by Eden Redd
“Have you created more cards?” Dax asked, trying to pass the time.
Noss nodded. “I have many with me and am ready to test them.”
“I did the same and still feel I don’t have enough.”
The kobold nodded as he shivered. “I thought I was the only one who felt like that?”
Dax eyed the kobold, “Have you thought of using layers? Do you have another robe or full body underclothes?”
Noss smiled, “I have thought of putting my second robe over this one but it may slow me down. I don’t want to be a burden right when we start.”
Dax put his hand on the kobold’s small shoulder, “Put it on. You’ll be a bigger burden if every phantom on the island hears your teeth chattering.”
Noss barked out a laugh before his clawed hands pulled his pack from his shoulders and began rummaging through it. A breath later, the kobold closed his second robe over him and buttoned the inside seam.
“Feel better?”
Noss’s shivering seemed to lessen. “A little. Thank you, Dax.”
“Everyone! Come together,” Symon ordered.
The companions came in closer, all eyes and ears on the spellsword as he took center stage.
“I know we have gone over it again and again, but I think we should follow up with our expectations for the campaign. I know we all want to win, but we have to be smart about it. I know it's easy to say we push through, day and night to reach the Lighthouse, but we have to measure our energy. If we tire ourselves out and we run into a bad situation, we could be out sooner than we expected.
“We will travel during the day and set up camp early in the evening. Everyone will take turns with guard duty during the night. We will create a campfire to warm up a little, but it must be put out when night truly falls. We can’t allow the phantoms to know our locations. We will double up in single tents for body warmth. Pick a sleeping partner.
“Food rationing is important. We have enough for three days, but if this trek takes even one day longer, we will be at a disadvantage. From what I can see of the island so far, I don’t think we’re going to find anything to help increase our rations unless we go hunting. We will not eat too much today and focus on gaining some distance into the interior.
“This brings me to my last point, we have to be quiet. We can’t tip off any phantoms or monsters. Isani, Ressa, and Fern will be our scouts. Zarra and I will be taking point and rear. Mages and necromancer, stay in the middle.”
“I have a name,” Noss grinned.
A small chuckle filled the group.
Symon continued, “Since we have so many spellcasters, it will be on all of you to provide ranged support. Isani, Ressa, Fern, and I will be in the midst of any fighting we encounter. Zarra, you’ll heal and be our back up if we become swamped.”
Clive crossed his big arms, “If Zarra is so powerful, she should be leading any attack or defense we have. She is a dragon after all.”
Dax shot the mage a hard gaze, “With that kind of thinking, maybe she should just fly ahead while we wait on the beach.”
Clive’s brow hardened.
Zarra spoke up, “My power is diminished but I have a role to play in our coterie. As healer, I must restrain myself from actual battle. While true, I am still stronger than everyone here, the professors have spoken with me, telling me that I cannot have the group rely on my power. It is the only way to be fair.”
Symon nodded, “Precisely.”
Clive exhaled with an annoyed edge.
Symon’s gaze hardened on the large mage. “Clive, we are working together here and I won’t put up with your bullshit. Fall in line or you can swim back to the Sea Witch. Do I make myself clear?”
The mage and spellsword kept their hard gazes between them before Clive looked away and nodded.
“Good. The moment they give the signal, we move out. Any other questions?”
“I’m sleeping with Dax!” Fern demanded as she fluttered.
“I wanted to sleep with him!” Ressa hissed.
Vance closed his eyes and rubbed a temple, “Here we go.”
Isani put her hand on Ressa’s shoulder. “We can bunk together for the evening, this evening,” the shadow elf said with a mischievous smirk, her gaze connecting with the small fairy.
Fern put her hands on her hips as her wings fluttered, giving the rogue her own wicked smile.
Noss stepped closer to Zarra and looked up with nervous eyes. “Zarra, can we…” the kobold trailed off.
The cleric looked down with motherly eyes. “It would be an honor, little one.”
Noss gave a genuine smile.
“Nuria and I will be together,” Clive said sharply.
Nuria looked away, not saying a word.
Symon and Vance looked to each other and stood awkwardly.
“It’s just for body warmth,” Isani said with a grin.
“It will be fine,” Vance said simply. “Besides, I don’t think I can do better than Symon. He’s just so dreamy,” the mage said with deadpan humor.
Laughter immediately cut through the gloom. The group carried on for a long moment before the giggling and laughing calmed down. Even Clive had to wipe away a tear from the corner of his eye.
Symon nodded and put his hand out before the group. “I’m proud to be on this exam with everyone here. We may at times have our differences, but I believe we are a strong team, stronger than most. Let’s ace this exam and become legends at the academy and beyond!”
Hands flowed in, one on top of the other. When everyone was in, the group said “Kinarth Academy” with a strong voice, but not loud enough to reach beyond the crashing of waves on the surf.
The moment they pulled their hands back, a light filled the sky. Bodies and heads turned to see a single fireball launch from the Sea Witch and streak high into the cloudy sky. When it reached its zenith, it exploded, flames rolling and shifting until the very fire turned into the shape of a serpentine dragon. The flaming dragon roared as it flew through the sky and over the island.
Dax watched in amazement as the dragon arced in the air, roaring and blasting flames from its fiery snout before it slowly faded away, shards of flames falling from the sky and disappearing halfway before reaching the ground.
Hearts hammered in chests as the excitement and mild terror took hold of each student. The companions looked to one another before they shouldered packs.
“Let’s get this started,” Symon ordered as he led the way to the forest’s edge.
***
A light rain fell from the dark sky. Drops collected on colored leaves before they dripped down on the group moving through the forest.
A drop struck the edge of Dax’s hood and rolled forward, falling before his eyes. The chill had deepened, the robe wet and cold sinking into tired muscles. Hours had passed, the group making slow progress through the primeval forest. The trees were thick, slowing them down as they pushed on. When they reached a clearing or a break in the canopy, they could see the high elevation where the Lighthouse should be, but a thick fog had enveloped large sections of the island, including the Lighthouse.
Fern fluttered through the trees, rune mace at her belt. The rain didn’t seem to dampen her wings as she fluttered in a zig zag path. Isani and Ressa were nowhere to be seen, the pair of rogues disappearing into the brush, but giving a small signal here and there that they were still around. Symon had point, all his senses alert as he led the group. Vance and Nuria walked side by side, each mage looking to the left and right. Clive followed behind them, his large shoulders brushing against branches and his demeanor dour in the rain.
Noss moved easily enough. His small frame allowed for the kobold to slip through some of the thicker terrain. He seemed to stop shivering, the added robe and hiking helping to keep him warm at the moment.
Dax walked, pulling his sleeve back and checking his rigs. Each one held four cards on each forearm. Depending on how he twisted his wrist, one of them would spring into his waiting fin
gers. It would make his life easier should they run into trouble. Extra cards filled his inner pockets but concern bled into his brow, worrying if the rain was seeping in enough to damage his cards. If he lost his magical cards, his slow spellcasting would quickly become a liability to the group.
Hood and shoulders are wet but the cards are okay. We may have to camp soon, if only to stay out of the rain for a while.
The beginning of the campaign had started with an auspicious start. After the flaming dragon disappeared from the sky, it was as if the world swallowed up every bit of sound except for the small pitter patter of rain. No birds sang or animals called out. The wind had died and the trees stood like silent sentinels to their passing.
Dax turned his head to look behind him. Zarra walked along with her head held high and a smile on her lips. She used her staff as she walked, her golden eyes staring at the trees; the cold, wet air having little to no effect on her good mood.
Dax’s eyes drifted downward, noticing the white robe clinging to her hourglass form and leaving little to the imagination. The mage wondered if all dragons were such free spirits, not caring how they looked or acted, enjoying every precious moment of life as they travelled.
I wish we could talk. It would make the journey a little easier, passing the time together.
Dax turned his attention forward, eyeing the group as they pressed on. The silence had grown deafening. The cold air and rain wore down the initial excitement. They all had understood what it meant to be here and no one wanted to chance a bad encounter. The goal blazed across their minds, pushing their bodies to keep moving, but the fear of the unknown was always there, whispering to break their resolve.
The mage’s mind wandered, his thoughts moving from Zarra and Fern to Isani and Ressa and finally falling on Nuria. Despite their talks, the bonds between them felt fractured. Zarra wanted a clan, and everyone agreed to it on the surface, but the separation between them was apparent. The common link between all of them was Zarra and Dax. It seemed the pair wanted the same thing, but the others were a little hesitant.
Dax wondered how it would work? Would he be the only male among several beautiful women? Would that be enough? Images swirled of his time with each of them and he knew that it was enough and more. The more mana sank into their bodies, the greater their appetites. Time together fell into abusing their bodies with almost reckless abandonment. Despite whatever soreness the mage felt, his body recovered and he always wanted more. From the look and feel of those in their new clan, they felt the same.
Zarra had begun the first step of creating a clan. The mage knew someone had to lead it.
When this is all over, I will solidify the bonds of our new clan. We will become stronger for it.
The mage smiled to himself when the bodies before him halted in their tracks. Dax looked up to see one of Symon’s hand signals, arm up and hand in a fist. They had practiced hand signals for weeks and taught them to the newcomers of the coterie.
Fern hovered over the group, mace in hand. Vance and Nuria stood at the ready, their backs to each other. Clive turned his meaty head back and forth, eyeing the forest around them. Symon stood like a statue, his ears flexing and listening. Dax turned to face the forest, glancing back to see Zarra with her staff at the ready.
The sound of rain was all they could hear for several breaths.
An explosion cut through the sound of rain, soon followed by screams and shouts.
Muscles tensed as everyone listened. No one made a move, silent as a graveyard at midnight. The shouts and screams were accompanied by a few explosions. The light rain continued before the shouts dimmed and the explosions stopped.
A shadow leapt to a nearby tree, a scaled hand out and making a signal.
Dax saw that it was Ressa, letting them know it was her. Despite seeing the hand, it quickly disappeared into the shadows of the trees.
The coterie stood at the ready, eyes gazing in all directions.
“They see you, prepare,” a voice whispered from the trees.
Bodies hunched. Symon drew his sword. Cards appeared in mage hands. Noss pulled out two cards, the kobold focused. Fern had disappeared and Dax twisted his wrists, a card slipping into each hand.
Name: Fire Bolt
Element: Fire
Degree: 1
Ability: Damage/Continuous Damage
Special Ability: None
Name: Troll
Element: Life
Degree: 3
Ability: Damage
Special Ability: Tough
Dax called up his stats, glancing to them.
Name: Dax Sage
Class: Mage
Health: Normal
Mana: 1400
Mana Shards: 0
Dax knew the forest was much too wet to set it on fire. If the phantoms are anything like their living counterparts, fire was just the thing to keep them disorganized. The Sukarr and Illkith were water creatures and like any element, the opposite element tended to hurt more.
In the distance, movement rippled.
“Stay together,” Symon ordered.
Dax looked around and his heart quickly sank further into his chest. The glimpses of movement trickled all around their group.
“We’re surrounded,” Clive growled, a card in each hand.
The thudding of Dax’s pulse in his ears grew with each passing moment. The forest moved, but it wasn’t from the wind. Pale, ghostly figures began to emerge, bodies hunched and moving quickly through the brush. They were indeed surrounded.
“We could climb the trees?” Noss hissed.
“They will climb them after us,” Vance said.
“I can use urth spells to hollow out the ground,” Clive spoke up. “We can…” he was cut off when screeches filled the area.
Horror touched senses as the forms bolted in their direction from all directions. Pale bodies charged, screeches ringing out.
“Increase our numbers!” Symon shouted before lifting up his left hand, a bolt of lightning blasting out.
Time slowed down as the lightning bolt arced through the brush. A scaly pale creature with wide eyes leapt from behind a tree, the lightning bolts striking it in the chest and blasting the creature. Its body flared before it faded from sight, but that was only one of a horde of Sukarr. The fish people charged with echoing screeches, clawed hands out and strange fish heads low. They appeared almost like ghosts, rushing toward the group in the wet forest.
Noss whispered command words, dark light flashing from his cards. They struck down onto the damp ground, ghostly skeletons appearing with swords. Six of them moved into a defensive formation, swords out. Noss’s serpent eyes flashed as he charged his cards and triggered the mystical command words. Six more appeared, fanning out and providing a perimeter.
Dax added his own, whispering the command word. Mist flowed from one card, slammed onto the ground and a ghostly troll appeared with a club in its hand.
Clive growled a command, an urth elemental forming right from the very ground. The hulking elemental smashed its rocky fists together and waited.
“Casters! Light them up!” Symon shouted.
Vance, Nuria, Clive, and Dax pointed cards in different directions. Arcane trigger words touched the air before fire bolts blasted out. The forest lit up with orange light as fireballs streaked through the air, two striking incoming groups of Sukarr and two others blasting small trees off their trunks. Branches fell, striking some of the fish people while others flashed to nothing, their phantom bodies blasted to nothing.
The horde didn’t slow, dozens of the phantoms leading the charge, several dozen more right behind them. Bodies moved with reckless intent, surging toward the group with howling madness.
Fern hovered in the trees, seeing fire bolts light up the area as a swarm closed in. From her view, the fairy could see they were vastly outnumbered. This wasn’t a test, it was a massacre waiting to happen.
“There’s too many!” the fairy shouted.
The
words touched Dax’s ears, despite the sound of explosions and screeches. The enemy’s numbers doubled and soon tripled. Separate explosions filled the entire forest, the mage guessing that everyone was fighting the same fight.
“Symon! We’re going to be overrun!” Dax shouted before charging his card and firing off a bolt.
“Cluster together! Don’t let them get close!” Symon shouted as he unleashed his own fire bolts.
The air vibrated from fiery explosions, blasting Sukarr to flashes of light, but the horde bore down on them from all sides.
Dax’s mind became crystal clear. He saw that they were going to be overwhelmed. Symons’ conservative tactics would work on an intelligent enemy, but this one used swarm tactics and didn’t care if they lost numbers. They wanted to overwhelm and despite their defenses, they wouldn’t be able to hold back the swarm, unless they counter attacked.
“Fern! Light the bonfire!” Dax shouted.
The fairy’s mind froze, but her heart leapt to Dax’s words. An inner flame flared to life and it consumed the berserker. A small aura appeared around her body, sparks arcing as a madness took root.
“Noss! Have your skeletons attack! Don’t use any other spells! Just keep making skeletons and have them rush into battle!”
The small kobold nodded, his eyes flashing as ghostly skeletons appeared while his first skeletons broke into a charging run.
“Zarra! Holy light!” Dax shouted as the horde closed in.
The cleric lifted her staff, a ball of light appearing and blasting out.
Bedlam erupted as the waves of Sukarr were nearly on the small group. Dax’s survival instincts kicked in and he shouted in defiance.
Holy light blasted at the first wave of Sukarr, the creatures screaming and covering their eyes. They slowed to a stumble before skeletons rushed into the fray, swords stabbing into unguarded guts and chests. Bodies flashed with light, skeletons cutting at the stunned creatures with unfeeling swords. Fire bolts slammed into patches of Sukarr, sending their phantom bodies into trees before they faded from view.
A hellish scream filled the canopy of the forest before a small fairy bolted down like a comet. Mace in hand and body vibrating with violent needs, the fairy’s mace struck like a hammer, caving in phantom skulls in rapid succession. The tiny fairy seemed to grow larger, her aura blazing bright as she drove into the fray. Claws sliced at the air, only for phantom hands to shatter instantly.