Branches of Time, The Read Online Free

She regained control of her limbs, allowing the heat of the flames to console her, caress her face, and thanked the gods for the powers they had granted her.
    It was her duty to protect them. She was the one who had to take care of those people and their children. That was what she had been born for, what she had been prepared to do. Years of suffering, studying, and rituals. She felt like she had never really lived. She had dedicated every second of her life to studying and practicing magic. And for what? Her spells should have kept the island hidden from the eyes of the dark forces.
    And yet they had been found. She had felt the magical forces coming from the North just a few moments before the violent storm of stone shards had burst out over the island. She had run out to warn them, to call them into the Temple, since, at least between those walls, they could have been protected.
    But she hadn't gotten there in time. Her words had died in her throat. She had seen them fall like leaves. Some had been ripped to shreds as they ran to seek refuge in the Temple, falling as their eyes, begging for salvation, stared at her.
    Only Bashinoir and Lil had made it. As they ran, it had seemed as if they were dancing under that hellish rain, as if every shard had casually landed just a little bit ahead or behind them. As the two walked into the Temple, a stretch of lifeless bodies stretched out behind them outside the Temple. She had heightened her senses to seek any vital signs in that multitude of cadavers, but found nothing. Locking eyes with Bashinoir, she understood that the man had also realized the truth: none had been saved. If they had survived, they would have to fend for themselves.
    Miril rose to her feet. She wanted to go back to her quarters, but decided instead to look for Lil and Bashinoir.
    They were both sound asleep. Lil's breath was as light as a little girl's. The woman was no longer quaking from her nightmares. The priestess moved closer and gently caressed her. She lifted the skin covering her and laid down next to her. Her energy drained from performing the rituals, she embraced the girl and let the sweet sensation lull her.
    Sleeping next to another human body. She had never done such a thing before the last two nights.

8
    The wizard Aldin waited for the boy, who had just left the hotel, to turn the corner. He carefully listened for the sound of his stumbling footsteps. The young man entered the alley without noticing the shadow crouching in the darkness. Aldin let him pass by and then jumped to his feet. He grabbed him from behind and, with a dry movement, twisted his head to the right. The boy crumpled and slid down, but Aldi hurried to keep the body from falling to the ground.
    “No, come on. You can't get your spiffy soldier uniform all dirty.” Grabbing the body by the shoulders, Aldin dragged it a few feet and propped it up against the wall. He checked to see if anyone else was coming down the alley, then took a key out from his pocket and, opening a small wooden door, slipped inside, dragging the cadaver along.
    Stooping over the body, he tore out a lock of the boy's hair and placed it in a luminescent purple vial placed on top of the table. He pronounced the words of the spell and waited. A few minutes passed silently as Aldin watched the fluid in the vial whirl and gurgle, soon emitting a faint wisp of smoke which grew to the size of a man as it spilled out onto the ground. The smoke coiled around in the air, becoming thicker and thicker, developing a texture and changing color, from gray to light pink. Feet, ankles, legs, pelvis, chest, arms, backside and finally a human head gradually formed. The lines became more distinct as skin and hair also formed.
    Aldin glanced over at the dead soldier. The fluctuating simulacrum in front of him had the exact same appearance. But it still needs a soul.
    The wizard jumped forward, as if diving into a pool of thermal water.
    He immediately noticed the powerful