Chương 79: Retrieve The Wand
Ever since Ra had explained to her about source magic, Bast had a newfound understanding regarding its practice.
Bast was not an idiot, she knew what it meant for magic users to have multiple sources to draw from, however it only served to fuel her disgust now that she knew the type of magic Xiara used as a source. Succubus Magic, the source of her power was sex, Bast involuntarily gagged when she thought of this point, she glanced in the direction Xiara had disappeared in and sighed inwardly.
Sparing no more energy for those thoughts she quickly made her way to the mausoleum, and doing as Captain Iorwerth had instructed, kicked the trick step with her heel as if she was slipping on it, a section of stone on her left shifted to reveal a passageway which descended into the catacombs.
It was dark inside the passageway, but in the distance she could see a faint bluish light emanating from the walls.
As she grew nearer she discovered they were runes. These runic patterns lined the walls of the passageway, increasing in number as she went.
Eventually she came face to face with the barrier, a voice filled her mind.
"Welcome, young one, fate has brought you to this place, do you wish to undertake the challenge of the 9?" Bast hesitated briefly before confirming, "I would like to take the challenge!" she declared, while it was risky, she felt she should face this challenge head on and not shy away. After all, hadn't she just recently decided to become stronger? Faced with this opportunity Bast would not allow it to slip through her fingers. "Indeed, you are quite brave, Which of the 9 Paragons challenges do you wish to take?"
In her earlier investigates Bast had learned the names of the 9 Paragons of Arda, "Taliesin," Bast answered confidently, "Very well," the voice spoke in her head, "You have chosen to take on the challenge of our mage, A most brilliant mind, this challenge has 3 stages of difficulty; Adventure, Hero, Legend. Which one will you attempt, you will only be allowed to try once." Bast hesitated, since there was only one chance she shouldn't push her luck, but no matter how she looked at it these difficulties had a direct correlation with the reward. It was clear to her what these catacombs were, it was the 9 Paragons method of leaving behind their legacy to the younger generation. With that she steeled herself, "I will challenge the Legend difficulty!" she announced, there was a whoosh and the dim blue light of the dark passageway disappeared.
Bast found herself standing on a rolling green hill, the surroundings were thick with wildlife and vegetation.
Glancing around, she saw a woman standing on the opposite side of a small pond. The woman was extraordinarily beautiful, she had pale red hair that whipped about in the gentle breeze. Beneath the surface of the pond teeming with fish, something had captured the woman's attention. Bast followed her gaze to a glowing silver stick etched with divine patterns that pulsed gently in the water. The woman glanced up at her and smiled, "You have arrived," she said and her tone was filled with sadness even as her voice sounded melodious. She glanced back to the pond, "Retrieve my wand and you shall obtain my inheritance, fail and only death awaits." The woman fell silent and spoke no more.
Bast felt a strange sensation grip her heart, she glanced at the seemingly harmless pond and the wand that lay mere inches below the surface and felt...fear.
Unbidden, thoughts of Ra began to enter her mind filling her with confidence which strengthened her resolve, without another thought she dove into the shallow pond headfirst.
The water splashed, and then water filled her ears muffling all sound, Bast could no longer see the wand.
Suddenly, Bast felt something thick slam into her chest, she was flung through the water like a stone.
Fighting to keep air in her lungs Bast quickly glanced around, her movements sluggish in the water.
She barely caught a glimpse before it slammed into her again, her back this time.
"A tail," it was a tail, a black, slimy looking thing but clearly a tail.
Bast had no choice, if she didn't find a way to defend herself, it would be just as the woman had said, she would die here.
Bast threw her arms wide and magic arrays were on the tips of each finger emanating a deep purple glow.
Level 7 Ancient Dragon Lord, this was her current power, as pitifully weak as she was, she could only hope to defend herself long enough to find the wand.
Smoky black chains erupted from her hands, binding the tail being swung at her, the chains were inscribed with patterns designed to trap their prey. Bast did not watch the effects of the chains, already searching for the wand in the murky dark waters.
The glow on the wand was incredibly faint, and Bast was not able to locate it in a short period of time.
"Light," she thought, even as she began working the mana spell that would bring light beneath the water she came to a horrific realization. "There's no mana here," Bast was in shock, mana should exist wherever magic was present, but surprisingly she could find no mana to draw from, "No, it must be an effect of the challenge, fine then, since that's the case..." Bast understood something in this moment. She turned to face the creature, it had already broken free of the chains and was darting at her, it was sleek, and dark, it moved through the water with purpose.
This was it's domain, rows of sharp black teeth were revealed as it opened its mouth, but Bast felt no fear in its presence.
It was extremely close now, in an instant, it had snapped its mouth shut around her.
Bast descended into the darkness of the beasts waiting belly.
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