Guardians Of The Arcane Chronicles

Chapter 22: A Surprise Encounter

"Sir. Sir!"

A soft splash echoed through the sewer as Warlock Vulcan finally collapsed. Gaius strained to support him, but was helplessly dragged down by his huge body instead. The boy groaned with effort, dragging what was probably at least ninety kilograms to the side before the man suffocated himself in the sewer water. He propped his superior's body against the wall and slumped down as well, taking a moment to catch his breath and wonder what to do next.

His eyes flew open at the sound of metal groaning. Gaius stood up again, watching the steel door at the end of the sewer open. A cowled woman stepped out and walked briskly towards them. Energy ran through the Sorcerer.

"It's alright, Guardian. I'll take it from here." Small points of light from the ventilation grilles illuminated her face. Gaius blocked her path, glaring at her hostilely. She looked slightly familiar, although he was sure he had never met this mysterious woman before.

"I don't think so," he said in a hoarse voice. "Who are you?"

The woman sighed and removed her cowl, allowing her flowy red locks to tumble down the blue stripes that ran along her robes.

"My name is Cybele Vulcan, and I am the Guardian Council's designated healer." There was a hint of impatience in her voice, although the calm expression on her face betrayed none of it. "Now, if you would be so kind as to stand down. Please allow me to tend to my father before he bleeds to death."

Gaius put his fists down slowly.

~ ~ ~

The boy's wary eyes never left the healer, even after she had attached the last node to her patient. A warm glow of light left her palm as Vulcan's breaths slowly steadied. Cybele Vulcan fussed around the array of technomagick equipment in the medical lab while her familiar hopped around, flipping dials and pressing buttons in her stead.

"Are you done staring at me?" Cybele said without lifting her eyes from a screen. She turned to her familiar. "Dappie, monitor his vitals for me, will you?"

The arcane chicken clucked a few times before merging itself with the medical equipment. She swivelled from her chair and walked towards Gaius, leaning against the wall with her arms folded. The Sorcerer looked at her quizzically. Was she waiting for him to start talking?

"I'm so confused." The words took a shortcut to Gaius' mouth. "You're a Guardian too? Why haven't I seen you before?"

"In battle, you always go for the healer first, don't you?" she replied. "Healers stay in the background. You'll see me when you need healing."

"I... don't need healing," Gaius muttered.

"Yes, of course." Cybele chuckled after taking a brief pause to stare at him intently. "Of course you don't. Strange physiology you've got there, though. Your internal organs are made of light. Just what kind of magic have you been absorbing, Sorcerer?"

"So you're just stationed here until we need medical attention?" Gaius changed the subject quickly. "No offence, but isn't that kinda boring?"

"I enjoy Artificing, so I love having plenty of free time to tinker and improve my medical equipment." The woman gestured proudly at her laboratory. "It's a pity that I inherited more of my mother's Cleric abilities, or else I'd be free to pursue a career as an Artificer."

Her expression turned serious. "Alright, enough chit chat. I wasn't expecting Dad himself to turn up when he sent the distress signal to my lab. Who did this to him? Who was powerful enough to wound him so badly?"

"Some kind of Mage dressed in all white. He was ready to strike the killing blow when I arrived, so I didn't have time to-"

"All white? Are you sure?"