Chapter Six Hundred And Forty Eight – 648

Chapter Six Hundred And Forty Eight – 648

inexorable enkindling!

Primal Firestorm! Atar shouted, and his voice overlapped with Flames own.

The emerald inferno washed over them, but it was nothing. Atars Body had turned to white flame which rendered him immune to the attacks damage, and his other Skill pulled the viridescent Mana into his channels.

In the span of an eyeblink, the green blaze was gone, consumed entirely by his chatty companion. Only Atar remained, still composed of whirling white fire.

Inexorable Enkindling is level 81!

Primal Firestorm is level 84!

go, atar! destroy your enemies!

While Primal Firestorm rendered Atar immune to the effects of fire, Inexorable Enkindling allowed him to absorb sources of fire Mana and burn it for Strength, Vitality, and Endurance for a brief time. He crouched, gathering himself like a coiled spring, before unleashing his stolen might against the earth below. Atar shot upward, easily clearing thirty feet before arcing toward the charred window sill.

yes!

Atar melted through what little glass remained and landed in a neat crouch amid a terrified classroom.

Wait.

Monster! a Gnomish man cried out, pointing at him. A whip of water surged from their hand, splashing ineffectually against Atars white flame countenance. Elemental!

More took up the call, and Atar barely had a moment to register the classroom full of students before he was inundated with a dozen Skills of varying strength. They were weak, though, much more so than the emerald inferno hed absorbed, and Atar endured all of them without flinching.

Stop! he yelled, trying to be heard over the discharge of magic. Instead it came out as a powerful boom that sent several benches toppling backward. And the students with them.

now! crush them into paste before they can recover!

Verdant Bloom!

Another wash of emerald fire blasted across the chamber, igniting the floorboards before slamming into Atar. It got no farther than that, however, as the green radiance was sucked into his white flame Body and consumed utterly.

weak. their mana runs low.

Be still, all of you. The new voice broke through the chaos and it was as clear as the ringing of a bell. Drop your Skills. Now.

Atar recognized the woman. A Half-Orc Chanter, one of those hed seen hovering around Zara. As the students let their Skills flicker or fade, she turned to him expectantly. With a sour grumble, Atar deactivated his Skills, silencing their alluring song and forcing his flame to once again become flesh. Immediately he felt a wave of weariness wash over him as his boosted stats deflated, but he leaned onto his cane and withstood it.

Glyphmaster! cried out the wielder of the emerald flame. She was an elderly Hobgoblin woman with iron-gray hair and dusky red skin. Apart from looking vaguely familiar, she was also utterly terrified. I didnt know it was you. I swear!

Atar lifted his hand, cutting off the excuses before they could pour out. He looked at the Chanter. Whats going on here? I was in your courtyard and was attacked. I thoughtit doesnt matter. This is a classroom?The debut release of this chapter happened at Ñøv€l-B1n.

The Half-Orc folded her arms across her chest. It is. Who attacked you?

Th-that was me, I am afraid, the older Hobgoblin admitted. Like the others, she was wearing pale green robes marked with a burning blue eye. A uniform. We were sparring and my first Skill went awry. It hit the window.

Atar raised an eyebrow. According to his Analyze the womanHeva Groktis, apparentlywas barely Journeyman Tier, but that initial blast had been strong.

You used the Chant to boost your Skill? the Half-Orc instructor asked.

I did. Sounded it out with my Affinity and shaped it with my Intent.

Several in the room murmured appreciatively. Atar got the distinct feeling that this was a beginners class. Taken in that light, what the Hobgoblin had done was a real achievement. She perked up, as if she too could feel their positive emotions bolstering her. Perhaps she could.

The Chanter grunted. Impressive. But power means little if you have no control. Had it been anyone but Master Vas, your mistake could have cost someone their life.

The Hobgoblin bowed her head. I understand, and I take full responsibility.

No. As your instructor, the responsibility is mine. The Chanter bowed to Atar. My apologies, Master Vas. How might I repay this slight?

Zaras frown was loud. I would have us work together, with the Unbound.

You would have us expose our weaknesses. You of all people should know the dangers inherent in that The Goblin Chanter started, finally noticing Atar. You. Another ally of the Autarch. Did you summon reinforcements for our meeting, Zara? Were you so afraid of our collective Will?

enough of that!

Flame spread his wings and the pressure around Atar began to boil away. Enough for him to straighten up, at least.

I am summoned by no one, Atar said. He pushed through the Chanters, holding tight to his own emotions. He refused to show them fear even when they werent at odds with him or his allies, and now The Flame burned within him, fierce and bright as he entered Zaras office and took his place next to her. But you seem to have been dismissed.

The Goblin glared at him a second longer before turning his attention back to Zara. Heed my words, Maven. The Cantus will face consequences for its decision, and unless someone listens, we will all fall to Ruin.

Without another word, Anguin spun on his heel, and the rest followed him out. The door slammed shut, all on its own, and the Chanters bared Spirits were cut off entirely.

after them, atar! i sense a great power among them that would

No. Back in the cage.

you would deny me, after the aid ive given? deny yourself?

Get. Back. In. Your cage. A piece of Atar clenched, exerting his Will and Intent upon the fiery bird within his chest. Flame squawked indignantly, but after his initial protest he fled back behind his obsidian bars.

Atar groaned in relief. Well. Friendly sort. They remind me of my old master. They stink of the same self-assurance.

Zara laughed through a long, tired sigh before retreating to a large desk. They arent so bad as the late Grandmaster of Flamebut they certainly are a pain.

So the orichalcum reinforcement is just for show, then? Atar asked, tapping the door banded with red-gold metal.

You could say that.

An expensive demonstration.

The useful ones usually are. Zara sat in her high backed chair. I imagine your own defiance was quite costly.

Atar shrugged. He didnt have the energy to lie. His mental strength had taken a beating and it was barely noon. The Flame remains too useful to ignore.

correct.

Anguin shares your sentiment, though his thoughts are focused on our shared friends.

So I noticed. Do we truly have nothing to worry about from them? I could only feel an overwhelming conviction from their Spirits, and Ive faced emotions like that before. Usually though theyre wearing red cloaks and trying to kill me.

Zara steepled her hands as her eyes drifted off toward something in the middle distance. She was no longer staring at Atar, but through him. She remained silent for a time, giving Atar a chance to look around. The Mavens chamber was a curious half circle, with the door-bearing wall bent inward as if her office was wrapped around the room with the stairs. It was also one of the few places that seemed fully furnished. Shelves were built into the walls, as was a wide fireplace, and both were covered in books, statues, and small oddments. A few paintings were up on the plastered walls, featuring rivers and lakes rendered with an ethereal skill. The Fiendstone desk and the chairs around it were perhaps the most stark pieces in the place, and they practically exuded a phantom sense of authority.

Her hands came down, after a time, resting on the surface of her desk. Ive told you before that the Cantus decision to serve under Felix was contentious.

You did. Thats all this was?

All? Zara chuckled. A tradition of individualism and isolationism stretching back entire Ages has been overturned, albeit temporarily. The Sorcerers of the Fallen Halls have relied upon those tenets to keep us all safe. This was no simple decision the Cantus came to, and it was not done lightly. Still, for all our care and consideration, there are those among our number that still oppose it.

Alright. Atar sat heavily in one of the overstuffed chairs. You know, in most places, dissenters like that would have been taken care of quickly.

Are you advising me to have my own people eliminated?

No. Just admiring your restraint. Atar shifted in place. His long walk had reawakened a great deal of muscle soreness. I barely had enough to walk through the door.

Zara considered him over the length of her dark desk. Its getting worse, isnt it?

Atar only nodded.

Lets talk.