《Burra: Short Stories In the Shaper Universe》Shells : Chapter 4
Advertisement
When next she woke, it was to an angry voice.
“What were you all thinking?” Yelled the familiar voice of her father.
She cracked open her eyes and saw quite the sight. The entire camp was surrounded by two dozen guardians. Mel, Bal, and Zack were all standing at attention in front of her father.
“You could have gotten killed and my daughter nearly did.”
Sandy thought that while it was true, it was a low blow. She could see the impact on her friends’ faces.
Sandy threw off the blanket and said in a rising voice. “Quiet. You do not take that tone of voice with the guard, and you will not take it with us. Yes, we could have died, but ten of the forest were killed and brutally ripped from their bodies. If you even hint that we should not have tried everything in our power to stop it, you are no longer my father.” Righteous fury filled her voice.
She could see several of the guardians standing around the camp nodded in approval. That was to be expected, since their whole purpose in life was to protect the forest.
Her father had the grace to look ashamed for a moment before continuing more softly. “I am sorry if that sounded like what I was saying. I allowed my fears to take control when I heard you were unconscious after a battle with a lich. I felt I had let you down. A father is supposed to be there to protect his child.”
Sandy sighed. Her own anger was blown away by her father’s soft words. She didn’t reply but instead ran to embrace her father who hugged her back fiercely. “I thought I lost you. I am so proud of you.” Her father whispered.
The sound of a throat being cleared brought them back to their surroundings. They both turned to the grinning face of Captain Julius, leader of the Guardians. “I don’t wish to interrupt, but we finished scouting the area and wish to go over our findings.”
Advertisement
“Of course.” Both Sandy and her father said at the same time, separating from their embrace.
“The crystals in the chest are Sarak Stones.” Captain Julius said.
My father sucked in his breath. “How is that possible?”
“Wait.” Sandy said. “What is a Sarak Stone?”
Her father reluctantly said. “One hundred years ago, a human lich, Sarak Thalas, created a stone that absorbed the spirit from a creature. He then used it to increase both his own power and the power of other undead creatures. He lived in the far North. A party of elves, humans, harrow, and dwarves worked together to destroy him and all knowledge of the stones. Now it looks like somehow the knowledge has survived.”
“Indeed. The only good news we have is the damage was limited to ten trees. He had twenty stones in the chest. Also, we have word from a patrol which engaged and sank the mage’s ship. There was only a minor fire mage on board, which the two water mages on our ship handled with no problem.”
Sandy said. “I don’t understand why this mage would take such a chance to pull the spirits from some trees. Wouldn’t the spirits of many other creatures be a much better and less risky source of power?”
Julius answered. “You are correct, if all he intended was to get some spirit energy. We think he was trying something much darker. The spirits of the forest are linked together, even when taken from the trees. We think he was going to use the spirits he took as a channel to draw on the entire forest. That would make him extremely powerful and virtually unstoppable.”
Sandy shivered thinking about how close he came to succeeding.
“The guardians will be here the rest of the day to cleanse the area and make sure there are no more surprises. You should head back with your father and get some more rest. It sounds like you really stressed out your body with your casting.”
Advertisement
Sandy watched as the guardians quickly broke down the camp and handed everything to Bal, Mel, and Zack to put in their inventories. Her father asked Gail, the head of his guard, to open the portal. Gail held her staff forth. The black gemstone in its tip glowed with red fire as a portal irises open in front of them. They quickly moved through the portal. Even a mage as strong as Gail would not be able to maintain it long without a ritual spell circle to anchor it on this end.
As Sandy stepped through into the entry hall in her family’s manor, tension she did not realize she had flowed out of her. It was nice to be home. Her father made arrangements to get Bal and Zack back with their family. Mel saw them out and he would then no doubt head to his rooms in the west wing. Her father asked her to join him in the study for a conversation she was sure she would not enjoy.
After giving Zack and Bal a hug, she followed her father into the study. They both took seats by the window overlooking the garden. Roth, their butler, brought tea and some pastries. After Roth left, they both sat there in silence, enjoying the view and tea. Sandy had the odd thought that a human viewing this scene would find it strange that they would just sit there without trying to fill the silence with conversation. Elves, however, lived for centuries and this spilled over into everything they did, from plans that stretched hundreds of years to simple things like having tea. There was no rush to talk. They both enjoyed each other’s presence and the beautiful setting.
Her father did surprise her when he started talking. “I don’t want to rush you, but I know you are tired and you should rest.”
He sighed. “I don’t want to yell at you for what you did. It turned out what you did was more important than your life, which is a hard thing for a father to admit. Especially about a daughter only in her fiftieth year. It is a hard thing to acknowledge that my daughter is growing up.” Her father said with a smile.
Wow he surprised Sandy and she found herself tearing up.
“Now don’t go tearing up on me now or I will do the same Sandra. I mean Sandy.”
Now he truly shocked her. Even though her name is Sandra everyone called her Sandy, since she spent so much time on the beach collecting shells for per ability. Her father had always hated that nickname.
Her father got up and pulled her into another hug holding her as they both cried. They remained like that until Roth cleared his throat, causing them to break apart with a small laugh. Sandy couldn’t remember the last time she felt so close to her father.
Her father let her go and walked her up to her rooms. Sandy went in after saying good night and took a long hot bath before getting into bed. As her eyes began to close, she realized the experience had clarified something for her. She would not be following in her father’s footsteps. Instead she would become an adventurer, at least for a few decades, she thought with a smile before sleep took her.
Advertisement
- In Serial47 Chapters
Bloodshard: Stolen Magic (COMPLETE)
Magic cannot be given away or rejected; it is as permanent as life itself. Not that I'd know anything about that. Magic is both impossible to obtain and illegal for commoners like me. So when I unexpectedly witnessed a brutal, deadly confrontation between two nobles, I assumed that was the closest to magic I'd ever get. Until I woke up the next morning with the unmistakable glow of power in my blood. My only hope is to hide who I am and somehow discover the truth of what happened that bloody night. And, more importantly, why. ---- 2020 nanowrimo project and [participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge] Completed March 2021
8 213 - In Serial38 Chapters
Apocalypse on Endless Earths: Apocalypse How? A LITRPG Adventure
Declan Mason is just an average guy who is about to pop the question to the woman he loves more than anything when his whole world gets turned upside down. No, that's not right, it gets crushed, pulped, eviscerated, and apocalypsed to hell before he even realizes what is happening. He suddenly finds himself working for an Extradimensional Entity that has tasked him with committing genocide on a daily basis. As Declan's new job, it seems, consists solely of him eliminating alternate versions of his Earth. Not content to just destroy, he vows to save the woman he loves one planet at a time. Soon, he's up to his armpits in doppelgangers of his dearie, and he starts to get a clue as to why he has to destroy each world. Just to complicate matters the Horseman, the person who held his station prior to Declan taking over, has decided it is up to him to stop the Entity's murder spree and has placed Declan in his cross-hairs. Apocalypse on Endless Earth's is seriously silly and actively adventurous. Can one man learn to destroy numerous worlds in new and creative ways while simultaneously saving copies of the woman he loves? Find out!
8 240 - In Serial57 Chapters
52 stories
I heard about this writing challenge from a youtuber I'm following and I wanted to do it too!Writing one small story every week for a year for a total of 52 stories. Let's go! (It's going to be a mix of of OCs stories and Fanfictions)
8 239 - In Serial25 Chapters
The LEGO Ninjago Movie [Lloyd x Female Ninja! Reader]
[Name], Lloyd, Jay, Kai, Nya, Cole and Zane are all a group of friends trying to narrow their way through highschool. It doesn't help that Lloyd's having a hard time with his daddy issues.Lloyd's father is none other than, Lord Garmadon, himself. This Evil Overlord takes it upon himself to try and take over Ninjago, he does this EVERY SINGLE DAY. But alas, these certain fellow Ninjas of the city prevent him from doing so. And, they all known as;The Secret Ninja Force and Mysterio.[I don't own The LEGO Ninjago Movie or any of the characters] [Third Person POV]
8 69 - In Serial66 Chapters
Billionaire's Baby ✓
He needs a heir for him to acquire his grandfather's property and he wants it without getting into any relationship or marriage. After trying everything when he doesn't succeed in finding the suitable woman, he personally sets out to find her. And then he collides with her─she was desperate for something which he promises to give, but keeping forth his condition of giving him a baby. She does agree for the same but it surely does not end up the way they had planned out.Highest ranking › #1 in generalfiction #1 in hate #1 in feelings #1 in pregnancy #1 in marriage
8 185 - In Serial10 Chapters
Unbelievers
Not my story - written by isthatyoularry on Ao3Summary:It's Louis' senior year, and he's dead set on doing it right. However, along with his pair of cleats, a healthy dose of sarcasm and his ridiculous best friend, he's also got a complicated family, a terrifyingly uncertain future, and a mortal enemy making his life just that much worse. Mortal enemies "with benefits" was not exactly the plan.Or: The one where Louis and Harry definitely aren't friends, and football is everything.Disclaimer: None of this is real. Nothing in this is meant to imply anything, nor does this reflect my personal beliefs about anything or anyone. This is fiction.
8 208