Druid Wanted 3: Open Season: A Cultivation Dark Fantasy by Nicholas Steam

Author:Nicholas Steam [Steam, Nicholas]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2022-12-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16 – Partial Victory

Klytea chased after me. “What is it? What happened?”

“The sun,” I grimaced, “Did it get brighter?”

She leaned over, brushing her fingers across my eyes. “No, something’s wrong with your Chi.” Suddenly she recoiled, wiping her hands off on the earth. “You’ve got shadow corruption. How long have you had this?”

“Awhile. Is shadow corruption bad?”

“Of course it is. Why wouldn’t it be? It’s the Chi of Exdohr, of the guardians beneath Vicran. The World Tree. What have you been dabbling in?”

“It wasn’t on purpose,” I replied. Even within the darkness, the pain from the sunlight faded slowly leaving my head feeling as if a hammer had bounced off of it.

“It will corrupt your roots!”

“Well then, how do I get rid of it? It’s not like I want it.”

She sighed and pouted, crossed her arms and stared out into the forest as though thinking. “You can’t, far as I know.” Then she shrugged and added, “You’re fucked.”

I scoffed. “Great. Do you have any sunglasses, by chance?”

She didn’t. I pulled the cloak up over my head. It helped, as long as I kept it pulled up, and the day was still almost too bright. Suddenly it felt as though the quest had become that much harder. Still, I thought it enough that I could continue, at least. There was nothing else to do but try to figure it out on the way.

As I stepped back out of the cave, wincing, I felt the pull to return to the comforting darkness of the cave. I forced the urge down, burying it.

Except, as I exited, I heard whispers from behind me. “Noooo… stay with us…”

I turned, staring back into the cave. “You hear that?”

Klytea followed my gaze and shook her head. “Hear what?”

“Ah. Nothing. Looks like shadow corruption comes with a dose of schizophrenia.”

I tried to keep to the shade as we walked, avoiding the beams of light. Klytea watched me with unease growing in her expression with every step.

“Maybe Queen Nelaira can help you,” she said, not looking at me.

“I hope so.”

She suddenly stopped and turned. “Can I ask you a favor? Please? Just a little one. I’ve always wanted to hear a dragon song. Could you sing it to me? Just a part of it?”

“I didn’t get it, I’m sorry. The dragon was dead. Has been for some time.”

“What? No! But… dragons are immortal! They don’t just die.”

“I’m sorry,” I said. The fairy looked genuinely upset, and I patted her awkwardly on the back, trying not to bump her wings. “How did you not know?”

After Queen Nelaira fell into slumber, the dragon withdrew. He just… stopped coming out. Things have been different for so long… It’s not how it used to be at all. I fear the world might never be the same again.”

“Once I defeat the demon elk and Exdohr, things will go back to normal, won’t they?”

She didn’t look convinced. Maybe she was right. The world always moved forward, and the sickness and corruption wouldn’t just go away, it certainly wouldn’t heal overnight.

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