The Accidental Archmage - Book Five Edmund Batara (classic children's novels .TXT) 📖

The conversation was unexpectedly interrupted by a sudden blackness. It was not mere darkness; it was total oblivion. Tyler couldn’t even see an inch away from his face.

“They’re here. But this is but a minor incursion,” the mage heard his companion explain, just as he regained his eyesight due to the entity’s intervention. “Marking their arrival with the natural darkness enshrouding their reality makes it easier for them to move in this dimension.”

“Uh, thanks.” Tyler was intently looking down on the field below as he offered his gratitude. Momentary anxiety came to his thoughts and was quickly dismissed. The avatar had given her word to protect him. If you can’t trust the promise of one who could remake the entire world, then who could you trust?

The lighting meeting his eyes was dimmer than usual, reminding him that the intense darkness still engulfed the cave, that only the magic of his companion granted him sight. Even the power of his enhanced sense of sight served him naught. A large collection of dark clouds was rising from the small lake, barely fitting into the opening of the natural feature. Flashes of an unnatural black light surrounded the pulsing mass which looked as if they were forcibly morphed together to provide the maximum number the egress could accommodate.

Halfway out of the maelstrom of dark energy, the bizarre mass gave out a wide and circular beam arching toward the roof of the cavern. Then pieces started peeling off. The murky clumps jumped to solid ground, growing tentacular extensions all over their bodies as they leaped. As the eldritch cloud sprouted its offspring, whatever matter it lost was immediately replaced. It was being fed by whatever hell it came from. It didn’t bode well.

Fucking cornucopia, he swore, yet abnormally fascinated by the bizarre scene.

Tyler suddenly saw some of the rocks move and roll forward, heading to the small monstrosities now standing on solid ground. Wherever they landed, the earth and rocks beneath them turned black. Upon reaching the new arrivals, the rocks uncoiled to reveal tall and solid humanoid forms. Their arms were shaped like weapons, though most preferred large hammer-like extensions on both appendages. Some adopted a hammer-and-shield arrangement.

“Golems?” uttered the mage as he ventured a guess.

“Not really. They’re energy beings, one of the oldest lifeforms on Adar. Unlike golems–a specialty of your mages—the outer stone shell is merely meant to protect them from magical and physical strikes. Their opponents would like nothing more than to enlarge the opening provided by that dark lake. To do that, they need to increase its size, an attempt which would not go unchallenged.”

“Should I go help them?” asked Tyler, worried, as he noticed more and more of the repulsive creatures joining the fray.

“Don’t worry yourself about it, mage. It’s a minor matter. The invading creatures are but juveniles.”

Juveniles? They’re huge! I can clearly see them from way up here!

The creatures were tearing apart the stone defenders but suffering casualties themselves. He observed that the stone warriors focused their attacks on something inside the attackers. It must have been a small target; the mage could see blows pass harmlessly through the smoky bodies, creating no damage. The entire floor of the enormous cavern was already filled with the fighting creatures.

“Your defenders are getting smashed,” Tyler finally had to say it out loud.

“Most escaped any damage. Their physical forms protected them. If you noticed, more of them are joining the battle. Unless the energy is substantially dissipated, they are safe. They won’t run out of rocks to encase themselves.”

The mage could see she was right. Lumps of rocks rose up and once again threw themselves against the intruders. Then, against a large clump of the attackers, he saw an extraordinary sight. Several defenders lined up, touched extremities and instantly turned into a long and sturdy wall. Their brethren modified their forms and became taller, towering over the barrier, and all were armed with double mauls. They smashed any attacker stopped by the wall.

“They do know how to fight,” commented Tyler with some relief.

“These children of mine might be simple in mind, but they’re patient and had long years of practice and experience. But they’re not the only ones waiting to defend this world. Other defenders wait in the wings. But our time to leave this place is nigh, but there is one who would like to honor his lord.”

A shadow detached itself from one rock on a wall and flew toward them. Due to the dim light, Tyler could only see its shape as it got closer. It had the majestic form of a massive dragon. As it steadily closed the gap between them, the mage immediately recognized the white creature.

It was Anemothýella Windstorm, the Ismenian drakon.

Aloft in the air before them, the massive creature bowed first to Tyler’s companion and then to the mage. A flat earthen extension of the escarpment promptly appeared beneath the being. The drakon lowered itself to it.

“My lady. My lord,” acknowledged Anemothýella.

“Fancy meeting you here,” smiled Tyler.

“This has always been our place, my lord. You witnessed the kind of terror we have fought and kept from reaching the surface world. There are more dangerous entities waiting behind the veil. With the help of my kin and allies, we will continue to maintain our vigilance.”

The mage turned to his companion.

“Is Anemothýella also an energy form?” he asked.

“Yes. The oldest among Adar’s children and patterned after the first who crossed into this world.”

“Dragons were the first to cross over?” said Tyler, taken aback by the admission.

This is turning out to be another of those surprising days, the mage thought. There’s already a lot of information to process when I wake up. Hal and X picked an unfortunate time to go visiting.

“The mightiest, most magical of your world’s creatures, able to sense this dimension and create gateways. But when your dragons started crossing over, their magic furiously reacted to my spell to form my children. An unforeseen melding of energy and physical forms