Summoner 21, page 35
“I’m sorry,” I apologized to my ashen-haired wife. “It was a little crazy, but I did what I thought was right.”
“I know,” Nia sighed.
“How long have I been--”
“Surprisingly, it’s only been three days,” the multi-elementalist replied. “I was expecting you to remain unconscious for at least another week or two.”
“Three days was a lot less than I expected as well,” I said, and I suddenly became aware of the light throbbing sensation at my temples.
Nia took notice straight away, and when I winced, the worry in her eyes intensified.
“What exactly happened out there?” she asked me in a soft yet urgent voice.
“The ganndor was a cave-dweller,” I began to explain. “Sera happened to mention one of its weaknesses was sunlight, so I… borrowed the magic from my sun giant.”
“You borrowed magic from a sun giant?” Nia gasped, and her jaw dropped so far I thought it was going to fall to the floor. “Gryff, you can’t be serious. Why wouldn’t you just summon it out into the field?”
“I needed to get the beams through the crystal cage’s entrance,” I explained, but Nia didn’t seem satisfied by that response.
“That’s an insane amount of magic for one man to wield,” the elementalist breathed. “Gryff, that was incredibly reckless. You could have… I could’ve lost you. You’re lucky that magic didn’t go awry and burn you from the inside out.”
“I’m sorry,” I apologized. “I know it was risky, but I needed to be sure I could control both the quartzriels and the sun giant at once, and it felt like a better idea to take on the sun giant’s powers than to summon it into the field.”
Nia considered my words for a few seconds, and then her delicate features softened, and she gave me a beautiful smile.
“It was a good idea,” she admitted. “Sometimes I forget just how powerful of a summoner you truly are. No other mage in all of the realm has ever been able to take on so much power and live to tell the tale. It’s impressive.”
“I appreciate the compliment, but as you said, it was a little intense,” I replied as I rubbed the back of my neck. “I don’t think I’ll be attempting that again, at least not any time soon.”
“That’s probably for the best,” Nia agreed with me, and she squeezed my hand. “We need to get you healed up as soon as we can. Unfortunately, there’s still a lot for us to get done, both here and in the Enclave.”
“Speaking of the Enclave, how is the city?” I asked. “I saw Almasy and the earth mages managed to rebuild a portion of the wall, but I didn’t know if it worked out.”
“They’re rebuilding the xanyarstone as we speak,” Nia answered. “Another wall, like the one Almasy used to plug up the break, is being built around the already existing walls to give it a little more structure just in case. As for the rest of the Enclave, everyone is working around the clock to rebuild. A good number of lives were lost, but there are plenty we managed to save, and both civilians and our military are combining their efforts to restore the city.”
“I wish we hadn’t lost anyone at all,” I sighed.
“That’s just the price of war, unfortunately.” Nia squeezed my hand. “There was nothing we could’ve done. No one expected the ganndor to be able to break through the walls, but the moon has completely changed the properties of this realm. It was just a matter of time before something like this happened.”
“How are the rest of our team?” I wondered. “Did any of ours get hurt?”
“No.” Nia shook her head. “Everyone on our team came out perfectly fine. Cyra injured her arm during her scuffle with the ganndor, but Arwyn healed it up before it could have any type of lasting damage.”
“That’s a relief,” I sighed. “I know I’m supposed to care about the realm above all else, but if anything ever happened to one of you, I don’t know what I’d do.”
“Gryff, I know it’s just your way, but you can’t keep self-sacrificing in order to protect us,” Nia insisted, and her pale-blue eyes grew slightly watery at the sentiment. “We’re capable of handling so much more than you think, but the one thing we couldn’t handle is losing you. Please promise me you won’t throw yourself into the fray like that without warning us first.”
“I don’t know if I can make that promise,” I admitted. “I want to, but I’ll always do whatever I have to do to keep my family safe, no matter the cost.”
“I know,” Nia sighed. “It’s one of the many things I love about you, farm boy.”
The elementalist leaned forward and gently pressed her full pink lips against mine. Despite feeling like I’d been run over by a carriage, it was nice to kiss my wife again, and I savored the taste of her on my tongue. When we parted, I settled back down onto my pile of pillows, and my mind traveled to less exciting places.
“Once we get the Enclave fixed back up, we’re going to have to return to the original mission,” I sighed. “As much as I want to pretend the day is saved now that the ganndor is gone, there’s still the moon and the demon that resides on top of it.”
“Yes.” The ashen-haired mage nodded, and her brilliant blue eyes grew overcast. “I tried to put it out of my mind as well, but it’s difficult when everything is tinged in scarlet. I know the book was vague when it came to describing how the mages of the past banished the demon, but have you happened to find anything in the next chapters?”
“To be honest, I haven’t had much of a chance to look it over,” I replied. “In between my return and the Enclave attack, I haven’t had a moment to open the book again.”
“I figured,” Nia remarked. “I just thought I would ask anyway.”
“I’ll get back to reading it as soon as possible,” I promised her. “When I was in the Shadowscape, I found some way to tap into my magic and decipher the glyphs so I could read it. I’m wondering if there’s some kind of way for me to do that on a larger scale and make it so the rest of you can read it as well. I have a feeling I’m going to need a few sets of eyes on it to make sure there isn’t more than what I see.”
“That sounds like some more strenuous magic.” My ashen-haired wife raised an eyebrow.
“It’s worth it, though,” I countered. “This is too important, Nia. We need to find answers before the demon manages to pull off whatever it’s planning. It’s only a matter of time before another monster tries to attack the Enclave, and I’m worried the longer we’re stuck in this hazy red wasteland, the more intense and agitated the monsters are going to get. The ganndor was feral, but it could’ve been a lot worse. I can only imagine what larger, more powerful monsters could accomplish if they get in that kind of state.”
“You’re right,” she agreed. “My father and Sleet agree with you as well. I heard them discussing the same theory the other day. Word has been sent to the other Enclaves, and each of the cities are taking preventative measures and fortifying their fortresses. If it happened to Varle, it could happen anywhere, and everyone needs to be ready for more monster attacks.”
“Hopefully, we’ll be able to find out something more clarifying soon,” I sighed. “And, hopefully, it’ll happen before another attack.”
“Wishful thinking,” Nia said. “I know it’s just another concern to add to the pile, and I know Chief Fenrir is more than capable of keeping his people safe, but I fear for the Southern Clans. Maker, I fear for the Southern Continent as a whole.”
“Hawk Clan has Eyrie Island to protect them, at least from a fortress standpoint,” I mentioned. “As for the others… I don’t know. I don’t want to worry Freya or Vahla too much, but I’m also concerned for the Clans’ safety. I wish there was a way for me to send word to Chief Fenrir and at least give him an idea of what’s happening.”
“Perhaps we should mention it to my father,” Nia suggested with a determined glint in her blue eyes. “I know his reach extends only throughout Mistral, but he might be able to come up with a solution. However we manage to contact the Southern Clans, we need to do so in a safe way, one that won’t put other mages or shifters at risk.”
I opened my mouth to agree, but a cough escaped instead of words, and the sound was a lot wetter than I imagined it would be. My wife shot up in place and offered me a tissue and a glass of water. I shakily accepted both, and as I sipped at the water, the dull ache in my throat was soothed, at least a little bit.
“I think we’ve pushed you a little further than we should have,” the ashen-haired elementalist decided. “Here, I’m going to get you something for the pain, and then I’m going to need you to get some more rest.”
“Three days seems like more than enough time--” I attempted, but Nia’s eyes narrowed.
“If we don’t take the time to get you rested and healed, you won’t be of use to anyone,” she warned. “I know things are dire, but this is non-negotiable.”
I’d been in this position enough times to know my wife was right. I needed to get my mana back to its normal state if I wanted to accomplish anything. The threat of another monster attack or even something from the demon could happen at any time, and I needed to be prepared for it.
So, I dutifully accepted the potion Nia gave me when she returned, drank it down without complaint, and then settled back into the comfortable bed. My eyes began to grow heavy as the potion’s magic did its work, and soon I fell into a pleasant, dreamless sleep.
Per instructions, I spent a couple of days on the mend, and thanks to a steady stream of potions and medicines from Arwyn, homemade soup from Freya, and plenty of love from my women and children, I reached a point where I was feeling well enough to start moving around.
I’d been specifically instructed by Arwyn, Sleet, and Crystyn to keep my contact with the Archons minimal, not because they didn’t trust them, but because they didn’t want me to use any mana. It was difficult to remain completely silent, especially since I wanted to talk to Sera so badly, but I had to uphold my end of the deal and do my best to heal up.
Once I was completely back to health, the real work began.
Headmaster Sleet and Gallahar Kenefick had given me the clear to return to my Guardian duties, and my first order of business was assisting with the reconstruction of the Enclave.
The military forces had gotten a good head start on the project, but with so many teams and troops spread throughout Mistral, there wasn’t enough to do the kind of rebuilding the city truly needed.
Nia and Arwyn were still a little sensitive when it came to the topic of me using any type of mana, but I reminded them several times over that construction and reconstruction were my specialties. Before I was Gryff, Guardian of Mistral and tamer of Archons, I was just regular old Gryff of Njordenfalls, summoner of the Wilds. The beautiful mages took a little while to convince, but eventually they broke down and agreed that my help would be beneficial to everyone. The only promise I had to make was to take breaks every so often to rest and to drink plenty of fluids, which I was more than willing to do.
So, with the help of my axe goblins, cementrolls, box trolls, and other labor-specific monsters, I got to work and helped restore some of the damaged housing and storefronts back to their original state. With the toxicity of the air, my fellow mages and I were limited on how much time we could spend out there per day, but I pushed myself for as long as possible while maintaining my promise to my women. There was comfort in slipping back into my old role, and after years of combat, it felt nice to get back to my much simpler roots.
The scarlet sky and looming presence of the demon were ever present, but I tried to focus on one thing at a time.
Layla, Braden, and my former students Terrowin, Darius, Artie, and Syman worked as my assistants, and even though we were in the midst of manual labor, there was a little bit of fun in spending time with my friends.
The younger summoners even seemed to be enjoying themselves despite the long hours. I hadn’t gotten a chance to speak with them for a while, and it was nice to reconnect with them after so long.
Terrowin and Darius’ relationship seemed to be stronger than ever, and I was certain that post-graduation, the two would end up married, if not earlier. Arty and Syman didn’t have partners, but the pair’s friendship seemed to be more than enough for them for now. The young men had started out as random roommates, but over the past couple of years, they’d become best friends just as Braden and I were.
I was glad to see people were still managing to thrive in this messed up world, and I was looking forward to a time when things were put the way they should be again.
One day, after many long hours of construction, I returned home covered in grime and sweat. Thankfully, I was nose blind after my day of being stuck out in the sulfurous air, so I couldn’t smell the stench that likely clung to me, but that didn’t mean my women were immune. I needed a shower, and quickly, so I made a beeline straight to the spiral staircase and made my way to the third-floor bathroom.
I hadn’t even breached the doorway before I started stripping off my dirt-covered clothing, and once I stepped onto the white marble floor, I discarded the wad of clothing into an empty hamper. I would deal with it once I was clean so my women wouldn’t be subjected to the grossness.
I crossed over to the shower, turned the knob to the highest setting, and stood beneath the steamy water. As the stream scalded my back, the muscles in my back loosened up, and a sigh of relief escaped my lips. The water that streamed off me was tinged brown, and my nose curled up in disgust as I watched it flow into the drain. Once the water ran clear again, I got to work and scrubbed myself down until my skin was practically red and raw, but I needed to be sure every trace of the brimstone-scented air was gone.
When I was certain I was rid of the stench, I wiped myself down, turned off the faucet, and wrapped my lower half in a towel.
After I traveled downstairs and dressed myself in fresh clothes, I decided to head to the first floor to see what the rest of my women were up to, and when I stepped into the foyer, I heard the sound of voices coming from the dining room. I carefully and quietly peeked through the door and down the hall and noticed some people sitting at the table with mugs of tea.
I did a double-take when I realized the figures belonged to Crystyn and Sleet. The pair sat across from one another at the table, but they were leaned in so closely there may as well have been no table there at all. I didn’t allow myself to linger on the sight, but I watched just long enough to see the brilliant smile on my aunt’s face, and when I heard the headmaster laugh at something she said, I could tell he was just as happy.
What was going on there?
“They’ve been flirting like crazy,” Layla’s voice appeared behind me, and when I turned around, the petite mage had a mischievous grin on her elfin face. “It’s been like that for the past few weeks now.”
“My aunt and Sleet?” I asked in an amused voice, and I felt a grin of my own appear on my face. “No way.”
“Oh, yeah.” The auburn-haired mage nodded emphatically. “You should have heard them earlier. It was getting pretty gag-inducing.”
“Maker, that’s so bizarre.” I shook my head. “I knew they’d gotten a little close, but I didn’t realize it was romantic at all.”
“I get what you mean,” Layla said. “They’re both a little odd, and normally I’d be a little concerned about the age difference, but technically speaking, your aunt also happens to be hundreds of years old, so if anyone’s robbing a cradle, it’s definitely her.”
“Wait, but isn’t Sleet like four-hundred years old himself?” Cyra suddenly appeared with Freya and Erin beside her. “No offense to him, or anything, he’s just always given off ancient wizard vibes.”
“He does, doesn’t he?” I chuckled, and then we all collectively leaned in to look through the doorway.
Just as we all peeked our heads in, though, the mages turned in our direction.
Busted.
“Shit!” Layla whispered, and we all blushed in embarrassment as Crystyn waved at us.
We all waved back, and when the Guardian turned her attention back to Sleet, we all broke into a fit of laughter.
Despite the intense and crazy circumstances, it was nice to share a moment of genuine joy, and even nicer to see a pair of dedicated mages find love. While it was an admittedly weird pairing of people, I could see happiness in my aunt’s eyes I hadn’t ever seen before, and with how much Crystyn had been through over the years, she certainly deserved a moment of happiness. She’d sacrificed so much to Mistral, and even more to my parents and me, so if she found comfort in the headmaster, I would be supportive. I had no idea if anything would come of the apparent Sleet/Crystyn romance, but in these trying times, experiencing any type of love was important.
We decided to give the renowned mages a bit of space and meandered over to the living room. Ashla and Nia were seated on one of the couches and cuddling with Nessa and Nicolis, and they offered us kind smiles as we joined them.
“Did you see them?” Layla hissed at the pair before I could get a word in.
“Yes,” Nia giggled. “They’re a lot cuter than I’d figured they’d be.”
“It is pretty cute,” Ashla agreed. “The headmaster is super kind, and even though I don’t know Crystyn all that well yet, she’s also a total badass. I think they could be good for one another.”
“How weird would it be if Sleet became your uncle?” Cyra teased me with a mischievous grin.
“Uncle Marangur,” Erin quipped under her breath, which only launched all of us into another fit of laughter.
“Hey, as my wives, that makes you his family, too,” I pointed out to the mages.
“Those of us who are your wives, I think you mean,” Cyra remarked, and her dark-brown eyes traveled over to Ashla, Layla, and Erin. “I think it’s high time we all become your sister-wives for real.”
“Hey, don’t be pushy.” Ashla rolled her eyes. “What’s the rush? It’s not like we’re all going to have a wedding in an apocalypse.”
“Don’t knock it until you try it,” Arwyn’s voice chimed in from the kitchen.
