Chapter 20: Chapter: 20 New Spell Card

After the lobotomy Ahri had performed on Talbot, she’d left to make sure that all the kids were safely returned to their home. 

I’d gone back to the Mesmer’s camp and passed out. The following day Ahri sent me a message asking to meet at the Lazy Shag Inn and that was why I was sitting there sipping on Ahri’s foul headache cure. It didn't help but it made me feel a bit woozy which took my mind off the head pain.

She told me that Talbot and the rescued kids were given over to the mayor of the town. He assured us that they would be returned to their parents and Talbot would be dealt with. Ahri had stayed at the mayor’s office and made sure that the children were returned to their homes and they were returned, all except one.

Giselle had no home. She was born under the mountain and had no family that she knew of. She was currently playing on the grass in front of the Inn.  

“What are you going to do with her?” I asked Ahri.

“I don't know,” she said, taking a sip of her mug of ale. “I was hoping you’d have some ideas.”

“I might. Bring her to the Mesmer’s camp tonight and we can see about finding her a family.”

“You expect me to leave her with clowns?”

“Do you have a better idea?”

“No, but clowns- are you kidding me?”

“She will be in danger if she goes with you,” I said.

Ahri held my hand over the table and looked me in the eye.

“You mean with us?”

I pulled my hand back and pushed the foul drink away.

“Don't get the wrong idea Ahri. I just wanted to clear the air between us but I'm not back. I'm happy where I am.” 

Ahri frowned.

“Those headaches are going to get worse until they kill you. We need to get you to Ramogos and get you healed. 

“I'll find my own way. We are very different people. You are…”

I couldn't say that she was a cold blooded killer and that she scared the shit out of me.

“You are different,” I said instead. 

A series of emotions flickered over Ahri's face and then settled on sadness.

“I didn't like being alone,” she said and her lip trembled as she spoke. 

I had to keep reminding myself that she was dangerous and that she was probably manipulating me. But every time I was near her my heart raced. 

“Did you kill Marrick?” I asked. I needed to know. The men she’d killed in the mountain I could forgive her for but Marrick was a thief and a thug but he did not deserve death.

Ahri looked me in the eye.

“No. He might have shat himself though. I didn’t stay around long enough to check.” 

“That was pretty messed up,” I said. 

“I wanted to save you. I went a bit crazy,” she brushed a lock of hair out of her face and looked out the window at Giselle playing outside. “Everyone I’ve loved has been taken from me. I didn’t want to lose you too.”

She wiped a tear from her face and smiled.

“Introduce me to Mesmers. I want to meet the people that have taken you from me.”

---

“You sure they won't mind us coming over for dinner?” Ahri asked for the third time as I led her and Giselle into the Mesmer’s campgrounds.

“Don't worry they don't bite, except maybe Griever but he’s old so it's more like gumming.”

Giselle laughed and Ahri gave me a deadpan look.

Ahri put her hands on her hips. 

“If it's ok for us to be here then why do you look so nervous?” 

I shrugged.

“Wait, are you and that big breasted woman… you know?”

I rounded on her. 

“No I don't know. Why don't you explain to Giselle and I exactly what you think me and Ysolda- she doesn't like being called the big breasted woman, are up to?”

Ahri shook her head. 

“You don't have to be such a B... I… T… C… H, about it.”

“I can spell you know,” said Giselle.” 

I laughed and Ahri just shook her head.

---

The Mesmers had a bonfire going and were sitting down to dinner when we arrived. I introduced them all and the Mesmers welcomed them into the group. Soon we were all eating together and talking. 

Ysolda and Zoey sat with Ahri and Giselle and the four of them laughed and spoke about girly shit that I didn't care much about. I soon drifted away from them and sat down next to Baskin. The old man had his grimoire of spell cards on his lap and was flipping through them.

“You know,” I said. “I’ve only seen you use one spell card since I met you.”

Baskin pointed at a card and said, “Corrupted Fire.” 

I nodded. It was a powerful card and in the hands of a high leveled cardmage it could destroy a village.

Baskin nodded. 

“Got this from a man. He accidently burnt down his house with it. Lost everything that day. When I found him he was so afraid of the card that he traded it for a bottle of wine.”

“That's rough, I'm sorry.”

Baskin nodded.

“So was he.”

He flipped a few pages then stopped and pointed at a card.

“Refreshing Rain. This card could turn a desert into a paradise.”

I tilted my head and narrowed my eyes as I studied the older man. 

“Cards can be used for good or evil. Is that what you are saying?”

He smiled and closed the grimoire. 

“To answer your original question, the reason I don't use spell cards is because I don't trust myself with this kind of power. Power corrupts even the noblest of hearts and my heart wasn't too noble to start with.” 

Ahri wandered over and sat down next to me. Her cheeks were flushed from drinking too much wine and she was shivering.

“I'm cold,” she said as she leant against me.

I put my arm around her and she snuggled close.

Baskin tossed a log on the fire.

“You know, Talasin, I never got around to paying you back for saving my life.” 

“You don't charge people for saving their lives,” I said.

“Choose a spell card,” said Baskin. “I might be too cowardly to use them but a young fearless lad like you could put them to good use.” 

Ahri rested her head on my shoulder and peered down at the grimoire.

“I think I’ll take you up on that offer,” I said. “After tonight I will be needing whatever help I can get.”

Baskin frowned at me and Ahri turned her head and gazed up into my eyes.

“What’s happening tomorrow, lad?”

“This might be my last night with you, good folk for quite some time. Ahri and I are leaving on a journey.”

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Ahri smiled and held my hand.

“I knew you’d change your mind.”

“Just to Ramogos,” I said. “That's all I'm committing to. After that… well who knows what will come next.”

Ahri nodded then looked back down at the grimoire.

“What about Heal Other?” she asked.

I frowned and ignored her. I really didn't need a spell card that's only function was healing someone that was not me.

I flipped a page on the book and read the descriptions of a few other spell cards. I thought about the powerful combos I’d be able to pull off if he had them all. But honestly I didn't care about powerful combos. I knew what I wanted. The dream of every human… flight. Of course there was no Fly spell card but there were two similar cards in Baskin’s grimoire. I read them out loud.

* Feather Fall - Caster gently descends from the air like a feather.

-Turning fatal mistakes into fun times.

* Leap of Faith - Launch yourself in the direction you are facing.

-When in doubt get the fuck out. 

“This one,” I said. 

The card basically sells itself. How can I not pick it?

Ahri groaned. 

“Leap of Faith, you must be joking.” 

“You don't understand, Ahri. Imagine soaring through the sky like an eagle.” 

She shook her head. 

“It's overrated. After the second time you very quickly get sick of picking bugs out of your teeth.”

Baskin laughed and handed me the spell card. 

“Good choice lad. Magic should be full of wonder and daring.” 

He stood up and patted me on the back.

“Where's my lute,” he said. “If you are going on an adventure then we need to send you off with some music, wine and dancing.” 

---

Baskin rummaged in his caravan and returned holding his prized lute. He strummed a chord, tuned the lute and then broke into song.

Ysolda laughed when the music started and she walked over to me and pulled me to my feet.

“You said you were tired,” she said to Ahri. “So let me take him off your hands.”

Ahri’s lips pressed together and she said. “Actually I’m feeling much better now.” She tugged on my sleeve. “Talasin was just about to ask me to dance.” She looked at me. “Weren't you?”

Ysolda ran her finger down my chest getting lower and lower. I caught her hand before she could go much lower.

Ahri fumed. She didn't bother waiting for me to ask her to dance. She grabbed my hands and dragged me into a small clearing where Zoey, Jinn and Giselle were already dancing.

Baskin winked at me and began to play a slow song. 

I tried to leave but Ahri gripped my arm and hung onto it like a chiwawa with a bone.

“Don't leave me,” she said. 

“Do you even know how to dance?” I asked.

Ahri shook her head. 

“Teach me.”

I placed my hands on the small of her back

“It's as easy as falling off a bicycle, that should come naturally to you.”

My hand slid slightly lower down her back. If Marrick could cop a feel then surely. Ahri dug her nails in my arm and I bit my lip to keep from crying out.

“You touch my ass again,” she said. “And I’ll rip your arm off and beat you to death with it.”

I slid my hand up her back again and pulled her in closer. 

“I’d forgotten what a delicate flower you were,” I said.

She bared her teeth.

“Ok, so how does this dance thing work?” 

“You’ve got the first steps down right,” I said with a smile. “One - Threaten your dance partner, two- draw blood and three - stand there glaring at him with a psychotic look on your face.”

Ahri leaned in closer and her face turned a deeper shade of scarlet and she said, “What made you change your mind?”

“About dancing?”

“About coming with me to Ramogos?”

“I guess I found something worth living for. If this friend of yours can heal me then where’s the harm in trying?”

“Is it the big breasted girl?” she asked.

“Ysolda?” I shook my head. “There might be something there but for now we are just friends. I think I’d have to share her with half the guys and all of the girls in Umbra.”

Ahris smiled and rested her head on my chest as we slowly danced in the moonlight. The wind was cold but Ahri was warm in my arms. It felt good. 

Could we start all over again? Or is it too late for that now?

“Ahri, what if you can't get back to your realm? What if you are stuck being human? You could settle down, maybe start a new life.”

She shook her head and said, “Sometimes I wish life was that simple. I could live in a house with a view of the ocean. I’d have a few kids of my own and maybe some animals. I’d be happy and carefree and my only concern would be what I felt like eating for dinner.”

“Sounds like you’ve given this some thought,” I said.

“Unfortunately life is not that simple, Talasin. I will see my quest done to the end or die trying.” 

She pushed her hair over her ear and looked up at me. Then she lent in close and pursed her full red inviting lips. She closed her eyes and her thick lashes draped over them seductively. My lips brushed against hers for a split second before a sharp pain surged through my head with such severity that my body went rigid and my vision blurred. 

Ahri's eyes widened in panic. 

“What’s happening?”

I felt myself falling but Ahri caught me and led me back to the bonfire. 

“Rest,” she said. “I’ll get help.”

Black spots swam across my vision as I stared into the fire. The pain was so overbearing that I wished for death just so that the pain would end.

* Mind Worm evolved into Mind Extraction

What the hell is that?

The fire faded and the world went black. I heard voices far off calling my name. 

All of a sudden I was standing on a hill with Ahri by my side but she looked different. Her hair was shorter, her skin paler and tears were flowing down her cheeks. 

I tried to talk to her but she didn't respond. I touched her arm and my hand passed right through her. She was staring down the hill. I followed her gaze and saw a city down below engulfed in green flames.

“We were too late,” Ahri said. “It has come.”

A loud yawning sound filled the air and the sky sagged low like a pregnant woman’s belly. The sky ripped open and a pair of bone white hands with skulls on each knuckle emerged through the rift. 

The hands pulled the rift apart and chaotic energy poured out of it like puss out of a septic wound. An eye appeared through the rift. Searching the whole of Umbra for something or someone. It stopped moving and looked at me and waves of green flames rippled along the ground towards me destroying everything it touched. 

Ahri took my hand and we braced ourselves for the waves’ impact.

---

Acquired Spell Card: Leap of Faith

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