Chapter 292 - Fragment of War

Long chapter today! It would have been really cool if Book 4s ended coincided with the end of the year, but I think there's one chapter to go, maybe two. I've set a personal goal to finish it tomorrow so that Book 4 is finished in 2023, and if it's ready in time I'll post it early on Patreon. I've got New Years Eve plans though so chances seem slim. The outlined chapter is going to be a very... very long one.

If I don't make it, Happy New year! Appreciate all the amazing support over the last year. I'll see you in 2024 :)

Hump kept his distance as the wounded and dead were tended. They were fortunate that everyone that participated in the battle was of the fourth circle or higher. With that level of strength, so long as they survived the fight, their injuries would most likely not kill them. As for those already dead… the most they could do was prepare their bodies for the return trip. Taking the fallen dragons back with them, however, would prove more difficult.

Such magnificent beasts lying still on the ground was a haunting sight. Their scales chipped and blooded, great wounds still leaking fountains of blood, the pools of red that surrounded them becoming ever larger. Their keepers were distraught, of course. Of the two that had survived the loss of their dragons, Hump only knew Gawain. The archer was on his knees before Onyxia, head bowed and pressed to hers. The thought that Nisha might one day suffer such a fate in battle made Hump’s heart ache. This was the risk they took to live this life of adventure and war.

There was nothing Hump could do for any of them. They had each other, he was just an outsider. Still, many had approached him where he sat upon the stairs of the shrine, offering their thanks or congratulations on the victory. Leif and Brutus had both survived, of which Hump was most pleased. It seemed it would take more than a few undead to bring down the brute of a man and a dragon to match. Yunillia’s Itris had survived, though he was severely wounded. Ado was tending him. From the looks of the wound, at least some of them were burns, most likely caused by Yunillia when she lost control.

He leant back against the step behind him, tired, but his exhaustion already receding. The essence at his core from when he’d wielded the winds of essence still pulsed within him. He had the intrinsic sense that his Spirit Well was full, but as of yet he wasn’t sure what that meant. Now wasn’t the time to start experimenting.

Instead, he opened his spellbook for a look at everything it had recorded during his time in Estora.

SPELLBOOK
Cataclysmic Collapse

Alteration | Battle Magic | Tier 5 | Range: Short

Description

Manipulate the fundamental structure of earth affinity materials, leading to the controlled yet devastating collapse of target structures. The spell focuses on the bonds between rocks, soil, and other earth-based materials, pushing them apart with increasing ferocity.

So, this was what had caused his spellbook to activate after he’d brought down the roof of the old dungeon chamber. He noted the spell tier—once again he’d been rewarded with a more complicated spell for using a spell in an unintended way. While this one didn’t originate from Rockslide, Hump could see why he’d received it.

While not quite as impressive after he’d used Molten Pit through his spellbook’s Spell Storage, Cataclysmic Collapse was still a Tier 5 spell. The fact that he’d used Rockslide in a way to achieve the same effect felt like quite the achievement. It also meant that he’d now manifested his soul and was wielding Tier 5 magic—he was getting closer to the limits of what a Rank 4 wizard could do. The Tier 6 magic of Rank 5 no longer seemed so far off.

Reading over the details of the spell, it wasn’t exactly the most useful magic. Its short range required him to be in contact with whatever he was trying to bring down, which made the risk of self-inflicted damage relatively high. On top of that, collapsing rooftops was hardly something he needed to do often.

The thought of the silver owl in his book somehow understanding his lack of appreciation for the new magic suddenly popped into his head.

Best not to think anything that might upset it, he thought. If adventuring doesn’t work out, I could always become a demolition wizard, or a particularly destructive thief.

Turning the page, the next spell was more along the lines of what he was looking for. He wasn’t sure what to expect when he’d felt his spellbook shake a second time. Some upgrade to Rockslide had been obvious, but other than that he hadn’t wielded anything he considered a spell, or at least, so he thought. It seemed Ado’s teachings were rooted in something the spellbook’s predecessors had discovered too.

SPELLBOOK
Wielder of the Winds

External Essence | Tier 5

Description

To wield the winds of essence is to understand the Will of the World and harmonise with it. This essence technique lies in a wizard’s capacity to perceive and interact with the subtle energies that permeate the natural world, aligning themselves with their ebb and flow. By attuning with these currents of magical force, one can draw upon a vast reservoir of power.

Notes

y.256 – Nithrand – A fundamental technique that requires an understanding of the intent and natural inclination of the world’s energies, to wield them in a way that works in harmony with the world, not against it.  In my youth, and certainly for all who studied under my master, it was considered a prerequisite for any wizard before undertaking Soul Manifestation, for to impart one’s Will of the World without said understanding could lead to unpredictable and dangerous consequences. Today’s wizards are far more lax, and it will be to the downfall of many.
Never lose sight of the fact that we are just one small part of the world, and that we must first learn to respect it before we harness the immense strength it can offer. But, when wielded in balance, there is no end to its power.

Hold on a second, Hump thought as he read. Does this mean that Rank 3 wizards used to learn such a technique?

He wasn’t sure how that was possible. It was only thanks to his manifested soul that he’d been able to draw upon the essence of the earth for his earlier spell. He supposed it showed just how far he still had to go to truly master the technique. It also made him wonder just how much more powerful wizards of the past had been, and how deep their understanding of the world truly was.

His excitement waned as he read the second note.

y.817 – Lector – A warning to all those that go down this path – the Will of the World is more powerful than you can imagine. Give it too much, and it will consume you entirely, as it did Master Ajax. May he forever rest in peace and beyond the reach of all the gods.
Control the magic, or it will control you.

He always liked to see the words of his predecessors, but this one ended with sadness. For the first time, he’d learned of the demise of one of the previous holders of his spellbook—Ajax had died a fallen wizard, overwhelmed by the will of essence, becoming a warlock. Reading the words made it feel like so long ago, but there was only one-hundred and twenty years between them. Since Ajax’s death, the book had changed hands four times, and the time each holder had lived on shortened.

“Control the magic, or it will control you.” He could hear his master’s voice in those words. It was a lesson the old man had reminded of constantly throughout his apprenticeship. Hump supposed it was one he’d learned from their predecessors too.

“Anything interesting?” Celaine asked.

Hump looked up from his book. He hadn’t noticed her approach. Budging up on the step, he made room for her to sit down next to her and passed her his spellbook.

Celaine read with tired eyes. She had a nasty wound on the top of her head from where she’d been thrown into the wall. Dry blood plastered her hair to her scalp. There was a long tear in the leather armour across her stomach, where a thin slice had almost carved her in two. She’d had some close calls. They both had.

“Sounds powerful,” Celaine said. “Let’s hope you don’t go the same way as Master Ajax here.”

Hump smiled. “No need to worry.”

“Oh, confident are you?”

Hump nodded. “It couldn’t possibly happen now that I’ve read it in the book.”

Celaine sighed. “Just be careful. Have you ever heard of anyone using magic like this?”

“Other than Ado… no. Its roots must go back far if a shaman in a backwater village like Drakalyn knows of it, but wizards aren’t exactly open about their techniques. Especially the powerful ones. Wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a closely kept secret amongst those in power at the Wizard Society.”

“Another secret magic for you to add to the list,” Celaine said.

“You could say that.” He watched as she stared out across the keepers and Chosen, sadness in her eyes. “You okay?”

She nodded slowly. “I will be. A lot will change with this. We’ve lost many Chosen and dragons, and it’s weird to think that Elder Ashera is gone. She was old when my grandparents were children.” Celaine let out a long breath. “But I suppose that’s the way of things. Where one falls, another takes their place, and I am a fourth circle Chosen now.”

“You want to see it?” Hump asked. “I’ve not looked myself yet.”

“You’ll like this one,” Celaine said. “It feels like every part of me has changed. Not just my new blessing, but its effects on my old blessings too. Here.”

She handed him back the book and he turned the page, angling his spellbook so that they could both see.

BLESSINGS
Embrace of the Dark

Description

Draw upon the essence of the dark for power, infusing the user’s body and attacks with its energy. Dark essence drains the essence and stamina of those it marks, makes wounds more difficult to heal. When wielding this blessing, the user is shrouded in an almost tangible darkness, enhancing physical capabilities and augmenting minor blessings with the shadow affinity at the cost of essence.

Eclipse Arrow – Darkness eclipses the silver light of Power Shot, enhancing the increase in power and imbuing the arrow with dark essence.
Shadow Leap – Propel into the air in a mist of darkness, leaving a temporary shadow trap on the ground that can be activated on command, temporarily blinding any within.
Gaze of the Night Hunter – You are the eyes that lurk in the shadow, and your gaze pierces all but the bravest of souls, terrifying or even paralysing those too weak to resist.
Master of Shadows – Transform the shadows with your will, manifesting intricate and durable objects.
Nightstalker’s Vow – Mark a target so that they leave a trail of dark essence wherever they go. The mark enhances the effect of dark essence and causes additional attacks against the target deal bonus dark damage.

“Well, this is different,” Hump said, surprised at the complete overhaul of Celaine’s blessings. Was this something all Chosen received upon reaching the fourth circle? “Even these changes to your minor blessings sound powerful.”

“They’re perfect,” Celaine said. “It’s the versatility I needed against the lich.”

“You could already tell what they were?” Hump asked.

She nodded. “It’s useful to see them written out so clearly, but you can feel it… like an instinct. Like knowing how to move your hand.”

Hump shook his head in bewilderment. “Wish I had something like that.”

She snorted. “I’m starting to wish I had something like whatever you have. How did your White Flame become so powerful?”

“There was more hate and anguish from the spirits in that room than anywhere I have ever felt. They offered their strength to me freely.” Hump shrugged. “Who was I to stop them getting their revenge? Which reminds me, you’re never going to believe what Walt is.”

“What?”

“You remember that forest spirit temple we came across on our way to Sheercliff?”

She frowned but nodded.

“He’s a House Spirit. And he’s taken over the lich’s phylactery which is also some sort of pocket dimensional library.” Hump waved his hand. “I’m explaining it badly but when we’ve got time I’ll go over it.”

“Is he alive then?” Celaine asked. “He didn’t like… pass on?”

“Oh, he’s alive alright,” Hump said. “And he wants to make a deal. He sort of fell asleep before we could finish working out the details.”

“I’m glad. Shame he’s asleep though. He might be useful for what’s next. Yunillia wants you to investigate the spell the lich’s apprentices activated.”

Hump grimaced.

“What?” Celaine asked. “I thought you’d be excited to see her magic.”

“Usually, I would be, but I’m sick of the feeling of death. Even with her power fading, there’s an evil to her magic that permeates everything. I’d rather not touch it.”

“Tell her if it’s too much,” Celaine said softly. “After your help, there is nothing they won’t do for you.”

Hump shook his head. “I can do this much. Besides, I’m a hedge wizard.” He beamed at her. “Who am I to turn down the opportunity to look at magic that is ‘lost to time’.” He repeated the lich’s words.

As the keepers finished treating the wounded, they split up into groups to explore the rest of the chamber. Hump and Celaine both joined Ado, the shaman being the only other person there that might be able to offer some insight to the lich’s great plan.

“Right, shall we get this over with,” Ado said tiredly. “I’m about ready for a nap.”

Hump smiled. “I could go for a hot bath right now. Anything to get the stink of rot off me. Celaine didn’t warn me about how everything smells so much worse once you’re dragon blooded.”

“Welcome to my world,” Celaine said.

Ado laughed. “Have you got any ideas about this magic?”

“Irila told us it was magic that could kill a god. I think it might be a weapon from the War of the Firmament, and I fear Owalyn was the target.”

“Our lady would not fall so easily,” Ado said.

As much as Hump didn’t want to see it, he knew he had to. He made his way forward, stepping over bodies as he went, the lich’s power growing stronger toward the centre, along with something else. Something ancient and powerful. Lich Queen Irila had said she’d wielded a powerful weapon lost to time, and he sensed that in the air more and more clearly.

He eyed the runes on the ground as he passed them. Each engraved into the stone ground and filled with glossy blood, as if it had partially evaporated. Once again, the runes were nothing he could read or even recognise. They were different even to the runes carved on Irila’s throne atop the shrine, yet another kind of magic that had been lost to time.

Closing in on the centre, he came to stand before the old dungeon core. Its power was gone now, leaving a large crystal that shimmered faintly with red light. While he sensed nothing from it anymore, it didn’t escape Hump that this dungeon core had brought down the ancient city of Estora. There could be few dungeons in the world more powerful than this one, perhaps only the Hell Pit and Eternal Dark.

He placed a hand on the core, only to jerk it back as he felt a second power there. He looked down to see a hole in the ground directly beneath the crystal, where an eye as large as a human head stared up through the crystal and to the sky above. Hump was drawn in by it. The world rescinded as he became lost in its gaze, and then everything faded.

A great, beating drum boomed and suddenly the dungeon was gone. Hump stood upon a battlefield, surrounded by screaming men and women, and assaulted by essence so thick and powerful it was as if he swam in it. Boom, boom the drum rolled again, as if the mountains themselves were beating the ground.

For a few seconds, all Hump could do was stare across the grassy plain, marvelling at the scale of destruction before him from whoever’s eyes he now possessed. Mountains surrounded them, some with their peaks collapsed into heaps of broken stone, others marked with cuts and slices, leaving perfectly straight chasms through the rock. A volley of arrows soared forward, tearing through a few scattered trees, only to be resisted by a wall of shield magic that encompassed an entire army on the far side of the plain.

Before Hump knew what was happening, he sensed a powerful essence nearby. The plain before him shifted, the ground splitting open and bronze essence leaping from the fissure. Behind it, rock and dirt and everything else was dragged with it, an entire slab of the ground exploding forward. Dust and dirt exploded from the ground and into the sky, so thick it blotted out the sun. A harsh wind swept forward, blowing it toward the enemy army and revealing the giant slab still floating forward. It had to be as large as the Upper City plateau of Sheercliff city. It hurtled toward the enemy lines, shattering the shield with an ear-splitting sound, before slamming into the ground where it crushed all those beneath it.

“Let me lead the charge, father,” came a woman’s voice.

“No,” came a deep voice. Hump’s eyes turned to see a woman. She was young and human, but there was no doubt in his mind it was Irila. “I sense danger ahead. Let me see if I can force them out from here.”

A great staff as big as a tree moved in what would be Hump’s hand. The world shifted, his body moving ferociously, and then there was another boom—not a drum, but a thunderous crack from the earth as the butt of the staff hammered the ground.

Essence.

It was unlike anything Hump had felt. Beyond any god pillar, beyond the presence of Owalyn herself. In that moment, not just the area around him, but the entire world seemed to stir at its touch. The air shimmered like heat waves, the ground rumbled, the area beneath Hump’s feet crumbling. Grass wilted and died, blackening in seconds, and the killing power only spread. Any piece of green was turned to decay as hideous green essence rolled forward in a wave, taking everything it touched with it. It hit the line of enemy soldiers and the screams began, desperate and agonised.

Thousands died in an instant, and the power still did not stop. Lines upon lines of soldiers threw up blessings or spells or whatever magic these people wielded, all far more powerful than Hump could summon, yet it did nothing to slow the terrifying power down. There was no stopping it. This was the end of life, and nothing could stand before it.

Terrifying killing intent pierced Hump’s soul. An intent Hump recognised yet had never felt so powerfully. The eyes of the man he possessed found the source of it immediately, fixing on a spot atop a distant mountain. A towering woman stood there, bow in hand, her whole body taut as she pulled the power string back. The arrow in her hand streamed silver light and killing intent. Before Hump could even think, she let it loose. It sped forward straight and true, as fast as a shooting star.

He was dead. In that moment, he saw the old man watching him with a knowing smile, Bud, Dylan, Emilia, and Celaine. This was it.

The staff moved in a giant fist, essence raging forward. Again the air shimmered, and layer upon layer of giant spiritual heads filled the space before him. They were of all colours, their mouths opened in screams, eyes wide in terror. The arrow pierced them, shattering them like glass into a glittering explosion of disintegrated essence.

The world shifted as the man Hump possessed attempted to move, but it was too late. There was no dodging this arrow.

“Father!” came Irila’s desperate cry. “No!”

Hump was falling. He screamed, coming awake to Ado pulling on his shoulder. He stared at the shaman with wide eyes.

“What happened, lad?” Ado asked.

“I…” he glanced at the eye on the ground, processing what he’d just seen. “I think that eye belonged to Irila’s father, and I just saw the moment Owalyn killed him.”