I couldn’t fault his beliefs because I had times that I had felt the same way. At times, I felt my world was improving and heading in the right direction. Other times, I felt that we were failing ourselves. It was terrible at times. Humans could be great scions of change when they wanted to. The problem was that they didn’t always want to; hell, some outright wanted things to go back in time, when some freely oppressed others. I hated that about humanity.
I broke from my thoughts once we got there and looked at the great gate guarded by two Monks. They were levels 19 and 20. They smiled at me, then knelt to Elder Leo. They had seen me sweating and cursing on more than one occasion because of the training. I shook their hands as we passed through and went to find something for me to beat on.
The monsters in the Proving Grounds were pretty nice, actually. The ones closest to the gate were lower level and didn’t attack unless provoked. As you went further in, they got stronger and more aggressive, all the way until the mouth of the cave where they came out. No one went in there; it was decided long ago that the monastery would leave the place be so that new monsters would come forth to replace the ones they destroyed.
We picked a middling level for me to start with, a couple of level 8 Snakes the size of large dogs. Think Great Dane. They were sunbathing but eyeballing me something fierce.
“I am looking forward to seeing what you are capable of,” Leo said as he plopped onto the ground.
I activated the spell after focusing on the desired element, and my body became living flame, roughly the same shape as my water form. I stepped toward the two Snakes and punched at the closest one. The snake took thirty percent damage outright, then became burned, a little flame symbol appearing beneath its health bar. It attacked me, not understanding that my whole body was made of fire. It hurt itself and only dealt around three percent damage to me. Hardly noticeable, but it was good to know that I could take damage in elemental form. I smashed both hands into the small creature and then finished it off with a kick.
The other Snake tried to slither away, but I grabbed its tail and pulled it back, damaging it slightly. I thought about it really quick and willed the fire in my arm to stream from my hand. It worked, but I felt the drain on my mana instantly. The flame rocketed into the snake and fried it. The stream of flame from my hand had eaten thirty mana altogether.
I took a moment to step away from any potentially hostile enemies and look at my spells as a Fire Elemental. After looking for a moment, I saw that each form had a spell list.
FIRE
Fire Stream – Casts a blast of fire from a hand up to 5 feet. Cost: 30 mana.
Flame Burst – A radial blast of fire that can push enemies back. Range: 15 feet. Cost: 75 mana. Cool Down: 1 minute.
Enhanced Fireball – Cast 25-foot sphere, deals more damage than the original spell. Cost: 100 mana. Cool Down: 2 minutes.
AIR
Wind Blades – Caster uses limbs to create projectile wind to damage enemies. Range: 60 feet. Cost: 30 mana.
Tornado – Caster creates a whirlwind that sucks in enemies up to 25 feet away. Range: 60 feet. Cost: 100 mana. Cool Down: 3 minutes.
Chain Lightning – Caster sends a bolt of lighting into a target, then the nearest target. Range: 120 feet. Cost: 150 mana. Cool Down: 3 minutes.
Ability – Can fly as movement.
WATER
Water Whip – Caster creates a whip composed of water. Duration: Until dropped. Range: 10 feet. Cost: 30 mana. Cool Down: 1 minute.
Gentle Rain – Caster creates a rain cloud that when rain touches an ally, heals them, and when it touches an enemy, harms them. Maximum HP restored: 30%. Duration: 30 seconds. Range: 60 foot radius. Cost: 200 mana. Cool Down: 3 minutes.
Drain – Caster siphons water and HP from one target it touches using it to restore 25% HP instantly. Range: Touch. Cost: 50% mana. Cool Down: 5 minutes.
Ability – Can move freely on and in water. Water adds power to spells and size to elemental form.
EARTH
Stone Spike – Caster flings sharp stone projectiles at will. Range: 60 feet. Cost: 10 mana.
Shell – Caster creates a protective barrier of stone around a target. Duration: Dropped by caster, or receives 250 damage. Range: 90 feet. Cost: 100 mana. Cool Down: 1 minute.
Iron Maiden – Wraps target in a spiked, metal tomb. Duration: dropped at will, target dies, or sustains 500 damage. Range: 10 feet. Cost: 50% mana. Cool Down: 5 minutes.
Ability – Can travel through earth, dirt, and stone at will at greater speed.
A lot of these spells were beyond amazing. Holy hells.
“What did you discover?” Elder Leo asked.
“A lot of spells that are going to keep my mana well lowered,” I joked.
“Can I see one?”
I nodded and went to the next set of Snakes. My mana had since recovered from the shapeshifting and the spell usage, so I opted for my strongest fire spell and took aim. I released the Enhanced Fireball directly at the two Snakes about sixty feet away. The spell detonated, and a wave of heat burst into being. The Snakes were engulfed and burnt to a crisp. I didn’t see the black flames of my infernal ring, so I didn’t think it counted when I was in this form. Oh well. It was powerful as hell anyway.
I dropped elemental and sighed. It was nice to be in my own skin. Of course, those were just as much “me” as my current form.
“That was incredible!” shouted a new voice.
I turned to see a younger-looking Monk, probably around ten to twelve years old, sprinting our way. He leapt over a Snake that lunged at him and snatched it up by its neck. He snapped his fingers closed tightly, and the struggling reptile stilled.
“Ah!” exclaimed Elder Leo. “Samkin, how is our youngest?”
The boy skidded to a halt and bowed on his hands and knees, the strangled Snake still clasped tightly. “Elder.”
“Samkin, enough,” chided the Elder Monk. “Talk to me!”
“I’m well, Elder Leo,” the boy said from his bow. “My studies go well, and I’m growing as best I can. Please, forgive my outburst.”
“It’s okay,” I said before the Elder could reply. He looked a bit sullen that the boy wouldn’t talk to him normally.
“I’m Zekiel,” I said as I picked the boy up by his robe. “Who’s ‘Samkin?’”
“I’m Samkin!” he said as his feet kicked to try and get back to the ground. “Put me down, please! The Elder is watching!”
“He doesn’t care, right?”
“Not at all!” the grinning Monk replied.
“You know, I thought the same thing about my attack, but I think I might be missing something. Any advice?”
I dropped the boy, and he landed back in his bow.
“See, where I come from, when an Elder tells you to do something, you obey,” I observed aloud. “And here I am asking for help? I must have asked wrong.”
“Elder Leo is right there. He’s so much better than me.”
“That’s true,” I admitted, “but I asked you. See, the Elder is already impressive. He’s seen so much and done so much more, but you, you see without the benefit of age or wisdom. He would tell me what he thinks I want to hear. I know you won’t, so answer my question. Is there anything you think I could do differently?”
He seemed to think about it for a moment, then said something. I could hear it, but that wasn’t what was needed.
“Hmmm. I can’t take advice when someone mumbles and can’t even look at me.”
The boy groaned, then stood up. He looked to me, then to Elder Leo and at me again.
“If you struck your opponent with a fist before you released your flames, you might do more damage.”
“Brilliant!” Elder Leo clapped. The boy looked ready to bolt, but I stopped him.
I knelt in front of him and blocked Elder Leo from his sight. “Do you think so?”
He nodded and smiled. “A strike—with flames up close—could really hurt, or I think it would if it was me
.”
“Sound judgement,” I admitted. “Think you can show me a good strike tomorrow? Maybe I can show you my other forms while I’m at it?”
“Really?!” He almost smacked me when his arms shot up, the Snake swinging up as well.
“Yeah! How about it? Wanna trade? You teach me how to throw a decent punch, and I show you what I can do with my magic?”
“Okay!” He smiled at me and looked happy. His little bald head was bobbing as he nodded.
“I look forward to it.”
“Bye!” the boy said and waved at me, then realized Leo was still there and fell into a bow. “Goodbye, Elder Leo.”
“Train well, Samkin.”
Once the younger Monk was gone, Leo looked at me funny.
“What?”
“You were purposely trying to get him to open up, weren’t you?”
“Yes, I was.” We had turned to head back, so I was watching the creatures around us.
“Why?”
“He seemed to need it. You had given him leave to be himself, but he wasn’t giving it up. Sometimes someone has to help children be children. Monk or not.”
The Elder stopped in his tracks and looked at me for a moment. “How do you know this?”
“I had to grow up way too fast. I was a lot like him when I was his age. Threw myself into my schooling and books. I took things too seriously, too often. I needed help lightening up, and I wanted the same for him. No big deal.”
“It is to me,” he said softly.
“Oh?”
“I found him and brought him back when his family had been taken by surprise by bandits on the highway. He was but a babe, and watching him grow from the shadows has been hard. He knows the tale. That’s why he tries so hard, I think. I just want him to have a good life. At least what we can give him here. He’s so strong. Smart. The cleverest young disciple we have here, and he’s only getting better.”
I smiled. “Glad I picked him to teach me then!”
The Elder laughed, and we continued on our way. As far as Leo was concerned, my training here was completed. It was time to rest and let my friends catch up to me for once.
Chapter Nineteen
I spent the next morning with Samkin, and I had to admit I was surprised by his level of skill.
He hit so hard that there wasn’t much here that could give him a run for his money. We had enjoyed breakfast with Elder Leo, to the Halfling’s pleasure, and the lad seemed to be opening up. I could honestly say that I hoped my own son would grow up to be as strong and disciplined as Samkin. Of course, he was already well on his way—not to brag, of course.
“Okay,” he said, pulling me from my thoughts. “Your turn!”
I chuckled. I really didn’t have to worry much. The kid seemed more like my boy the longer I was around him.
“I did promise, didn’t I?”
“You did,” Elder Leo said with mock seriousness in his tone.
“Very well then.” I closed my eyes and shifted into my fox form. The boy exclaimed and bent down to look me in the eyes. I shifted back and whispered to him that when I shifted again, he had to throw me at Elder Leo.
I shifted back to fox, and Samkin threw me at the Halfling. Once I was just above the confused Monk, I shifted into my bear form and landed on him with a “humph.” I chuckled as a bear, which sounded like a growl, when I felt two tiny hands in my stomach lift me. I looked down and saw Elder Leo picking me up with ease and started to panic.
“Oh come now, Mr. Druid,” the Elder chuckled. “Afraid? Good!”
He tossed me back at the boy with a grunt, and I flew faster than I could control. I turned into a fox and hit Samkin in the chest, bowling him over. We tumbled to the ground while the Halfling howled with laughter. I shifted back after rolling away from the poor kid. We both started laughing, too. It was to be our final day at the monastery, and we would be moving tomorrow morning.
My time with little Samkin gave me hope that I could see my son again someday. Before I could fall into depression over it, the Elder came over to me and slapped my shoulder.
“I haven’t had that much fun in years, my boy,” he said with a grin. “Thank you. To you and your friends.”
“My pleasure, Elder Leo.”
“Leo, young Druid. Just Leo.”
“Then call me Zeke. It’s my true name, and I would have you know me for me.”
“Zeke,” he said, seeming to weigh the word. “Very well then, Zeke it is. I should gladly call you friend.”
I smiled and held out my hand for a fist bump. When he looked at me in confusion, I chuckled. I took his right hand and made a fist, then held it out again.
“Where I’m from, friends do this as a sign of friendship,” I explained. “It’s called a fist bump.”
I tapped my fist against his gently, then smiled at his look of wonder. I turned to Samkin and held my fist out. The boy bumped my fist enthusiastically and bounced on his toes.
“Friends,” I announced.
The rest of the afternoon we spent discussing my world, some of the things that were there and some of our customs, like enjoying sporting events and fighting for entertainment. I was surprised to learn that this world had arenas in a lot of major cities, where people fought to settle disputes, for glory, and for money. Sounded eerily similar to my home.
That morning, we all woke up and joined the Elder for breakfast. He told us that we had a guide coming and that they would take us to the Dwarven underground city of Djurnforge. The guide was to arrive at almost any time so we spent some time going over everyone’s training. My friends had all gained a decent amount of strength and dexterity; even Yohsuke had gained four points in strength from the training. All in all, the training had paid off.
A commotion erupted at the gate as a Dwarf came strutting through. His skin wasn’t pale like you might expect from someone who lived underground but a tan with red cheeks. His beard was black, and his hair tied into a topknot on top of his head. He was a short, stocky man who sported a double-headed war axe strapped to his back. His coal-black eyes glimpsed Elder Leo, and he barked a laugh at the shorter man.
“Leo, ye git!” he huffed and marched up to him. The Dwarf put his hands on both the Halfling’s shoulders.
“Brawnwynn!” The Monk smiled in greeting and did the same with his hands. The two looked at each other a moment in a brotherly way, then whipped their heads forward, head-butting each other. The crack that followed made the party cringe a bit, but the two came away laughing.
“Gentlemen, this is your guide, my old friend Brawnwynn,” said Leo. The Dwarf seemed to notice Balmur first and sprinted at him with a gleeful shout that none of us had expected.
“Cousin!” the Dwarf greeted him. “How be the fires treatin’ yeh?”
The stout warrior was prepared to butt heads with Balmur and our friend was ready. They grasped shoulders and cracked their skulls together. Both came away a little shaken but grinning.
“Oh, cousin, ye been keeping with ‘the Way.’ Good.” He patted his shoulder and looked to the rest of us.
“Ah! Elves!” Brawnwynn waddled over to Bokaj and Yohsuke. “How be ye lads? Good, eh? Glad ta hear it, I am. Oh, a Grey Elf? Lad, yeh be in good company with me, I swears. Not a harm will come tah ye.”
He looked to me next and squinted a bit. “Sylph?”
“Kitsune,” I answered simply.
“Keep yer thieving paws to yeself, and we be a’right,” he growled. My hackles raised slightly.
“Brawny!” Leo shouted and smacked the Dwarf upside his head. “These are my friends! They are on a most honorable mission. Zekiel would no sooner steal from your people than I would. They have my blessing to be among you and your kith and kin. Treat them as you do me.”
“Even the bastard Orc over there? That’s right, I seed ye. Think ye can take me? Tusk mouth?!” The Dwarf growled and stepped forward menacingly. “I sees ye wearin’ piss-poor armor like that, starin’ at me with yer beady, filthy eyes.
Ugly. Even iffin ye got some Elf in ye. Sooner kiss an ass’s ass than look at ye.”
He spat on the ground in contempt while Jaken just glowered at him coolly.
I’d heard enough and stepped forward, putting myself between the aggressor and my friend. I shifted shape and put my bear muzzle right in front of his face, then roared for all I was worth. Flecks of spit and foam flew from my jaws, and my heated breath blew his beard back a bit. He reached for his weapon, and I shifted back before equipping my own great axe.
“Bring it,” I growled. “I’ll take you.”
“I’m inclined to let him, Brawnwynn,” Elder Leo barked angrily.
“It’s cool, gents,” Jaken said as he stepped forward, his hands at his sides facing out to show he was unarmed. “Look, Brawnwynn, Dwarves hate any kind of Orc, right?” The Dwarf nodded his head. “I thought so. How about this, you respect combat, right? That’s a part of the Way?”
The Dwarf looked a little taken aback but nodded slightly.
“Then you and I will fight, unarmed and unarmored. If I lose, you don’t have to take me with you, and I will stay away from you and yours. First to half health, deal?”
“Aye, we have an accord.” He spit on his hand and held it out expectantly. Jaken did the same and clasped the Dwarf’s meaty hand.
They took a few minute to take their armor off and lay down their arms, only wearing cloth pants and boots. They circled each other in a makeshift arena of Monks and villagers. The Dwarf was a level higher than Jaken at level 16, so it stood to reason that the fight might actually be pretty even sided.
Elder Leo deemed that he would officiate and signaled a beginning to the bout. The Dwarf wasted no time and lunged at Jaken. He deepened his stance, and as soon as the Dwarf got to him, leapt over him in a somersault. Brawnwynn dove to try and knock his opponent over and landed on his face.
Jaken landed three feet away and stood calmly while Brawnwynn collected himself. His opponent did the same thing, sprinting at him to try and tackle his legs from beneath him. Jaken shifted his legs into a wider jumping stance once more as the Dwarf tried to dive into the taller man’s legs. Jaken acted as if he was going to jump, and the Dwarf pulled up short. Using the feigned leap to slow his opponent’s momentum, Jaken whipped his knee into the Dwarf’s head. The damage done was minimal—the Dwarf’s powerful neck saw to that—but the damage was done to the nose because it looked bloodied.
Into the Light (Axe Druid Book 1) Page 25