Seekers of the Stone Maker
Life and Death

“I’ll take you where you want to go, but I need my book first.”

The man took a step forward, and Myla could see the hesitation on Lyla’s face. This book was so much to them. It was the last remnant of her time at the monastery. It was the reason she left Lunaris. It was why they had been on the run for the past few years. He asked politely, but it was clearly a non-negotiable situation. They would have to do whatever he asked if they wanted to leave.

Looking at him, his face wasn’t that of some evil force. He looked tired. His white hair was unkempt, and his robes looked slightly disheveled. It reminded her of her studies at VerdantKnoll, where she would wake over her desk after a long night without enough time to change or freshen up. His eyes contained silver irises, and he had a slight smile under his baggy eyes.

She didn’t tempt herself with trying to reach into his mind and read his intentions. He was powerful, and Myla was sure he kept wards up constantly, as many of the higher mages did. Instead, she spoke to him, distracting him from taking another step towards Lyla.

“We need to go back. Our friend is still back there.”

“I know. I saw her lying as I took you all here.”

“Why didn’t you grab her, too?” Rhokhishi jumped in.

“I can only take living creatures with me. Your friend… Her soul has passed.”

“Then, we need to get back,” Myla responded.

“I’ve used up most of my magic today. If you want to go back, I need my book.”

He turned back to Lyla, his hand out in front of him with his palm up.

Should I? She asked.

I don’t think we have another choice.

She watched as Lyla took a deep breath and placed the book in his hands. Carefully, he put his other hand on the top of it, pulling the dragon scale off. Placing the book in his robes, he grabbed the scale with both hands and snapped it in half. Lyla gasped, and Myla watched as arcane energy puffed out like smoke. He inhaled, the smoke coming into his lungs, and his eyes flashed a series of colors before turning back to silver.

It was instantaneous. His hair was better kept. His clothes looked clean and lacked the wrinkles that existed a second before. The bags under his eyes disappeared. If it weren’t for seeing him only moments ago, she wouldn’t have even imagined the first impression he had given.

“Then it’s settled? We’re going back?”

“Yes, Alyk,” Trista answered.

“My goodness!” He stepped back. “Trista! I didn’t even notice you there. How are you?”

“I’ve been better.”

She gestured towards the wet clothes, and ice still clung to her, then to the rest.

“Ah, yes. Here.”

Alyk flicked his hand forward. The ice melted instantly, and her clothes became dry.

“Thank you, Alyk.”

“Of course.”

Myla could see him blushing, even in the dim light around them. Time was running thin, though.

“So, what’s the plan?”

“My magic is low. I will have to push to bring Ana back,” Rhokhishi answered.

“We only have two things to focus on,” Leaf said. “We need to keep Zidingris distracted while Rhokhishi revives Ana. Are we just going in until Zidingris is down, or are we just grabbing Ana and going?”

“While above, I could tell that she was getting tired. Let’s take this dragon down,” Lyla stated.

“That’s what we do. We go in, drop a dragon, save Ana, and get away,” Muffins reiterated.

“Alyk and I can also support you, can’t we?” Trista said as she looked over to him.

“Yes. I’m not in top shape for a fight, but I think we can do this. Get ready.”

Alyk produced a blue flame in the palm of his hand. He turned it toward the ground, which caused it to drop and erupt around them. Myla tried to breathe to prepare herself, but it got caught midway. Before she could fight it, her feet landed on the ice, and she could feel the cold air against her skin.

You returned…

Across the large room, Myla could see Zidingris. She was crouched down, staring across the expanse of ice and stone at them. Her voice echoed in their minds.

You have brought more to me. More to slaughter, to rip, to freeze…

“Not this time, Zidingris. You will fall!” Trista shouted.

And you… Zidingris turned to Myla. Its eyes focused on her. I warned you of what was to come if you came here…

Rhokhishi stepped behind Myla, trying to inch closer to Ana. Mr. Muffins put his hand up and grabbed her elbow.

“Cecille is here,” He whispered.

Following his raised hand, Myla looked beyond Zidingris. On her side, the shadows moved like writhing snakes. Inside them, she could see Cecille’s hands reaching out, the wounds of Zidingris closing.

She’s stalling. Lyla stated. Go!

Myla ran forward, pulling her daggers from their sheaths. She pulled a cork from a bottle in her belt and placed each dagger inside. Putting them in front of her, they dripped with the poison she had created just the day before. Beside her, Trista grabbed Lyla’s hand, and they melted into the ice. She watched as reflections of them raced across the floor and appeared next to Zidingris’ tail. Trista lifted her hands, causing green energy to ripple across and hit the dragon. Lyla ran up its tail, which twitched and forced her to fly forward onto its back. Fire and lightning soared past her as Mr. Muffins and Leaf stood back, casting spells at a safe distance.

Myla flung her first dagger as she was close enough. They slashed across the dragon’s face. She wasn’t sure if the poison would be enough to hurt it, but they had no other options now. It was either they died, or the dragon fell.

The shadows moved away from Zidingris as Rhokhishi kneeled in front of Ana. Reappearing, Cecille shrieked and cackled as she readied a spell behind Rhokhishi. Alyk raised his hands, causing a shield to appear, deflecting Cecille’s curses and sending them away. She dropped back into the shadows, her laugh echoing across the walls as Zidingris snarled and roared. Alyk kneeled next to her, saying something to Rhokhishi. Her hands were over Ana’s body, and Myla could see the divine light coming off them. There was something wrong, though. The light, rather than shining consistently, flickered at times. Rhokhishi was straining, pushing all of her might into bringing Ana back.

Zidingris rushed forward. Though healed, Myla could tell that it wasn’t at full strength. They would have to work quickly. Spells ran through the air, hitting Zidingris from different directions, causing her to stop and swing wildly. Myla stepped next to Rhokhishi, throwing her daggers forward and adding to the distraction. Behind her, she heard Ana inhale and cough.

Is she?

“Yes!”

Rhokhishi jumped up, her hand grabbing the sword from her belt and unsheathing it.

I need a clear shot. If only we could get under its scales!

Rhokhishi winked.

Then that’s what we’ll do.

She ran forward with the sword in both hands and screamed at Zidingris. Myla followed behind, returning her daggers and preparing her next attack.

“Lyla! Now!”

Above, Lyla jumped forward. Her hands grasped the side of the dragon’s neck, her legs dangling below. Rhokhishi jumped forward and grabbed her feet as Lyla swung inward. With a loud scream, Rhokhishi thrust the blade at the base of its neck, piercing and slashing a gash at least a foot wide.

Zidingris grabbed Lyla and threw her across the room, then kicked out at Rhokhishi as she raised her neck and held onto the bleeding wound. Myla waited and could see the wound opening. Inside, Myla could see its cold heart beat furiously. Zidingris turned towards Myla, towering over her. In the wound, next to the heart, ice formed and caused its gizzard and fundamentum to glow white.

I promised you death if you walked through my lair. I will freeze you so that you will live for an eternity in my frost. Then, when I am bored of your anguish, I will kill you.

“Myla! Throw your daggers!” Mr. Muffins shouted.

Myla stared back into Zidingris’ eyes.

“May your death be as momentous as your life.”

She aimed, then released them one by one. Mr. Muffins aimed his weapon and fired a spell. The first dagger hit its mark, going into the dragon’s wound and sticking. Mr. Muffins’ arcane fire struck against the blade, causing it to turn red and sizzle against the dragon’s skin. The second dagger struck against the hilt of the first, driving it further in.

Zidingris shrieked in pain. She crashed into the ground, thrashing around, trying to reach for the wound to pull the daggers out, but was unable. Myla watched as its eyes slowly lost focus and became cloudy. Its last breath pulsed out, sending a wave of arcane energy into the world. Myla sheathed her daggers, her body and mind exhausted. Near the ice wall that stopped their exit, Cecille stood. Her face was mixed between anger, shock, and fear.