《From the Ashes》20 through the barrier
Advertisement
Kadin was asleep, he knew he was asleep, he knew he was uncomfortable but the bliss of sleep held him and that was enough for now. Hanging there between true deep sleep and the half awake state. He knew he was at the edge of a dream and if he pushed himself he could either fall back into his dream or push himself awake. He was aware that he needed to be awake and to make a move, but the strength of will to push himself to awaken was too much effort for now, he let his dreams take hold again wistfully remembering something about mirrors and reflections and oddly teeth… it felt like no time had past, then a sharp ping followed by a loud whirring noise brought him out of sleep, a trap had triggered.
A loud yelp helped bring him fully awake as he drew his blade and sprung to his feet. He looked around the perimeter of his camp site looking for the attack he expected. He did see a shape hunched and not moving but still quietly yelping, Kadin used some light flow of air and light magic to make a light orb a low tier spell that was one of the first things anyone learnt, and he used it to look around. His trap had caught a lone wolf its back left leg held in a binding of frozen air and ice, when the wolf seen Kadin it gave him a low warning growl as the fur on the back of its neck started to bunch up like a cats .. so a young wolf then. Kadin looked around for any signs of a pack but there was nothing around, and the young wolf seemed to be more afraid of Kadin than anything else, and Kadin doesn’t tent to kill animals unless they are trying to kill him first so he thought to free the animal. So he first mixed elements of earth, air, light and wind magic to cast a calming charm on the wolf which when he cast could see the beast relax and slump to the ground. He still didn’t want to approach to far as it was still a wild animal, so he got as close as he felt was safe then mixed fire earth and air elements to reverse the trap trigger after a few seconds the blue ice chill of the animals leg disappeared and dried off as this happened the wolf stood up and took a resident step finding itself free it started to bounce around the area almost triggering another trap so Kadin quickly dispersed all the traps around him and stood. As he did the wolf stopped bouncing around and was looking at Kadin it took a half step forwards then stopped, so Kadin spoke aloud to it saying.
Advertisement
“Well, stay safe young one .. and find a pack.”
To which the wolf just stared at him blankly before giving a quick “ruff” as a reply at that Kadin walked through the barrier.
It felt as if he had been dipped into an ice pool as if he was surrounded by freezing water but after another step he felt the blast of the heat. He checked himself over thinking he must have been soaked but he was dry and fine. The air around him however was choking it felt warm and dry there was a thickness to the air and a strong smell of sulphur and steel. A blast of hot air brought a swirling cloud of dust. The sky over head was full of clouds a deep grey almost black and the occasional flash of lightning, the flashes of lightning were different colours green, red, purple and blues every few seconds, the black clouds looked like they extended on endlessly in every direction including straight up, Kadin though ‘I wonder if these go as high as the barrier’ but then brought himself too, he had a person to find. He relaxed his mind and used his far sight spell to see what he could find around him and then he was hit with an overwhelming blast of everything his mind screamed in protest before the spell shattered. He felt a warmth trickle down his right ear, reaching up to check his fingers came away bloody. The sounds of the wind and thunder now sounding muffled. He cast a minor healing and regeneration spell on his ear, it would take a couple of hours but it should fully heal his now burst eardrum … or so he thought. A refreshing and light tingling sensation washed over him and after a few seconds receded leaving his healing fully repaired, his mind felt slightly clearer and fresher as well. Somewhat confused a thought struck him he channelled his energy to create a lightning bolt, the same as he used on the sabercat and he aimed for a rocky outcropping not to far away, as the electrical energy cracked and arced up his arm and the meeting arcs of his fingers a giant almost white bolt of energy blasted away from his hand, he could even fell the energy of it causing his arm to jolt back in recoil. There was a deafening boom and reverberating sound from the outcropping .. or more accurately where the outcropping use to be. As he looked he saw a still smoking creator in the ground and a light falling of rubble all around himself. Coming to the conclusion that the magical energies in the blasted lands must have increased the potency of his magical energies. Kadin could use up to and including sixth tier magic his most powerful spell being elemental shard cyclone, that caused a massive area of effect cyclone that would shine like a rainbow and randomly produce, converge and mix all forms of magic into jagged shards that would rip, cut and tear anything within it, the damage output was moderate but it would last for a good few hours. The down side being it would not distinguish between friend or foe so anyone inside would take damage.
Advertisement
However with magic concentration in the air from the blasted lands Kadin decided to see if he could push himself to see if he could reach tier seven. Aurora taught him the basics of the seventh tier spell: duplicate – which did exactly that it, it would raise an exact duplicate of Kadin himself, it took a huge amount of magical energy and mental fortitude and would only last a few minutes but it was a gate way into tier seven. Remembering what she told him he tried to build a wall in his mind an empty blank space in his head, and into that he would need to build his copy, it was like he was trying to split his mind in two and he did feel it starting to form, his mind with parallel thoughts but both focused on the one thing it felt weird but he split his mind one half focusing on pouring energy into the other; the other half pulling energy and once he felt it solidify but he poured his magic into that half – that half absorbed his magic like a sponge on and on, he felt it start to drain him but just when he was about to cut it off it happened. A flash of lightning left a shadow in front of him a shadow that didn’t fade. Slowly it began to grow fill out and rom itself, as it was doing this the partition in Kadin’s mind felt like it was slipping on something, not slipping away from him, slipping towards the growing shadow and after a few second the shadow formed an exact copy of himself he could see himself through two set of eyes, it was the strangest feeling he ever had – but he went with it and tried to move his hand and both he and the clone moved the exact same motion – he tried again this time only focusing on the clone arm after a bit of trying he was able to do it, then tried to take a step. He felt he was just getting the hang of it the thoughts were more like moving the left arm then the right, he was about to try running when the wall came crashing down and the clone dissipated back into shadows.
As the shadow dissipated Kadin’s mind cleared and he realised what he had just done, then cursed himself for wasting time as he still had his contact. He tried again to use his long sense cast this time funnelling just a trickly of magical energy into it, this time he was not overwhelmed with all the information and he was able to see and feel around himself but of his target there was no sign, he was sure he must have crossed the barrier very close to where he was and he tried again looking for any tracks that he could follow, but after searching there was still nothing he could find, the heat and blasting wind would have covered any tracks. He walked slightly deeper into the lands past the barrier, and looking back he knew the necromancer was in a rush and heading in a pretty much straight line to the barrier .. he concluded that this was most likely going to continue so looking into the distance he dad see hills and mountains in the far distance that looked like it was in the right general direction, so he set off that way while still scanning around as much as he could to look for tracks.
Advertisement
- In Serial44 Chapters
The Power of Formations
Emmet Laghaz loved puzzles. All day, all night, puzzles. Ever since he was a child, Emmet could turn anything into a puzzle. [participant in the NaNoWriMo Royal Road challenge]
8 189 - In Serial23 Chapters
(Archived) The Badger Dungeon (Being Rewritten)
Please note: This is the old and original version of this story, it is currently being rewritten to be more cohesive and coherent. The new version will have additional content. Dungeons. They're supposed to be places full of danger and loot, where heroes come to fight monsters, gain experience, and hopefully walk out with some really cool armor. They're supposed to be controlled by a sentient mana crystal with an alien intelligence with goals only to expand, devour, and become stronger in order to protect itself. Sometimes, however, they're home to a family of badgers and an assortment of other strange creatures. Sometimes their core has absolutely no idea what they're doing and is really just trying their best, so can you all please stop judging them? It started out as a complete mistake and now they're just in way too deep to turn their back on the whole badger thing!
8 97 - In Serial17 Chapters
A Glass Window
This is the story of a glass window that gets installed on the façade of a train station. It's nothing serious, after all it spends most of the time just windowing there as people pass by and live their lives.
8 221 - In Serial23 Chapters
Nobody's Way
Foreign Thorn: Book 1 For eight centuries, the people of Isla have wanted for nothing. The Creator, Maere, uses Her power not only to keep them healthy and fed, but also to map the direction of each person's future Path - their vocation, role in society, and even the partner they'll spend their life with. In a world where infighting once threatened the very survival of humankind, the old texts say that Maere personally stepped in to help guide Her creations to harmony. All is not well among the people of the northern lands, however, as Jian discovers when she receives her own long-awaited Path. The Creator has chosen to favour some towns, but not others, leading to anarchy and unrest in the east, and fierce distrust between the neighbours who enjoy Her protection and those who don't. After many nights of disturbing premonitions, visions of a face uncannily familiar to her, and a voice beckoning her to "Homeland," Jian decides she needs to find answers for herself. She hires Madrigal, a surly young traveller hailing from an "unblessed" village, to take her to the southern lands. The swordsman is on the run from something, or someone, but Jian has no choice but to trust him. When the two leave the safety of the familiar and meet Quinn, a mysterious boy who seems to know more about Jian than she does about herself, it becomes clear that there are forces besides the old magics, forces completely unknown to the people of Isla, in play. Madrigal and Jian aren't sure if Quinn can be trusted, but they're certain he knows more than he's letting on...
8 101 - In Serial14 Chapters
Tales of Taralensia - The Lost Son
In the world of Taralensia, the shining city of Avenholme floats above the sea. The bird-winged race of Aven live peacefully but the turmoil of one family threatens to tear Avenholme apart. Roy Engelbrecht has the wings of a Peacock, born into a family of Eagles. Unable to become a success in the Skyguard, too impatient to become a Scholar and banned from becoming a Bard he makes a stupid, brash decision. Become a hero, or die trying. Unskilled, untrained and unprepared, he sets out into the world he is not ready to face. Soar through the world of Taralensia, with unique races, fascinating characters, and a colorful (and often deadly) landscape. Discover what it means to be a family and that it truly is to be a hero.
8 146 - In Serial10 Chapters
Like Snow on Hungry Graves
The emperor's illegitimate son is forced to take his half-brother's place and travel to an enemy kingdom for an arranged marriage. If the bride's family find out about the deception they'll kill the prince. If they don't, his guards have orders to assassinate him during the wedding ceremony to provoke a war. Along the way the prince meets a stranger who is oddly eager to help him get out of this predicament... on condition that he helps her hunt a sea monster.
8 82