Spellheart 9: Chapter 16 (Patreon)

My daughter lay in a puddle of her own blood, and the man who did it was within my grasp. The next few moments were a haze of blistering fury. I wasn’t sure how long had passed, but Melise tapped me on the shoulder.

“Theo, Argona’s in the Medical Bay. I was able to reverse most of the damage with my fate magic, but she’ll still be out for a few days...” Her words came slowly and cautiously as though she was handling a frightened beast that might bite her at any moment.

I blinked, clarity returning to my eyes.

It was only then that I was able to observe my surroundings.

Why was it so dark? Hadn’t it been sunny out moments before?

I was kneeling in a hole five times my own height. My entire body ached, and my knuckles felt raw and bloody. Beneath me, there was a formless red and black smear. I couldn’t tell what it was at first. But then, in the top corner, I spotted the remains of a finely tailored suit.

That was Prince Tivar. Or rather, what little was left of him.

“It seems I don’t have the best luck with envoys...” I chuckled.

I shook my hand to get the dust and bloody chunks off. The Level Reducing Sentry towers had always been something of a secret weapon up my sleeve. With their help, even a proud demigod could be reduced to nothing more than a smear in the dirt.

Shaking, I climbed to my feet and jumped out of the hole. People were staring. I did my best to ignore them. I excused myself and hastened my way to the Medical Bay.

Each step felt like a lifetime as I reflected on how close Argona had come to death. The guilt of letting that nearly happen while I was standing right there weighed heavily on my heart. Would she look at me the same, knowing I hadn’t been quite fast enough to protect her?

I soon reached the Medical Bay, and I hesitated for a moment outside the door. I took a few deep breaths to steady myself before I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The room was brightly lit, with that biting undertone of bleach filling the air. There were a lot of injured elves scattered around the room, and I scanned the cots until I found Argona. She lay on a bed in the center of the room, and I rushed over to her. People tried to clear the way, but I used the full might of my cultivation to weave around them and appear at her bedside.

Bandaged and sleeping, she looked so peaceful. Her half-elven features were a bit paler than normal, but besides blood loss, there seemed to be minimal damage. Mac had already performed any surgery that needed to be performed, and traditional elven healing magic could restore her the rest of the way.

I took her hand in mine, feeling the warmth of her skin. I leaned against the frame of her bed and whispered. “Argona,” I began, “I’m so sorry. You shouldn’t ever have to be afraid when I’m around to protect you.”

Bitter tears welled up in my eyes. I felt something I hadn’t for a long time. It was a mixture of anxiety, fear, and a burning drive. I needed more power. I couldn’t ever allow something like this to happen again.

I wasn’t sure how long I sat there holding Argona’s hand. She didn’t stir, but I felt the warm pulse of her heartbeat through her fingers. My thoughts drifted to the future. Prince Tivar had just been one of many. Who knew how strong he was compared to the rest of his kin?

Just when I thought peace had arrived to my life at last, it was so quickly shattered. I had to prepare.

My resolve solidified at that moment, and a part of me I’d thought buried when the Hearthwood was safely returned to my grasp. The elders among the elven tribes knew how I became the Patriarch of the Hearthwood Clan, and it wasn’t through holding feasts and smiling jovially at passersby on the street.

It was through blood, sweat, and overwhelming power. It was time to show that face to the world once again.

I left Argona to sleep off her wounds. I checked in with Mac to make sure none of my other children were hurt. There were a few bumps and bruises in Castle Mac, but my children were a tough lot. The human blood flowing through their veins meant that each and every one of them had been blessed with greatly expanded reserves of vitality. Unlike elves, who had to collect the precious life zeal from pills, potions, and the food they ate, humans could generate that same power internally. It was what gave us such an advantage cultivating here in the Ten Thousand Worlds.

My children didn’t have that blessing on the level of what Sam, Dean, or myself had, but they had some measure of it. It had helped them cultivate to their current level and enhanced what natural talent they might have inherited from their mother’s side, and now it would help them heal from their wounds.

***

After meeting with Argona, I emerged to find the city fully repaired. That was faster than even Mac could work, but I soon realized why. My friends appeared.

“Theo!” Dean waved as he floated above me. “We didn’t want to disturb you. How are you doing, buddy? Those satyrs are assholes, aren’t they? Especially the nobility.”

Behind him, I could see Sam casting his time reversal spell to fix broken brickwork and shattered buildings. A few dead elves sprung back to life as he worked. It was quite a sight to behold.

I shifted gravity beneath me, using the full might of my Sorcerer powers to float. Earth zeal wasn’t suited to flight, not like spatial zeal. But a Sorcerer was supposed to be able to hover above lesser cultivators without a flying sword or any other trappings of magic.

“The guy said his name was Prince Tivar,” I explained.

“Was?” Dean raised his eyebrows mischievously. “Sam said you got him, but I didn’t believe it. You killed a demigod one on one?”

I chuckled. “It was hardly one on one. Tivana was there. So was Melise.”

“I already talked to them. They said you were the guy who smashed him into a puddle. I didn’t realize you’d gotten tough enough to take on demigods! Maybe we should start sparring sometime?” Dean waggled his eyebrows.

“Maybe.” I shrugged. “But I took care of him through some secret methods I keep in reserve to preserve the Hearthwood against danger.”

“The glowy energy beam tower things everyone was talking about,” Dean nodded. “I heard about that one too. Don’t worry. We’ll wipe some memories and sow some disinformation to cover that story up. You can’t have hostile demigods knowing about your trump card!”

“I appreciate it.” I sighed, and a burden I hadn’t even known was on my shoulders was gone. But another one soon took its place. “So, this Prince Tivir guy. Who was he?”

Dean shrugged. “You think I keep track of every chump who reaches demigod and thinks they’re a badass? I have no idea. Sam might know, though.” Dean cupped his hands, though the voice that came from his mouth was loud enough to be heard from a country away without any need for further amplification. “Hey, Sam! Who’s the dead asshole? Theo says his name was Prince Tivir!”

Sam finished casting his latest restoration spell, then flew up to join us.

“I don’t mean to interrupt your resurrections,” I waved him back down.

Sam shook his head. “Don’t worry, that was the last one. Anyway, Prince Tivir... yes, I think I met him once. It was at one of the meetings the Order of the Rod held, back when all of us humans thought we would stay on good enough terms to hold a human get together every decade. It didn’t last long, but Prince Tivir was staying with the cult guys. He was an envoy for his father. A bit of a superiority complex on that one. He had trouble treating elves normally too. On their world, elves are less than slaves. They’re like plants they farm to expend for spells. Basically livestock, except for those under the protection of the Fairy of the Immortal Grove. To be honest, I think the Cult of the Unblinking Eye’s mistreatment of elves began when they formed relations with them.”

I snapped my fingers in recognition. “He said something about that person as well. The Fairy of the Immortal Grove. Apparently, something big went down. A fight that the Fairy of the Immortal Grove lost.”

Sam grimaced. “A shame. She was by far the nicer of the World of Woods and Wild’s two demigods. I wonder if the Satyr King killed her or enslaved her. If he killed her, we don’t have much to worry about. The Satyr King’s power will grow a bit as he turns all of the Fairy’s former domain into a Sacred Grove, but it won’t be much.

“But if he enslaved her? If he managed that, then he’d be supercharging his magic like nothing else. He’d have direct access to another Immortal Ascendant as a source of power. Normally, the Satyr King hides in the shadows since he’s not particularly strong for an Immortal. The last time they fought, Grognak handed him his ass. But if he’s got the Fairy under his thumb, he might have suddenly reached a new level of power.”

“Damn it,” Dean cursed. “And they did it with stupid farming. I can’t believe those chumps get more powerful by planting shit and letting it grow in their Sacred Grove. Such a lazy way to grow more powerful.”

Sam chuckled. “If we could have started Sacred Groves, we probably would have. It seems a damn sight easier than what we went through. The same goes for you, Theo. Imagine just planting some crops and waiting around a few hundred years. Seems like an easy way to get fat and lazy. You’d think the satyrs would spend their days having fun, but I guess all the idle time from not needing to cultivate turns their minds to sadism.”

I let out the breath I’d been holding, shoulders slumping. “So you guys are telling me I’ve got an Immortal Ascendant on my ass. And he may or may not be more powerful than ever before. Just great.”

Dean scratched the back of his head with his axe. “You find out what he wanted?”

My mind went to Mayatania. “Not yet, but I’m about to.”

***

Mayatania wasn’t in her alchemy shop. That didn’t surprise me, since she’d been spending more time working with Sava as of late.

I found Mayatania and Sava in the latter’s private study. The room was near the alchemy lab and originally intended to study experiments before performing them. Some equipment from inside the lab had leaked out into here though, and there were beakers and test tubes of various shapes and sizes adorning every shelf. Truthfully, it reminded me of Sava’s shop and home from when we first met.

The two of them were leaning over a pile of ancient scrolls and books as tall as I was, both with grim and serious expressions on their face as they spoke in hushed whispers.

I rapped on the door frame to catch their attention, though it was already open.

“Sava, Mayatania, we need to talk.”

Sava turned to me and forced a smile onto her face. “We’ve been expecting you. Come on in, Theo. I bet you have a lot of questions for the two of us.”

I let out a grim sigh and sank into a third chair. It sat near the two of them, empty and positioned as though awaiting my presence. They’d probably set it out for me before I even decided to go looking for them.

“It’s about the Satyrs and the former Prince Tivar,” I began. Sava’s expression shifted to one of guilt for just a moment. It was fast, but I knew her well. There was no way I would miss it. “Before I killed him, he mentioned you by name.” I glanced between Mayatania and Sava. “I need to know everything the two of you know about this. It isn’t just your lives at stake, but those of the entire Hearthwood.”

Mayatania glanced at Sava before sighing, her shoulders sagging. “Sava didn’t want to worry you, Patriarch. Don’t blame her.”

“And don’t blame Mayatania either,” Sava pleaded. “She just wanted to protect me. She knew I was happy here and was afraid you’d give me away if you knew.”

I shook my head. “Sava, if you ever thought I would give you up for anything, you were very mistaken. And I promise I won’t be mad at either of you if you tell me what I need to know right now. Spill it. I want everything you know that could be even remotely related to Prince Tivar and the Satyrs. How are the two of you connected?”

Sava took in a deep breath and leaned back in her chair. “Remember those Bloodline Origin Awakening potions we all took when we found those dragon eggs?”

I nodded. “I remember. Pretty much everyone got a big boost in potential from those things. I doubt I’d have so many wizards among my matriarchs without them. You might have all reached your natural limits long ago if not for those potions.”

“Well... as I mentioned before, those potions awaken memories of prior lives. Something that I ended up having a great deal of. Far more than expected. I knew my wisp was recovered by the Riverweed Tribe after drifting through the forest for who knew how long. I used to be pretty powerful, Theo. Even stronger than I am now, to be honest. I was a pretty strong wizard once upon a time. Nearly a Sorcerer.” Sava twirled her fingers through her hair, glancing shyly at the ground before continuing.

“But I didn’t come from the World of Sanctuary and Serenity. I escaped here after fleeing the World of Woods and Wilds, the home of the Satyrs. That was where I was born and bred. Like my mother and her mother before me, I am something called a Keystone Elf.”

I raised her chin, so she met my gaze. “I’m not mad at you, Sava. I only wish you had told me sooner. Tell me, what is a Keystone Elf?”

It was Mayatania who answered this time. “Keystone elves are rare and valuable assets for the Satyrs. They have the ability to spawn an entire Sacred Grove, fully populated by elves all on their own, as well as focus all that elven power into a single set of spells. That’s more valuable than you think. What Prince Tivir was doing was expending wisps completely to power his spells. A Keystone Elf is much like that. Only she can be used again and again. My bloodline was raised to be something of a minder for a Keystone Elf. Think of me as a handmaiden or something. I was actually born and raised to take care of Savatania or her daughter, but she disappeared. I was able to convince the Satyrs to let me come after her on the assumption that I would report her location back to them when I found her. Only I used it as an opportunity to escape the World of Woods and Wilds just like she did and make a new home for myself here.”

“In other words, something the Satyrs are going to want very badly.” I grimaced.

Sava nodded, face solemn. “If you think it’ll help, I’ll leave and go into hiding elsewhere, far from the Hearthwood. I can reveal my location and hope they go straight for me and ignore our home.”

I chuckled and shook my head. “I think it’s too late for that. I just killed prince. The Satyrs probably want me dead as much as they want you alive. Too bad for them, they’re going to get neither.” I wrapped her hand in my own and held her right. “No matter what they throw at us, you’ll stay safe by my side. We’ll protect our family and home. Soon the World of Woods and Wilds will regret making an enemy out of me.”