The Search for Izel [pt. I]

Izel tasted blood. She wiped it from her lips and stood up shakily. There was a piercing pain in her chest that seared every time she breathed. She ran a hand down her chest, stopping at her ribs.

Ugh… broken.

The voluptuous dark-skinned woman lowered her hand to her left leg, pausing at her ankle.

Also broken. I'm not going anywhere fast.

"Shadowhold." She croaked.

A small, whirling black tear in the fabric of reality manifested itself in front of her. The ambient light in the room dimmed, and the insects scurrying in the far corners of the room felt a chill nip at their senses and fled into the walls for safety. The tear was slightly less than a foot in diameter, more than wide enough for her to slip her arm through. She reached inside and closed her eyes, picturing the plethora of healing potions she'd stored in her very own slice of Nethruan. Even retrieving a single small item from it was immensely draining on her mana, but she couldn't deny its usefulness or the convenience of being able to wear as little as she desired while having access to whatever she could feasibly need.

She felt something smooth place itself in her fingers. When she pulled her arm back, the portal shut soundlessly. She shuddered slightly, feeling as if the room was spinning around her. She clenched her fists and righted herself.

Shit. Too much mana leaving my body at once. Why did I ever think it was a good idea to rely on my Shadowhold in this place?

Izel held a corked glass bottle in her hand. The liquid within was a hue of blue so dark it was almost black. Uncorking it, she took a long swig of the healing potion, grimacing slightly. It tasted like rotten eggs.

Still better than Aemari food!

The pain in her chest immediately subsided.

She rose shakily. A feeling of dread coursed through her when she found that even with the healing potion doing its work, she could barely stand.

She looked around the room. It was furnished much the same as the room Julian had rented, with a large bed and wooden furniture dominating the room. A door to her left almost certainly led to the hallway and then the stairway. And Julian.

Nethrus, I hope he's still alive.

It'd been a few minutes since the Amyss had hurled Julian out the window. She'd been surprised by the dread that had overcome her at the thought of him being hurt or possibly dying. It had been enough that she'd even screamed his name in anguish. She hadn't done that for anyone since she'd been **** to flee Tenlan and abandon her sister. She'd tried to go through the window after him, but the abominable Amyss had seized her and tried to crush her. She manifested a shadow dagger and stabbed him for that, being sure to twist it within him as she did so. He'd howled in pain and threw her. She'd burst through several walls before coming to a stop in an empty bedroom.

The Amyss hadn't immediately followed, so she'd taken a moment to take stock of herself. Her thoughts had drifted, unbidden, to the boy – no, the man – she'd made love with barely an hour ago. He put all of her previous lovers to shame. He was dominant and haughty like any powerful man should be, yet surprisingly tender, even loving at times, and always considerate of her pleasure. It was something she'd never really experienced before. A contradiction she knew she'd be spending a long time trying to reconcile.

When she'd first met Julian, she'd thought he'd been just another Aemari man who was infatuated with her, but when she'd found out that he was the classless son of a powerful noble family, she couldn't help but be interested in him.

She'd resisted his attempts to flirt with her. While not bad looking, he was still a few years younger than she was and very obviously out of his depth. She preferred older men who were well-versed in the ways of the world and powerful.

Then Julian had shown her the strength of his class.

Mother and Father would shit the bed if they found out the legends were wrong. A Psion lives. The old classline of Omreus has managed to reform in the modern era. He will change everything, and I will be right there at his side when it happens.

Her lips twitched into a bloody smile.

A Psion. Who'd have thought you had it in you, Julian?

A series of heavy thuds drew her eyes to the hole she'd made in the wall. The Amyss had followed her, a look of pure hatred brimming in its lifeless black eyes. It clutched its old greatsword in its right hand. The metal whined in protest at the strength of its grip, but Izel knew that was not the main threat posed by the Amyss.

She allowed herself a moment of satisfaction when she saw the stab mark she'd made in its chest. It had taken the time to wrap a cloth around it to stymie the bleeding, but had done so haphazardly. Black blood gushed freely down the Amyss' bloated chest.

Izel summoned a shadow sword and reinforced it with an extra bit of her mana.

I'm almost at half my reserves now. I have to end this quickly, and tend to Julian. I can't allow any harm to come to him.

"I like the new hole in your chest. It's definitely an improvement over your disgusting mug, don't you think?" she goaded the creature.

The Amyss didn't even look down.

"It'll heal after I've consumed you!" it said, its baritone voice so deep as to be utterly inhuman.

Izel suppressed a shudder. She'd fought worse monsters than this before, and in far less ideal conditions.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" she asked.

The Amyss smiled.

A chill ran down Izel's spine.

What is it planning?

It raised its hand and a ball of rippling energy pooled into its palm.

"I may have lost my sons, but I'll see to it that their deaths weren't in vain."

It pushed its hand forward, releasing the ball as a thundering wave of **** that seemed to tear at the air all around her.

There was nowhere to escape, even if she could manage to move her legs at something greater than walking speed. The wave of **** enveloped her moments later.

Darkness.

Velri's booted foot split the wooden door in half, sending the remains scattering into the deserted dining area beyond. The area was lit only by sunlight which spilled in through the windows.

Julian followed after his older sister as she entered and panned her eyes around the room. His sisters and Clevis had been giving him looks ever since he'd told them he was classed, but he didn't care, nor was he overly concerned that the elf had apparently decided to join them.

He tore his gaze away from the stupid elf.

His fist tightened around Vern's bone-sword as he glanced around the room. His heart thudded heavily in his chest. It felt like an Amyss could jump out at them at any moment.

It's quiet. If Izel were still fighting, I'd hear her. If she won, she'd have come and found me. Oh gods, please let her still be alive. Please save her.

His chest knotted painfully.

Velri glanced back at him, a silent question written on her face. Her armored form seemed to dominate the room. She kept her sword pointed away from them, the obvious heft of the metal not even seeming to be struggle for her to wield one-handed.

"Upstairs," he said, trying to keep the anguish out of his voice.

Stay focused. Velri may have succumbed to my Suggestion, but I dare not give her any excuse to be rid of me. I can see it in her eyes. So many questions. She wants to know what I am. What I can do. It'll have to wait.

She nodded.

"Stay behind me," she reiterated and started towards the stairwell at the other end of the dining area. They crept past the empty chairs and tables, wooden floorboards squeaking beneath their feet.

When they reached the stairs, Rila stopped suddenly. Her hands pulsed white with light magic.

"Rila, what's wrong?" Brynn whispered, furrowing her eyebrows. The dark-haired Elementalist had entered the inn clutching her staff in her right hand. The sapphire gem at its tip blazed with dark blue magical energy, ready to hurl a lighting bolt at a moment's notice.

"I think when we came in here, we all passed through a ward," Rila shivered.

They all looked at her. Brynn's face paled. Clevis tightened his grip on his bow, his righthand fingers twitching as if grabbing an unseen arrow.

"Are you certain?" Velri asked, narrowing her eyes.

Rila nodded and relaxed slightly.

"Yes. The magic feels pretty weak, thankfully, and we haven't experienced any ill effects yet."

A ward? Who could have cast it? Surely not a **** Mage.

Julian remembered the wandwielding magic user he'd killed back in the room he'd rented. It was possible he was the one who cast the ward, but what had been its function?

It doesn't matter.

Brynn spoke up.

"I think Rila's right. If the ward were harmful, we'd have been alerted to it right away. It must be doing something else," she whispered, her gray eyes contemplative. "Perhaps a sound suppression ward?"

Velri nodded.

"Makes sense. Block all noise in the inn from reaching the streets and you can do almost anything without attracting attention," she muttered thoughtfully, her blue eyes dark like a churning storm.

Julian stared at her, mental gears turning.

That fucker Valda was probably planning this from the moment Izel stepped into the inn. That's why that girl offered me a discount on a room. Gods, this is all my fault!

Oblivious to his inner turmoil, Velri shook her head and continued up the stairs wordlessly.

A minute later, they entered the room he'd fought Valda and his sons in. The room looked like a whirlwind had ripped through it. The bed had split in half. The chairs had been reduced to splinters. The floor was covered by shards of glass, chipped wood, and puddles of black Amyss blood.

The bodies of Valda's sons were missing.

Julian Imerdan (lv. 6 Psion)

HP: 70/127

ST: 54/110

WP: 129/445

Skills...

<Two Skill Points Available>

Attributes…

Effects…

[Manipulation] Suggestion (cost: 20 WP) - The user can telepathically implant a suggestion in the mind of a target to influence an action, thought, or behavior of theirs. The target must be sapient. There is a chance that it might fail depending on the state of the target mind. The more simple and less unusual the suggestion, the easier it is to implant.

[Manipulation] Hypnosis (cost: 30 WP) - The user lulls the target into a light hypnotic trance. While hypnotized, the target will be more open to Suggestion and suggestions, and more likely to divulge information they would not otherwise. Requires the use of a pendant or other foci to draw the target’s gaze. Can be interrupted by any sudden or intense stimuli. Duration: ten minutes.

[Affliction] Mind Jab (cost: 15 WP) - The user projects a weak bolt of psionic energy that attacks the mind of an opponent, causing crippling mental pain that lasts for a few seconds. Affects any living creature with a brain.

[Affliction] Psi-Bolt (cost: 5 WP) – The user emits an unguided bolt of psionic energy that inflicts low Psi damage to a target upon impact. Deals moderate Psi damage against targets affected by Mind Jab, but clears them of the status.

[Connection] Detect Mind (cost: 2 WP/s) - The user can detect the minds of sentient organic beings within ten feet.

[Knowledge] Safe Fall (cost: free) - The user has learned a method of shifting one's body mid-air to significantly mitigate falling damage. Only usable from survivable heights.

[Innate] Focus (cost: free) - The user enters a state of emotional detachment, allowing the user to ignore pain and resist negative mental effects. Increases WP regeneration by 20% while active. Only usable during combat.

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