A Smaller Game

Lys chuckled. He shrugged. "Well, someone might have messed up along the way to one. No more questions. Come on. Show me what you've got down there... bold pal."

He didn't hold back before beating his horse to ascend towards the distant gaping entrance. Its hooves made soft brushes on the grasses accompanying the path. And, surprising Lys, as he glanced back, the amateur had already begun to follow him.

He smiled. 'I expected some reluctance. Suppose he finds interest in what I have got for him...'

They closed in on the entrance. Each approaching step seemed to draw Zmey for some reason. But he had experienced this quite a few times during the past assessment. The experience everyone gained was worthwhile, he presumed.

A few moments later, they reached. Lys dismounted his companion. He wove a rope, hooked to its nostrils, around a sturdy tree. It had grown from within the cave's walls.

Afterwards, he passed through the entrance and Zmey followed. The flanking walls inside were like a set of stagnant companions on their journey.

A kind of black plant, which Zmey had never seen before, stretched on the walls around the entrance. The walls were clayey rock with a jagged, rough structure. Scattered rocks covered the ground. An orange light illuminated the interior with most intensity.

The cracks in the roof were allowing sand to seep through at some points. It threatened to split open and crush them to the ground.

Zmey realised he was the only one looking around. One could expect this of someone visiting a place for the first time. But Lys was only moving through more rough-shaped circular entrances.

He must have visited a lot of times before now, Zmey assumed.

He only kept on following him. But his hand didn't leave the hilt of his sword. Anything can happen at any time. Anyone could betray... without prior notice.

... In a few moments, Lys stopped, entering another entrance. Zmey's movement slowed, and he lingered at the front as he crept forward. He closed in. He saw a crimson light spread a long reflection on the ground...

Zmey passed through the entrance. The next moment, he glanced to the right.

The air smelled somewhat both gross and fragnant...

... Of any cave parts or entrances in this cave, there couldn't be any on the right side Zmey looked at. A rectangular red watery entity stretched from the ground to the roof.

And from left to right. One could see aquatic animals on the surface. But, they were only a result of the movement of the surface itself. It was watery.

Lys glanced at Zmey. "Will you believe me if I said there's a larger training field through this barrier?"

Zmey sighed, shutting his eyes in disbelief. He didn't want to clench his jaw.

"What's there not to believe? Of course, something like that must be inside," Zmey scoffed. "But why deep in a cave, though? Seems you folks have seen too much to make anything easy..."

Lys only chuckled. "Time is running out. We must get done so you could get back to prepare for your summoning..."

He paced towards the barrier.

"... Summoning?" Zmey asked, his brows creased. He walked behind Lys.

"Yeah. They will soon summon you, with the two others, to meet the Magi Lords..."

Zmey mouthed a particular word.

'The Magi Lords? That is something, I suppose.'

On one part, he felt overwhelmed and a little excited. He knew these people were infleuntial and respected, being the only descendants from... the Great Sage Hall.

Too bad he had no idea what that realm was about. But they had formed a genuine alliance with humans to protect the world.

They both stepped into the barrier at the same time. Cold sensations sent shivers down their spines.

Realisation hit Zmey immediately.

He could be standing at the edge of somewhere dangerous. But his attention was only on the creatures gliding in the sky above. His mouth grew wide.

Their monstrous snarls filled the air. It echoed. The sky might be blue, but their many clustered numbers made it hard to even see it in its usual form.

Though not the same, they were like octopuses. They could glide with the precision characteristic of predatory hawks. Dark fumes burned throughout their bodies, as if they composed them.

He mumbled, "What are these creatures? They're from dark magic, aren't they? Nothing from the latter could be as horrible as this..."

He shook his head.

Lys chuckled, as usual. Finding Zmey impressive since then.

"I see you weren't some naive country boy before getting awakened," he noted. "Yes, they once attacked Eldengrove at large. Beasts summoned from the Noctisveil beast realm through necromancy. That is... definitely the work of malicious druids."

He offered a faint smile.

"Because Necrots don't have an interest in smaller games, in spite of their individual ranks."

Screech!

The air shifted all of a sudden.

Zmey's eyes shot upwards, locking with another large serpentine one. One of the necromantic beasts descended from the sky towards him!

He clenched his jaw. "Closing in!"

Lys glanced there as well.

Zmey sheathed his sword without delay. He stomped backwards to be in a safe position. The creature snarled, mucur dripping down the tips of its jagged maw.

Time seemed to slow.

Zmey clasped his sword right up, leaning it closer to his shoulder bone. He breathed at a steady pace, waiting for the attack to come.

But Lys... he wasn't moving at all.

Then, he brought his fingers closer to his lips, and he whispered, "Arcane Mage Body...!"

Swoosh!

A burst of energy spread forward before him. It rushed across the wide, cracked-surfaced field like a running boomerang. It all happened almost in a flash.

The outburst shredded the creatures into dark motes. And the backwards force skidded Zmey backwards. He clenched his teeth. He had dug his sword into the ground for stability when it came. But it was almost pointless.

And at one moment, he got stable. A cloud of dust rose before him.

He glanced forward. And... Recruit Lys was about nine metres away...

As he tried moving upwards, his legs seemed to be giving in. They shook, and he ended up back on his knees.

He faced the ground, his two palms pressed down on it. "What an oppressive energy! My body is refusing to yield to me because of it.

He possesses the Arcane Mage Body, which I am one breakthrough away from. So, this is what it means to be around higher ranked people..."

Now that he knew the cause, he assumed he could conquer it. While rising, he kept telling himself, 'You own your body, Zmey Ashbane! The energy is too strong... but I have got to go against it by all means...'

And telling himself the greatest part...

'... I must oppose it. If I succeed, I could one day escape the ritual! And die the normal way!'

... Every bone in his body rose with caps up, adjusting to his will. One step at a time, he moved one knee up. It seemed all right, and he finally rose back to his feet. He picked his sword back up on his way to catch up with Lys.

In no time, he reached his side. He glanced at him with a suspicious hint. He creased his brows on seeing an azure glow in Lys's eyes when he looked at him as well.

He appeared more extraordinary and attention-drawing than his normal form with those eyes.

A random thought told Zmey something. He was in this world already, either to die or find his path. And he was in this magical game already.

Yes, he should give it his all.

This was the closest way for him to meet his goals. If the scrolls in the library aren't enough, then train with special disciples. That was the deal.

And if not... Lys made mention of druids. The ritual was dark magic and druids are adept at such too. Thus, they must know how to revert it.

Though he felt confused about how the Minister of Defence could perform dark magic in that past era. No one had magic then.

Whatsoever, being serious about tasks and ready to take risks should be his goal.

"I would like you to proceed with testing my strength, please," Zmey told Lys. Lys gave his usual reaction again. After which he widened his palm afront as a ball of lightning formed there.

So, he was an elemental magic exorcist? Able to control the lightning element.

The ball of lightning travelled from his hand, then down the field. It seemed as though there would be no end to this until it hit the surface.

It resounded with a loud, exploding sound. A cloud of dust rose at that spot, amidst which one could see twisting movements of lightning.

Roar!

The guttural roar was so deep that it almost didn't echo, despite the width of the field.

As the dust settled, two tall wolves came into existence. They had silvery fur, their consistent roars a hint of their violent nature. One could see lightning twisting on their bodies, making sparking sounds.

Lys said to Zmey, "Greater Guardians earth-made beasts they are. Stronger than the Elemental Beasts you amateurs can defeat. They are definitely not your equals.

I am not setting them against you to defeat. I want you to fall but stand strong against the struggle of being vulnerable. Do you think you can do it?"

Zmey inched forward. He clenched his fist, proclaiming with confidence, "I will do it. Pain is something I can care less about at this point..."

Lys nodded, "Go on then."

Zmey approached the wolves with caution. They spaced out from each other, going in separate directions as if to finally keep him in their midst. Their predatory eyes never left him, each flexing its fangs as though anticipating a meal.

His thoughts were a tumult of chaos.

'My purpose in this world isn't to make friends or ally with anyone. But to learn to break free from the ritual. The magic and strength I will meet along the way are rewards for trying to change my life.'

He clenched the handle of his sword.

'I ain't a pawn!'