We moved forward and at the end of the little tunnel was a hole that led to other side. At the other side of the tunnel we saw a valley surrounded by large mountains with a path that led further within the mountains and (if the innkeeper was to be believed) eventually connected to Thele City, the capital. A paved path told me that people had once lived here. But the path was heavily eroded, and the bones of vermin stuck out of every second crack. Clearly, these mountains had been devoid of civilization for some time.
We clambered down, stopping to look at our environment. It was eerie, like us humans weren't supposed to be here. Maybe it was the towering mountains on each side, maybe it was squawking of some kind of creature that echoed through the pass, maybe it was the lack of vegetation or maybe it was just our imagination. Either way Mathra looked at me with a concerned expression and said "Umm maybe we shouldn't have come all the way out here?"
"Well we're here now and there doesn't seem to be any immediate danger. That said we should keep an eye out for danger."
" Alright. I will trust your judgement" little did he know how much my judgement would soon betray that trust.
We traveled along the rocky path, the sound of boots hitting stone echoed with each step. Occasionally a huge avian creature the size of a wagon would soar through the mountains, it's squawks resonated throughout the pass but it was otherwise peaceful, or at least it didn't bother us.
After what seemed like hours, nighttime suddenly came "Hey let's sleep under that dead tree" I said
"Sounds like a plan" Mathra replied.
During my sleep, I had a most awful dream. It was filled with hate, revenge and destruction. I couldn't make sense of it, It felt like some kind of outside presence was seeping into to my mind when suddenly.
"Ahh!" I quietly gasped
"Are you okay? That dream looked awful" Eeuna said
"How do you know I was having a nightmare?" I whispered
"I'm in your head remember. That means I'm aware of the same dreams or nightmares that you experience. So are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Though, I doubt I'll be going back to sleep anytime soon. I'll just practice my magic until sun up." So I spent the rest of the night practicing my weaker spells under the cover of the stars. Careful not to wake Mathra, of course.
The next day we were up and about in no time. Everything was completely ordinary until the two of us came upon manhole (I didn't know this at the time but Mathra told me that the manhole was connected to the massive sewer system that ran under the city of Thele) that was guarded by 3 small humanoid creatures with reptilian features such as red scales and a tail. The little creatures, each seemingly identical held crudely made knives and stood menacingly (but no less short) when they spotted us.
"These must be kobolds. One of the many creatures that infest the underground sewers in Thele" Mathra said to me as he put his hand on his scabbard "and they don't look friendly"
"Ah yes, I've read of kobolds. Creatures said to share their origins with legendary dragons but now are found living in the underbelly of great cities such as Thele" When I finished giving my monologue about kobolds, the reptilian creatures started waving their knives and barking something that was almost incomprehensible "Wait I think I understand some of what their saying. I might be able to reason with them" I said hoping to avoid a fight. Mathra's swordsmanship and my magical abilities would've been a match for the 3 of them but a 3 on 2 is still not a chance you'd want to take, especially with creatures as crafty as kobolds.
"What do you mean you might be able reason with them? " Mathra said, more concerned at the fact that I wanted to negotiate with kobolds, of all things.
"I'll explain later but just let me do my thing" To explain, when Uncle Maugan taught me magic he also taught me the tongue of dragons. Kobolds speak a pidgin version of the dragon's tongue. Although pidgin draconic and actual draconic are two wildly different languages, speakers can understand each other if only barely. (It should be noted that many mages chant words from other languages when casting a spell, to go a long with the gestures. A mage that is skilled at casting spells (or one that casts a very basic spell, like my flame shot) however can do away with the verbal components of spells.) At any rate I stepped out forward and opened my mouth
"Salve, quomodo reptilian amicus meus es? Quomodo te adiuvare possum?"
" poolq ɹnoʎ ʞǝǝs ǝM ˙uɐɯnɥ 'sn dlǝɥ uɐɔ noʎ ǝsɹnoɔ ɟO" The creatures said in guttoral, pitched voices. They raised their knives threateningly and bellowed something else that was incomprehensible
"What are they saying?" Mathra asked. And to answer his question I shot a quick jolt of lightning at one of the kobolds which left it shaking from the electricity.
"Does that answer your question?" I said as they started charging us.
"So much for diplomacy" Mathra said as he unsheathed his rapier and leapt to meet the kobolds in battle. One kobold (the one I shocked) came straight for me. I shot a bolt of flame at him but he dodged it and took a few swipes with his knife at me. I was able to barely avoid his attacks and in retaliation I jolted him again which stunned him for a few seconds. Seizing this opportunity I jumped back and flung a fire bolt which hit him square in the chest but shook him from his stunned state. He immediately sprang towards me but not before I kicked dust in his eyes and sidestepped him. With his eyes closed I was able shoot a flame at his face and he slumped to the ground.
But that was not the end of it, as the kobold fell I heard a mechanical "click" from the right and I saw two more kobolds with small crossbows aiming at me and Mathra. With not a moment to lose I turned to Mathra, who was just finished with the two he was fighting.
"LOOK OUT!" I shouted. Then two crossbow bolts, one aimed towards me and one at Mathra shot right at us and "huh? Did it just deflect off of me?" I thought. Mathra on the other hand was not so lucky and got shot in the leg, falling to the ground.
"ᶠᵒʳᵍᶦᵛᵉ ᵐʸ ˡᵃⁿᵍᵘᵃᵍᵉ, FUCK!"" Mathra shouted in pain
Not being able to think past my immediate survival or think about what just happened, I made a flourish at the kobolds who were reloading their weapons and a ray of freezing air appeared from my hand and made one of the kobolds recoil in pain. The kobolds then released a volley of bolts but this time neither of them found it's mark so I took the knife I had in my wrist sheath and ran towards the two. Those crossbows would be difficult to use in melee combat after all. Surprised in the sudden change of the situation the two dropped their weapons and revealed sharp claws. The ensuing combat went on for a minute with me frantically trying not to scratched but sooner or later I emerged victorious and the adrenaline wore off.
"Hey are you ok? That doesn't look good" I said while Mathra was lying on the ground in pain
"I don't think I can stand and there's a lot of blood" He said while clutching his leg which had a crossbow bolt stuck in there.
"Thankfully the capital city isn't too far from here. We should be able to get a healer before it gets worse." If Mathra didn't reach healer in time then he would die. I've never been a situation where someone's life was in my hands like this. The thought of someone dying did not rattle me, but the thought that I might indirectly be the cause of such a death did. But I remembered Uncle's teachings; "In order to perform magic you must keep a calm head. Emotions cloud your judgement" My uncle repeated that phrase all the time and I could finally see why. Emotions and impatience cloud your mind and lead to mistakes.
YOU ARE READING
Chronicles of a Mage, Book One
FantasíaAbout a year and a half ago as of when this story is being uploaded I had the random inspiration to start writing a book. At first I only wrote for fun but now I realize that there's no reason not to share my stories with the world. Granted, this wa...
