The Chronicles of a Scalebound Sage: Wandmaker Vol.2

WM [5] One Exception

The Isi were finally safe by the order of the First Princess. Tyr and all the members of the Isi survivors were taken into protective custody. They were kept out of the central city and lodged in one of the many inns in a demilune town. The proprietors were shocked that what, to them, were VIPs of the royal family were staying in their small establishment.

"We will take all of your rooms," Thorfinn said as he placed a bag of gold coins on the counter. "I will compensate any guest that has to be removed. Also, do you know anywhere I could get a good stag steak?"

"R-right away, Royal Hand!" the owner, an old nighthand man, said with a deep bow. "I will have everyone out, and my wife will prepare your meal immediately."

After everyone was situated and food served, Tyr stood before everyone. He looked tired, beaten, and bruised but not broken. He stood straight and looked over all the survivors, then took a deep lungful of air, releasing it slowly through his nose and closing his eyes. When he opened them again, there was resolve.

"We survived!" Tyr yelled. "Against the might of the Salstars, the First Prince, and the Knights... we survived against all odds! I promise we will all rebuild, ascend to greater heights, and honor everyone we lost. The Isi have proved that we are strong and will do what it takes to survive and thrive!" Tyr took another deep breath. "Tonight, we will rest safely for the first time in a month so we can face tomorrow with the same ferocity that got us out of the Salstars' hands."

After eating, Bjorn decided to look around the inn. There was little he could do to cheer up the Isi, and Tanisha seemed okay. She slingshot between Tyr and Owen, the two having lost so much in the escape. The inn was located in the small town nestled against the inside of the demilune. The place was set up for travelers in and out of the city, acting as a rest stop. The staff seemed to be a single family of multiple generations, all nighthand wendigo.

The place had a cozy feel and was tailored towards the non-wendigo patrons who came to the city with coffers full of coins. Wendigo's design was often bland, with practicality and longevity as the focus over aesthetics. This place matched closely with what Bjorn took as human design.

"Well, that was crazy. Honestly, I thought we were goners when Ingrid showed up," Failsafe said.

"Yeah, me too. So what was that effect, aura, spell?" Bjorn asked. "Whatever she used on us."

"I don't know. Tanisha said Ingrid is an anti-Magic mage. So I can only assume she can cut people off from their magic and eliminate ambient mana, but I don't know because I am a magic construct, so when it hit us, the magic I use to function stopped."

"Are you damaged from that?" Bjorn asked.

"You do care!" Failsafe said excitedly. "No, I will be fine, but if we are stuck in a magic seal like that for a couple thousand years, I will be in trouble."

"Couple thousand years? How could you possibly know that?" Bjorn asked.

"I think I know how my spellform works. Don't get us trapped somewhere for that long, though. It would be extremely boring after the first hundred years or so."

"Did you see that other thing before it stopped all magic?" Bjorn asked.

"The omega familiar bond thing that allowed her to turn into her familiar and turn back? Yeah, that was kind of hard to miss. I don't know what crazy process it would take for someone to do something like that."

"She is essentially a wendigonir," Bjorn added.

"That is a terrible name," Failsafe stated flatly. "Dragodigo is much better. Who is to say the wendigo part should go first?"