Nightmare Realm Summoner

Derek fought back against a yawn as he ambled through the streets of Mirrorwane. His stomach let its presence be known with a very audible grumble that drew the attention of no fewer than three different townsfolk all at once — and not one of them had been within half a dozen feet of him.

He was starving. Nobody had told him that Body Tempering could make anyone so hungry. If he’d known, he probably wouldn’t have been nearly as bothered about the whole thing. He’d only gone into the Forsaken Grounds in the first place in hopes of finding an Anomaly to hunt.

Why doesn’t Mirrorwane have a personal chef yet? We need one. I’ll definitely tell Alex and Claire the next time I see them. Every good town needs a chef.

Even though he’d walked right past the two a second ago, Derek just couldn’t quite muster up the energy to turn back and go after them. Weariness wasn’t the only thing weighing him down at the moment. He was more exhausted than he had been in a very, very long time.

Blade hadn’t been kind. And, as it turned out, Body Tempering was far from an enjoyable process. He’d died more than a few times while he’d been in the Forsaken Grounds — and the only thing he’d actually gotten out of the whole experience was a boring old potion.

It hadn’t even tasted good.

Stupid tower. I’d never go back in there again if it wasn’t for that door. I hate getting told I can’t go somewhere. If there’s a door, then it’s only natural to walk through it. Nobody builds a door and doesn’t use it. If you don’t want anyone going through your door, then you should build a wall.

Derek’s annoyed thoughts rumbled to a stop as he realized that someone was standing in his path. He blinked, his eyes refocusing to find Wess leaning against the wall of a building before him. The other man tipped his tattered hat in greeting.

“Derek. Been a bit.”

“Feels like forever,” Derek said. “You have any food? I’m starved.”

“Unfortunately not,” Wess said with a sad shake of his head. “Sorry, boss. Finley probably does. Or Mite. Depends on where your definition of food ends and corpse starts.”

“Mm,” Derek said. “Good idea. Thanks.”

“No problem,” Wess said. “Hold on a second, though. I wanted to ask you something.”

Derek tilted his head to the side. His stomach itched. He adjusted one of the swords impaling him in the side to scratch at it from within. “Okay.”

“You were gone for a while,” Wess said. “In that tall bone building that Mite crushed our Cultivation Array with. What was that about? People are saying you can’t go in there without permission.”

“Oh. Oops,” Derek said.

“Meh. It’s fine. Rules are meant to be broken.” Wess waved his hand, then leaned in closer with a glint in his eye. “So what was in there, big man? What’s Alex keeping secret?”

“Why don’t you ask him?” Derek asked, his brow furrowed in confusion. “He’d probably tell you.”

Wess’ shoulders slumped and he blew out a heavy sigh. “You’re ruining this for me, man.”

“What?” Derek cocked his head to the other side.

“I know he’d tell me,” Wess said. “I’m Wess. Anyone would want to tell me anything. I’m very charismatic, you know. But that takes all the fun out of it. Why would I want to figure a secret out by hearing it from the source?”

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

“You know? Somehow, I’m not surprised you don’t get it.” Wess patted Derek on the shoulder. “You want to tell me anyway, though?”

“It’s a training area,” Derek said. “One with a very annoying door that a mean man won’t let me go through.”

“Oh?” Wess’ eyes sparked with interest. “A training area? Is that why you look so tired?”

“Yeah,” Derek said. “I died a bunch of times. It was pretty rough. I do feel a bit better now, though.”

“I’ll say,” Wess muttered. “You’re carrying yourself differently. You realize that?”

“I am? How?”

Wess studied Derek for a second longer. Then he shook his head. “Just go get some food in you. You’re way thinner than you should be. It’s like you lost ten pounds. I’ll go check the tower out and report back. Maybe there’s something interesting in there.”

“Didn’t you say it was restricted?” Derek asked.

Wess just grinned. “Did I?”

Then he was gone, striding down the street and whistling to himself.

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Derek didn’t bother watching him leave. He ambled off on his own, heading in the direction of the center of town in hopes of running into someone who might hav known where he could get a good few dozen plates of food.

***

There was a demon set up guarding the entrance of the Forsaken Grounds. He stood a few feet away from the entrance, one arm crossed in front of his chest and the other propping up a book he was thumbing through. The man didn’t look particularly engaged in his job.

Wess grinned. He always could have just asked Alex what the whole fuss was about, but he’d always been the type to act first and ask for forgiveness later. There was no point to living if one waited around to get permission for everything. To live was to take.

A small voice in the back of Wess’ head pointed out that this was how he’d gotten himself into more than a little trouble in the past. But that voice had never been all that big. He probably wouldn’t have found himself standing in Mirrorwane if it had.

Wess shoved it aside and strode down the path for the entrance to the Forsaken Grounds.

The demon glanced up from his book.

“No entry,” he said in a bored tone. “Not without permission. It’s too dangerous.”

“No worries,” Wess said, raising a hand and not slowing in the slightest. There were some jobs where breaking and entering had to be done stealthily. This wasn’t one of them. “I’ve got permission.”

“You do?” The demon blinked. “So fast? I thought we were going to wait until the effects had been studied a bit better. Derek just came out a bit ago, and he looked really different.”

“Not really,” Wess said.

“Wait, what?” The guard’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“The permission bit,” Wess clarified as he reached the shadow entryway leading into the looming building. “I might have lied about that.”

Then he stepped into the darkness. The ground fell away and Wess vanished, leaving the guard and his answer in the world behind him.

Reality re-knit itself around Wess as his foot landed hard on hard stone. He was standing in a gray room, decorated with nothing at all. The only break in the walls was a lone door at the far side of the room. It seemed to call to him, beckoning Wess across the room toward it.

But standing between Wess and the door in question was a man clad in bronze and green armor with a nasty-looking halberd at his side.

Looks like I’ve found the door and rude individual that Derek mentioned.

“Another?” The armored man asked. “That was fast. I just sent the last one out. There’s no way. But it’s been so long… just what is your access point?”

“Sorry?” Wess asked, keeping his features flat and expressionless. He wasn’t about to go giving anything away. Wess never gave information out for free.

“The town you came from,” the man said. “What is it called?”

“That’s an odd question to open with,” Wess said. He adjusted his hat. “Where I’m from, we ask names first.”

“Your name is considerably less important than the location from which you came,” the armored man said. “But I am Blade. And you are?”

“You can call me John.”

Blade tilted his head to the side. Then his eyes narrowed. “You are lying. That is not a name you have ever gone by.”

Splendid. He’s might have some kind of truth-detecting magic. It seems like he can determine intent to some degree. That’s good to know.

“I just said you could call me John,” Wess said. “Not that it was my name.”

“You’re one of these,” Blade said. He pinched the bridge of his nose. Then a small smile flitted across his lips. “Though at least it means you have some sense about you. Tell me your real name. I respect your caution, but I am not here to play games.”

“Wess.”

“Wess,” Blade repeated. “And what town are you from, Wess?”

“Why should I tell you?” Wess asked. “I don’t see why that is relevant.”

“It is relevant if you want to be properly assessed and allowed to progress under the banner of your allies,” Blade said flatly. “I will ensure your privacy. But this is not a negotiable, and I would strongly suggest against trying to weasel you away your of giving a real answer. If you do not properly identify yourself, it will only hinder you in the future.”

Meh. Some battles ain’t worth fighting over. I’m pretty sure Derek would have given this guy anything he asked for anyway. He’s too damn trusting.

“Mirrorwane,” Wess said.

Blade nodded. “As expected. Another one. I knew it was too soon. The rate at which your people are coming… no matter. It is not my business. Do you know the premise of this room?”

“Not in the slightest,” Wess said.

“Your task is to make it to that door,” Blade said, nodding over his shoulder. “Employ any means necessary. That is all I have to say for the current moment. The rest will depend on your performance.”

“Is that so?” Wess asked. “Is time a factor?”

“No,” Blade replied. “Only how far you can get. I would suggest being at your best prior to this attempt. Once you start, you will not get another chance. The farther you advance through the room, the harder it will become to continue. Pressure will mount with every step you take until you can move no further.”

Wess nodded slowly. “I see. And I can do whatever I want in order to pass?”

“Whatever you are capable of,” Blade confirmed.”

“And the challenge only starts when I begin moving, right?”

“That is correct.” Blade nodded.

Wess’ hand raised as he called on his magic, his finger already preparing to pull down on a trigger that never came.

He froze.

There was no trace of his magic. None at all. He couldn’t feel it in the slightest. And that meant he couldn’t summon his gun. Wess stood locked in place for a long second. Then he frowned. “Well. This is awkward.”

“Attempting to call on your magic?” Blade asked, sounding rather amused. “And pointing at me. Were you trying to take me out before your challenge begun? Before you even knew if that would be beneficial to you?”

“That’s a rather sharp accusation,” Wess said as he let his hand drop. “Where’s my magic?”

“Blocked,” Blade replied.

Blocked? Well that’s a load of horseshit. Didn’t even realize you could do that. But Derek said he died in here… which means this guy isn’t telling the full truth.

“Gone?” Wess asked as he reached into his jacket. “Or blocked?”

“Unless you have the strength to differentiate between the two, they are one and the same. If you cannot call on your magic, then you will have to find an alternative way forward.”

“It might come as a surprise to you, but I’ve gathered as much.” Wess rifled through his pockets. “No wonder Derek looked so shaken up.”

“I will not going to discuss the progress of others who have walked this room,” Blade said. “The only thing that matters is your own performance.”

I figure this is some kind of test to determine my potential or current skills. There are too few terms set for it to be the actual goal. But with tests like these, there’s always one right answer.

“Right,” Wess said. “Here we go.”

“You are prepared to begin?” Blade asked.

“That’s one way to put it,” Wess said, drawing his hand free of his jacket. In his grip was an old but well-cared for Colt 1911. Wess raised the pistol and took aim at Blade’s forehead in the span of a split second.

Then he pulled the trigger.