Chapter 143: The Opening Gambit
A scream echoed from the valley below, cutting through the morning quiet.
Elisa grabbed her warhammer from where it rested against the wall and started for the gate. ’Finally, some action! I was getting tired of all this waiting around.’
Vexia raised a hand, and a barrier of silver light shimmered into existence, blocking her sister’s path. "We do not rush into an unknown situation, Elisa, that is a fool’s move."
"A fool’s move? Vexia, they’re attacking! We should be out there cracking skulls, not sitting in here talking about it!"
"And what if it is a trap designed to draw us out?" Vexia countered. "We have the terrain advantage, we will not surrender it until we have more information."
Nox, who had been leaning against a crystal pillar, just watched them argue. ’Let them come, less walking for me.’
Serian looked between her sisters, then to Nox. "Vexia is right, we need to know what we are facing, but we cannot just stand by while people are being killed."
Vexia closed her eyes and brought her hands together in front of her. "I will ascertain the situation."
Vexia was the Sanctuary’s primary scholar and strategist. While Elisa had inherited their father’s strength and Serian his charisma, Vexia had inherited their mother’s mind. Her specialty was Rune Magic, an ancient and complex art that allowed her to see and manipulate the very fabric of the World’s Scripture. It was a power that operated on a level far beyond simple combat spells.
A small, shimmering orb of silver light materialized between her palms, and the image of the valley below appeared within it. The image showed a scene of chaos. A lone man stood in the center of a small clearing, surrounded by a swirling, chittering cloud of black insects. A few hundred feet away, the crumpled body of another person, a woman, was being consumed by the swarm.
Elisa let out a low growl. "Bugs, I hate bugs."
"He is a Candidate," Vexia stated, her eyes narrowed as she studied the man in the orb. "And he is using his Flag’s power to control that swarm. He is a Summoner of some kind."