The Prodigies: The Return of Equinox

Chapter Thirteen - Trial of the Shade

Garvhoz found a trail of bark, leaves, and some dirt not long after he entered the Hall of Vera. Alegna, that's how he'll find it. Alegna was a higher priority than Jasper. Alegna feeds off of blood to live. He sprinted down the halls, chambers and corridors. Before long the trail became sparse and located on walls and ceilings. Exactly what kind of monster could move around like this? The pattern of movement unnerved Garvhoz. Whatever Alegna was, it was more like a wolf in sheep's clothing.

As he burst through another door leading into the western section of the Hall he had seen the source of the trail. Alegna stood in the middle, root-like legs planted through the ground. It wasn't moving from the spot, lucky Garvhoz.

"You are under arrest Alegna, of the Earth. As a first rank pre-war Prodigy it is my duty to take care of those who threaten the kingdom."

"Exactly how have you reached that conclusion? Pet of the Order."

"You plan to fight the Queen Witch Celesta, doing so hurts the kingdom's relationship with magic users everywhere. Put a stop to your actions, or I will."

"I am patiently awaiting your intervention, blood bag."

"So be it." Garvhoz didn't have a sword on him, but he did have his knife still. He still thought it mad how he hadn't even used it to bring down that Zorfec, though it wouldn't have been much use anyway. It looked as though he would just have to get close and cut him down. Garvhoz did a quick prayer to six gods of combat to aid him in this fight. "May you all guide me to combat this thing". He charged toward Alegna with blinding speed.

...

"What is that smell?" Buzzed Voleria. Half of its body fought to follow the culmination of smells that made up the scent. "Some sort of lure?" Voleria felt the tugging and pulling of wanting to fight and wanting to investigate. It growled, something it rarely did. "Follow what I want to do!" The voice reverberated through its entire body quelling the opposition. Maybe this is what it was to be singular, no resistance to ones actions? It didn't matter it need to find the queen.

"Found you!" Before Voleria could react arrows found their way into Voleria's ankles. The arrows punctured through the joint and anchored themselves onto the roof of the hall. It buzzed angrily, much like the wasps it was made of. The insects making up its back saw it was both Tora and Noromac who started the assault. Interesting enough they didn't have bows themselves. Voleria  didn't care either way, the problem presented itself. Two humans, nothing more and nothing less.

"The two of you will not be eno-" A third arrow found its way into Voleria. This time puncturing right through the chest. "What!?" Voleria didn't anticipate this one nor did it see where it came from.

"Smoke near target!" Yelled Tora. Smoke exploded into existence around Voleria, but it wasn't close enough to actually subdue it. In a panic Voleria started shredding through its skin and digging into the Hall through the roof.

"Getting away!" Yelled a woman's voice. Voleria didn't recognize it. That would explain where the arrows came from, but not how they affected him. Puncturing into the roof, puncturing right through its body. What impressive prowess with the bow and arrow, it thought. Before long Voleria was through the roof and the mass of black, green, red, yellow, and gold little bodies fell through the roof into the far back of the library.

"No!" Yelled Noromac. "I'll go after him and make sure it doesn't cause a ton of trouble. Tell the others what happened!" Before a rebelling word could be spoken Noromac followed through the hole of the roof.