ULTRAMagic Prelude

Chapter 27

"Are you ready, Blood!?"

"Born ready!"

Darkness could feel the energy in the air. "What say you, Blood?"

"It's a good day to die! No one can say I went down without a fight!"

"ARE YOU GOING TO LET THE LICH WIN?"

"HELL NO!" Blood-Wraith took on his dragon form and let out a fearsome, bellowing roar.

Everyone else was stunned by this display of tenacity as they approached. "Well, you seem to be in good spirits, Blood," Desislav remarked.

"Yeah, jeez, where did all this vigor come from?" Dragoslava asked. She was quite impressed.

"Brother and I did some training this morning. I feel great!" Blood-Wraith replied.

Leif approached, but with a word of warning. "I'm not going to sugarcoat it, Blood: We're up against a wall that's going to take our best effort to topple."

Blood-Wraith was not phased. "Then so be it! I'm pretty sure a hundred ton train can easily knock it over with enough hits."

This caused Leif to let out a hearty laugh. "Blood, Never lose sight of that fire within you."

With everyone present, Deimos created a small platform and stood atop it. "I shouldn't need to tell you all the obvious, but I'll say it anyway: This is the final leg of our journey. The Dark Grand Desert is within reach and there is no going back once we go for it. With that being said, is there anyone here who wishes to return to the Unlight proper? This is your final chance."

Tusk looked at his friends shaking their heads and declining. "Guys? I... I don't want to die..." There was silence.

"Do you want to go home, Tusk?" Desislav asked. "No one will fault you for being honest with yourself"

"...I don't want to go home a coward, but I also don't want to fail my people."

"Tusk, stepping away because you're worried about your well being isn't cowardice" Leif stated firmly. "Deimos asked if you were ready and you answered truthfully."

Deimos felt bad for the worried mage. "Tusk, If you feel you can't rise to the challenge, you should return home. That self-doubt will get you hurt. It's better to live to fight another day than to throw your life away..."

Blood-Wraith could see Tusk's emotions welling up, so he went back to his human form and gave him a hug. "Teacher? It's going to be alright..."

"I'M A TERRIBLE TEACHER!" He wailed. "AND A HORRIBLE MAGE!"

Blood-Wraith shook him. "Teacher! You don't have to fight with us. Hey, Leif? Are there any archives or libraries in the Dark Grand Desert?"

Leif was surprised by this query. "Oh... well, there should be... Are you suggesting that Tusk should..."

"Do some research for us? Yeah! He can look for information that can potentially help us."

"Research?" Tusk stammered. "What kind? What do you mean?"

Dragoslava nodded, catching Blood-Wraith's line of thought. "Yeah... If things go south, Tusk could swoop in with an all-powerful spell he learned!"

"I mean... will I be safe? Sorry if I sound selfish..."

"Of course you will, Mr. Willfort!" A strange youth that randomly appeared said. "And don't worry, no one's blaming you. Come with me, we'll have a blast..." He dragged him off by the collar of his armor. "Besides, I need your help with something." The two then vanished.