Hump felt a draft through the temple. The flooded floor started to stir. Essence converged on Vivienne, drawn into the already thick aura that surrounded her, building on it. It flickered like violet flames. So much power that Hump couldn’t have hoped to control it, yet she seemed to contain it with ease. Slowly, she raised her wand in the direction of the gorger. Her hand shook, so she steadied it with her second, both gripping tightly.

The wind picked up, and the water level started to drop. Second by second it washed away, until the floor was all but dry around him. It rose toward Vivienne like waves in a storm, rising up around her until she was covered up above the waist. Despite the current, despite the great waves, it did not jerk her. Light flashed at the tip of her wand, a brilliant blue that flickered with silver, piercing through the water and illuminating the entire chamber.

The gorger tried to stop it. It blasted stones in her direction, and spikes rose from the earth. They were washed away. Its essence dissipated in the waves, its magic lost to such a devastating spell.

There was a change. The waves that had appeared like rampaging chaos before suddenly stopped. They didn’t settle. Where the waves were at their peak, they froze as if held in ice.

Howling wind exploded from within. The water rose into the air in tendril-like cyclones that whirled through the temple chamber. Hump shielded his face as the wind blasted him with a hail of water, stinging against his skin.

Still her wand shone brighter. The cyclones weaved around her like great sea serpents, coiling and diving, lashing out at the gorger’s attempts to stop her. They were so large, Hump feared they would bring the entire temple down, yet somehow the walls held.

The gorger reached for the earth and it rumbled. Rock grew across its skin like liquid mud, forming layers of armour across its body. A grotesque combination of flesh and stone. A shell for it to hide in. Hump wondered if it could even move.

The light of Vivienne’s spell flashed, and her voice came like a howl from the sea. “Drowning of the Deep.”

Water and essence surged forward, a waterfall of noise, shattering the eerie echo of the chamber. Four great cyclones curved their way toward the gorger, each one as large as its chest. They engulfed it. The impact drove it to the ground with a great crash. It was submerged in an instant, ripped into by the torrent and then almost gone completely from sight, leaving only a blurred figure within a vortex. Where the water struck, it clung, forming a sphere of roaring, raging water around the beast. Hump didn’t think anything could escape such power.

It was beyond anything he’d seen a wizard do, like something out of a story. It was power only a Chosen should possess. For a fifth rank wizard to perform it—he wondered what the dust she’d breathed in had been.

Vivienne staggered, struggling to remain standing but not letting her wand stray from its target. Her aura slowly dulled, then faded entirely. Without the shroud of essence to distort her, she appeared to have aged a lifetime. Her face was drained of colour, her cheeks gaunt, and her skin stretched and thin. She looked like death was ready to claim her. Hump couldn’t help but be reminded of the fallen prince Kassius once more. He wondered what price she had paid for power like this. Every bit of essence she had left went into maintaining the spell, and for every second, she seemed to grow smaller and more frail.

When the spell finally ended, the sphere collapsed to the ground all at once. Water swept out in a great wave, Vivienne’s control over it lost. It knocked her from her feet and sent her sprawling underneath. Hump braced himself against his staff, yet still almost lost his feet to the force.

Dylan was already moving to help her. The image of an ape flashed around him and he propelled himself through the air with his staff, landing deftly beside her. He pulled her from the water and held her on her feet. His hand shone with nature essence as he channelled it into her, trying to restore some of the power she’d lost and help with her wound.

“I’m alright, Dylan,” she said quietly. “That thing’s going to kill us long before my wound does.”

He gave her a reluctant look and stopped. “It’s not dead?”

Hump turned his eyes back to the gorger’s figure, half submerged in the flooded temple. A still, unmoving mass of stone, flesh, and blood. His heart thundered. He wished with every fibre of his being for the beast to be dead. For the fight to be over.

Behind him, he heard Bud ordering the townsfolk into the sheltered area beyond the hallway, for all the good it would do them.

Hump’s stomach dropped as it dragged itself from the ground as if gripped by essence. He clenched his fist around his staff, white knuckled as fear shook him. He should have known better than to hope. Wizards had no allies in the gods, and the gorger was a powerful monster. It was going to take more to bring it down. But if Vivienne’s spell hadn’t killed it, what the hell could?

The gorger was smaller now, barely taller than him. Where it had been a goliath of muscle and stone before, now it appeared barely held together, as though it had been starved and beaten for an age and this was all that was left. There was blood all over its body. Gaping holes in its stomach and shoulder, and deep gashes marred its stone armour. Its shell was cracked and broken, its flesh torn to ruin, yet still it stood.

It had lost its stone head, and in its place was the cloaked hood of a shade. Unlike its weaker components however, this shade was not black. It was the deepest bronze, shining with radiant colour from within that, even weakened, thrummed with sickening power. It stared at Vivienne from beneath its hood.

“Why wield the decayed power of my world when yours is so rich?” it sneered, as though looking down on her. “You are weak and a fool. A fool that seeks power through false means. Pathetic! You humans. You foul, hoarding beasts!”

As it walked closer, more of its body crumbled away. Gaps appeared in its flesh and armour, the wispy bronze essence of a spirit glowing within. Its physical body was failing, and the wraith was coming out. At its core, Hestia’s Star swam, suspended in essence and radiating the same bronze light.

“You have not won yet.” Vivienne lashed out with another Water Shot, though it lacked its previous power. She fell to her knees, and Hump could imagine the searing cold spreading through her. She’d used to much power. Taken from a dangerous source. To continue was to risk permanent damage.

The gorger slapped it aside with an armoured hand, where it chipped off stone but failed to slow it down. The beast laughed.

“Any ideas?” Bud asked, arriving at Hump’s side.

Hump bit his lip, shaking his head. “If Vivienne’s magic couldn’t do the job, I don’t know what will.”

“Well we need to think of something,” Celaine said. “We’re too deep underwater. Vivienne’s the only one that can get us out”

Hump grimaced. Her best efforts had failed, and now they couldn’t even get out. Just brilliant!

Hump stared at the gorger. Its body was damaged, full of holes and shattered pieces. In places where its physical form had deteriorated entirely, its spiritual body now took its place. Wisps of essence that gave it a vague form. And floating at its core, through the gaps in its armour, Hump glimpsed Hestia’s Star.

“The star is acting like its heartstone. I know it’s a longshot, but if we can shatter it, its ability to regenerate won’t matter. Celaine how many hits do you think you need?”

“I’m not sure, but I guess we’re going to find out. I’ll need time to build up a powerful shot.”

Hump nodded, turning to Bud. “We need to keep its attention.”

“We can do that,” Bud growled with a quiet confidence. “We’ll hold it off as long as we can, Celaine.”

She nodded, channelling Spring Step. “I’ll find my shots.” Hump felt Predator’s Intent already forming. She’d need time to build up its power if she were going to have a serious chance of damaging it. Either that, or Vivienne would need to pull off a miracle.

Across the room, the gorger shot stone from the ground with a sweep of its arm. Dylan stepped before the blow, slamming it aside with a heavy strike from his staff. He flourished the weapon, bringing it ready to his side and staring at the gorger in challenge.

The gorger tilted its head and studied him. “You’re the apprentice.”

“That’s right.”

“And not a wizard… interesting. So full of life.” It extended a hand and clenched its fist. Essence shot forward, piercing Dylan’s chest. The druid gasped. A stream of power flowed from his chest, siphoned right from his core. It flowed to the gorger and the creature breathed it in hungrily.

Hump took a breath, forcing himself not to think about the cold as he channelled Rock Shot. With all the stone the gorger had torn up from the ground, he had more than enough ammunition. He sent a heavy stone hurtling into the gorger, staggering the beast. It cried out, releasing Dylan. The druid charged it, hammering at the creature with his staff.

Despite how frail its body appeared, the gorger didn’t even stagger from the blow. It took it with ease, grabbing Dylan’s staff and laughing down at him. It pulled him closer, then gripped him by the throat. Dylan’s Aspect of the Bear flashed over him, his body expanding to resist.

“Shit,” Hump murmured. He gathered up his essence for another spell, when the gorger let go of Dylan’s staff. It raised its hand toward Hump, and Hump’s eyes went wide.

A spike of stone formed in its palm, growing until it was almost a foot long. Bronze essence exploded at the base, and the stone shot forward.

Hump raised his staff in both hands, swinging at it with Parry Shield. The impact was like a hammer to his hands. The spike shattered, missing him by a hair’s breadth, but the force of it sent him flailing to the ground. It was time enough for Bud to close the gap, sword ablaze with frostfire, the water around his feet crystallising as he charged.

The gorger’s arm hardened at the hand, forming a mace head and swinging at the knight. Dylan suddenly jerked, pulling the gorger off balance as Bud got into range. The knight cut down with an overhead swing, frostfire roaring, the blade slamming down on the creature’s arm.

It cut deep, carving into the stone. The gorger screamed, releasing Dylan and roaring in Bud’s direction. A hail of bones shot from its mouth, and Bud barely raised his arm in time to block them from his face. They struck his armour, bouncing off with a hundred audible tings.

Hump pointed his staff at the ground before the gorger’s feet and shouted, “Blast.”

Essence exploded into the water, sending a wave over the gorger. Bud unleashed his Heart of Frostfire, the aura surging forward. Water turned to ice, coating the gorger’s body. It wouldn’t do much to slow it down, but they only needed to distract it.

Celaine took her shot. Silver flashed through the air, a quiet whistle as it tore toward the gorger. The sight of it sent chills down Hump’s spine. He felt fear at the core of him, for he knew that if that arrow struck him there was no surviving it. It radiated death.

The gorger shook, cracking the ice around its joints. It freed itself, but not fast enough. The arrow pierced through the gap in its armour, striking the star within. There was a flash of bronze light. The gorger screamed, stumbling away from the impact. It flailed with both arms, forcing Bud and Dylan back, then let loose an almighty scream.

Hump screamed too, dropping his staff and holding his hands to his ears. He felt his soul shaking at the force of it, its essence sharp as knives as it pierced through him, tearing at the core of him.

Nearby, Celaine screamed and fell from the air, landing clumsily on the ground. She collapsed to her knees, both hands over her ears, eyes closed against the pain.

The gorger moved so fast Hump didn’t have a chance to even cry out. One moment Bud was standing there in a gaze, the next, the gorger’s arm slammed into his chest. It sent Bud hurtling to the ground. He landed hard, rolling through the water and crashing to a stop against the same stone pillar Hump had sheltered behind before. His armour was dented across his chest, a line carved through the steel.

Dylan rushed the gorger before it could fully break free.

Hump grabbed his staff, now soaking wet, and hurried over to Bud. “You alive?”

“Yes.” Bud wheezed in a difficult breath. “Go.”

Hump stepped out in front of him as Dylan’s staff hammered down upon the gorger’s armour, focusing the attacks around the collar and torso. Clearly he’d figured out their target. It smashed into the stone with a colossal thud, sending stone and flesh scattering. The gorger screamed, seemingly mad with pain and fury.

Another arrow whistled through the air, less powerful than before. It avoided the gorger’s armour, but missed Hestia’s Star within, striking the back of its body instead. A chunk of stone was sent hurtling away, leaving a large gap in its rear. Another target.

Hump charged closer, aiming his staff at the gorger’s back as it reengaged with Dylan. He’d only have one shot at this and he wouldn’t let a sliver of essence go to waste. Hump raised his staff, channelling all the essence he could muster into the focus. He was cold and tired, but if he was going to die anyway he might as well throw everything he had into it.

It swung at Dylan, raking long claws across his stomach and carving three deep lines through his flesh. Dylan roared, nature magic streaming from his wounds, slowing the bleeding. Vines sprouted from the ground around the gorger, swinging up and wrapping around what remained of its arms and torso, gripping it in place.

Dylan shortened his staff until it was a sharp stake, then he stabbed it into Hestia’s Star. It cracked like a club, bronze light flaring like embers bursting from a disturbed fire. He pressed harder, using both hands and putting the full weight of his body behind it.

Hump felt the dragon’s warmth once more, and he used it. At least, as much as he dared. He fuelled the fire in his staff. He envisioned the formation in his mind as clear as if it were in his spellbook. He’d struggled with his control before, and he’d overcome it. He would overcome it again. His friends were dying, and he wanted to save them. His will was resolute.

“Fire Beam.”

A ray of fire exploded from his staff, piercing through the air like a beam of sunlight. It struck the gorger in the back, though he’d missed the hole to Hestia’s Star. Hump roared even as the gorger screamed, throwing even more essence into the spell. He felt the wildness of fire essence surge through him, his heart hammered, his blood felt ready to burst from his veins even as cold ripped through him.

He tore through the gorger’s armour, and struck the star within. There was an explosion of essence and the gorger was blasted a step back, barely staying on its feet. It whirled on him, ignoring an arrow that bounced off its armoured side. Its gaze was focused on Hump. It unleashed a clumsy kick. Hump turned from it, trying to dodge even as the kick took him in the side.

Despite its smaller form, despite its waning strength, the blow struck like a boulder, sending Hump crumbling to the floor. Pain washed over him as he hit the ground. He wheezed and gasped for air, each breath hurt like a knife in the ribs. He’d probably cracked a few, and he suspected the only reason he was still breathing at all was because his cloak had taken the brunt of the hit.

The gorger stared down at him, leering closer. “I should have killed you sooner. I should have torn your skin from your flesh and drank your blood.”

It stretched out its arm toward him, and sharp spikes shot from its fingers. Hump stared at them, even as his vision faded.

There was a warm wind, and then Lucile stood before him. She screamed as the gorger’s claws swung, bracing her shield.

Its claws pierced the shield easily, four long needles. They pierced her stomach, worming their way through her body, growing until they sprouted from her throat. Her mouth opened in a silent scream. She stared at Hump, blood running down her chin. Hump stared back, eyes wide.

Suddenly, he didn’t care that this creature was beyond him. He didn’t care that he could not fight it. He didn’t care if he died.

He’d had one purpose—get Lucile out alive. Make the month of suffering he’d endured worth something. It was what had kept him going through all the pain and exhaustion, and now he’d failed at even that.

He’d been wrong to suppress the dragon. He’d been wrong to hold back his emotions. So what if his magic controlled him? It was better than letting people die. It was better than letting evil, disgusting beasts live and torment. It was time to risk his humanity and make use of the power he’d been granted—whether that meant he became a warlock or not.