The Aspect: Journey to the Firegrove by Ajax Lygan

Author:Ajax Lygan [Lygan, Ajax]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 2020-10-31T16:00:00+00:00

17

The giant barrier extended above the tree lines. It seemed to extend high enough to touch the clouds in the sky. The smoky layers rolled like a snowy avalanche falling down a mountain peak. However, the smoke did not evaporate like a gas; it held firm like a liquid contained in a thin physical shell. Tempest, Riika, and Ella approached the front of the caravan to get a closer look. Z’Korra’s commands echoed throughout the surrounding wilderness.

“You two, I want you sky high, giving me an idea of the size of this thing. You three, I want you to scout the surrounding wilderness to make sure we don’t have any unwanted guests waiting for us to stop here.”

As the scouts acknowledged their orders and took flight, Z’Korra and Kiri moved to the side of Tempest and his companions. “Any idea what in the gods we’re dealing with?”

“Nope,” Riika said dryly.

Ella was staring at the barrier, hastily scribbling details on her parchment. “Is this what your scouts reported the last time they were here?” she asked.

“No, we haven’t seen anything like this… this is new,” Z’Korra said, crossing her arms as she looked up into the sky. “And it looks like it’s grown. The corruption that was reported previously was maybe one hundred and fifty feet in diameter. My guess is this thing is probably a mile in diameter by now.”

As they all looked up at the massive size of the barrier, one of the remaining scouts took a step toward it. Ella, who was still scribbling details about the movement of the smoky-like fluid, noticed at the last second the scout’s outreached hand.

“No, wait!” Ella shouted.

Her warning was too late. The scout fell to her knees, screaming in agony as she gripped her forearm. Everyone around her watched in horror as her arm slowly disintegrated like it was being eaten by acid. In a moment of quick thinking, Riika grabbed the scout underneath her arm, pulled out her hatchet, and sliced her arm off at the elbow. The scout fell backward to the ground, unmoving.

“Is she dead?” Tempest asked.

Kiri slid next to the scout’s body and began examining her. “No, she’s just unconscious, likely due to the shock.”

While everyone was watching Kiri examine the scout, Ella hovered over the severed arm. The arm continued to disintegrate until there was nothing more. “Fascinating,” she muttered before rifling around in her satchel, looking for another piece of parchment.

“I hope it’s now clear to you not to touch this barrier,” Z’Korra shouted. Z’Korra kneeled down next to Kiri, who had finished bandaging the wound. “How’s she looking?”

Kiri’s crescent eyes and smile were reassuring. “Oh, she’ll be fine,” Kiri said. “The shock of what happened just scared her more than anything. I’ve stopped the bleeding and I have a few potions here that will get her mobile and functional with her other three arms.”

“Good. Once you’ve cleared her, I want her helping with the rest.”

At that moment, the other scouts all returned. Z’Korra’s assessment was correct; the barrier was about one mile in diameter and approximately half that tall.

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