Profundum: Bone, Stone, and Wood, #3

By Blake R. Wolfe

 

The first beacon has been found, the ground begins to quake, and nothing is what it seems. Nox, Erra, and Zyk find themselves surrounded by impossible situations and the gods are growing impatient. The evil that sleeps below Lycoris grows stronger day by day.

Nox, after being kidnapped by pirates, stranded on a desert island, tricked by into the Hollow, and fighting for his life, finds himself on the island of Foryn. While Erra is still at his side, Zyk has been taken by Sabin and the only way to get him back is to trade the beacon of the Great Serpent for his life. Against his better judgement, but unwilling to lose a friend, Nox and Erra delve deeper in to the island, facing dangers and standing on the very precipice of death. But the beacon is found, a deal has been struck, and from the moment Nox is bestowed with the power of a fallen god, his world is turned upside down and the cavern around him erupts in fire. A magical flight to the mainland leaves everyone injured and exhausted with a new set of allies... but something is off.

Will Nox and his companions get to the bottom of this mystery in time or will the Primes finally hunt them down and put an end to their adventure forever?


Bone, Stone, and Wood is an epic LGBTQ+ fantasy series by Blake R. Wolfe. Set in the world of Lycoris where all people are welcome, Nox and his companions, a werewolf like creature and a talking fox, race to save the world from destruction by an eldritch being with nothing but the power of fallen gods to aid them. Fans of Critical Role, Dimension 20, The Witcher, and Final Fantasy will love this series.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blake R. Wolfe
• Release date: Dec 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215746417

Blake R. Wolfe

Blake spends most nights with his laptop pulled close, clacking away on the keyboard to get the next great idea written down. Surrounded by piles of notebooks, journals, and a cat of course, he does his best to keep his brain on the task at hand. Blake has published across multiple genres, but prefers the fantasy realm to all others. He is a beach bum during the summer, a wannabe yogi, and an avid Muppets fan. Seriously. You can sign up for new releases, giveaways, and freebies on his website.

Book preview

One

Nox’s entire being had ceased to exist in a flash. In its place was nothing but pain and the surge of magic within him. His vision had gone, replaced by an unending whiteness that burned down to his very soul. Every inch of his body felt as if it was on fire and frozen in ice simultaneously, the combination making him scream out in shock and pain. His eyes rolled back as every muscle in his body tensed against the torturous onslaught. Suddenly he felt his lungs filling with water, tasting the salty bite of brine fresh on his tongue. For an instant he disappeared out of all time and space, plunged to the deepest darkest depths of the ocean where the water crushed him from all sides, threatening to consume him into the never ending void. Sensations of every imaginable kind, especially the unpleasant ones, raced through his body, each of them tearing him apart more than the last. But as he struggled to breathe, wondering how long it would take before he was drowned, crushed, or burned alive, he felt the furor ebb.

The white blindness brought on by his pain faded, the darkness of the ocean surrounding him once more. He found he no longer felt the need to breathe, the burning of his lungs giving way to cool relief, satiated by the cold ocean around him. However, his eyes were drawn downward as a sapphire light sprang up, illuminating the suffocating darkness around him. There, clutched in his trembling and bloodied fingers, was the beacon of the Great Serpent. Thousands of tiny white fishbones woven together to create a makeshift cage for the power of a god that once ruled all the oceans of Lycoris. It was pulsing against his skin like a tiny cold heartbeat, or the flutter of fins from the colorful fish that made their homes in the coral reefs around the island of Foryn. It was frozen, but wriggling and alive, full of more life and power than he ever thought possible. He lifted it higher, pure curiosity driving him forward, peering into the depths of the gem-like sparkle that danced across his face. It was so delicate and yet, within it was contained all the power and fury of the raging sea. He knew, if he wanted to, the tiny bones would snap in his grip, releasing all the pent up wrath of the Great Serpent once and for all.

Nox closed his eyes, remembering Zyk, Erra, Abi, and of course, his mother. All of them were taken from him or in danger, depending on him for their salvation. The gods had promised him their boons, but it was him that had to follow through to bring them to fruition. Nobody would stop him, not the Holy Knights, Captain Ragvir, the Primes, Xarvik, or even Sabin. In fact, as soon as he had the chance, he would make them pay for the crimes they committed against him and all the people of Lycoris. Centuries of hatred and fury flooded through his veins for all the scroungers and innocent bystanders wronged by them as his eyes shot open once more. It was time for their reign to come to an end, even if it meant making a deal with a god who cared for nothing except himself. For now, to quench his thirst for blood, he’d start with Sabin.

With a renewed sense of vengeance, Nox crushed the beacon in his hand, the glass-like bones snapping easily in his grip. He clenched his eyes shut, expecting a mind-numbing rush of magic and pain once more. But instead, he felt something else. The water around him lost its icy touch, the darkness fading into a crystalline cerulean. Sunlight streamed through his eyelids and he gently opened them once more, his head turned toward the dancing surface of the water. All around him coral reefs sprang up from the stone, their multitude of colors forming and reforming until he found himself in a veritable paradise of ocean life. Thousands of fish schooled through the reef, their vibrant scales shining so bright that Nox didn’t believe they could possibly be real, the water growing warm around him. Such colors were rare in Lycoris and never seen in the few animals that tread through the dying forests, especially in the Jade Lowlands. It was an incredible sight and one he suddenly and desperately wished to see in the real world once again.

In the distance a flash of dark scales caught his eye and his gaze lifted to meet it. A massive serpent, maw filled with teeth and piercing blue eyes shining in the deep slithered its way through the shallow sea, coming straight for him. For a moment Nox was worried it would run him down or snap him up in one bite, but the Great Serpent stopped just shy of him, the fanged mouth curling into a satisfied and prideful smile. The same sapphire eyes squinted in his direction, their malice and contempt softened momentarily as the snake realized he’d gotten what he wanted.

A wise choice... he hissed, his voice filling the water around them. And one that shall be rewarded, my champion.

The snake leaned his head to the side, pressing his open mouth against a mound of stone covered in coral. With a sharp snap of his neck, he broke off one of his many fangs and pushed it in Nox’s direction. Without a second thought, Noxe reached out and wrapped his fingers over the tooth, gripping it tightly. The moment it touched his skin he felt a sudden searing pain in his right arm. Glancing down, Nox watched as the blackened veins from the jungle snake’s poison shrank, bulging as the venom was forced down his arm back toward the wound. The water around him clouded and black ichor flowed out of the puncture, a relaxing warmth filling his muscles as they knit themselves back to health once more. As the last drop squeezed its way out of his body, he watched the wound close, nothing left behind but a tiny pink scar, a mere shadow of the deadly wound that had threatened his life mere seconds ago.

No longer shall the venom of any creature harm you, especially that of my kind, the serpent hummed. His eyes shifted, his gaze suddenly growing intense. Remember our deal and I shall grant you the additional boon as promised, a single life returned to this world. He paused for a moment. "However, should I find your actions... not in my best interest or lacking in zeal, there will be consequences."

Before Nox could open his mouth to respond, he felt himself suddenly yanked upward toward the sunlight streaming through the waves above. The moment he broke the surface, the sun disappeared and Nox found himself once more standing atop the column surrounded by a pile of bones quickly disintegrating into ash. In one hand he clutched the platinum spear and instead of the beacon in the other, he found a long white fang gripped in his fingers. Erra’s hand was still on his shoulder, steadying him so that he wouldn’t fall.

Nox... Erra breathed, gripping him tightly. There was a flash and some deep sound I’ve never heard before. He lifted his hand from Nox’s shoulder and stared at it. And... And now you’re all wet. What’s going on?

It... It’s done, Nox sighed, letting the tension out of his shoulders. He could feel the weight of the soaked cloth pulling against him, but no longer did he feel the exhaustion that had filled his bones as of late. Reaching down he pulled the sleeve of his shirt back, the snake wound completely gone and healed, just as it was in his vision. It’s really gone, he whispered.

Erra leaned forward, glancing down at the tiny pink scar where the snake bite had been only a fraction of a second before. How is this possible? He looked up at Nox, a shadow of worry filling his eyes. Did the Great Serpent do that?

Nox slowly nodded.

But... But why? I thought Almira said–

As much as I’d love to sit here all fuckin’ day listenin’ to you dogs yap, a voice rang out through the cavern. I’m expected somewhere else with the beacon in tow. So be quick about it.

Both Nox and Erra swiveled toward Sabin who stood across the partially cooled magma river, a small bundle of black fur gripped in his fist as if Zyk were a mere rag. For a fleeting moment Nox had forgotten he was there, the claiming of the beacon driving all else from his mind. But now that his gaze was upon the murderous silver haired captain, all the rage came flooding back into his body like a tsunami.

Let... him... go, Nox growled through clenched teeth. Get your fucking hands off of him you undead piece of shit!

Oh, testy are ya? Sabin mocked. I see that old snake has done fuck all to improve yer manners. He glanced down at the fox. Or yer sense of urgency. With a sudden jerk he lurched forward, holding Zyk out over an open seam of glowing hot magma. Best hurry the fuck up before yer little friend here becomes a piece of charcoal.

Erra took a step forward, his hand on his blade, but Nox held out an arm to stop him. No, he said calmly. I will take care of this myself.

But what about–

Erra, he said, his tone firm. "I will take care of this. You need not get involved."

The man looked like he wanted to argue, but something about the expression on Nox’s face made him stop. Without further confirmation, Nox stepped away from him, toward the edge of the column. But he didn’t stop there. Not a hint of hesitation crossed his mind as he walked off the edge of the pillar into open air. Gravity took effect and the ground rushed up to meet him. He heard a cry from behind, but there was no fear in his mind. With a final gesture before he struck the stone, Nox lifted both the spear and the fang to his sides, tensed his muscles, and slammed them together in front of him.

A bright flash of white filled the cavern, blinding everyone who stared at the man plummeting toward the hard stone. But when they finally cleared their vision and looked once more, they saw something else entirely. Standing there, one knee on the ground, was a man bathed completely in bright blue flame, the contours of his body lost amongst the conflagration. In his hand was held a trident woven from platinum and bone that intertwined around one another, the intricate helix pattern shining as the light of the flames danced over it. Energy crackled like lightning around his body as he slowly pushed himself to his feet. He was a sight to behold, like a celestial being attempting to take human form right before their very eyes.

Nox, however, saw none of this. His consciousness had retreated further inside his body, unable to comprehend the magical current flowing through him. Although he still controlled his every movement, he felt as if he were wearing the strongest suit of armor ever made that shielded him from the entire world. Magic flowed through every fiber of his being as he stepped toward Sabin, the bright shining trident held in his hand. He lifted his gaze to the captain who’d kidnapped him, killed his own crew members, murdered Juma, and tricked them into the Hollow to take the beacon for himself. For the first time Nox saw real and true fear in his eyes and he drank it in, the scent of terror hanging in the air making him drunk with power. It was unlike anything he’d ever experienced, far beyond the ecstasy of doing trivial magic. This was the power and confidence he’d searched for all his life. And he craved more.

Stay b-back, Sabin stuttered, taking a step backward. He thrust Zyk out, the fox’s unconscious body swinging limply in his hands. I’ll... I’ll kill him if ya don’t!

You will not harm a hair on his body, Nox breathed, his voice deeper and magically magnified as it echoed across the chamber. You wanted the beacon, didn’t you? He lifted his free hand toward Sabin, a sapphire light glowing in his palm. Shall I give it to you?

Sabin opened his mouth, but no sound came out. Nox looked him over, noticing the shaking of his hands and how he suddenly looked so frail. The hole in his chest from where the spear had passed through him remained, although the damage looked far more significant than it had before. What had once been an imposing and unkillable figure now appeared to be nothing more than a skeleton, a puppet for a master who was too much of a coward to do his dirty work himself.

Nox took a few more steps, the fiery blue light falling across Sabin’s form. He held out his hand a little further, tempting Sabin to reach the beacon he’d wanted so badly. The man flinched, retreating away from the light as if it burned him.

No! Sabin cried. Stay back! He tossed Zyk to the side as he drew the white bone sword and pointed it at Nox’s throat. I’ll kill ya if you take another step!

Glancing down at the small bundle of black fur sprawled across the stone, Nox felt his jaw tighten. He’d warned Sabin not to hurt Zyk, but his apprisal had been ignored. Letting his outstretched hand fall to his side, Nox gazed back up at the poor undead creature in front of him trembling with fear.

Don’t worry, he whispered. I will set you free of this bond.

Sabin opened his mouth to argue, but no words ever left his lips. He gasped slightly, a guttural sound gurgling up from his throat. Slowly his gaze turned downward to the trident now buried in his chest. The slow drip of water filled the cavern as he watched it appear from the shaft of the trident, seeming to well up out of the metal and bone itself. His eyes lifted to Nox, a look of surprise on his face. The attack had been too fast for Sabin to even comprehend, much less parry away.

This time, Nox growled, turning the trident cruelly in Sabin’s chest, feeling each of his ribs snap under the pressure. Stay dead.

A sudden burst of magic rushed through Nox’s body as salty seawater exploded all around him. In the instant before the blue flames were doused, he watched as Sabin’s body was burned away by the torrent, eating through his flesh and bone until there was nothing left but a black puddle being evaporated away by the heat of the magma below the floor of the dormant volcano as steam rose into the air.

The trident in Nox’s hand glowed for a moment longer, pulsing against his skin. Without really knowing why, he gave it a flick and it disappeared from sight with a small pop. Behind him he heard the sound of approaching footsteps and turned to see Erra whose face was pale and full of fear.

W-What was th-that? he sputtered, skidding to a stop a few feet away.

Nox glanced down at his hands, turning them over slowly. That... That was but a fraction of the Great Serpent’s power... the gift he gave me for taking the beacon.

Erra stared open mouthed, unable to form words.

We can talk about it later, Nox said, cutting him off before he regained the ability to speak. He took a few careful steps, crouching down near the pile of black fur on the ground. Zyk? he said, reaching out a shaky hand. Are you okay?

There was no response.

Zyk? he asked, pulling the limp creature toward him.

As if in reply, the ground beneath him rumbled angrily. For half a second he thought it was thunder, until he felt it vibrating up through his feet, the stone shifting slightly. A loud crack split the air and both whipped back to look at the tall column of stone that had once held the beacon aloft. One hexagonal pillar slowly pulled away from the structure, gathering speed until it crashed into the rocky floor below. Upon impact the cavern floor was torn apart, glowing magma splashing up to swallow the pillar. More thundering cracks filled the air as the others began to pull away and the ground shifted once more.

With the beacon and its magic gone, the cavern was falling apart and the volcano was coming back to life.

We need to go, Nox said, gathering up Zyk in his arms. Right now.

But what about–

I said now!

Two

Nox and Erra sprinted across what had once been the caldera of a dormant volcano. The stone continued to shift under them, making it hard to keep their footing as they ran for the obsidian pathway that would take them out of the mountain and back to the jungle outside. Nox kept his eyes fixed on the outside circumference of the massive cavern, searching until he found the telltale shimmering of glass walls catching the light of the magma behind them. Shifting Zyk to one hand, he nearly collided with the stone as he stuffed himself into the tiny passage, knowing that if the volcano shifted too much, it was liable to crush them all between the razor sharp obsidian walls. As he sidled his way through, he heard Erra’s breath close behind coming in ragged gasps. Both knew they were in dire straits, stuck between broken glass and boiling lava, the tight passage only chance of survival.

Fear rose up in Nox’s chest, threatening to strangle the life out of him as he continued to push his way through, the sharp rocks cutting at his clothing and skin. The godlike confidence he’d felt only moments before was all but gone, replaced once again by his own mind and the reality that he was a mere mortal trapped within a burbling volcano. As much as he wanted to believe that the Great Serpent wouldn’t let his newly crowned champion die, he also wasn’t foolish enough to tempt fate.

Minutes turned to hours in his mind as his thoughts raced faster than what felt possible. At long last the end of the passage rose up in front of him. Forcing himself out, he turned back to pull Erra through. The moment Erra was free, the floor under their feet rumbled once more and the walls of the passage suddenly shattered, millions of shards of obsidian glass raining down on their heads. Nox threw his arm up to shield his face, tucking Zyk against his body to keep the small fox from harm. The glass cut at his clothes and skin, slicing through with ease and shredding anything they touched. He felt the warmth of fresh blood flowing across his skin, but didn’t have time to stop and survey the damage.

Without looking back, Nox sped down the passage out into the open cavern where the cold corpses of the guardians still lay in coagulated pools of blood. A sound