Chapter 100: Crystal

Chapter 100: Crystal

Tala moved through the rest of the day in a state of deep contemplation. As a result, she focused her actions entirely on her role as Mage Protector.

Lunch came and went, and she was barely able to summon up enough focus to thank the chef for the triple portion she brought to her. What was her name, again?

The cargo wagon driver chatted with Tala for a bit, and she did her best to at least passingly engage, but nothing that he said sank deeply enough to disrupt her contemplations. His name is Tion, right? At least shed caught that. Its always embarrassing to ask people for their names after I should know them

She did her duty, pointing out no fewer than six more possible threats over the next few hours. Only three of them had to be dealt with in the end.

The afternoon was beginning to move towards the early evening of the season, when she saw a cloud-like shape moving low across the ground, near the edge of the treeline, still more than twenty-five miles distant, seemingly ignoring the wind. Another flock of small birds, moving almost in unison. Not uncommon in flocks, even of mundane birds, but her mage-sight was clear. Arcanous avians.

Each bird was barely bigger than one of her fists, and they flitted about quite rapidly. Like over-large hummingbirds. She hesitated at that. My sight is so much better! She didnt let that distract her, though.

The birds passed through a column of sunlight, which broke through the otherwise pervasive cloud-cover. Each bird shimmered and glinted in that light.

These beasts had a crystalline aspect to them. Tala called over her shoulder, Flock! Crystalline birds. Small, but there looks to be hundreds.

The guards responded, selecting from their more eccentric magical arsenal.

Mistress Odera, for her part, was muttering to herself. Another? Its been weeks since a caravan reported encountering crystalline creatures. Was it not a migratory group, then? She clucked her tongue. A new fount with such a bent means trouble. More loudly, she called out. Dont let them touch you. Any wound will be devilishly difficult to heal.

Great Tala drew Flow but didnt funnel the power needed for a transformation. Another encounter in which Ill be mostly useless.

Terry had been laying near Tala, but at Mistress Oderas words, he looked back and forth between the two Mages.

Go, Terry. I dont want you hurt by this, and you wont be much help against so many, small enemies.

Terry hesitated for a long moment, then bobbed and vanished. Be safe.

The guards affixed faceplates to their helms and pulled on thick gloves. Both would hamper them in many situations, but the extra protection could be critical in the coming encounter. Those who were mounted swiftly dismounted and hooked their reins onto the chuckwagon beside the spare mounts, hopefully keeping the animals out of any direct danger.

The drivers, for their part, each pulled out a large, heavy blanket, that moved oddly to Talas eyes. She looked closer, and her mage-sight detected what looked to be a chain-mail sheet between layers of heavy fabric and leather. Though, that was mainly interpretation off the distortions the steel created to that sight.

When no one moved to do anything for the oxen or horses, directly, Tala asked Mistress Odera.

Mistress Odera grunted. Unless the beasts are seen as competitors or food, they will generally be left alone. I have my sight on them, however. If I need to, I should be able to keep them from harm.

Tala nodded. Fair enough.

The flock took another ten minutes to get close enough for everyone to see them easily, and Talas mage-sight helped her revise her earlier guess. I think theres at least four or five hundred. Another five minutes before theyre here.

Mistress Odera shifted slightly. If you see a place where you can help, do so. I know your offensive magics arent suited for this.

My offensive Right! She hadnt had a chance to try out Hollys additions. Minute gravity manipulation might be perfect for this situation. She almost twisted her arms into the right shape for the initial activation, then hesitated. Mistress Odera?

Yes?

I have another spell-form available. With it, I can control the gravity around me, to some degree. It might be of help, here.

That sounds ideal. Why do you sound hesitant?

Ive never used it before. I havent practiced with it. Its a new spell-form for me, and its one that requires practice and precision to use effectively.

Mistress Odera cursed under her breath. Then, no. Dont use it. The last thing we need is for you to accidentally interfere with someone else, or worse, destroy a wagon with chaotically assigned forces.

Tala opened her mouth to argue but stopped. It shouldnt work that way, but worse things have happened when testing out new scripts in stressful situationsThats what I was thinking already. Thats why I didnt just do it. Why am I going to fight against advice that I know is wise? She pulled herself together and nodded. As you say. Ill add it to my regular practice, as I should have as soon as I got the inscriptions.

Mistress Odera grunted. You cant practice everything, Mistress Tala. In hindsight, this might have been better to practice with, but if wed encountered something else, your chosen regimen might have been better. Do what you can and fill in the gaps with wisdom.

Tala felt a smile tug at the side of her mouth. As you say, Mistress.

Mistress Odera clucked her tongue thoughtfully. You are protected against having your skin breached, correct?

Tala nodded. Not only were her inscriptions oriented that way, but she also had a cup of ending-berry juice comfortably processed within her. The power was like the returning of an old friend, and she definitely felt better with its added defense. I am.

Mistress Odera took a deep breath, nodded, and seemed to decide something. Then, I need you to make yourself a beacon. With that many, we need a distraction.

Tala gave the woman a questioning look.

Helpfully, the other woman explained. Go off to the right, walk parallel to the caravan, and do everything you can to dump power into the environment. Well drive them off from there.

Tala nodded, jumping from the cargo wagon.

The wagon creaked behind her, rocking slightly from the force of her jump and the sudden loss of weight after her departure. She hit the ground much faster than anyone else would have and drove two circular holes into the soil, some six inches deep. Huh, not enough pressure distribution, then. Shed have to have Holly expand that. If I keep this

Tala stepped up, out of the shallow holes and moved away from the caravan, and Mistress Odera called out instructions to the guards and Rane. Tala didnt listen to what was said, except to hear that Rane was ordered inside a wagon. His defenses would do little good against this threat, and he couldnt be risked in the encounter.

Tala, for her part, invoked six void-channels, directing the least into her body, to keep her scripts and normal functions powered. The other five, she directed outward. She also released her hold on her Archon aura, allowing that to spread out around her, if just barely.

She dumped power into the air.L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Ñøv€l--B1n.

Not the time to examine her magics.

Flow was back in the form of a sword, fed by two void-channels, and Tala was striking in a furious pattern at the few crystalline enemies that were still alive inside with them.

Most of this segment of the flock was deflected by Mistress Oderas shield, but Tala was focused on what was inside, with them.

Dozens of impacts had cascaded across the guardsman as he, too, fought to strike down the birds. His skill was far beyond Talas, but he was also less well protected, despite his armor.

Crystals already blossomed across much of his armor, and his shield was riddled with holes and sparkling, invasive magic. Good to know, it is a secondary effect. Thats why the iron salve didnt help.

After a few frantic breaths, the inside of the bubble was silent, save for their panting, blessedly empty of living foes.

Tala looked outward and was able to see enough to determine that the remains of the flock were retreating. With a grateful exhale, she then took a moment to examine the magic around her.

Her mage-sight and normal vision worked together to interpret what she saw.

First, Mistress Oderas shield: There were no fewer than six alternating layers of air and water. Tala struggled to interpret what she saw. Did she increase the surface tension of the water to such a degree that it pulled itself out of the air and soil to form those layers? The air had been hardened as well, but Tala couldnt even begin to guess at the method. The result was unquestionable, however.

This would stop any physical attack Ive ever seen. It was incredible.

Second, she looked at the crystalline remains of their foes, sprinkling the now faceted grass. Good, the power is used up, and its not spreading further.

Behind Tala, the guard groaned, a thump reverberating through the small space as he fell fully to his knees.

Mistress Oderas magical shield popped, and Tala called out. Healer! Mistress Odera! Better to be safe.

The guards shield arm was dangling uselessly, crystals having grown across the shield and the armor on that arm. Those outward facets seemed to have stopped growing, just like the sparkling grass around them.

As Tala looked closer, she saw a streak of dark red crystal in a line from the mans arm, running down the back of the limply hanging shield. Blood. Magically affected blood.

Her eyes widened.

She focused, willing her mage-sight to penetrate the magics of the crystal on the outside of the mans armor, and thats when she saw it.

His very blood was crystalizing, the process following the power-rich channels, feeding on the mans internal magic and working its way upward...inward.

It had already passed his elbow and was moving towards the half-way point to his shoulder.

What do I do? Your arm is infected.

The guard nodded. Feels like, yeah. His voice was strained with obvious pain as he spoke through what must have been incredibly disorienting agony. Take it off.

What?

Cut off my arm! He leaned back, letting the shield that was braced against the ground help him extend the limb-in-question, to give her room to work with.

That should actually work. Yeah. That should work.

She didnt hesitate, whipping Flow forward in an upward slash, striking well above the spreading, hostile magics. As far above as possible, anyways. She didnt actually have that much arm to work with.

Tala struck true, and Flow passed through armor, gambeson, flesh, and bone without any resistance, cauterizing the wound in its wake.

The man gasped, falling back, pushing away from the now separated arm with his legs and his one remaining arm.

The infected arm, now bereft of the mans soul to defend it, crystallized instantly, the hostile spell-working using itself up in the process.

Tala immediately focused her mage-sight on the man once more and verified that all remaining crystals and dust were fully inert. The hostile magic was fully spent.

Thank you, Mistress. Thank you.

She smiled and nodded, re-sheathing Flow, once again in knife form. Lets get you healed up. Shall we?

She glanced towards the front wagon and saw Mistress Odera almost at the base of the ladder.

After a moments thought, Tala scooped the guard up and ran with him to catch up to the still-moving caravan. His weight was trivial, when added to her own. So, she covered the distance in short order.

Mistress Odera had seen her coming and opened the cargo-slot into the guards quarters, climbing in to be ready to receive the man.

Tala hoisted him up, into the waiting arms of several guards whod been off-duty and who had come to help Mistress Odera when shed called. Rane was there as well, and he looked almost violently unhappy at having been confined to the wagon.

Mistress Odera nodded in thanks to Tala, then asked a question with the tone of a command. Is the magic still active?

No, Mistress. All the powers been used. No active workings that I could detect.

After a moments hesitation, Mistress Odera nodded again. Please, get the arm and shield. Ill need to examine them, after I help him. She then turned to Rane. Get back outside and keep a perimeter clear. We should be safe, but a false sense of safety is one of the great killers in this world.

Yes, Mistress. Rane dropped out and took off at a jog to get in front of the cargo wagon to begin his patrol. He didnt seem to want to risk his horse, for the moment.

Tala, for her part, turned and ran back for the severed arm. I have to give Mistress Odera a hand.

She chuckled at the dark joke, the thought cracking through her panicked calm. Im alive... Were all alive.