“Dimwit!” she cried happily. She fired the bolt straight into his chest. He landed on his butt with an “owf!” “Where have you been!?” Tiza demanded, hands on her hips. “Daylra said we couldn't promote until you got back! You know I hate grunt work!”
Eric dismissed the Dark Veil and rubbed his chest.
“Glad to see you too, Tiza. I've been great. Thanks for asking.”
Tiza laughed. “Oh, you know I missed you, Dimwit.” She extended a hand to help him up.
“Really!?” Eric exclaimed as she pulled him to his feet.
“Of course,” Tiza said with a shrug. “We don't get exciting missions with only two people.”
Eric looked to Nolien. “When did she become this funny?”
“Just now. She missed you more than I did.”
Tiza punched them both on the shoulder, then grabbed their shirts, and pulled them into a hug. Mana wasn't the only thing he'd been deprived of. Tiza Sprial and Nolien Iteleh were his guildmates and teammates and, after all they'd been through, he'd call them siblings.
The troll stamped his foot. “Are we gonna duel or not?”
Reluctantly, Eric pulled away from his friends and said, “Yeah, we are.”
The warriors stepped ten paces away from each other. Gruffle heaved a club off his back and Eric spun his staff. Nolien declared himself the judge and commenced the duel.
Gruffle made the first move by stomping the ground and shooting a shockwave in Eric's direction. He side-jumped and then jumped back as the troll anticipated his move and swiped at head level. Eric ducked. He swiped at his side with the shaft of his staff, ducked the club’s second strike, and rolled to escape the following kick. Spinning to his feet, he chucked the mana bolt he charged while rolling at Gruffle’s face and then swept one foot out from under him. While the troll stumbled, he back-stepped and started a spell.
“Mother Earth, him embrace!” Gruffle assumed a horse stance. Eric raised an eyebrow and finished his spell. “Raise your arms and encase! Stone Clap!”
A pair of stone pillars swung up to squash Gruffle, but he punched them as they rose and scattered debris in either direction. By the expression on his face, he hadn't felt a thing. The feat distracted Eric long enough for Gruffle to close the distance and bring his club down to squash him. Eric sidestepped just in time to avoid the blow and the wooden club cratered the floor. Did he just try to kill me!? Another swipe almost took his head off, but Nolien's barrier intercepted it.
“Penalty!” he shouted. “That was lethal force!”
“Doesn't matter,” Gruffle said brazenly. “We agreed anything goes. Isn't that right, Otherworlder?”
Eric's eyes narrowed. “Don't worry, Nolien.” Without a word, he formed a dark bolt in his left palm. “He'll never touch me.”
Darkness filled the room and Gruffle punched thin air. Mana bolt after mana bolt slammed into him, but none of them did any damage. All dispersed upon impact. The troll laughed and brought forth a crystal marked with the symbol of Order: a Single Piercing Eye. With one word, the magical darkness was broken and Eric was exposed. Gruffle pushed the crystal out in front, showing it off.
“Wish you had one of these right now, huh, mage?”
Inside, Eric was worried, but his face showed nothing but confidence. He put plenty of distance between them, so he felt he had a right to be confident. Ordercraft accessory. Is he in league with Nulso? Now that I think about it, the creep's promise only specified Annala.
“So that's why you want my crystal.”
“I'm a collector. This is an Orderly Pocket Guardian. No matter what spell you try, it's useless on me.”
“Really?” Eric pointed his staff in random directions as he chanted, “Though the wind is not a thief, clothes it still blows. To resolve my beef, I'll take from under your nose! Artful Wind!”
A gust of wind came out of nowhere and surrounded Gruffle. He invoked his crystal's power and it disappeared.
“Really. The Power of Order is the bane of mages. Dengel himself was helpless before it.”
“Are you willing to bet your home on that?”
“I am. Those that rely on Order may do so in safety and confidence. How does your chaotic power feel now?”
Eric tried several other spells and many mana bolts, and all of them were dispelled before they could reach Gruffle. His only other option was close combat, but that would play to Gruffle's advantage even more. He shifted his grip on his staff as a sick feeling built up in his stomach.
“Tenderfoot, I thought The Trickster intervened whenever someone used ordercraft.”
“That's a common misconception,” Nolien explained. “The Trickster intervenes when ordercraft is used to deny free will, or when it amuses him. For the purpose of this duel, Gruffle's Orderly Pocket Guardian is not functionally different from a magic shield such as that used by Lieutenant Aegis.”
At last, Eric leaned over on his staff. He was physically, mentally, and spiritually tired from the events of the day and duel. Gruffle walked forward with crystal in one hand and club in the other. Think! If direct attacks don’t work and indirect attacks don't work either, what else do I have?
Nothing! You have nothing and you are nothing. Mortal dust and nothing more.
Eric shook his head. However, the shadow’s voice gave him an idea. He conjured a Rockball and forced it at Gruffle. Instead of using the crystal, he smacked it away with his club. Grinning, Eric spun his spear and slammed the crystal point into the ground.
“In this darkest of nights, I shall escape all sights.”
He felt an odd thrill of power at the words. He'd felt a special affinity for darkness spells ever since he learned his first one.
“No fear of sword or bow or monster's might, shall I have in this lack of light!”
The shadows of the room responded to his call and the increasing darkness of the room startled Nolien and Tiza. As his teammates disappeared, he took the light with him.
“Dark Veil!”
Ribbons of darkness surrounded Eric and then he was gone from sight. Gruffle held up his Orderly Pocket Guardian and invoked its power. A cloud of dust arose in the room before he felt it snap a spell. The dust blocked his field of vision as surely as a dark bolt. He invoked the crystal’s power again, but this time, he achieved nothing. Gulping, the troll struck blindly with his club. His attention split between the crystal and a random area around him to make sure Eric didn’t sneak up on him. So focused was he on protecting his crystal that he neglected another important jewel.
“Harg urb blsuh!” he exclaimed and fell to his knees.
Tiza pointed and laughed while Nolien bit his lip. Gruffle glared at the latter and Eric yoinked the ordercraft crystal of his hand while he was distracted. The troll spun, but Eric was already gone.
“I give up.”
The dust settled and Eric stood ten feet away. “You what?”
Gruffle shrugged. “I can't beat you without my Orderly Pocket Guardian. I'll let you move in. Now give it back!”
Eric shrugged and tossed the crystal. Gruffle caught it, clutched it to his chest, and left the room, grumbling. Eric spun his staff once and returned it to his back.
“Eric...” Nolien said cautiously, “How did you do that?”
The remains of the darkness Eric summoned hung in the air like smog. Then they drifted towards the young mage like space dust before a black hole.
“Do what?”
Tiza stepped forward with an annoyed expression of her face. “Tenderfoot thinks you've been blessed by Dakol because you used darkness magic without words.”
A looming shadow flashed in Eric's mind. Months ago, in the castle dungeons, he saw it on the walls of his cell. It reached into his heart, but, at the time, he was too depressed to acknowledge it. Ever since, he'd felt at home in darkness and its spells came easier than any other element. Nothing like this was mentioned in his book. Before he told anyone, he needed to do more research.
Instead, he said, �
��Did you think I spent my time on Threa gossiping?”
Tiza grinned and gave his arm a playful punch. “Not a chance. We haven’t been gossiping either. I’ve learned sword techniques from a master and developed Third Eye, all in addition to being just better than I was when you left.”
“I too have improved,” Nolien said. “My control over my personal mana is exponentially greater than when you saw last and I am also in better shape than before. My repertoire of spells has increased in both rapid healing and sabotage.”
“Other than the darkness thing, I’m just about finished with Introduction to Magecraft.”
“Great! Let's celebrate! Tenderfoot's treat.”
Nolien snorted. “Okay, since it's my turn.”
“His turn? How often do you eat out?”
Tiza shrugged. “About once a week. Why?”
Eric looked from one to the other. “Did you start dating while I was gone?”
They glanced at each other and simultaneously burst out with laughter. Then he noticed their faces were turning red and their laughter sounded more and more forced the longer they continued.
“The lord and lady do protest too much methinks.”
In honor of his homecoming, and to change the subject, they allowed Eric to choose the place. He decided instantly and led them there.
Seig's Bistro held special memories for him. It was a two-story building made of brick and mortar. It was perpetually damaged due to happy hour brawls. He could close his eyes and it would all come back to him. It's good to be home...
Crash! During his stroll down Memory Lane, he bumped into a waiter and his tray of drinks clattered to the floor. Shocked and apologetic, Eric did the first thing that came to mind.
“Instead of water drops from milky pour, heat from cheeks will clean the floor! Fire Clean!”
He pointed at the puddle and his fire spell evaporated it. He also scorched the floor underneath it, but there were already plenty of those.
“Thanks for –” The waiter trailed off as he looked up. “You're Eric Watley, aren't you?”
“You know me?”
“Everyone knows you! You rescued Her Royal Majesty, won the New Scepter magic competition, defeated Duke Selen the Betrayer –”
“We helped!” Tiza insisted.
Nolien put a hand on her shoulder. “Let it go.” The fighter crossed her arms and pouted.
“He's really not that big a deal,” said another waiter. “He was only Dengel Tymh's vessel. The Great Master did all that stuff, not this sell staff.”
Eric scowled. “Excuse me, but I was Dengel's landlord. The 'Great Master' was nothing but a talking book in my head. I was the one mucking in sewers, fighting monsters, and casting magic!”
The waiter looked with disdain. “It must have been so difficult with one of the greatest mages in history guiding your every move.”
“Are you calling me a puppet!?”
The waiter turned sideways. “If the shoe fits...”
Nolien stepped into his personal space with a scant millimeter between them. “Dengel betrayed the nation to Duke Esrah,” he said with the voice of a judge. “Eric defeated him.”
The waiter stepped backwards and averted his gaze, but still replied, “The report said the duel was in his own mind. What loser couldn't win there?”
Eric was about to make a witty retort, then realized he didn't have one. Everyone, regardless of their spiritual power, was the ruler of their own mind. Even someone as pathetic as he used to be, would have a hard time losing there.
A third waiter stopped by and asked, “Bob, what's the hold up?”
The second turned him gratefully and said, “This is Eric Watley.”
His order forgotten, he asked again, “Dengel's vessel? I thought he disappeared! Wasn't it something along the lines of Dengel's power being too much for him, so he vanished into thin air?”
“I heard he tried one of Dengel's spells and it backfired.”
“Excuse me! But I was taken by –”
The manager walked over and said, “Bob, Rob, Sebastian! Why are you standing around?”
“We're talking to Dengel's vessel.”
Like his subordinates, the manager was immediately engrossed by the celebrity's appearance. He forgot about work and joined his employees in their conversation.
“You mean that kid he used to win the New Scepter competition?”
“I did that on my own!” Eric shouted, then added softly, “He did help...a little.”
“Look!” Nolien shouted, “It's Angelica Forline!”
Four heads spun so fast Eric heard a crack and, while they were distracted, the trio escaped upstairs.
This floor was reserved for warriors. As the restaurant was part of Warrior Town, warriors were its chief patrons and were treated accordingly – usually. It was made of sterner stuff than the floor below and decorated to accommodate them. For instance, there were napkins for cleaning their weapons in addition to keeping their laps clean. Eric slumped into a booth and hunched over the table.
“Vessel...vessel!” he muttered angrily. “Is that what they're calling me!?”
It is appropriate.
Eric punched him, but to his companions, he was punching thin air. They shared a look.
“Well...” Nolien began uneasily. “...you know how truth gets distorted as it travels from its source...and Dengel's name is so much bigger than yours, so...”
“They think I was his puppet,” Eric said.
“Weren't you?” Tiza asked seriously.
Eric opened his mouth but caught himself. His hands became fists, his teeth clenched, and his throat strained. He settled for grumbling and letting his head fall back against a seat cushion.
“Eric, are you ready to order?” Nolien asked. Eric lifted his head and saw a waiter standing in front of him expectantly.
“Huh? Oh...right...I'll have drumsticks.”
When the food arrived, all Eric could do was pick at it. He'd lost his appetite. Is that what everyone thinks? The puppet of a better man? The words of the waiter came back to him, infiltrating his thoughts like a burrowing parasite. “What kind of a loser couldn't win in their own mind?”
While Eric sank into a pit of self-loathing, Tiza snatched one of his drumsticks. “What?” she said to Nolien's reproving look. “He obviously doesn't want 'em.” Nolien sighed.
Shadow Dengel appeared behind him and whispered the past in his ear.
A lesser mage like you should not attempt Elemental Fusion... It is fortunate that I taught you that spell... ‘The guild shall be our home, and everyone in it shall be family.’ What a farce!
Eric grabbed his head with both hands and plugged his ears, but the voice continued echoing.
If you object, then try to take it from me...You NEED me! You are NOTHING without me!
“I don't and I'm not!” Eric shouted. “Leave me alone!”
The eyes of everyone on the floor turned and stared. Nolien laughed nervously and told them his friend ate something too spicy. He apologized for disturbing them and, one by one, they returned to their lives. Eric laid his forehead in honey mustard, painfully clutching his head.
“Let me help you with that.” Tiza wiped off the honey mustard with the drumstick she took from him and took a bite out of it. “Hmm... still good.”
“You know...” Nolien said. “If you ever need to talk, we're here for you.”
“He's right, Dimwit,” Tiza said through a mouthful of drumstick. “Don't forget, we're your friends as well as your teammates.” She swallowed and reached for her drink.
Eric stared out the window at the darkening streets. For some reason, he'd rather be out there than in the bright restaurant.
“I know and I appreciate it, but you don't understand what it’s like. Having someone in your head, their voice echoing, making you do thi –”
The glass shattered in Tiza's hand. Its shards fell on her lap, but she casually brushed them off.
“Oops, gue
ss I've been training a little too hard.” She chuckled. “Good thing Tenderfoot's footing the bill this time.” Then she burped long enough to turn nearby heads. Instead of embarrassed, Nolien looked curious. “I'm gonna need another glass...” She yelled for a waiter. “Sorry about that; guess I don't know my own strength.”
“No, I should thank you,” the waiter said. “We've already lost five this week by demons. Now that you've broken one, the manager should spring for reinforced carbon fiber.”
“You’re welcome. Do I get a reward?”
Nolien nudged her and said that wasn't necessary.
They passed the evening catching up. Without Eric, his teammates were stuck with the lowest ranking missions: they mowed lawns, ran errands, clipped orc toenails, and other grunt work. When they spoke of picking herbs, Eric glanced at his hands and the tiny scar on his right thumb. Half a year ago, it was bitten by a monster's beak and throbbed for days. He was afraid it would be infected because he was using it to shovel bird poop, but by now, it was a fond memory. Whenever he doubted himself on Threa, he'd look at it and know he would be home someday.
I succeeded, but now I have more problems. Dengel's shadow hovers over me and that Nulso creep is after Annala. Unless I become stronger, I can't protect her. His eyes shined and his lips curved up. If I became strong enough, my name would surpass Dengel’s. If I create new magic, then I am no longer a student, and new magic might defeat Nulso. Didn’t Annala say something about how chaos can defeat order?
A family at the table across the aisle stood up and left. They couldn't trust their food when a mortal avatar of The Trickster sat across the aisle. When he started cackling, it was common sense to pay their bill and leave.
Nolien paid for the meal and at the restaurant’s threshold, Tiza spontaneously put Eric into a chokehold and gave him a noogie. He chuckled. In Tizanese, that translated to “affectionate hug.” She released him, turned on her heel, and walked away. Nolien settled for the more formal “goodnight.” His heart light and his belly full, Eric walked home.
Looming Shadow: Journey to Chaos book 2 Page 11