Magic Glyphs

By the time they were done, and the village was finally sealed off by Hoshendanggir's magic, they had a better idea of just how large an area they had to cover. And Duman Junhe sighed when he saw that it was almost twice the size of the whole White Tiger Gate.

"And these Abyssal Creatures do not seem to have a specific target that they are picking on. They appear to attack randomly, at all the places that are frequented during the day. As if they are tracking the number of people that are present."

Wuying nodded at the point that he thought Wumu Qian was making. "We do not have the energy to protect all of the likely target spots with just the three of us. But I am chary of bringing in more of our people. Our usual methods aren't very effective against these Beasts here. And we might end up losing those who aren't able to adapt."

"True. But that isn't what I was pointing out," Wumu Qian said, surprising the other two men somewhat. "I was wondering how these Beasts were attracted to the group in the first place. How did they realize that there were more people about, at those specific spots? How did they know to attack them when they did?"

Wuying sat up straighter, as he turned to look at Wumu Qian. "You think ... that they are reacting to the presence of the folk here? That these ... Shadow Creatures are able to ... detect the presence of people, and move to intercept them?"

"Then their attacks aren't at random? Are you certain about that?" Duman Junhe frowned as Wumu Qian nodded, answering Wuying's question.

"Certain? No, I am not certain. But it seems to match the patterns that we have seen so far. Of course, it would take some work, and the help of the locals, to confirm if it is true. But if it is ..."

Wuying shook his head as he gave out a quick bark of laughter. "If it is true, it means that we would have a workable plan, that can be tailored to keep all of the people here safe when they leave the Hoshendanggir's rune-marked safety zones."

Duman Junhe agreed, and seemed a little more lighthearted, now that they had what seemed to be the beginnings of a strategy. Nevertheless, the handsome fellow turned to Wumu Qian once again, and jerked his chin up at the youngest of the trio.

"How did you manage to spot something like this, Third Brother? I didn't notice a thing when I was killing them off earlier. Maybe because I was too happy to be having a major role this time? But ... tell us! What made you notice this?"

Wumu Qian merely laughed. "You are forgetting that I am used to hunting in the North. And in studying the habits of the creatures that I hunt there. I have merely applied what I have learned in my time there, in the Northern Woods."

Duman Junhe refused to be deterred, and continued to shake his head at their Third Brother. "Don't try to be humble with the two of us, Qian. You may have just pointed out a crucial fact that we might have missed, in all of our fighting earlier today. Although we need to confirm it with Tanggellir and the others, it might have made our job a lot easier.

"So you can certainly take credit for that suggestion of yours."

Tanggelllir agreed with Duman Junhe, when he was notified of the trio's observations. And after questioning Wumu Qian on what he had actually seen, the elder seemed more than a little excited about the whole matter than the three from the White Tiger Gate.

Something that surprised Wuying and the rest, and they did not bother to hide that. Which was enough to make the leader of the Crafters chuckle, as soon as they shared the reason for their surprise.

"You have only been with us for less than a day, so you wouldn't understand. These Abyssal Creatures have been a plague on our community for generations, and we have barely been able to hold our own against their attacks. You have only been with us for a short while and you have managed to uncover such a secret ... Don't you see how this could affect our lives?"

Tanggellir was wearing a smile on his lips as he nodded at the trio. And he pointed in the direction of a rather large campfire in the distance, as soon as he was done.

"We shall need to talk about this, among all of the leaders, later on. But I believe that you might have found the crux of our little dilemma here. If we can avoid attacks from these Abyssal Creatures ... Well, it would make some of our lives a lot easier. And allow us to deal with our needs without the risk of death.

"You can see how this is something that we shall need to discuss."

Wuying understood what the elder was hinting at at once. "Of course. We shall not speak of this matter until you have made a decision. Indeed, this is but a theory of ours, and we shall need to conduct a few trials first, to see if there is any basis for our future plans. You might wish to check with the others, to see if there are any ... parties willing to take the risk of such experiments, in the near future."

"I understand your concern, of course. And shall only share this with the others who need to know of it. Like Hoshendanggir, and the other Craft Masters, who might need your help to deal with Abyssal Creatures in the near future. And to protect their people as they go about their tasks."

Tanggellir smiled and waved a hand behind him then. And Wuying could sense the presence of more villagers in that general direction. The old man nodded, as though he could detect the Royal Guard's detection of the same.

"Your help is greatly appreciated, and we have not forgotten that this is the first day that you have arrived here. So we have ... Most of us have prepared ... a small party, as you call it, to welcome you to the Shadowed Woods.

"That is something that you do, to welcome guests, is it not? Well, we thought it might ... smooth things between our two peoples."

Wuying smiled, and glanced at the other two men as soon as he heard that. Duman Junhe, on the other hand, seemed amused as he stepped in smoothly, chuckling as he bowed to Tanggellir.

"Well, it would be impolite to refuse you. And we are rather tired and hungry after all that fighting earlier today. So a chance to eat, and learn more about your people would certainly be welcome," the dandy replied with a grin of his own.

Tanggellir smiled, and nodded as though in agreement. "In that case, I shall bring you to the site that we have prepared the food and drink. I think you will find our food and drink to your liking, even if ... some members of our tribe might have been a little ... unwelcoming.

"Shall we?"

*

The gathering included almost all of the womenfolk in the tribe. And true to the warning that he had received from Tanggellir, Wuying found almost everyone of them, in particular the younger ones, were viewing the trio with some degree of hostility. Apparently, the details of their exchange with their so-called First Daughter had already made the rounds.

Fortunately, the rest of the tribal folk seemed to have been warned about his married state, so he was largely left alone, so escaping the sharp, animosity-filled eyes of the women. Something that Wuying was more than a little thankful for, when he saw how Duman Junhe and Wumu Qian were slowly but surely being overwhelmed by toasts.

Clearly, there was an agreement among all of the people to drown them in alcohol! And none of them seemed to take no for an answer, as they crowded around the pair. It seemed this was the sort of vengeance that the women in the tribe was planning enact on the two of them!

Which was probably why Wuying was more than a little alert, when he was approached a short while later.

The one who approached him after the party had gotten rowdy was clearly not one of the young warrior women, although she wore an outfit that was largely similar to theirs. He also noted that most of the other women appeared to treat her with a certain respect. And that was not something that was widespread, among these rough villagers. Especially when they were already in the cups.

She had the light brown hair that was common among the people of the Shadowed Woods, but her eyes were a bright green, rather than the grey that he had expected. And there were quiet symbols, similar to the Craft Master's, embroidered onto the leather of her pale brown vest. But the tan that she showed told him that she was not the sort that stayed indoors as long and as often as the old man. She was also confident enough to initiate the conversation, once she was close enough. And she didn't waste any time on the usual niceties either.

"I have heard from Tanggellir, that you are interested in our magic, Wuying Danggir. I am Mola, Gellir of Lore for the tribe. Most call me the Loremistress, or Lorekeeper."

Wuying tendered her a bow, and was suddenly glad that he had held himself aloof from all the drinking earlier. At least he had not over-indulged, as tempting as the liquor had been. "That is true, Lorekeeper. I have never encountered anything like the Sight, and can see the advantages that it would bring to a battle, especially against the Abyssal Creatures. Or, as you call them here, the Shadow Beasts.

"However, I do not think I should call myself a crafter of such spells. I am certainly not capable of even a quarter of what Hoshendanggir has done."

"I see that your people are more honest, and less prone to pride. Yet, the Sight is something that is tied to the caster, and that means that it will fade with time. Hoshendanggir is unusually powerful, and that is why his magic can renew itself, while you are here. I do not believe that it will work outside our lands."

"Tanggellir had explained that. And that is why I wish to learn how to cast that magic. Or something close enough to it, so that I may attempt to use it, at the Gate."

The woman's eyebrows rose as he said that. "You wish to use it at your Western Gate? Against those that we call the New Invaders?" she asked him, her voice revealing just how surprised she was to hear that, "That is unexpected."

"Why so? I am a soldier of the Kingdom, and I see no harm in using my skills - all of my skills, in its defence."

She looked even more astonished at that. Then she seemed to recover, and smiled. "A laudable goal. And an honest one too. Very well, I shall show you the site of the Ancient Writings. But whether you have what it takes to learn our magic ... Well, that is up to you, for I cannot help you with that."

That was no different from all of the training that he had been through. So he nodded back at her. "I understand. And I thank you."

"Then come! I shall take you to the Serpent's Mouth now."

Straightaway? That he had not expected! But turning back to the pair that had come with him, he could see that they were both tired and resting in the campsite that they had been assigned. And there were all the other archers and maidens of the Shadowed Woods lying about the same. It was unlikely that there would be any surprises, this close to morning.

"Oh, they are safe enough, if that is what you are worried about. The worse that could happen is if one of the younger girls tried to take advantage of them. And that is unlikely, considering how much all of the lot had to drink last night. Come! I trust you are eager to find out if you have the aptitude for magic as soon as possible?"

She picked her way with ease past the bodies of the unconscious and the asleep. And Wuying tried his best to follow her lead. Part of him, he had to admit, was amused by it all. Had anyone told him that he would be calmly stepping over what seemed to be an entire tribe drunk and satiated from what could only be described as a wild party, he would have never believed it!

Yet, he wouldn't have believed it either, that he was told that he had a chance to learn magic - true magic! So he kept his eyes on the woman walking ahead of him, the woman with the light brown hair, and took care to follow her closely.

It didn't take her long to get to the Serpent's Mouth, as she called it. Not surprising since it was a small place, in a rather small forest. But the place itself was more than just a cave as far as he could see. The people of the Shadowed Woods had appeared to have carved the stone and reinforced the opening, so that it did look like a serpent, with its distended jaws opened to form the opening. Two long and curved fangs of some wood hung down from the ceiling, and these were carved with symbols that he could not recognize. Just as smaller teeth of stone circled the entrance from below, and were adorned with a variety of totems that obviously had some meaning to the villagers.

"You see here the reminders and offerings left by my people, for those who had ventured within and did not return. It is a path that is fraught with danger. Small dangers, no doubt, compared to what you had just gone through, but danger all the same. You have just fought the Abyssal creatures so I shall not insult your bravery. All I ask is, are you certain that you wish to step onto this path? What you learn cannot be unlearned. And that is not what some are prepared to accept. You will never look at the world in the same way again."

Wuying considered that. He had already proven himself a warrior, and more than capable of dealing with with the Shadows, even without this magic that the tribe offer. But it would make it easier, wouldn't it? And make it safer for his men? Yet, how would this change him?

"Ah! I see that you are uninitiated into the Secrets. Your Captain has not told you, despite the fact that you are ... as far as I can tell, of the Bloodlines."

He blinked in surprise, then slowly shook his head at her. His was a curious legacy, and a bit of an embarrassment, to tell the truth. "Only barely. I do not bear most of the signs, and the Blood is very thin within my veins," he told her truthfully.

"But you are of the Blood, all the same." She shook her head, and gestured back the way that they had come, through the trees. "Your companions. They have slain the Shadows, and I can sense that they have been hurt by the same. The wounds, they carry but a bit of the Taint, but they have also been Cleansed. The Silver Order. The ones that you call the Gray Robes? They did that, didn't they?"

And when Wuying nodded, she smiled at him. And turned to point at the scars on his own arms, now that he had taken off his protective vambraces. "But not you. You have taken the same wounds, but they did not ... affect you in the same way. That is because you have our blood in your veins. So the magic, the prayers, of the Silver Order do not work as they should for you. Instead of the Black Blood lingering in your scars, it is absorbed into your whole body. Which works to rid itself of the Taint.

"But be warned: it is a slow process, and as you have said, your Blood is thin. It will take long, and as the Black Blood festers within you, you are at risk."

"What?"

"Oh, do not be so concerned. You should have realized it by now: it is like a blot, a stain. It is ... diluted in your Blood, in your body. And while it is only in small amounts, it hardly troubles you. In fact, it only triggers your Bloodline to work a little harder. And that is beneficial to you, no? But be careful, the Taint grows if you persist, and soon, you will no longer be able to contain it, or deny it. Most seek help before that happens."

Was that what happened to the Captain? And to Lieutenant Ah Man? It seemed to make sense, what she was telling him. But she was pointing at the Serpent's Mouth then. No, not at it. Into it!

"To step onto this path means you shall have to face the Darkness within. To touch the Taint itself. Not many can ... take advantage of the battle within, to bring forth the magic within your Blood. Accept it, and you shall gain the magic that you desire. Refuse to see yourself for what you are, and you shall fail. That is all that I can tell you, as it is all that I know. You shall see better that anyone else, if you can bear the weight of the Sight."

Wuying could say nothing to that. He had never thought of the Taint like that. And he had certainly never felt the Shadows affecting him either. How could he accept something like that, that he could not see, hear or touch? A sigh broke from his lips then. Did it really matter? He had already come this far. He would face this, as he had faced everything else that had been thrown at him!

"Ah. I can see from your face that you are determined to go through with this. Very well then," she said before he could open his mouth, "Come with me. I shall lead you the first part of the Way. As I do all the others."

Then she turned, and stepped over the smaller teeth of stone. Into the Serpent's Mouth.

*

The way inside was not lit, and Wuying had to rely on the Sight that he had been granted to pick his way down the curving corridor. There were glyphs and markings on the large stones that lined the way, and the larger columns that made up the walls of the passage, and doubtless, held up the roof of the same. These were like nothing that he had seen before, and were covered in scrawls that seemed to be some sort of language as well. But if it was one, he certainly did not recognise it.

The woman who led the way down the passage held her tongue as she walked, and he wondered at that. Was she there as a guide? Or just as a companion, to make sure that he did not get too lost? He could not tell. Was the walk itself - the passage, part of the Test? Or was there some secret or some enlightenment that he was supposed to draw from this stroll in the dark?

Then he noticed it: there was a slight variation in the colour of the glyphs, and the shape of the same. They looked rougher, more crude as he descended into the tunnel. Even though it was shallow, it was enough so that he could tell that they were heading downwards. But there was also a dull glow - caused either by the Sight or by the actual paint that was used to draw them, in the glyphs themselves. There were some that looked not quite yellow, but a duller light greenish hue. But it seemed to be a little too uniform to be any distinct sign. It looked more as if they had changed the paints than anything else.

Then, just as he was about to ask, he saw it:

A single glyph that flared a burning, almost blinding fiery red! It glared from one of the taller stones that held up the passage, rather than the smaller ones that decorated the path. And it seemed to pulse with a life that he had not noticed in any of the other markings!

"Here," he said, before he realised that he had stopped, right in front of the the same. "Here. This one is different from all the others."

"Yes," the Lorekeeper sighed, "It seems I was right. You do carry enough of the Bloodlines to pass the first test. And you have found the Door to the Magic. Touch your hand to the stone."

Wuying did not hesitate, and lifted his right palm to the glyph at once. The sigil flared, and he suddenly found himself blinking tears from his eyes, even as everything went dark. But he kept his hand on the stone even as he cried out, as he lost his night vision. Nor was it all that he lost.

"Yes. You have lost your sight and your sense of touch. And I am the only one whose voice you can hear now, so long as you are on this journey. By denying your other senses, your Magic should awaken. Or so it is hoped," she whispered into his ear. That was how it felt, although it seemed very different from what he normally heard. Her voice was also very different.

"You have also been stripped of all magic that is not your own. And the path that you have chosen is not an easy one, especially when faced with all that you have lost. This is the moment of choice. Step forward, and you shall begin the Path of a Seeker after Knowledge, after Power. Step back, and you shall return to your old life, and regain your senses again. Which will you choose, I wonder?"

Wuying wondered too. Now that he could not see or hear or touch, how was he supposed to know which way to go? It was ridiculous! Was he supposed to bumble along in the dark? He wouldn't even be able to feel it, if he crashed into one of the walls, would he?

Then he considered her words again, and what had just happened. Then he smiled, and shook his head. He was either correct, or he was overthinking the whole thing. Either way, there wasn't anything else that he could try, was there? So he breathed in, and took a step forward ...

... and sighed in relief as he stepped through the solid, glyph-marked stone wall in front of him, and out through the other side!

"Oh, well done! That was confident of you. Most of those who come through this test usually try to push their hands through first. Not that they would have felt anything. They would have just fumbled along as if they were blind. You are a little remarkable, Wuying of Yue. Man of the outside world," laughed Molagellir, her voice returned to normal.

He could also feel and hear again. Which was comforting. But his sight was still gone. Then, he realised it was not him, but his environment that had changed. He was standing in complete darkness!

"Now that you have made it past the Door, you shall need to trust me. I am Lorekeeper, after all. Take three small steps forward. Shuffle your feet if you feel the need to be cautious, but I assure you that the ground underneath is quite level. You are in the Chamber of Marks. Here, you will need to meditate, and if all goes well, you shall attain the state of understanding. That is when the secrets of the ancestors shall be made known to you. Now, just sit down and begin!"

* * *