Chapter 8: web of tricks
everyone felt the blood drain from their face at the sight of the Striga looming over them from the tree's, it jumped down with its shrill shriek, Rigran used Aard to push it back this time into the bark of a tree and splinters impaled into its back from the force of the impact.
The Striga then lunged with renewed vigour and slashed at Rigran but he backrolled out of the way and then it began to chase Rayla seeing easier prey to hunt.
Climbing back up in the tree, the elf's eyes widened as she saw the monster was now chasing Ezran. Fortunately, Ellis and Ava saved him, racing over and scooping him up.
"FOCUS! WE CAN DO THIS!" Callum cheered from the side. "EZ AND BAIT, YOU'RE UP!"
Ezran nodded, picking up Bait and closing his eyes. Through their clids each of them could see the bright flash of light accompanied by the pained screech of the beast as it was blinded.
"YES! ELLIS, AVA: WOOF!"
Ezran hopped off Ava, allowing the wolf and rider to take off barking and running around the disoriented beast. Its massive head swung between the different sources of sound coming from all around it, trying and failing to pinpoint its prey.
"Ok, my turn for Zap," Callum said, drawing the lightning rune. The orb in his palm sparked to life and lightning crackled over him. "Here goes nothing," he threw his hand forwards, "Fulminus!"
A near deafening crack split the air as the lightning shot across the battlefield, slamming into its unsuspecting target. The Striga released a series of agonized screeches, writhing as its body spasmed.
"YES! GET ZAPPED! GET ZAPPED BY THE ZAP HAND!" Callum cheered, the Striga turned on Callum with a howl and threw a rock at him and he was only just Tackled by Rigran in the Knick of time before his face got smashed in.
"Rayla Slishy-slash" Rigran said standing up and drawing his silver sword, Rayla swooped in and slashed the Striga across the back, it whirled around trying to hit her as the elf Zigged and zagged around the Striga.
Finally the Striga had enough and timed it just right and swung it's massive claws at Rayla knocking her back and knocked her swords out of her hands. The Striga raised its massive claws in the air but in the Knick of time, Rigran jumped from a rock to give himself extra hight and swung his silver sword down on the Striga's neck.
The sword passed right through the skin and the Striga stood there frozen with a gurgling noise coming from its throat. It's hand went limp, the Striga fell to its knees and finally fell to the ground, its head rolling to Rayla's feet as it hit the ground.
The Striga was finally dead, "w-we did it" Callum said tiredly, "yes we did" Rigran chuckled picking up the head, "uh what are you doing with that?" Rayla asked with disgust, "proof that I killed one for my master" Rigran exclaimed.
He offered it to Ava and Eliss who backed away slightly, "you okay to carry it?" "Pass" Eliss said slightly creeped out by the creature's head as the body still twitched.
Hainn waited on the roof of the castle battlements whispering to something who's shadow could only be seen on the ground floor from the moonlight, the creature nodded and headed far to the west to Xadia to do dark business.
"How do you like the new addition to your collection?" He asked Viren who came up to him at that moment, "the elf would not talk even when I found something he feared more than death" Viren explained, "I may hate him and others like him but I can respect that. Give him some credit at least" Hainn drawled.
"So why are you wasting a wish?" Viren asked, "in order to invade Xadia we will need to get rid of the guardian of the border" Hainn explained. "The arrogant fuck will gets what coming to him" then the creature returned and help a strange spear.
To anyone else it looked like it was hanging in the air, "and I want to do so personally" Hainn added as he twirled the spear.
"What is it anyway?" Asked Viren, "a weapon of a bygone age, a forbidden weapon, a weapon that long ago in my lands was the cause of a mass extinction to an entire race" Hainn said evilly as he turned to Viren.
"Can you guess what that race was?" Viren looked at the spear, it was a beautiful spear, black as the night itself, with a large circular gap near where the handle and blade meet no doubt to make it harder to pull out.
And on the handle, here the blade was the figurehead of a serpent like dragon, and Viren understood then, "what is your vendetta with them?" Viren asked, "in due time" said Hainn as he opened a portal behind him, "keep working as you will and keep the djinn" he tossed Viren the bottle.
"My final wish is for that Djinn To now answer your one wish, just one use it wisely" Hainn warned and he disappeared through the portal and was not seen again by Viren until much later in the story.
There it is!" Ellis pointed up the mountain, "there's the tree!", All eyes scaled the slope of the mountain, landing on a single large tree high above the others illuminated by moonlight permeating through the clouds.
"We're almost there!" Callum grinned. "We can do this! We can make it to the rim. We're going to find the healer and save the egg!"
Ava whimpered and Ezran bit his lip, looking distressed. "Oh no…" he said, "oh brilliant" Rigran thought. "What is it?" Callum asked
"I don't know how to say this…" Ezran began, "Spill it already!" Rigran snapped, losing his cool a little, "Even if we make it to the rim, it doesn't matter, there is no miracle healer…I'm sorry," he answered, setting Bait down.
"Stop being mysterious," Callum said. "If you're going to make a claim like that you owe everyone an explanation."
"Ok, Ava told me—" Ezran said "Ugh, here we go again," Callum said as he rolled his eyes. "No, it's true!" the boy protested. "I can understand animals."
"Well, did you ask Bait?" Callum snapped. "He might disagree. Or maybe we can find a very opinionated squirrel around here!". The younger prince threw himself over his backpack, "I knew you wouldn't listen to me!".
"Ezran, I'm listening to you, but it is pretty hard to believe," Rayla said, kneeling beside him. "I've always been different," Ezran began, "it's hard for me to make friends with other kids. I just feel like I don't fit in."
"That's ok, fitting in boring anyway," Rayla reassured and Rigran agreed as he himself was not quite human. "But with animals," he pet Bait, "somehow I have this connection. And a few years ago I realized I could understand what they were saying."
"Can you believe this?" Callum scoffed. "Why would he lie?" Rigran said in defence of Ezran
"Because he's a kid? Because it's fun? Because he's afraid to go up the mountain?!" Callum ranted, "I'm not afraid!" Ezran protested, Callum frowned, rolling his eyes, "Come on Ez, tell the truth."
"Callum, similar things happen with my people," Trezac shrugged. "Though…I've never heard of it to the extent Ezran has it. Mostly it's just being able to control and calm down animals and get them to cooperate—not really talk with them."
"Oh come on! The first time he did this I asked him to prove it! So Ezran said a group of Racoons told him that there was treasure hidden behind a waterfall. But when I went through the waterfall did I find treasure?"
"No," Ezran sighed. "But did my underwear get soaked?" Callum then asked, "Yes." Ezran admitted "See, case closed!" Callum said triumphantly
"The raccoons were being mischievous," Ezran stated. "I've since then learned you can't trust raccoons!", "See! This is why you can't make friends!" Callum snarled.
"Callum! Back off!" Rayla growled standing up. "Do you believe me Rayla?" Ezran asked. "Does it matter?" Callum asked "I believe you Ez," Ellis smiled, "but I also know the Miracle Healer's real, cause I have Ava.",
Rigran had had enough of all this he pulled on Rayla's ear, which was more painful for an elf than humans and punched Callum in the nose making him fall over and held his nose, everyone could have sworn they heard a small crack.
"Arguing over the fact isn't going to make the mountain smaller or the tree closer so shut up and let us all walk in peace before something worse than the Striga comes out of us!" He yelled quietly which was made all the more terrifying by his still black eyes and even black veins pulsing around them.
They all nodded and in silence started walking again, Rigran honestly just wanted some quiet time to think as he was confused on how a Striga could be here, in fact who here even knew the method to make a Striga.
He thought and thought and thought but nothing came.
Meanwhile Snake, Soren and Claudia had made it to the foot of mount Kalik, the tallest mountain in katalis, "you mount say it's the Katolist" Soren quipped, Claudia burst out laughing and tears fell down her face she was laughing so hard and even Snake chuckled and slapped his thigh as it was the best joke either had ever heard.
"Oh gods You're a genius" Claudia laughed, "really?" Soren asked as he looked at Snake who didn't seem the kind to laugh, "why not?" Claudia shrugged still chuckling, then spotted something on the ground had formed a joke of her own.
"Hey what's this?" Claudia asked picking up a small bit of dirt in one hand, "the Kashortist mountain" she laughed at her own joke and held herself up by her horse.
The humour deflated like air out of a ballo, Soren also deflated, Snake didn't get it either, "now I'm not sure that you got the joke" Soren said, Snake patted him on the back, "on the plus side she is cute when fooling about" he said.
"Hmmm" Soren said in acknowledgment then caught on, "wait that's my sister your talking about" Soren said as Snake rode on getting what he thought was the right idea, "guilty as charged" Snake quipped back raising his hands and steering the horse with his feet towards the mountain.
Claudia caught up to them on her own horse, "so you have everything right?" Soren asked, "yup" Claudia said, "okay just double checking" Soren said, "just don't want to get to the top of the mountain and have you suddenly remembering you still need a wasp butt or something".
Claudia scoffed "a wasps butt is useless but the thorax is good for a lot of things" Claudia said getting into explanation mode, "nevermind" Soren said before his sister could begin.
A little bit of walking later Callum spoke up, "Huh, the higher we walk up this Caldera, the brighter the Moon Rune glows," He commented as he looked at the small cube
"Maybe because the higher we go the closer we are to the moon," Rayla deadpanned. "I dunno, something seems different this time." Callum said Rigran was about to say something himself when A disembodied moan echoed over the area, causing all of them to stop in their tracks. "Did…did anyone else hear that?"
"Yep, ignoring it! Keep moving," Rayla replied, continuing to stomp forwards as nervous as the others. The moan came again and Rigran's medallion hummed softly and rattled on its chain as Rigran reached for his short swords.
This place had practically been saturated in something; something telling them to run, to turn back. He could feel it, all the pain, the fear, the anger, there was so much in this place.
Unlike the others however, Rigran killed off all these feelings as a Witcher was trained to do as none of these would help in a fight.
"Maybe we should go," Ezran whimpered as the moan echoed around them again.
"I'm going to share an old elven proverb with you," Rayla said, "When travelling up a mountain trying to save a dying dragon egg and you hear a spooky sound, just keep walking."
"That's really specific," Callum commented and they all flinched as another groan came.
"What if someone needs help?" Ellis asked, trying to be optimistic. "Then they die because we don't know where anyone is on this bloody rock," Rigran snapped coldly.
"I think Rigran's a little overwhelmed" Rayla whispered to Callum, "it's not the first time it's usually when a hunt proves to be more difficult than expected" Callum explained, "have you ever been on any of his hunts?" Rayla questioned, "well once and never went again" , Callum explained.
"Hey look I'm going to go check it out" Rayla said to the others, "what happened to keep walking?" Rigran hissed, "I'll be fine" Rayla reassured, "just wait here"
Rayla then departed and Rigran sat on the ground, "you okay you seem stressed" Callum said sitting down next to Rigran, "not really that Striga caught me off guard and not in the fight" Rigran said, "what if that voice is a wraith or worse a lessen trying to lure us deeper into its territory to kill us?".
"Well we haven't seen any Leshy statues" Ezran pointed out, remembering details about Leshens from Dravaans stories, "lessen totems you mean" Rigran said feeling better now that he had a subject he was comfortable with, "the point is if a Striga is here then there might be other creatures here and I have no real experience of how to deal with them other than Dravaans stories".
"Well you handled that Striga like an expert" said Eliss optimistically, "yeah and remember when you saved the town from a griffin?" Callum said, Eliss jaw dropped open, "he actually killed a griffin?" She asked Ezran who nodded.
"Besides you also saved bait and Rayla from that fish monster" Ezran then added, Rigran's spirits were lifted, "well I couldn't have done it if you guys hand helped and besides Rayla's the real hero of that tail" Rigran said, "But nevertheless thanks I'm feeling better now".
Then there was a scream. It was a girl's scream and it was Rayla scream at that, everyone jumped up and ran to the source of the scream.
Rayla had screamed because it was the only thing she could do as something strangled her after knocking her swords out of her hands. It was a minute ago a bit of ash held together by a spider web that wrapped around the outside of the body.
Now from the dust it once had been, it rose up as a cloaked humanoid figure holding a lantern in one hand and a sword in another, it had thrown away the sword and went to hands wanting to kill Rayla with its bare hands.
Rayla gasped for air as the Spector learned over her hooded and terrifying, "Fulminus" Callum said jumping over a rock, drawing the symbol and shooting lightning at the Wraith it passed right through but it did get its attention.
It let go of Rayla who gasped for air and it drew its sword from the ground and picked up its lantern it charged at them but Rigran cast Ydren and the Wraith was hit with the full force of the attack.
Since it was a very young wraith it was reckless and weak, Rigran swung his silver sword and cut off one of its arms in one swing and any amount of pain for a wraith was more than any other creature.
It screeched in pain, agony flowing through it, Rigran then slashed at its lantern shattering it, the wraith screeched this time in rage as Wraiths have a connection to their possessions but it was seemed to have had enough as now Ydren had worn off and it charged fast howling in agony and rage.
Wraiths knew no amount of fear and it recklessly charged at Rigran and the others rolled out of the way and Rigran cast Ydren again setting another trap as he took out his tomahawk and threw it at the wraith.
It past right through off course but it got its attention and a target, it charged sword raised at Rigran and it was once again turned solid as it entered the trap, Rigran plunged his sword through the beasts heart then drew it out and cast Igni and made the wraith howl in pain as the fire began to burn it and it slunk to the ground slowly dying for the second time.
And slowly it stopped moving and the fires went out as it became incorporeal and then Faded into nothing. Rayla was breathing frantically as she tried to absorb everything, "Rayla!" Callum said grabbing her shoulder, "Rayla" he repeated shaking her and got her attention.
"Are you okay?" Callum asked more softly, "it was barely alive Callum" Rayla said wide eyed, "a moment ago it was just…dust, it was awful". "Hey we're here now and we ain't leaving" Callum said reassuringly.
"Maybe we should turn around" Eliss said, "no we can't" Callum said "the egg doesn't have much time left so we need to get moving" Rigran agreed retrieving his tomahawk, Rayla reclaimed her swords and they set off back up the mountain to the large tree.
After a while Rigrans eyes returned to the normal and became slitted like cats as the potion wore off and his eyes adjusted to the dark, they came to a blocking in the road, that being a bunch of giant spiders webs, Rayla considered going around but Ava sniffing proved that there was no way around, so the only option was to cut through.
Rayla cut through the blockage with a few quick slashes and they continued on "Don't touch the webs" Rayla warned holding their swords, "Ugh, they're everywhere," Ezran groaned, getting some in his hair. "It's too dark" and indeed it was, it was so pitch black that you couldn't tell if your eyes were closed or not unless you really squinted.
Even Rigran's eyes struggled to pick out anything in the dark, "You think the thing that did this has been watching us?" Callum asked, looking at all the webs.
"It has to be," Rayla growled. "Nothing safe would make these," she sliced through a small web in their way, "whatever did this is dangerous, and very big."
Several of them gulped at those thoughts, going quiet as the cautiously continued forwards. It was then they could hear the soft clicking of something behind them. As they turned, Ezran screamed at the sight of the giant spider crawling behind them.
"What is that?!" Callum exclaimed, "Holy shit!" Rigran muttered drawing his short swords, Callum raced to the back of the group, holding out his Primal Stone, "Fulminis!" he exclaimed, drawing the ruin in the air. The crack of lightning striking echoed around them, and the spider appeared to burst, sending Callum into a panic. "Ah! Did I get it? Where'd it go? Ew! It feels like it's in my hair!"
"It's a two-ton magical spider, you'd know if it were in your hair," Rayla deadpanned. "Must have retreated for now, will be back soon," Rigran said. Sure enough Soft clicks came from above, and all of them silently cursed as they looked up. And, sure enough, there stood the spider on the webs directly above them. It gave a hiss, jumping towards them.
They all rolled back and Rigran used Aard to punch it back, only it didn't work and as the beast kept coming towards them. With loud screams, they scrambled up a nearby slope, hiding behind some trees listening as they heard it continue to patrol the area.
"How are we going to get past that thing?" Callum panted exhausted, "it's like a wraith, my Aard had no effect on it" Rigran said looking at his hand.
"Even if we managed to get past, one wrong step and were caught in those webs," Rayla reminded looking grim, "and trust me, you don't want to know what happens if you get caught in a web."
"There has to be a way. We have to get through!" Callum said.
As they argued, Ezran peered over the rocks looking at the spider. It crawled back up onto the webs, looking in their direction before giving another chitter. "Wait a second…" he murmured looking at it as it continued to chitter, "something's not right…in a good way this time!"
"Huh?" They all said, baffled to no end.
"You know, there's something so invigorating about climbing a mountain at midnight. The moonlight, the clouds, the fresh air," Soren rambled on, taking a deep breath before coughing. "Ahh! Claudia! I think you horse just—"
"Wasn't the horse," his sister sang and the boy looked annoyed. "To be honest I am disgusted, and a little impressed," Soren said as they rode on.
Snakes own nose wrinkled as he tried to ignore the smell as Witchers if you remember have stronger senses than normal humans.
Still he had a mission and a Witcher completed missions no matter what, or die.
"What should we do? We could turn back and try to find another way up the Caldera," Ellis offered. Ezran chuckled, emerging from his hiding spot, "No, it's going to be ok. We can just walk right past it."
"What are you talking about?" Rigran asked, "It's not real, I'm sure of it," he answered. "That doesn't make any sense," Rayla muttered. "Where's your proof?" Callum dared.
"The chitters and screams don't make sense," Ezran replied as if that explained everything. "That's not how spiders talk.", "Ok, it's official," Callum sighed, "Ez, you've lost your mind."
"No I haven't, and I'm gonna prove it," the boy exclaimed racing down the path. "Ezran!" Callum exclaimed with Rayla and Ellis on his heels.
But Rigran pushed them back, he decided it was time to have some trust in Ezran, nevertheless he had his tomahawk at the ready just in case.
His eyes widened in horror as he saw the massive monster leap down and roar at Ezran.
The sheer force of its cry caused the boy to almost fall over, but when it finished, Ezran just stood there and screamed back at it. The spider tilted its head, before releasing another cry in Ezran's face, but it still made no move to attack as Ezran once again yelled at it.
With a laugh, the boy turned to look at them all, "Try screaming at him! It's fun!"
Callum inched forwards, stretching out his hand. The beast gave another call, causing him to take a few steps back, yet, like the same times before, it did nothing.
"See, it won't do anything." Ezran said
"You're right…" Callum said in awe, "Let's see if we can get it to turn around and show us its creepy glow-face," Ezran smiled, making a face at the monster.
"Ezran, I owe you an apology," Callum said. "Well at least one." Rigran muttered, "I'm sorry I didn't believe you. I promise, I won't ever doubt you again." Callum promised
"If you really mean it…" Ezran began, "I do." Callum interrupted, Ezran smirked, "Then you have to do the thing.", Callum's eyes widened in horror. "Here? Now?"
The boy's grin only grew wider as he nodded. Callum took a deep breath of defeat, then proceeded to do one of the strangest things Rayla, Eliss or Ava had ever seen in his entire life. "Callum's famous jerkface dance!" Ezran said as he and Rigran laughed.
"So…if it's fake, what's it doing here?" Rayla inquired looking at the spider.
"Cheering for the jerkface dance, I think," Ezran answered then turned to Callum. "It wants more. Knees higher! Knees higher!".
