《Chronicles of the Realms》The Running of the Bull 6 - Now with Pilot
Advertisement
The Minotaur’s body lay in the hollow tree and the only motion was insects taking advantage of the sudden bounty and the slow unfurling of leaves on the vine which bound it. Faintly at first but building in intensity, crawling bands of chaotically coloured light appeared and played across the corpse.
The bands flowed over the form pausing to pool and fill where they encountered the many rents and tears wounds had inflicted in the hairy hide. Once all were found and had been limned in shifting light the corpse floated into the air and the light intensified, sinking deep into the body through those rents and tears. Thumb thick iridescent burrowing beetles and other insects were evicted from where they were setting up housekeeping and fell with soft plops to the ground. With a rasping tear the carnivorous vine the druid had restrained Obbst with was peeled off leaving a trail of small holes where it had been invading the sweet, sweet, meat.
The chaotic light flared brilliantly, scintillating patches playing across the inner walls of the trunk and then was gone leaving behind reknitted hide and undamaged flesh.
The body settled to the ground, the massive chest heaved once, heaved twice and breathing started. The pale flesh showing on it’s spine and flanks where the it was exposed by the runnelled hair flushed as blood which had been darkening the lowest parts of the body was drawn out and returned to circulating.
Soon it seemed as though the massive form simply slept, breathing deeply and evenly.
The Minotaur’s eyes rolled back to expose the whites and his body twitched and shivered violently, legs drumming and cutting gouges in the soft and decaying wood he lay on.
He jerked upright and stood swaying on unsteady legs with his eyes still rolled far back into his head. Reeling, he staggered and his legs danced under him striking each other in an uncoordinated frenzy. Pitching heavily to the left he slammed into the inner trunk and slid down still twitching, but now groans and strange noises came from his bovine mouth.
There was a flare of flame around his body, he changed to his humanoid form then lay still.
Advertisement
After several long moments his body resumed it’s twitching and shuddering. Soon the spasms slowed coming further and further apart, eventually they ceased entirely and after a short pause he pushed himself up to sit upright leaning on the inner trunk.
“So that’s the way of it. Glad I wasn’t stuck with four legs, how do they do it” Glancing down he said with surprise, “oh… OH, I’m male and very male. What Fae race have I found myself in? Some type of shifting Beastman? At least this body seems sturdy enough.”
‘He’ stood swaying a little and stretched, “Whoa, tall, and feels very strong. I’d give those musclebound morons Toixnae and Paegg a run for their money. Good. Should make my revenge much easier.”
Forming the strong and distinct image of a location required for a teleport the new inhabitant attempted to reach through the body’s gateway to the Realms, the metaphysical doorway through which all magically active creatures drew their power.
Nothing.
Opening her inner eye and studying the gateway she laughed, well this was a fine jest by the capricious realm of chaos. This body’s gateway was already at capacity with flows of two other realms and one of those (also the strongest) utterly blocked all access to chaos. She could use nothing of her knowledge of the chaos realm because this body was awash with the golden light of order. Being who and what she was of course she had access to all the realms but she had specialised in chaos magic tens of thousands of turnings ago. She had little skill in other realms past what any Fae Chanar held, which was still far more than the mongrel races had admittedly.
This body being locked to fire and order would be a problem, not an insurmountable one but it would slow her revenge down while she learned how to fully utilise those realms and more importantly utilise those realms in a very novel manner for her. She had been a Mage but this body had been a Warrior and had accessed magic far differently. Warriors used magic to strengthen their own bodies, vastly increasing purely physical capabilities, she on the other hand had almost never engaged in melee combat. Her other abilities had always made that need extremely unlikely but she was certainly not unskilled in close combat. While she had not practised it often she had practised for it diligently, to be unprepared usually meant a loss in the grand game. It would just take some time to retrain her reflexes and skills to match this much larger and much, much, stronger form.
Advertisement
Snorting irritably (and being somewhat surprised by the action, it seemed some actions were automatic in this form) she walked from the hollow tree.
The instant her hoof hit the cool loamy soil in the dappled shadows of the forest she inhaled deeply, taking in the scents of life. With an expression of eagerness and joy she took two steps quickly forward and spreading her arms basked in a shaft of sunlight that speared through the canopy of the forest.
She sighed lustily. She had missed this, missed life, in the time she’d been bodiless.
Folscach had a lot to answer for, he had tortured her for information then murdered her for her blood. She would have her revenge on him, soon or late it didn’t matter to her which, only that she would.
Since she couldn’t teleport back to the city and begin her campaign directly, the death of his agents here would make a good start. That Fae and the Beastman would die first, disembodied she had seen them take the money from Folscach’s agent in the mercenary group. She had been following his agents for seasons now, learning their patterns, their habits. Learning where Folscach was building influence and manipulating things to increase his power. She was not just going to kill him, she was going to destroy his entire existence first and then once he despaired she would take his life while she watched the realisation fill his eyes that it was she who had done this to him.
She wove a quick order spell, order was the realm of control, structure, command, and righteous retribution. She was hoping that last would allow her to use mage spells even though this form was a Warrior and unlike those of her own race who were Warriors had no capability to cast spells.
The spell worked and she was surprised to find the body had potential as a caster, it’s capability was still unrealised and only small but it was a possibility.
A small golden arrow had appeared pointing her toward those that needed taking to task for their trespass against her. She had specifically targeted those who had trespassed against her body, hopefully that would be the Fae and the Beastman since they should be the closest.
Following the small arrow she soon discovered this body ran easily and well, loping along at a good pace with no strain. So she sped up, seeking it’s limits. Best to learn them now before they possibly became a problem later. As soon as she did golden tinged flames ignited around her and her speed increased dramatically, laughing in joy she pushed harder, watching the flows of magic with her inner eye.
Running at full speed burned magic at a furious pace but she was moving much faster than a horse at a full gallop, she was moving fast enough that the fairly wideset trees around her were an almost solid blur. The magic entering her body did not slow as the source was inexhaustible but there was a limit she could see now. If she drew past that, corruption would start to damage her body.
Not her mind though since that was Fae Chanar and immune to corruption.
As her body tired the gateway narrowed and the limit lowered forcing her to slow or risk corruption. No wonder all the Warriors she’d ever known were constantly training, their stamina controlled their access to power. She slowed further until she was running at a pace that was not tiring her particularly. She was still moving faster than a horse but monitoring the flows and the gateway this pace would be sustainable for as long as she wanted.
Advertisement
- In Serial120 Chapters
The Last Science
[This story is on a temporary hiatus due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. I work in healthcare and unfortunately no longer have the freetime to continue posting on a regular basis. As soon as our workload decreases, I will return. Thanks for reading! 💙] No one ever knows the whole story. Nestled deep in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, something is emerging. Kept in absolute secrecy, it seeps into a fading town, quietly shared from person to person. For Alden Bensen, a directionless high school graduate, this discovery could mean an escape from his empty existence. To Rachel DuValle, perpetually underestimated and dismissed by the world, magic represents a chance to become something much greater than herself. In the face of an unsuspecting world, their decisions shape the growth of a budding society discovering untold power. This potent force offers anyone the power to change humanity forever—or send it cascading into swift and total annihilation. Want this story in smaller bites? Click here! The Last Science is an ongoing science-fiction / low-fantasy web novel series, focused on the modern world with a twist. New societies bud and grow, but the people who make them up are imperfect and flawed. The story includes elements of mystery, action, crime, interpersonal drama, relationships, philosophy, sociology, politics, and much more, all centered on the perspective characters driving the tale. Each chapter is pretty long (average ~8000 words), so find somewhere comfy to read. Content Warning (by request): This series delves into some topics and situations which may be upsetting for some readers. In American rating parlance, the narrative would be rated PG-13 (except for language), but some have noted the story can get pretty dark on occasion. Please use your best judgment, and don't be afraid to take breaks and come back later. I'll still be here! This story will also be published weekly at my website (https://etzo.li). There will be no differences in content, but slight differences in formatting. Feel free to read at whichever site or app you prefer. If you're enjoying the story, consider dropping me a vote over on Top Web Fiction, or come say hi on Discord. Thanks! Need more to read? Check out my other story, Epilogue — a post-fantasy psychodrama. Now complete! This story is a participant in the Write til the End pledge. It will be completed, no matter the cost.
8 204 - In Serial29 Chapters
Prerequisites for Greatness (RWBY)
Jaune always knew that being a hero meant going on adventures, sometimes very far from home. He just hadn't thought he would start so early, or so far. Sadly he wasn't high level enough to learn teleportation, nor did life have an easily accessible mount option. His own two legs and an occasional donkey would have to do. Medieval setting; gamer Jaune. You don't need to know anything about the RWBY universe to read this.
8 140 - In Serial38 Chapters
My Birthday Wish to be a Dungeon Master was Granted!
Hello! Daichi here! Ever since I got hooked up on novels and manga related to dungeon managing, I've been wishing every year on my birthday to be one in a fantasy world. Stupid right? But what if I tell you I really am one? Right now I am managing a small dungeon that is still not well-known but in due time. I will make it the biggest and hardest dungeon ever known to mankind! Author's note: Welp... I'm back... Tme to continue this novel...
8 218 - In Serial60 Chapters
Regulating Miracles
The only thing more insane than the absurdity known as augmentations are the people that have them. Regulating Miracles showcases its eccentric cast of super-powered characters as they kill, love, and try to somehow get their work finished on time. Emelia Emin attempts to escape defeat while avoiding the two assassins after her life and the one after her heart. Jaxon Charlotte tries his hardest to become a hero of justice, but a knife hoarding sociopath decides to crush his ideals. After watching a family member get kidnapped, Oliver Oldridge, whose life was built on secrets, is forced to confront a clinically depressed mind reader. Kamiya Kanon has traveled the world hunting a man who fancies himself a god, only to find herself embroiled in the taboo. A woman who can't stop calling herself Sara is used to coming out on top, but after a series of botched jobs she consults with a one-eyed information broker about love. A genetically engineered weapon going by Hana struggles to balance her professional and personal responsibilities. With no hope of survival, Alec Alexander decides to rely on the one thing he hates most of all: lies. These seemingly unrelated stories intertwine and converge to give four severed body parts, two romantic kisses, one hospital visit, and three unpredictable days in the city of Velstand.
8 232 - In Serial10 Chapters
Dimensional Market System
Rex was reincarnated into a body of a dead demon. With both the memories of his old life and the memories of the demon he is determined to live on and accomplish all the things the two lives couldn't do. In order to accomplish this, he has to use his system to increase his power. Will he be able to do it? Who knows ------
8 135 - In Serial19 Chapters
Heathers x reader (genderbend)
It's the title really. Everyone from Heather's (mostly the musical) are genderbended! You are you a girl, sorry boys.Y/n = Your nameL/n = Last name
8 142