Chapter Two Hundred and Twelve - Mist Opportunities

Chapter Two Hundred and Twelve - Mist Opportunities

Chapter Two Hundred and Twelve - Mist Opportunities

I wasnt sure what I was supposed to feel as I watched Emmanuel run into the fog, the light hanging off his barding swinging around and turning a big spot of the haze into a glowing ball within which I could only just make out the cervid.

I decided to settle on being somewhat frustrated. Mister Emmanuel! No!

Come at me! Dont hide yourself away, theres no point in any of that. I wont allow a threat to exist that could harm my charges!

My mouth worked for a bit. I was looking for something to say, but couldnt think of anything. Instead, I rubbed at my forehead.

Now you know what its like dealing with you, Amaryllis called from her room.

I huffed back at her. I was nothing like that.

Shall we save him? Bastion asked. I had the impression he hadnt moved from his room at all.

A glance to the side showed Howard shaking his head. The fishman looked a bit saddened. Weve lost every person thats stepped out into the fog. Maybe you folk are stronger than us, or luckier, but we never figured what sort of monster lives in that mist.

I chewed on my bottom lip for only a second before moving over to the door. It was all bars, and I figured I could definitely squeeze between them. Reaching a hand out, I touched the fog. It was strange, like brushing cotton candy, but wet.

Like flicking a switch, I let my Cleaning magic wrap around me as an aura and had it push against the fog. It removed some of it, but not very much. I scrunched my nose and tried to figure out why. The obvious answer was that I was just cleaning the fog of any impurities, but the fog itself wasnt something dirty, it was just water.

So, I could just barely improve visibility. Not great.

Amaryllis, I need lots of light, and lots of heat, I called out. Awen, can you get ready to shoot at anything thats not one of us? Bastion, Ill need your help for this. I chucked off my backpack, then gave my warspade to Howard who seemed to catch on right away.

I had to squeeze in sideways, but it wasnt too hard to slip through the gate. I had to wiggle my shoulders, and my tail bumped the cold metal bars, but soon enough I was through.

Howard passed me my warspade.

What are you planning? Amaryllis asked. She was waving her wand about, and soon a couple of little balls of light appeared that she flung out into the room. They mostly dropped to the floor, and one of them plopped into the pond. Still, they cast some light in the fog.

Im planning on making sure that Emmanuel doesnt die, I said as I twisted my grip around on my spade. I pushed more magic into my Cleaning aura, and the fog became just a bit clearer. Amaryllis was flinging more lights around, enough that I could make out the wooden pier beneath my feet, and the edge of the bridge. Emmanuel was more or less in the middle of that bridge, judging by the light still coming from his barding.

With one hand on my spade, and the haft of it tucked under my arm for stability, I raised my free hand and started to make a fireball. Not the many little fireballs that I liked using, but a single bigger one. I wanted a bunch of heat to melt away the fog.

I was pretty sure it wouldnt work exactly as I wanted, but there was no harm in trying.

As soon as I took off towards the cervid, the sounds from my friends lessened. Amaryllis muttering became muted, and I could hardly hear Awens comments back to our nervous harpy friend.

I moved slowly. Not only did I want to avoid going for a sudden swim, I didnt want to run into any sort of ambush.

If this fog was meant to hide some sort of monster, then that monster was likely able to see through the fog, or maybe it had other senses that the fog didnt tamper with. Smell, maybe? Or really good hearing? Maybe something entirely different.

Ah-hah, there you are!

I spun towards Emmanuel, then eeped as he swung something my way.

I ducked, then flattened my ears down just in time to avoid having them clipped short as a sword hummed over my head.

Hey! I shouted.

Oh, Emmanuel said. He looked down at me, then carefully brought his sword back to his side. Forgive me, I thought you were some vile monster.

Im not a monster! And even if I was, you shouldnt just go swinging a sword like that!

Nuh-uh, I replied.

It had a mean look in its eyes as it worked its mouth, probably trying to do something about the dryness. Then its tongue shot out at me.

This time, I was ready for it.

The metal head of my spade thumped against the tongue, sending it flickering off to the side. An opening!

I raised my hand and prepared a single little fireball. It was all I had time for, I figured. It wasnt even anything special, just a fireball made with stickier fire mana. I let it loose and watched it whistle over to the toad where it splashed against its head. The fire stuck on though, creating a little patch of light in the fog.

Grinning, I leapt backwards a few times.

The toad followed, and with that little patch of fire on its head, it was easy as pie to see where it was.

I! I! it screamed at me.

I! I! another toad said from within the fog.

I felt a chill go down my spine at that. There were more than one? Of course there was more than one! I felt quite silly. One tentacle toad I could probably take on. It was beneath my level, and I was pretty sure I could whittle it down with a few more smacks and maybe a fireball or three.

Two of them? More?

Guys! I called out.

Miss Broccoli? came Bastions voice from off to the side. I twisted and spotted a faint but growing light there. The light resolved into Bastion and Emmanuel, both of them looking a shade concerned. Are you well? the sylph asked as he rejoined me.

Yeah, I said. There are tentacle toads in the fog. Theyre making the fog, I think.

I see, he said. Then killing one or two of them should improve visibility a little. Is that one of them there?

I followed his pointing finger and found a patch of light moving closer with big slow hops. The toad Id hit with my fireball. It was still burning. Yep, thats one of them.

Worry not, Miss Broccoli! I shall skewer that toad in the name of Emmanuel Aldelain Von Chadsbourne! Emmanuel said, a moment before charging into the dark.

If he were in my unit, Id court-martial him on principle alone, Bastion said.

Hes... okay, so hes pretty bad, I said. But lets not leave him to fight all on his own. We should help.

He put himself into this mess, and dragged us along with him, Bastion said. Once this is done with, I expect we will be having a conversation with Mister Von Chadsbourne. His unprofessional behaviour is fine up until the point where it endangers us.

Emmanuel screamed, not in pain, but more... like a kid who thought screaming would make attacks hit harder.

I! I! the toad responded.

Right, Im going to have a chat with him. But lets maybe save him first?

I suppose we can do that much, Bastion agreed. He pulled his sword out of its scabbard, flicked it once, then started walking into the mists. Lets get this over with.

Ah, wait for me! I said as I ran after him.

I didnt want to miss out on the chance to practice when I had someone like Bastion watching over me. Plus, getting a level up before Amaryllis would really motivate her competitive spirit.

It was time to teach these toads a lesson about fighting buns.

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