The Gallows – Part 7

We flew out of the tunnel entrance, and staggered to a stop when we reached Linzer. All four of his eyes from both heads were wide eyed and fixed on me.

“We got it!” I wheezed, and motioned toward the silver axe. I was about to tell Linzer everything when I followed his gaze towards my arms. My fingers were beginning to crystalize like the gemstone branches, and deep, dark veins were trailing up my forearm. 

“That’s probably not good.” I said half-heartedly.

“The cost.” Linzer stated ominously, “Let’s hurry back to the village and fill in Brayden.”

…

It didn’t hurt, it felt more like a concentration of power at my fingertips that was growing, and tingled slightly like my limbs were awakening from being numb. 

“That’s the artifact?” Brayden said, interrupting my thoughts. I looked up from my hands and nodded. 

Brayden instinctively reached to grab it, and I reflexively pulled it away. Linzer and Brayden gave me a troubled look, but I explained that I didn’t want whatever was happening to me happen to them. 

Dyanis chimed in “I don’t mind testing it, you know, to see if it spreads. I planned on coming with you anyway,” he slapped me on the shoulder and chuckled gruffly.

“We don’t know what this is,” I motioned towards my hands, “What if it kills me? Us?” I’ve come to grow fond of Dyanis. 

“Ah well, I’ve been lucky to escape death so far, and I’m old Aleryn, I want to test this. I want to help you, dear boy.” 

Brayden and Linzer exchanged looks, and we continued to discuss plans. I was adamant about this being a solo mission, not even alerting the villagers. If I failed, what good would the false hope bring? If I succeeded, then they could make their choices. Brayden wanted to let them know of the mission, Linzer was impartial, and Dyanis simply chuckled at our so-called “bickering”. Ultimately we decided to give a few days to test my powers, to see how fast this would spread, and then decide if we should tell the villagers or not. 

…

Dyanis accompanied me far out into the woods of the island, to be discreet and far enough away to not hurt anyone. It had been roughly a day since we got the artifact, I had taken a long rest and so far the darkened veins reached to my elbows and almost my entire hands were crystalized. I could still move them, use them as normal, but they felt different, and when they grasped the artifact it ignited with power. I practiced my fighting abilities on the trees, they were stationary but made good targets

Dyanis watched in awe as Aleryn grasped the silver axe, it would alight with his crystal touch, and emit a deep sapphire glow. Aleryn’s darkened veins extended even further up his arms creeping into his shoulders, the gemstone skin following up his forearms with each use. The artifact would leave behind a trail of light with each strike, cutting through a four foot diameter tree like butter. Aleryn’s veins began to glow as he exerted himself more, easily taking down five trees in the blink of an eye. Graceful, yet powerful, like a dancer with an impossibly powerful weapon.

We discerned that the artifact would react to the crystalline skin of the wielder, and with more use came more power, but with that power my body was slowly being taken over. Dyanis did try to wield the artifact, but it did not react to him and it did not change his body. When we were done with our practice, we took the wood back to the village to be used for warmth, cooking, and building. Nothing on the South Island was wasted.

The silver axe no longer felt like just a weapon, it felt like an extension of myself. The magic within it had become less of an unknown force and more of a trusted ally, and my body was adapting to that magical power. I could feel my thoughts becoming more cloudy, and my hunger for revenge growing stronger. I did not want to idle any longer.

On our walk back to the village, pulling the enormous trees behind us on a large wagon of sorts, I let Dyanis in on my thoughts.

“The power is growing, but so is the effect on my body. I do not want to wait any longer, Dyanis, I want to strike now while I can control it, while I can control myself.”

Dyanis nodded, “I’m with you, whatever you decide. Shall we let Brayden know?”

“No,” I practically growled, startling even myself. “No, I think it best we leave the island without telling anyone. During our “practice” tomorrow, we leave and do not look back.”

…

I prepped my pack for the journey, adorned my cloak and gloves to hide my appearance from the villagers. I met up with Dyanis and we made our way deep into the forest without interruption. 

“There is a boat I have prepped, we can take it to the mainland, it will be a lot faster than swimming!” Dyanis chuckled and jabbed at me playfully. I couldn’t help but smile. 

“Dyanis, you can stay here. I do not expect you to accompany me, as this will surely lead to our deaths.” My face grew soft as I stared at him intently. It would be a comfort to have him with me, but I did not want him to die because of me.

“Death is inevitable, and I welcome it!” He laughed deeply, “I’m coming with you, that’s all there is to it.”

I opted for one more test of my abilities before we departed, one more dance with the trees before I met my fate. I felt light when I wielded the artifact, and fast. It felt freeing in a way, to zip through the trees and jump impossibly high, slashing down anything in my way. I felt the power course through me even deeper, and felt my eyes growing hot. Suddenly, I could see things even clearer, I could glimpse a leaf falling a mile away, and Dyanis’s warmth glowed brightly in my vision. 

Dyanis was a bit startled when Aleryn paused and looked at him, Aleryn’s eyes were now glowing sapphire and had a new look in them. A look of a hunter eyeing his prey.

“I am ready.”

…

What do you think of the story so far? What will happen to Aleryn with his newfound powers? Let us know in the comments below! Subscribe to our emails to be notified of part 8!

Thank you so much for reading!

–Clever&WTF