EA Chapter 35 - Fire in the Skies

“As you can see from the model above, imps and gnolls are known to attack in groups. While all ashborn are allied in their mutual hatred of humanity, these two are the only ones seen to regularly hunt and fight in packs.”

The class watched as Gallow Cade gestured to a great drawing pinned to the board, depicting two varieties of monsters swarming around a group of armoured humans. The imps were bipedal creatures of modest height, jagged spines of rock protruding from their sloping skulls. Gnolls were larger, their rocky bodies bulkier and broader, their fingers tipped with great talons.

“Closer to the wall, these packs are a common adversary faced by our people. The strength of the gnolls is complimented by the speed of the imps, who close in and distract their prey so the gnolls can move in for a more devastating attack,” Gallow said, turning her steely gaze across the auditorium. “That is why your Party must fight with continuous coordination, watching each other’s backs and being ever-vigilant for such ambushes.”

The more the older woman spoke, the less interested Luna felt. She made a good show of looking invested, her gaze focused on the board. Inwardly, her attention was quite literally elsewhere.

Clairvoyance was a trick she had picked up on early in her first life, the ability to project her vision to a different location. At present her gaze was roaming across a thick tome of spells lifted from her shopping trip the other day, leafing through the pages with small flicks of telekinesis.

The material in the book wasn’t much more interesting, and thus far she had yet to encounter anything she didn’t already have a counterpart for. But she would much rather study at her own rate than receive rote lessons from fools.

“How big do you think gnolls actually are?” Romula whispered at her side.

“I wouldn’t know,” Luna said, her unblinking gaze still fixed to the board.

Romula hesitated. “They look pretty big in those drawings. Like... twice my height. Way bigger than even Kiharu.”

“Romula, I’m sure you can understand the concept of exaggeration. Just because they were drawn large, that doesn’t mean-”

A tremor rocked the auditorium, earning an assortment of shocked gasps from all present. The force was enough to snap Luna to attention, cancelling her clairvoyance and bringing her gaze back to the large chamber. The tremors persisted, sending small puffs of plaster dust raining from the ceiling.

Gallow looked up at the ceiling, an irritated scowl forming on her face. “Oh damnation, what n-”

Luna felt as if a bomb went off in her head. The sudden appearance of a new, alien qi directly above Vyrham was so massive and bright that those trying to sense the energy in the region were very nearly bowled over. Even Gallow, stoic as the tried to act, nearly lost her footing and had to cling tight to her lectern once she sensed the power that suddenly surged into existence high above the city.

“Stay in your seat!” Gallow shouted, her voice quelling the shocked gasps and murmuring of the students. Until, at least, the students nearest the window shouted in alarm.

Even a woman as grim and imposing as Gallow Cade couldn’t overcome the continuous tremors, or the sudden flashes of purple lightning that lit up the sky beyond the window.

Luna was more reserved in her movements, making slowly for the glass. Of course a crowd had already congregated by the time she reached the window, at which point her natural shortness was shown to her in fine detail.

She grumbled, ignoring the mounting anxiety she felt from those around her, and directed her clairvoyance just beyond the nearest window. Now she could see the sky outside in full, and found her eyes widening in alarm. A great jet black storm cloud had formed high above the city, slowly rotating in the wind. Lightning pulsed from deep within, always trailed after by booms of thunder.

And, at the heart of the great cyclone, Luna could sense an immense qi.

“All of you, stay put!” Gallow said, making for the door. “I will be conferring with the staff, and-”

A particularly powerful book echoed from the clouds overhead, followed by a rushing wind that struck the windows. He students recoiled, operating solely on the instincts that had been honed by their training, as the glass cracked and then exploded inward from a great surge of pressure.

“Good grief,” Luna murmured, picking a shard from her hair.

“Is everyone okay?” one Cleric called out.

“Zehud’s mercy, those windows could take a cannon shot without cracking!” another student cried.

“Stay put! And keep away from the window!” Gallow shouted, hurrying from the room to join with the rest of the Citadel’s faculty.

Luna sighed, staring at the auditorium door. “Well which is it? Stay put or move away?” she murmured. She returned her focus to the storm, which had blossomed to encompass the diameter of Vyrham. How had this power appeared so suddenly?

Even if Luna wasn’t actively tapping her mana sense, she should have been able to sense such immense energy well in advance. Unless they teleported in, Luna thought. But, whatever the case, who would use their power to form a city-spanning storm above the capital?

In her old life, Luna had not been above such brazen displays of power to intimidate enemy cities. But what enemies did Elthreme have? In checking the maps in the library, she had not seen a hint of any other kingdoms beyond the Bulwark. This land had no enemies beyond wild monsters. Or so she thought.

Well, there was only one way to find the truth of the matter.

She took a breath and made for the window. She felt Syri’s eyes on her, and only barely paused as the Paladin pressed a hand to her shoulder. “What are you doing?” she asked urgently.

“Getting a better look,” Luna replied.

“The Sergeant told us to stay put!”

The wind howled again, the sheer force of the gale blowing intensely through the shattered windows. Luna shrugged. “I feel that won’t matter soon enough.” She moved free from Syri’s grasp and made for the windows. “Join me or don’t, but make your decisions fast.”

Kiharu approached right away, as Luna knew she would. The twins seemed to briefly debate the matter in a hushed murmur, and ultimately scurried her way. And Syri, a victim of peer pressure, followed over to take up the rear. Luna raised a hand, forming a bubble of pale light around her party, and carried them through the air with a pull of telekinetic force.

Others had already started to leave the auditorium, rushing to the halls, but Luna was the only one making a beeline to the high outer walls that bordered the Citadel.

The guards had already gathered in groups for a better look at the storm, and seemed frozen in place as they stared into that chaotic maelstrom. They were waiting for whatever was to come, Luna knew at once. Those clouds heralded only destruction.

They didn’t even notice as Luna and the others touched down.

Luna stared into the eye of the storm, straining her vision at first and then using qi to magnify what she saw. Her gaze drew closer and closer, until she swore she could see a robed silhouette floating among the cyclone. Yet she could see no more than that, as if a magical force was actively rebuffing any attempts she could make for a better look.

Not one to be denied, Luna was set to force against this magical interference when the thunder boomed again.

And this time the thunder carried a voice.

Humans of Elthreme.

Luna froze in shock. It was a strong and regal voice, deep yet feminine. She cast her attention to her allies, and she could tell by their stunned faces that they had heard the voice too.

You have been found in violation of your imprisonment. This land is your reservation, and you shall have no other. The Mire and the Ashborn are your Wardens. Do not seek the lands beyond your own.

Luna’s eyes widened. So that was it... Elthreme hadn’t built that massive wall to keep their enemies out. Another force had built the wall to keep them in.

But who had done such a thing? What kind of power could summon living cataclysms like the Mire and the Ashborn?

Let this be a lesson... to stay where you belong.

Lightning flashed above, nearly blinding in its intensity. Luna grit her teeth, bracing against the glare. And once the light began to fade, and the soldiers around her gave shouts of alarm, she realised what the strange figure in the sky had done.

More silhouettes formed against the clouds, and then began to drop toward Vyrham. Inhuman, twisted, massive shapes.

Explosions and plumes of smoke began to rise from the city blocks as the figures made landfall, followed by screams of terror and fright, and horrid beastly roars.

The Ashborn had just been dropped onto their heads.