Chapter Five Hundred And Forty Three - 543
The starry darkness resolved into something far less nebulous but almost as dim. Felix stood atop a rough summit and beheld a landscape of mountainous peaks. They extended for countless miles in all directions, their bases hidden, drenched in the shadow of a moonless night. Stars glimmered in a cloudless sky, wheeling ever so slightly as the earth turned beneath them.
Gloomy, Pit said.
Felix didnt argue. It certainly was a far cry from the chill winter morning they had just left. It feels solid though. Real. Similar to the Shadowgate paths, I think, butquieter. Huh. He wondered if it was the effect of his Chthonic Traveler Title, or simply moving with a smaller group of people, but the background cacophony of his last journeys was muted here.
Speaking feels wrong here, Errol said as he pulled his purple cowl up around his ears. The dark metal gauntlets he wore had already started to frost over. And it is far colder than Nagast.
The Fiends Shadows spread out around them, five in total. Aside from their leader Errol, there was Veddi, Devvi, Kress, and Geddin. The first two were Frost Giants equipped with trident and club, both of them somewhere around fourteen feet tall. Short, but they were young and talented with violence. It was how theyd gotten the job. Kress was a Human, Geddin was a Goblin, and both were members of the Arclights before becoming Shadows. Errol himself was a Fist, dedicated to unarmed combat. Three warriors and two mages. Felix didnt need them, hadnt wanted them, but the Shadows had put up as much fight as Karys. If he hadnt let them come, Felix didnt doubt that Karys would have followed himself.
This? This is nothing compared to the Hoarfrost, Veddi said. He grinned, showing off slate gray teeth beneath blue lips. Soon we shall bask in the winter sun.
Sir? What is the next move? Errol asked.
Felix peered over the edge of the precipice. It wasnt very wide, perhaps a rough thirty feet across, and the drop was sharp. He could not perceive the ground at all. First we find a way across. I had figured this would be simpler.
I dont see a path, Geddin said. He and Kress were inspecting the mountain behind them. But the Mana feels stable. I can sense nothing different from the real world.
Kress lifted her arm, where bands of Mana coalesced. Approximately twenty two percent ice Mana, fifteen percent earth and air, and the rest is shadow. Its solid, but it feels strange.
Felix pressed his Perception and Affinity to its limits, stretching himself as if reaching across a very wide table. Impressions passed through him, flitting and ephemeral, but definitely there. Something is moving out there. Voidbeasts probably. And he paused. Oh, thats interesting.
Sir!
Felix stepped forward, almost over the edge. I almost missed this. He lifted his scaled hands and pressed them against the air, where he felt a soft resistance. Within him, Labyrinthine Wing hummed louder, repeating its pattern over and over again in sharper tones. Like the Shadowgates, this place takes direction from the one who opens it up. But this place is a lot moresuggestible, I guess is the word.
Suggestible? Pit tilted his head, like a dog hearing something they werent sure about. What does that mean?
Lets find out.
Felix grabbed at the air and sounded several Skills at once. His Shaping Array thrummed, spinning ever faster in his core space, as Stone Shaping, Auroral Forge, Cardinal Flame, and Green Shaping all surged through his core and out of his channels. Mana bloomed in a rainbow of color, pouring from Felix in a liquidbefore coalescing into something far more. Stone ripped from the mountains, light and fire condensing within it, as shimmering roots burst forth to surround and encase it all.
Cmon. As with all shaping magic, it took attention to detail and a very large Mana pool to make anything worthwhile, and this was no different. The spells worked with one another, resonating in ways he was still unused toan effect of the Skill Arraybut more than that was affecting them. A structure formed without Felixs direct Intent, flexible roots spreading like a set of ribs and slats as stone and flame reinforced corners and seams. Inside his core space, his Divine Tree was set to creaking, and as if in sympathy the structure before him swayed in time. Thisthis is not what I intended.
All at once, it was done.
Stone Shaping is level 86!
Auroral Forge is level 76!
Green Shaping is level 84!
Dual Casting is level 79!
Congratulations! Due To Extensive Use And Potent Resonance, Your Skill Dual Casting (Uncommon) Has Evolved!
Dual Casting (Uncommon) Has Become Multi-Cast (Epic)!
Level Is Maintained!
Multi-Cast (E), Level 79!
You have the Will and the resources to cast several spells at once, and have proven it time and again. Now you may cast the same spell multiple times and each casting will stack, increasing the effects of the Skill as well as the costs. Multiple spells may be stacked in this waythe only limit is your Willpower, Intelligence, and Mana pool.
A vicious twinge stabbed into Felixs chest as the Skill evolved, and Felix was almost driven to his knees before it subsided. Yet it did within a few seconds. He checked his core space for a moment, looking at his Shaping Array where Dual Casting once resided. In its place was Multi-Cast, which was quite a bit larger than its predecessor, yet when he inspected its pattern he breathed a sigh of relief. The Skill Array was intact.
I saw that. Is the array fine? Pit asked as Felixs awareness returned. Evolving the Skill didnt hurt it, did it?
Its fine. A little pain, is all. Karys had warned them of such a risk. A Skill Array was based on the patterns of each Skill, and if those Skills changed, well Ill test it once were out of here.
Hm.
My Lord Autarch! Whatwhat is this? Errol asked from across the summit.
Felix glanced up, remembering what hed been attemptingand pausing as he took in the result. Holy crap. That isnt what I meant to make.
Before them, floating in the empty air, was a Manaship. Only it looked nothing like any Manaship Felix had ever seen, and much more like a giant creature. It was huge, perhaps twice the size of any galleon hed witnessed, and was made almost entirely of wood. Living wood, if the moss, ferns, and literal flowers were anything to judge by. A shape not unlike a giant fish hung low beneath three masts that resembled very thick tree trunks, all of which ascended to wrap their branches around a massive, glowing crystal. The crystal itself was blue-white and cast a faint glow that was relatively brilliant in the dark, picking out the feathered details of four midnight-black wings, two to each side, along with a wide, fin-like tail in place of a rudder.
It looks like the Whalemaw, Pit pointed out. He chirruped in curiosity. Did you mean for that to happen?
Ugh. No. Definitely not. Felix had meant to create a ship, like he heard Zara had done once, in order to ferry them across the dark terrain. Instinctual knowledge from Labyrinthine Wing told him that the Dark Passages were very susceptible to the Mana and Intent of those within them, but this was something else.
I just wanted a little sloop or a cutter or something. Notthis. Felix stepped to the edge. The ship was floating barely five feet away, and he conjured a Shadow Whip to grab hold of its railing. Itll work, I suppose. Everyone, get on board.
Without asking any questions, Veddi and Devvi both leaped aboard. They looked at home among the oversized ship, as if the thing were scaled for them, and barely stumbled as it dipped a few feet when they landed.
My Lord, what keeps it afloat? Errol asked him. That is no magic I am familiar with, andthere isnt a Mana engine within that hull, is there?
Nope, Felix said. Least I dont think so. I sure didnt make one. Go on. If it can hold those two, it can hold you just fine.
The lieutenant swallowed audibly, but backed up and took a running leap, clearing the railing easily. The mages followed without any questions.
Pit lowered his head near Felixs. But how is it floating?
Damned if I know, he admitted. This place is weird.
Piloting the ship proved to be relatively easy. Manaship Pilot still applied, despite a distinct lack of Mana engines, as the craft required a constant stream of Felixs Mana, Willpower, and Intent. Thankfully, none of those were in short supply.
The ship handled well, considering its bulk. Pit insisted on calling it the Sailwhale, and Felix refused to acknowledge thatbut it was true that the thing did move much like a giant whale. The shape of it aside, the living wood undulated, massive wings flapping in steady beats as they wove between the dark peaks in that endless night. Felix could sense creatures moving about, somewhere far, far below, but nothing accosted them in the air. He had almost expected it, considering the amount of light the giant crystal above them was putting out.
Manaship Pilot is level 36!
Soon they reached the end of the Dark Passage. It looked the same as any other part of the interminable landscape, and only Felixs new Skill told him the exit was approaching. What would happen, he wondered, if we kept on going?
The ship ground against the jagged edge of the final mountain, wood splintering a little. Felix lashed the craft to a few Stone Shaped posts, using several Shadow Whips in place of actual rope. His small crew hopped off, more than eager to be gone, but Felix lingered. He stared at the ship, disbelief still tingeing his thoughts. I made this. I made this. Aside from the structures and walls around Eldenthorne, Felix hadnt attempted much in the way of creation, and nothing so elaborate as what was beneath his feet now. His sigaldry came close, but that was words; this was more.
Can I make this outside of the Dark Passages, too?
Wheres the exit? Pit asked. Nothing but rock here.
Felix glanced toward his team. All of them were already on the mountain and spread out, weapons bared as Pit paced across a barren summit. Felix patted the railing of his ship and hopped off, forcing the whole thing to dip fifteen feet or so. He landed with a muted thud on the mountain and ignored the still-surprised looks from his Shadows. He was a lot heavier than he looked.
Labyrinthine Wing!
Once again, Felixs claws ripped open a portal through the Realms. Swirling within was a soft, yellow light and an almost balmy temperature. Felix could smell wet loam, rotting wood, and a musky sort of undertone.
Geddin sneezed. Smells like the thaw. How long have we been gone?
If you do not mind, we shall take the lead, my Lord. Errol said. When Felix shrugged, the man clapped his gauntlets together. Quickly now. Veddi, Devvi take vanguard.
The five Shadows moved like oiled clockwork, stepping into the portal with a practiced precision, leaving only Pit and Felix behind.
After you, little man, Felix said. Pit nuzzled him, nipping at his ear with his dark beak, before trotting through. Behind him, the ship creaked as Felixs attention strayed away from it. Pieces of it dissolved into liquid and then vapor, boiling away into the eternal night. Felix was filled with the awareness that the ship would be gone in minutes. Step one, complete.
He walked through the portaland right into a rushing river.
Gah! Rime Shaping!
Ice swarmed upward from the surface of the raging waters, just enough to create a platform for one of his feet. Felix cast about, finding the riverbank only a few feet away, and grasped at the air.
Adamant Discord!
The tiniest lightning bolt surged between him and the shore, hauling him forward to the snow-caked earth and shattering the ice he left behind. He landed just in time to see it all swept away, carried by the deceptively swift current.
That was unexpected, he muttered.
Youre telling me, Pit said. The poor tenku was sopping wet and shivering a few feet away. In fact, all of his party was, and only the Frost Giants werent soaked to the bone. Next time, you can be the first one out.
Errol stood, and ice cracked off his armor where the river water had frozen him to the ground. M-my Lord, pl-please sit. W-we are co-collecting firewood to build a ca-campfire.
Cardinal Flame!A bonfire manifested between them all, colored red-gold but as good as any natural fire. Dont bother yourselves. Rest.
M-my Lord, this is unnecessary. Do not strain
It is necessary. You take care of me, and I take care of you. Isnt that how this whole Autarch thing works?
The giants and mages traded glances, while Errol merely bowed his head. Thank you, my Lord.
Felix inclined his head. Vess had drilled him in enough lordly niceties to know this much. He looked up at the sky, which was only slightly overcast. He could clearly see the sun, and it was still relatively high in the southern sky. Judging by the sun, that took us only a few hours. Karys?
Green-gold steamed from his waist, and the tinny voice of his Chancellor came with it. My Lord! You have exited the Dark Passage already? How was it? Are you injured?
We have. It was wonderfully uneventful. How long has it been since we left?
Three glasses. Excellent time!
Hm. Not nearly as fast as a Shadowgate, but bringing a week-long trip to three hours is huge. Thats great news. Well be making the second leg soon, just have to uh, recuperate a little.
And the Dark Passage was safe?
I dont know about safe. There were things in there, monsters of some variety, but we avoided them easily enough.
I suppose that will have to suffice. Perhaps the last portion of your trip will be just as uneventful.
Lets hope. Felix brought up his Territory Map and checked their location. Ill reconnect once we land in the Boreal Pass.
Right. Safe travels, my Lord.
The green-gold glow faded and Felix focused his attention on his crew. They were looking a lot better now, even Pit, who had started methodically cleaning his legs and chest. Alright. Well warm ourselves up here and then well head to the next Dark Passage entrance.
Pit lifted his head from preening his feathers. Wheres that? Felix said nothing, but it was very hard to hide things from his Companion. Felix. Back in the river?
Felix grinned. Ill build a boat. Again.
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