Pi’ve was running like his life depended on it. ’Please be there still.’ He told himself repeatedly as he ran. Barna said he was going to be in the office until tonight— there was no guarantee that he was still there.

  Pi’ve had no idea if the square where Oarios III lay was still packed with people, or if he would be able to run the shorter way. It was dark outside, but he knew that that did not deter people from staying outside until long past midnight. The pubs and inn did not close as long as people were willing to pay. If it was still packed, he would be inhibited more than taking the longer route straight away.

  So he ran. He ran past the home of his childhood friend which had now become estranged, and not long after he past the famous Inn The Wellow and he knew he was close, but he had forgotten the exact route. He was running corner to corner, peaking down the streets to see if he remembered any of the buildings. It was as if some spell had hidden the place. In his hazy mind, he had no idea if he had passed the wizard square or not, but he knew it was somewhere close.

  He needed something. It lingered in the back of his mind, but he could not pinpoint it. His heart racing, he pulled out the Pipe of Clarity, because he needed something right now.

  Luckily, his pipe still had tobac in it, and better yet, it was still glowing hot. How is that possible? It was a couple of hours ago… It had been in his inventory long enough that it should have fizzled out by now. He took a toke, now not running, but keeping a slow pace as he felt the tobac work its magic. He felt better right away.

  Thergiam: The City of Wizards

  ’Ah, there it is.’ Pi’ve said, remembering that he was in a hurry, and began running again. He remembered where Barna’s office was, and so he sprinted the small distance there and ran at the door to open it. He crashed hard into it. His head was spinning for a second, and as he stepped back, his foot missed a step and he fell down the stair backwards, crashing onto the cobblestones.

  A small, red dot. Pain in the temple. He could not feel his own breath. Pi’ve felt himself being tugged by the arm, and as he opened his eyes, he could not see anything clearly. He was afraid in that moment that he was being dragged away by a wraith, but as his vision cleared, he saw Barna holding him. It was dark outside, but Barna’s staff was alight.

  ’Wre— wregh.’ Pi’ve mumbled. He had hit his head hard. Barna looked confused, trying to decode the words coming out of Pi’ve’s mouth.

  ’I locked the door— Lay still, do not talk just now. Are you hurt, Pi’ve?’ When Pi’ve did not answer for the next five seconds, he laid Pi’ve onto his back again. Barna ran as fast as his heavy body could and came back with a small vial. He unstopped the flask and poured the content down Pi’ve’s mouth.

  The potion worked within seconds, removing the pain in his head. His vision recovered, and the urgency which he had lost came back. ’Wraith. Wraith!’ Pi’ve said, getting back to his mind fast.

  ’What are you saying? Wraith? You don’t mean… There isn’t—,’ Barna said, his face showing mounting confusion, mingled with a deeply contemplating face. Then he cursed. He cursed again, and rose from his knees. ’Quite. Where is it, Pi’ve?’

  ’My home—,’

  ’I have no inkling to where you live, Pi’ve.’ Barna said. He placed his hands on his hips, and Pi’ve noticed that his staff was standing on its own. That messed with his head a little, but he regained his focus, and said ’Neonil-Crant Street 3.’

  ’That I know, approximately at least.’ Barna said and grabbed his staff fiercely. ’Let’s move.’

  Pi’ve was unsure how long the wraith would stay put. He was afraid that it would be gone once they arrived at his house. The initial damage to it had been massive, surely. But even so, it would wake again; the candles with live flame slowing its regeneration, but not forever. What Pi’ve knew, from reading stories and people who had encountered them, was that this wraith was not the only one, for they did not come alone, ever. The others would not be far away from it.

  After having ran halfway back to his home with Barna, he heard cries and shouts to his right. They had no idea how late into the night it was, but it had been dark for a while. They were gambling on there being fewer people out than earlier, running closer to the market square to save time.

  ’Pi’ve, lead the way.’ Barna said. He had ran in front until now, for he knew the approximate location they were going and had come quite close to the dock now. A little further down and they could follow the street going South and end up by his home.

  Pi’ve led the way. He hoped dearly that the wraith was still there; he did not want Barna to think that he was lying.

  They eventually arrived at the correct street and took a left going South, and the way that the street curved, they could not see his house yet, but it was close. Barna had occasionally brought out a small vial of something which he drank, and Pi’ve wondered if they were stamina potions.

  He saw his house. Pi’ve shouted for Barna to hurry, and they ran up the stairs. They burst through the door.

  An arm protruded out of the black heap of cloth on the floor, hand pressed to the floor, elbow bent as if pushing itself off the ground. The wraith had not yet regained its form, but was trying to fight the surrounding candlelights, as it periodically gained, and ungained, a corporeal head. The hand stretched and flicked at a candle, flipping it over.

  ’So it is…’ Barna said, looking at the wraith on the floor.

  ’What will you do?’ Pi’ve asked.

  ’I must capture it, of course.’ Barna said, fidgeting in his robe. ’It may seem bad that these wraiths spawned today, but it really isn’t. Stand back Pi’ve.’ Barna said, confirming that he also thought that there were several more out there tonight.

  He had pulled out something which looked like a silver chain, which glistened and shone as the candle light hit it. Pi’ve wondered what it was, and inspected it.

  [Ferinaril Chain (Rare)] - A chain made of the rare metal Ferinaril. This handmade chain has the ability to hold incorporeal matter, and is often used to chain and hold wraiths captive. This chain is extremely costly, being that it is one of three metals mined and made solely by dwarves.

  Without a moment’s notice, Pi’ve felt the air around him condensing, and then disperse rapidly. His skin began to tingle, and there was a pressure inside his chest which made him want to run away. His temples began to throb, and then he saw a flash of blue light, and everything went quiet.

  The heap of black cloth on the floor, fell limply to the floor again. The thin Ferinaril chain in Barna’s hand began hovering over to the wraith, and then it wrapped itself around the wraith’s robes. Then the link which encased the robed wraith hovered over to Barna, and he held it by the chain. Pi’ve wondered what kind of magic he had just done.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  ’We have three chains like this in Thergiam. You must alert Dandrian, for he has the two others, and get him to the market square. The rest of the wraiths are undoubtedly there.’ Barna said. ’Do you understand? I will seek the other wraiths out.’

  ’Yes. Where is he?’ Pi’ve said, ready to run wherever he had to.

  ’Dandrian is in the offices of the Table of Wizards, but there is no way for you to get there. You will have to run to the WCC and talk with the clerk there. You remember the way back there?’ Barna said, and Pi’ve nodded and ran out the door straight away.

  He was getting tired of all the running, but the fact that his city was under attack gave him strength to keep going with vigour. People could die if they did not act fast.

  Unfortunately there were no horses around to make the trip go faster. Horses was kept in stables either way, and it would be hard to steal one. He had never ridden before either way. After about fifteen minutes, Pi’ve arrived at the wizard square again, and he ran up to the door of the WCC. It was locked. He knocked vigorously. The door opened, and a tired looking wizard stood inside.

  ’Yes?’ The wizard said.

  ’Hello. I am Pi’ve, and I have been sent by Barna to notify Dandrian. Could you help me?’

  ’What is the matter?’ She said, looking sternly at Pi’ve. ’Wraiths.’ Pi’ve said, out of breath. ’What in the— come in, come in.’ She said and Pi’ve entered.

  They went straight to the front desk, and she placed her hand on top of a round, crystal ball. The clear crystal ball went hazy and murky, as the wizard closed her eyes. Her forehead wrinkled and her eyebrows furrowed.

  ’Tell him to bring the Ferinaril chains.’ Pi’ve said, and the wizard looked confused for a tiny moment, but nodded.

  ’He will be here promptly. Now tell me what is going on.’ The wizard said. ’Oh, but manners first. I am Kerlina, I work here at the Wizard Court Council. I heard you had quite the entrance yesterday.’ She said, holding her hand out to greet Pi’ve.

  ’My name is Pi’ve. Yes, I am new. I heard Janareus speak your name in the market square yesterday.’

  ’Yes, he has told me about you. A man named Murgun has been here, if you were curious—,’

  ’Yes, I heard. He told me directly.’ Pi’ve said, unable to be crass, but itching to turn and leave right away. Kerlina stood there looking at him for what felt like way too long. ’So, does Dandrian come here, or should I go to the square? Barna is there waiting for us. I should go.’

  ’Yes, you should go. If Dandrian comes here first, I will send him to you.’ She said. ’Go now. This is good for you, you know.’

  Pi’ve was already almost out the door when that last comment came, and he did not know what she meant by it. He had no time to go back to have her clarify, so he ran towards the square. After just over ten minutes, he arrived at the square.

  The crowd had dispersed almost entirely, there being almost no people in the square. Pi’ve was looking for Barna, when he saw a blue flash of light in one of the streets on the opposite side of the square. He ran over to where he saw it and called for Barna.

  ’Yes? Pi’ve! Is it you? Where is Dandrian?’

  Pi’ve ran towards where the voice came, with his staff alight.

  ’Dim the light!’ Barna called. He was just around this corner. Pi’ve did as he was told, and dimmed it almost all the way down. ’Where is Dandrian? Is he coming?’

  ’I think so. Kerlina did not confirm it, but it seemed like it.’ When he turned the corner, he saw why Barna had said it. ’Oh, my—,’

  Three wraiths were cornered in an alleyway, hovering high above the ground. Their robes hung down almost reaching the cobblestones, and they were hissing and snarling. Then, in unison, the heads of all three wraiths rose, and yellow, glowing eyes could be seen through the dark shadow beneath their hoods. They were looking at Pi’ve.

  ’Pi’ve, are you able to shut your ears? If so, this might be the time to do so…’ Was all Pi’ve could hear Barna say, before a high-pitched screeching noise filled the alleyway. It was pain almost unbearable. He lost his grip in his staff. His hands clasped around his ears, and he shut his eyes. He felt a heavy thud in his back, and he realised that he had fallen.

  After a few moments the screeching faded, and when he opened his eyes, he saw the wraiths had moved closer to them. Barna’s staff was very bright, and Pi’ve knew that that was the only reason that they had not yet come close enough to touch him.

  ’Pi’ve, get up! We need more light, or else they will reach us. Please, get up!’ Barna said commandingly.

  Pi’ve moved his body, and it felt like his joints had dried up. It hurt to move, but he had to help. He reached for his staff, and got up to his knee, before using his staff as leverage to stand up.

  ’Slowly now, we do not want them all to condense into one.’ Barna said, and Pi’ve felt a shiver run down his spine thinking about what would happen if three wraiths combined.

  Pi’ve slowly lit his staff, and right away, the wraiths began backing off slowly.

  ’A few steps to your right, Pi’ve. We need to broaden the light beam, or else they’ll fall.’ Barna said, and Pi’ve stepped to the side. He understood then that if they fell, then they would condense into one. His head was sweating profusely. When was Dandrian coming?

  Just then, he felt the same feeling as he had once before. Mana seemed to be pressing down on him, like something powerful was about to happen, and Pi’ve was afraid; afraid that the wraiths had a secret attack coming. Just as he thought this, they heard someone coming from behind. It was Dandrian. Pi’ve remembered the old man, hunched over and weary-looking. It was him that had made the air feel pressing.

  ’Here you are.’ Dandrian said, and came close to Pi’ve. The wraiths were just a few feet from them, but it seemed like the mere presence of Dandrian made them agitated.

  ’How great of you to come, Dandrian!’ Barna shouted over the great hum of the three wraiths. ’Long since you have taken a few wraiths?’

  ’No.’ Dandrian said, and without time to prepare, the eyesight of Pi’ve was brought down by light. The heat from the light was as if a great pile of wood had been set aflame right beside him, and in the panic it caused him, he jumped to the side abandoning his post.

  It did not take many moments before Pi’ve had realised his folly, but as he looked up, he saw that both Barna and Dandrian was hunched over the three wraiths, fastening two of them with Dandrian’s ferinaril chains.

  ’Impeccable work, Pi’ve,’ Barna said, bending around to look at him. ’Truly.’

  ’You do have an eye for talent, I must say.’ Dandrian said, also turning to present a smile.

  Pi’ve felt embarrassed. It had never been a question of doing the right thing, though that would probably have mattered had it not been a wraith in his living room. He just had to act, and he had been lucky that the light had brought it down, luck that kept Barna at his office so long, and probably luck that brought Dandrian to their aid this quickly.

  ’Luck…’ Pi’ve uttered, more to himself than to the two others. ’Thank you.’

  ’Don’t talk about luck. There was no luck involved here tonight. You jumped to action when there was need for it, and action brings results. If I had not been in my office tonight, then someone else would have stepped up, and the result would have been the same.’ Barna said, rising to his feet. ’The best cause of action in a time of need is action itself. Just do something, and eventually you will end up where you are supposed to.’

  ’We have one extra.’ Dandrian said to Barna, looking down at the last wraith, not inside a ferinaril chain.

  ’Well, I do not have another chain.’ Barna said, and then huffed. ’I guess we have to take the risk.’

  ’Take the risk? what do you mean?’ Pi’ve said.

  ’If you kill one, then another may spawn. There can only be a set amount of wraiths about at a time.’ Barna explained. ’But I guess that since these came, the people have run home. I think we can risk it, Dandrian.’

  ’There will come another?’ Pi’ve asked.

  ’Not necessarily. Wraiths usually do not spawn alone. Be done with it, Dandrian.’ Barna said, and Dandrian nodded, taking a few steps back from the black heap of clothes laying on the ground. The other three wraiths were packed in bundles, each inside the ferinaril chains, hovering between Dandrian and Barna.

  Blue light erupted from Dandrian’s staff, and a undulating wave of sound filled the street they were standing. A faint scream, unending and terrifying sounded from a place Pi’ve could not pin-point. He clasped his hands over his ears, and understood then that it was the dying screeches of the wraith.

  You have slain [Wraith - lvl 24] - Experience earned in proportion to damage dealt. Bonus experience earned for killing an enemy above your level.

  ’You can go home, Pi’ve.’ Barna said. ’You need some sleep before returning to work tomorrow. I and Dandrian will account for any missing people these wraiths may possibly have taken hostage.’

  ’You gave him a job.’ Dandrian said, more impressed than surprised, it seemed.