Into the Darkness: A Fantasy LitRPG Adventure (Axe Druid Book 4)

by Christopher Johns

  “As your knight so aptly introduced, I am Queen Maebe, and those are the Braves of the Thorn, likely someone that you know of in passing?” The king nodded, and his daughter was instantly switched on where she had looked to merely be suffering through the day. She paid more attention now that there seemed to be something worthy of her time. “The rest are Knights of the Unseelie, and this one is my husband, King Zekiel.”

  Oh, that was going to take some fucking getting used to.

  “The honor is ours,” Queen Chareen spoke and nodded her head once. “Tell me, please, is it true what Lady Virrity reported?”

  “All of it is truth, so I swear by my power and title.” Damn, she was pulling out all the stops!

  The queen gasped at the notification she received from the oath, and I was happy to see the outrage on her face.

  “If I might add, Your Majesty,” Bokaj held up his hand and leaned out so that he could be seen and heard clearer. “The guards made it a point to be as rude and condescending as possible, and to ensure that everyone knew that they didn’t care… except for one, and he was the one who handled her patting down, ma’am.”

  “I see.” Her jaw clenched, and she glanced over to Jay. “Sir Renald?”

  “Once this is through, My Queen, I swear to you that I shall personally see to the reformation of the city guard and that it soars beyond your expectations.” He bowed slightly at his waist and stood proud after.

  “Thank you, my good knight.” The king smiled and looked back at Maebe. “To what do we owe this pleasure?”

  “It seems that my knights ran afoul of the Governess of Lindyburg when they were taken advantage of by a powerful bard who stole something from her,” Maebe began, but the king raised a hand for her to pause.

  “Lindyburg, you say? We received a strange missive from her concerning a conquest against magic.” He turned to his wife, who handed him the note. “Ah, yes. ‘These filthy magic users corrupt our people and sway their minds with their deceitful ways and demon-begotten powers…’ it goes on for some time then titters off into madness and talk of hunts and genocide. We have little to no mages of note among our kind here, Queen Maebe, for the fact that many among the fair-folk and neighboring lands see human magicians as budding evils.”

  “They hold your past against you,” Yohsuke spoke, drawing attention, then averting his gaze.

  “Quite,” the king sighed. “We have military might, and trade with enchanters for some magical items, but we are vulnerable without magic. To be truthful, being rid of the abilities in others would give us protection from those who have it and would seek to use it against us.”

  Queen Chareen’s gaze hardened, and her face became a mask. Their daughter, Villeroa simply stepped away, moving toward the back wall where the sparkling waters refracted rainbows and shimmering light along the high ceiling of the room. She swayed next to the water on her own, and Renald joined her to point out things in the water as she giggled.

  “That is a difficult stance to take.” Maebe’s eyebrows raised in surprise, but otherwise, her face was stoic. I could feel the emotions through our budding connection, though. Fury. Anger. And something I didn’t know she could feel—fear.

  “We would do only what we had to, but what choice do we have?” Chareen stepped closer to her husband so that she could hold his hand. “No mages will work for us outside of mercenaries, and bloodlines with magic in them were wiped out long ago. Before even the eldest of our citizens were born, magic was stolen from us by those who thought us inept because of people who decided they would play at being gods.”

  Move away droplet. A cool sensation entered my thoughts as Maebe spoke again, drowning her out. We need to speak, now.

  I blinked and looked to the others. I’m good right now, but I’m going to go over here by the water and talk to the Primordial Water Elemental.

  Everything alright? Muu bumped my shoulder with his to catch my eye.

  I don’t know. I answered, honestly. I stepped away from the group of them with a bow. “Forgive me, Majesties, I feel a little out of sorts. Some fresh air may do me good.”

  “My most heartfelt apologies!” Queen Chareen frowned before clapping loudly. Two servants separated themselves from behind the thrones. “Fetch the guest tables, fine food, and drink for our guests, set up near the water. Go. Please, friend, go and wait by the water with Renald and the princess.”

  I bowed, and they nodded as if to dismiss me and did as I said I would. Yes, Water Prime, what can I do for you?

  The others are still in deliberations, but I refuse to allow them to beat me in this, her voice lapped against my mind.

  I guess I don’t understand then, beat you in what? If it’s about letting us earn some power, we would appreciate the opportunity—I began hopefully, but she cut me off.

  Not just you and your friends, droplet, the world., As I stared at the ocean, I saw the water take a definition I hadn’t seen before. Like it was as living and breathing a being as I was. A threat to magic has come to realization.

  Well, I hardly believe that one crazy governess in a city a few days from here is a true threat to magic. I snorted at the idea of that blathering loon being a realistic threat. Even if there was currently talk of it mere yards away.

  No, droplet, not just her. The serene waves grew choppy in front of me. There are rumblings that the generals and minions are plotting to target those who use magic and kill them. Those with magic are targets and those without are vulnerable.

  Shit. I turned my mind back to the conversation at hand. What do you need of me? Of us? The others will agree to help you, I’m certain.

  I am of the mind that we have the ability to step in and assist in protecting our world even further, and it was my dirty brother who started it.

  If that meant what I thought it did, then something was about to get magical.

  I sense potential around you, and as my brother did before me, I will also relinquish a gift for the changing times. Droplet, assist me. Find the one who holds the potential around you. Do this, and I will continue to vouch for you with the others.

  QUEST ALERT!

  Wet Behind The Ears – The Primordial Water Elemental has requested you help her find the person near you with a potential affinity for water magic.

  Reward: Assisted representation with the other elemental Primordials as they debate further involvement in the affairs of mortals.

  Failure: Loss of trust and potential favor with the Water Primordial.

  Will you accept? Yes? / No?

  I shared it with the others immediately, all of them stopping and looking toward me as I accepted it.

  They looked around at each other, the servants who came in to set up food and drinks on tables they had brought into the room. The tables were small, and the food smelled really good. But my mind was on how the fuck we were going to do this?

  Maebe and the other royals glanced my way. “King Zekiel, what is wrong?”

  “What if I were to offer your people a way to fix that?” I blinked, fighting to come up with a reasonable explanation for what I was talking about as they openly stared at me in fascinated horror.

  “My husband, as well as some of the other knights in my company, have odd bonds with higher beings. Mother Nature, myself, the gods, and even the elementals themselves.” Maebe blinked at me. “I take it you mean the last of them?”

  I nodded, then did the kingly thing and opened my damned mouth to speak for myself, “Someone here has caught the Water Elemental Primordial’s attention. She’s asked if we would help facilitate a test of sorts to see who among you has the potential she seeks.”

  “And what would this mean?” The king stepped forward and motioned to his daughter to come to his side, brushing her back behind him to his wife, who clasped her shoulders. “To whom would we owe fealty for this ‘gift?’”

  “No one,” I shrugged and held a hand out to the water. “You have the biggest supply of water anyone with water-based magic cou
ld ever want, and you were just complaining that you don’t have the magic you need to appropriately defend yourselves. Rather than weakening the world around you by killing those who have what you so sorely lack, you could reach out and take your lives back.”

  He seemed unconvinced, so I added with probably more venom than I should have, “Rather than taking another step down a path of hate and discontent in the shadows of your ancestors, do something worthwhile. Take magic and make life with it. Be among the first to become whole new beings.” The king’s eyes bulged, and he looked ready to fight. “Seize this opportunity to claim power your ancestors abused! Walk away from the past, having learned from it and help your people prosper!”

  The servants had stopped what they were doing, some of them fearful, and the footsteps of metal-clad guards came into the room from where we had entered. One of the guards stepped in and eyed me.

  “This gift is offered freely, then?” The king narrowed his eyes at me, then turned to look at the ocean.

  “Power always has a price, and as I learned from a hero early on in life, ‘with great power, comes great responsibility,’” I stepped closer to him, and Abioye didn’t budge. “There is always a price for power, but the elementals want to help. We don’t want anyone to die for their natural abilities any more than you want your people to perish for the mistakes of your forefathers. Stand with us in this, and you will gain much.”

  The others in my party moved to stand with me, some of them looking at the king comfortingly. Others, Yohsuke, scowling but remaining quiet.

  “Then, we can try.” He raised his head and regarded the servants. “All of you finish what you are doing, then come back so that we can administer the test. And yes, Filten, you as well, my boy, come here.”

  The guard in the door looked uncomfortable but marched forward to stand closer to Sir Renald.

  “How do we administer this test?” Chareen stepped closer quietly as she watched things being set up.

  How would you like them to do this, my watery Lady? I questioned the Water Prime.

  No answer. Thinking back to my lessons with Maebe, Balmur, and Yohsuke, I had an idea, though.

  I held my hand out and willed the shadows in the farthest corner to come to me. The inky darkness slithered across the floor and rushed into my hand excitedly.

  “We see who it decides that it likes.” I shrugged. Honestly, it was the best way to do this that I was aware of.

  We waited patiently as the servants finished setting up, then they gathered and sat on their knees on the floor until they were needed. Very rough way to sit, but if they were used to it, who was I to judge?

  “It may be a good idea to have everyone gather along the missing wall nearest the water so that we can do this.” I frowned. There were twenty people, including the royalty and the guard. This was going to be fun.

  “Why not have those of us who are familiar with magic spread out and watch over the others and offer advice,” Yohsuke offered as he began to assist in lining everyone up about a foot and a half apart from each other so we could see between them. “Maybe have our king and queen assist the royalty?”

  “That is an excellent idea.” King Abioye smiled as he looked toward Maebe and his wife. “It will be difficult then?”

  “It is magic, my love.” Chareen smiled at the older man affectionately. “It is wiliest and elusive when you want it.”

  That gave me pause. “Queen Chareen, you know much about magic?”

  She shook her head, “Only that it can be tricky. There were people in my homeland, shamans and spirit warriors who used magic, but always at great personal cost. The magic was taxing and terribly ineffective if you sought it out. Some of our best mages were those who had never wanted it to begin with.”

  “Where are you from?” It was hard to hide my curiosity, which never failed to get me into trouble back home.

  “I am from the continent of beasts, my people came here not more than ten years ago,” she informed me with a rigid back and turned her sights back to the ocean in front of her.

  “My Queen does not normally care to speak of her homeland.” Abioye put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “It makes her terribly homesick. Should we begin?”

  I nodded and took a steadying breath. Using my chest, I spoke loudly as I explained the process of calling to the element before them.

  “Clear your mind and focus on what the water in front of you looks like. What it sounds like. Let its scent fill your nose and mind. Envision what the water before you means to you and what you know of it.” My voice boomed as I called to them. “Close your eyes, and see it in your mind and then will it to come to you.”

  All of us watched as they began to do so. The king and queen were closest to the throne, with the princess standing behind her mother as she had been ordered, watching things with interest.

  Ten minutes after we started, one of the servants pitched backward with a nosebleed and another crumpled to the floor.

  “Don’t lock your knees!” I heard James bark at some of them. “Keep focusing.”

  I looked over at the water in front of everyone, and there was nothing. I turned, watching the Braves pick at some of the food on the tables with interest, so I called to them, “Hey, why don’t you guys get over here and try some of this out?”

  “Am no good wit’ magic, lad,” Nick answered as he popped a small sandwich into his mouth and grimaced. “That were sour.”

  Manly bit into an apple and smiled, “Dawn and I aren’t the types to have elemental magic, I tried my hand at magery and never liked it.”

  I looked at Dawn, and she pointed to the crest on her arm with a small, knowing smile. Bonnie sauntered over and began to try and do what the others were doing, then gave up after a moment. Nicolas, well, he just appeared disinterested as a rule.

  “Magic is amazing, but elemental magic is just so… base.” He shook his head as he motioned in the air with his hands. “I prefer magic that bends reality to my will, thank you.”

  “Would you fuckers just try so that we can be safe?!” Muu howled from the other end of the hall, and they all hurriedly got up to comply. Though Manly looked like she was about to walk down there and shove an arrow up his ass.

  I turned back and noticed that a few more of the servants and Renald had given up. The king was drenched in sweat and looked to be growing pale. Then I saw a flicker of motion in front of the queen. Villeroa had wandered over and was pointing at the water in front of her mother.

  The king began clapping as a section the size of a small fishbowl rose out of the water with a very colorful fish in it and separated from the waves.

  “So pretty, momma,” the little girl spoke for the first time since we had gotten here, wonder evident in her voice. Then I noticed that it wasn’t the queen who was raising the water, but the princess.

  CONGRATULATIONS!

  Quest completed - Wet Behind The Ears – The Primordial Water Elemental has requested you help her find the person near you with a potential affinity for water magic.

  Reward: Assisted representation with the other elemental Primordials as they debate further involvement in the affairs of mortals.

  Damn.

  Chapter Eleven

  She is the one I will give my strength to first, droplet. I felt the cool of the water in my mind, and it felt like somehow, she watched the little girl.

  Her parents watched her in stunned silence, and the others in the room were pleased to see her interacting with the water as well.

  But she’s a child! I tried to reason with her, but she wasn’t having it.

  As was the dwarven boy who is now an earth mage, She retorted, and I couldn’t argue with her logic. Do as you did for the dwarven child and show her how to summon her elemental companion.

  I growled audibly, and the people around me looked worried, but I just ignored them.

  “Princess Villeroa?” The child looked over at me, her blue eyes sparkling with joy in the light. “I’ve been
asked to show you how to summon a friend. Please, join me?”

  I walked to the side of the wall area and checked over the side where I saw a thin embankment that I dropped down onto deftly.

  I reached up, and the girl glanced at her parents for permission, they were too stunned to say or do anything, and she just happily took my hand and hopped down with my help.

  “What I want you to do, is touch the water and call out to the Primordial Water Elemental.” Thinking back to Fainnir, I added, “There’s no right or wrong way to do it. All you have to do is just know that she will hear you. Okay? Okay. Go ahead now.”

  She looked me over cautiously, then reached down into the water and concentrated, before mumbling, “Hello, my Lady. I’m doing as you asked.”

  “You do so wonderfully, child.” A voice coming from the water before her spoke. The creature that stood on the water looked like a watery version of the little girl in front of it, but with a lot less detail, no eyes, and a mouth that seemed to work well.

  “What’s your name?” Villeroa’s voice squeaked out softly, as if she weren’t used to speaking.

  “I can be called many things, child,” the water elemental spoke softly, her watery hand rising to brush a stray white lock of hair from her face. “But what you call me will seal our bond. What will you call me?”

  “Zygnal!” The little girl giggled.

  “What does that mean, princess?” My curiosity peaked.

  “It means beautiful in my mother tongue,” Chareen’s voice coming from next to my head spooked me. She knelt on the floor above us.

  “She is,” Villeroa insisted.

  “Thank you, child.” Zygnal bowed her head. “Our pact is sealed. I will protect you and grow with you. Please, take good care of me, and I will do the same for you.”

  “So, who will it be that teaches her magic?” The king wondered aloud.

  “I will teach her some.” Zygnal looked up. “I will explain the basics to her, and the prime will teach her as she sees fit. There is no one more qualified to teach her.”