Chapter 776 (2/2)

Randidly was pleased to see some tower shields in the style he designed. At least they could learn. But in the face of so many Wights…

The distance made things more difficult, but Randidly forced himself to the task of creating three root avatars. They rose silently out of the ground with no fanfare. But as they neared the enemies, they blazed with emerald fire.

Randidly’s goal was twofold. The first was to help these people out. Despite what political snafu was preventing the powerful Masters of both sides from moving, Randidly was determined not to leave the common people out to dry. And secondly…

Randidly’s hands clenched into fists. He needed the fucking practice. Helen was already improving to the point that she could keep her Domain up almost constantly against him by using the currents of air to bind those focusing on cutting it apart. Three root avatars just weren’t enough.

Despite the fact that he was earning himself another headache without a doubt, Randidly gritted his teeth and slowly formed a fourth root avatar. After all, it didn’t matter much if they were relatively weak. They were easily reformed if destroyed. It was just time practicing with four root avatars that he needed.

Having Helen’s first hour of practice frequently stumble to a halt because he was unable to effectively control four would not be the sort of experience he wanted for her. In fact, if there was a way to up the annoying factor of the training by a bit-

Randidly blinked. Then he began to laugh.

Oh. Oh, this is going to be fun, Randidly thought with a smile. She is going to be so pissed.

Humming a tune to himself, Randidly led his four puppets to attack the Wights unsuspecting flanks.

*****

Helen couldn’t believe her ears. “What do you mean he won’t speak with me directly?”

The two of them were standing outside the training area, which was once more covered in vines. After being left inside the room to cut herself out the prior day without so much as a goodbye after the training had ended, Helen had been spitting mad. Resting and eating a meal had given her the longer view of it, however. She had to admit that she had improved over the course of the day, and noticeably too. Even if it was eccentric, she should give Randidly the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps this was the training method that he had used to grow so strong.

All of that perspective evaporated as soon as she arrived this morning. The pompous toad that Azriel had so blithely smashed the previous day had been waiting for her by the door. When he spoke, he put on a condescending smile. “Huhuhuhu. Well, it is part of the training regimen. He and I have put our heads together and developed a special training-”

Without allowing the fool to continue, Helen kicked him in the chest. The black thread of flame in her chest wiggled with glee. She was honestly surprised by how good it felt. The fool tumbled backward into the wall of roots.

Of course, the roots parted and allowed the man to fall through the hole into the training area. Helen stepped through after him, a ghost of a smile on her face.

Perhaps this man’s presence wasn’t such a bad thing. For all that he was ugly and weak, he was an extremely useful punching bag-

Helen’s smile faltered. Her gaze turned solemn as she looked at Darrune. God, that thought reminded her so much of Roger.

Brushing himself off, the man stood and flashed a smile as if nothing happened. “Ahaha, such fun banter we have. Anyway, please listen, this is important. Today will be a little different. At my suggestion, Randidly altered the training a bit. Instead of simply fighting… you will now also be protecting. Look at that.”

Darrune pointed upward. Helen, struggling to understand what he was saying, followed the line of his finger. A strange molten sphere floated near the roof of the training area. As Helen watched, a drop of molten metal gathered and fell to sizzle against the ground.

“As long as I am safe, that Spell of Randidly’s will stay out of it. But if I am threatened…” Darrune shrugged. As if to punctuate his inane statement, Helen felt a strange tugging at her body. It felt like someone turned off gravity around her and tossed her body upward. For a second, she simply floated.

Helen’s face flushed red. If that happened mid-fight… especially if that strange influence pulled her in different directions… No matter how small the effect, it would completely throw off her momentum.

Lending credence to her concerns, four root avatars rapidly formed.

Helen glanced at Darrune. “Fine, stay behind me. And draw your fucking spear, you worm.”

“Hmph, if I had a spear, wouldn’t I just trounce them all? This is training for you, Helen,” Darrune folded his arms. “Defend me yourself.”

“Ran, did, LYYYYYYYYY.” Helen roared.

*****

On the roof, Randidly grinned. “Oh, Helen. Don’t you have escort missions on Tellus?”