Wizard's Tower - Arc 3 - Chapter 55

It was four days later, I found myself flying as fast as I could south. Heedless of clouds or wind, I hadn’t flown this fast before without being in a panic. Those fools, the Heroes, had departed without a word and left me behind. I wasn’t certain what they were thinking or why they had gone without me. Certainly, I had secluded myself in my laboratory while I checked on the newest threat from the Pestilence, but it was only for a few days to develop better spellwork!

The plateaus and canyons sped by as I fumed at their lack of judgment. In the distance, I could see a battle taking place already. This Hydra was larger and more grotesque than any I had seen before. Its normal heads easily rose over the nearest plateau, though the larger head that once belonged to the snake god rested in the center like the center of some ungodly flower. Enormous wings, barren of feathers, bleeding and broken, flopped uselessly at its sides.

As I grew closer, it looked like the parts of the blood god had merged with several hydra broodmothers to create something more disturbing than any of my failed experiments. On one side of the beast, atop a plateau, I spotted four of the Heroes underneath a magical shield.

Tond was shooting arrows, though they couldn’t pierce its thick scales. Leslie cast spells at it, empowered with some skill I didn’t recognize. Shalrea was kneeling in prayer, but I couldn’t discern to what end. The pyromancer, Diedre, was casting her silver flame spells, aiming for the eyes that looked their way. Heads snapped against their shielding, the force of which sent the entire plateau they were on shaking each time, but they ignored it.

They had been called the Heroes of Broken Collars when they returned to my tower. I had thought the title a little dramatic, but—as they stood together against this monster—I felt any reluctant doubts fade.

Yet, even the bravery of those four wasn’t what drew my eye. Rather, what drew my eye was Meathead, riding atop an enormous silver bull half the height of a plateau. A great creature that seemed to glow with holy energy. Perhaps a skill of his new class? It wasn’t as solid as the avatar of the blood god was when I saw it, not even close. Yet, the avatar of the blood god had also been summoned with human sacrifice. Likely many sacrifices.

I didn’t immediately join the battle. Instead, I watched to see if they even needed my help. Their timing and teamwork appeared better the closer I came. I was able to get a sense of their plan. Meathead would ride his bull, charging into the side of the beast, and then the other Heroes would attack to distract it so he could retreat and do it again.

I stopped in the sky above them and looked more. I didn’t expect to find Cothram, not without wasting precious time on detection spells that might not even work against his skills. Nor did I expect him to contribute much to the battle. Regardless of how enchanted his daggers might be, it would be no more than a small thorn to a monster this large.

What worried me was that I saw no sign of Mena at all. I expected her to be riding with Meathead or ready to defend the others should the magical shield break. Had she already fallen? Had this thing eaten her?!

I growled as I looked at it. Part of me wanted to strike now, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I was helpless unless I wanted to risk the lives of the heroes as well. Lesser magics wouldn’t hurt a monster like this, and the spell I had crafted to fight it was so powerful that I doubted I could defend against it myself.

“I knew them once.” A voice spoke to my left, a tone both dignified and sorrowful. A voice I immediately recognized. He allowed his invisibility spell to fall and reveal exactly who I expected based on the voice. His clothing had been changed, not in material but style. He wore a robe, cut similarly to the one I had met him in. I don’t know if he met others in robes as well, but if he had, they wouldn’t be of the Tervan people.

I bowed my head in greeting, while carefully readying additional defensive wards. “Greetings, Crylus.”

Several yards away, floating in the air beside me, the vampiric gnome I had once fled from gazed almost longingly at the beast. He didn’t return my greetings, instead continuing to speak.

“We all served the first, then, and he, in turn, served the eternal raven. But he was an ambitious fool. I see that now. I had been entombed as punishment for my failings, and he sought to usurp the raven while I slept. Do you know, wizard?” The only 6thTier person I had ever met turned to look at me with clear eyes. Any evidence of his prior madness was gone. I didn’t take that to mean I was safe, of course. If anything, should he decide to attack, it would be a more hard-fought battle—one that I had no desire to partake in even if the circumstances differed.

“Know?” I prodded him. Talking was better than fighting, most certainly. Especially right now.

“That when one ascends to godhood they lose themselves? That a god is can only be what their worshippers believe they are?” He shook his head with a dismayed expression. “When I had seen my old master in his new form, I spoke to him. I desired knowledge—to know what happened while I slept. Yet, he could not answer. I do not desire a seat of power that robs me of who I am.”

I was befuddled by what he was discussing. There seemed an entire history here that I knew nothing about. Seat of power? Ascending to godhood? This whole conversation may be the most sacrilegious thing I had ever heard. I glanced about fearing the gods would strike me down just for hearing it.

Yet, no strike came, and the little man seemed content to float beside me in silence. Not that I was content as well. No, I—more than anything—was thinking about how I might contribute to the battle without distracting those fighting in it. Each passing breath was a chance that a mistake might be made that would cost a life. My desire, not necessarily for victory, but to protect these heroes grew.

I could easily reinforce the shielding so that whoever had cast it could focus on their attacks. I could ask Tond to withdraw them to a distance so I could cast a more powerful spell—though I wasn’t certain I wanted to be low on mana with Crylus so close by.

But perhaps… “Do you have any desire to avenge the death of your old master? To fight against the evil below us?”

Crylus tilted his head, in an almost unnatural way, as he considered it. “I could. Before my punishment, I would have already done so. Thousands of years in a coffin, [Wizard], is more than even an immortal should bear. I hold no more love for my master, even if he punished himself more than I ever could. From greatness to a snake. Fitting really.”

I waited as he spoke, wondering if perhaps he was simply lonely. I doubted goblins made the best conversational partners. I feel as though I had pitied him for that once before. Seeing him again, though, refreshed that impression.

“I do owe you a debt. I broke my word when we met, and it beleaguers me. I sometimes… forget who I was. Yet, I remember that honoring my word used to be important to me. I would aid your cause, but for a price. I seek to resolve the mistake between us.”

The ‘s’ sound of his last word carried longer on the wind, stretching out as if it carried more meaning somehow. Below, the hissing of the new horror seemed an ominous echo to his words. The sounds of battle echoed through the ravines, making it feel as though entire armies fought, rather than a select few.

I wasn’t certain of the implications of the bargain he sought. Was he simply asking me for forgiveness? To speak as if he hadn’t tried to enslave me for eternity? I was hesitant to answer him immediately. I found it difficult to believe that he might simply want to come by for wine and cheese. It seemed like a trap.

But it wasn’t something that I could consider for long. The shielding spell protecting the heroes was failing, cracks grew up its sides. The bull Meathead rode was growing more and more transparent. I wasn’t certain how long until whatever it was disappeared completely.

With a hidden reluctance and a foreboding feeling, I turned to look the ancient vampire in his eyes.

“I accept.”