Verita - The Guardian of Darkness

47

It was her duty to save the Veritans from ending up as monster food, but  if her escape to Gratia meant that all of the continent would be turned  into a hell-like landscape like the Forlorn Plains, she'd never forgive  herself. If the Deep's spawns destroyed the Eternal Barrier, their  blood would poison the farmlands' groundwater and their rage would claim  countless lives.

For a moment, it seemed like Aetrian wanted to shout No. Then his expression softened.

"We  can't rule anything out yet. But it's more likely that whoever lured  the monsters straight into the capital also opened the Eternal Barrier  for them."

Elanthin had nearly forgotten about the fact that these  rogue monsters couldn't have forced their way into Gratia without a mage  assisting them. The Barrier's magic might be strained by now but it was  perfectly fine until recently and therefore hadn't allowed for any  intruders. If a monster could have breached the border on their own, it  would have happened long ago.

"Which means that we're still searching for rebelling mages, who could've aided the monsters."
Ves bobbed his head once. "Maybe ones working with the Grace or the Children of the Deep."

"We'll  see if anyone who was arrested in the tavern knows about it." Aetrian's  tone had become milder and as Elanthin looked him over, she got the  impression that he was longing for his bed.

Ves also seemed to  recognize the look of exhaustion on his cousin's face. "I suppose it  will take some time until the prisoners have been questioned, so let's  continue this discussion after we've all gotten some rest."

At least  we're not discussing how to quickly kill the darkness within me, added  Elanthin silently. Somehow she had a feeling that it was either both of  them or neither.

"That would be for the best", agreed Aetrian.  However, instead of turning away he hesitated and Ves followed his  example with a curious look on his face.

"Due to her circumstances,  Elanthin should quickly learn discarnate magic. Maybe we should call on  Aydeze", said Aetrian slowly. Although he was talking about her, he  looked at Ves. "She'll need to figure out how to dissolve or seal that  darkness within her. We don't know yet what it does but I don't imagine  it can be good for her."

"Your old master will never leave the tower  just to train a student, you know that." Ves scrunched his eyebrows.  "And I don't believe quickly and discarnate magic are words you can use  together."

The aid looked her over, before he shook his head  slightly. "We don't even know if she's talented enough to fulfill the  criteria of a battle mage and you want her to do that?"

Discarnate  magic, old master, tower; these words had given Elanthin enough clues to  discern the meaning of their exchange. Although Aetrian wasn't exactly  wrong for trying to attack a mystic problem like hers with magic, she  wasn't convinced.

"Listen to Ves", she said with a little sigh. "It  would be different if the darkness was something I could behead or  impale. But me, using discarnate magic? That's like telling a pig to  fly."

"But you're not a pig and I don't expect you to fly", replied Aetrian with stubbornness in his gaze.
Elanthin shook her head. "I've never had much talent for magic, and I haven't even tried the complicated kinds."

"You  don't need to worry too much because I'll be there to help you."  Aetrian grinned self-assuredly. "As chance would have it, I'm a natural  when it comes to magic."

Elanthin shot him a cool glance. "What a relief. You sure couldn't be a natural in swordsmanship with that stamina of yours."

"There's  magic for that as well", cut Ves in with an innocent smile. She frowned  at him until the aid raised his hands and stepped back.