Chapter Nine: Zakary's Test

Zak had gotten thorough information about where the kobold was seen last time and had even asked around to the more experienced miners about where they thought the beasts may be living. He led Dayn back to the spot where the encounter had taken place three years prior.

"I'm sure you remember this spot, we're going to find where the kobold lair is and clear it out to ensure the safety of the townspeople" he said nonchalantly.

How could he be so calm about this? these were monsters! Dayn had only survived the encounter by luck, it just so happened that the local god had intervened and saved his life that time. "You can't be serious, I'm not ready to fight monsters!" Dayn said incredulously, it was just luck that saved me last time!" "Luck doesn't exist, luck only occurs when a person of means makes it occur" Zak responded confidently.

Dayn thought that that's just what he needs right now a mentor that spouts philosophical nonsense, he became suspicious that Zak was trying to force him to rely on magic again so he could discover the truth.

They made their way back down towards the mine but Zak led them through a different tunnel, one Dayn hadn't seen the last time he was here. "You're friend Sieri brought the creature down on you two while crying, in the dark you never would have noticed this thin opening, its my theory it heard the noise and anticipated easy prey." "Sure it never knew it was going to be roasted alive though" Zak said with a wink, "The beasts have probably set up a lair down this way, these tunnels aren't regularly travelled so they would go unnoticed."

The tunnel was narrow, loose stones and rising stalagmites made travel slow, Dayn peered upwards wondering how the stalagmites had formed and saw a ceiling of thick cave moss, a droplet of water fell from a low hanging bunch and splattered on his face. Dayn wiped the condensation away and thought he had seen something moving in the darkness above before Zak called out to him.

"We're getting close, I can see dim light ahead illuminating a larger cavern," Zak became silent after this statement he thought to himself about how rare it is for cave dwelling creatures to use light of any type. They cautiously proceeded into the large cave and were greeted by a massive glowing slab, it gave off a light white glow and looked like a large crystal formation, Zak looked on it with disgust.

Dayn was curious and moved towards it, Zak put out a hand to stop him, "This stuff is valuable but its a disgrace to our country, its the byproduct of a Drakenhem created spell called Magic Void." Zak went on to explain that the spell is effective against magical creatures it was created to clear things like Basilisks from rich mining areas, its purpose was to drain away their magical energy so they could be dealt with more easily. The spell was foul however it drained both their life energy and magical energy, it took the creatures blood, flesh, and bone and transmuted it into this luminous rock.

Zak was interrupted by a loud crash behind them, they quickly turned around and got struck by several small rock particles as the cave in settled blocking their exit, Zak drew his claymore a stern expression on his face.

Dayn was confused but followed suit removing the longsword from the scabbard strapped to his back, "That was no natural cave-in" Zak explained, "Kobolds are weak but devious they love to set traps for unsuspecting adventurers." Several of the small scaly creatures came bounding out from behind the rock wielding small cruel looking knives, "Take the left flank, I'll charge their center" Zak instructed.

No sooner then he had spoken Zak charged the small beasts his large blade coming down in a swift arc, it didn't take long for Dayn to follow, he had two of the monsters to contend with while Zak had six. The least he could do was hold these two off while his teacher handled the rest, Dayn's swordplay was still a little clumsy but he handled himself much more skillfully then last time.

He turned the first blade aside with a parry while the other advanced, he blocked the incoming thrust with the flat of his blade before shoulder charging the creature knocking it from its feet he attempted to follow through with an overhead slash.

The other kobold got in the way turning the heavy slash aside while being thrown off balance, Dayn pushed forward intending to finish the scaled beast before it could regain its footing. A third entered from the shadows to his left, Dayn had over committed and had no time to block the incoming thrust. H

e instinctively remembered the book Zak had given him, The hilt of Dayn's sword began to glow in a brilliant silver light which erupted out from him covering the three creatures, the kobold to his left and the prone creature trying to pick itself up fell to the hard floor.

Dayn was dumbfounded but knew he hadn't the time as he engaged the final creature which had regained its balance, it looked at him fear clear in its beady eyes, it looked over its shoulder to the far end of the room. It never had the chance to flee Dayn rushed forward driving his weapon through the creatures chest, its warm blood ran down the length of the blade to drip at his feet.

Dayn turned to help Zak but found the man cleaving through the final creatures skull with the massive weapon he wielded, Zak smirked at him "There's no more denying it now," he wiped his bloodied blade with an old soiled cloth before sheathing it.