Embers in the Dust

Eduzan’s voice reverberated through Myla’s mind.

If they awaken the dragon and kill her, they will gain her power and become unstoppable.

“So, wait… You mean to tell me that either, they’ll kill this Mother of Dragons, or Tiamat rises from the ashes of Avernus and that prophecy-sounding, armageddon leading, shit? Our job is gonna be to what, stop this from happening?” Mr. Muffins asked.

Leaf said it is his quest. Tagitar replied.

A fine quest for an Archmage. Sothasem added.

“What a load of shit…” Mr. Muffins muttered, clearly unhappy with their lack of help with the situation.

Myla could feel his anger and frustration, and she felt it in herself as well.

Why can’t they do it? Why is this our job? She thought to herself.

She knew why, though. As Archmage, it was his job to take care of these things. While Leaf could ask for help, and receive it, but there was no reason for anyone to get involved. In the words of her father, “Too many captains, just one ship.” Myla looked over to Dalia as she jumped back into the conversation.

“We can grant you passage with our airship to the Pluxver Wastes, where a portal to the River Styx is located. It’s the same one I came from.”

“Your question of how you will make the world better,” Onisa finished. “This is your answer. Find a way to stop this.”

As they left, and the party returned to the magic home they were provided, she sat at the table in the center room, able to hear Mr. Muffins inside after he slammed his door shut, mumbling and moving things around angrily. Rhokhishi and Lyla went to their separate rooms, and Myla could feel the odd shift in their reactions to each other. Making a mental note of it, she decided that right now would not be a great time to ask her sister about it.

Leaf was the only one not to enter his room, but instead walked up the staircase in the back to the loft. He grabbed a book off of the closest shelf, sat in one of the chairs, and opened it, where he proceeded to stare at the pages. She watched him, and saw that he never turned the page, and realized that it was a distraction from his true feelings, where he was left in shock from passing the second test.

Late into the night, after everyone went to their rooms and the building was silent for a time, Myla entered her space. It was quaint and small, with a wall covered in vines. The flowers bloomed in a variety of colors, and she noticed that it was only one plant, but various kinds of flowers came from it. If she took the time, she could probably pull out her botany notes and examine them, but she decided against it. She laid in her bed, not even pulling the sheets over her, and fell asleep immediately.

In the early morning, she could hear her friends’ thoughts, and quickly pushed them away. She turned over in her bed, wanting to sleep for a little longer, but on seeing the vine wall across from her, she remembered their task at hand and sat up. She dressed, exited her room, and grabbed some food from the table before heading out with everyone else. The building faded behind them as the sunlight cascaded onto it, leaving nothing behind. She could feel the emotions around her. Her friends were concerned, worried, anxious. The others not so.

As they walked over to the platform, they saw that Deans Dalia, Onisa, and Rikgos, along with Rahmnivar, stood around the platform across from each other. Leaf stepped forward, ready for the third test. He was nervous, but shrugged it off before Rahmnivar’s voice came into their minds.

Today is your third day of testing. This is not a testament to your intelligence or wisdom, as the others were, but of sheer force and power.

Myla looked to her left, where Eduzan, Sothasem, and Tagitar sat. Their eyes glowed with colors that resembled their scales. As they rose their heads high above them, the ground quaked. From the island, pieces of minerals and gems formed in front of them. Sapphire, crystal, and amethyst creatures stood. They ranged from two legs to ten, with arms that varied as well. They contained no faces, but their heads radiated light from within them, shining light of their gem colors around them. Myla counted roughly thirty creatures in total.

Your test, apprentice Leaf, Tagitar’s voice rumbled through her mind. Is to cast a spell that has never been cast before. Stand on the platform, and use the energy from those around you. The rest of your party will protect you. They will fight against these creatures and keep you safe, showing that under extreme pressure, you will have to choose between casting a spell to save everyone, or save your friends.

It is important to state that none of our creatures will kill you. Once you are unconscious, they will move on to another. This test proves that you’re not just smart. It demonstrates that you can do more than recall information. It shows that you are truly an Archmage.

Leaf turned to the rest of the group. He glanced at each of them, as they all nodded one by one. When he stopped at Myla, she grabbed her daggers, unsheathed them from her bandolier, and smiled to reassure him. Leaf walked up the platform, turned again to his friends, and Myla watched as Mr. Muffins gripped Jimbo, Lyla stretched and cracked her knuckles, and Rhokhishi pulled her warhammer out in front of her. Leaf closed his eyes, took a few deep breaths, then opened his eyes. Myla could feel his confidence radiate off his body, knowing that, win or lose, the test would be over.

“Ready.”