Chapter 69

The yawning portal hung above the Center Spring, glimmering in the starlight. A tunnel to another reality. A door, bored through their plane, into another world.

Wil stared at it, feeling the strength of the magics used to forge such a wonder. Unlike the portal he had seen during the second test, this one was unstable, phasing in and out of existence, slowly stabilizing as the sun set, to allow passage. The duration it would be open fluctuated, but it would likely last through the Night, disappearing once the sun rose once more in seven days.

The last two weeks had seen its wild energies gradually calming, the connection formed between it and the Spring below harmonizing.

Wil and the others had spent their time resting and recovering in a small campsite that Anwir had secured through his connections. Marali, the swan, had healed, and was now standing next to Astrid, watching the portal before them with a wary eye.

The trio waited with a large crowd of others, most connected to the Guild in some way, but many others had found their way here through happenstance, rather than deliberately.

“It shouldn’t be too much longer. Can you feel how gentle the magic has become?” Astrid whispered from next to Wil, her eyes glued onto the portal. She was particularly sensitive to the fluctuations, almost able to time their pulsations on instinct.

“Yeah, it has. Do we have everything, Anwir?” Wil asked, turning to his other side, where the bard was dressed conservatively. His golden armor and sword were back, but hidden underneath a long, black cloak.

“Everything that we’ll need, according to my sources. Although a week searching some long-forgotten ruin doesn’t sound like a stirring adventure for my story.”

“You’d be surprised. I have a feeling something is going to happen.” Wil said, his fingers idly caressing the gold coin in his hand. It had stayed hot for the last two weeks, and he knew that whatever disaster it foretold, it would occur soon.

“Ever the worrywart, Wil.” Anwir whispered, although he didn’t seem convinced of his own words. Wil hadn’t known the bard long, but this was the most serious he had ever seen him. Usually quick with a quip, the man was currently subdued and worried, his eyes constantly roving the crowd, looking for danger.

Even Astrid could feel the tense atmosphere around the pair, keeping close to Wil for safety. He had been vague with his warning, not entirely sure what to expect, but she had taken it seriously, placing her trust in him to lead the trio to safety.

With a final, long pulse of mana, the portal stabilized, flashing with a bright, white light, before the energy calmed. The portal became a shimmering, mirror of magic, like liquid silver, hanging silently in the air above the Spring.

“Here we go.” Wil whispered, taking a deep breath as the crowd began to surge forward towards the open portal. The unease Wil felt reached new heights, the tension within him growing, almost as if his very bones predicated disaster and were screaming out for him to run away.

Suddenly, the crowd halted, pushed back by an invisible force as the Spring water beneath the portal turned black, thickening like tar. With explosive force, an eruption of black liquid shot out of the Spring, and in the middle, sheltered by the now poisonous liquid, a snake like figure rose.

A Wyrm, larger than anything Wil had ever seen before, emerged from beneath the ground.

Hundreds of feet high, it ejected from the Spring, stretching its body high into the air, before coiling protectively around the portal. From all around, Wil felt high ranking mana appear, Guild observers and full members encircled the monster, as it glared balefully at the crowd, its eyes glowing red in the darkness.

“My my my, what a gathering! To think, I almost missed this! It’s useless, however, the prize within belongs to my master!” A seductive voice cut through the darkness, belonging to someone that Wil recognized instantly.

A crimson haired woman breached the black, tar like surface of the spring water. Despite her emergence from the tar, her fair skin and spotless clothing were untouched by the filth around her. Heart achingly beautiful, she was wearing red silk dress that clung to her body like a second skin, leaving little to the imagination.

The observers attempted to attack the intruder and her monster, darting forward with weapons raised and magic ready, but a warning growl from the Wyrm, and a building fire in its belly, warned them back for now.

With a bright smile on her face, she waved at the crowd, before walking along the length of the coiled Wyrm, settling comfortably on its head as it stared at the gathering before it.

“Now, I believe it would be best to clear the rabble before seizing my master’s Divine Shard, don’t you, sweetie?” She said, running her hand along the Wyrm’s head soothingly. With a roar that sent shockwaves through the crowd, the fire within the monster built, a blinding blue glow that threatened destruction when unleashed.

The crowd panicked, pushing, and shoving to get away. Astrid was nearly trampled, and only Wil’s strong arm around her kept her on her feet. Not knowing what else to do, Wil gambled.

“Desire!” Wil shouted, mana enhancing his voice as it cut through the turmoil. Beside him, Astrid was shocked by his call, her eyes wide as she took in his determined face. It was like looking at a stranger, his eyes were icy cold, a bright, chilling blue as they stared at the crimson haired woman in front of them.

“Halt!” She ordered, her response to her name being called punctuated by another roar of the Wyrm. The crowd froze as a heavy weight of mana settled over their shoulders, pushing them towards the ground, making it difficult to even breath.

“Well, what a fortuitous coincidence. Wilhelm, my love! How unexpected! Have you come to join me?” Desire asked, her laughter echoing across the sands, as she stared at the young man in front of her.

Wil could feel the eyes of the crowd focus on him, thousands of observers watching his every move, wondering at the connection between him and the beautiful, terrifying woman in front of them. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Amora and her companions staring, trying to use the distraction he was causing to launch an attack.

“I think you know the answer to that. I don’t know why you’re here, Desire, but I suggest you leave. The Adventurer’s Guild has experts stationed here for a test, and I doubt they’ll let you succeed in whatever you have planned.” Wil tried to reason with her, while giving a slight wave to Amora and the others to tell them that he would keep Desire busy.

“Oh Wilhelm, I’m touched at your concern. Truly, I am. However, it doesn’t matter at all. I’ve already won, my dear. Now, wait patiently while I collect the Shard, then you and I can have a good, long talk about things.” Desire said, gesturing to the portal.

From below, the inky black water rose to surround the portal, forming a black cage. Within the silvery magic, a small, pinprick of light began to shine, like a star, trapped within.

“Don’t!” Wil shouted, as Amora and the other observers used Desire’s distraction to launch a barrage of magic. A firestorm of mana fell towards the Wyrm, a cascade of magics cast from hundreds of experts.

In response, the Wrym unleashed its breath, a bright blue jet of flame that met the attacking magic in the air.

With a detonation to rival an erupting volcano, the opposing forces met in the air, the shockwave knocking the crowd back and causing a tidal wave of black sand to crash onto the prone figures.

“No!” Wil shouted, his hand still gripping the burning hot, golden coin in his hand as the wave of magical energy struck him. Thrusting his hands forward, he created a shimmering field of magical energy to protect Astrid and himself, when the coin in his hand slipped from his fingers.

Hurtling through the air, the Golden Coin shone with divine energy as it flew towards the open portal and the conflicting energies above it.

The last sight Wil had was of the coin striking the portal and a massive explosion of golden light engulfing everything around them.