Night had fallen, and Fas nudged SJ, who had fallen asleep. After speaking to Nexis, she had felt exhausted; her rollercoaster of emotions over the past few days was catching up with her.
"Sorry," SJ said as she stirred. "I didn't mean to fall asleep."
"It's fine," Fas smiled.
SJ sat up, stretching. Surprisingly, even after sleeping on the forest floor, she felt refreshed. With the rapid increase in attributes, she felt slightly strange. Not in a bad way, but different. It was the first time she had slept since the upgrades, and on waking, she had been alert immediately. No tiredness, no tightness of muscles. The stretch had been a habit, not a necessity.
"Shall we go again?" Fas asked.
"Yes," SJ answered as she shrank.
As SJ flitted through the tree canopy, Fas kept pace below as he shadow jumped in the darkness. He had a free run through the trees, not needing to aim for shadows next to trees, as the entire forest was now in darkness. It was an assassin's dream.
They followed their previous routine of hassling the gnolls to the north of the town. Lanterns burned brightly at several locations, and they homed in on them as they sought targets of opportunity. Their first three pairings that were killed didn't make a sound; their efficiency and teamwork already felt natural in such a short space of time.
It was as they went to attack the fourth pair that their escapades took a turn.
Fas had just stepped to the rear of his target as SJ was approaching hers when from the side street a draconian rider appeared on his mount. SJ hadn't even seen the rider when she had been looking down, and wondered where it had been. The lizards were too large to hide.
That was when she spotted a gnoll wearing a kaftan and a long, looped bone necklace. It held a short staff or wand in its hand, topped with an animal skull. As SJ was about to strike her target, she noticed the reflective surface of metal underneath the gnoll's top. The gnoll had a scarf wrapped around its neck, hiding the plate collar it wore. As SJ had gone to complete her usual strike, her claws met resistance, deflecting and scratching across its surface, gouging channels in the plate armour it wore. Having been striking upwards as she had been.
As Fas struck his target with his hammers, the rider let out a cry. Shouts and cries erupted from the side streets as gnolls poured out towards them.
The gnoll Fas, who also wore plate, had struck. Although his hammer had pierced the armour, it hadn't finished his target off, who, with a snarling growl, spun towards him.
SJ didn't even attempt to grow as her flight path lifted her back up above the gnoll's head; she beat her wings furiously, gaining height. In her vision, she saw Fas parry a wild swing from the gnoll. He then lunged to attack again, his hammer catching it in its side. Again, it penetrated the armour, and the gnoll let out a bellow of rage, flailing wildly trying to connect with him.
"Get out of there," SJ said over their clips.
Fas glanced to the side, saw the approaching gnolls, and stepped into the shadows. He jumped forward toward the lizard and its rider as the shaman continued to chant. Then it happened. A sphere of light erupted from the shaman's hand into the air above the street. SJ closed her eyes as the darkness and shadows vanished in the brilliant light of a sunny day. The entire street and surrounding area were now visible, and she couldn't see a shadow in sight.
"Damn," SJ cursed as she watched Fas bolt towards the nearest alley. There had to be some shadows he could use. The problem was that the ball of brilliant light zipped across the sky, staying above him instantly. It was preventing him from shadow stepping.
SJ, having reached safety above the street, flew towards the shaman. It was continuing to chant, and SJ only hoped that if she could break the spell, the light would vanish, allowing Fas to escape cleanly. Gnolls barked and chased after him, and the draconian moved his lizard swiftly to cut off his path.
There were two gnolls standing by the shaman who had accompanied it from the side street. They had spears in their hands and were standing guard. SJ stayed high, flew over, and behind them. The cries and shouts of the gnolls were audible as she did. The two guards were yipping at each other excitedly as SJ turned towards the shaman's back.
As swiftly as she could, she flew in to attack. SJ was about to strike when she noticed the faint glow of blue surrounding the shaman. It had a shield up, but it was too late for her to slow down. Rather than hitting it in miniature form, she grew at the last moment, ploughing into the shielded gnoll at about half her maximum size. The shield fizzed angrily, and her display flashed as she crashed into it and her feet touched the ground.
The shaman didn't move, and it felt like hitting a brick wall. SJ cried as the shock hit her from the shield, and she threw herself away from it as the two gnolls who had been looking towards where Fas had disappeared turned toward her.
As SJ reached full size, she attacked just as the first spear levelled. It even took her by surprise how quickly she had moved. The Dexterity increase had come into use almost immediately. Her claws caught the shaft of the spear, pushing the tip harmlessly to the right of her. The tip of the spear brushed against the shaman's shield, and the gnoll let out a yelp as it was zapped by it.
The second gnoll, though, had levelled its spear and thrust at SJ. Only just moving away from the thrust, SJ dodged. Her body twisted almost unnaturally as she did. In an instant, she countered. Bringing her arm up and around, she thrust the spear to the side as she stepped inside the spear's range and thrust her claws at the gnoll. Her claws caught it in its left shoulder, and it lost its grip on the spear with that hand. It growled in anger as the shaman's droning chant continued unhindered. The shocked gnoll recovered, picking itself back up and attacking again.
SJ had no choice; they were both higher levels than she was and were skilled with their weapons. She had triggered her shroud skill already on the initial attack, but then triggered void grasp. The recovering gnoll froze in place, half standing, and fell forward uncontrollably, as though paralysed, its face hitting the ground hard. SJ then triggered Phantom Shroud and jumped directly behind the gnoll, facing back towards it. She struck with both her claws.
The gnoll, not expecting the manoeuvre in the brilliant light from the shaman's orb, was taken completely by surprise as SJ's claws struck true. Wearing only leather armour, the gnoll stood no chance, as the claws caused severe damage, tearing into it. It let out a howl as it dropped its spear, which it now held in one hand, falling to its knees.
The gnoll, which had fallen on its face, shook its head after being dazed, and SJ didn't give it a chance as she thrust her clawed fist into the base of its skull. It fell to the ground with one final twitch.
There was a high-pitched scream from the alley Fas had fled down, and SJ froze momentarily. She watched as Fas's health bar dipped violently, almost half his health disappearing as a lizard let out an ear-piercing cry.
"Keep fighting," Dave yelled in her mind.
SJ snapped back just as the injured gnoll reached for its spear and was trying to stand. With a swift strike, SJ removed its remaining hit points. The shaman was still standing there, its eyes closed as it chanted. The thin blue film of its protective shield was clearly visible this close.
She knew it would hurt, but she had no choice; she needed to break its shield and its concentration. She thrust her clawed hands at the shield, pushing her weight towards it as the shock from the shield fought back, sending electrical pulses through her body. She grimaced in pain as she pushed as hard as she could, fighting the natural urge to retreat, as her health ticked down from the electrical energy burning her.
"Nearly, nearly," Dave screamed.
SJ was covered in beads of sweat, her limbs shaking with the effort of forcing herself against its shield, when at last a claw penetrated. The sight gave her renewed vigour, and screaming, she pushed as hard as she could. For what seemed like an age, as she fought the burning pain, she didn't believe it would work, but then the shield shattered. Blue light flickered around the shaman and exploded outwards. It caused no pain, but the removal of its shield allowed SJ's claws to plummet deep into its back—the air erupting with the stench of burnt ozone and copper.
The instant they did, the shaman let out an immediate scream before gurgling and gasping replaced its chant. Its head turned slowly to look at her, eyes open wide in shock, as the ball of light extinguished. Darkness instantly retook the streets, and it took SJ a moment to gather her bearings before again striking the shaman. With one direct strike, she ended its life. Cries came from further down the street, and SJ noticed more gnolls approaching the area. Immediately, she shrank and took off.
Spears flew in her direction as she lifted from the ground, but at their distance and her size, it was like aiming for a single hair on a being's head. SJ flew immediately towards the alley Fas had run down, which cut between two rows of homes, which SJ knew would usually have loving families living in them, yet were now dark and abandoned. Shouts carried to her as she made out several beings at the end of the alley and the lizard with its rider.
The rider was dismounted, screaming orders as the gnolls moved across the street into the next alley. Fas was nowhere to be seen, and SJ opened her display. Her breathing was rapid, and her adrenaline was burning through her body. Her senses heightened to an exceptional level, with fear being a key trigger. Fas's dot was two streets over. He had obviously used his shadow step to jump and gain distance.
As she watched, he continued moving as SJ followed his path. Now, in the dark skies, she was virtually invisible. Fas continued for four more streets, leaving the gnolls behind until she saw his dot stop moving. She was two streets away, and the gnolls were another street behind her. Then she realised that his health had been continuing to drop the whole time he had been moving away. The rules for injured Amathereans differed from Legionnaires, and they would continue to take damage until healed, even once out of active combat.
SJ picked up speed, reaching where Fas was showing. Beneath her was the rear of one of the townhouses that were on the northern edge of the docks. The rear garden offered a hiding place within its stone walls. Fas was at the base of a tree as SJ swooped down.
"Are you okay?" she asked as she landed.
Fas looked at her, grimacing. "I will be," he said as he removed a potion from his inventory, taking a deep swig. SJ watched as his hit points stabilised. Then slowly they climbed. Fas continued drinking until the entire potion was consumed, then removed a second. He returned the empty bottles to his inventory. SJ could clearly see where the lizard had bitten him. His leather armour on his right side had been shredded by its razor-sharp teeth.
"It looks like you were lucky to get away," SJ said.
"It's only because I blinded it in one eye. I don't know how the beast did it. I could see a shadow in the next alley, but as I went to Shadow Step, it caught me."
If a lizard could snap a being out of the air as they moved through the shadows, that was something that sounded unbelievable. Shadow Steps were instantaneous.
"It must have been a lucky reflex reaction," Dave said thoughtfully.
"Are you okay to move? We can't stay here," SJ said.
"I'll be fine in a minute; let me just catch my breath."
SJ took off again and hovered above the garden. Noise from the searching troops carried clearly in the night, and they were getting nearer. SJ flew back down.
"We need to move," SJ said, hovering by Fas. "I'll be your eyes."
Fas nodded as he winced, pushing himself upright. He may have regained his health, but the effects of the injury were clear, and his movements were restricted.
SJ again lifted and looked out over the streets. The easiest path away from the area would be to head further north. Once they were out of the town and across the fields, they could easily disappear into the forest that led towards the crags.
"North. Stay by the lakeside. They are a street away, searching the grounds of the buildings," SJ said through her clip.
Fas didn't reply as she saw him hop over the wall. His right leg nearly gave out when he landed, and he staggered slightly. With caution, SJ directed Fas, noting the movement of the enemy troops and their search locations. Her scouting paid dividends as she led Fas safely out of the area.
Once they reached the open fields near the mill and academy, Fas required no further guidance, and she flew above him while he continued moving away from the town. His Shadow Step skill allowed him to cover a much greater distance. As the sounds from the town drifted into the distance and they entered the northern forest area, SJ's pulse lessened.
She flew down into the canopy to where Fas had stopped to catch his breath. His hand was on his right side. His health had still recovered, but he was winded, and his breathing laboured. SJ didn't speak as she landed before growing and called the rejuvinatus to her hand, passing it to him. Fas took it gratefully and took a swig.
"You know I'm supposed to be your guardian," he said, smiling wryly.
SJ just smiled in response. This being had given himself to her. She still didn't fully understand the whole guardianship process, but the fact that Bob had granted Fas the ability to become a guardian and Nexis's explanation that Fas was not required to take his oath weighed heavily on her. The realisation of what he had undertaken in doing so. He had agreed to become involved in her rather abnormal life, where everything she touched or loved seemed to get affected. It hurt her to think that these problems were related to her, even if in a loose sense. She knew she didn't control the system changes, and they would happen, but...
"Thank you," SJ said.
Fas cocked his head and frowned. "For what?"
"Becoming my guardian. I think I am starting to understand what it actually means."
Fas just smirked. "I admit initially I agreed for rather selfish reasons. Being granted a scale from one of the greats gives me a status and protection that I could never have imagined as a dragonling. I am glad I did, though."
SJ appreciated his candour and honesty. "I think we should go and meet the others. You need to recover fully, and if they have more shamans in the town, I have no idea what skills they may have."
"I've never experienced a spell like that before. There wasn't any shadow. The light touched everything."
"At least there is one less now."
They started further north, picking their way through the forest, the night's cool air refreshing after the hectic antics in the town. The forest sounds, the owl's hooting and creatures scurrying in the underbrush were an abstract normality to what they had left behind them.
It was only when they reached the clearing that led to the last stretch of thin trees before the crags that they stopped. As they had neared, the sound of beings carried in the night.
The gates at the crags stood as an imposing barrier, and at any other time would have been a clear sign of strength for Killic, but not now, as they peered across the clearing towards where fires and torches burned. Tents were set up around the area where the gnoll forces had set up camp. Three large lizard forms could be seen sleeping nearby.
"Those lizards are going to be a problem for the troops if they attack," Fas whispered as he leaned heavily against a tree.
"I know, but there isn't much we can do about them. I don't think I can take them out."
"Our only hope is Aletheia. If she can do anything to stop them in some way."
"I agree. Let's backtrack and find a location to hold up so you can rest fully," SJ was concerned by how weakened Fas seemed. "I'm going to fly over to the mine and see how they are getting on."
Once they located a suitable area, SJ shrank and took off, leaving Fas to recuperate. She flew high out over the lake, heading towards the mines' location, when a strange light caught her eye.
'What's that?' SJ thought.
"Umm. It looks like a similar luminescence to that which Aletheia has caused," Dave replied. "Yes, there is another patch further to the northwest."
SJ changed her direction and headed towards the strange light that, as she got nearer, glowed with an ethereal beauty. The first one she reached was the branch of a single tree, its leaves glowing in the night. As SJ looked further north along the lake's western edge, there were other dots of light.
"It looks like they have left the mines," Dave said. "I'm not sure whether Aletheia has deliberately done what she has, but you can see the path she has taken."
In daylight, it wouldn't have been noticeable, the faint glow of the tops of trees, showing the route the group had taken. SJ hurriedly flew along its path, heading for the last one in the line, as the lake ended and the forest hugged its northern edge before the mountain that surrounded Killic's plateau.
"There," Dave said.
SJ was busy staring across the trees trying to see another glow, but couldn't see anything.
"Where?"
With an exaggerated sigh, Dave replied. "Below you!"
SJ hadn't been looking down and, on doing so, spotted the flicker of a flame through the canopy. With excitement, SJ flew down through the canopy, breaking through its branches to discover a clearing. Two small fires were burning, and SJ immediately spotted her friends as she hurriedly approached them.
