Maledictus Terra Book 2: Sanguifex Part 79
Introduction
Welcome back to Maledicturs Terra. This is a Chain Story between myself and @lex-zaiya, meaning that we each write the parts alternatively.
If you have not read Maledictus Terra Book 1: Mortis Custos yet, it starts HERE at Part 1 and ends at Part 101 HERE. At the end of the Part 101 post you will find links to all 101 Parts!
The previous part by @lex-zaiya can be found HERE.
Part 79
Adiran seemed to think it over and then sighed. He looked at the ground and the symbols placed there. He looked upset. “I do. I sort of do. Everything has been so difficult to comprehend since I have been back… here… I boarded myself up here because I did not fully understand what I was doing here.”
“I see.” Lucien said quietly. “I am sorry about forcing your hand like this old friend. I do not think that you are fully… re-adjusted. However, the time agreed upon with the godling is final. I shall get no more from her. She would rend us limb from limb should we fail… or we would need to slay her and then the curse would never be broken.”
Adiran nodded and went to go sit on a chair on the one side of the room. It was padded and Adiran sat in it comfortably as though it was quite familiar. “I see. Well… as long as this spell of our does not put the twins in danger.”
“There is always a risk factor.” Lucien said blandly.
Adiran frowned. “Yes there is… but I hate it. I hate that it is again them that the responsibilities lie. Adrian is me and I am him but also… we are not the same. The worlds we come from… the times… I mean… in those times they are different worlds. Things were made and unmade. I went back. I came back to change it all. I gained greater power but I am imperfect. He has a better chance.”
“It will take many years for him to reach your level of mastery.” Lucien said. “And the girl is also different to what she was like in your time is she not?”
Adiran nodded slowly. “Yes. She is... different to how my sister was at this age.” Adiran looked down at the symbols as he spoke. “Oh! I do remember this one! This grammatical hyphenated rune is incorrect for the binding barrier. Let me correct it for you! See. Itus-ahn kah. Not Itus-ber kah. This would have channeled the energy of the focus spirit towards the summoned being... That would not be good!”
Lucien stared at the symbols intently and watched as Adiran corrected the work on the floor of the room. This room was sparsely furnished. It had likely been a prayer room or a meeting place for the Church's elders.
As the Lifedrinker double checked the work he smiled. “That was very perceptive of you! You are right. I am glad that we found you when we did. Without you, this spell might turn into a nightmare and afailure.”
“I am happy to help.” Adiran shrugged. “My memories are still clouded over. I cannot fully think correctly and that is really starting to grate on my nerves.”
Lucien put a hand on Adiran's shoulder gently. “Give it time my friend. All of your memories shall return to you in due course.”
Adiran nodded. “I do sometimes get bits of my knowledge returning. Spells, incantations or bits of knowledge about the world. I have hope that I shall make a full recovery.”
“That you will.” Lucien said. He stepped toward the singular window that the room possessed. It was barred from the inside with boards and nails. “You really fortified everything in this place.”
“The things outside wanted to get in. I could hear them crawling the walls.” Adiran shrugged. “Good thing I knew how to drive a nail without relying on magic to do so, else I might have been dead by now... Or worse. Do you know when Rhys will arrive? This whole plan hangs on a precarious threat regarding the Dragonling.”
“Oh? How so?”
“I do remember my friend... I remember finding his egg, hatching it and dozens of memories about him... I also remember him dying when he was small and burying him. I also remember him as much bigger than he was when he had died. How is that possible?”
Lucien turned back toward the mage and frowned. “I do not know. Perhaps your memories are still a bit muddled after all.”
Adiran shrugged. “That may be so... but this spell also requires him to do something that he had never done before. I know he is able to do it, based on my research of his kind... but I know he has never done it.”
“What might that be?”
“He needs to breathe fire.” Adiran said evenly.
“So he is a real dragon.” Lucien said this as a statement of fact and not a question.
“You do not seem surprised. Even though Dragons have been extinct for over four hundred years ago. Most humans would find this information unbelievable and disturbing.”
Lucien smiled. “You forget that I was there that it had happened. I saw a few dragons in my time. Large and fierece. So many years after the death of the last one, I met you and Rhys. Yes. I had surmised what he was then, but it was only a theory. Even though my life has been long, I have never seen a hatchling before.”
“And because we have no idea to tell how long Dragons live or take to mature, I cannot say if Rhys will be able to give us the dragon-fire we need for this cleaning magic to work.”
Lucien spread his hands and shrugged. “Do we have any other choice?”
Adiran was silent as he stared at the incantation circle and frowned. “No. Nothing that I can remember. It is nearly daybreak...”
“Yes and the Hungers and the godling shall attack when the last light falls off the horizon. He do not have much time.” Lucien said. “I should go scouting to go find my kin. You all together should be able to defend this church easily enough if need be.”
“Indeed.” Adiran said. He turned toward the door. “Let's go inform the others and have them prepare for the worst, I...” He looked over his shoulder but then saw that the Lifedrinker had vanished. Adiran smiled ruefully.
Meanwhile a shadow flowed along the wall and returned to the party in the large church hall.
Over to @lex-zaiya for the next part!
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So much I can do here. Looking forward to it.
Indeed you do. Keeps me on my toes!