Page 64 of A Conduit of Light
Shehad little to fear inFelgren, though she understood there were creatures within its boundaries that she never wanted to meet.Theytended to avoid humans, however, or soBaronHeimlenhad reassured them on their first few outings into the forest.Hehad said that the smell of theFortresson their skin and clothes deterred the more dangerous creatures of the forest from interacting with humans.
ButtheBlightmust be killing something.Therewas no doubt of it in her mind as they finally neared the blackened edge, sweat running down their faces in the relentless summer sun, their hands still clasped despite the slickness of their touch.
Thesound had stopped and they stood at the perimeter of the black abyss, the stench of its decay even more pungent now that heat had taken its toll on the rotting corpses it desecrated.
“Doyou think…do you think it’s dead?”Karuswondered aloud in short breaths looking a few inches up intoRevich’seyes as he squinted and scanned the dark.
Heshook his head and mumbled, “Wemight be too late.”
Shestood at the edge, a cool mist emanating from the dark.Itseemed to beckon her forward, an invitation she knew she wanted to accept.
“Whatare you doing?”Revichpulled on her hand, tugging her back from where she had stepped forward into the abscess ofFelgren.
“I’mgoing in there.”
“It’sdead,Karus.Whateverit was, theBlighthas consumed it.”
“Wedon’t know that.Weheard its cry just moments ago.It’spossible the creature is still alive, but its strength to scream might have left it.Wedon’t have time to argue.”
Shepulled her hand from his and ambled forward, her pace more cautious and careful as she pulled her skirts to above her knees.Herboots crunched over dead trees and dead creatures, their lives long since consumed.
Shescanned the space, coughing in the reeking stench, looking for any signs of movement, her ears asking for any sign of life.Thedisturbance ofRevich’sfootsteps following her lessened her doubts on her decision and she trekked forward.
Thepower of theBlightwas almost overwhelming.Shecould feel the distant hum of its pulse with each step she took.Eachfall of her boot onto its hallowed ground seemed to accentuate the wicked music of that which only consumed.
That’swhat theBlightwas, after all.Itonly knew destruction and hunger, never giving way to life, but death?Deathwas its desire.
Shetried to ignore it.
Thebeating.
Butthe pulse clouded her mind, and chills ran down her back as she closed her eyes, trying to control her heart, promising herself that she would leave this place.Onceshe had found the creature or was ready to give up, she would leave the mist.
Butpanic was overtaking her quickly as the dark surrounded her in a cruel embrace.Shefelt the mist brush her cheeks, tug at her hair, and pull her inward still.
Thump, thump.
Thump, thump.
Thebeating of a venomous heart quickened as she marched forward, and she realized then how careless she had been as she lost control, her feet pulling her forward, despite her need to stop.Shebegan to run, wild, as cold sweat dripped down her back.Sparksof green light—her magic uncontrolled—swam with the cool mist in a tangle of familiarity.Shewhipped her head around, lost, confused…and alone.
“Karus!”Revich’svoice was distant and distorted, yet harsh in nature.Sheknew she was in for a scolding, and it would be well deserved.
“I…Ican’t…stop,” she stammered to herself as her feet moved her forward still, pulling her away from what could save her.
Acry of pain, this time muted, as ifKaruswas hearing it behind a closed door, rang out to the right of her.Hearingthe sound again brought her out of the haze and she shook her head to escape the mist drawing patterns in her mind.
Infront of her was a massive fallen tree, and with new determination, she began to climb to the other side, certain the cry came from there.Herfingers found hold in the decaying pockets of the wood, smearing her dress and hands in dark, inky rot.
Thelong-dead tree lay at an angle, the underside of it a thicket of black vines and impassable.Asshe lifted herself over, her pocket caught onto a jutting bough and she heard the tear of fabric as she slid down, landing on her feet, her skirts torn and ruined.
There, just on the other side, lay the body of a large beast.Itsfur blackened and its limbs were riddled with the vines of theBlight, stabbing into its skin, returning unbroken through parts of its mangled body.Itmet her horrified gaze with eyes entirely black, snarling, pinned, its fangs dripping with blood and saliva—all sanity gone.
TheBlightwas consuming it as it wildly attempted to consume something else.Thebeast lay stretched at unnatural angles and she could see that its massive paws pinned something to the putrid earth.
Nothesitating another moment, she shouted, “Fulgyren!”
Ashock of green lightning vaulted from the tips of her fingers, striking the beast with enough force to cause it to recoil, its cry low and feral as its tongue lulled out of its mouth and all movement stopped.
