NOVEL FROG He’s dead
I lay in a daze. I somehow clung to life with a stream of body manipulation to keep myself alive and slowly healing.
A familiar figure or two came into view. Umbra had appeared and looked to be praying over me, but was rather casting some kind of restorative magic that failed to heal, however, stopped me getting worse. I might have been still alive only thanks to her efforts.
More impressively still was a certain, remarkable druid. Iris protected us as I lay crushed and bleeding. For all signs I must look dead, yet she defended me with her life. Redcaps swarmed. She burned, battered and broke them. They piled like sandbags forming an extra layer of defence as Iris stood on top; a vision of fire and death.
“Burn!” she screamed. “No one touches him. Try it Unseelie and turn to ash!”
Eventually, they stopped coming and the sounds of fighting were replaced by silence then the wails of despair.
Morgana appeared looking distraught.
“I killed the Unseelie mage. Please be alive, Damian.” Morgana begged, holding my still body.
I couldn’t speak yet but I sent a trail of magic to her through our touching flesh.
She let out a sigh of relief and noticeably slumped as her whole relaxed “Oh, good. You’re alive.”
“He’s alive?” Iris sobbed, apparently stunned. “I thought they had killed him.”
“He’s alive. Just.” Umbra panted, straining with the effort of maintaining her spell.
“Umbra is right. Our champion is tougher than that, Iris.” Morgana retorted. “Go ahead and heal up, we’ll keep watch until you get better.” She whispered encouragingly in my ear.
Thanks, Morgana. You hot, naked, bloody mystery woman. I was safe and got to work really focusing on my body.
Most of my ribs had shattered. Some scattered along with my jaw bone outside my body. The rest of my rib fragments had embedded in my flesh. I held in stasis to stop them from tearing through my innards. It took a lot of effort to fix everything back together and pull my parts from the outside back in. Nearly every part of my upper body required some sort of healing from open wounds to crushed bones.
Now that I was healed, it was high time for some improvements.
I needed to survive any ambushes. I couldn’t put Iris and Morgana into that position of worry again. I can’t have them grief over me. I am a sorcerer, and I am only beginning to tap into my ultimate potential.
First, I enchanted a counter cast on my ring to the sleep spell that had rendered me immobile during the first ambush. No more unexpected bed bye times. But, the shield had failed. So, I made a second ring identical to the ring and layered it with the same enchantments. There was a term for this sort of back up that I couldn’t quite remember.
Next, I thought of what superheroes to rip off. I began with flesh dulling my capacity to feel pain. I vastly increased my muscle density and altered my muscles to generate less toxins. In doing so, I improved my strength, durability, and stamina to be at superhuman levels.
Strength and stamina were useful for sheer utility. I could learn how to apply it to Morgana and Iris should they agree. The durability was key. I became tough like a superhard metal by making my muscles and bones denser till I was near as hard as a diamond. Now, I wouldn’t be stabbed by a filthy redcap or crushed by an oversized pup.
A bird tweeted outside. I extended my magical senses and felt it was different from Iris’s robin. An owl-like creature, but in the daylight and with horns. I tried to improve it, and while it was from a world of magic, shaped by magic the creature itself had no magical potential. I could heal a year old scar across its back, and flush it with vitality. However, I could not add or improve the creature. It was confined to its natural limits. I tried the same as a man walking down the street. I relieved his aches, but I could not give him skin harder than steel.
Interestingly, only the magical could be enchanted or enhanced.
I stopped for now, but seeing Iris shapeshift got me thinking of the idea of making my body capable of polymorphing. The complexity of a permanent polymorphing was too great with significant trial and error. However, I could perhaps practise with Iris then reverse apply it to myself should I feel the need. To Polymorph at will would be a great feat. Maybe, she could learn to absorb organic matter and convert it into biomass. That would solve the polymorph issue in terms of expanding and contracting size. At least in part. True polymorphing.
I had the ring and now a superhuman body. My defences were improving after every fight. What happens if I don’t get the chance to improve?
It must have been a while because beautiful companions were dressed and so was I. I was only a little disappointed to see them clothed. We were clean of any blood and dirt. It was as if the carnage had never happened. I sensed further that we had procured chainmail and padding. I was not the only one concerned about protection.
We still seemed to be at the camp, but the sun was rising in the sky.
“He’s dead. No one could survive that.” A voice interrupted.
I blinked and saw it was one of the warriors from the warband.
“You have no idea the extent of our master’s power.” Iris countered.
“His fucking jaw flew off!” said the exasperated, unfamiliar voice
“Flee if you must but remember that you are far safer with us.” Morgana warned them.
“I know, but no disrespect but those are mortal wounds.” Tara joined in walking in front of the other warrior. “Please we must hurry.” She pleaded.
“No, if you leave you die. Your best chance is with us.” Morgana retorted immediately.
Umbra kept silent, watching like a predator.
I stood up; everyone went silent, their mouths open with shock. The warriors looked nervous, while the villagers stared at something close to awe. Tara bowed low and the other warriors followed suit. Iris stuck close to me standing partially in front and stared daggers at our allies. It was rather nice having someone actively try and protect me.
“Where is Marius?” I asked.
“Dead, Master Sorcerer. Cut down by the chariot.” One of the warriors answered.
“I’m sorry for your loss. For your leader, and for every person who died this night.” I replied solemnly.