Chapter 105: An Embellishing Story

“Gale!?” Maeve cried out in relief.

Clypeus’ renowned elder sister stood between Stryg and Maeve and the enraged seregulus.

“I’m glad I made it in time,” Gale brandished her blade in swift twirls.

She glanced at the dead seregulus, smoke still rising from its maw, “Although, it seems you two have already dealt with one of the beasts.”

The last standing seregulus roared and pounced at Gale. She raised her hand, blue energy crackled around her fingers. A bolt of lightning surged forth, fracturing as it struck the seregulus, streaming through its body and searing it from within.

The seregulus was sent flying from the blast and landed in a painful crash. A charred black hole had been burned through its rib cage. Fried hot-glowing veins were visible throughout its entire abdomen. Its serpentine tail twitched about.

Gale walked over towards the beast and sank her longsword straight through its skull. The seregulus spasmed one last time before it lay unmoving. Gale pulled out her sword and pointed a finger at the blade. A small stream of water appeared over her finger tip and washed away the blood.

She rested the flat of the blade on her shoulder and turned to the silent teenagers. “Are there anymore sereguli nearby?”

“...We don’t know. These were the only three we’ve seen,” Stryg shook his head.

“I, uh, I’m a huge fan,” Maeve swallowed.

“You must be Maeve Mora. Cly mentioned you were wearing our family’s cloak,” Gwen said.

“And you must be Gale, Clypeus’ sister,” Stryg said between haggard breaths.

“I’m ashamed to admit that I’m related to that dimwit, but yes, Cly is my younger brother. Who exactly might you be?” Gale stretched her hand out.

Stryg grabbed her hand. He winced as she pulled him up to his feet. “Stryg of Ebon Hollow,” he wheezed painfully.

“Oh, so you are the hybrid Clypeus talked about,” Gale smiled. “I’ve heard great things. Were you the one who killed the first seregulus?”

“Yes.” Stryg wanted to stand tall and shout the answer out proudly, but instead he barely managed a whisper.

“That explains the injuries,” Gale looked him over. “A single novice mage is no match for a seregulus. Then again, from what I’ve heard you’re not just some novice.”

“You should have seen him. He wrestled the seregulus with his bare hands then blew fire into its own maw, like some sort of dragon!” Maeve said excitedly.

“Impressive, we may have a young hero in the making. Still, even heroes have to rest and even with the bandages those injuries look serious. I don’t think you can make it back to Mellow Bloom on your own,” Gale said.

Maeve’s smile died. The excitement of meeting one of her heroes extinguished from the harsh reality of death and blood. “How are you even standing, Stryg? Your ribs, they were… Let me help you.”

“I’ll manage,” Stryg muttered. He felt his legs buckle and he faltered in his steps.

“No need,” Gale crouched and caught him before he face-planted.

“What are you doing?” Stryg frowned. He would have pushed her away had he had the strength.

She groaned as she tried lifting him up, “Wow, you’re heavy.”

“So I’ve been told,” Stryg coughed. His vision was beginning to blur.

His ribs ached and he could taste blood in his mouth.

“Not to worry,” Gale grinned.

Her pale skin gained a bright bronze sheen. She lifted him up with ease and carried him with one arm.

“Vigor magic!” Maeve said in recognition.

“If we have any chance of saving this kid we need to get him to a white mage as soon as possible,” Gale said.

“Right!” Maeve nodded.

Stryg closed his eyes, too exhausted to express his indignation of being carried like a baby. Nor did he have enough energy to listen to Maeve’s bombardment of questions towards Gale. He fell asleep in a span of a few heartbeats.

“He must have been holding on through sheer will,” Gale stared at Stryg’s sleeping face.

“He was injured pretty badly, trying to save my life. I thought he wouldn’t make it,” Maeve bit her lip.

“Then we best not waste any time,” Gale said.

~~~

“Master!” Rhian screamed.

She rushed down the hill to Gale and Maeve.

“Is this your rider?” Gale asked.

“Master, you’re hurt!” Rhian ignored Gale and stared frantically at the small goblin in her arms.

“He can’t hear you, he’s asleep. Maeve over here explained the situation to me. It seems he was hurt pretty badly. Although, not as bad as we originally thought, since he’s still breathing given the circumstances. If we get him to a healer soon I think he’ll pull through. You can take him if you like,” Gale offered Stryg to her.

Rhian gently reached out and picked Stryg up. Tears began to well up in her eyes. She fell to her knees and began to cry, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“Now’s not the time to cry. We need to move him now,” Gale admonished.

Rhian nodded weakly and began heading down the other side of the hill to the city of Mellow Bloom below.

Nora trailed a few steps behind. “Maeve? You’re alright!”

She rushed over to her friend and hugged her tightly.

Maeve returned the embrace and tried to hold back her tears, “Me? I thought I lost you in the stampede.”

“Didn’t I tell you it’ll be okay? The guards protected me,” Nora chuckled in relief.

“You’re an idiot,” Maeve giggled softly, relief at the ordeal finally over. “And who the hell gives someone a little dagger to fight a seregulus?”

“Oh, that was just to make you feel better. It’s not like you were going to actually fight a seregulus,” Nora said.

Maeve frowned and crossed her arms.

Nora’s face paled. “Wait, you didn’t actually see a seregulus did you?”

“See one? I almost got killed by three!”

“I think the seregulus might have instigated the stampede in the first place. They probably chased the root-bison. The problem is I’m not sure why a root-bison herd would have been so close to a city in the first place. They never wander near a settlement. Something must have spooked them, something big, a battle perhaps?” Gale surmised.

“Wait, so what happened. Are you okay?” Nora furrowed her brow in worry.

“I’m fine.” Maeve glanced over at the sleeping goblin, “He protected me.”

“Stryg?” Nora’s eyes widened.

“He’s bleeding. Is he alright?” Clypeus ran up to them from down the hill.

Rhian pulled Stryg away from Clypeus. “Stay back!” She wiped her tears and tried to imitate Stryg’s hiss.

“Leave those two be for now, Cly. If the kiddo’s managed to hold out this long, he’ll make it to the white mage for healing, so long as we keep moving,” Gale said.

“Can you explain to me how the goblin that tried killing you yesterday, somehow saved your life?” Nora asked.

“I really don’t know actually. He sorta just did. I didn’t get a chance to ask him why,” Maeve gripped her fists. She felt a pain in her chest. “He managed to take down a seregulus by himself. Then the other two came, but thank Bellum, Gale showed up just in time.”

“I would have been too late had it not been for that brave goblin.” Gale smacked Clypeus’ head, “Of course, none of this would have happened had my dumbass brother listened to me and waited for me back in the city. Instead of I don’t know, coming out here and letting Nora and Maeve out of his sights near seregulusi territory!”

Clypeus fell to the ground with a thud. “Can you not hit me when you have enhanced strength?” he groaned.

Gale released her vigor spell. Her skin returned to its usual pale tone. She kicked Clypeus’ butt, “Is that better, huh!?”

“I’m sorry okay, what do you want me to say?” Clypeus whined.

“I don’t care what you have to say. I’m just interested in what Father has to say after he hears you put the daughter of the late Alice Veres in mortal danger,” Gale walked away.

“Wait, please don’t tell Father!” Clypeus chased after her.

~~~

As they arrived at the city’s bridge the group stopped to try and figure out their next plan of action.

“I’m going to take the centaur and Stryg to the healer. Everyone else can go home and rest. Clypeus, escort Maeve back to her accommodations,” Gale said.

“Yes, sister,” Clypeus nodded.

Maeve grabbed Nora’s hands, “I’m afraid this will be goodbye.”

“What do you mean?” Nora asked.

“I’m heading back to Hollow Shade first thing in the morning.”

“But, I thought you said you were going to stay for the week?”

“I did and I was, but-”

“If this is about the Hunt, I’m so sorry. I realize now I should have never taken you along. Please, forgive me,” Nora pleaded.

“While I agree that you’re crazy for trying to hunt down one of those monsters, that’s not what this is about. Something happened today that I can’t explain, something that should not have been possible.” Maeve took a deep breath, “I need answers and I’m going to find them. I’m sorry I can’t explain more.”

“I see… Well, maybe we can hang out more when I get back to Hollow Shade?”

“I’d like that,” Maeve smiled.

~~~

Stryg woke to the sound of laughter and the clinking of mugs. He could smell the whiff of alcohol in the air. He cracked his eyes open.

An old man with a scraggly beard stared back at him, “Ah, you are finally awake.”

“Who are you?” Stryg croaked. His throat was terribly dry.

“Your attending doctor and healer.”

“So, you’re a white mage?”

“Quite right. I’ve already finished casting all the heal spells you required. All you need now is some rest and a bit of food in your stomach.”

“Where am I?” Stryg leaned his head to the side.

“The finest tavern in all of Mellow Bloom, The Blue Meadow. I would have preferred to have you on a bed, but your injuries seemed serious. They put you on a table as soon as you got here and I began spellcasting.”

Stryg weakly looked around the place. They were at a table in the corner of the tavern. Most of the other tables were filled with folk drinking and eating. Even when Stryg had come in last night, the place hadn’t been this packed. The narrator of the Singing Willow troupe, the captain, stood on top of one of the tables, recounting some story that had most of the tavern-goers enraptured.

What is she even doing here? Stryg wondered. “How did I get here?”

“A centaur by the name of Rhiannon carried you here,” the mage said.

A weight Stryg hadn’t realized he had been carrying was suddenly lifted. Rhian was alright. That was all that mattered right now.

“And then with the softest of tones the seregulus turned it’s horrific maw towards the vampiress,” the captain declaimed. “Her ankle was broken and her arm had been torn open by a root-bison horn during the stampede. She was without escape. The scent of her blood only enticed the beast.”

Stryg stood up, his vision swam for a brief moment. “I need something to drink,” he winced.

“Before you do, I was hoping to get a chance to talk to you,” the old mage blocked his path. “While I was healing your ribs, I noticed that the bleeding had already stopped and that your body was slowly, but surely healing itself. Did you by chance, use a potion? If so, which one? I did not notice any symptoms of potion-intoxication.”

The captain’s voice rang clearly throughout the tavern hall, “The seregulus’ fangs dripped with venom as it salivated for the damsel. It pounced at her, vile claws extended. When the smallest and unlikeliest of heroes appeared and stood in the monster’s way. Our hero dashed past the monster’s claws and pierced the creature with his sword, straight through the chest.”

The crowd cheered loudly, mugs raised high. Stryg took the distraction to slip away from the annoying white mage and head to the bar. All the stools were occupied and the bar’s table was too high for Stryg. There wasn’t even room for Stryg to squeeze by and tell the bartender what he wanted.

He tapped one of the men sitting on a stool, “Excuse me, I need to order.”

“Then find a ladder short-stuff,” the human waved him away.

Stryg grabbed the stool from under him and pulled it. The man slipped and fell, his head banging into the bar’s table. He rolled to the ground, unconscious. Stryg pushed him away with his foot. He put the stool back near the table and sat on top.

The woman sitting next to him gave him a questioning look, but thought better of it. She sipped her drink and stayed quiet.

“So, what can I get you?” The bartender asked.

“Water would be nice,” Stryg said.

“The sword was not enough, the voracious beast broke the blade in half!” The captain yelled, “But! Our hero was not deterred, he would not allow the damsel behind him to be killed. He ran up to the seregulus and wrestled with the beast, fang and claw! The monster roared, and tore at our hero’s torso, but still our hero held his ground!”

The crowd grew quiet as they listened to the tale. Stryg turned to watch, it sounded similar to today’s events, but they were slightly different. He wondered who she spoke of.

“The monster’s jaw unhinged and opened wide, eager to devour our hero. When at the last moment, our hero took a deep breath and prayed to the gods for strength. Suddenly, ash and cinder filled his lungs. His veins flowed with liquid fire and his eyes burned with embers. And when he spoke, his voice sang flames. Like a dragon roaring in defiance in the eye of a storm. The raging blaze consumed the seregulus’ body whole.”

The captain summoned an orb of flame in the palm of her hand, it exploded in a burst of sparks above the crowd. They clapped and cheered in excitement.

“Yet, all was not well,” the captain whispered. “Our hero collapsed in exhaustion. The damsel rushed to his side and helped him stand. The grass around them shuddered as four more sereguli slithered into the clearing.”

The crowd gasped.

“All hope seemed lost. Until, a daughter of the Unfaltering Shield flew down from the sky and faced off against the monsters. She was outnumbered, any one of the beasts could rip her to shreds. But, Gale was not just a mage, she was a grand swordmaster!”

Stryg tilted his head, this was clearly a retelling of today’s events, albeit mixed in with some lies. He wondered if Gale really was a grand swordmaster though, he had heard those people were incredibly dangerous.

“Stryg!”

He looked for the source of the voice. “Master,” he smiled.

Loh marched over to him, “What in all the damned Realms were you doing today!?”

Stryg stared at her angry face, his smile disappeared as comprehension dawned on him, “Oh, um...shit.”