53 Galicia (2/2)
”You think.” Nikolai chuckled mirthlessly, closing his eyes and letting the wet air brush across his face.
”Once we've had our… discussion I'll let you go free with the formula of my concoction. Someone of your ability should be able to counteract the effects quickly.”
”You could have asked for an audience.” Nikolai struggled upright and waved at the caravan, a dark grimace sliding across his face at the effort it took. Whatever was in the enhanced Stardust seemed to drain him of energy even though his mind remained clear. ”This… is a little excessive.”
”My… associates don't have quite the appreciation for your skills as I do. It's why I'm your liaison for our little band instead of one of these boors. You'd think they hadn't even heard of magic. Why, I even caught one of those philistines praying after I cast a few spells nearby.”
”Well then why don't we just leave quietly. I'll be more than happy to discuss any magical technique with you.”
”I'm sure you would.” The man chuckled, bursts of silver smoke coming from underneath his mask. ”However, I must remain true to the commitments I've already made. I'd rather trust the associates I know then the word of an Imperial War Mage. No offence intended of course.”
”Of course. So who are you?”
”Oh! My apologies.” The man bowed at the waist and summoned a swirl of energy to adorn his head like a crown. An ancient means of introducing oneself as a Mage. The crown contained information about the Mage's history and ancestors. When magical ability was far more prevalent, it was used to show off one's bloodline and House. It fell out of fashion after the Reclamation when the majority of magical users moved to the lands of the Avarian Council. ”I am Kazimierz Podolski third rank specialist of the second Vilinian Magical Corps.”
Nikolai waved in acknowledgement, like a lord accepting his subjects greeting. Without more knowledge about his captors, the seemingly sympathetic Kazimierz was the best source of information and maybe even a means to escape. He didn't have the capacity to rely on his martial abilities to escape, even if he was free of Stardust, but he was sure Elya would have plowed through her captors without any trouble. Her enhanced strength and Draconic powers were perfect for this sort of situation.
The exhaustion plaguing him seemed to come from his core, pulling at every muscle, like a starving beast resting deep within. He vowed to pay more attention to his physical abilities when he returned home. Elya would no doubt be happy to assist him in hunting down powerful creatures for his benefit and he set to daydreaming about an expedition with his wife to hunt a Drake.
They sat in silence as the caravan trundled along, Nikolai's mind swirling with thoughts of escape and his family while Kazimierz appeared to be content with lazying on the cart. The smell of ash was slowly overpowered by the thick scent of blood. The change jerked him out of his reverie and Nikolai frowned at the bone white trees lining their path, mottled streaks of twisted purple snaking around their trunks.
”They say the fractured lands shine like the finest snow. Hiding their taint amongst the most pristine lands.” Kazimierz whispered, his mask wobbling with each word.
”Demons do that. Hiding within beauty.”
”You have experience in dealing with demons?”
Nikolai tried to raise his eyebrows at his captor.
”Ah. Nostrum.” Kazimierz subsided, mask tilted to the side like he was deep in thought.
Nikolai felt an itch building in his heart as they travelled further as if there was something or someone calling for him. The low, rolling hills gave him a sense of déjà vu. A magical resonance pulsed from the distance and Nikolai activated his Sight. The collar made the process agonisingly slow, and he dropped any idea of using magic in his escape.
Twisting columns of magic rose in the distance, spinning in time with currents of energy that flowed from key nodes in the land. A few quick calculations had him gasping in shock. There was only one place in the world he could be.
”So you can recognise your own work now?” Kazimierz leaned over and gestured to the energy currents. With his Sight active, Nikolai could see the agitated swirls of energy spinning around Kazimierz' mask.
”You were here.” Nikolai breathed.
”I survived.” Kazimierz cast a quick shielding spell, an opaque dome forming around the cart. ”Do you want to know how?”
Nikolai shook his head, sweat pouring from his flushed body.
This time it wasn't the Stardust's effects.
There was a reason he'd never returned to Galicia after the war despite the wealth of magical power and devices that remained in its ruins.
No one should have to face the death of a city by magic.
With dramatic flair, Kazimierz snapped the mask away. The silver rippling as it was pulled away by the man's gloved hand. Nikolai's eyes widened at the streams of multicoloured smoke that sprouted from the creature's collar, slowly spinning in the rough shape of a head.
”Anima.” Nikolai's mind spun. He'd only heard of these sorts of creatures from his Master once before. Forces of nature formed from the agglomeration of thousands of souls. None had been seen for thousands of years, their method of creation lost long ago. Nikolai's emotions spun out of control in the face of the creature, anger and fear turning him into a shaky mess.
”One that you created.” When the Anima spoke it sounded like a thousand voices hissed the words.
”No. I didn't!” Nikolai's eyes swum as he tried to avoid the sight of the creature. The Anima known as Kazimierz faced him silently, the weight of a thousand lives in its eyeless stare. ”Did you bring me here for revenge?” Helpless without his magic, Nikolai huddled in the corner, as far from the creature as possible.
Kazimierz placed the mask back on and the pressure he emitted burst like it had never existed. Nikolai calmed his racing heart frustrated at how easily he'd lost control. It was written that Animas were able to amplify feelings, feeding on them in some way and Nikolai drew a shuddering breath at the experience. Kazimierz dispelled the opaque shield and gazed at the distant ruins.
”No. Not revenge.” The disguise magic in the mask hadn't fully settled and Nikolai could hear faint echoes of pain in Kazimierz' voice.
”You won't get away with this.”
”Your defiance is admirable Master Nikolai, but your associates will not be able to stop me.”
There was something dark around Kazimierz, a hunger as if he wanted to swallow everything around him. Nikolai hoped he was wrong, but the magical currents around the Anima now exuded a force that drew threads of energy and consumed them. He hung his head, praying to the Fates to keep his family safe. He had no doubt they'd find him but in the face of an Anima, especially one whose dominant soul was a Mages, he wished they wouldn't.