William Anderson
Stories
6
Chapters
2,147
Words
340.2 K
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Reading
1 d, 4 h
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"Alright," I concurred. "It is inconsequential to me, anyway." I had crossed paths with Verill, or more accurately, his ghost, in the Paths of the Dead. Our meeting was marred by mutual dislike, which extended to Drevolan because he was in my company—a testament to how well Verill and I got along. I continued, "I presume it isn't empathy you're seeking with this invitation." "You're correct," he confirmed. "Well?" I urged. Turning his head to one side, he gave me a curious glance. "What is it you…
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I was tempted to challenge the question but decided against it given my unfamiliarity with the protocol and unfavorable odds. "Viktor Dravos of Vorgan House, carrying out a task for Lord Drevolan D'Lira." I hoped this would silence him. And it did. "Up the stairs, straight to the end, last door on the left. Knock and enter." I nodded, resisting the urge to bow excessively. "What's spooking you, Chief?" "Quiet, Opal," I shot back. The stairs were uncomfortably steep for my liking, making it a task…
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I generally prefer to avoid bodyguards. It's challenging to find someone more alert to danger than Opal, and besides, I don't consider myself significant enough to pose a threat. Not to mention, I find the whole idea of bodyguards quite demeaning. However, my situation is unique. I wasn't born into the Organization or the House of Vorgan. Actually, I wasn't even born a citizen; I'm a human amongst non-humans. This stark difference can account for the divergence in our perceptions. So, observe as I did.…
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Believe me, there I was... We'd been sliced and diced so frequently and in so many ways that our battle formation was barely holding up, and the opposition just kept growing stronger. I was worn out and trembling with fear, just like everyone else, what with blades swishing by my ears and different kinds of magical strikes swooping over my head - or was it the other way around? The ground was filled with groaning casualties and silent injured people, or perhaps that was reversed too. But I'm telling you…
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Keep moving. Stay alert. A faint illumination seemed to emanate from the soil beneath us, or possibly from the surrounding air, I couldn't quite tell. It was just enough light to guide our steps. The duration of our journey through the forest? Who knows? My sense of time was utterly skewed at that point. Stay alert. Keep moving. Every now and then, we would halt, and Thaleia and Drevolan would discuss quietly which path to take. I suspect they feared we were aimlessly circling. When this occurred,…
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My eyes flashed open to behold chaos. The horizon jittered and blurred, the candle burst into a spectacle, the knife shivered into fragments, and the hum escalated, in an instant, into a deafening cacophony. The rune before me on the ground glowed with blinding intensity, and I realized that I was succumbing to an overpowering drowsiness. I understood what that signified. I had expended all my energy, I had nothing left to even keep me awake. I was on the brink of losing consciousness, and I might or…
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A flash of intense white momentarily blinded me, my ears filled with an indescribable roar, and the fresh scent of parsley wafted into my nostrils. Then, as swiftly as it came, it vanished, leaving behind the pulsing rhythm, the glowing rune, the odd scenery, and a sense of accomplishment. The connection was made. Preparing myself for the next stage, I tried to steady my thoughts. The stiletto embedded in the ground began to quiver, which puzzled me. Shortly after, a deep hum became discernible.…
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I chose a spot facing the Cycle. I can't explain why. It felt fitting, and being fitting is critical in sorcery. I began chewing the leaf, meditating, readying myself. After absorbing all its potency, I spat it out. Removing my pack, I sat down. I pondered whether the gods might intervene, then decided that if they were observing me, they would have acted the moment I began setting up the spell. It was a peculiar situation, being hidden from their sight while being on their territory. Facing the…
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I'm unsure how much time I spent there, maybe an hour, before Drevolan and Thaleia joined me. We silently observed the waves crashing for a bit. Behind us lay the Paths of the Dead and the Halls of Afterlife, from where we came. To our right, past the Cycle, a dark forest lay, marking the exit for some of us. After a while, Thaleia broke the silence, "I won't leave without Drevolan." "You're being foolish," Drevolan replied. "And you're equally foolish for coming here, knowing full well you couldn't…
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Despite no immediate effect, I noticed a fresh surge of alertness. Drevolan offered a grateful smile. "Thank you, Viktor." "I should have suggested it earlier." "I should have remembered, boss. It's my responsibility. My apologies." "We're all tired. Would you like another leaf?" "No, thank you. I'll manage." Our attention was drawn to a distant, large rectangle on our right. As we approached, the form morphed into a massive wall standing about forty feet high and spanning sixty feet across. A…
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