Chapter 112

“The entire point is moot unless you’re willing to drag him for weeks through the Wilds. That’s the only way back to Ur. Without the Teleportation Array working, we’re stuck here. You may be able to come and go, but the rest of us wouldn’t make it a mile outside the camp.” Talah explained, leaning against a wall.

“Besides, I’m not risking the barrier by letting you out. It’s a miracle that you didn’t do irreparable damage to it the first time!” Sorla said, pacing the church hall while Wil sat comfortably on one of the pews.

His healing had just completed when the pair had come marching through the doors, the woman from earlier leading another. This one was older, suntanned and wrinkled, in a similar work outfit as the last.

“If I can repair the array, would you work with me to bring the Betrayer back to the Guild for trial?” Wil asked, the exhaustion weighing down on him. Healing always reminded him of the pleasant warmth of a bed on a cold winter’s morning, comforting and safe. It threatened to drag his eyelids down and it took all his willpower to stay awake.

“Sure, we’ll help you. If you can repair the array, not only will we help, but Talah and I will be your servants. We’ll wash your feet and warm your bed-” Sorla said sarcastically, doubt in her voice that Wil could do it.

“Just the first part will be fine!” Wil said, cutting her off as he stood. His arm was as good as new, although the healing had left it a little stiff. Working the muscles in his right arm, he started towards the door, leaving the two women to follow.

Following their directions, Wil made his way towards the Teleportation Array, pulling out the Compendium of Conjuration as he did so.

Ignoring the two women as they tried to talk to him further, he opened the thick tome to the Tier 5 spell “Teleportation Circle”. He had been studying the volume when he had spare time but had yet to use this particular spell.

A teleportation array functioned as a permanent link between two locations, transporting people and objects through space, instantly arriving at the other array instantaneously. Teleportation Circle was similar, although it was only a temporary means of achieving the same results.

Arrays were expensive to set up, tricky to keep functioning and temperamental to any changes in the local environment. It spoke to the skill of the Mage Guild, and the value of this site, that they had set one up in the first place.

Using the Compendium, Wil thought it was possible to repair the array, as long as it shared some similarities with the Tier 5 spell.

The array was located in a locked courtyard, protected by high, wooden walls and another layer of enchantments. Sorla, as the expedition leader, was the only person with a key, and she only opened the gate after grumbling about Wil being in over his head.

Walking through the protective barrier, Wil saw the array laid down on the ground, the symbol and runes carved into a series of interlocking stones set in a wide circle. The array itself was formed from gold and other precious metals, the materials melted and carefully poured into the etched symbols.

Wil slowly walked around the array, following the lines of magic carefully, while reaching out with his senses to look for any imperfections. Diamonds formed anchor points in a star-like pattern, connected to each other by lines of platinum.

‘This array must have cost thousands of gold coins.’ Wil thought, kneeling down at the edge of the array and tracing the lines with his finger. With a thought, he pushed a small amount of his mana into the array, watching the golden mana trace through the Matrix, feeling how the spell flowed.

Behind him, He heard Sorla hiss in warning as he touched the array. She was clearly terrified he would damage the valuable array with his meddling. He ignored her, continuing to study it while pushing more of his mana through the Spell Matrix.

The problem became apparent immediately. The Teleportation Array, like the barrier that surrounded the settlement, was powered by mana drawn from the Wilds itself.

Unlike the barrier, however, the array was more temperamental and sensitive to the chaotic nature of the mana. The barrier used that nature to enhance its protective properties, any instabilities overwhelmed by the sheer size of the shield.

The array was different, the tiniest amount of instability would disrupt the spell, rendering it useless.

Curious, Will pushed more of his mana into the array, attempting to drive out the turbulent mana of the Wilds and replace it with his own. Hopefully, the increased stability would…

In a flash of golden light, the array activated, sending a pillar of mana into the sky.

“That did it.” Wil muttered, standing, and wiping the dirt from his knee from where he had knelt on the ground.

“It’s fixed?!” Sorla exclaimed, looking at the functioning array in disbelief. Next to her, Talah was visibly excited, thinking of the prospect of leaving this place. They had been here for months, and the thought of spending another year here nearly drove her to despair.

“Not exactly. There isn’t anything broken about it to repair. The ‘Flux’ is preventing it from functioning properly, but I can activate the array as long as I use my own mana to fuel the spell. It unfortunately means that it’s a one-way trip, at least until the ‘Flux’ subsides.” Wil explained.

The two archeologists visibly deflated, their excitement subsiding, until Sorla perked up once again.

“But we can leave and come back in a year when this is all over with. The barrier will still be intact, and we would only need a few volunteers to stay behind to ensure nothing happens.” She said, looking at Talah.

“Or we can all leave. The barrier will keep everything away, and there isn’t anything to steal, not until we excavate more of the ruins. They stayed buried for thousands of years, another one won’t hurt.” Talah responded.

“You can discuss this later, for now, you agreed to help me.” Wil said, already turning away from the pair and leaving the courtyard. Talah and Sorla ran after him, concerned about what he would do if they weren’t there to keep an eye on him.

“Wait! You can just rush off without us! At least tell us who it is you’re looking for. We’re not just going to let you assault someone and drag them away.” Sorla said, running in front of Wil and stopping him with a hand on his chest.

“We had a deal. I fix the array, you help me bring the Betrayer to justice. I don’t care if I have to rip this place apart, I need to find him. You want to help? You can bring him back to the Guild for me once I’m through with him.” Wil said, brushing aside her hand and reaching inside his bag to pull out an emerald gemstone.

“That’s not how we do things! You can’t just go around doing whatever you want!” Talah said.

“It’s how I do things. Now stand back.” Wil said, channeling his mana into the gemstone and tossing it onto the ground. The ground rumbled around them, the pulsations of mana spreading out, before a towering figure emerged from the ground.

The Earth Elemental was now a Rank 8, Wil having given it enough of his power to maintain that level for nearly an hour, more than enough time to deal with the Betrayer. They had worked together in the past week, traveling across the Wilds, and this was the maximum amount of mana that Wil could give the creature while still being effective in combat himself.

The Elemental rose from the ground, reaching nearly twenty feet tall, towering over the trio of humans. Its body was made of grassy earth and stone, and Wil could sense the power within it, eager to finally have revenge for its former master.

“Do you sense him?” Wil asked. The elemental turned its large, earthen head, focusing on the ramshackle building that the guards were using as a tavern.

“There.” It rumbled, already walking towards the structure. Wil disappeared from sight of the two women, teleporting away and reappearing on the Elemental’s shoulder. Before Sorla could react, the Elemental was running, each step shaking the ground around them.