Chapter 26

The travelers had reached the outskirts of Ducann within just a matter of weeks. They did not rush on their trip back to Marissa's home city, and instead used a more leisurely pace as they made their way.

Today they were about to exit the large forest located just north of Ducann. This was the same forest in which Marissa had been attacked. It was also where she had killed the creature that hid amongst the trees. However, unlike last time it had changed seasons and they were crossing the forested path during the Fall.

Morning had just passed, and so while the air was slightly chill, the sun peeking through the sparse autumnal forest canopy warmed their skin. Dry leaves and twigs cracked beneath the hooves of their horses. Beaumont and his horse led the group, and faint clouds of steam emanated from Faerun's nostrils. Casually they made their way along the path amongst the empty branches of the trees.

Faerun stopped dead within the center of the path. The clouds of steam pouring from his nose increased. His large black eyes went wide.

"What is it, Faerun? What do you see?" Marissa asked of her steed.

Beaumont called back over his shoulder to Marissa, "What is it?"

"I don't know, Faerun is spooked. It is never good when Faerun is spooked. Be on your guard…"

The young man unsheathed his sword and surveyed the area. His deep blue eyes could not discern any movement within his field of vision. He slowly began to rein Reigard back towards Marissa, and his horse took a few careful steps backwards.

Marissa was worried and somewhat unsettled that she could not sense what might be scaring her horse. For use in her own defense, she debated between equipping her bow or her staff, and chose the latter. She had been told that was better to be prepared for a magical encounter than to be ready for something that could be dealt with a simple bow and arrow. This was especially true if the circumstances were unknown just like in a situation like this.

Still sitting the in the saddle with her staff in hand, Marissa cast a defensive spell. The spell she spoke aloud was intended to allow her to see any possible threats more readily in her vision. As the final word was pronounced, the world in front of her eyes went temporarily black. Just a moment later, the forest returned into view but a few green specks appeared in the distance.

She relayed her findings to Beaumont, "To the north, several paces away I can see three foreign objects."

"Any idea on what they are?"

"Not from this distance, but they would not appear green if they were friendly. I think… wait…here they come. Run!"

Rushing through the brush to the north came three black skinned figures racing on all fours. About the size of a medium sized wolf, the beasts rampaged towards the party with the intent to attack. Fallen branches on the forest floor were crushed beneath their fierce paws as they chased their prey from the north.

Marissa kicked hard into Faerun's sides and the horse galloped down the path away from the attackers. Beaumont quickly followed with the black wolves still tailing them from right behind.

Dust and leaves flew from off of the path and into the air as the party raced to outrun their attackers. Marissa pushed Faerun as hard as she could and the black Appaloosa was running with all of his might.

Beaumont turned around to see that the trio of beasts was still right at their heels. He knew that it would be impossible to escape a confrontation with these creatures, and decided to intercept the threat head on.

Marissa heard Beaumont yell out to his horse and turned to see him pulling hard on his reins. Her eyes also caught a clear view of the attackers: Pontia.

"No, you mustn't! Quick, run Beaumont, run!"

It was too late however, and the man on horseback had already engaged the pack of Pontian wolves.

His initial turn with Reigard had disoriented the monsters, and with a lucky strike he was able to take down one of them with a quick slice of his sword. The two halves of the creature slid down the dusty path and into the fallen leaves.

One of its partners leapt at the young adventurer and Beaumont was thrown from his horse. The flat head of the beast contacted with his right armored side and he slid out from the saddle. He fell to the ground and slid across the leaves.

The startled horse named Reigard jumped to the side of the forest road and attempted to get away from the two remaining Pontia.

The fallen Beaumont was able to quickly return upright in the middle of the road. He shook his head to regain his vision. However, he was just in time to see one of the beasts pouncing on his horse.

The large open jaws of the black beast tore through Reigard's undercarriage in a quick blur. The horse fell instantly to the ground with a thump. Dry leaves sitting on the side of the road flew into the air as the large mass came toppling down. With the horse crippled, the Pontia double-backed for another attack.

Beaumont tried to rescue his poor horse, but he was greeted by the slime covered face of the remaining black wolf. Its skin reflected the midday sun, and seemed to pulse with pure evil. The underlying bone structure appeared to press directly against its flesh, enhancing the beast's unnatural form.

Apprehensive of the sword within the warrior's hands, the pale white eyes of the evil dog remained fixated on the young man. Hesitant to attack while the man was still armed, it cautiously strafed the adventurer standing in the middle of the road.

"Tallion imperea!"

A large mass of broken branches, twigs, leaves, and dust hurtled through the air towards the wolf pacing around Beaumont. The ball of shrapnel connected onto its broad side, and the sharp edges of the projectile tore through its dark body. The battered Pontia was flung into the upper branches of a nearby tree where its frame was abruptly impaled. The black flesh was punctured by the leafless branches and dark ooze fell to the forest floor.

Marissa jumped off of the racing Faerun and stood next to her companion. The pair stood side by side as they watched the final demon gorge itself from the body of the fallen Reigard.

With torn flesh dripping from its lower jaw, the Pontia turned to see the pair standing in the road. Its eyes then were drawn to the body of its compatriot hanging lifelessly in the tree. A deep disgusting howl bellowed from its midsection in anger.

Without waiting for the Pontia to act, Beaumont raced to face the beast. With his sword at the ready he charged.

The Pontia partially retreated and the young man's sword cut into the creature's hind quarters. The beast stumbled slightly, and then abruptly turned to face the warrior.

It suddenly jumped into the air and came barreling down on to the stunned fighter. Its back legs kicked hard against Beaumont's head as it flew over him, and he quickly went down. The young man's body tumbled to the ground in a heap, and the sword within his right hand slid along the forest path.

Marissa quickly grabbed a handful of crystals from her rightmost pocket and threw them as hard as she could at the beast. A deep voice from within her bowels echoed out a single word and the shards turned bright blue.

The projectiles connected with the Pontia in mid-flight, and a layer of ice crystals raced across its black skin. In less than a second its entire body had become incased with a white powder and its form became frozen.

The immobile beast fell like a stone towards the ground. As it landed, distinct cracking noises could be heard as fine ice crystals sprayed from the frozen dog. Large pieces of the creature broke from the center form, shattering as they fell. Once the defeated beast's body had settled, all that remained was a pile of dust and ice.

Marissa quickly raced to Beaumont. "Are you alright?" she called out.

There was no answer.

She tried to get him to wake, but he would not budge. The young mage listened to his chest and noticed that the man was still breathing. "He is not dead, but he will not wake. What can I do?!?"

The scared young mage called out to her horse, "Faerun!" The black companion quickly came to her side. She quickly removed all unnecessary baggage from upon the horses back, including her knapsack.

Using whatever strength she had left, she amazingly lifted the fallen body of Beaumont onto Faerun's saddle. With a quick hop, she too had joined her injured companion.

"Quick, to Ducann! We must find him a healer! We cannot lose any more time! He must be saved!"

Chapter 25

The feeling of befuddlement left Marissa soon after exiting the underground cavern. Where she once was trying to rationalize the strange meeting they had just had with Fandango, she was now coming to the realization that her initial mission had failed.

She turned to her male companion, "Beaumont, I cannot believe it. I have failed on my quest. I always thought that the mission might have a small chance of failure, but I only assumed that it would occur after months, or even years after searching. Here, we have found something completely opposite from what I set out to discover. We found a mass of land that is totally bereft of Pontia. And we have found out just mere weeks since I left Ducann! How could I have been so wrong with my hypothesis?"

Beaumont turned to look at the upset young mage. No smile graced her face and tears had begun to well up in the corner of her eyes. He looked into her dark brown eyes and felt sorry for his fellow traveler.

He began to speak, "Cheer up, not all is lost. Sure, you did not solve your initial mystery. Instead you have by all accounts found something more valuable. You have found a grove of trees that repulses the creatures! Isn't that something to be happy about?"

"It might be, if the Sylaalian weren't so close to extinction. I dare not share the location of this forest. You know what would happen…"

"I suppose you are right about that." He thought for a moment, "But you did complete a very difficult quest. You crossed the upper half of this continent and arrived at your destination, just as you intended. Isn't that something to be congratulated for?"

"Yes, but I only was able to do it with your help, Beaumont. I really should have been strong enough to handle the trials myself. It was weak of me to ask for assistance. I am a future member of the Protectorate. I should be able to fend for myself."

"But you did fend for yourself! You single-handily disposed of the Pontia infection at the mine. You remember the katabear right? You defended yourself from over ten of those brutes. And you did save me from that one on the hill. Is that not an accomplishment?"

"I suppose…" she quietly replied as she closed her eyes.

"And don't forget how you saved little Elanor in Welton! Look at how you handled yourself in that situation. Selflessly you threw yourself into the danger of the despicable storm to save another life. How courageous! How magnificent!"

The young mage had heard enough, and Marissa ran directly into Beaumont's arms. Her small form hugged tightly around his midsection with an emotional squeeze. With her head buried deep into his chest, she began to whimper. A single tear ran down the side of her cheek and she continued to sob within his grasp.

Beaumont comforted the youthful woman in his arms. As he had done before, he began to softly stroke her jet black hair. Each pass of his hand caused the small cries within her to dissipate. She was calming down, becoming more relaxed.

The young man then felt the weeping Marissa's heartbeat begin to flutter. A tiny beating within her chest began to race.

He peered down to find the young mage looking directly into his eyes. Her dark pupils met his own and time seemed to stand still. The pair stood there motionless staring at each other, oblivious to the world around them.

Marissa rose onto the tips of her toes and Beaumont met her with a soft kiss. He gently pressed against her thin lips and warmth fell over the pair. They both squeezed the other tighter and their embrace became more intense.

The sensation washing over Marissa was pleasant and soothing. Her fears and worries about her quest disappeared, replaced with a wondrous feeling of joy and happiness. The tip of her upper lip tingled with a buzzing sensation. Her eyes remained closed and she felt as though there was nothing is this world other than herself and the man wrapping his arms around her. She felt that she would be forever happy if they were to simply remain in this spot together.

The duo separated from their kiss and looked longingly into each others eyes. Marissa noted that Beaumont too was flushed. His once pale cheeks were filled with bright red, as were his hidden ears. She could hear his trembling heartbeat as they remained intertwined.

His hand rose to hold the right side of her head. She turned and kissed his gloved hand. Tears of happiness drained from Marissa's eyes.

The pair then returned to their embrace, each squeezing the other as tight as they could.

The couple spent the remaining days of the journey leading to Ducann together. The mage, the adventurer, and their two horses casually crossed the countryside on their way to the city of the south.

Beaumont had quickly decided to accompany the lovely young mage back to her home in Ducann. He feigned that his main reason was that he wished to see the city, as he had never seen the inside of her walls. The young man said it would be an honor to escort her home.

In reality, he had found someone to whom he had a strong emotional attachment. She stirred a fire within him that he did not think could be tamed. Wonderful feelings of joy filled his being each time that he looked at her nimble form. His heart would skip a beat each time that he caught a glimpse of her deep brown eyes.

The young man believed that their bond was so strong that he would follow her to the ends of the world and back, if need be. He was determined to follow her wherever she might go.

Marissa was also full with happiness. She had not had any kind of close relationship since she was but a child. It felt wondrous to finally have someone to love and who loved them back. She thanked the Heavens for sending such a dashing young man to be by her side.

The young mage honestly believed that she had found her soulmate. Beaumont was a wonderful man who appeared to deeply care for the young woman. She felt that nothing would be able to separate the two lovers. She also thought that if anything should happen, she would make sure they would be together at any cost.

Continue reading onto Chapter 26

Chapter 24

Marissa thought to herself, "Had I really heard the ancient man speak in a common tongue? Did I hear what I thought I heard? Am I going mad?"

"No, you are not going mad my dear," spoke the mysterious man with a deep voice.

Marissa was shocked by his response. She felt confused and cried out, "Wait, I didn't say anything!"

"You did in your mind young one. How else do you think you can understand my speech, and vice versa? We are connected via our minds now. That is how the two of you are able to comprehend what I am saying."

The odd man continued, "And if I might ask now that I am awakened. Why have you come?"

Beaumont replied, "Well, sir, we uh… well Marissa and I are on a quest to find the source of the Pontia."

"Pontia? What is a Pontia?" he asked with a curious look in his dark eyes.

"You do not know?" she asked with a bit of surprise in her voice. "Pontia are a black plague that crawls across this entire world. Their demented kind strives to infect and kill all in their path. They are beings of pure evil! Surely you have heard of them."

The ancient man replied, "Evil? Evil is upon the world of Capresso? No, it is not possible. The world has never contained something like which you have just detailed. You must be mistaken. Capresso contains nothing but that which is pure."

"Capresso? Where is this Capresso you speak of? I've never heard of such a land in any of my studies."

"How can you not know of Capresso, mage?!? Why the land you stand upon right now is part of the Capresso hierarchy! Capresso rules over the land, sea, and air. Capresso is life!"

"I'm sorry. I still don't understand. Even with this magical translation, I have no knowledge of such a place," she replied. "I have practically read every ancient book in the Ducann library. Nothing matches what you speak of."

"That simply cannot be," the man replied with a frustrated tone. "Well, then I must ask: who rules this world?"

"No one person rules this world. The closest body to which you speak is the Church. You can say that the Church is the governor of these lands. The upper clergy and the high priests watch over us with a gentle hand."

"Blasphemy! The Church should never hold such power! How ever did this happen?!?"

For the next half hour, the man wading within the pool consulted with the young mage. They discussed what history Marissa knew of, and how the society of the world existed according to Marissa's studies. The differing arguments regarding the truths of both parties clashed against each other. Neither the mage, nor the man, could seem to compromise on what the real truth might be. Beaumont decided to keep his mouth shut and never joined their fierce conversation.

The ancient man was the first to try to resolve the situation, "This is getting us nowhere sorceress. It is evident that I have been gone for far too long, and have lost touch with the world. It is apparent that I will need to venture out and learn more. I must explore what has transgressed across the lands of Capresso myself."

He continued, "And with that, I will return to your original response. Could you please tell me more about these Pontia? You say that there is a new evil living upon the land?"

"Yes, the Pontia is a scourge upon the world. The vile creatures are a consistent threat which causes death and decay. They are an evil that the Church must combat on a never ending quest. As soon as we are able to banish one of their kind, two more appear to take their place elsewhere within the world. Their terrible infestation seems to be incurable at this current time, regardless of how hard the Church and Protectorate try. We are looking for any means from which to combat these beasts.

"It was my belief that we might come across clues to their origins here on this parcel of land. I once found a note that mentioned this peninsula by name in a book containing records of the Pontia. Through suspicion, I believed that the note related our current location to the vile Pontia. My new realization appears to show that this might not be the case.

"And you say that these beasts have a distaste for that which is magical? They literally cannot stand the presence of holy relics of your Church? Interesting…"

"'Interesting'? How so, if I might ask?" she politely inquired.

"Oh, well I would assume it might be obvious. Since the Church gets its powers from the Heavens, and the Pontia cannot stand to be near that which is holy, then the Pontia must in someway be related to your theology. They must have some connection with your religion. How else could the two be such polar opposites? It is not a coincidence that they are each others antithesis."

This theory had never been brought up to the young mage before. Her mind swam with ideas, "Could they be in some way related? If this outsider believes it to be true, his bipartisanship may be a key point. He is viewing this situation from the outside. It might make sense…"

"Of course it makes sense. It cannot be a mistake," the strange man replied.

The young mage gritted her teeth. She had forgotten that their minds were still connected and that he had continued to read her thoughts. Beaumont let out a slight chuckle regarding her petty fuming.

"I must proclaim to you yet again, that I have no knowledge of the creatures which you call the Pontia. The world prior to this one inhabited by young ones such as yourselves, did not have any plagues or scourges. I am unable to dissertain this 'source' that you are so desperately searching for. I can only assume the note you were following earlier was interpreted mistakenly. It was a good theory, but I'm afraid it was most certainly wrong. The Pontia could not have come from this island. The very ground that we walk on is filled with holy magic. If they were spawned from this earth, they would have instantly perished if your description is to be believed.

"I am sorry that you did not find that which you were searching for, Marissa," spoke the strange man. "However, all is not for naught; I can assist you with your fight. I too am familiar with the arcane arts. I can provide you with some additional tools from which you may continue your struggle. It is the least I can do to repay you for reawakening me."

Marissa's mood piqued as the man got her attention.

"Now, that's better. A curious one you are, I can see that. It must drive your teachers a little batty. So, would you like to learn?"

The young mage nodded. Beaumont remained removed from the pair's conversation. He just stood back and observed.

"Well first of all, let me tell you my name. I am called Fandango, so we can dispense with the 'sirs' from here on out. I prefer to be called by my name. Understood?"

She nodded.

Fandango had been sitting within the pool of water this entire time. Now that he was introduced, he finally stood up. He stretched his wet limbs into the air and stepped out of the stone box full of water. Immediately after his second foot left the large stone box, the water inside began to drain once again.

Even though they were still connected, the next spell the odd man cast was undecipherable. A large portion of the wall to the right side of the stone box began to descend. As this pillar of rock dropped, a hidden room behind the sliding door became visible. "A workshop or lab," Marissa thought.

"Correct. This is my personal work room. I built it long ago for purposes that I will not share at this time. What I can share is a bit of magic that even all of your 'glorious' books will not have any record of."

The trio walked into this new room. Desks, bookcases, and numerous chairs were scattered amongst the cluttered room.

He walked over to a dust covered desk. The man wiped the layer of dirt from the top of the knotted wood. "My, I have been asleep for a very long time; at least an age's worth. It is going to take much effort to re-learn that which has past. It always does…"

Fandango's pink fingers began to dig into one of the desk's drawers. He pulled from it a long brown strip. "Here, take this." He handed the strip to the young female mage.

The long strip was only a few feet high, maybe four feet at most. It was light brown in color, and soft to the touch. It was only as wide as fingertip at its thinnest point. For something that must be quite so old, it had stood up against time with ill effect. "Leather," Marissa remarked.

"Yes, the leather of a gital calf. Perchance, do the gital still exist?" the man asked as he wandered around his office. Fandango began to scrounge for different items located within his personal lab. He did so as he continued to converse with the traveling pair.

Beaumont replied for once, "Gital? No, but you might be speaking of the guillal. They have hides that are very similar to that piece, although we do not use its leather. The name does sound familiar." He made motions with his hands to explain the guillal's size. "And they have two upturned horns on either side, correct?"

"Yes, it sounds like the same beast. Not very good milk, not very good meat, but tremendous magical power. The gital, or guillal as you call them now, are an ancient beast. Maybe even one of God's first creations," the man replied.

Fandando continued, "That staff you have, is it Sylaalian?"

"Yes, it was given to me by a mentor. He found it on a beach one…"

The mysterious man interrupted as he was piling some ingredients into a bag, "And does it glow fierce whenever you use your magical powers?"

"Yes." Marissa wanted to keep her response short so that she would not be cut off again.

"Wrap that leather strip around the staff, and try to cast a spell. Something non-destructive please. I do enjoy my private room during the rare times that I actually get to use it. It would be quite terrible if you were to bring it to ruin. So please be careful."

"What will happen?"

"Do it and find out. Learn by experimentation. That is how the greatest wizards hone their craft. It's also the only way new magicks are discovered. You cannot discover without trying."

She looked at her staff with hesitation. "Should I trust this man? This staff was a precious gift from sage Klaus…"

"Nothing will happen to your piece of driftwood. Just do it!" he demanded.

The young man was really getting tired of him butting in on her own internal dialogues. Those thoughts ought to be kept private, hence why they were not spoken. She grumbled a bit as she stared at the leather strip.

Marissa reluctantly followed his instructions and tied one end of the guillal leather to the staff's tip. Using a clockwise motion she wrapped the long strip tightly against the gnarled wood. When she reached the apex of the staff, she knotted the other end of the leather through a large crack in the wood. A skinny piece of tan ribbon now encased her magical weapon.

The mage held the newly accessorized staff within her hands. The weapon did not feel any more powerful that it did before. She did find that the leather made it easier to grasp the wooden staff. The soft leather partially cushioned her fingers from the deep splintered grooves.

"Good, now cast something," he instructed.

The first spell that came to mind was the little ball of light she had cast earlier. The mage had dispelled the first fluff when she desired to cast the water spell. Using the standard quick snapping motion, she flicked her fingers and the ball reappeared.

She looked at her staff and did not see anything. The ball of light did not look to be any brighter either. "I don't see any change, sir… I mean Fandango," she stated.

"Are you sure? Take a look at that staff of yours. Notice anything different?"

It looked slightly strange within her hands, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She shrugged her shoulders.

"Shouldn't it be glowing, my under-trained mage? I thought you were observant…"

Fandango was right. The grooves upon the staff should be glowing due to the magical reaction caused by her spell of light. "How could this be?" she asked aloud, figuring he would have just read her mind if she just thought it.

"One of the many benefits of that leather strip is that it mutes the physical reaction that is common in Sylaalian wood. Quite helpful when you are trying to keep your presence a secret but still have the power of a staff by your side. Leather like that has saved my hide on more than one occasion, pun intended.

"You will find over time that there are other subtle benefits to using the leather. You will also discover that the leather of the guillal can be used to accentuate other items other than just simple staffs. I suggest you experiment when you get back to your homeland."

"Our homeland?" Beaumont asked.

"Why yes. You did not find what you were looking for here on this peninsula, correct? And therefore I'd assume you'd be traveling back to your homes. You will not be able to stay here if that is what you are thinking."

"And where might you go, Fandango," Marissa asked.

"It is very apparent that I have been asleep for far too long. I need to venture forth and re-examine this new world. My purpose demands that I do so."

"And when do you plan on leaving this structure?"

"In just a moment. I only need to gather a few more items for my trip."

"May we accompany you? We could further explain our world and be of great assistance," she said.

"I'm afraid that cannot happen. You will not be able to follow me where I lead. I'm sorry, but I can't give a better explanation than that. So you will be on your way then?"

"If that is what you desire," Marissa stated.

"That would be best. I do appreciate you re-awakening me from my slumber. I didn't think anyone would come to this home of mine anytime in this century. It was most fortunate that you stopped by."

Before they could say their goodbyes, Fandango piped up again. "Thank you again, goodbye!" The mysterious man was still kneeling behind a large desk looking for something important. His impatient hand waved wildly in the air signaling them farewell.

Reluctantly, Marissa and Beaumont left the man's quarters and started the long journey leading out of the underground tunnel. Confusion ran through their minds as they walked along the stone bricks. Each of them pondered the odd encounter separately, "What exactly just happened?"

Continue reading onto Chapter 25

Chapter 23

In front of the traveling duo was a single stone staircase the led into a black abyss. It was only wide enough for a single person to fit down its narrow passage. There were also no handholds to aid with the descent.

It was quite apparent that this stone staircase had been the source of the noise that they had heard earlier. This particular patch of land was free of the Sylaalian trees, but a few of the thinner trees had previously grown on the spot. In addition, a mixture of short grass and thick moss covered the nearby forest floor.

The skinny trees which used to cover the top of the staircase, toppled over as the trap door opened. In addition, the moss bordering the entryway had been shorn on its edges by the sliding platform which once hid the flight of stairs. Layers of peeled grass lay amongst the fallen trees.

"It must have been very long since this door was last opened," Marissa remarked. "Just look at the trees that used to grow on this stairway. They must be at least several decades old if they have grown that large."

Only the first few steps were visible in the daylight, and the others were clouded by shadow. Each stone step looked as though it had been carved from a single piece of rock and then carefully positioned into place. Large scratches covered the front faces of the blocks.

"And look at those scratches," Marissa pointed out. "These steps must be like large pistons that raise and lower as the door opens and closes. See how you can tell that the stones rub against each other?"

She continued to make observations, "Also, see that inset portion at the back there? You can see a stone platform hidden there. That must have covered the entire length of this entry before we came along."

"I'll buy that," Beaumont replied. "Now answer me this: how was it that you were able to open this portal?"

"I… I don't know… Maybe it was designed to react in the presence of magic, just like these trees."

"And who do you suppose built this flight of stairs?"

"I don't know that either, but we will follow them and see if we can find out."

Marissa spoke a single word and snapped her fingers. A ball of light popped out from the thin air in front of the young mage. It hung directly in front of her, almost tethered directly to her head. She twisted her head to look at her male companion and the light followed. Looking at the somewhat befuddled young man she spoke, "Come on. Time to find out where this hole goes."

Beaumont unsheathed his sword into his right hand as they made their way down the narrow flight of stairs and into the darkness. With the mage in front of the warrior, the only light they had to guide them came from the glowing tuft floating in front of the young girl. Step by step they proceeded down further, with the sky behind them becoming smaller and smaller. They continued walking until the light from outside world was no longer within view.

Marissa's heart was racing. She began to ask herself, "What could possibly be at the end of this path? Will it be friend or foe? Should we be worried? Could this actually lead to the source of the Pontia?"

The young mage thought she sensed hesitation in her male friend's demeanor as well. He too, was unsure of what might they might find at the end of these stairs.

Strangely, as they descended deeper into the structure they finally reached a portion where the steps abruptly stopped. In front of them the path now began to have a common slope and continued on a level grade.

Also, much to their surprise, their path was now being lit by a source other than Marissa's spell. The ceiling above them was uniformly glowing with the familiar colored lines of light.

"Look, the ceiling is made from Sylaalian! It's reacting to my spell, just like the trees outside. It's helping to lead our way," Marissa stated with a bit of excitement.

The young mage was correct, and their travels underground were becoming easier with this new lighted assistance. The mysterious Sylaalian wood was indeed casting a usable light onto the walls and floor. Their pace through the tunnel increased with this new found discovery.

For the next ten minutes they crawled down the passageway, venturing deeper underground. At the end of the long path the duo came across a single large room.

The room was constructed with the same carved stones that of the walls and floor of the tunnel. In its center was a rectangular-shaped stone box without a top. Its wider side faced out towards the long tunnel, and on this side there were carvings dug into the rock which depicted simple flowing shapes. Similar carvings had also been cut into the room's back wall that was located behind the box.

Moisture from the ground above was slowly dripping between the gaps in the stone walls and wooden ceiling. The occasional drop splashed on the stone floor and echoed through the chamber. The air smelled musty and humid. This hidden room which had never seen a beam of sunlight was also quite cold. The duo's hands and fingertips felt chilled.

The pair's eyes were fixated on the centerpiece of this strange room. They saw the odd object almost immediately upon entering. In the center of the room, sitting in the stone box, appeared to be the remains of a humanoid body.

The shriveled form sat kneeling in the center of the box. Both of its thin arms were positioned upright with its palms facing upwards. Upon its torso was a simple garment which was soiled and decayed. The figure's eyes were completely closed, as was its dehydrated mouth. Only a few straggled white hairs stuck out from its bare scalp. The skin was still flesh colored, but very pale and covered with a layer of dust. Whatever life force was once been in this body had left it long ago.

"What do you suppose that is?" Beaumont asked.

"Whatever it is, it looks to be deceased. Look at the webs underneath the arms. It must be as old as this cavern. Is it just me, or does it look like a man to you?"

"It does, but that garment is unlike anything I've ever seen before. How could a shirt survive this long if it was only made from plain linen? This water would have rotted it ages ago. It must be something else."

"Strange. Maybe the markings on this tomb and the wall behind it will help to shed a clue or two."

They both looked inquisitively at the stone carvings. A few unfamiliar words had been cut into the rock next to the grooved designs. The texts did not look to form anything meaningful in a language that the duo could recognize. They continued to search the carving's tiniest details for more information.

"Anything?" she asked.

"Nothing concrete, but this one shape does look somewhat familiar. Doesn't it look like it’s the same motion one would use to change the direction of flowing water?"

Marissa looked at the swirling lines. "Yes, that is the motion one would use. But how would you know that?"

"Did you forget already? At one point I did study magic. That spell always interested me because of its possible uses in irrigation. It would have been such a boon when I was still working on the family farm."

The clues began to fall into place, "And look at this," Marissa pointed at one of the odd words. "Here is one of the base words for that particular spell!"

She turned to Beaumont and kissed him on the cheek. "Brilliant!" she exclaimed.

The startled young man froze as Marissa walked back over to the wall to re-examine the carvings. He stood there motionless as she continued to ponder the mysterious words.

"Yes, that spell is indeed referenced here. Should I cast it?" she asked.

"Urm… ahem," he was still struggling from the sudden kiss. "Sounds like as good an idea as any. Go ahead and try."

Using the index and fore fingers of her left hand, she traced the flowing shape seen on the back wall. As she drew the design in the air, the color within the carving also began to light up; mimicking the motions of the young mage. Marissa finished casting the spell and other runes located throughout the wall began to glow. The lights trickled down the stones and began to outline portions of the large rectangular box.

The pair heard the sudden sound of water bubbling to the service. They bent over the edge of the box and noticed that a small amount of water had begun to fill the rectangular container. The clear liquid slowly bubbled up from parts unknown as it continued filling the box.

As the water spouted into the tomb, the body within it began to stir. Not quite noticeable at first, but Marissa swore that the flesh of the humanoid inside was changing from a pale and dusty white.

"Look!" she screamed as the pair took a few steps back.

With wonder in their eyes, they watched as the skin of the being within the box began to hydrate. Wrinkles along the skin started to smooth, and weight began to fill up the once frail arms. Color continually flushed across the once pale flesh, transforming it into a coloring closer to the pair of travelers. The white hair from on top of its head began to grow again as it shifted to a brown hue. The old single raggedy hairs fell from the skull and into the rising water.

The once raised arms began to casually relax as they bent down towards the being's sides. Its once dry hands dipped slowly into the water surrounding it. The back and posture of the figure began to straighten.

The eyes and mouth remained shut as life began to fill back into this mysterious figure's face. The horrific site of a shriveled nose and indented cheeks made way for marble-like smooth skin. The being's visage began to resemble something that was gentle and no longer gruesome. As its life returned, it also looked as though the figure was not much older than those of the cowering adventurers.

Water continued to fill the stone box even once it began to spill out over the edges. A secondary lip beneath the large box caught this overflowing liquid, but some of it still managed to splash onto the stone floor.

As the water kept to its steady flow, the once mummified figure looked more like a normal human being. His flesh had fully returned along with a full head of dust-colored hair. The figure sat motionless in his small pool for several minutes as Marissa and Beaumont watched.

A noise came from the man kneeling in the water, "Uuuaaaaa." His once dormant lungs began to inhale the surrounding air. His chest expanded with each intake, and deflated as he exhaled. Even though he had begun to breathe again, his eyes remained completely shut. Breath after breath continued to add more color to his skin.

"He's opening his eyes…" whispered Beaumont as the man began to wake.

Tiny little slits opened within the man's eyelids. Dark pupils started to appear from behind his slowly rising lids.

Almost shockingly, he opened his eyes completely wide within just an instant. His blaringly stark eyes remained open as he stared at the young adults standing in front of him. The man did not blink a single time as he forcefully focused on the pair.

A deep voice echoed from the ancient throat of the newly hydrated man, "Pullan tie mertian."

Marissa spoke, "I'm sorry. What did you say? I cannot understand you."

"Pullan tertia bollo mertian." The tone of his voice changed slightly and he motioned with his hands as well. It almost sounded as though he was trying to give the young woman some instruction.

Marissa shook her head. She did not understand a single word of this foreign language.

The man dipped his cupped hands into the water surrounding him. Using the water within his palms, he performed a drinking motion. The water poured down his throat and across his chin. He swallowed the majority of the liquid in one large gulp. The man in the pool then motioned for each of them to come over and do the same.

Marissa began to walk over to the stone box, but Beaumont abruptly stopped her.

"Wait! We don't know what's going to happen. I should go first, in case something goes wrong."

With a bit of hesitation she let the young man be the first to drink. He cautiously walked over to the man in the water. The figure motioned again. Beaumont cupped his hands and took a drink.

The strange man spoke again, "Pullan tie mertian."

"Did you hear that?" Beaumont asked Marissa.

"Yes I did, but it was still foreign. I didn't understand a word."

"What are you talking about? What he said was spoken perfectly. I clearly understood every word."

"Strange, it must be the water in that pool that lets you hear his true intentions. Let me take a drink as well."

Thoughts ran through Marissa's head, "Beaumont appeared to be fine, and he did say that he understood the mysterious man in the water. It should be safe." Marissa carefully walked up to the stone box full of water.

Both Beaumont and the man were motioning for her to drink from the box. She peered down into the liquid and noticed that it was perfectly clear. With caution still on her mind, she dipped her hands into the water.

It was cool to the touch, but not cold. Using her cupped hands, she lifted a small amount of the liquid closer to her face. The lights of the magical ceiling above sparkled in the magical water. The curiosity within her thoughts mixed with her hesitation.

She quickly downed the cool liquid and it tingled as it fell down her throat. She swallowed the last bit and turned to man kneeling within the pool.

Once again he began to speak, "Welcome, young wizard."

Continue reading onto Chapter 24

Chapter 22

The next day was much more pleasant than any of the prior week. Where there was once silence, there was now playful conversation. The duo bantered back and forth, occasionally egging the other with bits of humor. Marissa felt that she hadn't laughed so much in a very long time. The young woman was glad to be cheerful instead of her emotionless self.

As they traveled they seemed to be crossing the country faster than what they had planned. They seemed to be ignoring the time spent getting to the Holloway Peninsula, and as such almost did not realize it when they had reached their destination.

"We're here," Beaumont stated.

"Already? It felt like it should have taken longer to get here."

"Well according my map we are at the peninsula. See the water's edge over there? That is the start of it."

In front of the pair was a forested landmass separated by two bodies of water on each side. An odd shaped butte could be seen on the eastern edge. The mount had a sheer face that led high into the clouds. Its tip was hidden amongst the mist filled sky.

Forests covered the other portions of the peninsula. The trees were wildly different than the redwoods of the paths behind them. These timbers were skinny, and the branches above only contained a thin layer of green padded leaves.

Marissa and Beaumont had deviated from the last remnants of a formal road since early that morning. They were simply following the advice of the male adventurer on how to get to their desired location. He had a crude map of the land that was only helpful in determining which approximate direction from which to head.

"Where do you think we should go now, Marissa?" he asked.

"Well there are some sketches of this note, but nothing that I can see that pertains to our current location. I'd just assume that we continue north until we reach its heart. And then we'll go from there I suppose." A layer of uncertainty filled her voice.

Marissa kicked into Faerun's sides and they were off into the strange land.

Traversing the forest was not easy. It was difficult to find openings between the thin trees from which the width of a horse could pass. The trees, although skinny, grew very close to each other. Barely enough room was present between each of them for a man to pass, let alone a large workhorse. The tall poles bent and strained as Faerun's and Reigard's hind quarters squeezed through. Luckily the smooth bark did not scratch their hides.

The forest began to thin as they journeyed deeper into the peninsula. They were getting closer to the edge of the tall butte, and its large shadow was being cast over the center of the peninsula.

Something caught Beaumont's eye. "My, those are some strange trees. I've never seen anything like them before."

An idea popped into Marissa's head. The young mage pulled the staff from off of her back and into her hands. She held the oddly shaped stick in her arms in an upright position. Her eyes then focused on the odd trees in the distance.

"Sylaalian! These are Sylaalian trees!"

"Sylaalian?" he asked.

"Yes, see my staff here? It's made from the same wood. These are magical trees! Such a rarity!" She paused, "But these are supposed to be lost from our world. No one has found any living members of their kind for over a century."

"So does that mean anything? Why would these trees be growing here?"

The question also entered into Marissa's mind. She rejoined the conversation, "Yes, it is odd. If the Pontia are supposed to be based here, then how could such a precious tree grow here as well? We know that the Pontia have a distaste for things arcane, almost a repulsion to such artifacts of the world. How could this be?"

A lucrative opportunity popped into Beaumont's head, "Should we gather some of this wood while we are here? We could bring in quite an amount of coin…"

"No, I won't allow it. These trees are sacred. Their genus must be kept intact, and we dare not take even a sapling. I would assume from the fact that they are no longer found on this continent, that they might only be able to grow on this particular piece of land. Besides, if we bring some examples back, then this precious forest would be razed in just a few days should people learn of where we had traveled. The forest must remain a secret."

"I suppose. Any thoughts on what to do next?"

"Well, we're getting closer to the butte, so why don't we head there directly? Maybe there will be some sort of structure, or something of the like, built into the mountain."

As they got closer to the rocky cliff, the amount of Sylaalian trees increased. All around them were the oddly shaped plants dotting the landscape. Their twisted forms left a sense of being in an otherworldly place.

The live Sylaalian trees looked only slightly different than the two bits of wood Marissa knew about. Unlike the dry brown colors of the staff and Box of Moddiad, these trees were a whitish green. The telltale deep grooves that traced their bark were present over their entire surface. These channels swirled around each tree with a distinctly unique pattern that was different across each individual tree.

The trunks were much wider than the thin trees they had passed through earlier, and their widths were even wider than the base of the largest redwood. It would take a storm of epic proportions to pull the trees from out of the ground.

The upper branches took the twirling structure of the trees to new extremes. Large corkscrews and odd curved angles sprung out from the upper portions. It was easily apparent that the staff which Marissa carried was but a small twig that had fallen from a single crooked branch.

The other odd feature of the Sylaalian was the stark white leaves that tipped their curved branches. No such leaves littered the floor, and not a single pale colored petal could be found on the ground beneath the pair. It seemed as though these trees never gave up their ivory pads during any traditional season, let alone any other natural reason. The bleached petals hanging on the twisted branches also seemed as old as the trees themselves.

The audible songs of tropical birds living amongst the Sylaalian trees whistled to the pair down below. Their sweet melodies sounded mystical and erratic.

Beaumont was the first to reach the edge of the cliff. He dismounted his horse, and scanned the mountain's base looking for any type of structure. The mountain was not as wide as the man expected for having such a tall peak. He was able to circle the mountain after only a few minutes of walking.

The young man looked high and low for any sign of a ruined structure, and even looked for any possible single bricks that might be lying around. His diligent searching turned up nothing, and he returned to Marissa with his findings.

"Nothing?" she asked.

"Not a single carved stone. Nor a sign of anything else manmade. There is nothing along this butte I'm afraid."

Marissa started to panic as she got down out of her saddle, "There has to be something here. I cannot have come all this way for nothing! What will I tell my teachers?!?"

"Calm down, we aren't out of options yet. It isn't quite yet time to give up just yet. There is a lot more land on this peninsula that we haven't covered. Have you even looked at your note recently?"

"The note? Oh, I forgot…"

She pulled the note from one of her pouches. She studied the drawings inscribed on the sheepskin with fresh eyes now that she was in this new location. One of the objects scribbled loosely on one corner of the note somewhat resembled the odd shape of a white Sylaalian leaf.

She asked the young man for a favor, "Can you pluck one of the leaves from these trees? I need to see if they match a shape written on this note."

Beaumont climbed on top of his horse, and stood upright on top of his saddle. Very carefully he stretched his right arm into the air and plucked one of the ivory leaves from a low hanging branch. He jumped down and walked over to Marissa.

The petal was asymmetrical in shape. The base which attached to the tree was round like a drop of water, but then it had three tapered prongs that somewhat twisted around this base. The middle leaf was the longest, with the other two being somewhat shorter. The shape of the leaf looked almost like a shooting star tumbling through space. The leaf within Beaumont's hand roughly matched the shape depicted on the note.

"Okay, so the note had a drawing that links this place to the Sylaalian. Now what?" the young man asked.

"Well, the Sylaalian are known to react to magic. Perhaps I should cast something?"

"It's as good an idea as any. But what should you cast? We don't want to damage the trees right?"

"I think I have an idea. Let me see if I have the correct ingredients."

Marissa placed her knapsack on the ground and started to rummage. She mumbled as he searched through her bag, "Nope, I guess I can't cast that one…" The mage dug even deeper. "Maybe…?... No. Not enough guran water for that…"

It took several minutes for the mage to find the ingredients for the matching spell that she wished to cast. "Aha! This'll do," she exclaimed.

She held a large piece of a brownish root within her right palm. Almost effortlessly, she snapped her arm outwards at the elbow in one quick motion. The root, and her right hand that contained it, began to glow and the air around them began to vibrate.

Beaumont tried to watch her as she did this, but he found it hard to focus on her palm. As she moved her arm, multiple copies of the image would trail behind her clenched hand, matching whatever little movement she made. In addition, her arm was distorting the air around her hand, which made it even more difficult to look at.

"Oh, I probably should have told you. Don't look at my right hand. It's another distraction magic. It doesn't do well to combine its illusions with a full stomach. And seeing as how we recently ate, you might start feeling sick. Just keep looking away and you'll be alright."

"Thanks for the warning," he said sarcastically as he tore his eyes away.

One thing that the pair did not initially notice was that not only was the staff on Marissa's back glowing with the distinctive lines of magical light, but the trees around them were reacting as well. The bark of the closest trees were also now lit up with colorful lines. They traced the mysterious shapes common in the skin of the Sylaalian plant.

In addition, the leaves were reacting much more vividly to the magic. Their edges were glowing with a bright blue tinge. Even the single leaf within Beaumont's hand was lighting up his entire face.

Shielding her right hand from view, Marissa looked around her. She noticed that the glowing amongst the Sylaalian trees depended on how close she was to them. As she walked around them, the aura which she was giving off changed. She wandered among the trees and gleefully watched their spectacular effects. With her left hand she traced the lines racing through the bark of nearby tree. Her finger drew circles and sharp lines. She even pretended that the colored lines spelled out her name.

Beaumont interrupted her fun. "Might I suggest you walk around the butte, oh wise mage? You know, to see if we can find this hidden structure, perhaps?"

With her dark brown eyes, she shot a disapproving glance at the young man. She also pulled her hand back into view, startling the young man. The dizzied man turned to pull his gaze away.

She altered her path and began to walk around the base of the butte. Numerous bushes grew along the cliff and she had to crawl through a few of them in order to fully circle the tall mountain. This time, Beaumont followed the young mage as they rounded the peak.

The pair heard the sound of stone shifting against stone. They turned to look in the direction of the noise but saw nothing. When Marissa stopped to listen for the sound, it also abruptly stopped.

"Did you hear that?" she asked.

Beaumont nodded.

"Thoughts?" she asked.

"Well I don't think it was anything that we have to fear. It might be a clue to this whole place. Keep walking, maybe out towards where the sounds came from. Maybe they'll pipe up again."

Marissa headed northeast, away from the base of the butte, and towards the sound they heard just a moment ago.

As soon as she took another step, the sound returned. She continued to follow the odd noise, which became louder as she approached. Marissa started to jog at a brisk run, heading directly for the sound of the grinding stones.

In her hurry, Marissa did not notice that there were steps that had been carved down into the earth below. Her foot missed the first step and she slipped on the first stone gradation. The young mage clumsily fell onto the upper step of the descending staircase. She landed on her backside with a thump. The root within her hand slipped from her grasp and tumbled down the flight of stairs.

"Ow, that looks like it must have hurt," said Beaumont as he caught up with her.

"Never mind that! Would you please help me up?" spoke the frustrated mage. Beaumont knelt down and helped to lift her up from the mysterious staircase.

"So, this must be the entrance to the structure you were looking for. It's quite lucky we found it so soon."

Marissa replied, "I wouldn't say that, my friend. We don't know where this hole leads, nor why it is here. If it was magic that caused this doorway to open, then magic must be an element of the contents inside. We must tread with caution for we do not know what is beneath us."

Continue reading onto Chapter 23

Chapter 21

Marissa and Beaumont traveled for the next full week, camping along the trail whenever they needed. Unlike the trip to Welton, this portion of the journey was fairly uneventful. They had heard unsettling noises on occasion and they traveled through the forests leading to the peninsula, but they never encountered sources of the odd cries.

The pair really had not spoken much since leaving Welton on the prior week. Marissa had a habit of involuntarily shunning those whom she felt wronged her. The small amount of comfort she had gathered for Beaumont was shattered that night at Jack's when he refused to join her.

She did feel a slight attraction to the blond adventurer, but it was not going to be her doing that the friendship would be rekindled.

While they were riding along across a forested hill, Beaumont finally decided to break the ice. "Ahem, if I might finally ask, why do you believe the source of the Pontia is located on the peninsula? I suppose I should have asked that before we spent a week traveling, but now is as good of a time as any."

Marissa was somewhat surprised that he had finally decided to speak to her. She obliged the young man with an answer, "During my studies, I was fortunate enough to come across a single story that mentioned a mysterious underground structure. On a piece of very old sheepskin were a few handwritten notes speaking of the place. As it turns out, the note had been left in a book detailing Pontian lore."

"Why is that important?" he asked.

"Much of what we know of the Pontia is hearsay. This is because of the dangers and the fears in fully exploring their intricacies. The entire race is entirely too dangerous to study by scholarly methods. In addition, the creatures of the Pontia do not fall into simple classes like those of other breeds. It seems as though each Pontia is unique and unidentifiable. Most of our knowledge of their kind is based on bits and pieces of miscellaneous information.

"Well when I found the note I was quite excited. Usually notes left in the books of Ducann had been accidentally inserted into the pages by those previously studying the texts. This bit of scribbling must have come from someone who had been researching the Pontia, just like I am. And further still, this note is very, very old."

Marissa pulled off the knapsack from across her back. She dug into the largest pocket and removed from it a rolled piece of sheepskin. She untied a knot holding the ancient note and unfurled it for Beaumont to see.

The note appeared to be very aged. The skin had turned almost completely white and its burned edges were slowly disintegrating. Faded red ink inscribed on the flexible surface contained numerous scribbles. The purpose of the markings was not easily apparent as this had been the personal note of some ancient scribe. It wasn't meant to be a piece of information to last throughout history.

"And after a bit of work, the only things I could make out that were easily apparent under these scribbles were two different words: 'Holloway' and 'source'. Those two bits of information are very distinct.

"And so, that is why I am heading to the Holloway Peninsula." Marissa finished her long response with a bit of pride and satisfaction. It was as if she had resolved some great mystery.

"And the personal note of this ancient person is all we have to go on? For all we know, the note could have been intended as something else… and maybe it was never intended to be related to the Pontia. Don't you think we are stretching logic by following a hunch?"

Marissa crooked her black eyebrows, "Following hunches often lead to great discoveries. Why should this be any different?"

"It isn't. I just thought you probably had more concrete evidence for choosing this long journey. You are a student of the libraries correct?"

"Well," Marissa tried to think of other reasons, "There are many writings that detail large concentrations of Pontia that have lived on the peninsula. A larger than normal attack rate has been recorded in that area. Wouldn’t those facts help lead to my conclusion?"

"I suppose you are right." He paused, "How strongly do you feel that your assumption is correct?"

"I have no reason to believe that I am incorrect, Beaumont. I believe it is by Heaven's will that I have come to this realization. I can sense that God has blessed my theory and He is with me on this final test."

Beaumont turned his head and rolled his eyes slightly. Marissa did not notice this slight dismissal of the Heavens.

"Changing the subject to something a bit lighter, might I ask where you grew up? You know, something we can talk about to help pass the time."

"I will tell you, but only if you do the same. Agreed?"

"Agreed," he said as a slight smile graced his chin.

For the next several hours the pair spoke of their past experiences. Marissa told Beaumont about her childhood in the desert and the orphanage, and he spoke of his time spent in the outskirts of Welton. Each traveler went into the minute details of their somewhat unordinary lives.

Both the young man and young woman were glad to be speaking to each other. Bits of humor were interjected into their conversation and they both laughed. Marissa was happy to feel comfortable with Beaumont again. It pleased her to feel a connection with the young man and she was growing fonder of their time spent together.

The forest they were traveling through consisted of the same tall redwood trees that covered this area. Their tall stalks seemed like giant columns, and their branches were only viewable several hundred feet up into the air. The particular area they were in was sparse and there was only a small amount of trees encircling them. The pair and their horses were also ascending up a small hill that was blanketed with the fallen leaves of the ancient trees. The air was cold as the fall was nearing its end and winter was fast approaching.

It was getting close to dusk on this day of travel, and the red from the sun was casting a honeyed color upon all their surroundings. As the golden orb began to set across the horizon, its bright light glinted against the young mage's eyes. She squinted as they continued their journey.

Unexpectedly, Marissa felt something slam into her right side and she was thrown from her horse.

She landed and slid down the leaf-covered slope, unable to gather a handhold. She continued gliding across the slippery floor, up until she reached a spot in the forest where the floor had given way to a sinkhole. At that point, a pit several feet wide led down into a thick black darkness. Lining one edge of the pit was a single tree with its bare roots dangling in the air. She desperately tried to grab onto anything within her grasp as she fell into the hole.

Her fall into the nothingness was halted when her boot became caught on the exposed roots. Her body was pulled back from the black abyss with a jolt as her boot continued to hold onto the tree's root system. She hung then helplessly, desperately trying to right herself without falling into the hole.

In the distance, she could hear Beaumont struggling with whatever had attacked them. The violent sounds of clashing metal swords echoed through the trees. Grunts and howls permeated the air. The man and the attacker continued to fight until a single cry was heard. That final blood curdling scream of rage reverberated amongst the branches.

"Help!" she cried out. "Beaumont!"

The sounds of footsteps crushing the leaf covered floor began to get closer. The crackling of brittle leaflets was getting louder. The leaves around the pit rustled and a few of the dry pads floated into the black abyss. From out above the sinkhole's edge appeared the victorious Beaumont.

"Give me your hand!" Beaumont screamed as he removed his leather gloves.

Marissa was still facing downwards into the pit and was unable to grab a hold of his hands directly. Noting that she might fall in at any minute, she curled up at her torso and tried to right herself. As she twisted, his hand caught hers and she was freed from the dangling roots.

Beaumont leaned back and tried to pull the young mage out of the pit. He wasn't terribly strong, but with some effort he had been able to backpedal and pull Marissa out and over the sinkhole's edge. The young man fell onto his back as she was pulled face first along the covered ground.

Still panting, he got back up and pulled Marissa up from off of her front. He dragged her further away from the pit's edge. As he knelt, he pulled the young mage into his arms trying to make sure she was far enough away from the deep hole. As he worked to regain his breath, he held her tightly to his chest. Beaumont wanted to make sure that she did not slide away from him.

The exhausted pair laid there amongst the dry leaves for quite some time, long after the sun had set. Both of their bodies were very sore, and it felt good to take a rest. In addition, the forest floor was getting cold with the arrival of nightfall. The warmth from their embrace made it harder to separate.

Oddly, Marissa was surprised when Beaumont began to stroke her wispy hair. His coarse fingers felt strangely soothing as he ran them across her head. Each stroke helped to melt away the distress lingering within her body and she began to relax. Each pleasant caress increased the weight of her eyelids. Within moments, the young woman had fallen asleep within her rescuer's arms.

The young mage dreamed as she slept. Visions of a warm comfortable mattress with an incredibly soft bedspread crept into her mind. The young girl was wrapping herself tightly within the toasty sheets. With a large feathered pillow between her arms, she squeezed the fluffy object gently. She snuggled into a curled position within the sheets and felt a pleasant sensation of euphoria in this imaginary bed.

Marissa awoke a few hours later to find herself still embracing the young man. He was lying flat on the forest's underbrush and both of her arms were wrapped tightly around his torso. She lifted her head from his leathered chest and looked into the blue eyes of the young man.

"Evening," he said.

The mage did not jump, nor did she shudder. A wave of curiosity ran over her as she continued to stare.

Beaumont continued, "I see that you are comfortable. That is good."

With her arms still wrapped around him, she tried to peer around their immediate area. "Where are the horses?" she asked.

"I think they are down by a small pond at the bottom of this hill. When I called to Reigard, both him and Faerun walked past our current position and further down the hill. Even right now I can see them standing at the water's edge."

"And the beast you slayed earlier?"

"I don't know. I assume its corpse is still at the path near the top where I left it. Just like you, I haven't moved from this spot."

"Ahem, well… should we set up camp for the night?"

"Yes, we should," he agreed. A slight smile was on his face as he spoke.

Rather casually Marissa removed her arms from around his torso and stood up. She stood there in front of the young man and stretched. Her muscles and joints ached, but the source of the slight pain was not caused by the day's events. Instead her soreness was like that of someone waking from a deep sleep. She lifted her arms high into the air and took a few deep breaths.

The pair made their way down to the small pond at the base of the forest. Just as Beaumont had said, both of their horses were standing near each other at the water's edge. It also looked like all of their equipment was still intact.

A partially full moon was shining in the night sky and its white form was being reflected off of the glassy surface. The soft pale light added a soothing glow to the forest's interior.

Marissa unpacked her bedroll and laid it upon the forest floor near the base of a large tree. There, underneath its leaves, she set up her camp. Beaumont unpacked his beddings as well and placed his roll a few feet from Marissa.

As time passed, the young mage tried to get some sleep within her bedroll, but she had little success. She tossed and turned and found it uncomfortable to stay in just one position. The cold mist hanging above the forest floor was also making it difficult to stay warm. Her body shivered with each evening breeze.

Frustrated after a few minutes of trying to sleep in futility, she sat up from her uncomfortable bed. Sitting up in her roll, she looked over to her traveling partner.

Beaumont too was also awake, and he had apparently been watching the young woman toss and toil for quite some time.

"Need a little help?" he asked politely.

Without much thought, Marissa nodded with agreement towards her male companion.

Beaumont stood up, lifted his roll from the ground, and walked over to Marissa's tree. He propped up the bedding against the red bark of her tree just behind the young mage and sat down. He motioned for her to come closer with his ungloved hand. The young woman complied and she scooted back over in his direction.

With her back facing towards the young man, she leaned backwards against his soft leather armor. To keep out the cold, she pulled up her bedroll around her. Once she had situated herself, Beaumont placed his arms around her chest with a gentle hug.

Stress once again left her body and she felt relaxed.

A slight breeze blew through the branches above and dislodged a few autumnal leaves from the forest's canopy. Gently they fell, swinging and swaying in the air as if they were weightless. Like the touch of a soft kiss, they landed on the glassy water in front of the pair. Calm ripples echoed out across the moonlit surface.

Marissa embraced the young man's right arm with her small hands. She snuggled her face against his white sleeve as if it were a pillow. It only took a few more moments before the young mage was fast asleep within her companion's arms.

There on the forest floor, the pair slept underneath the large tree. As the stars made their slow journey across the black sky, the duo of the mage and the adventurer kept their mutual embrace. They slept peacefully and without worry.

Continue reading onto Chapter 22

Chapter 20

Marissa stayed in the town of Welton for the next forty-five days. As a servant of the Church, she remained in the city so that she could help those in need, as well as to help rebuild the devastated city. The people of Welton needed all the assistance they could get during this dire time.

A full one-third of the town had been killed during the tragic events. Numerous families had been crushed beneath the walls of their homes, and others had been killed when the roof of the main temple collapsed. Numerous others were lost across the town from other repercussions of the horrific storm. The town had never seen such a tragedy in all its years and it was still reeling from the tremendous loss.

Most of the damaged buildings were un-repairable and therefore had to be demolished to the ground. Large gaps now littered the town's landscape where homes and businesses had once stood. There was also a new road that led though town: the giant path carved by the great boulder of debris.

Welton had been fortunate to receive aid from neighboring towns, as well as from the Church herself. Men and women poured into the town, looking for anyway in which they could help.

Marissa saw Beaumont several times over the past month. He too had been helping with the rebuilding of Welton, and had remained inside the confines of the town. They never spoke but she would occasionally catch him walking by. Part of her wanted to speak with him in more detail about what had occurred, but she never pressed it.

With the recovery effort going well, Marissa felt it was time to rejoin her quest to the north. Gathering what little she could for supplies, she yet again saddled Faerun up for a long journey. As she was preparing, Beaumont entered the Church stables.

"Hello Marissa," he said.

"Greetings Beaumont," replied the young woman as she continued to tighten Faerun's saddle. She did not turn to face him.

"I guess you are off to the Holloway Peninsula I presume?"

"Yes, I'm continuing with my final student task."

"Might I have a word with you?" he asked.

Marissa's attention piqued. She stopped loading up Faerun and turned to face the young man.

The adventurer struggled to get his words out, "Marissa, I don't know how I could ever repay you for saving Elanor's life. I don't know whether you know the facts, but her parents, my sister and her husband, were lost during the accident. It was only because of your courage that little Elanor was fortunately saved. I will forever be grateful for that…"

"Beaumo…"

"Wait, I'm not finished. One of the main reasons I returned to Welton was to reconcile with my father. With this whole event, this whole insane event, our family bond has finally been rebuilt. My father and I have put the past behind us and each of us has made our peace with the other. This portion of my journey is over.

"Finally, I was unsure of whether you would have had the strength to complete your quest. I see now that you have strength way beyond your years, and are even a stronger person than I. I'm sorry for misjudging you.

"And so, if you will allow me, I would like to accompany you to the Holloway Peninsula at your prior request. Assisting you on your journey is the least that I can do as penance for all that you have done. I owe you that, and much more. I will not ask for payment of any type…"

A quivering Beaumont looked into Marissa's deep brown eyes. A feeling of prior regret hung on his face. He stood there motionless, and the young man waited patiently for a response to his plea.

The female mage thought for a moment. She was unsure of whether she still wanted his help. She was also unsure of whether she even needed his help. While she had been able to hold her own so far, it would be helpful to have a knowledgeable guide for the trip. Plus, his fighting skills may come to be a valuable asset. Two sides of the argument bounced back and forth within her head.

"Yes, you may accompany me. I believe that I will require your assistance for the journey. I would be honored to have you along with me as a companion, Beaumont." Her response was very terse and formal. It was spoken with a monotone voice and Marissa did not show any of her emotions.

She held out her hand so that they may shake on the deal. The young man's leathered fingers connected with hers, and a slight tingle climbed up her arm and into her neck. They shook hands and the informal contract had now been set.

The young mage Marissa now had a guide who would take her to the Holloway Peninsula, and the main destination of her final student quest.

Continue reading onto Chapter 21

Chapter 19

Marissa awoke in a panic.

She leapt from her Church bed and ran to the nearby window. Outside she could hear the wind howling with great vigor. The stone masonry of her room was vibrating from the shear forces outside. Muffled in the distance were the terrified cries of hundreds of people. In a hurry, she got dressed and leapt outside.

For all intents and purposes it was still morning here in the city of Welton, but from the appearance outside it was anything but.

The sky was filled with rumbling black clouds that were being pierced by great lighting flashes. The black mass contained bright white streaks that pulsed onto the ground below. Bolts of energy were colliding with the tips of numerous roof tops. Chunks of masonry which had been dislodged by the powerful impacts were falling to the ground below.

Wind howled through the air as thunderclaps reverberated through the stratosphere. The sky seemed to be intentionally roaring at the populace below. The great thunderous booms were throwing people to the ground with their tremendous volume.

Above the uppermost portion of the town, in the middle of the black sky, was a giant swirl of purple mist. The eerie mass was spinning violently in a clockwise motion. Lightweight objects that had been picked up by the strong winds were being sucked into this lavender colored vacuum. Marissa's eyes could see tiny flailing bodies being pulled into the vortex.

Terror fell over the young woman, "By God…"

Marissa's attentions turned to the hordes of people outside of the Church walls. The people were desperately trying to enter the refuge of the Church grounds by any means necessary. The small gate was only allowing a few people in at a time, and many of whom were almost instantly trampled as soon as they entered. Men and women were also tying to climb over the rod iron walls that encircled the area. Guards were trying to keep the fearful people calm as they got into the grounds.

The sages and priests within the complex were also in a panic. Only a few of them were stationed here at Welton, and the ones that were located here were not high ranking clergy. They fumbled to comprehend the situation. These lame men and women simply could not handle the events that were unfolding. The official Church response to this emerging crisis was non-existent.

Determined to do something, Marissa decided it was her duty to try and help however she could. With her Sylaalian staff tied behind her back, Marissa made her way out of the complex.

She noticed that there was a small domicile along the eastern wall. This building was purposed as living quarters for all the caretakers of the Church. With a quick hop, the young girl nimbly climbed onto the low-lying thatched roof. She ran towards the iron wall, and with another quick jump she was out into the city's interior.

Now free of the Church's confinement, the young mage made her way towards the area just below the purple vortex. She began to run up the ascending road to the uppermost portion of Welton. The tip of the nearby Welton Mountain was hidden beneath the clouds.

As she tried to make her way up the street, the winds began to get stronger and stronger. She attempted to push her shoulder against the tremendous gale forces out in the open road, but instead had to resort to crawling against the buildings bordering the path. She crept ever slowly towards the violent tempest.

No guard members or Protectorate were at the site. Anyone who had been under the vortex had either been sucked into the mass or had fled the scene. The people quickly dispersed from the area just after the disaster began, and so their muted screams came from other places distant from Marissa's current location. Their fearful cries could barely be heard under the roaring winds.

The young mage Marissa was all alone under this mysterious anomaly.

She looked into the sky to see that the purple hued tempest was not of any natural origin. The clouds swirling around its center were of odd colors and shapes. Their misty forms were torn into thin ribbons that violently twisted around the center. Bolts of lightning traced the spinning mass as they raced out of the unnatural vacuum.

In addition, the strong gale winds seemed somewhat calmer near the base of this vortex. She was not being pushed away, and the mage was having an easier time keeping her balance without assistance.

She thought, "I've never read or heard of anything of this like ever occurring. What possibly could be causing this? What can I do…?"

Her inflection was stopped suddenly by a great clap of thunder. Just to Marissa's south, the walls of a large two story building shattered. Brick and masonry tumbled off of the tall home and began to accumulate along the ground. The framework and supporting stone structure crumbled away into nothingness. The sheer force emanating from the wave of sound reduced the once magnificent domicile to ruin.

Remnants from the thunderous blast threw Marissa down to the pebbled road. She slid face first across the cobblestones. Dust and small debris sprinkled onto her back from the collapsing home. She stood up and shook the dirt from her clothes. The wind continued to howl.

Marissa's heightened attention caught the sound of a small muffled scream in the air. The cry however was not coming from the distance; instead it was coming from one of the nearby homes. In fact, it sounded like the young voice was coming from the home directly behind the recently collapsed building. The plea for help sounded like the voice of a young girl. The young mage raced to find her.

Marissa leapt over rock and debris to reach the home containing the cries. Bits and pieces had been torn from its shingled roof, but the structure was still standing. With a hefty kick from her right boot, she opened the already weather-beaten front door. The broken hinge that had secured the door fell to the interior's floor with a thud.

She cried out, "Hello?!? Where are you?!?"

Marissa was greeted with silence. The storm above continued to raze the landscape around her.

The young woman raced upstairs and called out again, "Hello?!?"

A small whimper came from a closet bordering the hallway.

Marissa raced to the door of the closest and flung it open. Inside was a frail young girl sitting on the floor, clutching a small doll. Tears were running down her pale cheeks. She did not look to be much older than a few years old. Upon her shoulders was a thin cotton nightgown.

"Come on!" Marissa cried, "We need to get you out of here!"

Without waiting for a response, Marissa pulled the frightened girl out of the closet and into her grasp. She was unable to carry the girl all by herself, so she had to lead her down the stairs by hand. The pair raced outside as fast as the girl could scramble, quickly escaping out of the front door.

The wind chased them as they fled.

As they raced back down to the Church, Marissa looked up into the ominous sky behind them. She noticed that it was beginning to transform from its current state. The twisting purple clouds were starting to shift down towards the ground. A massive funnel was beginning to form at the base of the vortex.

The home from which the girl had just been plucked was torn into bits of rubble. Other homes in the area were also ripped apart down to their understructure.

As the walls were being reduced to single bricks, the debris was being accumulated within the great funnel. Chunks and bits of stone were being spun around inside of the massive column of churning clouds. As the vortex began to grow, so did the ratio of debris within. By the time Marissa and the fleeing child had raced halfway down the hill, whole portions of masonry walls could be seen peeking out of the storm's unnatural form. It almost looked more like a solid mass than a whip of clouds.

Marissa stopped and turned around to view the incredible destruction. The little girl tried to continue running but the young mage held tightly on to her arm.

The funnel had grown so gigantic that it had swallowed the entire upper section of Welton. All that remained were piles of ruin and the ever churning mass of the purple winds. It continued to spin within the same spot, towering over the city below.

The large mass suddenly lurched. Without even thinking, Marissa scrambled to look for anything of use within her immediate area.

The young woman's eyes caught sight of a very large cooking skillet. There sitting against the exterior of a kitchen wall was the object. The iron pan was easily as large as the small girl and had a slight concave shape. Two large handles had been bolted onto its sides.

Marissa tugged at the little girl and asked for her assistance, "Hurry, help me roll this out into the roadway!"

The mage and the young girl desperately tried to shift the massive piece of metal into the path. When they had pulled it far enough, they let it fall to the ground with a great clang. It fell upon its curved side and began to slowly slide down the slanted roadway.

The vortex became oddly silent for just a moment, and then it lurched yet again.

Marissa turned around just in time to see the vortex spew out the accumulated contents of the obliterated buildings. A large intertwined mass of stone, rock, metal, and wood was flung down the main roadway. This large spherical ball of debris tumbled down to the base of the town. As it made its way down the hill, buildings and objects in its path were smashed into dust.

Marissa grabbed the young girl into her grasp and ran towards the iron disk. As it was slowly continuing to move, the mage leapt onto the object with the girl in her arms. The disk slid suddenly as they climbed aboard, and Marissa tried to grab a hold of the iron handles on both sides. Her frail fingers clenched onto the worn grips.

The pair raced down the slippery cobblestone path on this makeshift sled. Sparks flew behind them as they were chased by the mass of debris. Marissa tried to steer the sled with the best of her ability. The young woman and her rider just barely missed a food cart that had been parked in the roadway. Faster and faster they slid, just barely staying out of reach of the avalanche of broken buildings.

The noise of stones being crushed behind them began to get louder and louder. The ball was getting closer as it ate up the road. In addition, the great friction of the iron sled hitting the path was heating up its base. The impromptu sled was becoming too hot to even touch.

Within a period of time no longer than two or three seconds; Marissa had pulled her staff to her side, said a single magical word, and cast her desired spell.

The path of the sled jerked suddenly as a magical force pushed on the right side of the sled. The iron skillet abruptly shot out in the opposite direction from which the spell had been cast. Marissa and her young rider tilted hard to their left as they flew down a narrow alleyway. The right edge of the sled began to scrape against the southern wall of the alley until it came to a stop.

The giant boulder made from debris rolled further down the path, just narrowly passing the duo's position in the alleyway. Portions of the buildings around them crumbled to the ground as the mass tumbled down the path. The ball continued to roll further down into town.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?!?" Marissa pleaded with the girl.

Even though she was in a complete state of shock with both eyes open as wide as they could be, she was able to nod 'yes' to the young woman.

Marissa let out a temporarily sigh of relief. She leapt up from disk and pulled the girl from their sled. The base of the super heated iron sled was glowing with a dark pink hue at its base.

The winds had begun to calm down. Flashes in the sky began to dwindle. The roar of thunder began to quiet. It looked as though the mightiest fury of the storm was now over. The sky began to lighten slightly but remained black.

Marissa replaced the ancient staff onto her back and ventured out into the now decimated roadway. Debris was lying everywhere and the complete faces of buildings had been shorn by the massive sphere.

The young woman peered down the path. A wide trail of destruction had been traced by the ball of debris. A distinct line had been torn through the town. Marissa gasped as she realized where the ball had ended its downhill journey: the Church.

In the distance she could see a cloud of grey smoke rising from where the Church steeples had once stood. Fires had broken out around the town, but a very large blaze had erupted on the Church grounds. Red flames were razing the main buildings of the Church. Helpless people at the Church were screaming.

"Those poor people…" she spoke aloud solemnly. The majority of the people would have obviously been ushered into the main chamber for their protection, and the main chamber had been effortlessly crushed by the force of the debris sphere. Unfortunately for those who had sought shelter inside, it was all for naught.

It took Marissa and the young girl almost ten minutes to make their way down to the Church through all of the destruction and panic. With the small little girl's hand still clasping her own, they walked up to the now fallen exterior walls of the Church.

Not all of the buildings had been destroyed, just the main temple and the guards' quarters. There was a greater loss of life on this day than there was loss of property. Several church members and volunteers were trying to dig through the rubble in a hurried search for survivors. Only a few lucky people were successfully rescued from the terrible destruction by the end of the day.

With the little girl still in tow, Marissa walked over to the horse paddock. Fortunately, the stables had not been harmed in any way by the morning's events. All of the horses had been frightened by the horrible storm and they were still racing inside of their gated homes in fear.

A small tear of joy fell from Marissa's eye as she caught a glimpse of her beloved horse, Faerun. He was still noticeably upset, but at least he was alive.

Quite surprisingly, right as Marissa turned from the sight of her horse, she was greeted by her prior companion: Beaumont. The young man in white armor stood there motionless in front of the mage and the young girl.

The little girl immediately noticed the male adventurer and slipped out of the young woman's grasp. Marissa tried to grab her, but the girl eluded the attempts of the female mage. The girl in her nightgown ran over to the young man who promptly picked her up into his arms. The two embraced strongly as he began to weep. Multiple tears streamed down his cheeks.

Marissa stood there silently, watching the two and their reunion. It took the man a moment to compose himself, but then he was able to speak to the female mage.

"Thank you, Marissa. Thank you, thank you, thank you," he belted out with a bit of sadness in his voice. "You have aided me yet again by saving this wonderful little girl. She is my niece, Elanor. May God thank you for your deeds…" The young man wept again.

Marissa did not say a single word. She continued to stand there as the man known as Beaumont held tightly onto his precious little niece named Elanor. The girl still held tight around his neck and did not turn to face the young mage.

Fires behind the reunited pair continued to consume the nearby buildings. Thick smoke was still rising from spots across the town. The gray clouds rose high into the morning air. Even though there was destruction all around, at least the terror of the day's events was now over.

Continue reading onto Chapter 20