37: Tendrils

“No! Totally wrong!” Angry red lines shot over the surface of the staff as the Dark One’s thoughts berated my mind. “Focus on the target itself. Ignore the casting; you know how it’s done, just do it!”

I gritted my teeth and focused once more on the new spell the Dark One was teaching me. It was a much more powerful version of the fireball spell I already knew. I was testing it on the target in the basement that was enchanted to absorb spells, but the target was starting to get a little bit charred under the inferno the spell created. I concentrated hard on every minute detail of the target. I could see every variation in the grain of the wood, and I could sense the faint magical disturbance caused by the absorb spell. I breathed in and let the energy surge to my hand. I released the spell at the target, letting it find its own way.

A rush of heat washed over me and I heard loud popping and sizzling. As the heat subsided, I saw the impressive aftereffects. What was left of the target collapsed to the ground as its chains melted, and the paint on the wall behind it had cracked beyond belief.

“Whoa.” A rush of adrenaline pumped through me, and suddenly the world seemed like one big joke. I broke out laughing and looked at what my hands had done. The Dark Staff buzzed angrily and colors sprouted across its surface. His voice returned quietly to my mind.

“It will do for now. But you still have much to learn.” The staff calmed down, but I could tell he wasn’t pleased with my efforts. I took the staff from where it was leaning against the wall, and proceeded up to the main floor. As I was moving across the room, the staff began to glow bright blue. I looked around to see if anyone else noticed, but none of them seemed to care that the once ordinary, black staff was now emanating a powerful glow, as well as a magical field. I moved into a secluded corner of one of the side rooms, hoping not to draw attention to myself. The glow started to subside, and as it did I could feel myself being energized with magicka.

“What was that?” I sent my thought in the direction of the Dark One, but I could feel his massive amount of concentration, even through the boundaries he had put up between us. The glow faded away completely, and was replaced by the regular swirls of light deep within the staff. “Dark One? What was that?”

“The tear let loose another wave of energy. I wasn’t expecting it, so I had to catch up. That may be the way it will be, due to the unpredictability of the waves.” It sounded as if he was exhausted, but as he went on I could tell that he was recovering very quickly.

“Anything I can do to help?” I was a bit worried by the fact that he had been caught off guard.

“No, but don’t worry. I will be able to handle anything thrown our way.”

I nodded and stood up. Hunger was clawing at my stomach, so I went up to the dining area to see what I could find. I picked up a small loaf of bread and tore off a bit. I popped it in my mouth and chewed for a little while, before I realized that the loaf of bread was unusually heavy. I looked at it, and my eyes grew wide. Nestled in the loaf of bread was a thing which could only be called an abomination! It awoke and looked at me with thousands of miniature eyes. I stood frozen to the spot, and as it unfurled its tendrils and reached for my soft, unprotected skin, I began to scream…

“STOP IT!” A wave of thoughts burst through from the Dark One. “Let it go!” I released the loaf of bread before the tentacles closed around me. The Thing hit the ground and disappeared. I fell back into a chair. My mind was racing, although it was more because of the Dark One’s thoughts. “What is wrong with you? Terror was rushing through you, but there was nothing wrong!”

This puzzled me. Surely the Dark One would have seen, or at least sensed that thing! It was there, nestled in the bread like a swallow in its nest! I had seen it! Hadn’t I?

“There was nothing in the bread, Will…” Concerned tones were easily detected in The Dark One’s thoughts.

“I… I swear I saw…” I shuddered and felt my forehead. Could this be some sort of Fever dream? Or perhaps, was it something far more sinister?