Chapter 92 - Before The Storm

They came like black trails of smoke through the sky. Dozens of them, if not hundreds. Their bodies were streaks of darkness against the clouds, and behind them, shadow rose in a constant stream. Hump could do nothing but stare at the darkening sky with wide eyes. This was too much. So far beyond his current strength that he felt helpless. The veil between realms had torn open, and creatures of another world were pouring through.

In his shock, his mind raced for answers. Any explanation that would make this somehow less crazy. There was only one conclusion he could find. Somehow, Vivienne’s summoning must have acted as a catalyst. Hump was almost certain of it.

This was her fault. Randall was right. Now the question was, had she done this on purpose? He turned to look at her. She stared up at the sky like everyone else, her face pale. That couldn’t be faked, could it? She’d appeared just as surprised as everyone else when the monster had torn through and consumed the nature spirit. Surely she didn’t do this.

Or are you being fooled again? A voice in the back of Hump’s mind asked. He felt a chill run through him. His heart raced.

“Gods above,” Arnold stammered. “What do we do? There’s so many.”

“We’ve been preparing for this,” Vivienne said sternly, her voice unshaken, the fear on her face gone before anyone else had the chance to gleam it. “Now is the time for action, not panic.”

“But we’re not ready,” Arnold insisted. “The militia are still out supporting the other settlements. Half the town is tending the farms or out in the forest. Nobody is where they should be.”

“Those beyond the town should be safe,” Vivienne said. “For whatever reason, the spirits have been targeting us here during the previous waves. The other settlements were hardly affected, and we need to count on that being the same today. Even if it’s not, my spell over the lighthouse will draw them in.”

“What do you want us to do?” Winfrey asked.

Vivienne glanced at him, chewing her bottom lip. “Randall, do you or any of your party have boones to imbue weapons with essence?”

“Now just hold on a minute, witch,” Randall snarled. “Why should we listen to you? You’re the one that caused this.”

Hump was wondering the same thing. He felt paralysed. Vivienne was here for the temple, not for the town. Had she lost patience now that he’d uncovered her secret and decided to accelerate her plans? If she had, it seemed beyond reckless.

“I am no witch,” Vivienne snapped. She pulled out a silver medallion from around her neck, her Bronze 4 rank clear on it. “I am the ranking adventurer here. More importantly, I am a Rank 5 wizard of the Society. You will listen to me because I am the only person here with the power to fix this. Now do any of you have the blessing we need?”

Rank 5. She was stronger than when they’d last met. She’d surpassed Hump’s master and was more than qualified to be a silver ranked adventurer if she decided to pursue it. It also meant that if she decided she was against them, nobody in town was strong enough to stop her.

Hump’s instinct said to trust her.

Randall’s mouth opened and closed, his face turning red with fury as he searched for a retort.

Before he had the chance, Madeleine stepped forward. “I possess the War Gods Cry. I can do it.”

“You’re a shieldbearer?” Vivienne asked.

Madeleine nodded. “A Shieldbearer of Byzantius.”

“Good,” Vivienne said. “You’ll be needed. You and your party head back to town and support the defence. Gerard and Elowen, go with them. You need to get everyone inside either the inn or Hestia’s temple. They are protected there.”

“I’ll fix the formation,” Hump said, staring at what remained of the spirit binding spell. Between the tentacle creature and the many footsteps during the fight, the ground was torn and his runes disrupted. He was going to need to entirely redraw it, and this time without Vivienne to check for any mistakes.

Vivienne gave him a nod. “Check for small corrections when you finish. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but the more efficient you can make it, the longer you will be able to maintain it.”

“This wasn’t the plan,” Randall growled. “Whatever you’ve done, it’s screwed us.”

“The attack may have come early, but our goals are the same,” Vivienne said. “Our first priority is to defend. Once the shades begin to retreat, we’ll capture one and cast a tracking spell on it, then follow it back to the source.”

Randall clenched his jaw. “You failed to predict this attack, what makes you think the gateway will close like it did in the past? You could be wrong about all of this.”

“I’m not,” Vivienne said. “With a bit of luck, this early attack will work in our favour. The veil is thinnest during the night of the new moon, which means right now the gateway will require more power to sustain itself.”

“You think this attack will be over quickly,” Hump asked.

Vivienne glanced back at the sky, the rest of them following her gaze. “I do. There are more shades than ever.” She turned back to Randall. “Now either do as I instruct or stay out of the way. I have my own preparations to make.”

She didn’t wait for him to decide, making her way back to the lighthouse. Dylan remained behind, waiting with the rest of them.

“What will you do?” Bud asked Randall. “The town needs you.”

“We need you,” Winfrey added. “We need Chosen to fight with us, or there is no hope.”

“Do not concern yourself, Captain,” Randall said. “Chosen will always fight when they are needed, and we are no different. Let’s go.”

They began to move, the captain rushing on ahead with his men. Elowen and her priests pacing after them.

“You need to watch the inn,” Hump said to Randall and his party. “I created a veil that hides those within, but it will not protect them if the shades find them.”

“Of course we do,” Randall snided. “So while we’re holding the line, you can all follow the spirits back and claim all the glory.” He spat at Hump’s feet then strode off after Winfrey.

Madeleine gave Hump an apologetic look before following the party.

“Try not to get yourselves killed,” Skander said, giving them a wave.

After a few moments, Hump let out a sigh. “I’m going to need to focus while I get this done.”

“What about us?” Bud said.

Dylan took a seat. “We wait.”

“You want us to do nothing?” Bud asked.

“The entire plan resides on Hump trapping a spirit,” Celaine said. “If they’re already locked up in Vivienne’s spell, there’s no use in us fighting them out here. We need to preserve our strength. Remember, Vivienne’s going to need to release them if Hump’s to trap one. When she does, they’re going to be coming for us first.”

Hump clapped Bud on the shoulder. “And when they do, I’m expecting you to keep them off me.”

Bud stared at him then nodded. “Yeah. You can count on it.”

Hump chose a spot a short distance from his original formation. While there was darkness over the lake, there was still plenty of light to see by. Just before he started, he paused.

Just as he reached it, he paused. This was going to be dangerous, and he needed to be quick. He couldn’t have his egg slow him down, and the last thing he wanted was for it to get caught up in the attack. It would be safer here.

“What is it?” Celaine asked.

“This is going to be dangerous,” he said. He opened his bag with a heavy heart and took out his egg. The last thing he wanted was for it to get caught up in the attack. It needed to be somewhere safe. “Can you take this to the lighthouse?”

When she took the egg from him, Hump had to fight the urge to go after it. It was an odd feeling, and one that didn’t feel entirely his own.

“I’ll put it somewhere safe,” she said, heading inside.

Hump let out a breath and focused. He began just as he had before, creating a ring of runes where he intended to trap one of the shades. Each one shone as he finished the markings, hardening them with Transform Earth just in case it started to rain.

In his focus, he lost track of time, only realising how much of it had passed when the sudden surge of essence drew his attention. The beacon was lit, the lighthouse radiated blue light, piercing the shadow that lay over the lake and illuminating the shades amongst the clouds. They were almost upon them now.

Hump crossed his fingers that Vivienne’s spell held and got back to the only thing he could do. He scrutinised his formation, searching for any possible mistakes he could have made. Any slanted channels or crooked runes. Still, he couldn’t help but glance up at the growing cloud of shades above them. They surrounded the lighthouse in a ball of darkness, blue light streaking past them and illuminating every one of their figures. Still more came. Hundreds of shades all drawn to one wizard. Within that circle, Vivienne was alone. Only her magic kept her from being devoured.

“You finished?” Celaine asked quietly.

Hump nodded. “I think so. We’ll only know for sure when I have to use it.”

Bud paced back and forth, hands on the hilt of his sword. “I hate this.” He pointed. “Look over there.” A handful of shades drifted toward town, seemingly uninterested in the lighthouse. “That’s the second group on their way to attack the town. We should be there.”

“There are more than enough defenders in town,” Dylan said. “I’m more worried about us.”

“Why?” Bud asked. “She’s done this before.”

“Last time there were less than a third of their numbers,” Dylan said. “Against so many, it’s only a matter of time before more slip through. When they do, we’re going to have to deal with them. And it only takes one slip up for them to break through and get to her.”

“Vivienne’s not the type to slip up,” Bud reassured him.

Hump frowned, glancing at the scarred earth of their summoning attempt. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

The first shades broke through Vivienne’s formation within the hour. Between the four of them, they made easy work of them. The creatures usually attacked individually, their attacks occasionally drawing the attention of a few more. They found the trick was to wait until they got as far from the lighthouse as possible before letting loose any essence.

It was an hour or so later when Hump noticed a change. He couldn’t put his finger on exactly what it was, but something drew his eyes to the town. He frowned, searching for any shades that might have slipped past their notice. There was nothing, yet the sensation that something was wrong grew stronger. He felt in on the back of his neck, and as a chill down his spine.

“Celaine, look at the town,” Hump said. “What do you see?”

She glanced at it, eyes widening. “Oh no.”

“What is it?” Bud snapped.

There was an explosion of essence, and a great boom from within the town. Hump stared as dust rose from somewhere near the town square. And from the dust, black essence rose, flickers of colour burning within. It rose into the sky like a smoke pillar, twisting up into the clouds above.

Shades emerged from the essence as if it had taken form. The black figures swept down into the towns like reapers of death, too many for Hump to count.The screams came next, the distance making them no less haunting.

“Another gateway,” Bud muttered, disbelief in his voice. “How?”

A second gateway could only mean one thing.

Hump gritted his teeth. “The caster must be in town.”