Chapter 466 - Descending Sun

Hey guys. I've had a few chapters that weren't in the appropriate patreon collection. If you ever notice me forget could you drop a reminder in the comments. Had someone message me recently about it.

Hope you like the chapter!

Hump stood before the Seal of Elenvine, doubt plaguing his mind. But if Godfrey was coming to destroy it. The veil between worlds would open anyway, in which case, wasn’t it better that they use its power for themselves?

“What do you mean take it from him?” Prince Gregory asked.

“We can be the ones to break the seal,” Hump said. “We can use its power to destroy the Tree of Damnation and stop this invasion. The seal is already collapsing. This is not a matter of if it breaks, but when. If we do it now, we do it on our terms. If we wait, it will only serve as fuel for the enemy.”

“Surely there’s another way,” Prince Gregory said. “Anything but destroying it. We cannot allow it to fall!”

“It will fall,” Hump said. “We can let it, or we can destroy it ourselves and use it for good.”

“What you’re suggesting is insanity.”

Hump shrugged. “I suppose we could fight him. Are you confident in taking on a ninth circle traitor Chosen?”

“We must at least try.”

“I agree with Hump,” Emilia said. “Bud and Dylan are injured. I’m exhausted. Celaine too. I don’t think we would stand a chance against another Warlock Anthony, let alone Godfrey. If we choose to fight, it is an empty attempt at defending the seal.”

“If we fight, we’ll lose,” Celaine said. “He is the closest to the divine of all that I have met.”

Prince Gregory stepped between Hump and the seal, shaking his head. Yet his eyes were conflicted. “We can’t do this. We can’t!”

Hump frowned. The fact was, it would be a simple enough matter to overpower the prince and do it anyway. Only problem with that is destroying a seal under the prince’s orders seemed a whole lot less treasonous than knocking him out first and doing it anyway. The former could get him on the Inquisition’s most wanted list, but the latter would definitely do it. His mind went to Owalyn. Calling her here would simplify things. Maybe she could tell him what to do—no, who was he kidding. She wouldn’t help Elenvine. But she would get his friends out. They could rescue Emilia’s family, Mav, maybe even Wizard Aldric, Count Daston, Mister Borton and the kids under his care.

Then they could leave the city to burn. Prince Gregory to die for his morals.

Elenvine had never been home to Hump, and for many years, Alveron hadn’t felt like much of a home to him either. It had always been the road and the fire.

Gods, that sounds good right now, Hump thought. He was so tired of cities, and warlocks, and demons, and gods. He was tired of such monumental things happening around him. He wanted so badly to agree with the prince and leave. Let the man die on his own. They could get out.

Hump let out a long sigh. He couldn’t do it.

“Do you hear that?” Celaine asked.

The group fell silent. Hump tilted his head and strained to hear, but nothing came to him in the silence but for the distant groans of a few surviving demons. Nisha growled, only to be cut off as Celaine hushed her.

“What is it?” Emilia said.

Celaine raised a finger. “Listen. It will come.”

A few more seconds passed. Then Hump heard it too—barely audible, but a sound like faint crumbling. It came from above.

“There!” Celaine pointed toward the corner of the chamber ceiling.

Their eyes all went to that spot. The noise grew louder and more steady. Each of them went for their weapons, preparing for whatever came through. The sound continued to build, and then something broke through.

A thick brown tendril pushed its way out of the stone, writhing like a serpent. It twisted as it entered the chamber, curling and twitching as if tasting the air. That didn’t look like Godfrey’s power, and Hump sensed no divinity in it. But it was familiar.

“That’s a tree root,” Dylan said grimly. “The Tree of Damnation is seeking out the seal.”

“Shoot it, Celaine,” Hump said.

Celaine shot it, severing the end of the root. It dropped to the ground with a thud but more followed it. And not just one. There was half a dozen already, crawling into the room like vines.

“Shit,” Hump said. “Emilia, Celaine, do what you can to slow it down.”

There was no time to wait. Even under ideal conditions, what Hump wanted to attempt was difficult. Now, with the enemy at the door, he needed every moment he had if they were to have a chance. And for that, he needed his royal highness to get out the way.

“We have no choice, Prince,” Hump said. “It’s us or them. The seal falls either way. Get out of my way.”

Prince Gregory clenched his fists. “I… can’t. I have a duty to protect it.”

Hump took a step closer. “You have a duty to protect Elenvine. To protect your people.”

A heavy silence lay between them.

Broken by a weak voice.

Bud.

“Destroy the seal.”

Hump’s heart lifted knowing he was awake. All eyes turned to the knight, still lying on the ground before Dylan.

“Our path has led us here,” he continued.

“What are you saying?” Prince Gregory asked. “You think the gods would have us destroy the seal we’re here to protect?”

“If the gods wanted us to protect the seal, they would have repaired it,” Bud said with a certainty that Hump couldn’t understand. “But they put us on this path, which means there is meaning here. The seal’s collapse is inevitable, which means we’re not here to protect it. We’re here to make sure the warlocks do not get their hands on it. We can still stop Godfrey.”

His eyes were filled with such faith that it bordered on insanity. How, after all this, did he trust the gods so absolutely?

He turned to Dylan. “Help me up.”

The druid frowned. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“I didn’t ask if you did.” Bud extended a hand. “Come on, my friend. I’m going to need to be on my feet for this.”

He stumbled as he stood, but he stayed upright. The sight gave Hump a little confidence. They needed him right now.

“What of the opening veil?” Prince Gregory asked. “Will I be turning away one army of monsters in exchange for a host of others?”

The conflict danced on Prince Gregory’s face, but Hump could tell something had changed. That resistance wasn’t there anymore. All he needed was a push.

“The veil will open, and we will find out, and then we will stop it,” Hump said. “We don’t leave the people of Elenvine to be slaughtered by demons simply because they will be exposed to more threats later. We defeat the damned demons, we save the city, and we show whatever else is out there what happens if they try to claim it.”

With a heavy sigh, Prince Gregory stepped aside. “Gods grant us mercy for what we’re about to do, but you have convinced me. Wizard Humphrey, you have my permission to destroy the Seal of Elenvine.”

Hump smiled. It was a forced smile, but he felt like he needed it right now. Today, the doors to Alveron and the rest of the world would open, and a new era would begin.

And it was his magic that would do it.

“Are you sure you can do it?” Emilia asked. “It may be close to the point of breaking, but this is still divine magic crafted by Lady Light. How do we break it?”

“I’ll siphon its essence away with another spell,” Hump said, stepping toward the seal. “Then use that power to fuel my attack on the Tree of Damnation.”

He came to a stop before the Seal of Elenvine, unable to help but to admire the runes. Even in their fading state, they remained beautiful. The lines were perfect. Carved out of light itself. He could feel the subtle flourish of the caster in every curve and stroke, like brushwork left by a master painter.

He’d convinced the prince to let him do this. Now he needed to convince himself. A wizard had to be certain, and right now he was anything but.

Opening his spellbook once more, he studied the Spell Siphon formation. A Tier 7 spell and he had minutes to pull it off.

Or perhaps not. I have more, Hump realised.

“Why are you smiling?” Prince Gregory asked. “Is that a good or a bad smile?”

“A good smile,” Hump said, pulling out the lich’s phylactery. “I know how to buy myself some time.”

The ceiling groaned above them, a low, grinding rumble. More roots pushed through the stone, sending chunks of masonry raining down. Dylan raised his hands and summoned his fourth blessing, Wrath of the Wild. Spectral trees and plants erupted from the ground, their branches stretching toward the ceiling like a thousand outstretched arms, weaving together to hold back the collapsing roof.

Warmth swept through the chamber like a forest breeze. It wouldn’t be enough.

The roof tore open. Dust and stone gave way to writhing, snaking roots, their bark gnarled and glowing faintly with corrupted essence. The sun shone down through the opening, and Hump squinted against its brightness.

As the light shifted, his stomach sunk. That wasn’t sunlight.

Godfrey had found them.

Hump clutched the phylactery tightly in both hands and turned to the others. “I’m going to use the Time Stop Hourglass. That’ll give me two hours, but for you, it’ll be just a few seconds. Protect me while I cast.”

“What?” Prince Gregory asked.

“No time for questions. Just don’t let anything hit me.”

He sat cross-legged on the floor, placing the phylactery in his lap. His breath came slow and steady. The noise of the chamber faded as he focused. Godfrey’s light descended into the room like a slow, inevitable avalanche.

“There it is,” the traitor Chosen said, hovering just beyond the roof. “The prize of my Lady Light.” He raised his voice, calling out to the world, his arms raised in challenge. “Do you see me now?”

When no answer followed, he gave a bitter laugh.

Hump didn’t want to hear it.

He fell from the world, darkness enveloping him, reality shifting. His vision swam, the darkness encroached, and then the carnage was gone and he was there.

Walt appeared atop the steps, the little blue creature with a big grin on his face. “How’s it going, kid?”

“Talk in a minute,” Hump yelled, rushing past him at a dead sprint, charging up the steps to the front doors, racing through the entry hall to the next room. His boots pounded against the wood. Inside, he took the stairs two at a time, not stopping until he reached the enchantment table.

There, on the mantle above the fireplace, sat the Time Stop Hourglass. He grabbed it and flipped it over, sands falling in a steady trickle. He fell back, leaning on the table, catching his breath.

With that, he’d bought himself two hours.

Walt’s voice echoed through the hall, soft with concern. “What’s going on, kid?”

Hump didn’t answer right away. His hands were already moving, clearing the table, pulling tools from drawers, flipping his spellbook to the correct page.

“Elenvine’s under invasion, and I’ve got two hours to figure out this spell formation if I’m going to save it.”