Chapter 11

The next day Zavra and I had a picnic in the city gardens trying to stay as far away from people, and possible cultists, as we could. It was a warm sunny day and we spent as long as we could lounging under the shade of a tree. As night fell, we made our way back to the Lucky Gnome and spent several moments saying goodbye. I headed back to the library feeling refreshed and relaxed after the lazy day. I collapsed into bed with a contented sigh.

I had about a week before the graduation ceremony, in order to graduate I had to first reach level 6 in my Draco Jitsu skill. This shouldn’t be a problem since I was already level 5, but I vowed to push myself as hard as possible in the coming week all the same. Over the next five days I pushed myself to the limit using my spells as often as I could alongside my sword. Marcus and Thord even agreed to take me on at the same time, so I could better get used to fighting multiple opponents. To help even the fight they allowed me to use more of my evocation spells than before though I was still loathed to injure them.

By Friday all of my hard work paid off when I got a series of notifications.

Your skills have improved. Draco Jitsu level 6, Evocation Magic level 4, Illusion Magic level 4, Protection Magic level 3, Spell Casting level 5.

You have learned new spells.

Congratulations your Draco Jitsu skill has reached Basic Rank. Affect: Your attack speed and agility have increased by 10%.

For leveling one of your skills to basic rank you have been awarded 100 XP.

I grinned in triumph and sat down hard. I was covered in sweat and tired from the rigorous training, but it had been worth it. I cast a glance over at Master Vorjun who was watching me from his raised platform. He gave the faintest of nods in my direction. I pulled up my spell book to check out my new spells.

Lock (Protection)

Level 2 Spell

Cast time: Instant

Duration: 24 Hours

Range: 5 feet

Affect: You touch a doorway or other lockable area sealing it against unwanted intrusion. Only creatures you designate when you cast this spell can open the area.

I was starting to see the downside of having an affinity for four different schools of magic. I had less Protection and Summoning spells than Evocation or Illusion since my affinity was so much lower, still I had more spells than I could possibly cast in one day. I wondered if other people had this problem, I would have to ask Zavra about it.

I hadn’t been expecting to gain XP from reaching basic rank in Draco Jitsu, I wondered if I would get XP for reaching basic rank in all my skills, if so, that was a heck of a way to power level. Both my Spell Casting and Illusion skills were only 1 level away from basic rank, that would be 200 XP if they both leveled which would nearly get me to level 5 and I could finally earn my class.

I closed out of my notifications to see Master Vorjun standing before me. He gave me the faintest of smiles and held out his hand. “Congratulations Mister Erlan, tomorrow you graduate from my Dojo. It has been an honor teaching you.” I gulped down the nervous lump in my throat and gave him a nervous smile as I shook his hand.

“Thank you Master.”

He turned and walked away leaving me dumbfounded. Marcus and Merina approached me looking sullen. “Well, who are we supposed to train with now? Both you and Thord are graduating and there isn’t anyone here as good as you two.” Marcus groaned than winced as Merina elbowed him in the ribs.

“Other people can hear you moron. Thord and Derek might have been the best in class, but they are not the only ones. While you three have been fighting I was speaking with some of the others and already have our new partners picked out.” Merina said haughtily.

“Who?” Asked Marcus with a look of concern. Merina pointed at a pair of students standing several feet away talking. Marcus blanched when he saw who it was. “Oh, please no, Addison hits too hard and Maddie doesn’t like me, she is going to kill me.” Marcus complained. Merina rolled her eyes at him while Thord and I laughed.

The four of us went out for drinks that night to celebrate. Despite my warnings Marcus again challenged Thord to a drinking contest, rather than drag their drunk butt’s home I paid for a room for the two and we tossed them unceremoniously onto the bed and left them there. Merina and I made our way back to the library, said goodnight and I headed to bed. I was exhausted from the week of hard training but excited to be able to leave the Dojo at last. I wasn’t sure what to do with myself now that I would have so much more free time. My thoughts wandered as I drifted off to sleep.

The next day just before noon we held a ceremony in the larger dojo hall. Small benches were setup for the students, and some family, to sit on. Master’s Vorjun and Varja were wearing elegant silk robes. I was dressed in a fine set of pants, a shirt, and doublet. Thord had breaded his beard and hair with silver beads etched with dwarven runes. I had no idea what they meant but figured I would ask him later. Thord and I, along with three other students stood at the back of the room as Master Vorjun addressed the crowd.

“I have been teaching for many years and I am proud of every student here today. Today we honor five students who have shown honor and dedication. They leave this Dojo today armed with skills that will no doubt save their lives and the lives of others. When I call your name please step forward. Thord Brightstone.” Thord stiffened at the sound of his name but stepped forward proudly moving to the platform. Master Varja leaned down and pinned something onto Thord’s jacket. He stepped off to the side of the platform and waited.

“Sarah Cullen.” Master Vorjun said. Sarah glanced once in my direction narrowing her eyes at me than walked up to the platform. She stepped over next to Thord after getting something from Varja. The next two students stepped up leaving me standing alone in the back. I wasn’t sure why Master Vorjun hadn’t called me, if he was going alphabetically than I should have gone up after Sarah. Finally Master Vorjun called my name.

“Last but certainly not least, is one of my most interesting students. He joined us a little over a month ago but has earned the skill to graduate today. Derek Erlan.” I heard a muttering amongst the crowd as I stepped forward, several people turned giving me curious glances. My eyes locked on Zavra, sitting in the front row, who was looking at me in admiration. My heart skipped as I saw her, and I fought back a stupid grin trying to maintain my composer.

I reached the platform and Master Varja leaned down and placed a pin on my doublet. It was a pair of crossed swords with Draconic runes encircling them. I smiled at her and gave a small bow taking my place next to the others. As one we all turned back to the master’s and bowed, they in turn bowed to us. The audience applauded and we all broke apart to go see our family and friends.

For a moment I stood watching Thord hug his mother and father I could instantly see the resemblance Thord, and his father could have been twins if not for the age difference. I saw Sarah standing with her family talking excitedly as they hugged her. Seeing them and the others hugging their families opened a pit in my heart, sadness washed over me at the thought of my family, a family I would never see again.

My parents were gone, and my brother was on another planet, he had emailed me once to tell me he was getting married and a year later to tell me his wife just had a baby. I had never meant his wife or the child and now I never would. My heart ached and I turned away from the happy families. I could feel myself beginning to spiral, sadness and grief at a life I had wasted welling up inside me. A tear ran down my cheek and I nearly collapsed right there, crushed by the weight of the sadness pulling me down.

I staggered slightly as arms wrapped around me. The scent of wild roses and something else I couldn’t quite put my finger on filled my nose and I looked down to see Zavra wrapping me in a warm embrace, she smiled at me then faltered when she saw the sadness in my eyes. “Are you…” she started to say but I wrapped my arms around her burying my face in her hair. For several moments I held her, just breathing in her scent, and letting her warmth wash away the ache in my chest. When finally, I pulled away she glanced at me a worried look on her face. I gave her a soft smile but before either of us could speak Serk slapped me hard on the back making my knees go weak. “Well done my boy, I had a good feeling about you the day we meant. Glad to see I was right.” He said with a grin. I gave him a half-hearted smile.

We soon left the library heading for the Lucky Gnome, Zavra held me back a bit from the others giving us a moment of privacy. “Are you alright?” she said placing a hand on my cheek. I smiled and kissed her palm.

“Yeah, just missing my family is all,” I said a slight catch in my voice.

“We are here for you Derek, all of us,” she said gesturing to the other three in deep conversation as they walked away, seemingly oblivious to us. I smiled at her and kissed her gently, “Thank you,” I whispered as I pulled away. Zavra wrapped her arms around my right arm and fell into step beside me. A gentle weight landed on my shoulder and Shadowfire nuzzled my neck. I reached up and scratched at his scales.

“You mortals get very emotional over the silliest things,” Shadowfire said. I glared at him but then rolled my eyes at the silly beast, he wasn’t human after all.

We headed into the Lucky Gnome to celebrate, far too many drinks and several hours later I collapsed onto my bed and passed out. I slept in the next day and ate slowly when I finally came down for food. I had the worst hangover ever, but thankfully it faded after a while. Around noon Zavra and I were about to head out to spend the day together when Alvor approached the table looking slightly grim. “A pair of trolls just took out a merchant caravan in the Ravenswood, somewhere along the road North of town. I just picked up the quest from Ardwin.” Alvor said holding out the quest scroll.

“Well then I suppose it’s time we go do a bit of hunting.” Serk said with a grin.

You’ve received a Quest:

Troll Menace

A pair of trolls are terrorizing the merchant caravans, slay them to receive your reward.

Objective: Slay the trolls 0/2

Reward: 100 Experience and 35 Gold Coins

Accept: Yes/No

I quickly accepted the quest and equipped my armor and sword. Several minutes later we were leaving the city, this time heading for the Ravenwood Forest north of town. It was strange coming back here; it had been a month since I had last looked upon the forest I had arrived in when I woke up in this strange world. We followed the forest road for nearly a mile before coming upon a gruesome sight. Merchant wagons lie broken and scattered across the road their contents strewn about. Blood covered parts of the wagon and I could just make out pieces of bodies left behind. It appeared the trolls had eaten much of the bodies leaving only chunks behind. Alvor stepped forward and began searching the site. I turned away feeling bile rise in the back of my throat at the mangled bodies. A moment later Alvor called out that he had found the tracks, they headed Northeast.

We set off at a brisk pace making our way through the dense trees. After a few minutes Alvor called a halt and we all stopped listening intently. Just over the hill in front of us we could hear crunching noises. Alvor crept forward and looked down, turning away almost immediately. “Both trolls are just on the other side of that hill, they are currently snacking on what remains of the merchants,” he said in disgust.

“Alright we take them by surprise, Zavra, Derek light them up. Trolls hate fire it prevents them from regenerating.” Serk said. Zavra and I nodded, and we moved forward as quietly as possible while the others spread out to flank the trolls. We peaked over the hill and sure enough about 20 or so feet ahead sat the trolls, one sat with his back to me while the other sat across from him facing in our direction. They were both munching away at what remained of the merchants.

They easily stood about 12 feet tall with muscled arms and legs, they had greenish gray skin that was covered in warts and boils. The one with his back to me had long, thin, greasy black hair while the other was bald his head strangely misshapen, like he had gotten smashed in the head and it never fully reformed. Zavra moved to cast a spell, but I held up a hand for her to wait. I knew what spell I wanted to cast and instinctually knew I needed both trolls in a straight line. I moved over slowly taking care not to be heard. As I moved, I used Analysis on the trolls.

Forest Troll

Level 10

Skills: Regeneration, Untrained Combat, Hurl

Experience: 220

Forest Troll

Level 10

Skills: Regeneration, Untrained Combat, Hurl

Experience: 220

Once I was in position, I turned to Zavra and motioned for her to attack. We both leapt to our feet and unleashed our spells on the trolls. I thrust out my palm and a condensed beam of white-hot fire shot forward as I cast Fire Beam. The beam slammed into the greasy haired troll carving into his side he howled in pain as the beam continued on its path and slammed the other troll full in the chest. Both trolls stood turning on me before they could move however, a marble sized ball of fire landed between them and erupted with a cacophonous boom. I turned away from the sudden brightness of the explosion as the smoke dissipated both trolls were nearly at half health their regeneration unable to heal the burns across their bodies.

They bellowed in rage and charged at us, but before they reached us greasy hair troll halted as a hail of arrows peppered his thick hide a few of the arrows simply bounced off but several dug deep into his arms and shoulders. The bald troll cried out in pain as Serk slashed into its leg from behind and a bolt of crackling light slammed into its face. Zavra began unleashing more spells as I drew my sword charging at the greasy haired troll. Just before I reached it a bolt of searing light slammed it in the face, by the white in its eyes the spell seemed to momentarily blind the troll. I took advantage of its blindness and began carving into its legs and chucking fire at it in hops that my simple spell would be enough to stop its regeneration.

I stayed too long however and the troll's blindness faded before I could dart away, and its clawed hand slammed me full in the face. The force of the blow set me reeling and my back slammed into a tree knocking the wind from my chest. I collapsed stunned desperately trying to convince my lungs to breathe again.

You have been concussed. You will suffer a lack of coordination, confusion, and dizziness for the next 10 seconds.

I groaned as my lungs finally decided to work. My head was pounding, and my eyesight was blurry. I tried to stand but couldn’t get to my feet, everything around me seemed muffled. Someone was screaming at me, I think. The greasy haired troll was charging at me, and I tried to react, but my movements were slow and clumsy. Someone darted between me and the troll, I could just make out a purple blob. A blast of fire slammed into the troll, but his momentum didn’t slow. I watched in horror as the troll smashed his fist into Zavra sending her soaring through the air.

Fear and adrenaline flooded my system as my head finally cleared. I barely managed to dodge out of the way of the trolls descending fist. It slammed into the tree I had been leaning against snapping it in two. I cast a glance over my shoulder dreading what I was about to see. Zavra was lying motionless on the ground her health bar flashing a critical warning. A caught a glimpse of Stephan rushing to her side his hands glowing with healing magic. I turned back to the troll, rage filling my heart. This thing had tried to kill my girl and I would make it suffer. From the damage it had already taken it wasn’t looking to hot, its health bar was hovering right around a quarter full and that was fine by me.

I darted between its legs my sword lashing out cutting deep wounds. It swung at me its claws catching my cheek and shaving off several points of health. I danced away from it putting a bit of distance between us. I glanced around it and when I was sure no one was behind it, I reached out my palm and unleashed a second Fire Beam. The beam of fire tore through the Trolls shoulder, completely severing one of its arms, it howled in pain staring down at the smoldering ruin of its arm, but I wasn’t done. I pulled from my inventory the first magic item I had ever gotten aiming the blazing scepter at the troll's chest. I triggered the once-a-day spell and a beam of fire shot forward. This beam wasn’t nearly as strong as my own, but I caused the troll to stagger to its knees. It howled in rage and swung at me with its remaining arm. It grabbed hold of my arm and twisted, white hot pain shot through me, and I was sure the troll was going to tear off my arm. Four bolts of magical flame slammed into the troll causing its health bar to flash with a critical warning. It staggered and released me, I hit the ground with an awkward roll and came up inside the troll’s reach. It tried to grab me again, but I lashed out with my sword driving it into its chest, I twisted the sword carving upward and as I pulled the sword free from the ruin of its shoulder, I reached out with my other hand tossing a small ball of fire into the wound. It howled in rage as its inside began to cook. It staggered and collapsed its health flashed one final time than drained away.

I let out a sigh of relief and turned towards the other troll. Serk, Alvor and Stephan were making quick work of it. Alvor was unloading flaming arrows into the troll, Serk hacked away at it while Stephan hit the troll with bolts of white flame. I turned to see Zavra leaning against a tree her health bar was sitting at about half, but I could see that she has holding her right arm to her chest. I checked one last time to see if the others needed my help, but the troll was nearly dead. I rushed to Zavra’s side dropping to my knees, “Are you alright?” I asked my voice quivering.

“I will be fine, I’m just glad you are ok,” she said with a small smile.

“I should have been paying more attention, I’m sorry,” I said tearfully.

“Yes, you should have, but I am glad you are ok. Stephan can heal my arm, so do not worry. He wanted to heal it, but I would not let him waste the spell, in case anyone else needed healing,” She said slowly standing to her feet. I helped her stand and she leaned against me. A couple of notifications flashed in front of me.

You have gained 88 XP for defeating Forest Troll (x2). 440 XP divided equally among five party members.

Quest Complete!

Troll Menace

You have earned 100 Experience points

Return to the adventurer's guild for your payment.

After a few moments to rest from the fight we began searching the troll’s makeshift campsite. They had taken barrels and a few crates from the merchant caravan. We rummaged through them but most everything had been smashed up. There was a barrel of fine ale and a crate with some salted pork. To our surprise we even found a body. Laying amongst a pile of broken crates was a human man, he was bound by what appeared to be thick vines. Stephan rushed over to check him out and discovered he was still alive but badly injured. Stephan cast his last healing spell of the day bringing the man back from the edge of death. He was still unconscious and would need to be cared for. We untied the man and Serk gently picked him up.

Rather than walk the few miles back to town Zavra pulled out her last scroll of town portal. The portal materialized before us, and we all stepped through and back into the familiar town square of Ravensbrook. This time through the portal wasn’t nearly as bad, I still had a moment of dizziness but managed to stay on my feet. Stephan and Serk headed for the temple to get the man healed up, while the rest of us headed for the adventurer’s guild to turn in our quest.

Ardwin was sitting behind his desk reading something as we approached. He looked us over and scowled. “What do you want?” he said in his usual gruff tone.

“You do not need to worry about the troll problem any longer, we took care of it for you,” Zavra said in a sweet voice as she handed over the quest scroll. Ardwin rolled his eyes at her and took the scroll. He raised his hand and produced a sack of coins from thin air. Zavra took the sack of coins and smiled at him before turning back to us. She handed out our shares and we all headed for the Lucky Gnome.

A few hours passed before Serk and Stephan arrived at the Inn. “The gentleman that we saved turned out to be the head merchant of the caravan. He was distraught to learn his entire caravan had been destroyed and all his people killed, but he was thankful to be alive. Even offered us some gold as thanks, but I turned him down. We get paid by the guild and I knew he would need every coin to rebuild his caravan.”

“I am glad that he is alright,” Zavra said.

“It was probably for the best that I did not use the last of my spells on your arm, I might not have been able to keep him alive otherwise,” Stephan said motioning to Zavra’s arm which was now in a makeshift sling.

“You can heal it tomorrow,” Zavra said with a small smile.

“Speaking of tomorrow, we should probably get back to patrolling the streets. The cult is still active somewhere in the city and we need to find them,” Serk said with determination. We all nodded, I don’t think any of us were particularly looking forward to spending several hours wandering around the streets hoping to spot something, but we had yet to find a better way of tracking them.

The next day was a bit strange, it was the first day in several weeks that I didn’t have to wake up early for training. I slept in and enjoyed being able to relax in bed for a while. When I eventually got up, I spent some time in my room doing some exercises it had become second nature to me and I didn’t want to slack off, just because I was done training. Everyone had left for the day by the time I headed down for a late breakfast. I wandered the city, with no real destination in mind. It was a warm summer day, and I enjoyed the peace and quiet of alone time. I ate lunch in the park near the river that cut through Ravensbrook. Afterwards I did some proper shopping, I stocked up on healing potions, and a few antidote potions. Sold off most of the magic items I had never had a use for, only keeping the Blazing Scepter. The gold from that allowed me to buy a magical ring that improved my overall armor and would negate a small amount of damage I took a couple times a day.

I met back up with the rest of the party for dinner and we went over the plan for the night. We would head into the southwest part of the city and patrol a few blocks there. Shadowfire would keep watch from the air per usual and we would keep in communication via our stones. Once night fell, we headed out into the streets and spent the next few hours patrolling. The only thing I saw was a mugging, but the would-be thieves fled when I pulled my sword and cast Produce Fire. The couple they were trying to rob thanked me and hurried home. The next few hours passed slowly and with no more excitement.

We spent the next 3 nights patrolling different parts of the city with nothing to show for it. Then finally on the fourth night an hour into our patrol Stephan called out through our stones, “I just saw something, a flash of blue light through a window,” my pulse quickened in anticipation, and I rushed to his location. Serk and the others met up with us a moment later. Stephan was standing in an alleyway watching a house across the street. “I was walking along when I saw a brief flash of blue light through that window,” he said pointing at a window in the house across the street, “it lasted only a couple of seconds, I glanced through the window and thought I saw a hooded figure. That was when I contacted the rest of you. I have been watching the window the last few minutes, but I have not seen any other flashes of light.”

“Good work,” Serk said giving him a gentle slap on the back. We crept over to the window, and I pushed against it gently. It was unlocked and I slowly pushed it open a few inches. Shadowfire darted inside the dark house and after a few moments I heard, ‘I don’t see anyone’ in my mind. Alvor and I silently slipped into the house, the entire house was dark, and I wished I had Alvor’s eyesight. As an elf, Alvor could see better in the dark than I could. I sat crouched against a wall of what I thought might be a bedroom, as Alvor crept towards the door and opened it. He peered out into the hallway and whispered for me to follow as he crept out. As we moved into the hall a faint commotion made us halt.

A door roughly 12 or so feet away opened and we heard a faint grunt. “He’s a fat one isnt he?” Came a gravelly voice, “Shut up and get moving,” a harsh higher pitched voice responded. Alvor and I glanced at each other and prepared our weapons. I second later a figure began to emerge from the doorway. He had a small lantern hanging from his side that was casting a faint glow. I could just make out his silhouette and was momentarily confused, until I realized he was walking out of the room backwards and hunched over slightly. He appeared to be carrying something. I quickly used analysis on him.

Jorem

Race: Human

Class: Rogue

Level 5

Skills: Stealth, Two-Weapon Fighting, Poison specialist

Experience: 105

Alvor and I wasted no time, he launched an arrow that split into three just as it hit the rogue. I launched a pair of Arcane Darts that slammed into him. He cried out in pain, and I heard a dull thump and a faint curse. The rogue turned on us pulling a dagger and a short sword from his side. Alvor fired another volley of arrows, the rogue managed to dodge one of the arrows and deflect a second with his sword, the third struck him in the shoulder. I launched a pair of Ice Bolts at his legs trying to freeze his feet in place. The hallway wasn’t very wide and at the moment he was preventing his partner from coming to join him in the hall. He groaned in pain as one of his feet froze to the floor. The ice instantly began to crack, and I had seconds before he was free. I darted forward and slammed my sword deep into his side. He cried out in pain and swung his dagger at my arm slicing a deep gash along my inner elbow. I winced in pain and twisted the sword yanking it free. As I did, I launched another ice bolt aiming for the wound I had just opened in his side.

He howled in pain as his side froze, his health flashed a critical warning and another volley of arrows from Alvor finished him off. As he dropped his partner, still stuck in the room leapt out at me swinging a dagger for my throat. I barely had time to dodge, and a line of pain traced across my throat from a shallow cut. I staggered back and launched an ice bolt at his chest. He dodged out of the way of my ice bolt but right into the path of two arrows from Alvor. One struck him high in the chest, the other deep in the shoulder. As he cried out in pain, I took a moment to use Analysis on him.

Korin

Race: Half-elf

Class: Cult Arcanist

Level 6

Skills: Stealth, Thrown Weapons, Two-Weapon Fighting, Spellcasting, Summoning Magic, Evocation Magic

Experience: 120

He appeared to be some sort of rogue/spellcaster hybrid, this theory was confirmed a second later when he threw a dagger at my chest. I tried to dodge it but at the last second the dagger split into 3 daggers. I dodged the first one, but the other two slammed hard into my arm and shoulder. A second later both daggers vanished. ‘That was a new one,’ I thought with a groan as my health dropped several points. He threw another dagger, but I dropped to the ground rolling away from him. I leapt back to my feet and launched three ice bolts at him. He managed to dodge the first two but the third hit him square in the jaw. Ice crystals formed across part of his face, and I noticed his movements were a little slower. I only had a couple seconds to take advantage of his sluggishness. I darted in firing off another ice bolt, my mana was starting to run low, and I was going to have to rely on my sword to finish this fight. The bolt slammed him in the chest, he sluggishly swung his dagger at me, but I blocked it with my bracer and brought the pommel of my sword up into his face. His nose broke with a wet crack as I struck. His health dropped to a little over a quarter. I brought the pommel down again and he staggered back his eyes losing focus. One last time I slammed him in the face, and he crumbled to the ground like wet paper.

You have gained 113 XP for defeating Cultists (x2).

Level up!

Congratulations you have reached Character level 5 and can now select a class. Three classes have been chosen for you based on your highest skills. Warning: Choosing a class is permanent and can never be changed. Choose carefully. You have one stat point to distribute.

I desperately wanted to open my menu right there and find out what class I could get. Unfortunately, this was neither the time nor place. With a small groan I minimized the notification for later. I breathed heavily and began to pull rope from my inventory the Arcanist wasn’t dead merely unconscious. Which is what I had been hoping for, Serk, Stephan, and Zavra should be waiting in the bedroom we entered through. Zavra was supposed to be seeing if she could force the portal back open while Stephan and Serk stood guard to make sure no one else came in. I looked down at what the Cultists had been carrying and realized it was a man. He was a rotund human with a patchy beard and bald head. A quick check told me he was alive but unconscious.

“He will be fine, just a minor poison to render him unconscious,” Alvor said as he looked the man over. I finished tying up the unconscious cultist and looted them. I got a handful of gold coins, a couple decent daggers and a communication stone. The stone might help, perhaps we could use it to trick the other cultists into opening another portal. We left the unconscious man sprawled on the floor of his room and dragged the cultists back to the small bedroom we had entered through.

Serk and Stephan looked up at us as we approached, Zavra was kneeling with her hands outstretched a faint glow coming from her palms. ‘Well done,” Serk said with a small grin as he saw the cultists we were dragging, he turned back to Zavra, “Zav, what do you think can you get the portal open?”

“Maybe, there is enough residual energy here that if I force my mana into it, I should be able to activate it. I have never tried anything like this before though, so I have no idea how stable the portal will be or how long it will last.” She said with a slightly worried tone.

“I have faith in you girl, I am sure you can handle it,” Serk said giving her a reassuring smile.

“I found a communication stone on one of the cultists, maybe we could just use that to trick them into opening it,” I said pulling the stone from my inventory. Zavra examined it and her face fell.

“I don’t think we can use this; it is enchanted to prevent anyone but the original owner from using it,” Zavra said crestfallen. “I think they may have upgraded their enchantments since last time. Probably to prevent unwanted use.”

“Well, we go with the original plan then. Zavra how long before you can’t open that portal anymore?” Serk said eyeing our prisoner.

“A few minutes, I am not exactly sure,” she said with a worried look.

“I would like to question our ‘friend’ here, find out what we are getting into. Think we have time for that at least?” Serk asked.

“Maybe, if you make it quick,” she responded.

“Alright, Stephan why don’t you give our friend here a little healing, just enough to wake him up.” Serk said holding his axe close to the cult acranists throat. Stephan held out his hand and a faint golden glow washed over the man. His health crept slowly to about 20% and he opened his eyes blearily. He jumped slightly seeing the hulking form of Serk standing over him axe at the ready. He struggled for a few seconds against the ropes binding him. “Sorry boy, but you ain’t going nowhere. Why don’t you tell us what you and your friends have been up to, and you might just make it out of here in one piece.” Serk said in a deep threatening voice that sent shivers of fear down my spine. The man went slightly pale and tried to push against his bonds again. Serk lowered the axe ever so slightly and the man tensed. He was silent for several long moments before a faint grin broke his face.

“Do whatever you want with me, you ain’t going to stop us. The ritual is nearly ready, soon the rebirth will begin.” He said with a wicked grin.

“That certainly sounds ominous, what is this rebirth?” Serk said his face cold as ice.

“It is the end of an era, and the beginning of our victory,” he said his grin widening slowly.

“Serk, if we are going through the portal, we need to do this now,” Zavra said breaking the tension slightly. Serk pulled back with his axe slamming the man full in the face with the blunt end. The man crumbled back to unconsciousness. Serk pulled chain from his inventory and wrapped the man’s arms behind his back securely fastening the chain to the wall. He scribbled out a quick note setting it next to the man. “Ready whenever you are Zav,” he said turning to the rest of us.

Zavra turned and raised her hands again, a faint blue glow poured from her hands and a ripple appeared in the air before her. A second later a tear in reality formed as the portal opened. It flickered and sputtered sending off sparks of electricity. “I do not know how long I can hold this, go now!” Zavra said urgently her voice strained. Serk rushed through the portal his weapon at the ready, Alvor and Stephan followed behind. I eyed the portal dubiously but could see sweat beading up on Zavra’s forehead. I gulped and pulled my sword free, taking a deep breathe I rushed the portal as it shuddered and sparked.