"Wow." I snap. "Just wow. Have the three of you discussed at length whether I’m up for it with one of you? Do you really think sex is a priority for me right now? ” I glare at Aidan. “I can’t believe you’re part of this.”
Arahan stands close by, face scrunched up as if he's trying to decipher a foreign language. “What’s happening?” he asks. My band chimes again as we lose another minute.
00:09:00
The elf breaks from his semi-amused staring and continues to walk. "The Grove is ahead."
"I wouldn't choose any of you," I retort and stomp away after Arahan. "I don't need to. I’m in charge, remember?"
I don’t know if I'll regret this, but right now I need to prove I make my own decisions. For Eleanor the mage, El the person outside the game, and my future.
The trees break into a small clearing where a wellspring is carved into a small rocky outcrop. Elven runes similar to those on Arahan's face are carved into the white stone and the water spills down over the edge. I approach, rummaging in my backpack for the two-inch apothecary bottles as I look into the pool at the bottom.
The water hits the circular stone beneath and ripples outwards.
As I'm pulling out a bottle, eyes still sizing up the scene, I almost drop it. On the stone, somebody has carved a familiar symbol.
"I guess this is the right place then," says Aidan. He unstraps a pocket in my bag and takes out the flowers.
"What's special here, then?" asks Jay. "Magic water?"
"Sometimes the water absorbs the moon's energy. At other times, the sun's. Yesterday was the full moon which has charged the water with night. In a few moments the sun will cast a beam." Arahan looks to Aidan. "You. Please. Stand away from the spring."
Aidan gives me a 'see what I mean?' look and retreats back to the edge of the clearing.
"Can we drink it?" asks Jay and pulls out his empty water pouch.
"No!" Arahan scowls at his sacrilegious request. "Do not. I will show you the stream that feeds the spring. You may drink from there."
I crouch down and hold the shrivelling flowers in the palm of my hand.
"Place them in the water, Eleanor," says Arahan. "On top of the stone. They won't wash away."
I slowly position the flowers, which appear to stick to the rock, as if magnetised. For a few seconds, nothing happens as the spring trickles slowly downwards.
A beam of bright sunlight descends from the sky, white compared to the fire pillars I can call. The light hits the water and dances across the pool until the water glows like white gold. The flowers grow, returning to the splendour they held when I picked them, the petals swelling further. More water hits and where it trickles across the revitalised flowers, the water runs purple around.
I uncork the bottle and dip it into the pool. The purple swirls as if someone dipped a paintbrush into the water and the colour is paint, but it spirals towards the bottle and pours inside.
"Jay. Pass me another bottle," I say as I pull my damp hand from the pool.
"You only need one for the quest."
"Yes. But I'm taking more potion." I cork the bottle and hold my hand out. "There's more bottles in my pack."
"What if you shouldn't?" he asks.
"I'm not arguing with you about this. If there are consequences, that will be on me." I beckon. "Come on, before the light fades."
Arahan watches silently as we fill two more bottles, before the beam snaps away and the purple water dissipates. The flowers are no longer recognisable, squashed and lifeless, only green stalks remaining. Three bottles rest on the wall, in front of the game's strange, carved symbol.
I take one and hold it upwards. Within the purple liquid, golden sparks dance and the bottle is warm in my hand. Transfixed by the items, I carefully roll two into an old piece of cloth.
Standing, I walk back to Aidan and hold out the elixir. He bites his lip. "What's this?"
"I want you to take one and look after it." He doesn't move, so I take his hand and put the bottle in his palm. "Promise me you won't leave and that you will take care of this in case anything happens to me."
Aidan curls his hands around and troubled eyes meet mine. "Nothing will happen to you."
I step back. "We can't know that."
The clearing fills with the sound of chiming wristbands as my quest completes. I look down at the bracelet and know the number will be on their screens too.
You have reached level 20.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
On the walk back to the place where we left Dean and the elves, I keep an eye on the silver bracelet. Nothing shows. I've walked the path before so nothing new is revealed, and no new quest alerts me. My alertness should be saved for more Mythical creature attacks. Unicorns could be the start. What next? Dragons? I do have one’s eye, after all.
Aidan relaxed a little on the walk back, perhaps aware that we can leave the elves' company soon. Grunwald isn't my home, but it is somewhere I want to return to. The place is central to the map—or as much of the map as the game has revealed to me.
Dusk settles around the four of us as we take the long walk back to find Dean and the injured elves. I try to push away the worry that we've been tricked into leaving Dean, cursing about the two choices I was offered.
But I have the potion. I've no doubt I'm to take it at some point and I don't want to think why. Ethan said it was for his use, but the extra two bottles will help if needed.
"I'm not looking forward to another night with the elves," says Aidan. "I worry I might not get out alive."
"We don't have to stay," suggests Jay.
"Are you mad? We've spent a whole day out here and it's hours back to Grunwald once we arrive at the elves’ place," I reply. "Plus, I don't want to travel in the dark."
Neither reply.
We reach the small clearing where we left the elves and Dean. A small fire burns in the centre where the three huddle around. Faren is treating Loran's wound with large purple leaves he's placing over the top, but Dean's injured face hasn't been touched.
Dean stands as we approach and forgetting myself, I run to him and grab hold, squeezing him in a relieved hug. His arms wrap around me too and the scent of leather and perspiration is one I'm familiar with as him.
I look up to where the blood has caked along his face and the scratch that runs from his ear halfway down his cheek.
"That looks nasty," I say.
He winces as I touch. "No permanent scarring, I hope. I can't spoil my good looks."
I shake my head at his ego and his wink. "I doubt you'll keep the scar when we leave the game. Does it hurt?"
"A little. Loran mentioned a potion exists that could help."
"Of course, there is." I drop my fingers. "I'm glad you're safe."
The strange atmosphere between us remains, a mirror from the other night, as we watch each other. I can't explain why I feel so drawn to him—to all of them. To want to stick with and watch over each other. Aidan's right; Dean isn't my usual type. But do I have a type? So far in life, it's been arseholes called Lee who steal my shit when they find someone new.
Would our loyalty extend into reality if we did see each other again?
Jay clears his throat. "Can we end the big reunion and get moving?"
Loran nods. "The moon will light our way, but I'd like to leave the area before night shrouds."
"Did the unicorns come back?" I ask; words I never thought I'd use. "What did you do with the bodies?"
"They disappeared," says Dean. "Probably respawned back in the woods."
"Another good reason to get the hell out of here," says Jay.
Arahan helps up Loran and Faren stands to approach Aidan, who looks down at Faren impassively. A silent standoff.
"I would like Faren and the assassin to walk ahead. They can scout the way and alert us if anybody lies in wait,” Arahan says.
"Anybody like who?" asks Jay. "Monsters?"
Loran shakes his head. "Ambushes happen all the time the further
into the woods we go. Usually at night."
"And usually when we accompany adventurers," adds Arahan.
I rub my head. Another escort quest. "We need to think through how we'd deal with this," I say to the guys. "Without Zara, we're short of someone we need. None of us is strong enough to take damage."
"I am," retorts Jay.
"You're the only one who can heal if we're hurt." Dean shakes his head. “You don’t have fighting stats, Jay. You’re a spell caster. You need to accept that.”
"Loran is correct that I should help scout." Dean pats his weapons. "Me and Faren can take down any unicorns or dragons or whatever."
"Dragons?" asks Loran.
I tense. Sword and Sorcery World? Oh yeah, there has to be one somewhere. That Eye can’t be a myth.
"There are no dragons." My instant relief drops when he adds. "Not in the Dryad’s realm, anyway."
"Can't wait to meet one," says Jay with heavy sarcasm.
"Not tonight though." Aidan steps forward and the elves move away from him. "Dean—you and my 'bodyguard' can go."
"It's not far to the portal," says Arahan.
I shake my head to ensure I heard correctly. "Portal?"
"There's one a few miles ahead. It will take you back to Grunwald."
"Hang on a fucking minute," growls Jay. "There is a portal from Grunwald to this place and we've spent bloody days walking here?"
Loran laughs at him. "I said it goes to Grunwald. Not from. Do you think Dorianna would allow random adventurers to wander through from the town?"
"Oh man," mutters Aidan.
"Kind of a coincidence it appears now, huh?" Dean says to me.
"I'm not complaining. We levelled up by following a quest chain. Remember?"
"She's right, Dean," puts in Aidan. "And why don't you go, as Loran told you to."
I frown at Aidan. What is his issue with Dean? As if I need to ask myself that question.
Armed with hope and energy at the knowledge we have a quicker way to our 'home', we spilt into two. The elves walk behind, the two stealthy party members in front while Aidan, Jay, and I follow. How long before we're ambushed? Because I'd bet the gold I have in my backpack that we will be.
My stomach grumbles and my band flashes to indicate my stamina is dropping and with it, my magic strength. Why the game needs to state the obvious, I don't know. Jay glances at my band and stops briefly. He produces dried meat from his bag and hands it over with a smile. Too hungry to make a polite protest that I shouldn't, I tear a piece with my teeth and gratefully eat.
"This is where we must leave you."
I look around my surroundings, confused by Arahan’s words.
I swallow the meat. "Shouldn't we take you back to your village?"
"That won't be necessary. We normally leave adventurers here."
Aidan huffs and looks around. "Where is this portal?"
Loran paces in a circle around the clearing before poking at a large stone with his soft boot. "Beneath here."
The stone turns over, revealing a muddy patch, and Jay steps over. He crosses his arms as he peers at the ground. "A rabbit hole?"
Light creeps from the ground, like a spring breaking through from below. A sudden burst of light knocks Jay backwards and he lands with a thump on the floor.
In my mind, a portal should be a shimmering doorway, but this looks like a pool of water. Am I about to make an idiot of myself by stepping into a cleverly disguised muddy puddle?
My band illuminates:
Portal to Grunwald
The elves aren't lying, then.
"Where's Dean?"
"He's ahead with Faren," replies Loran.
I step away in the direction he points but he takes my arm. "They will come back."
Suspicion builds in my gut. "Come back from where?"
He frowns. "Scouting."
"There's nobody around."
A yell from nearby disproves my words, followed by a roar that reverberates through the woods. Without thinking, I break into a run in the direction of the sound. I step into a clearing, but all sound has dropped away.
Nobody.
"Dean?" I call. "Faren?"
Movement nearby. Shadowed figure in the dark. Dean?
Jay and Aidan reach my shoulder. "Where is he?"
"I don't know."
My stomach twists and chest tightens as a dread washes over me. We stand, back to back, and I look up through the trees that stand above us like spires, reaching out to the rising moon.
Silence, save our heavy breathing.
"Dean!" I call more urgently.
Finally, footsteps sound behind and I turn. My spirits drop when I see Arahan standing several feet away. “If you want to use the portal, you must go now before it closes.”
“We can’t leave without Dean.”
“You can wait if you prefer, but I would advise against staying in these woods at night.”
“Why?” asks Jay sharply. “Unicorns?”
“No. There are spirits who live in the woods. Dryad souls who were tortured and killed by the dozens." He pauses. "By adventurers such as yourselves. These people worked for the Kingdom, tricked their way into our realm and slaughtered the innocent."
"But we don't work for the Kingdom," I say.
"I do not think you could negotiate with a spirit," says Arahan with a small smile. "They will not listen; they only want vengeance. They kill anybody who they find in the woods at night who isn't an elf."
"We need to go," says Jay. "El, come on."
I stare at him. "We can't leave Dean."
"He might be dead already."
"Don't say that!" The hysteria inside rises and edges into my tone. "He might not be. He could just be injured."
Jay rubs a hand across his mouth and glances back at Arahan. "How long before the portal closes?"
"Not long."
"How helpful," mutters Aidan.
"Long enough to scout around." I'm not wasting a second and step into the gloom, adjusting my eyes to the dim. The tree canopies meet above my head, thicker than where I stepped away from.
Figures group across the clearing; ones I can't make out. This time, I whisper for Dean while I examine the forest floor for what I don't want to see—his body. The fire glows around my fingertips as I look from left to right. My band flashes that my stamina is low, and spell casting ability weak. I have a decision to make. I can't use my most powerful spell.
The figures stealth closer. Tall. Barely visible, save their eyes glowing red in the gloom. Perhaps half a dozen.
"Holy shit," mutters Aidan from beside me. "We need to take the portal, El. We can't take these on."
“He’ll respawn if he dies,” adds Jay.
“That doesn’t stop a painful death,” I whisper, as images of a broken, bloody Dean shift into my mind. “You know that.”
The pair glance between me and the portal.
"We have to pass them and look for Dean," I urge. "I can create a barrier and you can cast, Jay."
I close my eyes and focus on summoning but the spark inside is weak. My band buzzes and I swear as I look at the red bar: magic energy critical. Reaching into my bag, I pull out a small vial and drag the cork off with my teeth. The Spell Energy potion I bought when we stocked up on supplies tastes of watermelon and lemon and burns my throat. This will give me the spell energy I need.
The barrier fires to life into a crackling wall between me and the figures.
They've disappeared; stealthed back into the trees, no doubt. Fearful of my spells?
"Come on," I whisper.
A hundred metres or so away there's a small grey structure and I creep closer.
I'm unfamiliar with what I'm looking at. It's small—possibly an old mausoleum or place of worship, no bigger than my tiny apartment back in reality. The floor is covered with broken tiles, many missing, the others cracked. They once created a pattern I'm unable to make out.
The walls have crumbled to waist height and the
re's nowhere to hide in the small square space.
Where are Dean and Faren?
I'm answered by another inhuman cry and I block my ears for a second, unable to cope with the fear that tears through my body.
I pull myself upwards, allowing the sparks building inside to gather force, readying myself for the inevitable battle with whatever could be attacking Dean. "Jay. Help."
I turn back to the others, ready to tell Aidan to transform, for Jay to heal. Instead, I come face to face with a pale creature.
I lurch backwards as the translucent face stares back at me. Arahan said the spirits here are elves, but this person looks human. His ghostly face flickers in and out of view and he steps towards me. My arm tingles, and I ready myself to move, but the apparition walks by and to the centre of the room.
Heart thumping, I watch, holding my breath as if that would do anything. A movement close by sends me stepping into the smallest shadow in the corner of the building. I wait for them to speak. Interact somehow. Nothing happens. Both flicker in and out of view, never solidifying, remaining pale.
"El!"
Aidan's voice calls my name from far away, as if I'm asleep, or he's along a tunnel.
"I think she went this way."
"El? Can you hear us? Where did you go?"
I step from the building and blink.
The woods darkness flickers in and out as if somebody flicks a switch between day and night. Nobody is around. No Jay or Aidan. No assailants.
The ground beneath my feet shimmers between grass and sand etched into rectangles and dark spaces open up around. The sun bursts through the sky then is obliterated by the night, the moon flickering above instead. I fall to the ground as a pressure in my head grows and voices whisper in the air around. The spirits? But there's nobody here. Nothing.
Shouldn't there be trees?
As I think this, one appears. Then another. They shimmer in and out of view as the figures did before. My body wracks with pain as if I touched a live wire and electricity courses through my system. I collapse to the hard floor. This doesn’t feel like a forest floor. No grass. No soil. A stomach-churning smell tickles my nostril—a mixture between burning plastic and strong disinfectant. I turn my face and try to call out to my friends, but I can't speak. The vial remains in my hand and the dregs glow purple in the sun before the moon returns again.
Mage Page 21