The Path of the Adventurer

Chapter 29

The following morning, Wynd lay down the company's weapons, Magon's broken staff, Huffey's wand, and Erion's shield down onto a small pedestal in a room on the first floor. She murmured a phrase in an ancient manner, carefully putting her hands above the items. As soon as she was finished, swirling green mana surrounded the items, quickly enveloping them. The mana also caused Magon's staff to come back together. Then suddenly, the mana was nowhere to be seen. The weapons and the shield looked perfectly refurbished, and Magon's staff looked as if it had never been shattered.

"This spell is to prevent these items from ever being sundered in the midst of battle." Explained Wynd. "I noticed that your weapons were a little damaged from your last battles, especially Magon's staff. This spell not only made them invulnerable, but I completely repaired them at the same time."

"Thank ye', Mrs. Xilar!" Huffey beamed. "You've saved me from a lot of hard work!"

"I thought you enjoyed being a blacksmith." Commented Magon.

"Yes, lad. As a dwarf, blacksmithing runs through our very veins. Still, I have to put a lot o' focus into my work."

"So Wynd, now are we ready?" Asked Erion.

"Well, that's something that you have to ask yourselves." Replied Wynd. "Are you ready? Are you prepared?"

Tikana stepped back. The entire party glared at her.

"I... I... I..." She whimpered.

"We'll explain it later." Replied Norder. "Just take us to the portals for now."

Wynd led the company to a room on the second floor. Here were two large paintings: One depicted a giant flame with a menacing face, and the other was a painting with the emblem of an eye.

"Unlike the rest of the paintings in the temple, these function as portals. The mountain leads to Mount Scaleburn, but the eye leads to the desert temple." Said Wynd. "Hop in, and it will transport you directly outside the temple of the goddess."

"That emblem..." Shuddered Tikana. "I saw that in my dream..."

Wynd looked back at Tikana. "Is this young lady all right?"

"The goddess at the temple... is going to smite me."

Wynd made a confused face. "I-I'm sorry. What?"

"Tikana's been cursed by the temple's 'goddess', Ma'at." Explained Magon. "Occasionally she has dreams where she communicates directly with Ma'at herself."

"Is that so?" Replied Wynd. "How did she end up like this?"

"She infiltrated the temple by herself, and apparently Ma'at placed a curse on her due to her family's history." Said Norder.

"I see. Let me check." Wynd closed her eyes and held out her hand toward Tikana. She stood for about a moment, murmuring an ancient language.

"No, Wynd!!" Magon exclaimed. "Please, stop!"

It was too late.

A supernatural force pushed her backwards like a strong gust of wind. She fell face first onto the floor.

"Mom!" Exclaimed Erion. He ran over to Wynd. "Are you fine?! Please tell me you're okay!!"

"I'm fine, Erion." Wynd says as she got up. "But there's definitely a barrier preventing me from breaking the curse."

"No mere cleric or druid can break the curse, according to what Tikana told us."

"And I guess that explains why my Mark of Inspiration was never able to lift it." Commented Erion. "In that case, we should go after Ma'at as soon as possible."