The Hedge Wizard

Nishari galloped over the sandy beach, her feet leaving a trail behind her. Her tail cast long lines in the sand wherever she went. At one point, she started digging, then shoved her head into the ground. She pulled it back, a flailing crab in her mouth that she crunched down on, eating it whole.

When she caught sight of a long stand of dark green seaweed, she slowed down and tentatively approached, sniffing cautiously as gentle waves shifted it on the wet sand. Hump grinned as she stalked it like it was prey, body poised like a wolf, ready to lurch forward. The moment the next wave rescinded, she pounced, snapping down on the seaweed and racing away as the next wave broke and surged toward her, licking at her heels.

A few of their squad members laughed at the sight.

“Good to see at least one of us is having a good time.” Celaine was grinning as she spoke.

“She looks like she’s picking a fight with the sea,” Emilia said. “I’m not sure that’s a fight she can win.”

“Oi!” Hump said. “Nisha can do whatever she sets her mind on. Though maybe she could pick a better time.”

Hump mentally called her to return to him and she turned away from the waters in a huff.

There was a sense of ease to the group as they closed in on the dungeon; the kind of confidence that came only with experience. They chatted about the mission, but also made small talk. Out here, there were few places for monsters to sneak up on them from, and even fewer that could actually pose a threat.

Ahead, the sandy shores were consumed by the sea all the way up to the treeline. The water sparkled beneath the sun, glistening like a myriad of tiny diamonds. As they approached, Hump squinted, trying to discern the details, only to realise it wasn’t water at all that covered the beach—it was glass. The entire beach had been transformed into a vast, crystalline expanse, forming a smooth, radiant slope that glittered like a jewel.

The glassy surface was mesmerising, with bubbles and streaks trapped within, creating intricate patterns and textures. Cracks and scars marred the otherwise flawless expanse, leaving delicate flakes of glass scattered across it like hail upon a street.

At the centre of it all was the crown jewel—a crystal obelisk that rose from the ground until it was almost as tall as a tree. Its crystal surface captured the sunlight, refracting it into a dazzling array of colours that painted the surroundings in an otherworldly glow, its vibrant hues constantly shifting and changing. The obelisk pulsed with essence. Hump sensed it before them like a thick fog, concentrated over this glass world.

“Is that it?” Marcela asked.

“That’s it,” Anara said. “Owen and his party should be inside.”

The chatter stopped now, the attitude shifting toward business. Nishari seemed to detect the change in atmosphere too as she returned to Hump’s side and stalked forward. He’d been hesitant about bringing her with them but seeing her now his worry subsided a little. She was waist height, and stalked forward with the focus of a predator, her body lithe and elegant.

There were no enemies in sight as they stepped upon the glass landscape. The chaotic power of dungeons rushed over Humps skin like a sandstorm as he exposed himself to the power contained in the domain. Once, he would have felt its pull, luring him to wield it and take its strength. Now, all he felt was wooziness. It twisted his connection to his essence and distracted his focus.

The glass cracked beneath Hump’s feet as he walked, splitting off in spiderwebs. Beneath Bud’s steel boots, it all but shattered.

“The node should already be secure,” Anara said quietly. “Be prepared for a fight, but I’m hopeful that a path has already been prepared for us.”

“I don’t detect any danger,” Isabella said.

She was a Chosen of Emirai, and the healer of Anara’s party. One of her blessings allowed her to perceive any ill-intent toward herself or her allies. That ability alone was enough to make her a powerful asset for any dungeon, but to also have the healing capabilities of Emirai made her invaluable. So long as they weren’t killed immediately, she’d be able to keep them alive.

They made their way toward the obelisk. It was only as Hump got closer that he noticed the entrance subtly carved into its side, like the hollowed-out interior of some colossal amethyst geode. The opening shimmered with an inviting, ethereal glow, beckoning him closer—no doubt some trick of the dungeon node to lure unsuspecting prey closer. Peering inside, there was a tunnel lined entirely in glass. The walls were smooth and pristine, devoid of the cracks and imperfections found on the outside. Instead, there were slight bumps and undulations like the facets of a cut gemstone. The walls glistened with the light of the sun, illuminating the tunnel with a shimmering rainbow of light.

“It’s beautiful,” Emilia said, running a hand over the smooth surface of the obelisk. “Even with magic, it’s hard to imagine how this is all possible.”

“If it wasn’t a dungeon, I would almost be excited,” Len said.

“What do you mean, mage?” Tamsin said, grinning. “It’s been too long since my axes tasted blood.”

“Robert, Theron, I want you both to take the lead,” Anara said. “Len and myself will follow just behind you and be ready to support.”

Tamsin looked at her, her face downcast. “I should lead us.”

Anara shook her head. “Save your strength for when the true fighting begins. We will need it.”

“Ah, of course.” Tamsin nodded. “My axes can wait a little longer.”

They followed the tunnel down. The stench of decay rose from within, becoming stronger as they delved deeper, until it was thick and rancid in the air like a stall of rotten fish. They came to a massive domed chamber, the spiralling tunnel dropping them off right in its centre. Looking around, Hump quickly found the source of the stench—a massive pile of rotten fish lay against the far wall.

The wall itself was transparent. Beyond, Hump saw the sea, gleaming with the light of the dungeon to reveal a coral reef. Fish of all kinds swam there. Little ones, big ones, and all sorts of colours. Nisha watched with the same awe, hunger radiating from her end of the bond despite the stench.

Suddenly, there was a bright flash in the wall as a fish swam close. The fish tried to swim away but something dragged it toward the chamber. It fell through the glass wall and splatted against the ground beside the pile of rotten fish where it flapped frantically.

Nisha rushed forward before Hump thought to stop her. She grabbed the flailing fish, munching as she tilted her head back, swallowing it down whole like a ravished seagull. She looked at Hump and licked her lips with a wet slosh, her purple eyes wide with excitement.

“First blood goes to Nisha!” Garris said cheerfully. The older man walked with a crossbow rested over his shoulder. He wore a mixture of mail and plate. If not for his position in Anara’s party, Hump could have mistaken him for a town guard.

“Stay focused, Nisha,” Hump said, reinforcing his seriousness with his will. “Don’t do that again, and don’t eat everything you see.”

“Yeah, at least sniff it first,” Dylan said.

Hump frowned. “Not helpful.”

Nisha sauntered over to them, clearly without regrets. They were searching for their next passageway when the little dragon suddenly stopped and sniffed the air. She tilted her head curiously and alerted Hump to the presence of something strange. Whatever it was, Hump couldn’t sense it, but he trusted her instincts.

“Wait,” Hump said. “There’s something nearby.”

They all stopped in place, hands going to their weapons.

“Isabella?” Anara asked.

“I don’t sense any danger,” the healer said, looking around the chamber.

“I can’t see anything either,” Celaine said.

Hump activated Spirit Sight, his attention drawn to a spot of essence, smoking out of a hole in the ceiling. A second later, and the ceiling erupted in a purple portal.

Tasmin stepped forward, axes already in hand. “Yes! Come, demons!”

A man fell screaming, grunting as he hit the ground where he lay splayed out on his front. Behind him, a woman followed, landing deftly at his side, one foot placed triumphantly on his back.

The man lay face down on the floor, gasping for breath. “Not demons,” he wheezed out. He was lean, handsome, and wore a cloak made entirely out of shining blue feathers. It wrapped around him like wings, soft and light as a pillow.

The man groaned. “Come on, Marian! That was the roof again!”

The woman winced, though her face showed amusement. “Sorry. Next time I’ll get it.”

She was tiny, even by Hump’s standard, standing perhaps a head smaller than he was. She had a petite, athletic figure that made Hump think of a dancer, even partially hidden beneath purple robes. A cloak shifted at her back, despite the lack of wind. She wore the hood down, revealing a head of red hair that reached her waist. Her eyes were purple like the quickly closing portal behind her, and they sparkled with golden dots like stars.

“Lady Anara, it’s good to see you,” the woman said.

Anara smiled. “Marian, Theodore, I’m pleased to see you both well. How fares the situation?”

“They have no idea we’re here,” Marian said. “There are a few lesser demons in the node chamber, along with a whole bunch of fellspawn farming away. Nothing that will slow us down. It should be a straight path to the Infernal Halls.”

“Owen’s waiting for you all down below,” Theodore said as he forced himself to his feet. “I’m very pleased to make your acquaintances. I am Theodore, Chosen of Astya. It’s—” He stumbled, his face turning green. For a moment Hump thought the man would throw up but he managed to hold it.

He wore no shirt, relying on his cloak to keep his upper body covered, but showing off a muscular torso underneath. His trousers were loose and embroidered with a complex weave of runes. Hump could sense their power even at a glance. It was expensive stuff, which meant Theodore was either a very successful adventurer or from a rich family. Quite possibly both.

“Stop being so dramatic,” Marian said, slapping at his forearm with the back of her hand. “You’re embarrassing me. It’s not that bad.”

Theodore shuddered. “I hate it. I’ll never get used to that feeling. It’s truly awful.”

“It can’t be worse than coming here by ship,” Dylan said. “The world is still shaking.”

Theodore shook his head. “You have no idea, friend. On this end, it feels like just a moment has passed, but within it’s been minutes. The entire time you feel like you’re falling. You can barely breathe and have no control over where you’re going. The only thing holding onto you is Marian, and I dread to think what would happen if she let go. And I saw… things in there. Shadows that moved unnaturally, closing in.” He shuddered again. “I’d take a ship any day.”

“I wouldn’t let go,” Marian snapped. “Not unless you annoyed me anyway.”

“I suppose that explains why the rest of us came here by ship,” Hump said. He’d been wondering why the rest of them hadn’t been able to take advantage of a Chosen of Vesta in the squad.

“Marian’s blessing is incredibly powerful, but it requires training to use safely,” Anara explained. “Not just her own expertise, but the expertise of those with her. It would be impossible for her to keep someone as powerful as myself on the correct path.”

“What happens if you go astray?” Celaine asked.

Marian spread her hands dramatically. “Gone. Don’t know where, but there’s not much to see in there.”

“To the dark things that lurk in the void, no doubt,” Theodore said.

“Best not to think about it,” Marian said. “Otherwise nobody would ever get in.”

“I’m with Theodore,” Bud said. “Let’s leave the portal hopping to the specialists.”

“Speaking of which,” Marian grinned, “I must be off. Theo will show you the way. We can make the introductions once you’re with the rest of the group.”

She jumped into the air just as a portal appeared beneath her. Within, Hump glimpsed a purple abyss, radiant with essence and filled with the same golden stars as her eyes. She fell into its gaping mouth, the portal closing behind her, vanishing as if it were never there.

“She doesn’t like to walk,” Theodore said apologetically. “I’ve seen her use a portal to save herself crossing a room. Anyway,” he turned around, getting his bearings before gesturing toward the side of the chamber that was thankfully away from the rotten fish, “it’s this way if you would please follow me.”