009 - Giants by the Sea

Magnus lay against the stone wall for half a day. Grey clouds heavy with rain that churned the earth the mud and blanketed the land. His skin cracked and flaked, bled yellow pus - the black veins spread like serpents through his skin, pulsating and growing. The pain followed them, growing into an agonizing sting stabbing every inch of his body.

It spread, down his skin through his flesh and through to his bones, every breath felt like glass down through his throat to his lungs, every time he tried to move Magnus couldn't help but cry out, moaning and clenching his teeth.

After half an agonizing day that crawled by, Magnus felt it was easier to breath, the pain lessened. He felt just as weak, bones cracking, but every effort to stand was rewarded finally by being able to separate from the wall and stumble upright on the path towards the village. His knees trembled, but held. Every step was easier than the last.

Close, reaching to steady himself on the farmhouse wall, reaching for the back door and finding it locked; Magnus pushed against it in frustration and, with a snap of metal against wood, it gave way. He fell into the room - the same laboratory with low benches. The place had been emptied out, not a single glass vial or shred of the Alchemists presence remained, only the wood benches and the single stool that a silent guard had sat on to take notes.

Every house was the same, locked and empty - their door gave way just as easily as the farmhouses when Magnus pushed against them. Am I stronger? Has the wood rotted? Deep carriage ruts led from the village out through a shut metal gate, heavy padlocks and chains. Magnus stumbled the length of the village, grasping an iron chain and, with a grunt, snapping the links apart. Pulling the rest of the chains and links apart with ease he walked out of the village, faltering and slipping on mud, but stronger - more determined with every step.

"I'm not a failure. The experiment worked. I will be a giant. I'm strong, I'm alive!" Magnus muttered, "I'm alive! I’m alive. .”

Through the haze of rain he saw two figures on horseback coming towards him on the forest path. They halted, one of the men vaulted from his mount and rushed toward Magnus.

"Magnus!" Willis cried out. "Magnus! By the Gods, we’ve found you!"

"Uncle . ." Magnus replied hoarsely.

"My stars! What happened to you . . your face . . " Willis paled as he looked over the youth, his skin cracked and twisted in pain. "Your face . . your arms . . by the Gods . . Pa, have a look."

"What have you gone and gotten yourself into now lad?" Pa Lund rode up to the two. Pa was more than eighty years old now, and he'd looked just as wrinkled and old since Magnus could remember. Upon seeing Magnus his eyes narrowed. "Disgusting. Bloody Alchemists, I told you lad, never to get involved with an Alchemist. Brought this on yourself, hey?" Pa Lund snorted and spat on the ground. “You look like you’ve crawled from the grave. How you feeling?" Pa Lunds’ voice wavered.

"Like shit." Magnus wheezed.

"You look it." Pa Lund replied, laughing lightly.

"Come on now Pa, take it easy on the lad. Tell us Magnus, what happened? Here, sit, sit!" Willis helped Magnus to a nearby rock, his eyes darting up and down Magnus’ ragged body. "What happened to you? We've had no word these three days past, the Alchemist and Lord Tygis have . ."

"Tygis? Phtu!" Pa Lund spat again.

". . have been setting up to sail out today. I looked for Rolf, for the others who went with you but," Willis shook his head. "How'd you end up this way? What did they do to you lad?"

"Three days?" Magnus' head spun. "It's been three days? Uncle, Pa, I've been dead and buried, ha! Look, my skin, see?" Magnus pulled back a piece of charred flesh. "I am gonna be a giant! I'm strong, I'm - hwak," Magnus broke into a fit of coughing. Pa Lund and Willis shared a look of horror.

"It's alright lad, don't talk." Willis patted him on the back, almost retching when a blister on Magnus’ back burst and his hand was covered in a foul smelling pus. "What do we do now Pa?"

"Hmmph. That damn Alchemist has more than something to answer for. I'd not have any festering degenerate treat a Lund like livestock for blasted experiments. Get this idiot home, we'll see to the Lord and the Alchemist when they get back from their little expedition." Pa Lund spoke with fury and determination.

"Pa," Magnus said weakly, "they're not coming back. The village is cleaned out. Wherever the Alchemists gone, he's gone for good."

"Then we follow him!" Pa Lund roared.

"How? They've taken all the boats and gone across to Doohama." Willis responded.

"Blast it all, am I the only Lund with any brains? Get the lad on a horse, we're going down the coast. Just because there ain't any boats in Kloster don't mean they don't exist!" Pa Lund vaulted onto his horse. "Be quick about it Willis, and Magnus you good enough to go? Let's go then, we've got ourselves an Alchemist to catch!"