The Elderien Chronicles

The malicious wraith

The moment they stepped out of the alley, Alastair turned around and shot a telekinetic blast at the men which suspended them in the air before they crashed to the ground.

The move surprised Cara for she jumped to the side. Apparently, she had not noticed the men following them.

How could she? She was just a little girl without any training.

The men tried to stand but their bodies were too weak to comply. Alastair moved towards them but at that moment, he felt a knife flying his way.

He quickly stopped and dodged the knife and ducked as another knife hurled at him.

Then two men stepped out of a corner, holding swords with which they attacked him.

He punched the ground and a wave of energy swept them all off their feet. They all fell, groaning in pain as their bones dislocated.

But then, the knives came again.

The one who was throwing the knives was a short man with incredible acrobatic skills.

He threw the knives with much precision and accuracy that one of them managed to hit Alastair on the shoulder

. He groaned as it did and pulled it out, using his magic to send it back to the man. The knife impaled the man on the thigh and another blast from Alastair sent him straight into a wall.

"I believe that is quite enough now."

A familiar voice said and someone began to walk towards them.

Alastair turned around and there she was, the bartender.

She was dressed in a pair of trousers and boots with a rather large shirt on top. There was a fancy hat on her head and she held a pipe in her hand.

Beside her was the man that had walked into the bar with a strange energy. What was going on?

"You! What are you doing here?" Alastair asked her.

"Oh, I thought you were looking for the captain that dances with the sun? Well, here she is. Judging by the way you have beat up my men, useless things they are, I can actually guess you're a high-ranking mage from the Elderien's keep."

She said and her eyes roamed to Cara. She smiled at her but Cara cringed.

"I am ready to answer all of your questions. Just follow me. But you will answer some of mine as well. Deal?" She asked and Alastair pondered.

If the captain was a woman-her, then who was that man? Why did he have that energy? Nevertheless, he needed answers. It was not like she could do anything to him. He had his magic.

"Deal." He finally replied and she smiled.

She led them into an inn right at the corner of the alley and headed straight to a room.

Along the way, the other men waited behind, possibly to give her privacy.

She led them into a well-furnished room where she jumped on the bed and offered them seats.

"I must say, not a lot of people know about me from Elderien, and definitely not mages like you. So, who are you and what do you want with the captain who dances with the sun?" She asked.

"My name is Alastair. We came here because we are looking for the isle of mist and we had reliable information that you might know where it is." Alastair said. She was silent for a moment and studied him carefully.

"Alastair...why does that name ring a bell? Oh, yes, weren't you the mage that went berserk in the keep? I heard you had disappeared all these times. What brought you out?" She asked, chuckling as she did. It made Alastair uncomfortable.

"Look, a great terror is coming to this world and the only shot we have at stopping it is getting to the isle of mists. So, tell me where it is and I will gladly be on my way."

"Look, I do not know who told you that I know where the Isle is but they are mistaken. Everyone knows that isle is a myth."

"My source never lies."

The captain sighed.

"Okay, this might be nothing but, many years ago, I was alone in the sea. A terrible storm had taken my crew from me. I was barely holding on to life but then I saw something. It was just for a moment though, a bright light and within it, I could see something like an island. I don't know what I saw. Turns out I passed out almost immediately and when I woke up, I had been rescued. That was when I got the nickname 'the captain who dances with the sun.' I still wonder what made them give me that name."

"Where exactly did you have this vision?" Alastair asked.

"The Melorian Sea." She replied.

Alastair combed his hand through his hair.

The Melorian Sea was the largest in the world and was also said to be the house of evil itself.

As Alastair thought about it, it made sense that the isle should be located there. It was ominous for a reason.

But how would they get there? It was so far away that it would take weeks to travel by sea.

"If you are looking for a way there, I can provide you with one. I have a friend in Brheila. He owns a ship that travels the Melorian Sea regularly. I do not know what they are looking for and I do not care. I can take you there. It's just on the other side of the river." She offered.

"What's the catch? Someone like you would never help me without payment." Alastair told her. She smiled when he said the words.

"Just tell me, can you read minds, Alastair?"

Alastair was silent, then she laughed again.

"Let's go. We have a ship to catch."

She said and walked out of the room.

"Get your shit together you swine! We are going to Brheila." She cursed at her men who all replied with an "aye," as they hurried along.

They went to the port and along the way, she did not do anything to make Alastair doubt her interest. But he kept Cara close at all times.

They soon got to the port and then boarded a ship. The captain led Alastair and Cara inside the cabin, handing them a fruit wine along the way.

Alastair took a sip, it was so tasty. Cara followed suit and soon, they were inside an equally well, furnished room.

She offered Alastair a chair as well but the moment he sat, the chair suddenly wrapped itself around him.

Cara attempted to move but the tall man from the bar smacked her right on the face, causing her to crash on the ground, falling unconscious.

Alastair tried to use his magic but he could not, something was blocking his powers.

"You, what are you doing?" He asked the captain who slowly walked towards him.

"I am doing something that will benefit me, Alastair. I hope you understand."

She said and smiled.

"And oh, your powers are being blocked by a Wraith. I suppose you have met him before now.", She said and pointed her hand toward the man from the bar.

No wonder he felt that energy. He was a wraith, a creature believed by mages to be malicious. They could also make weapons that could block magic, such as that chair.

How could he not see it coming? How was he so stupid? She played him right into her own game.

But then, he began to feel dizzy.

No! The wine.

It had something in it as well. By the gods! He struggled to stay awake but was suddenly overwhelmed by a desire to sleep, one he could not fight off.

But the wraith had no patience for him, he walked towards Alastair and smacked him on the face as well.

"Sweet dreams, Alastair. Sweet dreams."

Was the last thing he heard before he drifted off to sleep.