World in Chains- The Complete Series

by Ryan W. Mueller

The space here was not as small, but he was still trapped.

  "Markus, are you all right?" Lara asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.

  Markus took a couple of deep breaths. "Yeah, I'm fine."

  He forced down his panic and continued across the bridge. Soon they reached another platform. Now the fires lay behind them. Ahead was a set of wide stone steps that led downward into a dark area containing eight unlit torches.

  "What do you think we have to do here?" Markus asked.

  "Isn't it obvious? We have to light these torches."

  Markus scratched his head. "That seems a little too easy."

  "Oh, I'm sure there will be some challenge involved."

  Markus moved to one of the torches and pointed a finger at it. A fireball burst from his fingertips, lighting the torch, but only for a moment. He tried again, and the same thing happened. Frowning, he tried again and again, achieving the same result.

  "Why isn't this working?" he asked.

  Lara pointed to the center of the stone area, where a circular marking had been made in on the ground. "I think we have to stand there and light all the torches from there."

  "But that circle is only large enough for one person."

  "Would you like me to try? I've practiced a bit."

  "Yeah, go ahead. I feel like my magic is all raw power. No control at all."

  Markus stood off to the side of the stone chamber while Lara took position in the circle. She turned in a circle, launching fireballs at each of the torches. Though she'd practiced, her aim wasn't good at first, and the torches still went out after a short period of time.

  She tried again and again. The first few times, she could light only three or four torches, but as she became more comfortable with the challenge, it became five, then six, then seven. She got stuck on seven torches for a long time, though, and Markus could see the strain in her eyes, the growing exhaustion in her posture. A person could only use so much of one element at a time. He'd learned that much during his time as a sorcerer.

  "You can do it!" Markus shouted. "You just have to focus." He knew the encouragement sounded a bit stupid, but he needed to try.

  Lara tried another time. She lit four, then five, then six, then seven. But would there be enough time? As she turned to face the last torch, Markus was sure the others would go out. The fireball flew from her fingertips. It seemed to float in the air a long, long time. Markus held his breath as he watched, knowing that he'd have to try the next time because she'd used up all her reserves of fire magic.

  But the fireball did reach the torch, and it lit up a brilliant orange. At the far end of the chamber, a stone door rumbled open.

  "If we have to do anything else," she said, "it's up to you."

  "Don't worry. I can handle whatever this place throws at us." That might have been false confidence, but it needed to be said. Part of being a hero was projecting the image of confidence even when you had no right to feel confident. If Markus had learned anything in recent months, it was that sheer determination could cover a lot of weaknesses.

  The door slammed closed behind them, and the chamber they'd entered was now pitch black. Markus didn't even have to think. He knew what they needed to do. Holding out his hand, he conjured a handheld flame. Its glow penetrated only a few feet into their surroundings.

  The path they followed was narrow and winding, and on each side of it was a drop far down into a vast expanse of black.

  They had to jump a few gaps in the path, but none were that large. The path did continue for a long time, however, and Markus wasn't sure how long he could hold this flame in his hand. It didn't burn him, but he could feel his energy beginning to dwindle, and he knew he'd need a lot of energy for the next challenge.

  After all, he thought he understood this place now. There were four abilities that came with every type of elemental magic. The temple seemed to present a challenge for each of the abilities. The first challenge had tested their fire shields. The second had evaluated their ability to aim fireballs accurately. This one was determining their ability to conjure a handheld flame and keep it going long enough to navigate a dangerous path.

  The final challenge would test the massive waves of fire Markus could produce. Sheer power had always been his strength with every type of magic, but would he be powerful enough for the next challenge?

  He'd get his answer soon, for they'd just reached the end of the path, where dim magical torches sat along the far walls of the chamber, bathing their surroundings in blue light.

  To their left, another doorway stood open. They stepped through the doorway, entering a vast cavern. The door slammed behind them. Markus took a few steps into the dimly lit chamber, scanning his surroundings for danger.

  And he found it.

  A giant creature stood ahead of them. It had to be thirty feet from one end to the other. A thick shell covered its body, but it appeared it might be vulnerable from underneath. The creature had pincers at the end of its arms, and it clicked them madly as Markus and Lara approached.

  "Let's give this thing a fire bath," Markus said.

  "Are you sure that's the wisest choice?" Lara asked.

  "This place is testing our abilities one at a time. I know what we have to do." Before Lara could object again, Markus sent a wave of fire at the creature. It retreated a few steps on its long, spindly legs, but it wasn't quick enough to escape the fire. When the fire struck the creature, it let out a piercing shriek, but it didn't die.

  In fact, it reared backward, showing that the shell didn't only cover its back. It surrounded the creature's entire body.

  How the hell were they supposed to defeat it?

  Markus sagged against a nearby stalagmite, trying to think of a plan. But he'd never been good at plans. That had always been Rik's thing, or Nadia's. Markus preferred to act in the moment or rely on the plans of others.

  He turned to Lara. "You got anything?"

  "I think I might." She peered at the creature, which was keeping its distance for the moment. "We might be able to melt the shell with our fire. Then that will give us the chance to attack it another way up close."

  Markus grinned at her. "You're brilliant!"

  "Just logical," she said.

  They both took a few steps toward the creature, then unleashed their waves of fire together. The spell combined into a beautiful orange glow, which soon enveloped the creature. It let out that piercing shriek again. Markus almost felt bad for it, but he kept the spell going, believing they were doing the right thing.

  As the spell consumed the creature, bits of its shell began to break off. Its shriek became louder, filled with pain. It didn't try to attack them. Instead, it kept retreating. Backed into a corner, however, it had nowhere to go.

  Bit by bit, the shell hit the floor. Soon the entire shell had melted or broken off. Without the shell, the creature couldn't withstand the heat, and it collapsed. When it hit the ground, it dissolved into pieces, crumbling away like bits of rock and sand.

  After perhaps fifteen seconds, little remained of the creature.

  But where it had been, a small yellow crystal lay on the ground. Markus stepped forward, crossing the rocky ground before reaching the crystal. He picked it up and turned it over in his hands. Nothing happened, but this must have been what they'd come for.

  Lara stood close, squinting at the crystal. "What do you think it is?"

  "I'm not sure."

  She touched it while it was still in his hand, and Markus was suddenly jerked off his feet. The world felt as if it were swirling around him, and less than a second later, he stood on solid ground again. He opened his eyes to see he stood in the central chamber from which they'd entered the fire challenge. Nadia and Tylen both stood there.

  "Did you succeed?" Nadia asked.

  "Well, we're alive," Markus said.

  Nadia frowned at him. "What's that in your hand?"

  "Some kind of crystal," Markus said.

  "Good," Nadia said. "I think that's wha
t we need to open the next door. It's labeled with a Lightning symbol, but it won't open for Tylen. However, I do see an indentation in that door that is the exact same shape as that crystal. It must be a key."

  "Well, let's give it a try," Markus said. He placed the crystal in the indentation, and it fit perfectly. After a few tense moments, the door rumbled open.

  "I guess I'll stay out here by myself," Nadia said. "I doubt I can enter."

  Markus wanted to argue, but he knew that was true. He gave Nadia a smile that he hoped was comforting, and then he, Lara, and Tylen stepped through the open door.

  It slammed behind them.

  Chapter 62: A Challenge Interrupted

  Tylen still didn't feel that he belonged with this group. He understood why they were suspicious of him, why they didn't like him. Though he would have liked to do something to change their minds, he had no idea what that might be.

  As soon as the door slammed shut behind them, Markus gazed at it as if he could see through it to Nadia on the other side. His eyes were filled with loss.

  "I'm sure you'll see her again," Tylen said, sounding more dismissive than he would have liked—a reminder that the old Tylen still tried to assert himself from time to time.

  Markus gave him a dark look but remained silent. Tylen would have liked to say something, but nothing came to him. Instead, he looked away, wishing he could take back the man he'd been. What did he have to do to prove to himself that he had changed?

  They made their way through the stone corridor, following its many twists and turns and keeping an eye out for traps. Soon they emerged in a larger chamber filled with monsters. The creatures were about the size of large wolves but had bodies more like rats.

  As soon as the monsters saw the party, they all attacked at once. While they closed the distance, Markus summoned a great spell. A circle of yellow light formed in the center of the chamber, encircling most of the rat-like creatures. Lightning gathered above that yellow circle, but now some of the rats were breaking free from the spell's radius of destruction.

  Lightning crashed down upon the creatures, splitting the air with a deafening crack. The force of the spell made the room rumble and sent a shockwave at the party, which knocked them backward. The rats charging toward them fell.

  Most of the creatures lay dead from the spell, but about ten of them remained, setting their vicious gazes on the party. Tylen prepared his sword but also gathered his own magic. He pointed a finger at one rat, sending a burst of lightning at it. When the spill hit the creature, it shrieked and fell to the side. Then it lay still upon the stone floor.

  More of the creatures came from every direction, and soon everything became a chaotic blur of swords and claws and magic. Tylen prayed none of his spells would hit the others, but lost in the maelstrom of giant rodents, he couldn't be sure. Grunts came from around him. Screams. Cries of pain. The creatures shrieked and shrieked as the spells struck them.

  By the time the battle died down, Tylen sported dozens of cuts and scrapes. He looked over at Lara and Markus, both of whom were bleeding from multiple injuries.

  "Wonder what else this place will throw at us," Markus said, almost as if he eagerly anticipated the prospect.

  "I'd rather not find out," Tylen said, stepping forward gingerly. They crossed the chamber, making their way between the bodies of the dead rodents. At the other side of the chamber, a large stone door had opened. They passed beneath it, then followed the corridor beyond as it turned a few times.

  Tylen expected to emerge in a more open chamber, but instead they remained in a narrow corridor. Their way was blocked, however. Lightning blasted across the corridor for the next thirty feet, going away from them in a fast pattern, then returning to the beginning of its path.

  "No one can run that fast," Markus said.

  "We can if we use our magic," Tylen said. "One of the abilities that comes with Lightning magic lets you run much faster."

  Markus furrowed his brow, studying the pattern of lightning. "I still don't like that idea. If we mistime this at all, we're dead."

  "Then I guess we can't mistime it," Tylen said. He hadn't intended to sound so sarcastic, but that was the way he'd always been. It came naturally.

  "We can do this," Lara said. "We just have to be patient."

  Tylen felt nauseous as he studied the pattern. Though the spell could make him run faster, he didn't know if it would make him fast enough. They all decided they needed to practice farther back and get a feel for how fast they could run. After a few minutes of this, they figured they were prepared enough. This didn't appear to be an insurmountable challenge.

  Markus took a hesitant step toward the dangerous obstacle. "Who wants to go first?"

  "Be my guest," Tylen said. "Once you're dead, we'll figure out how to do it."

  Markus glared at him. "You still are the same Tylen, aren't you?"

  "I was just making a joke." It had been a joke, right? After all, Tylen couldn't help but feel bitter stabs of jealousy whenever he looked at Markus. What had Nadia seen in him?

  No, you don't deserve her, Tylen told himself. Your actions have made that clear enough. The best way he could do right by Nadia was to accept that she had chosen to love Markus. In truth, they were great for each other. Markus was a much better match than Tylen ever could have been. That fact grew clearer and clearer every time Tylen saw them together.

  And then he thought of Farah, of what they'd had together. He hadn't given her the chance she'd deserved, as he'd focused instead on what he never could have shared with Nadia. He'd been a fool, a jerk, a disappointment.

  And now Farah was gone, taken from him by Krinir's cruel hands. That might have been why he'd reverted a bit to his old nature, to the man he wanted to leave behind forever. Deep down, he realized he was broken. Farah had been his chance at redemption, at proving he could love a person other than himself, and he had loved her.

  But it hadn't been enough. She hadn't been Nadia.

  "Tylen, are you coming?"

  He looked up to see that Markus and Lara had already reached the other side of the obstacle. Can't look like a coward, he decided. He drew the energy of the spell toward him, allowing it to hasten his movements. It felt as if lightning were surging through him, but it didn't hurt. Instead, it was a faint tingling that grew stronger with time.

  He raced onto the path where the lightning could kill him. Though he'd determined the pattern, it still bothered him. However, a part of Tylen didn't care. If he died, then he could join Farah. Now that he knew there was an afterlife, the prospect of death no longer terrified him as it once had.

  Pushing these thoughts aside, he raced through the corridor. He kept just ahead of the lightning as it formed behind him, growing ever closer. Sweat trickled into his eyes, but he ignored it, focusing on his destination.

  Running with the aid of magic was an exhilarating experience that felt like nothing he'd experienced before. He didn't glance back, didn't slow.

  At last, he reached safety at the other end of the obstacle.

  "What took you so long?" Markus asked.

  Tylen avoided his gaze. "Nothing. I was just thinking."

  Markus opened his mouth as if to share some sarcastic comment, but then he decided against it. Good. Tylen would have responded with some biting remark of his own, and that only would have reminded him that he hadn't changed enough.

  They followed the corridor as it turned to the right, then to the left. It opened into a larger chamber where wide stone steps led up to an elevated platform. At first, Tylen thought the chamber was deserted, but then he spotted the solitary figure atop the platform.

  The man was tall and wore a red and black robe. Warrick.

  What the hell was he doing here?

  "I've been waiting for you," Warrick said, turning to face them. His voice betrayed his current allegiance. He was back under Krinir's control.

  "What are you doing here?" Tylen demanded, but Warrick didn't answer. Instead, he sent
a blast of lightning at them. Markus and Lara cast shields as the spell surged toward them. Tylen huddled close to Markus for the protection of his shield, and it held, but Lara's shield wasn't strong enough. She screamed as the spell hit her, and then she crumpled backward.

  "You bastard!" Markus shouted. He bolted toward Warrick.

  Tylen yanked at his arm, pulling him back. "What do you expect to achieve?"

  Warrick's soft laugh carried through the chamber. "Somebody has some sense." He took a few steps toward them, calm and unhurried. "That first spell was only a taste of what I can do."

  "Markus, run!" Tylen said. "I'll distract him." Before Tylen knew what he was doing, he had stepped in front of Markus, standing directly between him and Warrick. Warrick pointed a finger at Tylen, and pure darkness shot from his fingertips.

  Tylen couldn't cast a shield, couldn't do anything. The darkness struck him right in the chest, and he was wracked by excruciating pain. It stabbed into his chest like nothing he'd ever felt before: hot and sharp, cold and dull, as if his insides were being ripped out.

  But the pain lasted only a few moments before darkness overtook him.

  Chapter 63: Fallen

  Markus had only been able to watch as Warrick's spell struck Tylen in the chest. Hot anger rose within Markus. He hadn't liked Tylen, but no one deserved to die like that. Markus rushed forward, heedless of the danger.

  Warrick stood atop the platform, his eyes wide, shaking his head as if he were confused. Markus didn't care. He charged the man and unleashed lightning from his fingertips. Warrick did not raise a shield and took the full force of the spell. He fell backward, screaming in agony as Markus kept the spell going, anger fueling him like never before.

  "You've taken too many lives!" Markus shouted. "I don't care if Krinir's controlling you. You're too dangerous to live." Blood pounded in Markus's ears, and he trembled from head to toe as cold anger poured through him. This felt like a release of every emotion he'd ever kept bottled up. He channeled every bit of anger and grief he had into this spell. It grew stronger and stronger, leaving Warrick writhing on the ground.