The Elder's Curse by Andrew Walbrown (ereader for textbooks TXT) 📕

as time passed he began to realize he did not have the willpower to move; the healing pool had complete control over his body and soul.

“I can’t move. I think the water won’t let me.” Amantius was surprised by how calmly he expressed his thoughts, even though deep inside he was starting to panic.

“What do you mean?” Kona returned, stepping into the water once again.

“I can’t get up. My mind wants to leave, to see Ulam and Mazargo, but my body won’t let me move. I think you’re going to have to drag me out of here.”

“Drag you?” Kona replied, shaking her head. “There’s no way I am strong enough to do that.”

“Just try,” Amantius said, his tone encouraging despite the growing alarm inside his heart. “You’re ten times stronger now than you were when we entered the room. But first, you might need to bind my arms and legs.”

“Why?” She looked at him with a suspicious glance.

“I just have a bad feeling that since I can’t control my body, I won’t be able to keep myself from trying to hit you. Please? If not for your sake, do it for my conscience.”

Kona used the ropes in one of their bags to bind his arms and legs, tying them in such a tight knot Amantius had minimal mobility. When both were satisfied with the strength of the knots, Kona began to drag Amantius, grunting as she used every muscle in her body to pull. Even though the healing waters also granted her increased strength, it was still difficult for the slender Kalikki to haul a much larger Amantius towards the edge of the pool. Though she moved slowly she was still able to make progress, despite receiving no support from the person she was dragging.

Amantius felt terrible as he watched Kona toil for his sake. Not only was she there to hold him after he witnessed the beheading of a false representation of his mother in a faux Accaria, but now she was saving him again. He knew the pool had consumed too much of his free will, and if not for Kona’s determination, he would have been doomed to remain in its embrace for all eternity. As they neared the edge of the pool, he felt his body increase its defiance in the form of punches and kicks, each strike an attempt to break his restraints. But since Amantius and Kona had expected such a reaction, the lashing out was reduced to nothing more than harmless spasms.

With one last great heave, Kona was able to drag Amantius out of the pool, falling over backward in exhaustion as she did so. For as great of a resistance his body provided at the end, Amantius was surprised by how quickly he was able to reclaim control over his limbs. He tried to move, wiggling back and forth, cursing the binds which had protected Kona seconds ago. As he struggled with his flaxen shackles he saw Kona staring at him, hesitation in her eyes.

“Don’t worry,” Amantius muttered through gritted teeth, “I have control over my body again.”

“How do I know you’re not just saying that?”

“You don’t. But help me stand and I’ll hop away from the pool to prove it to you.”

Reluctantly Kona pulled Amantius to his feet and then stood behind him, ensuring if he fell over she would be in a position to catch him. At first, his balance was a little shaky, but after a few moments, he was able to correct himself. With each successive jump, he proved to Kona, as well as himself, that he had broken the influence the healing water had held over him.

“Alright, I believe you. Stand still and I’ll set you free.” Kona began undoing the knots, not wanting to cut the rope. “It’s a shame, though. It was entertaining watching you hop around like a drunk rabbit.”

“Oh shut up,” Amantius said with a laugh.

They proceeded to the exit after the ropes had been removed, neither wanting to be within such close proximity to the pool anymore. Amantius was excited to pass through the light purple barrier, wanting to experience the sensation of instant dryness after having his whole body submerged in water for so long. Kona passed through the threshold first, not even flinching as a thousand droplets of water darted through the air back to the pool. Not only did the liquid fly from her clothes and body, but beads of the healing water from the ropes leaked through her backpack, forming a stream that flowed gracefully in the air.

Amantius watched in fascination as every last molecule of water zipped past him and returned home. He thought it was amazing that such magic existed in the world, especially considering he had only ever witnessed minor levitation spells used by Priestess Issa in Accaria. He wondered if the old priestess knew anything similar to this, or if she had been hiding a much larger knowledge of magic from the Accarian public. When I go back, assuming I do someday, I’ll try to find out. That is if she is still alive. She was quite old when we left.

The last particles of the soft purple barrier evaporated, returning the exit to a clear archway with Kona waiting on the other side. She waited at the base of the stairwell, quietly peering up the spiraling white marble stairs. Amantius hurried to join her, bracing for the moment he crossed the threshold, unsure how the experience would feel. From watching Kona pass through twice he was confident the barrier would not be painful in any way, but he was certain the sudden transformation would feel quite bizarre.

To test this guess, he first put one foot through the doorway, activating the magical fence as the first few droplets of water started returning to the pool. As he suspected, the sudden drying of the bottom of his pants leg, as well as the skin underneath, was a sensation the like of which he had never experienced