Chapter 34: Aftermath

Chapter 34: Aftermath

Tala spoke as little as she reasonably could, both as she asked for something to eat, and while requesting a larger than usual lunch for herself and the other magic users.

She took a platter back to her wagon, and only slipped three times on the way up the ladder. Thankfully, she didnt drop her food. Well, at least Im finally readjusting

Den smiled back at her, as she came up onto the roof. I think were ready to go, Mistress. Are you braced for me to start?

She gave a forced smile in return. Thank you, Den. She sat. Im ready.

Den flicked his reins, and the caravan began moving across the broken landscape and into the pass, the wagons articulated wheels handling the rough terrain with relative ease.

Three guards were riding to the front of the caravan, scouting the way, and she glanced back to see Atrexia standing on the middle-most wagon, eyes scanning their surroundings.

Trent said it would have found us either way

Was that true?

Probably. Its not like it was far off the path, and a midnight fox, in this pass, would have beendifficult.

Tala had dealt with a truly magical creature and protected the caravan.

From a threat I brought down on us.

Trent had assured her it would have seen them, either way.

She couldnt escape the dual feelings of guilt and shame.

Shed instigated the attack, even if it would have happened either way, and shed been sloppy in coming to the Mages aid.

What happened back there, Tala?

Shed frozen. Her eyes had locked on the antlers, and their building magical power, and she hadnt been able to properly target the great beast. Trent had been calling to her for help. Shed offered to help, and shedsucceeded?

This felt so different from the thunder bull. For that creature, shed hunted it, going in with a plan, and executing the plan and the animal both. It hadnt been a great plan, but shed followed through to victory.

This

The midnight fox had been about to kill her.

Trent might have stopped it. Similarly, her iron salve might have protected her, but Den would have died, and the cargo wagon, her charge, would have been eliminated. She shuddered to think what would have happened if the cargo-slots were compromised. Violent dimensional realignment might have obliterated the whole caravan.

She snorted a mirthless laugh.

Might have killed the midnight fox, too. Though, its protections had been astoundingly powerful

She took a bite of her food and reveled in the taste. The food did make her feel a bit better. Every meal, she felt like nothing could be so good again, and every meal, she was proven wrong. She devoured the remainder, while continuing her contemplations.

Had fear been behind the hesitation and mistake? No. At the time, I knew I would survive. Thinking about it now, I realize that I probably wouldnt have, but I didnt know that, then. She frowned. Ive never stared down an attack before.

Training didnt really count. She knew her fellow students werent a threat, and even if they had been, the training room defenses, and on call healers, were ready to hand. No student at the academy had died in the course of their training in hundreds of years.

Shed checked.

Even the thunder bulls column of lightning hadnt truly been an attack that shed had to face down. It had come after she was finished acting and was passed before she really comprehended that it was coming.

That must be it. Ive never looked upon a worthy opponent and known they were about to try their hardest to strike me down. She almost laughed at her own pretentious thoughts, but it did fit. She could still see the midnight foxs eyes, locked on her, calmly assured that it was about to snuff her from existence.

She shivered.L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Ñøv€l--B1n.

With the practice shed recently had, she turned her mage-sight inward and examined herself.

Her body was flooded with the aftereffects of adrenaline, and she was still trembling with lingering Fear?

Again, that didnt seem right.

Horror? That seemed closer to the mark. Fear was an emotion relating to what might happen, while horror was a response to what was happening.

Shed fought countless opponents in mock battles, all of whom had tried to best her. Even the thunder bull had struck her with a powerful blow, but the midnight foxIt had known it would be victorious. And Tala had picked up on that and almost made it true by her own reaction. Or lack thereof.

The terror bird had just been too fast an encounter for conscious thought. Maybe, Id have responded the same, there, if given the chance?

Tala often put forward a confident air, despite not usually being truly confident, but shed never actually seen confidence wielded as a weapon. It was a lesson that she swore to learn.

Her plate clean, and her mind mostly settled, she returned her focus briefly to the world around them.

They were deep in the pass now, the sun not risen sufficiently to shine into the chasm that was the cleft. Thus, they were in deep, cool shade.

It felt wonderful.

She laid back on the roof of the wagon and basked in the cool dimness of it all, breathing regularly.

Long inhale through her nose. Short burst of an exhale through her mouth.

What should I do for the remainder of the morning? She had several books that she still had to read. Trent will want his book on item crafting theory back Her eyes widened. Oh Im an idiot.

She pulled out the book and flipped back through it until she found the section, exactly as she remembered it.

Every medium has slight variations in the spell-forms required. She groaned. Air is a new medium, to me. Great

As she reread the section, she noticed a reference to methodology for discovering the means of inscribing new materials. The book, of course, didnt elaborate, but it was referenced. There was a warning that it was costly, due to the need to use precious metals for each test piece, and it was useless if the Mage only had a small sample of the material, but air was everywhere.

Trent shook his head. The bones are set right, but a concussions no small thing. Hell be fine in a day or two though, even without healing. And well have the local flesh worker sort him out this evening. A shame Material Mages arent great at preventing concussions, though.

Tala nodded, relaxing. Im glad youll be alright.

Oh, Im hardly that.

She quirked an eyebrow. I thought? She looked to Trent, who was rolling his eyes but didnt comment.

I didnt get to see you put that mangy beast down!

It wasnt mangyTurn of phrase? I guess, so It wasnt that impressive.

Not thatAre you joking? Renix looked from Tala to Trent, then back to her. You turned its magic back on itself, obliterating it outright! I heard you even had it trying to flee before you were done. Ive never even heard of a magical animal fleeing. Youre incredible!

Tala was frowning again, as she turned to Trent. Did you tell him this tale?

The Mage shook his head. I told the boy it was your story to tell. So, of course, when you werent ready to hand, he got as many people as he could to tell him.

Tala winced. Im sorry, Renix. I really should have come to see how you were, right away.

Renix waved her off. No! Its fine. You have to think over a battle after it passes, analyze what worked, what didnt, and what you could have done better. Contemplating self-improvement and meditating on what you discover is key to improving as a Mage. The young man beamed, looking to his Master for affirmation.

Trent quirked a smile. Renix is correct, Mistress Tala. The ways of honing ones craft are well known to us, and your delay is most understandable. His eyes were twinkling with hidden mirth.

Tala cleared her throat. So, a book on Mage meditation and reflecting techniques too. Yes, well I still wish I had come by sooner. She took in a deep breath, smelling the clean, but lived in, interior of the wagon. I froze up, and almost got you killed.

Renix rolled his eyes. Even if thats true, which I doubt, you finished the job.

Tala wanted to argue with him, to beat it into his head that shed failed, but she realized that even if she succeeded in convincing him, it wouldnt be fair. He was concussed, not fully present. It would like beating a cripple in a foot race. Fine, but I still feel that I owe you an apology. Will you forgive me?

Absolutely! Done.

She looked to Trent, and he smiled, nodding. I am grateful that you acted when you did, regardless of the surrounding details. Thank you.

Tala felt as if a great weight had lifted from her. A little voice in the back of her mind tried to tell her that she needed to apologize to Atrexia as well, but she snuffed that idea at its roots. Thank you, both of you. She smiled, genuinely, as she stood up. Ill leave you to your rest, Renix.

He smiled in return. I think were on the same caravan back, so dont think this is the last youll see of me!

She gave a short laugh. I wouldnt dream of it.

Trent rose with her, his boots firmly in place. Ill accompany you. I need to join Mistress Atrexia on duty for this last leg.

Of course. After a short silence as they moved towards the door, she glanced at him. If I can help

He smiled. I will not hesitate to ask.

Tala and Trent stepped out of the wagon, one after another, and dropped to the ground, moving to the side so the closely following oxen of the wagon behind wouldnt have to slow or divert.

Thank you, again, Master Trent.

He laughed. I should be thanking you, honestly. Ive fought through tougher spots, but it was about to get expensive.

She turned to look at him, questioningly.

Another point that a master would have made sure you knew of.

She rolled her eyes, and started walking along with the caravan, Trent fell into step beside her.

I mean that to protect the caravan from a powerful attack, at such a distance, would have taken a heavy amount of power, and would have eaten through several of my primary defensive inscriptions. He quirked a smile. Youre in a position to not need defensive inscriptions for anyone away from yourself.

She nodded, realizing what he was getting at. I either disable my opponent, move out of the way, or trust myself to weather the attack. If it isnt directed at me, I cant really do much to stop it.

Exactly.

She laughed. Id make a terrible caravan guard.

He shrugged. Different skill-set. For a larger caravan, or a harvesting expedition, Id want you on as a striker: someone to take the fight to beasts, while others covered the non-combatants. For a smaller caravan, you should be paired with a shield specialist, or maybe a fast-moving Immaterial Creator? He shrugged, again.

She felt an easy smile settle in place. That might actually be some fun, assuming I finish getting my inscriptions.

Trent cocked his head frowning. You arent fully inscribed?

Tala cleared her throat, glancing away a bit sheepishly. Well, I sort of have money issues, and I got all I could afford. She scratched the side of her neck, absently. My role in this caravan wasnt even supposed to require the ones I do have. She barked a mirthless laugh. That didnt quite work out.

Trent snorted. Too true. Even so, if youre working with half a deck, youre all the more impressive for pulling winning hands again and again.

Gambling metaphor? Really?

Are you saying what youve been doing is anything else?

She grunted a laugh. Fair, I suppose.

So, with the payday this evening, will you be finishing out? Getting inscriptions in a waning city is expensive.

I wish, even with the added expense. Mistress Hollys really the only one I trust to do it right, though. To her surprise, she realized that that was actually true. The inscriber was a bit inscrutable, but her work had proven itself.

Wait, Mistress Holly, herself, actually did your work? THE Mistress Holly?

When Tala shrugged, then nodded, Trent whistled.

Man. You really must be something special. She only bothers with one Mage in a thousand. Her apprentices do most of it, though even having her modifications and ideas implemented on you would set your work as a cut above. Its one reason I like being based out of Bandfast. Her work is second to none. He shook his head ruefully. You are full of surprises, Mistress Tala.