Callia's Redemption

When I finally reach the spot, marked by a burning crater from the earth, I look around. I can see torch light; but what is mainly lighting up the sky is the lightning overhead. I kneel closer to the ground to avoid being seen. I see traces of blue on the outside of the six-foot crater. They used the life of a Demigod that was the child of a Water God. They’re very strong and very rare. They’re not easy to capture so this may have been voluntary. In the center is lilac, which marks my life. A black circle surrounds my life mark. Fear hits me once I confirm it was Gstalt’s magic that revived me.

He’s still strong. There is still a chance that it worked if he had to use a Water Demigod to summon me. A light red and blue line head from north to south as it cuts through my life circle. The mark of my birth parents. Red is a Lava God. Blue is a Water Demigod. It’s the same color of the life given up for mine. He killed my birth parent to summon me. Now I’m very angry.

What this has explained is why I am able to stand up to Gstalt with my powers. I have a full God and a Demigod blood line; both are of the strongest god line. This must be why my power matches no other spirit. It has no connection to any specific god type because there are two.

In the circle-if you know what to look for-you can tell if it was taken voluntarily or not. The lifeline circling the crater is smooth. It’s not hectic as someone who is terrified would be. This was given willingly. Why would one of my birth parents give their life willingly to Gstalt? Again, why would Gstalt bring me back?

Now, where did Gstalt perform this ritual? I lean in closer, refusing to step foot inside the crater. Knowing him, he placed an entrapment spell inside it. I’ve seen him do it a couple of times. It’ll trap anything that steps foot inside of it. I can just make out a star in the center of the lilac. Underneath that star is a river with a barn that has a rooster over it. Another flash of lightening lights up the woods. I can now see that there is a full moon next to the star, with a wolfed fox sitting underneath it.

I cover my mouth as I gasp, taking a step back. Alarm sweeps through me as I realize where this is. Gstalt has found my birthplace. He performed the reanimation spell exactly where I was born. That is why the spell is so strong. He not only needed a Water Demigod, but a direct, life impacting connection for it to work. Also, by doing this he has a direct link to me. He can sense me. The further away I am, the weaker it is.

My birthplace is thirty leagues from here. The storm overhead is what likely screwed up my summoning place. Usually you’re revived where you’re summoned. Unless a great force, like a storm, interferes with the spiritual connection. This is likely what happened here. Gstalt must have been counting on something affecting the reanimation spell, since there were soldiers waiting for me when I landed. How did he calculate where I would land if his plans were ruined?

I slowly back away from the crater and crawl on my hands and knees out of range. Once I cannot see the torch light, I start running. I know where I have to hide in order to survive the next day. If I don’t get there by morning, that means absolutely nothing.

Eventually I get to where I need to be. It’s almost daylight. The sun is starting to rise over the mountain top that’s directly behind me. Right where it always is, is a waterfall. It’s down the steep hillside so that’ll help. Unfortunately, there is a direct clearing next to the river it feeds. This means no cover from that sunlight. I start running as fast as I can, gravity giving some aide.

By the nick of a breath, I make it to the waterfall and climb behind it, where there is a hidden cave behind it. I used this a lot in the old days to hide. Only one other person knew about it, so I doubt Gstalt can find it. The air in the cave is humid but I don’t see any sleeping bears, so I think I’ll be okay. As soon as I sit down, there is a loud thunderclap as everything outside lights up in a beautiful lilac purple. If I were outside the sun would hit me and light the sky black where my exact location is. The mark would be permanent until I was released by the spell caster. Fortunately, the spell will only last until tomorrow morning. It’s dark inside but the waterfall is filtering the sunlight. I fall asleep out of pure exhaustion. There is nothing to do so I might as well.

I wake up cold. The sky is now dark with lilac slightly glowing in the sky. I open my pack and bite into a chunk of bread as I lean against the dewy wall. I put a velvet black cloak I had stolen at the festival over my top half and curl my legs against my chest to cover them as well. I lean my head against the wall as I look outside. Every instinct in my body is telling me I need to run, but that’s not an option right now. If Gstalt can sense me, he’ll eventually find me if I’m sitting here. If I’m lucky, he hasn’t figured out how to read that sense yet. I’m likely not that lucky.

I hear a stick crack from outside. My head snaps to the direction as I try to keep quiet. Hopefully, it’s a deer getting a drink. Soon a light from a lantern grows causing me to press on deeper into the cave. I try my best to stay covered in shadows, but if they come in there is nowhere to hide.

The lantern stays outside the waterfall as it bends closer to the water. I see a hand scoop up some water so hopefully they’re just getting a drink. A light blue wave flashes up the waterfall, causing me to jump in surprise. Merkth said all Demigods are held by Gstalt…unless they are weak. I can sense the power coming off this spell and it’s strong. What spell are they performing anyway?

The spell shoots down the water and circles back. I realize they’re performing a tracking spell. They can easily track on land, but they’re using a water spell to see if their target has come in contact with the water from this particular river. It only works if the intended target has touched the water. I did not so if I am the target, I at least know I’m safe. You need something from the person if you’re tracking by land. Like spit, hair, or blood. From what I can tell, this is a Demigod that is likely from a Water Spirit or one for hunting. It’s not dark enough to be directly connected to a water spirit.

I hear a deep voice swear as the spell dies. I cannot hear more over the roar of the waterfall. Please don’t come in. I really wish not to fight. I know eventually I’ll be forced to, but if I can hold it off that’d be great. The light gets brighter as they get closer to the cave; but stops just on the edge. They’re not in the cave, just camped outside of it. Looks like I get to stay very quiet until morning.