Chapter 432 - The Darkness to Come

Late night but caught back up now. Hope you like the chapter! Also, I saw some comments about typos and Grasping Hands being the wrong tier on the last chapter. Haven't had a chance to correct them yet but I'll do it tomorrow morning. Thanks for poiting it out, they're on my list.

Celaine stared at Hump as they sat in the small, enclosed garden of the safe house. They had spent the last few mornings training together. Hump would work on the Veil of Infinite Reflections, while she focused on manifesting her soul and pitting it against Hump’s own.

Right now, he was intensely focused. His legs were crossed, eyes closed, and the minutes were passing by, yet with each one, he became more and more invisible to her. His presence faded, becoming weaker and more obscure. The break from his manifested soul was a welcomed one. They had finished soul duelling only a short while ago, and Celaine had yet to fully recover. She would never admit it but when Hump summoned his strength, there was a presence to him. One that had only grown stronger in recent days. His power was becoming more dense, the world around him warping like clouds drawn into a storm. He had told her that he was nearing the sixth rank, and in those moments where she fought with her soul against his, she could truly feel it.

And now, he was doing the opposite. All that strength and it was fading before her eyes, no matter how hard she stared. It was fascinating to watch. Ever since she had gone with Owalyn on the hunt and become one of her Chosen, Celaine had been keenly attuned to the auras of those around her. Even ordinary people gave off an energy—a wave of essence that warped the essence in the world around them. Often, it was so subtle that she could not distinguish that essence from the background, but this was not one of those cases. There were distractions. Just her, Nishari, and Hump. The garden was bare, but for the bushes and a willow tree that leant them its shade.

A few more minutes passed, and then Hump’s presence was gone entirely. She called upon Hunter’s Instinct to the fullest, summoning her blessing until her eyes were radiant with its power. She willed herself to feel what she saw before her, yet there was nothing.

Staring at his still form, it sent a chill through her. Hump may as well have been a ghost. His presence had vanished into the world, dispersed and scattered so finely that it was just another part of the garden.

He had done it.

Celaine smiled to herself. She liked seeing Hump like this. Despite what he would say about his own ability to focus on the more intricate sides of magic, she didn’t agree. He had a focus that she didn’t think any of them could match when he needed it. Everything else fell away, and it was just Hump and the magic. She could see that in him now too.

Nearby, Nisha was on her feet and seemed unsettled. The dragon had grown bored quickly when they’d started their training and gone to lie down, but now she was back on her feet, staring at Hump with a confused tilt to her head. She slinked forward cautiously, the gold tips of her scales glinting in the morning light, circling him once, sniffing the air. Wolf dragons were keenly attuned to essence, their senses sharper than even most Chosen, yet even Nisha seemed unable to place him.

She crept closer, her snout wrinkling as she neared Hump’s face. His eyes remained closed, his breathing steady as he maintained the technique, completely oblivious to what was coming. Celaine held back a laugh as Nisha gave one last sniff, then darted forward with a sudden swipe of her tongue.

It dragged across Hump’s face in one long, wet motion, from lips to forehead.

Hump’s eyes shot open and he was back—no longer a ghost. Present. Normal.

“Urg! Seriously?” he groaned, rolling onto his back and wiping at his face with the sleeve of his robe. Before he could recover, Nisha pounced, mouth wide with an enthusiastic smile, her tail whipping around behind her.

“I’m here, Nisha! Relax!” Hump laughed, trying to fend her off with his arms as she nosed under them and slobbered him again.

Celaine laughed as she watched the two roll through the grass in a tangle of limbs and scales. Nisha twisted and kicked as Hump struggled to contain her. Finally, with a grunt and a shove, he flipped her off him and held her on her side by one of her horns and a leg. Nisha hissed and huffed, yet she was still a little too small to wrestle free of his grip. Still, she managed to wriggle upside down for a moment, legs flailing until she rolled upright again and shook herself off with a huff, tail swishing smugly.

“You’re getting too strong for me, you know that?” Hump said, breathing heavily. He turned to Celaine. “I take it from Nisha’s reaction that it worked.”

“It worked flawlessly,” Celaine said through a smile. “I couldn’t sense you in the slightest. It took some time, but by the end of it you were completely gone. It was kind of chilling actually. I can understand why Nisha didn’t like it.”

Hump turned to Nisha, the two staring at each other in that way Celaine recognised from her sister and Starfall all those years ago. They were talking.

“I don’t think Nisha could even feel our bond,” Hump said. “No wonder she got cross.”

Celaine frowned at that. “I’ve never heard of a wolf dragon losing connection to their keeper.”

“That’s not true. The keeper could die.”

Celaine gave Hump a look that she hoped conveyed how stupid he was. From the awkward smile that followed, it seemed her point landed.

“It must be weird for her though,” Celaine said. “It was like the world had swallowed you up. You’re going to need to get her used to it. She won’t like it.”

Hump nodded, his face becoming more serious as he turned back to Nisha. “It won’t take her long though. She’s clever. The bigger problem will be how I maintain it. it took everything I had just to hold the state. The moment I got distracted it collapsed.” He shook his head, frustrated. “And somehow I need to learn to maintain it at all times if I don’t want demons coming after me.”

“Where’s the confidence!” Celaine snapped, suddenly annoyed. “What is this talk? You’re going to do far greater things than master one Tier 5 technique. This was just the first success. Now comes practice.”

Hump let out a slow breath and leaned into the grass, staring up at the sky. A few seconds later, he sat up and nodded. “I hate this—”

“—you hate this type of spell,” Celaine interrupted. “Blah, blah blah. Stop whinging, start practicing.”

Hump groaned. “You’re a tough trainer.”

Celaine smiled smugly. “Someone’s got to keep you on track. Now! Let’s go. This time try not to take fifteen minutes.”

“Oh yeah? What’s in it for me?” He gave a wink that was far less charming than he probably thought it was, but that only made it funnier.

A laugh burst out of Celaine. “Maybe you’ll find out. We’ll see if you impress me.”

***

Aldric’s cane echoed on the worn stone of the Dragon’s Head cellar staircase as he descended, the polished head of his cane catching the lantern light.

“Didn’t keep you waiting long, did I?” he said, his voice weary. “Been rather busy of late.”

Hump rose from his seat at the table in the veiled section of the tavern cellar. “Not long. I just finished up training with Wizard Charles.”

Aldric paused inside the room, giving Hump a once-over. “I can still sense you.”

Hump smiled faintly, then closed his eyes and turned inward. Breath by breath, he quietened his soul. The pressure of his essence withdrew, receding like the tide. He let go of the control he usually maintained, allowing his power to diffuse into the world around him.

Aldric tilted his head, a brow raised. “Now that’s more like it.”

“I still can’t maintain it while doing other things,” Hump said. Despite his efforts, the technique failed as he spoke. “As you can see…”

“Impressive nonetheless,” Aldric said. “Charles told me what he had you working on. It’s not something just anyone can do, and to see you coming so far in little more than a week is good. I told you Charles was the best, didn’t I?”

“No argument here,” Hump said. “Thank you again for the introduction. I wouldn’t have reached this point without you.”

Aldric waved the thanks away. “Spare me the flattery, lad. I did not arrange this merely for your benefit. You are an asset to the Three Eyes, Hump—to Alveron. One that I suspect will only grow more valuable in the days to come. Assuming, of course, we still have days to come.”

There was a weight to those words. A darkness that had been clouding Hump’s thoughts too.

“Come. The others are expecting us.”

Aldric raised a hand and the brick wall at the rear of the room pulsed with essence. The runes activated in a now-familiar shimmer, swirling with essence, a door appearing at the centre. Together, they stepped into the pocket dimension of the Three Eyes.

This time, Aldric led Hump deeper into the complex—past the grand library and opulent meeting room, down quiet stone halls lined with portraits of long-dead wizards, tapestries of beasts, and artifacts that reminded Hump of Karlac’s domain. Eventually, they came to a meeting room of carved white stone, well lit by orbs of soft blue light.

The room was already occupied. At the head of the table sat Wizard Dorn, hands folded neatly, long beard braided. To his right sat Wizard Starrick, his pale blue eyes fixed on Hump as they entered. Wizards Torrin, Fena, and Melissa were present too, the latter looking annoyed at his arrival. There were another half dozen people were sat around the table with them but Hump didn’t recognise them.

Whatever they had been discussing, they stopped as the two of them entered the room.

“Wizard Aldric, Humphrey, thank you for coming,” Starrick said, nodding. “We’ve been eager to hear your report.”

Hump stepped forward and paused, suddenly feeling like a spy for the Three Eyes. He hadn’t quite processed how conflicted his position was until he was about to divulge information that he had sworn to keep secret. Marshal Anara, Count Daston, even Marcela—all of them were trusting him.

And he was about to break that trust. The Three Eyes were trying to stop the next War of the Firmament. To do that, they needed to slay the member of their order that had escaped. With that in mind, Hump told them only what was relevant.

Hump recounted the expedition to the Remnant Realm, detailing their visit to the petrified village—though being brief regarding the vault of the gorger and the dead goddess—the warlocks harvesting essence stones nearby, and finally the stronghold discovered by the scouting party.

“Are you certain the warlocks are there?” Starrick asked.

“How can he be certain?” Melissa said. “He just said he didn’t see it for himself. Knowing the Chosen like I do, they may just be elaborating upon their findings for more favourable reports. We can hardly trust this.”

“One of my party was one of the scouts,” Hump said. “Her accounts are accurate, I assure you. While it is impossible to know if Warlock Anthony is using this stronghold as his base of operations, there is no doubt that a large gathering of warlocks is there.”

“We cannot act on this,” Wizard Torrin said. “Until we know of Anthony’s presence, we only risk exposing ourselves further.”

“The risk is ever present with Anthony out there,” Aldric said at Hump’s size. “We must act. I know our order is not one to move quickly, but this a case where I fear we have no choice. Fort Nordric has already fallen. Alveron cannot afford to lose its armies, and we cannot stand against the warlocks alone if they fail.”

“We do not exist to fight wars,” Melissa said.

Master Dorn held up a hand. “What do you propose, Aldric?”

“Let me lead an investigation into the stronghold from this side,” Aldric said firmly. “The stronghold must have connections to our realm. I will contact my old connections in the Inquisition. They’ll work with me to locate the wizard temple they are using to supply the stronghold. With that, we will cut off their escape and provide an additional route of attack. I suggest some of you be kept on standby for the moment when we have confirmation.”

There was a murmur of agreement from the seated figures.

“It is a good plan,” Starrick said to Master Dorn. “Torrin, Fena, and I are eager for another chance, Master.”

The old man gave a single nod of his head.

“I will go with you,” Melissa said.

“I thought you were against action,” Starrick said.

“I am.” A smile lit up across her face. “But the three of you have already failed to defeat Anthony once. You would embarrass our order if you were to fail again. So, I shall go. Aldric, I shall lend you my aid in finding the temple.”

Aldric nodded his head. “With your help, Wizard Melissa, you will save us much time.”

“Good,” she barked. “Then we can be done with this foolishness all the quicker.” She turned to Master Dorn. “Are we done?”

The old man smiled. “Indeed we are, Melissa. I look forward to the results of your hard work.”

Melissa scowled. “You planned this, didn’t you, Master?”

The old man’s silence was deafening. There was something going on that Hump didn’t quite follow, but his mind was elsewhere. Before the meeting was adjourned, there was something he needed to discuss.

“There was another matter I wished to speak on,” Hump said. “I presume you are informed about Prince Kassius’ ‘rescue’.” There were a few nods so Hump continued. “I was told he would be welcomed upon his return to Elenvine, but it is all but certain his presence here is part of the warlock plan—Anthony’s plan—to destroy the final seal.”

“What do you take us for, boy?” Melissa asked.

Hump frowned. “Powerful wizards—one’s partially responsible for all that Anthony is doing.”

“It is not our job to protect Elenvine,” Melissa said. “Anthony is our concern. Kassius, or whatever princeling the warlocks drag out, is not. More importantly, how do you propose we influence King Henry in this matter? We may be wizards, but we cannot work miracles. We hold no sway over the royal family, nor the Pantheon.”

“You’re choosing to do nothing,” Hump said, stunned.

“We must do nothing,” Master Dorn said, his voice raspy. “Long ago, when the Three Eyes first went into hiding, it was agreed that we would not interfere with the matters of the Pantheon. The Twelve Seals are theirs to protect. We will not sit idly while Elenvine burns, but we can do nothing until it does. Focus on what you can do, Wizard Humphrey.”

Hump’s jaw tightened but he said nothing. He glanced at Aldric who gave a subtle shake of his head. He swallowed the argument rising in his throat as his eyes returned to the table, the conversation moving on. Without their help, Prince Kassius was more dangerous, but Hump was not alone. Count Daston had already indicated that there were others looking into this.

Once finished, Hump stepped out into the hallway with Aldric. The man took a deep swig of his flask.

“I understand your concern with Kassius, but he is less of a threat than you fear,” Aldric said.

“What makes you say that?” Hump asked.

“There are many fools in powerful positions, but there are also many smart people. People like our friend Count Daston, General Korteg, Inquisitor Sarielle, Lady Isolde. Kassius will be under close investigation, that much is certain. If he is a warlock, they will prove it.”

“And if they don’t?”

“Then he can go back to living life as the rich son of a duke,” Aldric said. “So long as he stays out of our way.”

Hump clenched his fist around his staff. He hated the injustice of it all.

“If we find the rift,” Aldric continued, “I may be able to request you and your party for the operation. It would be dangerous—but if you intend to walk this path with the Three Eyes, it would show them your conviction.”

Hump nodded slowly. “I’d appreciate that.”

“Then ensure your party are ready for a journey,” Aldric said. “When we find the temple, you will be going to Yore.”