#a hero's tale

[puppetmaster55]

*BUSTS INTO ROOM* ANYWAY like three years ago I wrote a book, This Book, and published it on amazon. With Fantastic cover art by the lovely @charlieslowartsies, as you can see above.

It’s the story of a teen, Sam, with superpowers who doesn’t want to be a hero, and yet life conspires against him as he goes up against villains, assassination plots, and discovers his life may never be the normal he wants it to be.

AND Y’ALL CAN READ IT IN FULL BY CLICKING HERE (or in the link above, I’m not picky)! 

[jennamacaroni]

A gift of love never goes from one hand to another without binding the two together.

Catherine M. Wilson, "A Hero's Tale"

[aspirgallant]

Journey’s End

When Aspir awoke the next day, it was in his tent. He wasn’t sure exactly who put him there, but he was thankful enough for the effort. A water sack and a plate of sliced desert fruit were laid at his side. He guzzled down the sack’s contents greedily and shoved the fruit into his mouth. He became doubly thankful for the attentiveness of whoever had done all this.

The tent was stuffy from last night’s sweat and today’s heat, prompting Aspir to exit it as soon as possible. Upon doing so, he was immediately beset upon by the small, blue choya who had become a dear companion this past month. Quenchya clawed at his shoe, seemingly attempting to wrap her arms around it in a hug. He bent down and gently patted the top of her head in return.

“Don’t worry, I made it just fine. Don’t you know, the good guys always win?” he said with a grin.

Mayline was curled by a building several meters away, soaking in the afternoon sun peacefully. Aspir shook his head, somewhat jealous of the griffon’s ability to remain unphased even after the events of last night.

As he ventured out further into the old academy grounds, he could see the village folk gathered around a series of what appeared to be a massive pyre in the center of the school grounds. Suspended on the pile of branches and dry grass was a total of twelve bodies, each wrapped in cloth. The villagers gazed on as Ma’bud recited some sort of eulogy praising each of the fallen warriors who had died defending the academy.

Aspir frowned, and kept his distance as the villagers mourned. While twelve dead may have not seemed like much in the grand scheme of things, it was a devastating loss to the already small community.

The djinn finished off the ceremony by shooting a spark of electricity into the tinder. A tiny flicker of fire formed where the spark landed, and spread outward until the whole pyre was lit up. The flames consumed the bodies; a necessary precaution to ensure Joko would never claim the valiant dead.

The people began disperse, only a few staying behind to watch the affair. Ma’bud sighed grimly as he floated off. His eyes lit up as he noticed Aspir.

“Ah, outlander! It is good to see you up and about. I must thank you for what you’ve done to defend our little sanctuary. Amal claims you were invaluable last night.”

Aspir scratched the back of his head, blushing slightly. “Well, I don’t know about that… Speaking of her, where is she? I don’t see her anywhere.”

“Ah, yes. She had departed this morning after having one of us check in on you; mostly likely to ensure that there won’t be another assault from those dreadful constructs, and to perhaps discover the cause of that strange weather phenomenon. That was certainly no regular sandstorm. One second, magic was saturating the air and then the next…” he waved a fist in front of Aspir before unfurling it in an exaggerated manner, “all gone! Most strange... Most strange… Nonetheless, until Amal has returned, I suggest you sit tight. Who can say what the next few days will bring.”

Aspir slumped over slightly. His body was still sore from the night’s tribulations, and sitting tight sounded like exactly what he needed. “Yeah, ok, sounds like a plan. I just hope the worst of it is over…”

The djinn nodded. “Indeed.”

The rest of the day went about uneventfully with neither word nor sign of another attack by the Forged. The people of Yobash warily went about their business, ready to flee or fight the moment a metal soldier appeared, but none ever did.

When no attack came the next day, the people truly started to believe that it was over. Their hopes for normality didn’t rise too high, however, as the nearby brandstorm proved to be unusually tumultuous. The clouds were especially thick and the thunder especially forceful. The Branded, who usually avoided Ma’bud’s barrier, were becoming far more bold, forcing the guards to engage with them whenever they came too close. Fortunately, the barrier stood strong, protecting those within from the other dangers of the storm.

It was during the morning of the third day following the battle with the Forged that, at last, Amal had returned to Yobash. Her pleased expression riding into the barrier had confirmed what everyone was hoping for.

Balthazar was dead.

She explained that on her short journey, she had crossed through multiple Forged outposts; all abandoned or filled with the metallic pieces of their former occupants. It was at the Gardens of Seborhin that she heard of what happened.

The people there spoke of a grand battle between the Forged, Awakened, and Branded. It was unclear what it was they were fighting for, or who it was that ultimately vanquished Balthazar. Some claimed it was Joko, and others Kralkatorrik. There were a few who spoke of a hero from far off-lands. Amal had chosen to believe it was the Elder Dragon, due to the sudden flare up of the brandstorm over Vabbi.

The people of Yobash had done it; they had survived the wrath of the War God. To celebrate, Ma’bud called for everyone to devote their efforts to throwing a grand party. Food that was stored in underground bunkers was pulled out for a feast, and a great bonfire was built. The night was spent in merriment, with everyone eating and drinking and dancing.

Aspir was the only one who stayed away from the festivities. He was as happy about their victory as anyone, but his mind was preoccupied with one thing: home. It had been a long month and a longer journey, and he couldn’t help but fantasize about being back with his family. He knew that it was time to return to Tyria.

The next morning saw him either packing his things into his bag or hanging them off of Mayline’s new saddle, made by the villagers out of gratitude for his actions. He picked up Quenchya and carefully tucked her into a large pocket on the saddle made specifically for her. The choya cooed happily, seemingly pleased about no longer having to hold on to Aspir for dear life during their flights.

Opposite to her was his gear, including the Sunspear armor that Amal had given him permission to keep. It’d need restoring, but it proved in the battle that it could be worked with. He noted that he was down one weapon as he tied his bow to the saddle. The sandstorm had claimed his shield after he dropped it, but with spirit weapons at his command, he wasn’t sure he’d need it anymore.

With everything securely in place, he climbed onto the griffon and positioned himself. But before he could take off, he was approached by Ma’bud, Amal, and the sentry girl he had fought along with.

The girl, who he had learned was named Faizah, walked up to him first. She smiled as she spoke, “I just wanted to say thank you on the behalf of the people here. This is the only home we have and without you, we may have lost it. So, again, thank you!” She excitedly bowed, drawing out a smirk from the djinn.

Aspir found himself once again blushing. “Thank you for the kind words, but truth be told I’m sure you all would have been fine on your own. Amal here is the real hero, leading us all like she did.”

Ma’bud broke out into a laugh. “So humble this one! Take pride in your achievements, boy! It also wouldn’t hurt to learn how to take a compliment.”

“O-oh! Well, I, uh…” Aspir stammered.

The djinn patted him on the back. “Now, now. No harm done. Farewell and good luck on your journey, young outlander.”

With that, Ma’bud and Faizah departed, off to return to their respective duties. Amal stayed behind, and stared straight into Aspir’s eyes.

“So then, Outlander, you’re heading off back to Tyria?” she asked.

“Yeah. I think it’s time. I’ve done what I came here to do and, well, there’s people back home who must miss me by now,” he said while subconsciously reaching for the ring hanging off his neck. “Though, I wish I could do more…”

Amal quirked an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“Well, it’s just like you said that one night. Balthazar’s gone, but Elona is nowhere close to being safe or free. I just can’t help but feel like…”

“It’s not enough?” Amal interjected.

Aspir’s eyes went wide and his face became flushed. He had forgotten about their conversation the moment before the attack.

Amal sighed. “Look around you.” She gestured her hand towards Yobash; towards all the villagers going about their business. “See all these people? They’re alive because of what we did. The future is uncertain, but we’ve given them a chance to see it.”

Her hand extended up and tenderly grasped his lower-thigh. “I was like you once, you know. Fighting every day of my life, and yet never feeling any closer to achieving my goals. Every victory came with two defeats. Made me wonder why I even bothered trying at all.”

She smirked ever so slightly when she saw the look of shame on the young guardian’s face. “But I never gave up because I knew to do so would be true defeat. People like us don’t fight because we can fix all the problems in the world, but because the world is worth trying to fix. You understand that, don’t you?”

Aspir remained quiet. She could see the redness on his cheeks start to fade away, however.

“I don’t know what ideals it is that you fight for, but I can tell you believe in them. They may seem far off, but I can assure you, you’re far more likely to make them true by trying than not.” She pulled her hand back, placing it square on her hip. “You’ve got a lot of battles ahead of you, Outlander. Try not to get discouraged before they even start.”

There was another moment of silence once Amal finished. She became increasingly unsure if her words had done much to comfort the man until he finally replied.

“Thank you…” Aspir said quietly and with the most gentle of smiles.

Amal’s smirk further grew. “Farewell, Outlander. May Kormir see to it that we meet again.”

Aspir wordlessly nodded, smile still on his face. He squeezed his legs against Mayline, who perked up and leaped into a running start. Once she built up enough speed, she spread her wings and took off. Her wings beat rapidly, raising them higher and higher by the second. Aspir looked back at Yobash, catching Amal waving at him. He waved back, and kept doing so until the academy and the bubble around it appeared as a marble sticking out of the endless sand of the desert. He turned forward, and grinned towards the horizon.

He was finally coming home.

[aspirgallant]

Ringing. That was all Aspir could hear. Not shouting, not thunder, not the clashing of metal. Just ringing. The world spun around him while he felt frozen in place. He wasn’t even sure where he was anymore.

Am I dead? Did I die? He began thinking to himself. Didn’t hurt as much as I thought it would. I’m sorry The-

“Outlander!” a voice yelled out.

It cut through the ringing like a knife, shocking Aspir out of his trance. One by one his senses started to return. He recognized that the voice belonged to Amal, who was calling out for him with what seemed to be confusion. What did she have to be confused about? That he was still alive? Admittedly, he was rather confused about that himself. The answer came when he was finally able to focus his eyes.

His prosthetic arm was engulfed in blue fire, which extended forward to form a translucent shield. Waves of light pulsed out from the shield, creating a solid barrier that surrounded him. The ground was smoking and charred right in front of it.

“Did… did I…” Aspir murmured. He lowered the shield; the barrier fading as he did so. He brushed it with his other hand, and found that despite its flaming appearance, it was only mildly warm to the touch.

He was familiar with spirit weapons, but never thought himself skilled enough to summon one. His grasp on magic was always shaky at best, and yet here before him was the purest manifestation of a guardian’s magic. How was this possible?

He did not have long to ponder on the question before the sound of another blast echoed out.

“Outlander! Move!” Amal shouted.

But there wasn’t enough time. The ball of energy already came barreling straight at him. In an act of pure instinct, Aspir once again raised the shield, the barrier materializing around it. The ball collided into the barrier head on, but rather than exploded on impact, it pushed into the barrier, causing it to distort inwards.

Aspir’s senses were buzzing as his body strained against the pressure of the attack. It were as though he was being electrocuted. Every ounce of strength and magic in his body was used to keep that barrier up. Yet, despite the struggle, he stood strong. He felt strong.

I can do this, he screamed in his head.

He took the slightest step forward, pushing back against the blast.

I can help these people!

With a furious cry and another push, the barrier bursted into a ripple of force. Sand flew up into the air and the blast launched backwards. Aspir fell onto all fours, gasping harshly and fighting just to not pass out.

The forged commander and its bastion watched as the volatile energy came hurtling back towards them. The commander immediately sprinted out of the way, but the bastion was helpless as its heavy, lumbering body futility tried to walk towards safety. The ball smashed right into its face, exploding into a shower of lights and sparks. As soon as they cleared, it was revealed that there was merely a blazing hole where the construct’s head had been. It stumbled around clumsily, sparks of energy discharging from the new cracks in its torso. Something from within its chest lit up, and suddenly its entire middle erupted. With that, the bastion’s limp and thoroughly shattered form fell to the ground.

Save for the distant thundering of the brandstorm, the battlefield had gone totally silent. Forged and humans alike stared at each other, neither seemingly ready to make the next move. Amal walked over to Aspir, who was still resting on the ground. She squatted down to his level, and tapped him on the shoulder to grab his attention.

“Are you… alright?” she asked.

Aspir looked up to her face, still breathing heavily. His entire body ached with the exertion of what he’d just done. Not to mention he could still feel the salt on his cheeks from the tears of his breakdown minutes before.

“I’m… I’m not sure,” he answered honestly.

She raised an eyebrow. “Do you think you can still fight?”

He responded by attempting to get back up, but found himself falling back onto his knees. “I just… need a moment to rest.”

Amal nodded. “Don’t take too long now, because this is far from over.” She raised herself up and pointed her chin at the forged commander, who appeared to be literally fuming.

The commander’s sword flared up once more as it swung it towards the humans. “Enough of this! Kill them! Kill them all! FOR BALTHAZAR!” It dashed forward, dozens of forged following close behind.

Amal crossed her daggers and crouched down, prepared to strike. “Keep them away from the academy! We end this now!” She sprung up and started rushing towards the commander. The defenders of Yobash bellowed out their own warcries and ran after her, clashing with the forged mere meters from the school’s perimeter.

As the two forces collided, the commander launched a fireball at Amal, who sliced through it with ease. She jumped for its legs, daggers ready, but a swift kick sent her tumbling away.

“Look at you all; weak and frail. What is the point of this?” the forged commander asked with a rumbling voice as it brought its sword down on Amal, who barely rolled out of the way.

She quickly flipped back onto her feet and bared her teeth at the commander. She circled around it, looking for an opening of any kind.

“Is Balthazar not your god as well? Did you not once serve him? Why resist!?” Every sentence came with a swipe from its sword, which Amal nimbly dodged.

“It doesn’t matter what he was to us before, we’ve been spent our whole lives fighting one slave master! We’d never pledge ourselves to another!” She tossed a dagger at its back, which scratched its ribs as it turned around to face her. The metallic creature groaned as the anti-magic imbued within the blade tore through its fiery aura, but ultimately the damage was minimal.

The commander unleashed a wave of flame from its blade. Amal succeeded in avoiding it, but it continued on to hit another of the defenders, who fell instantly in burning agony. Amal took only a second to watch in horror before she had to continue her circling, lest she suffer the same fate.

“Look how easily you all burn. Balthazar offers strength! A new place in his world! You could fight for more than mere survival!”

As Amal ran around the commander, weaving through its strikes, she could see Aspir striding through the battlefield with his arm ablaze and determination on his face. For just a moment, they caught each other’s eyes. She came to a skidding halt in front of the commander and leapt up with magical strength, sending her above the commander’s head. As she began to descend, she pointed her remaining dagger downwards.

The commander extended its hand towards her, burning red hot and primed to sear through the flesh of her neck. However, in the second before contact, a flying hammer made of brilliant, blue fire slammed into its stomach, resounding with a loud clang and knocking the commander onto its back.

“I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM!” Amal cried.

The dagger landed right in the space between its neck and torso. The commander growled in pain and rage as Amal’s magic cut into its arcane essence. With a roar, she shot out a wave of golden energy from the dagger. The flames sputtering from the commander’s body went dark as the wave washed over it. It began to still, save for one last, meek effort to reach out for her. It managed to grab her wrist, only for its hand to go limp. With the dagger still lodged in its neck, the commander laid in the sand, dim and lifeless.

The clashing of steel and throwing of spells ceased as the remaining forged paused to stare at the motionless husk of their former leader. They swapped glances between each other and slowly began to pull back from their foes. The defenders moved away in turn, but kept their weapons at the ready.

Amal pulled the dagger from the commander’s neck and lifted herself up. She stared back at the forged with eyes full of defiance; just daring for another to step forward.

The forged stood quietly in formation until one in the front finally shouted to the rest.

“Retreat!”

Others repeated the order as they started to run towards the dunes, one after the other. Freerunners, sharpshooters, hounds; all running off into the distance.

The defenders all broke out into cheering, raising weapons and hugging each other in the face of their victory. Some shouted insults at the retreating forged, laughing all the while. Amal simply turned around and walked several feet towards Aspir, who was struggling to stand only a few feet from the commander’s body. She wrapped his arm around her shoulders and had him lean against her. Once he was stable, she smiled.

“How do you feel now?” she asked.

“Like someone dropped a bag of bricks on me,” he groaned.

Amal chuckled. “After what we just went through, I’m surprised you don’t feel worse. Especially after that little trick with the spirit weapon. You’re more impressive than I thought.” She started walking towards the school grounds, the small guardian in tow.

“That was... new to me too.” He stopped to cough, then continued speaking. “But... I didn’t do anything anyone else here couldn’t have done.

She sighed at that reponse. “You know, you’d do well not to doubt yourself so-”

The sound of a massive boom drowned out all other noises. The cheering ceased as everyone frantically started searching for its source. They expected to see another wave of forged war machines, but instead saw a swirling cloud of crackling energy and dust miles away. It spread outward at incomprehensible speed, threatening to swallow them all.

The humans quickly began running towards the barrier surrounding the school, hoping the djinn’s magic would shield them all from the impending disaster. Amal’s eyes were wide with panic as she attempted to drag Aspir to safety. He tried to walk along with her, but found himself too drained to do much more than hobble along with her.

The winds came upon them quickly, scooping them up and tossing them forward. They both went flying through the barrier, still tangled together. They landed on the ground with a thud; the air knocked out of their lungs.

Aspir unraveled his arm from Amal’s shoulders, setting her free. He rolled onto his back and looked upwards, finding all vision of the outside totally obscured by the sand. Thankfully, the barrier managed to keep out the worst of it, the wind passing around the barrier as opposed to through it. Save for a few rocks and other heavier objects occasionally getting thrown in, they were safe.

He felt so weak. As the others huddled together and murmured amongst themselves over what caused this storm, he could sense his consciousness slipping away. He closed his eyes, and fell asleep to the sounds of close-by whispers and distant roaring.

[aspirgallant]

It was the Forged who charged first; metal monstrosities of varying shapes and sizes all speeding over the dunes towards the school grounds. Many of the terrestrial Forged walked into the carefully laid rune traps, which bursted with elemental magic and shattered their bodies in a show of lightning and thunder. But the onslaught did not pause as the floating ones merely passed over them, hurtling ever closer.

Amal leapt forward, daggers drawn and ready. She assaulted a Forged mage, which didn’t even have enough time to fling a fireball before she swiped her blades across its body. Despite the daggers not even leaving so much as a scratch against its hard, metallic skin, the mage suddenly began to spasm before the flames animating it went out. Amal smirked and moved on to the next foe, who didn’t last much longer.

Aspir gazed in wonder as the warrior jumped gracefully from foe to foe, leaving each a pile of lifeless iron. He wasn’t familiar with the magic she was using, but it proved to be brutally effective against the Forged, cutting through their magic like paper. Inspired by her efforts, Aspir raced forward himself. He held his shield upfront, the blue light of aegis projecting out from it and washing over his body.

He clashed with a gliding forerunner, absorbing its momentum with the aegis. It attempted to bash him with the maces it had in place of fists, but all its blows were met with the shield. Aspir swung his own mace towards the forerunner’s leg, knocking it off balance. With the opening he created, he struck its chest with magical might, causing it to fall to the ground. He sprung up over the forerunner, and with another empowered strike, he crushed its hollow head under the mace.

The other defenders soon joined in. Elementalist flung out volleys of lightning or casted sand storms that obscured the vision of the Forged sharpshooters. Those capable of wielding a weapon fought with the Forged that made it to the schools perimeter, preventing them from advancing further. Yobash had become utterly filled with the sounds of battle as the night progressed.

As more of the iron soldiers rushed in to replace their fallen comrades, one in particular stood atop a nearby dune. It was taller than the rest, and its body was more ornate. In its hand, it held a massive sword that burned just as bright as its wielder. It surveyed the battlefield, displeased with what it saw.

It gripped the sword with both hands and raised it up above its head. With tremendous force, it slammed the blade down into the ground. A column of fire spewed out from the sword, traveling along the sand like a wave. One of the school’s defenders was in the middle of a duel with a hookhead when he was suddenly consumed by the wave. His screams lasted for mere seconds before he fell to the ground, charred and stinking of burnt meat.

“The enemies of Balthazar shall burn for their heresy!” the large Forged called out.

The sword erupted into a great inferno, leaving a trail of fire as he began charging forward. It let loose a bellowing warcry, and all the other Forged cried out in turn. They began to fight with renewed vigor, pushing the defender back towards the school.

Amal made her way back to Aspir. She leaned in close, and pointed at the large Forged. “I’m guessing that thing is this group’s commander.”

“I think you’re right, but what should we do?” Aspir kept looking back forth between Amal and the burnt body nearby. He started to look increasingly squeamish. “I don’t think we can get close without getting crisped.”

Amal held a hand out. “Give me some protection. I’ll handle the rest.”

Aspir nodded and grabbed her wrist. He focused his magic into it, forming an aegis around Amal and pumping her with empowering energy. As soon as he let go, she sprinted towards the Forged commander.

The commander waved his sword, shooting out a fireball, but Amal easily cut through it. Just before crashing into her enemy, she leapt up high and pointed her daggers downwards towards the commander’s head. But before she could stab it, one of its hands quickly released its grip on the sword to grab her by the throat and toss her several meters away. She landed with such force that aegis protecting her shattered. Amal barely had enough time to collect her senses before she had to roll out of the way of another fireball.

The Forged commander was upon her as soon as she got back onto her feet. It kept swinging its blade, forcing Amal to frantically dodge its attacks. She could barely keep herself from flying again whenever she had to use her magic to deflect a swipe.

Suddenly, the commander ceased its assault to jump back. An arc of lightning zapped the ground where it stood, leaving a spot of soot.

Aspir turned back to see Ma’bud, who was completely wreathed in electricity. Wind and ice started to whip around him as well as he slowly floated towards the Forged commander. He looked absolutely furious.

“I, the Great Ma’bud, have protected this sanctuary for centuries! You will not be the ones to defile it, you abominations!” The Djinn’s voice bellowed like thunder and echoed from all directions.

He loosed a barrage of elemental attacks upon the commander, but it proved to be durable, withstanding the various hits. It attempted to hit Ma’bud with attacks of its own, but the djinn managed to deftly avoid each one. Soon, the two were locked in battle, trading blow after blow.

“Amal!” Ma’bud shouted out, “I will handle this one! Destroy its underlings before they overwhelm our warriors!”

Amal followed his command and returned to cutting down the Forged soldiers. She moved on to the spots where the Forged were nearly about to overtake the defenders. She would spin through them like a tornado, disabling their spells and leaving them as empty shells.

In comparison, Aspir was struggling. He did all he could to support the defenders, but he had never faced foes in such large numbers. Having to fight so many enemies while watching over so many allies, he just wasn’t sure what to do. He simply pumped out spell after spell to protect and invigorate the others, hoping it would be enough.

But thoughts of doubt kept growing in his mind. Am I doing enough? Am I even doing anything? How long can I keep this up?

He shook his head, trying to focus on the fight around him. He saw a Forged soldier pulling its sword back, ready to impale one of the defenders from behind. Aspir ran and smashed into its side with his shield, pushing it away. The defender twirled around and, as soon as she saw the soldier, jabbed a spear into the cracks of its torso. Lightning traveled from her hands, through the spear, and into the Forged. The electricity disrupted its flaming joints, rendering it inert.

Their eyes crossed, and Aspir realized it was the sentry from earlier. He’d need to ask for her name later. It was important to know who you were fighting with… and for.

The roar of something immeasurably huge reverberated throughout the land.

Sounds of thunder rumbled across the battlefield. It was not that of the elementalists’ magic, nor did it come from a raincloud. Forged and human alike gazed up, and found a sky obscured by dark, purple clouds. They spread ever outward, as if they were reaching for something beyond the horizon. Magenta lightning violently erupted from them, leaving formations of a similarly colored crystal wherever they struck.

Aspir’s heart sank. “Kralkatorrik,” he said with shaky breath.

The battlefield became hectic as warriors on both sides had to dodge out of the way falling, crystalline meteors. Occasionally, someone would be struck by the lightning and encased in a crystal prison, forcing their allies to break them out lest they return as Branded.

Ma’bud was still dueling the Forged commander when the rolling thunder caught his attention. As he looked towards the sky, his face turned to that of horror. “No…”

The djinn shifted into a gust of wind and absconded from the duel, leaving the commander behind. The gust blew its way passed the fighting soldiers and defender and straight to the center of the school, where the inactive pillar lied.

Around him, the lightning bore down on the school, scarring and corrupting it. If this continued for much longer, it would be left near uninhabitable. He immediately started channeling magic into the pillar, and soon a barrier of enchanted wind extended out from it and over the school. Once up, the lightning bounced harmlessly off the barrier, saving the school grounds from further destruction.

The Forged commander, no longer occupied by Ma’bud, watched this all closely. It pointed its blade towards the pillar, and called out to the other Forged.

“Summon the bastion! I want that barrier down! The Brandstorm will leave the rats with no more holes to hide in.”

“Bastion?” Amal asked as she paused her flurry of attacks. She looked around, seeing that the Forged had started to back off. They weren’t in full retreat, but had given Yobash a wide berth. The other defenders had started to look relieved, but Amal swiftly saw to it that they’d keep their guards up. “This isn’t over! Something is coming! Be prepared!”

From the dunes came a new type of Forged. It towered over the rest, nearing three times the height of the already-tall commander. Fire blazed out of every crack and hole in its iron body, which was made up of loosely connected and incredibly bulky segments. Mostly notably, however, was the cannon-like muzzles it had in place of hands.

The commander once more directed its sword at the pillar lying in the center of Yobash. “Blast it to pieces!” it shouted towards the giant.

The bastion pointed both arms at the pillar and widened its legs to ground itself. An intense light made up of bright and warm colors started to build within each muzzle, along with an increasingly loud hum.

Amal’s face was overcome with dread as she realized what was about to happen. She turned to the others and shouted frantically. “Elementalists! Destroy that monster before it-”

A great boom drowned out all other noises as the energy building within the bastion exploded out in the form of a huge sphere. The defenders could do nothing as it flew right over them and into the barrier. It crashed straight into the pillar, blowing out large chunks of stones and nearly toppling it over. Thankfully, Ma’bud’s magic kept it upright, and the barrier stood firm.

“The barrier won’t be able to survive many more hits like that! Hit that Forged with everything you got!” Amal yelled.

The elementalists shot out a volley of spells at the bastion. They pelted it with bolts ice and lightning, yet barely managed to scratch it. It aimed its arms at the pillar, but was promptly stopped by the commander.

“The barrier can wait. I’ve had enough of these heathens. Annihilate them.” The commander pointed a finger at the defenders, and the bastion followed suit. It reorientated itself, and began charging another blast once more.

“Damn it,” Amal cursed under her breath, ”we’ll need to tackle it head on. Outlander, come with me, I’ll need your magic if we’re to… Outlander?” She twisted to see Aspir frozen in place.

His breathing was out of control as his whole body trembled wildly. He lost grip on his weapons, the shield and mace clanging lightly against the sand as soon as they hit the ground. Sounds and images flashed across his mind.

The sky turning red. People screaming. Cannons firing. An explosion. Indescribable pain. Theo desperately shouting his name. Numbness.

He crouched and covered his head with hands. Tears streamed down his face as he yelled at himself in his own thoughts. I shouldn’t have come here. I can’t help these people. Everyone was right. I’m just stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid-

“Outlander!”

The sound of Amal’s voice was followed by another boom, finally ripping Aspir from his trance. When he looked up, another sphere of furious energy was zooming towards them. The others were ducking for cover while Amal tried to urge him towards safety. There wasn’t any time, though. He had to do something.

It felt as though time began to slow. He raised himself upward and jumped past Amal, moving towards the blast rather than way. She tried to say something to him, but he could barely perceive the noises around him. All Aspir could hear was the beat of his own heart.

Why am I doing this? he wondered to himself.

He didn’t know the answer to that question. It was just a feeling. A feeling he had long since grown familiar with. It was the same feeling that drove him into harm’s way so many times before. That drove him in between a young child and a pack of bullies. A terrified man and some cruel thugs. Helpless townsfolk and a jade cannon. His lover and a vengeful assassin.

It was a desire to help people, and with every beat, it grew stronger. It filled him. Consumed him. Kept pushing him forward. It burned hot and bright in his soul, like a blazing fire. A fire to light the darkness.

The blast was almost upon them. Amal was still shouting at Aspir to move, but he stood firm. He held out his metallic arm in front of him, and braced for impact.

There was a blinding light, and a deafening explosion. Then… silence.

[aspirgallant]

The Calm Before the Storm

The day had been long and hard for the people of Yobash. With word of the oncoming Forged assault, they had spent its entirety properly arming themselves and preparing their defenses. Unfortunately, Ma’bud’s assessment of the students’ fighting abilities proved to be accurate. Save for the few who had once been soldiers or guards, many had little training with a weapon. Amal spent much of the day teaching volunteers basic techniques; just enough to defend themselves if magic wouldn’t suffice.

Aspir was mostly busy discussing strategy with Ma’bud and the sentries. Though he encountered the Forged far less than he’d like, in the couple of instances he did, Aspir had gained some familiarity with the various types of they would likely have to confront. He shared with them all he could, and watched as they planned and accounted for each type.

With the knowledge he provided, Ma’bud and the elementalists set about constructing various fortifications; primarily walls of solid sand to provide cover and elemental runes to act as traps. Several underground archives were converted into bunkers for those who couldn’t fight. They were stored with food and water should the worst come to pass and hiding became the only option. As the sun began to set, there was only one thing left to do: lower the very barrier that had protected the school grounds from the Dragonbrand for a decade. With its size and visibility, the chances of it attracting the Forged were simply too great.

Now all there was left to do was wait. Aspir decided to spend that time trying on the armor Amal had picked for him within the underground sanctuary. The set’s age was evident in the patches of tarnish that dotted each plate. What he assumed had once been dark purple cloth had dulled into a pale violet and was thoroughly chewed through by insects. He doubted it’d provide much protection at all. Still, he had to admit Amal was right. When it came to the Forged, some protection was better than none.

The sun was completely down by the time he exited his tent, which was based near the edge of the bubble. He was greeted to the sight of a small fire being diligently fed by Quenchya, with Mayline curled up peacefully nearby. He walked over to choya friend, presenting himself to her.

“So? What do you think? Does it look good?” He spun around, giving Quenchya a view of his entire body.

The choya stared blankly at him for a few seconds, then proceeded to return to her work of dragging sticks into the fire.

Aspir chuckled to himself. “Yeah, it could use a little polish.”

When she was satisfied, the tiny choya nestled up in a nearby sand pile. Aspir himself plopped right down next to the fire, basking in its warmth as the chill air of the night set in. As he leaned back onto his hands, he peered up into the sky. It was the first time since he arrived at Yobash that he could appreciate stars, which had previously been obscured by the barrier. They seemed so much more vibrant in the desert, forming a sea of lights and color.

He couldn’t help but to think about his star-loving partner. It had been nearly a month since Aspir had last seen Theo; perhaps even longer. He pulled the chain around neck his out, cradling the ring and locket Theo had given him in his palms. He wondered if his fiancé was alright. For all he knew, Theo could’ve been off risking his life in some other adventure with the Whispers. He just prayed he’d be able to see him again soon.

A voice came from behind him. “Outlander?”

Aspir jumped slightly in surprise, quickly tucking the jewelry back into his armor. He turned to see Amal behind him, waiting patiently. “Uh, yes?”

“Is it alright if we talked?” she asked.

Curious, Aspir nodded at her. “Of course.”

Amal nodded in turn, and took her place on the opposite side of the fire. She stared into the flames, something clearly on her mind. After a minute or so, she looked towards Aspir once more.

“I just wanted to apologize for my aggression towards you these past few days. These are simply…” She breathed out, suddenly looking very exhausted. “Difficult times.” She ran her hands through her hair before continuing. “I’ve seen you doing your best to help the people here. Clearly, I misjudged you.”

Aspir smiled at the warrior. “It’s fine. I know things have been tough around here with Balthazar and his followers. But we’ll beat him, and then maybe things will get better!”

Amal scoffer at his words. “Our troubles started long before Balthazar’s betrayal, and will continue long after. He’s just another tragedy in a long of list of them for Elona.”

A downcast looked appeared over Aspir. “What do you mean?”

“Do you know of Joko?” the warrior asked as her gaze lowered towards the fire.

“I do. The exiles in the Riverlands told me some things, and I’ve, uh… run into the Awakened. Though, they seem more welcoming here in Vabbi. It’s been confusing,” Aspir said while scratching the back of his head.

The warrior’s eyes glared intensely at the fire, her whole face creasing madly. “Do not fall for their act. The Awakened are how Joko ruins this nation. They manipulate its people and anyone who dares to defy them are silenced. He’s nothing, but a plague,” she spat out.

Aspir didn’t respond. The words simply never came.

Amal’s features softened. There was no more hate in her eyes, just grief. “Tell me, outlander. Where you come from, do such tyrants exist?”

Aspir considered the question. He wanted to say no, but that wasn’t exactly the truth. “Well, sort of and not really. There was a lot of bad people in power, and we payed for it.” His eyes trailed down to his metallic arm, which he realized he was clenching. He had to inhale to relax. “But there was good people too, and they won. We got our justice.”

Amal chuckled sadly. “We got not such thing here. The good lost and Joko triumphed, but even that wasn’t enough. He changed what good was; turning our heroes into villains and himself into the hero. He took Elona’s very soul away and filled the void with his doctrine.” She shook her head and sighed. “Whether we defeat Balthazar or not, Elona is still a long way from ever being truly free… ”

Aspir bent forward and wrapped his arms around his legs. He curled into himself, suddenly feeling very small. “I’m… I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be… It’s just the reality of things. What matters now,” she pulled out one of her daggers, holding it up above the flames, “is that we keep living.”

The dagger grabbed Aspir’s attention. In the light, it shone with what he could’ve swore was a rainbow of colors. He was absolutely transfixed by it.

“My mother gave me this dagger, and her mother before her. It has passed down to each generation of Sunspear of in my family; to act both as a reminder of an Elona before Joko, and as a symbol of what Elona could be again.” Her voice started to well with pride.

Aspir’s eyebrows rose up. “Wait, does that mean you’re a…?”

For the first time since he had met her, Amal smiled. “Despite everything Joko has done to destroy us, we’ve survived. Every day that we live is in direct defiance of his will. As long as the Sunspear are able to fight, there is hope that Elona can be free once more.”

Aspir looked at her in awe. In that instant, she looked like a proud and noble hero. The exact sort of hero he had hoped to be one day. Even with all the troubles that plagued her home, Amal managed to stand strong and defiant.

How does she do it, he thought. How does she manage to live with it all?

The words slipped out like water. “Don’t you ever feel like it’s not good enough?” He immediately cupped his mouth, not entirely sure why or even how he said that. He started to blush, mortified as he was by his own words.

Amal looked taken aback by the question. She stared silently at him, only increasing the awkward tension between them. Only after processing what he said, did she finally start to speak again. “Is that how you-”

Her words were immediately cut off by the sound of a gunshot in the distance, followed by shouting. Quenchya and Mayline stirred from their slumber, and Amal stood up to seek out the cause of the disturbance. It wasn’t long, however, before one of the sentries sprinted up to the camp.

Her breathing was quick and harsh as she spoke. “The Forged have been sighted near by! They are coming!” the sentry shouted.

Amal squinted, her grip on the dagger tightening. She looked down to Aspir. “Are you ready?”

Aspir turned onto his feet and leapt into his tent. The two women glanced at each other in confusion, but he quickly reemerged with his shield and the mace he had taken from the sanctuary. He nodded at her with a determined look.

Amal nodded back and turned towards the sentry. “Then let’s go. The army of the War God is going to find we’ve got more fight in us than they could ever know.”

The sentry began to head back to where she came from; Aspir and Amal closely behind. All around them, villagers scrambled to run for hiding places, while those who would fight took up their stations. The three of them stopped to kneel behind a stone barrier set up outside the school. There, they waited patiently for the first signs of the enemy.

Anticipation filled the air as they listened. At first, all that could be heard was the quiet ambience of the night. The three remained in place, poised to strike. But, it seemed like nothing was coming.

Growing impatient, Amal gestured to the other two to stay put. She slowly started raise herself up, peeking her head ever so slightly above the barrier. Almost immediately, a fiery bullet blew a chunk of the wall off mere inches from her face. Standing only a few meters away, a Forged rifleman had its sights set on her. It let loose another shot, which Amal dodged gracefully with a spin. She used the momentum to fling her dagger with much greater accuracy than the rifleman. It flew right into the gap where its forearm met its upper arm. The magic keeping the appendage together flickered and suddenly went out. It’s forearm dropped to the ground, taking the rifle with it.

Amal jumped over the barrier, leaving Aspir and the sentry behind. She ran towards the rifleman, and dived for her dagger. She successfully grabbed it while rolling past, and upon landing on her feet, she jumped up right behind the rifleman and threw her arms around its head. With both hands on the dagger, she shoved it back into the gaps of the rifleman’s helmet-like face. It struggled for only a few seconds before Amal’s magic took hold, snuffing out the flames within the metal being. It slumped lifeless against her, and fell apart into the sand.

“Watch out!” Aspir cried.

Amal had only a second to turn and duck before another bullet hit her. The glowing flames of dozens of Forged appeared, all armed with weapons burning just as bright. Amal backed off towards Aspir and the sentry, and together the three got into a defensive stance while others appeared to defend Yobash.

It was going to be a long night.

[aspirgallant]

Preparations

Colossus Something, 1330

For the last few days, I’ve been staying at the weirdest village I’ve ever visited. They’ve been living in a magic bubble at the edge of the Brand for years now, totally cut off from the rest of the world. They’re lead by an air djinn (apparently some kind of elemental) named Ma’bud (I think that’s how you spell it) who apparently has been living here for a while.

Ma’bud says this used to be a major school called Yobash Academy. Joko destroyed it during his take over of Vabbi, trying to wipe out the knowledge here. The people living here now were defectors who came looking for sanctuary from him, since the Awakened avoid the Brand. They ended up finding this place, and Ma’bud just lets them stick around in exchange for helping him maintain the old school grounds. Not a bad deal actually. He even teaches them elemental magic they can use to carve out a living here. He’s a bit… full of himself, but I can’t deny he’s doing a good thing for these people. The villagers are pretty nice themselves; they’ve been letting me stick around while I figure out what to do next about the Forged.

There was also this kind of mean lady here; who I think was named Amal. I asked the villagers what her deal was and they say she’s some sort of wandering warrior. She arrived here a couple of weeks before me, needing somewhere to hide from the Awakened. Beyond that, the villagers couldn’t say much else about her. I guess she keeps to herself.

Amal left pretty soon after I arrived to go and see if she could learn anything about the Forged army’s movements. She said she’d be back the next day, but it’s been several days and still nothing. Ma’bud fears for the worst. Even though she was pretty rude, I hope nothing bad happened to

Before Aspir had the chance to finish the sentence, his attention was torn away by the commotion forming around him. Someone was shouting with excitement; a sentry, he believed.

“Amal has returned!” the sentry kept yelling.

With that, Aspir slammed his journal shut and tucked it away into his pack. “Speak of the devil,” he spoke to himself as he rose from his spot by Mayline’s plush side. He bid the griffon to stay in place before walking in the direction the sentry was pointing towards. At the edge of the bubble, he found Amal dismounting her raptor. Her movements were quick and hurried, and concern permeated her face.

“I need to speak to Ma’bud immediately. The situation is much worse than I thought,” she said to another guard.

“Ah, Amal, it is good to have you with us again. I had assumed the worst with your rather prolonged journey.” Ma’bud appeared, floating right up to Amal and her raptor. “You seem more temperamental than usual. I take it the news is not good.”

“I apologize for taking so long. Balthazar and his armies have advanced far into Vabbi. I nearly lost my life running into one of their outposts.” She tugged her left sleeve upwards, revealing a bloody bandage wrapped tightly around her bicep.

The djinn stared in alarm at the wound. “Heavens above! You should see the healer immediately.”

Amal nearly growled. “We don’t have time for that!”

Ma’bud hovered back a foot, surprised by Amal’s outburst. “Do you have any reason to believe they are coming here? I doubt there is much in this dragon-blasted land for them.”

Amal made a bleak look. “One would think, but from what I’ve heard at the Gardens, Archon Iberu is gathering an Awakened army at Kodash Bazaar. What possible reason could there be for that, unless-”

“They are seeking something within Dragonbrand…” Ma’bud interjected. “This is most troubling. What could they possibly hope to find here?”

The warrior shook her head. “The whims of the gods are beyond us. But it doesn’t matter, we must prepare. Based on what I’ve seen, we have perhaps a day or two before the Forged reach the edge of the Dragonbrand. Everyone here has to be ready.”

Ma’bud steepled his fingers anxiously, humming even more. “My people are not equipped for combat. They are scholars and refugees, not warriors.”

“They’ll have to be all three if they want to survive a fight with Balthazar’s forces,” Amal exclaimed, pointing tensely at the djinn. “We’ll need everybody we can get if we’re to defend this place.”

It was there that Aspir butted in. “I’ll fight! I’ve fought with the Forged before; I can help you prepare for them.” He could see the returning annoyance on Amal’s face and immediately froze. “If that’s alright…”

Amal sighed. “Fine. You can help, outlander. First thing’s first, we need to arm those here who are willing to fight with u. Magic will only protect one from so much. Surely you have equipment around here, Ma’bud.”

Ma’bud raised a hand to his jaw, pondering for a moment. “Well…”

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Ma’bud, Amal, Aspir, and a small entourage of the villagers descended down a spiralling set of stairs into a dark room below. Aspir held out a blue flame in his hand, illuminating the way down along with torches the others had brought. The djinn did little to elaborate as to where they were headed, simply directing them into this passage beneath the old school’s library.

“I had promised this room’s previous occupants not to divulge its location, but it seems desperate times call for desperate measure. Besides, I highly doubt that they’ll be visiting again any time soon.” Ma’bud rubbed his bony hands together, a small ball of lightning forming in-between them, further lighting up their surroundings. Once the the group reached the bottom of the stairs, he shot out his arms. The ball immediately expanded outward into separate arcs of electricity. Each arc flew towards a different direction, revealing the walls of a wide room as they zipped past. The arcs all struck a series of wall-mounted torches, finally unveiling the room in its entirety.

The room was a story high, and about twice as wide in all directions. Strung about were numerous chests, book shelves, and banners depicting the Sun. Clouds of dust flickered around in the air, and years of sand from the surface collected in various pockets in the corners. The Elonians in the group murmured among themselves; even Amal looked stunned.

Aspir was the first speak up. “What is this place?” he asked while looking around.

“This was once a Sunspear sanctuary.” Ma’bud floated to the side, letting the humans move past into the room. “Shortly after this school’s fall and Joko’s rise, a branch of the Sunspears made this old archive their refuge. They operated in this space for centuries, until the Brand descended and made the land near uninhabitable. They simply couldn’t risk staying any longer.” The djinn shook his head before continuing. “They left much behind. You will find all the equipment we need here. Do be careful with the books; they’re very old and quite valuable.” No longer needed, the djinn ascended back up the stairs.

The rest of the group spread out, popping open chests and pulling out their contents for inspection. Many were filled with the equipment Ma’bud promised. From one, Aspir pulled out a mace covered in spikes that gave it the appearance of a sun. He swung it about in his hands, testing its heft.

“Amal, do you think this would be any good against the Forg…” His words trailed off as he turned to the warrior.

She stood in front of one of the banners, dragging her fingers across its surface. Her movements were slow, almost somber. She ignored the chest at her side, seemingly lost in her thoughts.

“Are you alright?” Aspir asked.

Amal stepped back as she snapped out of whatever trance she was in. She rubbed the back of her back of her head, embarrassed. “Apologies. I was just… reminiscing.” She moved her attention to the nearby chest. She bent down and dug through it, coming back up with a single pauldron. She tossed it over to Aspir, who caught it in his free hand.

“What’s this for?” he inquired as he twisted it about in his hand, taking in the details of its craft.

“What do you think? Armor. For you,” she said matter of factly.

Aspir cleared his throat awkwardly. “Oh, uh, thank you, but I don’t really need any armor. I can fight like this.”

Amal looked him up and down, clearly unimpressed. “Yeah, no.” She stepped up to him and poked him into his bare chest, causing him to reflexively curl up. “It won’t do anyone any good if you die in the first minute of battle, because you went out fighting in straps.”

“But-!” Aspir blurted out before being cut off.

“Look, if you’re serious about defending these people, you need to fight like it. We are making war with the army of a god. We can’t afford to make mistakes. Do you hear me?”

Aspir looked down, ashamed. “Yes, ma’am… I hear you.”

“Good.” Amal returned to the chest, pulling out more pieces of armor. “There’s much work to be done, and little time to do it.” She threw a gauntlet this time, forcing Aspir to cross his arms in order to catch it. “Let’s begin…”

[aspirgallant]

Ever since he had entered Vabbi, Aspir found little peace. He had been flying constantly from community to community for over a week now, trying to warn as many people as he could of the encroaching Forged invasion. The only times he stopped was to rest, and then it was right back to work. He was surprised by the stamina of his griffon friend, who he had taken to calling Mayline; after his griffon riding ancestor that had founded the house his mother hailed from. She had dutifully taken Aspir and Quenchya all across the country, and quite speedily at that. That lead was crucial if Aspir was to get the word out before the Forged arrived. He was quite sure that they had already crossed into Vabbi’s borders, and he could only hope that the locals’ preparations would be enough.

Ahead, he could see a dark, turbulent storm that glowed with an unnatural light. Below it layed out miles of crystalline land that appeared almost entirely uninhabited. “Great. More of the Dragonbrand,” Aspir mumbled to himself. He recalled from a local how since its appearance, the Dragonbrand had more or less become the new eastern border of Vabbi. On the brightside, that meant he had successfully crossed the domain. Now there was simply the matter of what to do next.

As Aspir considered his options, he felt a poke from behind. He turned around to see Quenchya pointing a nubby hand towards the ground far below. His gaze followed its direction, where it landed on a large, shimmering sphere nestled in the ruins of an abandoned, half-corrupted town. He knew better than to explore such oddities, but curiosity got the better of him. He got Mayline’s attention by tapping her head and pointed down at the sphere. The griffon understood and immediately dove down. Even after a week of this, the feeling free-falling hundreds of feet never felt any less electrifying.

They landed close-by at the base of a building near the sphere. Aspir dismounted and left his supplies with Quenchya and Mayline, who he urged to stay put. He started to creep towards the sphere, ducking in-between piles of rubble in case something hostile appeared. As he got closer, he realized the sphere was much larger up close than it was in the sky. It stood several stories high, and appeared to shimmer like water. He got even closer, only leaving himself about an arm’s distance away. The sphere hummed with a sound like wind.

“I… probably shouldn’t touch this…” But that did not dissuade him from trying anyways. He extended his prosthetic arm and dipped a finger into the sphere, his eyes closed in anticipation. When nothing happened, he opened them up and simply stared at the sphere. He found his finger passing through without resistance. He reached further in, and even threw in his intact arm. The sphere felt like a gentle breeze on his skin. “Is this… just air?” He took a deep breath and plunged himself in.

On the inside, he could see that the sphere encased several buildings. Rising up from in-between them was a stone spire. White light extended out from it, spreading out to form the surrounding bubble. Aspir was about to continue his investigation, when he heard a whooshing noise by his head. He turned to see what object made it, and found a dagger planted firmly in a nearby wall. He yelped, forming an aegis over himself reflexively.

“Halt!”

Aspir switched his gaze from the dagger to whoever was speaking. An Elonian woman stood before him, brandishing another dagger in her hand.

“Drop your weapons or this ends up in your ribs,” she threatened.

Aspir complied, releasing his sword, shield, and bow onto the ground one by one. He raised his hands up, and laughed awkwardly. “Was I, um… trespassing?”

The woman looked very unamused. “Yes, you were.” She pulled a cord of rope from her side. “Now, you’re coming with me.”

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The woman shoved Aspir along towards the stone spire. She kept his hands tied in a tight knot, and a dagger pointed at his back. Aspir kept silent, as the woman seemed entirely uninterested in conversation. By the time they reached the spire, Aspir could see it was perched in the center of the surrounding buildings, where its bubble could effectively cover them all.

Standing in front of the spire, with its back to Aspir and the woman, was a ghostly entity. It was covered in fine, blue and silver fabrics; its skin matching in color. Whether its legs were hidden by its robe or it had none to speak of, it certainly wasn’t using any as it floated in place. Aspir only knew two things of the being in front of him, and that’s that it was not human, and he knew not what it was.

The being lurched its head towards Aspir, revealing a skeletal face. “Is this the intruder I sensed?” The being spoke with a deep, masculine voice. It sounded more curious than angered.

The woman kicked her prisoner towards the entity. “Indeed. I found him snooping around. Either he’s clueless or he’s another of Joko’s pawns. Either way, I don’t trust him.”

The being caressed its chin pensively. It fully turned around, revealing two pairs of arms, and floated towards Aspir. It bent over, placing its face mere inches from Aspir’s, who fought not to give away his fear. Once satisfied with its inspection, it raised itself and chuckled. “Seems harmless to me. He’s rather pale, don’t you think? Could this be one of the outlanders you spoke of, Amal? He probably saw our big, shiny barrier and wanted a closer look.”

Aspir blushed. Was he really that easy to read?

“Come out, students! It seems to have been a false alarm!” Upon finishing his words, Aspir noticed dozens of faces pop out of windows and doors. After a minute, a village’s worth of people emerged from the old buildings. All of them wore clothing similar in color and design to the being’s, though not nearly as opulent. “Return to your duties! The sun gives us only so much daylight…” It punctuated its sentence with a clap. The people bowed their heads and scattered, retrieving various tools and scrolls in order to continue their work. “Now as for you, outlander… What is your business here?”

Aspir looked up at the being, his face betraying his confusion. “Well, you weren’t far off about me wanting to see… whatever all this is.” He waved his head towards the barrier.

The being chuckled once more. “It is a barrier created to prevent the dragon’s corruption from overtaking our fair home. As you can see, it is quite sizeable. Such is the power of I, the Great Ma’Bud! The most wise and venerable Djinn in all the land!” The djinn burst out into a great roar of a laugh. Aspir could hear a sigh coming from the woman, who he assumed to be Amal, behind him.

“But I digress. What I meant is what are you doing here in Elona?”

“Probably just another outlander chasing after Balthazar. I’ve run into dozens of them along the way here. All glory seekers and treasure hunters,” Amal said flatly. She stepped in front of Aspir, looking down at him with a harsh glare. “Answer the Djinn’s question. What are you doing all the way out here? You won’t find the War God this far out.”

“That’s exactly why I’m here! Balthazar is coming! And with an army! A huge one! I’ve been trying to warn as many people in Vabbi as possible,” Aspir said with a panicked voice.

“Have you seen this army for yourself, outlander?” Ma’bud asked.

“Yes. Back in the Desolation, I saw thousands Forged heading towards Vabbi. Balthazar was with them and he was riding some kind of metal... I don’t know, a metal monster! I don’t know what they plan to do here, but based on what I’ve seen, it’s something bad.”

This time, Amal spoke up. “And when was this?”

“About a week ago. The Forged are probably all over the place by now.” Aspir raised his hands, presenting the knot. “Please let me go, I just want to help, “ he pleaded.

Amal sighed and waved a hand dismissively at him. “Do with this boy what you will, djinn. I’m heading out.”

“And where exactly are you going, warrior?” the djinn inquired.

“If this outlander is telling the truth, then we need to know where the War God is headed. I doubt he’d come to this place, but assumptions are for the arrogant.” She stuck her fingers in her mouth and made a shrill whistle. Seconds later, a bulky raptor leapt out from behind a building and bounded excitedly towards her. She patted its head in order to calm it, mounting it right after. “I will be heading towards the Garden of Seborhin. The people there will know more. Expect me back by tomorrow night.” With that, she lightly knocked the raptor’s sides with her legs, sending it barreling off towards the outside of the barrier.

“Hmph, impatient that one is. As for you…” The djinn pointed a finger towards Aspir’s bindings. An arc of lightning shot out from it and through the rope, releasing the young man’s hands.

Aspir rubbed at his wrists, which had turned bright red from the rope. “Thank you… Uh, sir.”

Ma’bud steepled his fingers together and proudly raised his chin. “You are most welcome. Now then, we have much to discuss, outlander. For starters, what are these Forged of which you speak?”

Aspir visibly deflated. “Gods help me…”