71 An Omnious Bomb in the Sand (1/2)
Not knowing the worry of the ones leading them, a group of warriors was bringing all the expensive stuff they paid a heavy price where brought in front of their feet. Like all the camps, and due to the nearly criminal price, only three bombs were stored in this location. But that wasn't what mattered, only the spells contained by those devices were relevant at the present moment. Looking at the female magus, Adin raised an eyebrow, prompting to finally describe what he was seeing.
”Oh, forgive me. Well, we obviously have some lower quality bombs than your base that was the deepest inside the desert, but it should still be enough. One [Burning Hand] nearly at the level of a [Demonic Flame]. I say nearby because it is still only a 5th Circle spell in the end, just expect a very nice explosion. This one … forget it. It was more created to target the djinns and disperse their limbs with a strong wind. At the same times, it would be used to easily repulsed any attack from those vultures above our heads.”
The magus then approached the very last bomb, that was completely painted with black. She only heard about this last invention recently, and that was supposedly using a type of magic so dark that rumors about a cooperation with some cultists spread like fire in summer. Because it was still very unstable and not tested and approved, that bomb was currently here for an experiment the next month. Jiggling a bit about using something that scared even the nagging elders, she thought about the fact that she will be the one doing it.
”As for the last bomb, it was provided by the White Hand, for the humble sum of 1 gold coin.”
”1 GOLD COIN!?” ”ONLY ONE?!!” The two commandants immediately shouted their surprise about that price, and also their total incomprehension. Most of the time, the annual salary of all the soldiers under their orders was the cost of just one bomb. One bomb was worth more than an entire base of warriors.
But they were used only to deal against threats coming from the deepest holes inside the desert, things that should be contained immediately. The desert was far too big to permanently secure its border, and while some Skorpus could still escape, nothing as threatening as that snake was allowed to do that. Using the cover of reducing the territory of the djinns, the forward bases served also as the first line of defense inside the desert.
”Yes, only one gold coin. To be honest, I only heard it recently, and magus Khala may have more information. What I only know is that there is a certain fear of this thing blowing up automatically, even without an external factor.”
”AND YOU SAY THAT ONLY NOW!” The commandant shouted those words so loudly that all the soldiers stopped what they were doing to watch him. Regaining his self-control under the numerous stares, he began to massage his eyes, visibly shaken. He had lived for a week already with this thing that could have blown out by sheer fuckin bad luck. Adin put his hand on his shoulder, comforting the poor man a bit.
”I hear your words magus, but what does it do?”
”Absolutely not a fuckin clue.” The two leaders of their respective bases were getting more and more annoyed by this unreliable female.They were facing a threat that could easily kill everyone here, but instead of explaining clearly what weapons they had, she was described the flight of a stupid butterfly nearby. She raised her hand like she was trying to deny her responsibility.
”Hey, it's not me that created it and it is not tested yet. Those old farts accepted that free gift, but no one had the balls to approach it, so they sent that deadly package here. That way, in a supposedly near future, we would have a perfect location, mainly the desert, to see what could it do. I was supposed to ask you to find a perfect spot with some Skorpus, but I guess it will be canceled.”
She was almost lamenting about that, clearly far from the preoccupations of the mortal world.But she soon recovered from that state, knowing that she will see by herself in a short moment. As for the snake, now that she learned about its intelligence, she was ready to escape at any moment. The commandants couldn't, either because of their position or their families, but as a magus of the 5th Circle, no one will condemn her for surviving.
Knowing what the magus in front of them was thinking, the two men from the army had no choice but to prepare their defense with only one bomb in their hands. At least, they had a vague knowledge about an improved [Burning Hand] and could plan something with it. By now, after all their useless talks, the numerous runners came back with the sentries. Counting everyone and hearing the multiple reports, they were beginning to hope that everyone made it.
”Lieutenant, is everyone present and accounted? No missing men?” A man in uniform began to leave the massive group in the center of the encampment and approach the commandant. After getting close enough, he quietly murmured some bad news.
”No sir, there is one group still missing. The one in the North-West. But there is a small … issue. If you may want to look at this direction.” The lieutenant then pointed at the sole source of light beside the torches spread everywhere in the base. On a dune, a little farther away, one could easily see a small light, probably caused by a single torch. But that light was totally immobile, not coming back toward them as the rest did.