Chapter 17: The Aftermath

         Distorted voices and fuzzy white landscapes cloud the vision, he's running, arms swaying in and out of view. Heavy breathing is heard? Or more like felt, he tries to look behind him. Someone is chasing him, or is it some thing, he looks forward and trips. Falling, and falling, almost can feel the rush of air hitting his face, eyes feel like they are blinking. He sees a blue sky with pillow like clouds, then sees the green grassy ground in the distance as he falls. He turns around standing seeing a brick wall made of books with their unlabeled spines facing outwards. He reaches for a loose book in the wall wanting to pull it out, instead he starts climbing. Because he is in a race, he looks to his rival on his right. Someone is climbing next to him, its alright because they have been awesome friends since childhood. His foot slips, but reposition it into a proper crawling stance. Crawling on all fours he has to stay low to the ground otherwise the thing that's after him might find out where he is hiding. Feeling tired, exhausted even, he gives up and rolls on his back to see the blue sky. Grass poking his back, hands cupping the back of his head, he looks down to see the rolling grass hills breathe with the breeze of the spring day winds. Maybe when he gets home he should ask Robin to stay the night?

Rowan's eyes shoot wide awake as he is laying on a table, in the same room where got his inscribed runes. He can hear the voices of people going over what seems to be results of some kind. "Still, to recover this much in only a few hours would just kill them." One concerning voice expresses their opinion, while a more familiar voice responds, "I've done my measurements, and I found that number 7 was more than capable of housing this rune on top of the base enhancements!" Another familiar but tired voice could be heard, "Yeah until he blew himself up, how do you know he will have the same mind?" The more concerned voice piles on that thought, "Exactly! For all we know he could be right back at the beginning."

Braxen walks in the room along with the other Magi, "That's not how that rune works and you all know it! Granted that is why it's so taxing on ones mana well, but even from your tests Vashti he was able travel with another person and then display that amount of power!" Alphis coldly adds, "On top of using the ma-, subject as a conduit to heal those effected by the explosion." Vashti with a hint of surprise, "Here I thought you would let those die from the scrap metal that flew everywhere." Braxen defends himself, "Precisely why I did it, I just had to use number 7's recovering body to mend the rest, again all this was calculated."

Both of the Magi call Braxen's bluff, "Dourshclite." Alphis elaborates, "Even if that was "calculated" you put him at risk of not fully recovering!" Unrestrained Rowan sits up on the table and looks over his body that's been covered with a white sheet. He gropes the air as he turns his hand to see the front and back of it, he looks at the Magi and asks. "Is everyone alive?" Vashti with a pleasantly surprised look, Alphis relieved, and Braxen with a grin like he is waiting for a medal to be placed around his neck. Rowan checks the rest of his body under the sheets to then realize he's naked. "Ah, well, hrm..."

Vashti smirks, "Oh yeah, you blew up your clothes when you self immolated along with 24604." Rowan feeling embarrassed for only a bit to also realize, he lost too much weight, and has some muscle on him. "Clothes would be nice but, what happened to my body?" Rowan gets off the table taking the sheet with him as he wraps himself from the waist down. He flexes his arm for a bit and touches his chest, "There is no way my body would look this, young?" He thinks back to the last time he was ever in this kind of shape, he could recall was when he dropped out of college.

With a concerning smile Alphis walks up to Rowan, "That would be the work of the runes that brought you back to life." He explains further, "These runes regenerate the body in its most physically fit form, eventually you would be in this shape over time." Vashti chimes in, "But after your little stunt, there was not a whole lot left of you, so it used your mana well to rebuild you." Alphis starts checking on Rowan, "How are you feeling? Are you tired at all?" Rowan feels oddly well rested, "I-I'm fine, just a little shaken up I guess? I just wanted to know if everyone else is alright."

Braxen steps in, "Oh I assure you, they are recovering wonderfully, all thanks to your efforts, they are resting in comfort." Rowan corrects him, "You mean back in the cells waiting on everyone here to toy with their lives again?" Alphis with a pained straight face, "I understand where that sentiment comes from, but uncharacteristically Magi Braxen did send them to the towns infirmary, grated under heavy guard" A sigh of relief hits Rowan, from overhearing about his recovery, the damage that he must have caused, hearing and feeling his body being remade. He wants to confirm something, "Can I look at the summoning chamber?"

Curious brows are raised among the Magi, Alphis with a cautious tone, "Are you sure you want to see it?" Rowan nods, "I need to see at least the aftermath of what I've done." Vashti sucks air from their teeth and gestures Rowan out the door, down the hallway. The Magi escort Rowan passed the closed double doors, to reveal the carnage that was the summoning chamber. The floors caked in ash and burnt blood, along the walls and in the corners of the chamber are the bodies that the specimen gored before Rowan enacted his plan. The cage or at least the remains of it blown outward as there is some left over chard viscera of the beast originating from where it was contained.

Looking at the walls on the other side pieces of metal are lodged in and around the stone bricks. "Teleporting for a total of 8 miles, healing and must have been reviving people and myself, and then this much destructive force, all in a day." Chills run down Rowan's spine on what he could be capable of, or worse as he looks back at the Magi, what they want him to be. Vashti walks up, "Would you feel better if you saw the others, we can walk you there." Alphis with concerned approval, "Some fresher air and familiar faces could benefit you? If you still need more rest after all I can arrange-" Rowan interrupts, "I want to see them, I want to know that Igan and Eribella are alright."

Braxen with a confused brow raised, "I already said that they are fine, you don't need to worry about them, just focus on improving yourself at this point." Vashti wanting to kick the shins off the monocled Magi, "Give it up, Rowboat here wants to see them with his own eyes and make sure everything is fine." Before they set out Alphis procured some clothing for Rowan, it was used prisoner rags but it covered all the important parts. Once dressed they head out of the prison to greeting the morning sun, and into the town.