Summoner 21, page 5
“Your Grand Mage should agree to that idea,” Sera replied in my ear. “Especially after the last time you defended the Wilds. They’ll be a lot more willing to send troops out to guard your people.”
“I like this supportive side of you,” I complimented the Archon. “It’s refreshing to hear you speak of humans in a way that doesn’t sound like you're completely disgusted.”
“I swear, Gryff, you give me so little credit,” Sera said in a mocking tone. “But all jokes aside, now that we’re… involved, my thoughts toward mortals have shifted slightly.”
“I need you to apply those feelings toward my women, too,” I advised the dark-winged goddess. “No more insulting them or getting snappy with them when they question anything--”
“I’ll behave as long as they do,” Sera interjected. “Besides, was I supposed to just sit there and allow them to speak to me in such a matter when it came to the subject of our relationship?”
“No, I suppose not,” I said. “But I’d really like it if you all tried to get along.”
“I’ll try,” the gorgeous Archon agreed after a moment or two. “I make no guarantees, but I’ll try--”
Suddenly, we were interrupted by a bone-chilling scream, and the sheer volume of the sound took me by surprise. Sera, the snapdarner, and I were fairly high up, so the fact the sound was able to reach us was impressive, especially since the pitch was feminine. It had to have come from a human woman, and a strong-lunged one at that.
“We need to go find out where that came from,” I said.
“Master, it’s just some scream--” Sera started to suggest, but I quickly cut her off with a shake of my head.
“No, something’s wrong,” I insisted, and sure enough, the scream rang out again, and then another joined it. Someone was in danger, and I couldn’t ignore it.
“Master, we need to get back to your Academy,” Sera reminded me in an agitated tone. “We don’t have time to stop down--”
“We do if someone’s in trouble,” I interjected in a firm tone. “Sera, I can’t ignore someone in need of help.”
“Must you always be the hero?” she groaned.
“Someone has to be,” I replied, and the sound of the dark-winged Archon’s sigh filled my ears.
“But it’s just a human, and you are--”
“I know,” I sighed. “I’m the Beastmaker and should be too important to deal with such things, but we are still going to help.”
“Fine,” she said. “Let’s go.”
The snapdarner turned in the opposite direction, and I commanded it to be on the lookout for the source of the scream. There were long stretches of forest beneath us, so I knew whoever uttered the sound was probably in the thick of those woods.
I only hoped we could reach them in time.
A softer scream called out, and I ordered the snapdarner to trail it as if it were a map. The insectoid monster flapped its rainbow wings and obliged, and the closer we got to the trees, the louder the shrieks, screams, and shouts grew. I had no idea what we were about to fly into, but I had a feeling that whatever it was, it wasn’t going to be good.
We plunged right into the thick of emerald-green forest, and as the snapdarner expertly wove through the trees, I focused my senses and concentrated on the sounds. We were getting closer to whoever had uttered them, but I hoped our arrival wasn’t too late.
Suddenly, a feminine voice called out from the forest.
“Help! Please, someone, help!”
I craned my head around the spattering of trees and tried to get a glimpse of the ground below. I couldn’t see anyone, so I called out in hopes of getting their attention. “Where are you?”
“We’re over here!” the voice called again, and this time, I was able to figure out where they were directionally.
“We need to head that way!” I pointed ahead of us, and the snapdarner increased its speed and headed in the direction I indicated.
“Gryff, we don’t know if this is a trap,” Sera said in my ear as she tightened her hold even further.
“I have to take that risk,” I insisted as the wind whipped into my face.
We descended further down, and I used my vingehund-enhanced vision to peer between a pair of enormous trees. Finally, I spied two figures below us, and one waved her arms like a beacon.
“Please, help us!” one of them called out.
“I’m coming down!” I yelled. “Just hold tight!”
“Please, hurry!” the voice called back.
Just beyond us was a small clearing, so I commanded the snapdarner to land there so I could find the voice on foot. The dragonfly-like summons was a powerful flyer, but it was also a little too large to maneuver through close-knit trees, and besides, I was much faster on my own.
The moment the insectoid monster was on the ground, I swung my leg off and dismounted.
“Stay here, I don’t want to scare them with a monster goddess,” I commanded Sera, and the dark-winged Archon gave me a single nod.
“Be safe,” she urged me in a softened tone. “Call out to me if you need backup. I’ll be there the moment the words leave your lips.”
I gave a nod, and then I took off as fast as my feet could carry me and nimbly managed to traverse the dark forest with ease. The green trees had a slight red tinge to them that made it even harder to see, but after a few minutes of dodging past thick tree roots, errant limbs, and uneven hills, I managed to find the source of the screams beside an ancient, knobbed tree.
The women were nearly identical in appearance except for their hair colors. The woman who stood beside the tree’s trunk had long, pale-blonde hair, while the woman on the ground’s hair was a brilliant, fiery red. Each of the women were incredibly fair-skinned, with prominent freckles and elegantly arched eyebrows. Two cautious sets of dark-blue eyes studied me as I approached, and I saw the blonde reach around and rest her hand on a dagger at her side.
“Is yours the voice that called to us?” she asked in a clear tone.
“Yes,” I replied, and I held my hands in the air. “I mean you no harm. I’m here to help you. ”
The blonde studied my bandolier with a look of scrutiny, and then her serious expression fell and shifted to concern as her eyes darted over to the other woman.
“Please, sir, my sister has been injured.” She jerked her pointy chin over at the redhead. “Some sort of creature attacked us and then fled into the forest.”
I followed her eyes, and my heart dropped when I finally noticed the subject of her fear.
The redheaded woman’s arm had been torn open from shoulder to elbow, and the bright red blood that oozed from the slit was just as scarlet as the sky above us. It was as if someone had taken a crude, jagged knife and slashed the poor woman’s arm with reckless abandon. My stomach turned as I got a glimpse of pale, exposed bone, and I fought the urge to retch.
“What kind of creature did that?” I wondered as I shook my head slowly. “What did it look like?”
“It’s hard to d-describe,” the wounded woman whimpered as she rested her cheek against the trunk of the tree. Tears streamed down her gaunt face, and her lower lip trembled as she tried to keep herself together. “It was like… every creature at once and yet like none at all. Its body appeared to have been made of pure shadow, it was so dark and terrifying.”
So, it was a monster, not just a random beast of the forest.
“It was almost like a boar,” the blonde continued. “With large tusks and horns, but somehow it had this enormous maw of long, jagged teeth… I swear, the monster changed shapes so many times, it was near impossible to figure out what it was.”
How was it even possible for a monster to manifest at this time of night? Much like the Archons, monsters weren’t able to enter the human realm at night time because the moonlight sent them straight back to the Shadowscape. Night had been our only time of ease where there was no worry of monster attacks, but now… none of this made sense.
“Maker.” I shook my head, and then I peered around at our dark surroundings. “What were you doing out here at this time of night, especially in these circumstances?”
“Our family’s dog ran out into the woods when the moon shifted, and my sister and I tried to follow him out here, but we lost sight of him in the darkness,” the redhead explained in a trembling voice. “We called his name over and over, yet we heard no answer. When we found him… well, you heard what happened then. We let out screams of terror.”
“He’d been torn apart by the creature,” the blonde woman uttered with widened eyes. “It was a dreadful sight, sir.”
“I was so overwhelmed with grief I tried to shoo the beast away, but it turned on me instead of fleeing,” the wounded woman revealed. “I don’t know why I thought that idea wise. It was my own damn fault.”
“Where did the monster go?” I inquired as I scanned the area and clenched my fists at my sides.
“It ran away the moment it heard your creature’s wings,” the blonde woman replied. “Disappeared into the shadows as if it had never been there in the first place. It was awful. I didn’t even know monsters could appear at night.”
“They normally can’t.” I shook my head in confusion. “None of this makes any sense.”
“I can assure you we aren’t lying,” the blonde insisted.
“I know you aren’t,” I assured her. “I believe you. I just don’t know the mechanics of how this happened.”
“Mechanics aside, if my sister doesn’t receive aid soon, I fear she won’t make it,” the blonde woman sniffled, and she looked down at the redhead with tears spilling down her cheeks. “We don’t have any healers in our village.”
“I can get you healed right up,” I suddenly insisted, and I regretted the words the moment they left my lips. Why did I just offer to heal her?
“Are you a healer, sir?” the redhead asked me.
“Something like that,” I answered as an idea struck me.
If I was able to call upon the abilities of my monsters, could I do the same with those of the Archons? Furthermore, did my goddesses have to be in my consciousness in order for me to call on them? Xanrith was back in Varle, but I was her master, and she was bound to me. If I tried to reach out to her, maybe I could borrow her magic and use it to heal the redheaded woman.
I closed my eyes and imagined the Archon’s beautiful face in my mind. I pictured a thread of energy connecting us, and I concentrated so deeply that my head spun. Pain bloomed through my head, but I forced myself to push through it, and after a few moments, I sensed the goddess’ presence as if she was actually there in my mind, and her familiar voice rang out.
Hello, Gryff, the azure flame-winged Archon greeted me in her honeyed tone. I’m surprised to hear from you. How did you manage to reach me so far away?
“I just concentrated,” I replied in an equally surprised voice. “I wasn’t sure it would work, but apparently it did. I used a similar technique to connect with my summons.”
Being able to communicate with the goddesses without needing to be in close proximity was yet another ability that would be advantageous in the future, and I prayed that if this venture was successful, the second half of my plan would be as well.
Your power has grown tremendously, Xan noted. You’ve become quite the accomplished summoner, Gryff.
“Thank you,” I replied.
So, what can I assist you with? the azure-winged Archon inquired.
“This woman is wounded,” I explained. “Some sort of monster bite. I know this is a long shot… but since I am able to just take on the abilities of my summons without needing them to manifest… would I be able to channel your magic if I concentrate hard enough?”
Oh, the umber-skinned goddess replied in a curious voice. We’ve never attempted something of the sort, but I see no reason why we can’t try.
“I’m worried that if I summon you out here, the women will freak out,” I admitted. “Citizens of the Wilds don’t exactly see ancient goddesses very often, and though I know they’ll appreciate you healing them, I don’t want them to get upset at the sight of your wings.”
That’s understandable, Xan assessed. It would be easier for me to appear, but I want to keep the mortal woman at ease. Okay. If you’re going to heal her, you’re going to need to take her hand in yours, stare into her eyes, and concentrate. I’ll help you through the rest.
“Sir, are you alright?” The blonde woman frowned at me and pulled me out of my daze. “You seemed a million miles away.”
“I am,” I assured her, and then I turned my attention back to the wounded redhead. “Now, I’m going to need you to stay completely still. This will only work if you stare deep into my eyes and concentrate, okay?”
“Okay.” The woman nodded, though her pale lips drew into a thin line of skepticism.
“Wait, sir,” the blonde called out to me before I could make another move. “The beast you rode above us, was it not yours?”
“Sort of,” I replied vaguely.
“That makes you a summoner, does it not?” she pressed. “How can you help heal my sister if you are not one of those healer mages?”
“I have my ways,” I sighed. “Please, allow me to help heal your sister before it’s too late. She’s losing a lot of blood.”
“You’re right, I’m sorry,” the blonde apologized with a trembling lower lip. “I’m only worried.”
“Take a deep breath,” I urged her softly. “I understand your worry, but I’ll take care of her, I promise.”
“Thank you,” she whispered before she took a step back to give us some space, and I took another breath before I returned my focus to the redhead.
I held my hands out to the woman, and after she took them, she raised her pretty dark-blue eyes to me. They were the deep navy of a night sky, and the dark, familiar shade reminded me that there was a hellscape above us where our normal night sky would be.
I forced myself to snap out of it. I could worry about this apocalypse in a moment. For now, I needed to heal this woman and keep her from becoming another casualty of this war.
So, I took a long, deep breath and felt Xan’s presence in my mind.
Focus on warmth, the goddess urged me. Imagine it spreading through her veins and flooding her with life. Imagine wilted flowers absorbing water at the root once more and turning back to fragrant blooms, or taking a drink of water after being incredibly parched. The key to resurrection magic is picturing revival. Locate her wounded energy and bring life back into it.
“Bring life back into it,” I repeated back to the azure-winged Archon. “Got it.”
I stared deep into the woman’s eyes, tightened my grip around her hands, and imagined the scenarios Xan had suggested. As I concentrated, Xan’s energy rippled through me, and to my delight, the sensation was warm and pleasant, like climbing into a warm bath after being out on a cold winter’s day. As the warmth trickled through my fingertips, I concentrated on letting it stream through me and into the wounded woman. My head strained a bit from the effort, and I felt myself shake as I struggled to control the magic.
Relax, Xan urged me. You’ve got this, Gryff. I know you do.
Her words were enough to instill confidence in me, and moments later, Xan’s magic creeped through to the woman’s wounds. I imagined them sealing up and vanishing as if they’d never existed in the first place, and as the warmth continued to pour through me, I saw life return to the wounded woman’s eyes.
It’s done, Xan whispered. You can break your gaze.
I dropped my eyes and let them fall to the wound on the woman’s arm, and to my complete amazement, the fair skin of her arm was completely unblemished.
“Y-You did it,” the woman quivered before she flung her arms around my neck and hugged me gratefully. “You healed me. Oh, sir, thank you.”
“Of course,” I said softly. “I’m just sorry I wasn’t here sooner.”
“You were here at precisely the right time,” the blonde woman countered as her navy eyes studied her sister’s arm. “You saved my sister’s life, sir.”
“It was no trouble at all,” I assured the women, and I helped the redhead to her feet. “Now, please, I have to urge you to return to your homes. With the sky and the moon in the state they’re in, things are bound to be a bit messy, and I want you to avoid another situation like this.”
“Will the Grand Mage send troops our way?” the redhead asked with a curious tilt of her head. “Our village is small, but it is full of children and elderly people who cannot defend themselves in the event of an attack. I know we are not as high on the priority list as those in an Enclave--”
“I will make sure a team is sent here,” I promised the woman. “I know I must not look it right now, but I am close with the Grand Mage and the military forces, and I know if I make the request, they will hopefully oblige.”
“Thank you.” The redhead nodded.
“Sir, we never got your name,” the blonde realized, and then she glanced at her sister. “Nor did we give ours. My name is Brigitte, and my sister’s is Rachael.”
“I’m Gryff,” I introduced myself. “And it’s a pleasure to meet you both.”
“Wait, are you Gryff of Njordenfalls?” Brigitte wondered, and her sapphire eyes grew even wider as they trailed over me. “The great summoner who has saved Mistral more times than not from monsters and ancient goddesses?”
“The very same,” I replied.
“We’ve heard tales of you in our village,” Rachael chimed in as she tucked a strand of fiery hair behind her ear. “You’re a legend, sir. Thank you! Oh, Thank you so much!”
“I’m just helping out.” I shook my head humbly. “But I appreciate the sentiment at least.”
“Were it not for your heroics, my sister would have succumbed to her wound,” Brigitte insisted. “So, we thank you, Gryff of Njordenfalls.”
“You can just call me Gryff,” I insisted to the sisters. “Now, if you don’t mind, could you tell me the name of your village so I can pass it along to the Grand Mage?”
“Helux,” Rachael answered.
