurt me, I know that. I’ll stop, I promise!”
“Good boy~” I pat his cheek and grins when he blushes. It’s quite enjoyable seeing the effect I have on him. It makes me feel oddly good, even if I am not truly interested in him romantically. Toying with him is harmless, and I need the distraction right now.
“Now… There’s something I need you to promise me, Berthold.”
“Y-yes?”
I sigh. “Berthold… the next time Jerro tell you to kill someone, you kill them. Are we clear?”
“Even if they’re innocent?” he asks, defiance in his voice.
I cross my hands. “If Jerro tells you that people of our group will die if you don’t kill that person? Then yes, even if they’re innocent.”
“And if I refuse?” He’s trembling, I’m not sure whether it’s fear or anger. Maybe both.
“Then people I care about die. I’d rather have an innocent blood on my hands than watch one of you die again, Berthold. This could also be you who ends up dead, how would your mother and sister feel? Do you think the hag will heal your sister if you're dead? Jerro’s prediction are accurate, and if it gives us an early warning, we should use it. I can’t watch any of you die again.”
Berthold steps forward, fists clenched, sheer rage etched on his face. "With all due respect, that innocent blood would be on my hands, not yours. If people die, they die. I know how it is to lose a friend. But I won't kill for the death cultist. I'll never kill for the death cultists! They're the ones who cursed my mother and sister, and you expect me to listen to one of them?! Do you really believe your friend died just because I wouldn't kill a bunch of random people?! Are you that crazy? Death cultists can't predict the future, it's impossible to know what will happen. The only way I'm going to kill someone not in self defense, is if you threatens me to kill them. Are you going to kill me if I refuse to listen to your death cultist? Yes, or no?"
I sigh. I can't do this anymore... "No. I won't kill you if you don't listen to my orders or Jerro's..."
He doesn’t answer, he just turns and leave me on my own. Great… I feel like crying again…
*
An hour later I am assured the king isn’t hiding in the palace nor is the palace trapped. The place is crowded with servants and maids, but there is no sign of the king’s personal aids, and even his new wife cannot be found.
After interrogating the staff I find out that the king had indeed teleported back to the palace. He collected his loyal personnel, his new wife, and left from the northern gate while we were still busy at the south.
Another hour passes and Berthold leaves the city, following the king’s tracks with five mercenary scouts. Their orders are to observe and report where the king is going, not to engage. The fact that the king took Sharla with him gives me hope and fear in equal measures. With Sharla being around him I can keep track of his actions, if Berthold makes contact with her of course... But she’s still in the company of my now sworn enemy.
I probably shouldn’t worry too much. Sharla is a competent spy. Especially since Jerro hadn’t said a word about the fact she got taken away. Yet the king’s teleportation ability scares me. If the guy could teleport into my chambers any time he wanted, he could attack me in my sleep.
Even if I could beat him in a fight again, and that’s a big if, He could simply teleport away and I’ll have to start all over again. I have to find a sure way to kill him without risking another confrontation, and Sharla is my main hope for achieving that…
*~*~*
Interlude 78.1
Shar-La-Fyn-Wyn-Yeslun <White-Near-River-Dew-Thorn> / <Sharlafyn Nettledew.>
“Wife! Are you alright? I know it may have been hard to leave your city and family. But I promise you, we’ll be back and we’ll take what’s ours!” The Fae’s Blood former King examines her with worry in his blue glowing eyes.
“I… I… I want to go back!” Sharla mimics the average human woman in this situation. Pity and love floods from this man, the love is meaningless. But the pity? Ohhh Sharla can’t get enough of it.
The Fae’s-Blood makes her look into his blue glowing eyes. “We will go back, wife, I promise! It just going to take me a little time. I’m a sorcerer. Do you have faith in me?”
“I… Y-yes?”
“Do you have faith in me or not, wife? You do not have to lie, I only seek the truth. We are newly wed, it is ok if you do not have faith in me yet.” For someone of these methods of executions and cruelty, this Fae’s-Blood is surprisingly caring to a human-woman he only met yesterday.
Sharla had seen stranger things before, and even monsters have a soft side to them. “N… I don’t know? There was another sorceress, what if she wins?”
The Fae’s-blood grits his teeth and Sharla can hear them grind against each other. “It won’t happen again! She took me by surprise with that monstrosity, whatever fae that thing was. But when I come back, I’ll come back prepared. I do not make the same mistake twice. Now let’s go to bed.”
“Y-yes sir!”
“Husband, you call me husband.” He caresses Sharla's cheek and she can feel the pity flooding her. Ahhhhhh this is just what she needed, she can live off this for weeks! More!
“Y-yes, husband!”
More pity floods in. “Let’s go to sleep, wife. The tent may be uncomfortable, and I won’t force my presence on you until you feel like you are ready to accept me in your bed. Is that acceptable?”
“Y-yes, husband! T-thank you, husband!”
“There’s no need to thank me. You can ask me for anything you want! Anything in the world and I’ll give it to you. You are my Queen. Now let’s sleep…”
*
A few hours later. Sharla is convinced everyone around the camp is already asleep. She turns invisible and gets out of her tent. Sharla saw a few Rotvine Berries downriver. Foraging them and coming back takes another hour, but the night is still young.
Sharla sneaks into the former king’s tent, fully invisible. His clothes and items are neatly organized in the corner, and his personal flask rests near the metallic folding bed in case he’ll be thirsty at night.
Still invisible, Sharla squeezes the Rotvine berries juice into the waterskin.
“Wife? What exactly are you doing?” The former king sits on the bed, glowing blue eyes staring directly at her.
Sharla heart misses a beat, but she pretends not to hear him, she is invisible after all.
“Wife! I asked what in the gods’ name do you think you’re doing!!!” He yells, getting off the bed, an icy fog surrounding him.
“You can see me?” Sharla asks with astonishment. This shouldn’t be possible, not many can see past her invisibility. These glowing eyes… blue… this former king must be a Cacu-Mherrid <Half-Marrid> Of course someone from the Court of the Dijin can see through her invisibility.
“Yes! You’re right there! Clearly poisoning my water. Do you think I don’t know what those berries are? Have I been cruel to you? Do you want vengeance for taking you away from your family? Is that it? Are you that petty?” He shakes his head. “No… a normal girl wouldn’t be this stupid, you’re a spy of Queen Inara aren’t you?”
Pir’-Ma-Dan-On-Et-Tautha-On! <By the monarch-s and court-s!> How did he jump to this conclusion?!
“N-No sir. I just wanted to t-test if y-you’re truly a sorcerer!”
“You’re not fooling me! Now I’m going to nail you to a road post and leave a warm message for dear Queen Inara! And just in case you have some little magic or potion. I’m going to use iron nails, I keep them for special occasions...”
A piece of lore
Swift chant/Quicken alteration patterns: For 5 patterns a 1st level may be used a shorter – cantrip length chant. A 2nd level spell will need 10 patterns, and so on.
Silent cast falls under this same category, they need 2 patterns and only apply to cantrips alone.
*~*~*
Power level: 3rd stage apprentice.
Mana pools status:
Crown-knot: Affinity 10: formed: 1 gem replenished per five minutes.
Neck-Bridge: Affinity 6: formed: max amount of gems drained per day: 66
Abdomen-storage: Affinity 5: formed: 6 gems. Conversion ratio: 6:1
Air: Affinity 4: formed: 18 gems
Fire: Affinity 2: formed: 9 gems
Light: Affinity 3: formed: 14 gems
Water: Affinity 6: formed: 27 gems
Earth: Affinity 1: formed: 4 gems
Wood: Affinity 2: formed: 9 gems
Gravity: Affinity 9: formed: 40/41 gems
Cantrip known:
Air: Shavi’s Breeze, Shavi’s Sword. Shavi’s Hair Dryer, Aria’s Enhanced Hearing. Aria’s Sonic Scream.
Fire: Nuriss’ Flame. Effrat’s Firefly, Effrat’s Fire Breath. Sorladika's Lesser Heating. Nuriss’ Ignite.
Light: Noxi’s Light. Lako’s Blinding Light. Rika’s energy hand.
Water: Water Evocation, Water to Ice, Ice to Water, Water to Vapor, Vapor to Water, Mayan’s Icy Spike, Ayla’s Water Jet. Ayla’s instant freeze.
Earth: Alice’s Oil Summoning, Reiko’s Acid Spray.
Wood: Arigor’s Lesser Vines. Kolosu’s Vegetable Summoning.
Gravity: Lumina’s Kinetic Burst. Tukado’s Repulse. Tukado’s lesser shield. Imari’s Minor Telekinesis. Imari’s Jump. Leo’s Pull. Leo’s Grounding. Alino’s Light Body. Alino’s Heavy Body.
Spells known:
Gravity: Alino’s Weightless Bodyb.
Life: Brigit’s Lesser Cure Poison.
Focus capability: 13 patterns
Social status: Inara, Daughter of Mysteries. Apprentice to the Maven of Mysteries. Sorceress.
Wealth: 1496 Magic Gems. 1421 Golden Peas, 17 Silver Scales, 12 Copper Bits.
Items:
Magical necklace. Contains 100 gems of general mana, can be drained like a mana pool. It’ll recharge by itself at the rate of five gems an hour.
1 potion of lightning body.
1 potion of mana, medium grade.
An enchanted belt with eight pouches, the enchantment keeps the pouches’ content fresh.
Fresh rose petals, 25g
10 empty soul bottles. Glass with a diamond stopper, put in scaled leather wrapping.
The Great White Egret grimoire. Dedicated by the Maven of mysteries to Inara. 10/100
Companions:
Salik
Berthold
Zoe
Ryon
Languages:
Toml’a <People’s tongue> Fluent
Sinteo <Speech> Fluent
Myrsha <Gravity> 7/10
Felul <Wind> 1/10
Injuries and scars:
