Chapter 14: A Dark Mage?

The group took off sprinting back through the void, tripping over parts of the undergrowth as they ran in the complete darkness but quickly regaining balance to continue moving as fast as their legs would allow them to as Lexa was only going to get worse the longer, they took to get her to Evie to be looked at. Passing the large tree once more the team being carried by instinct and the memory of their earlier traversal through this area, as they reached the home stretch for the void section of their hurried journey to save their friend a void bear appeared from the bushes and reared itself onto its hind legs and roared at the five humans. Ami and Arano drew their swords within the blink of an eye and within another second were running at the void bear swords raised ready to land any blow to get it out of the way and on the ground dying with an elemental overload, as both swords cut through the bear it only recoiled backwards it seemed completely unbothered by the addition of another element to its being. Seeing this the party who were already panicking because of Lexa’s condition became even more panicked and a small hint of despair crept over them, Ilev cast an attack buff to power up Arano and Ami who would have to cut the beast down themselves with a bit of back-up from Aromi and the single light element spell he possessed. After a longer delay than the party would like and Lexa becoming more distressed on Ilev’s back they finally manage to kill the void bear, taking it’s core and taking off as fast as they could manage out of the void as they passed back through the barrier into ‘normal’ space, Lexa began to mellow slightly but wasn’t completely free of the elemental overload. With their sight getting better as the main forest was at least lit somewhat by the dim light of the moon, they continued to run through the forest reaching the decaying tree where exhaustion finally caught up. Lexa was rested against a tree as the others collapsed to the ground from exhaustion from the long run, they didn’t allow themselves much rest as Lexa was still fighting and the energy pulsing from here wounds was starting to look more potent and dangerous than it had when she had first collapsed due to the overload. The group once again set off with a high pace towards the Merchants Guild which wasn’t too far away from the decaying tree, so it wasn’t too long after they had started moving again that they were back inside the Guild’s market hall looking for Evie so that they could hand Lexa off to her in the hopes that she could do something to help Lexa recover. After making their way to her stall they don’t find her there but do see someone else nearby who they ask for help on finding Evie, the man gives them her location after they explain why they need to find her so badly. Following the man’s directions, they come to a door located near the back of the hall with Ilev stepping forward to knock on the door Lexa still on his back, after a short while rustling can be heard from within the room and seconds later Evie appears at the door.

“Oh? I certainly did not expect to see you all here again so soon. What brings you back here, and at such an hour too?”
“It’s Lexa, some form of energy is attacking her at the wounds on her ankles. We think she’s gone into elemental overload, are you able to help?”
“Come inside immediately, lay her on the floor and I will have a look at her.”

Ilev and the others do as Evie says and lay Lexa on the floor then step back to the edge of the room as Evie starts to examine Lexa’s wounds and the energy that was being dispelled by them, Evie’s face twisted with intrigue and concern. Before coming to a final conclusion.

“You would be right, the attacks that she has taken have indeed triggered an elemental overload within her. For now, she is stable, however she will be in eternal pain and will not be able to do anything again if nothing is done to break the balance.”
“What do you suggest we do then Evie, we bought her to you because you are the only mage we know. So, whatever you think should be done to save her we will not argue with so just do it”
“I understand, I must warn you that the spell I must cast to eliminate the elemental overload is one full of risk and will end one of three ways. She remains a pure nature mage, she gains the void element and becomes a dark nature mage, or unfortunately she could end up dying. Are you still happy with me casting this spell?”
“Yes, if you don’t, she stays like this and that’s no way to live. And if you do one outcome is that she’ll die the most likely outcome is that she’ll live either the same as she was before or just with a second element.”
“I understand, I must ask you to leave the room in case the energy is released in a dangerous way that could affect you all, as you are all scratched up too. I will begin casting when you are all outside, the medic is five doors towards the exit on the opposite side while you wait, I would suggest stopping by.”

With that parting comment the party leaves the room and Evie begins to prepare to cast a set of healing spells on Lexa’s wounds, once she had healed the wounds Evie moved on to the risky part of the procedure casting a purify spell on a human without killing them. Evie moves parts of the room around more, getting the room set up to absorb any of the released energy from the purify spell so that it doesn’t become a monster once it’s all gathered together. Then she begins the slow and careful process of combing each part of Lexa’s body for damage caused by the void element and attempting to repair it or make it so that Lexa’s body accepts the second element if parts are too far gone to be able to fix. After a couple of hours of painstaking work and the majority of her mana drained Evie finishes up her spell and weakly opens the door to find the other party members to give them the news that Lexa will survive but had to be made into a dark mage to survive.

“She is alive, and should wake up shortly. But the damage from the void element was too much to remove so she has become a dark mage, meaning that any further exposure to void energy runs the risk of accelerating her corruption level. Same goes if she uses any void element spells. I need to rest, so be with your friend when she wakes up. She is sure to be confused about what has happened.”
“Thank you Evie, as the leader of this guild we will repay you however you would like.”
“Do not worry about payment, be with your friend.”

With that Evie moved past the group and through another door, leaving the Shin’ya party to go to Lexa.