Mana Mutation Menace (Journey to Chaos Book 3) by Brian Wilkerson Read Free Book Online Page A

Talbot that authorized Eric’s temporary release and her
authority over him. He still shook his head.
     “I’m his handler. Please let us pass.”
    The gatekeeper looked from the girl with the crystal staff
to the boy with the crystal staff.
    “When the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into a
pit.”
    “Clever; now let us pass.” The light of her crystal
flashed and she smiled sweetly. “If you don’t, I might have to tell someone
about the bribe you took and who gave it to you.”
    At once, the order was given, the door opened, and the
pair entered the teleportation room.
    “How’d you know about a bribe?”
    The teleporter was an arch of steel shod with mythril.
Runes utilizing wind and lightning magic dotted the outer side, and spell
diagrams describing the function coated the inner side.
    “The truth comes to light when you have a gift from the
Goddess of Light.” The center white-grey sphere at the center of her staff’s
crystal twinkled. “Just as you can conceal the truth with darkness, I can
reveal it. Nulso wanted to keep you trapped here.”
    Before Eric could ask for clarification, the teleport initiated
and his stomach twisted.
    The demons reappeared on a raised platform on the other
side of the chasm. The exit rune was carved into a white stone dais made from
three discs of progressively greater length. A trio of arches met in the middle
and created a localized zone of warmth and light.
    Beyond the dais, the sky was cloudy, the ground was snowy,
and everything was dark. In the distance, Eric could see the lights of Roalt,
but none of the roads leading to it or anything else. This puzzled him. He
remembered being able to see in the dark as well as he could in the light.
Further puzzling would have to wait, because he leaned over and heaved into the
snow.
    Kallen rubbed his back and waited for him. The
teleportation nausea was as bad as he remembered, but there was also something
new. He stared at the vomit in the snow and mourned the lost food. He was about
to lick it up when he stopped himself. Why did I even consider that? A human
wouldn’t do that.
    “Don’t worry about it,” Kallen said. “We’ll get more food
later.”
    “You did it again!”
    “Did what?”
    “You read my mind! I was thinking about lost food just
now. I remember you did the same thing when we reunited in Mambi about Emily
being the second new kid.”
    Kallen shrugged. “It wasn’t hard to guess.” Smiling, she
continued, “I’m flattered that you still remember that.”
    What Eric didn’t tell her was what else he remembered
about that day. He had watched Patrick Lumberson, a human man like he used to
be, transform into a Fizger. After that, there was nothing remotely human about
him. Kallen had to put him down, and then she dissected him. There were already
people who wanted to dissect Eric the otherworlder, like Captain Hasina. What
would happen now that he was an otherworlder and a mana mutation survivor?
    Kas, are you there?
    Eric!? Is that really you!? A warm and happy, yet
annoyed, cloud of emotion embraced Eric. Dear Ancestor! I thought you were a
monster!
    Eric winced at the mental shout. Yeah, it's me. I ran
into a little trouble.
    Trouble!? I have a report from Ceiha saying you blew up
part of a mountain! Their High Council started another wave of anti-magic
propaganda! Lunas had to clean up your mess!
    Lunas? As in, Prince Lunas Latrot from across the
border?
    ...Yes...Why?
    Eric hopped onto a snow-covered bridge railing and walked
across it. Then he hopped off, removed his shoes, and walked it in his bare feet.
Shoes felt unnatural.
    You're on a first-name basis.
    Her blush could not be more visible if she were standing
in person before him.
    It is important for neighboring monarchs to have a
friendly relationship.
    Did you give him a handkerchief as a sign of that
friendship?
    Of course not!
    Eric jumped off the railing and landed lightly. Kallen
told him to put his shoes back on before he got