by Eden Redd
“I could join…” Stella began before Will cut her off.
“I have some things I’m researching tonight. Maybe another time,” Will said flatly.
Stella’s lips parted again, but no sound came out. Instead, she lowered her gaze and let her heel slip to the floor. The air took on a gloom as Will turned away and continued to walk toward his bedchamber.
The action of leaving cut at his spirit. Ignoring the fact that they once had spent a wondrous night together, he knew if he was going to protect their small kingdom, he had to avoid distractions.
Entering his room, he closed the door and let out a heated sigh. Despite sticking to his convictions, the urges of desire bubbled under his skin. Memories of lustful acts played out in his mind’s eye until he growled to himself. Walking with power in his steps, he made his way to the door of his workshop, opened it and stepped in.
Craft benches filled the workshop. A soothing comfort filled the player as he stepped in. Glancing to a door at the other side of the room, a small smile bloomed as excitement painted his thoughts, Sil and Nova rising from their casket’s tomorrow evening. The waiting was the worst part, but soon it would be over. Thoughts turned to what powers his two Guardians would have. It stoked his creativity as he sat in a chair before his Mystic Crafting Bench.
Pulling up his inventory, a 2D screen appeared before him with filled slots. Hand reaching out, he picked up a book and it appeared in his hand. Setting it down on the craft bench, he pulled out a few gems from several slots and placed them next to the book. Swiping the inventory screen away, he peered down at the Mystic Crafting Bench, gems and the book off to the side.
A grid was carved into the strong wood with eight slots. Each slot had a crude carving of what appeared to be an element of some kind. Will scrutinized the images again, committing to memory what they meant and possibly how they worked. Not wanting to waste too much time with trial and error, he managed to figure out which slot corresponded with which element. A whirlwind carving meant Air, for which an opal could be used. Flames meant rubies. A wave meant sapphires. A stone meant quartz. A ball of light meant diamonds. A black ball meant black diamonds. A leaf meant emeralds and a skull meant onyx. Since gemstones on Jova were containers of magic, placing the proper stone with the proper slot meant he could create magical spells. Next to the grid was a deep, rectangular slot, big enough to put a book in.
Will lifted up the blank book he had crafted from bamboo, leather, and wood. Placing it in the slot, he was rewarded with a dim burst of mystical light. Heart beating in his chest, Will wondered if he was actually going to create spells or blow himself up. The temptation to create magical spells often plagued his thoughts, knowing full well it could give them an advantage when it came to fighting large monsters like the hydras.
Not sure what to expect, Will picked up a ruby. A memory touched his mind on how he created a slot for his new iron hammer and attached a ruby to it. It gave his hammer the ability to burst into flames for extra damage. Fire spells crowded his mind as he placed the ruby in the fire slot. Eyes wide, he waited for something to happen.
Nothing happened.
Will’s brow wrinkled. Thinking it over, he was sure a simple fire spell shouldn’t take more than a single ruby. Leaning back in his chair, he stared at the arcane bench and pondered on what to do next.
“Maybe, it’s about intention,” Will whispered to himself.
The lord thought it over. What kind of spell was he trying to create? What was its purpose? He mulled it over, knowing he simply wanted a spell he could shoot at his enemies. The crease along his brow deepened. Was he overthinking it or maybe it was more complicated than he thought?
Will reached over to the small pile of gems. Fingers curled around an opal and he lifted it up. Closed hand hovering over the corresponding slot, the player wondered if he needed to combine elements to get the desired effect. If he was going to create a fire spell, it needed to fly. Opals are air element stones. By all reasoning, it should do the trick.
Will pressed the stone to the air slot and let go. Holding his breath, he waited for the longest second of his life when the two gem slots began to glow. Eyes wide again, he watched as the gemstones blazed with arcane light before they melted away. Energy rose up, swirling together. The book in its slot opened of its own accord, flipping to the first empty page. Mystical runes appeared from the growing strands of energy. The strange words hung heavy in the air as Will looked over to the first page of the open book. The same runes began to inscribe on the first page. The hovering runes faded away and appeared on the first page of the book. A title in English swirled into view at the top, the words “Fire Bolt: Apprentice Level Spell” appearing in plain text. The energy died and the crafting bench grew dark.
An alert scrolled past his very gaze.
You have gained +1 to Intelligence!
Will was about to pick up the book when a timer appeared over the Mystical Crafting Bench. Sixty minutes began to count down. Eyeing it for a moment, he guessed he couldn’t use the bench to craft any spells for sixty minutes. A thought swirled in his mind that he would have rushed to create a host of spells. The timer must be to ensure he couldn’t abuse the mystical power.
Picking up the book, fingers ran down the first page, energies tickling his fingertips. Knowing he had an hour to kill before he could craft another spell, Will was up with the book in hand. The book had ninety-nine pages. The player’s mind worked as he now knew he could have a max of ninety-nine spells per spell book. With that kind of power and his magical weapons, they would have a fantastic edge over the ghouls and monsters filling the forests every night.
Will stepped away from the bench and faced a plain stone wall. Needing to test it out, he opened the book to the first page in his left hand while he pointed his right hand towards the wall. Taking a deep breath, he looked down at the spell before he began to speak. Power took root as Will’s eyes widened in disbelief. He didn’t know how but he instinctually spoke the mystical words, a thin glow surrounding his spell book. Fire bloomed in his right hand and when he uttered the final part of the incantation, a small fireball blasted out from his hand and struck the hard wall. Flames burst on impact, sending tendrils of fire in every direction. Smoke billowed before it quickly faded away. Will eyed the wall and saw a large blast mark as the last bits of flames died away.
Stepping closer, he studied the blast mark. A small frown formed as he saw the spell was weak. It might prove useful against living targets, but it did seem to only do a small amount of damage. Looking down at the spell book, the runes took on a muted black while a small timer appeared on the corner of the page. Will’s eyes narrowed as he saw the timer indicate a twenty-four hour cool down.
“Twenty-four hours before I can use the spell again? It seems spells do have some limitations,” Will whispered to himself.
Not letting the new information slow down his progress, he looked back at the bench and plotted out his next spells. He reasoned having some basic spells would be useful in a fight but maybe as a last resort. Will waited the full hour until the energy seemed to bleed back into the crafting bench. Once it was ready, he took out a ruby and a sapphire from the small pile.
Will placed a ruby in the fire slot, but hesitated putting the sapphire in the water slot. Deep down, he knew he had to test a theory he had about the elemental magic. Out of the eight types of magical gemstones, there was an opposite to each one. Fire verse water, earth verse air, light verse dark. Knowing that he had to see if there would be a negative effect if one combined them, he readied to test his theory. If he didn’t, he would kick himself until the end of time if he missed out on some powerful combinations of spell powers.
Taking a deep breath, he placed the sapphire in the water slot. Sparks instantly shot up as the two gemstones began to vibrate. The entire table trembled as the sparks grew hotter.
“Shit,” Will hissed before diving for the floor.
The Mystical Crafting bench shuddered
violently before the gems on top exploded. A sizzling crackle filled the air as colored sparks rained down on Will. The player put his arms over his head, barely keeping one of his eyes open as sparks blasted in all directions. After a few tense seconds, the sparks died out.
Will was up and looking at blackened gemstones, wisps of smoke rising up. When he reached out and touched one, it turned into black dust. A moment later, the second one did the same without being touched.
“Magic Rule number one, never combine opposing elements to craft spells,” Will said with a sarcastic edge.
A timer appeared on the table. Will let out a sigh. Even with a failed spell, it would take an hour before he could use the bench again. Taking a mental note, he plotted once again what his next spell would be.
***
Val sat, hunched over her Alchemy Table. Glowing, colored liquids bubbled and churned in different glass vials. Tired eyes stared as a faint hope filled her undead heart. She had been trying to craft a simple potion for days and instead created a dozen vials of poisonous potions. The mere sniff of each one told her that anyone who drank any of them would become very sick.
Alchemy craft was much harder than Val expected. Gathering herbs beyond the walls was difficult at times. Val often spoke with Milly to gain some insight on herb locations. The horned woman was a fountain of information, but Val found it difficult to find everything she needed. She took shortcuts in the beginning and created potions no one could drink. Trial and error continued, eliminating herbs and plants that simply didn’t work in a useful combination.
Weariness bled into her muscles. She couldn’t remember the last time she was this tired. Like a beacon lighting up, she instantly knew she needed to feed. The pale beauty sat back, eyes on the churning liquids. Of everyone who lived in and around Castle Thorn, Val lamented that Will was the only one she could feed from. Senses alive, she could sense which blood was okay to drink and which was not. Morgan’s blood spoke of salt water and would not sit well with her. Kobold blood was similar to animal blood which would do if she was desperate, but not enough to satisfy. Stella’s blood would burn if she even took a drop and Milly’s blood carried a scent that didn’t sit well.
Knowing that Will was the only one she could feed off of, it whipped at her sense of independence. Faint, obscure memories whispered that she was never beholden to anyone before. A shard of truth spoke that she used to have many who groveled at her feet and gave their blood on a whim to their mistress. Now, she sat in her bedchamber at an alchemy table, trying to craft a potion and mentally berating herself that she had to ask once again to feed off her friend.
“There has to be another way,” Val sighed before tilting her head back and staring at the ceiling.
Time ticked on, the sounds of bubbling liquids filling the space around Val.
“I might as well get it over with,” Val sighed before standing up.
The vial under a glass spout glowed, pale blue liquid pouring in. Val looked down, eyeing the process with great interest. Pale liquid continued to pour forth until the vail was nearly full. Val picked it up and sniffed at it, her eyes widening for a second. Picking up a nearby cork, she plugged the top of the vial. Turning around, she made her way to her bedchamber door, cloak billowing behind her.
Val marched down the hallway until she reached Will’s door. She lifted a hand and gave it a hard knock. Not waiting for a response, she pushed the door open, seeing that it was not locked. Marching in, she glanced to the bed that was empty and made her way to the workshop door. Hand up, she pushed the door in just as a faint light flashed and faded away.
Will stood, picking up a book with a small grin. Turning his head, he watched as Val stepped in with a vial in her hand. The two looked to each other, Will noticing the haunted look in Val’s eyes and Val noticing the joy in Will’s.
“I have something to show you,” Will and Val said in unison.
Will smiled, “You first.”
Val nodded as she lifted the vial, “I think I just created a healing potion.”
Will’s smile grew broader until Val’s haunted expression caused him to pause. He had seen that look in her eyes before, knowing full well that she had gone a long time from feeding. She would come to him almost every three days, but the last time she fed was over five days ago.
“That’s great news, but I think you need to feed,” Will said with polite understanding.
Val let her arm drop to her side, gaze looking down. “It’s that obvious?”
Will nodded.
The pale woman sucked in some air before looking to Will. “I hate that you’re…”
Will cut her off. “It’s okay. I completely understand.”
Val shook her head, “You don’t understand. Having only one source limits me.”
Will stepped closer, eyes on the pale beauty. “It’s a problem we will find a solution to. I know it must be hard for you, but I won’t let you starve. Once we find others you can feed from, you will feed better than on just my tired blood.”
Val’s lips twisted into a smirk, “Hardly tired.”
“Do you mind if I talk while you feed? I just learned how to create two spells and want to share it with you.”
Val gave a warm nod as she stepped closer. Will turned his head slightly, exposing his neck. Fangs sank down as Val opened her mouth. Will sucked in some air as sharp points stabbed into his neck and blood flowed. Val gently clutched to Will as he lifted up his spell book and opened it to the first two pages. A warmth and connection burned between them as Will used his left hand to hold Val’s head to his neck while he looked at the spell book in his right hand.
“I created Fire Bolt and Ice Bolt spells. I think after I create a few more, I’ll be able to show you and Morgan how to craft your own spell books…” Will said as Val gently drank from his neck.
***
The night air flowed from the ocean and over Castle Thorn. The primeval forests surrounding the tiny kingdom swayed to the salty breeze as hungry moans from ghouls floated on the wind. Something big moved through the cover of night, trees bending and snapping back into place. The giant thing kept its pace slow as it made its way closer to the lantern lights beyond the low walls.
A ghoul walked, its gaze on the ground and not seeing the big thing approach from behind. A giant, clawed foot came down, smashing the ghoul to paste before it moved along. On it moved until it reached the forest's edge.
Heads moved along serpentine necks. Slitted eyes gazed on the walls, small village and big castle just beyond the village. It studied the area for long moments. Like a ghost, the heads slithered back and the giant creature turned and gently pushed through the thick forest, a low growl filling its necks.
Three
Lights glowed along each casket before they opened. Shaky hands touched the lids, pushing them open and sitting up to a brilliant light. Eyes blinked as many groaned from the sunshine pouring in. Dark figures moved closer, hands out to help. The haziness parted and forms took on greater detail. A man and a horned woman stood as small lizard like men and women gathered close with gentle smiles along their snouts.
“Welcome to your new life,” Will smiled.
Horned men and women rose up from the soul caskets. Many looked around in bewilderment as kobolds helped them up. Other kobolds held robes and handed them out. The horned people took them, putting them on slowly while continuing to look around in pained confusion.
Milly stepped forward with a bright shine in her eyes. “You have awakened from your savage dreams. We are Panu and William Asher is our lord. I will help you adjust and we can discover your individual names together.”
Heads nodded as they dressed. Will could see that the panu were almost exactly like Milly. They had long, wavy hair. Small tails with tufts of hair at the ends moved from side to side. Curved horns graced the sides of their heads. Aside from those few things, they looked almost completely human. They were now awakened from their previous savage lives and the player looked
forward to helping them grow as a new people here on Jova.
Will turned his attention to Milly. Her eyes and smile beamed as she whispered words of encouragement to her people. She helped them with gentle touches, easing away the waking confusion with an almost motherly warmth. It resonated with the player, watching them take their first steps in this world, much like how he had awoken on the beach many weeks ago.
The door to the Soul Home opened and Morgan stepped in. Black eyes glanced to the many bodies filling the home, Milly and the kobolds helping the newcomers. When he reached Will’s side, he turned and faced the crowd while talking gently out of the side of his mouth.
“If you have a moment, we should talk.”
Will nodded. Milly looked over to Will and Morgan with a smile. The player acknowledged her smile with his own before he led the way out, Morgan close behind. The two men stepped out into the clear, beautiful day.
Morgan took point, walking toward the main gate. Will eyed him as he followed. The two made their way to the gate and Morgan opened it. Stepping out beyond the wall, Morgan walked toward the forest’s edge. When they reached the shadowy edge, Morgan knelt down and pointed a finger. Will stood close by, looking down at a giant, clawed footprint.
“I planned to do some scouting this morning until I saw this. The tracks lead deeper into the forest. Some of the trees were damaged, but not enough to fall down.”
Will’s brow hardened. “If this happened during the night, why didn’t the hydra attack?”
Morgan stood up, “I’m not sure. Maybe it was the same two-headed one that attacked us before? It could have thought twice on attacking us again. Whatever it was doing, this signifies it has some intelligence.”
“That makes it very dangerous,” Will added as he looked down at the giant footprint.
Morgan crossed his arms, “I know we are feeling all of this out, but my better judgement says we need to be better prepared. Right now, we don’t have anything to combat hydras and if this one is sneaking around, it’s trying to find a weak point. I’ve tried to use the crafting bench to fashion some kind of giant weapon, but nothing happens. The best thing we have now is iron tipped spears for the kobolds. I admire their spirit, but they don’t have the power to fight such a large creature.”