Grand Game 494: Hidden in the Mist

We set out for the nether portal less than an hour later, Adriel and Safyre having already seen to the necessary arrangements. Our party was larger than I expected and included Adriel, Safyre, myself, and a team of arctic wolves. 

I eyed the sled piled high with supplies sitting next to the lounging wolves. “What’s all that for?” 

“Emergencies,” Adriel replied laconically.

Clearly, she and Safyre were determined to be prepared for every eventuality, an attitude I could not fault. Not bothering to question the lich further, I swung around to face Snow and Star. They and the rest of the arctic wolf pack had come to see us off.

“I’ll be back soon,” I said, kneeling before the alpha and his mate.

Snow sent back a questioning image.

“No, I won’t be gone as long as last time,” I replied. I gestured to Safyre and Adriel. “They’ll make sure of that.”

Seemingly reassured by my answer, the alpha turned about and led the wolves back into the den, sending me a last flurry of images in farewell.

I watched them go for a moment. Saying goodbye was unfortunately something I found myself doing frequently. Since entering the Game, I’d rarely found the opportunity to stop moving. But someday—soon hopefully—I hoped circumstances would allow me to make a real home. 

Wherever that might be. 

Sighing, I made a silent promise to Snow to keep my word to him this time around.

“Michael?” Safyre called.

Glancing over my shoulder, I spotted the two women sitting in the sled and ready to go.

“Coming,” I replied. Trudging through the snow, I took my place at the front of the party and led the way to the portal.

✵ ✵ ✵

Adriel has cast death’s sheltering hand.

A little later, we reached our destination and while Adriel saw to setting up our ‘camp’—which task primarily consisted of configuring her wards—Safyre and I approached the portal.

“You’re sure about this?” Safyre asked as we stopped in front of the shimmering curtain.

“It has to be done.” My lips quirked up. “And as many precautions as you and Adriel have taken, I won’t be in any danger.”

Safyre nodded, though she looked far from convinced.

“I’ll be fine,” I assured her.

“Don’t underestimate the nether,” she warned. “If there is one thing I’ve learned through my own rift dives it is that the void is never predictable.” She bit her lip. “And after what you told me about the void fathers, I worry that the stygians will be ready for you.”

I threw her a puzzled look. “Oh?”

She met my gaze. “You said the void sapling from Draven’s Reach escaped. Assuming the void fathers can put two and two together, they should realize that the player who fled this sector and the one who defeated them in the dungeon are one and the same.” She shrugged. “If I was a void father, sector 18,240 is where I would expect you to show up again.”

I grimaced. “That makes a horrible sort of sense.”

“It could also explain why the nether toxicity in the sector has increased so much since your last visit,” Adriel said, coming up from behind.

I glanced at her. “Because the stygians have ramped up their efforts to claim the sector?” I hazarded.

She nodded. “Exactly.”

“Well, that’s just great,” I muttered. It meant that we might have even less time to reclaim the sector than I’d anticipated.

“There’s one more thing,” Safyre said.

I looked at her sideways. “Somehow, I don’t think I want to hear whatever you’ve to say next,” I murmured.

A smile flickered across her face in brief acknowledgment of my quip before she turned serious again. “After hearing Anriq’s report on the Reach gate and the sheer numbers they’ve dedicated to blockading it… I wonder if we beat them back too easily from the Guardian one.”

My brows drew down. “You fear a trap?”

“I do,” she said simply.

I rubbed my chin. “That would make sense,” I allowed. “It would be awfully hard to spring an ambush at the portal itself. Retreating to safety is too easy. But if the stygians managed to draw their quarry further in…”

“… then they just might catch him,” Adriel finished for me.

I sighed. “Right, you two have certainly given me food for thought.” I pressed my palms together. “And as much as I appreciated all that, please don’t tell me you have anything more to add.”

Adriel laughed. “We don’t. Besides, given all our preparations, you should be fine.”

“Just be careful,” Safyre warned.

“I will,” I said solemnly. Removing my Cloak of the Reach, I handed it to Adriel who took it mutely.

Ghost would not be accompanying me on this trip. Her nether resistance was not up to the task of a prolonged excursion in the nether. Given that, it made sense to allow her to continue her training in my absence. 

Fortunately, the nature of our spirit binding allowed us to be separated. It was only Ghost and her spirit vessel that had to remain in the same sector, not me and her. And while no one else could use the Cloak in my absence, that did not preclude someone like Adriel from keeping it on her person—with my permission, of course.

Unequipping a few other crucial items—the Blood Talisman amongst them—I handed them over to Adriel and Safyre for safekeeping. It was too dangerous to take them with me into the nether.

Then, bidding one last farewell to the pair, I turned back the shimmering curtain of white and stepped through.

Transfer through portal commencing…

…

…

Passage completed! 

Leaving sector 107. Entering the Forever Kingdom.

✵ ✵ ✵

You have entered sector 18,240 of the Forever Kingdom. 

The nether toxicity at your current location is at tier 4. 

I stepped out of the portal into a familiar world of smog and immediately spotted Anriq. The werewolf was sitting cross-legged within touching distance of the portal. His eyes were closed, and I suspected he was communing with the seeker. 

He looks ready to flee at a moment’s notice.

On my arrival, he opened his eyes. “Michael,” he greeted, a weary smile touching his lips.

“How are you?” I asked. “You look spent.”

His smile widened a fraction. “Not quite,” he murmured. “I’ve managed to keep my stamina from touching zero.” He shook his head minutely. “But it only works if I don’t move much.”

“Wow,” I said, impressed. “You shouldn’t speak then, not unless it becomes strictly necessary. And when you need to, rather use the farspeaker bracelet. Did Safyre share the plan with you?”

He nodded.

“Did she also share her and Adriel’s concerns about the mists?”

He nodded again.

“Alright, good. What about the seeker? Have you recalled it?”

Another nod.

“Perfect. When it gets here, return to the tundra. Safyre and Adriel are just on the other side of the portal. They’ll restore your spent reserves and recharge the seeker. I won’t wander far until you’re back.” I paused. “Any ideas about where I should look?”

“Follow. River. North,” he whispered.

“That’s good advice,” I replied. The portal to Draven’s Reach was south of our present location, and to get to it, I had followed the river downstream. It would not be a bad idea to check what lay in the other direction.

Squeezing Anriq’s shoulder in passing, I walked further into the mists. “I’m going to scout the surroundings. Don’t worry if you lose sight of me. I’ll be close.”

“Tracks. Heading. River.”

“Got it,” I called as I vanished from sight.

✵ ✵ ✵

You have cast enhanced reflexes, load controller, vanish, and trigger-cast quick mend. 

I found the tracks Anriq had mentioned easily enough. No effort had been made to conceal them and without the mists to obscure my sight, they were glaringly obvious.

Looking up, I studied the sky and spotted the sun hanging low in the east. It was not that I could not see the mist anymore—I could. Only now, it was mostly transparent, nothing but a gentle haze across my vision.

Which was why I could just as easily see the distant river and the roll hills on the far shore. But of the stygians there was no sign.

Crouching over the tracks, I studied them for a moment. I was no tracker, but at a guess I’d say they had been made by a pack of stygian hydras. Their heavy feet had left deep impressions in the soil. It was clear, too, that the creatures were making their way westward, toward the river.

Alert and with my mindsight extended, I trailed after.

✵ ✵ ✵

“Michael, I’m back and the seeker is in place.”

Anriq’s communication came just as I reached the river. Glancing up, I searched the sky but failed to spot the tiny orb with either my physical sight or mindsight. Huh, fancy that. Just as advertised.

“Where is it?”

“Above your right shoulder.”

I grunted but didn’t bother looking again. “Do you see me?”

“I do.”

“Good. I’m going to follow the tracks you mentioned. Looks like they were made by a pack of hydras. They’ve turned right at the river and appear to be following the river north. I’ll contact you when I have something else to report.” 

“Got it,” he replied.

Falling silent, I refocused on my surroundings. It was time to find out just what we were up against.