Eldritch Guidance

Jafar and Alan, with the injured man slung over Alan’s shoulder, wasted no time fleeing the house. The moment the creature’s tentacles began to lash out, they bolted, adrenaline fueling their every step.

They stumbled back down the corridor, moving as fast as their feet could carry them. As they reached the doorway, Jafar shut the broken door behind them. He then formed a long, thin rod with a pointed tip of hardened earth with his magic. He shot it forward so that the rod would pierce the door and floor. With the way the earth spike was piercing the door, it was now jammed and would remain closed for however long Jafar’s earth magic would last. He was creating something to put some barrier between them and the writhing mass inside.

The trio spilled out onto the street, nearly collapsing onto the pavement as they escaped the confines of the house. They came to a halt in the middle of the road, breathless and shaking, their hearts racing from the sheer terror of what they had just faced.

They doubled over, gasping for breath, their bodies drenched in sweat. Jafar's hands were on his knees as he tried to steady his rapid breathing, his mind still reeling from the creature’s screeching and the near misses of its thrashing tentacles. Alan’s chest heaved as he fought to catch his breath, his pulse still thundering in his ears. The surrounding street seemed eerily quiet in contrast, the everyday normalcy starkly at odds with the nightmare they had just fled.

Jafar: "W-what was t-that? That was—Alan! Your arm!” he shouted out, worried about Alan after looking at his arm.

Alan’s arm was a painful mess of red, blistered skin, the vivid burns evidence of his direct contact with the creature’s acidic slime. Angry welts and raw patches covered his forearm.

Yet, despite the severe burns that marred his flesh, Alan’s clothing remained inexplicably untouched. His sleeve, which should have been scorched or eaten away by the acid, was perfectly intact—no holes, stains, or even a hint of damage. The fabric clung to his injured arm, unharmed by the very substance that had seared his skin underneath.

Alan: “I’m fine. It’s only my arm, but this guy’s whole body was inside that thing. He’s barely hanging on, we need to get him to the hospital,” he said while gesturing to the man over his shoulder.

Jafar: “Y-you're right. We should—” was all he said before getting interrupted by a wet, squelching sound.

The slime pooled on the ground, bubbling and writhing as it slowly reassembled itself. Inch by inch, it began to pull together, reforming into the same amorphous mass that had threatened them inside the house.

Alan and Jafar watched in stunned silence as the creature finally coalesced into a single, towering blob, now fully reformed and blocking the front of the house. It loomed menacingly, pulsating as though it were breathing, the wet, gurgling noises echoing faintly.

Suddenly, the creature let out another ear-piercing screech, the sound slicing through the air like nails on a chalkboard. In an instant, several tentacles erupted from the undulating mass again, thrashing wildly in all directions. The appendages whipped through the air with chaotic energy, slapping against the pavement and lashing out at random, as if searching for something to ensnare.

Then, without warning, the amorphous creature began to shift again. Its pulsating form quivered and retracted, drawing inward as it reshaped itself with an uncanny fluidity. The chaotic mass condensed into a near-perfect sphere, smooth and glistening under the twilight, with its writhing tentacles protruding from various points like grotesque, organic spikes.

With a sickening, gelatinous slosh, the sphere began to roll forward, its motion surprisingly quick. The tentacles flailed as they moved, acting like anchors that pulled and propelled it along, giving the creature an unsettling amount of momentum. It wasn’t just moving—it was advancing, rolling steadily towards Alan and Jafar.

Jafar’s eyes widened in shock as the creature’s sudden burst of speed caught him off guard. He hadn’t anticipated that the slime, previously sluggish and lumbering, could move with such alarming agility. The monstrous sphere rolled toward him with terrifying momentum, its tentacles lashing out as it barreled forward, ready to slam into him with crushing force.

Before Jafar could react, Alan’s blistered arm shot out, ignoring the searing pain that flared through his nerves as he grabbed his friend by the collar. With a hard tug, Alan yanked them both out of harm’s way, pulling Jafar to the side just in time. They tumbled to the ground, narrowly avoiding the oncoming mass that rushed past with a wet, thunderous sound.

The gelatinous sphere hurtled past them, missing by mere inches. One of its flailing tentacles sliced through the air as it went by, so close that Alan could feel the breeze from its passing brush against his cheek. The tendril cracked like a whip, dangerously close to wrapping around his head, but it missed, striking the ground instead with a sickening splat.

Both students landed hard on the pavement, hearts pounding and adrenaline surging through their veins. Alan winced as his arm throbbed with renewed agony, but he quickly shoved the pain aside, his focus locked on the creature that had nearly crushed them both.

Jafar, still catching his breath, looked at Alan with wide eyes.

Jafar: "Thanks," he managed to gasp, his voice laced with disbelief at how close they had come to being flattened.

But there was no time for relief.

The creature’s momentum carried it well past them, its massive, rolling form unstoppable as it barreled across the street. With a loud, wet slap, it crashed into the house directly across from the one it had emerged from. The impact sent a ripple through its form, momentarily warping its perfect sphere shape. The front of the house shuddered from the blow, the sound of cracking wood and shifting bricks filling the air.

For a moment, the creature appeared to be a formless mass again, spread out against the building’s front like a splatter of paint. But, as before, it quickly began to pull itself back together. The red slime wriggled and pulsed, sliding back into its original shape with terrifying ease. Tentacles once again started to emerge, stretching out from the mass like twisted roots seeking prey.

Alan's pulse quickened as he watched the creature reform. It seemed nearly indestructible, its ability to recover from damage and reform unnerving. He exchanged a quick, tense glance with Jafar.

Alan: “RUN!” he yelled.

Both of them scrambled to their feet. Without wasting a second, they broke into a full run, sprinting down the middle of the street. Alan gritted his teeth as he kept the injured man slung over his shoulder, refusing to slow down despite the extra weight. Determined to get as far away from that strange slime creature.

Jafar ran beside him, glancing over his shoulder every few seconds, eyes wide with fear. The eerie screech of the creature echoed behind them, a haunting reminder that it was still close. The sound of wet, squelching tentacles scraping against the pavement sent a chill up their spines as the monster reformed in the distance, preparing to give chase once again.

Jafar: “It’s still coming after us!” he yelled out in panic.

Alan: “Remember Mitra training? Use it!” he yelled in response as he began to cast enhancement magic on himself.

Aether surged into Alan’s body, crackling through his veins like a rush of pure energy. With a sharp inhale, he tapped into its power, focusing it on his legs. Instantly, his muscles responded, propelling him forward with a burst of speed far beyond human limits. His strides became longer, faster—he moved with the speed twice that of the world’s greatest athlete. The wind howled in his ears, his surroundings blurring as he tore down Ravis Street, the injured man still securely slung over his shoulder.

Jafar, seeing Alan’s burst of speed, didn’t hesitate to channel his own aether. A familiar warmth spread through his limbs as the energy flowed into him, and soon he, too, accelerated. Both students were now running at inhuman speeds, their feet barely touching the ground as they blurred past parked cars, streetlights, and houses in a flash of motion. The wind whipped around them, and the quiet street transformed into their raceway as they pushed their bodies to the limit.

Alan’s initial confidence surged as they sprinted down Ravis Street at blistering speeds. At this pace, he thought they could easily get away from that creature.

But that confidence shattered the moment he glanced over his shoulder.

His heart sank. Despite the distance they had covered, the red, gelatinous mass was still there, pursuing them relentlessly. Its grotesque, undulating form rolled down the street, a blur of writhing tentacles and shifting slime, and to Alan’s horror, it was gaining ground.

The creature had reformed into a smooth, semi-perfect sphere once more. As it rolled toward them, the tentacles protruding from its mass snapped forward like a whip. Each tendril lashed out and gripped the ground ahead, pulling the creature forward in powerful bursts. The movement was surprisingly efficient, the tentacles acting like grappling hooks, yanking the creature forward with increasing speed.

The creature was no longer just rolling; it was propelling itself forward like a monstrous wheel, each tentacle thrust accelerating it closer to its fleeing prey.

With his arm still throbbing from the acid burns, Alan gritted his teeth and made a quick decision. He stuck his injured arm behind him, focusing on channeling aether into it. The air around his hand shimmered with energy as he infused it with wind, forming a condensed bolt of wind-infused aether.

In one swift motion, Alan released the bolt. It streaked through the air with a sharp hiss, aimed directly at the pursuing creature. It cut through the air with fierce intensity and struck the slime mass dead center with a wet, plop. For a brief moment, it seemed as though the attack had pierced the creature’s, as the bolt punched a hole straight through its gelatinous body.

But just like Jafar’s earlier attempts, the damage was fleeting. The hole that had formed quickly closed up, the red slime folding back into itself with terrifying speed, leaving no trace of the attack. The creature didn’t slow or falter. Alan’s strike had done nothing to deter its relentless pursuit. The mass of slime rolled on, undeterred, continuing to gain ground.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Alan cursed under his breath, frustration gnawing at him. Even if he used his most powerful attack, it was like trying to fight water—it simply reformed, adapting to each blow.

Alan: “Nothing works on it!” he yelled while continuing to run.

Jafar: “Physical attacks don’t do anything! Try using a non-physical attack!”.

Alan: “I don’t know any non-physical attacks!”

Alan had been training as a combat mage before joining the Arcane Eye, specializing in physical spells designed for direct, forceful impact. His arsenal was built around strength, speed, and raw power, but against this relentless slime creature, none of his usual techniques seemed to matter. His wind-infused aether attack had been absorbed like a pebble thrown into a lake. Things weren’t looking good—their options were rapidly dwindling.

But then, a memory surfaced. He recalled a lesson with Mitra explaining that different elements could impart unique traits to spells. Of the six elemental affinities that people could be born with, three of them possessed properties that didn’t rely on conventional physical effects.

Alan: “I have an idea!” he yelled while continuing to run.

Alan steadied himself and prepared to launch another attack, but this time, he didn’t draw on the wind element as he had before. Instead, he reached for something more elusive—vitos, the element associated with life itself. Mitra had urged him to practice this element and understand its unique properties. Alan had spent time learning to control it, but he was far from mastering it. The idea of using vitos in combat still felt daunting, and his confidence in wielding it was shaky. However, in this desperate moment, he knew he had to try.

With a deep breath, he focused all his attention on channeling the unfamiliar energy. His hand crackled with a faint yellow glow as the raw essence of vitos began to take form. The energy flickered and wavered, unstable at first, but Alan forced it into the shape of a concentrated bolt of vitos-infused aether. The ball of light hovered in his palm, glowing with a faint pulse.

Sweat beaded on his forehead as he quickly aimed. He wasn’t sure if it would work—he wasn’t even sure if he could control it fully—but there was no time to hesitate. Like before, Alan extended his injured arm behind him, wincing at the pain, and launched the glowing ball of energy toward the pursuing creature.

The yellow bolt shot through the air, cutting a bright streak as it traveled. It hummed with an otherworldly vibration, different from the sharp hiss of the wind-infused bolt. This wasn’t an attack meant to slice or tear through the slime, but something that would disrupt it on a more fundamental level.

The bolt of vitos struck the slime with a sharp crackle of energy, piercing its gelatinous mass like the previous attacks had. Another gaping hole formed in the creature’s body, the red slime parting as the bolt passed through. Alan braced himself for the inevitable—the quick, effortless closing of the wound—but this time, something was different.

Instead of silently absorbing the damage as it had before, the creature let out a loud, piercing screech. The sound was high-pitched and grating. It was as if the creature was in pain. The hole still closed rapidly, the slime folding back in on itself, but now it was clear something had changed. The creature's relentless pursuit faltered for a split second.

Alan: “I think I actually hurt it! We need to use elements that add some sort of non-physical property to our spells. But, Vito doesn't do a lot of damage. Jafar! You’re attuned to necros, so try firing a necros bolt at it!”

Jafar: “I never learned how to use necros! If what you're saying is true, then use fire! You're attuned to fire!” he said while breathing heavily.

Alan: “Damn it! I still haven't learned how to use fire either!”

Jafar: “Then what do we do?!”

Alan glanced over his shoulder, watching the slime creature as it continued its relentless pursuit. Even though it had screeched in pain from his vitos-infused attack, the creature still rolled forward, its tentacles flailing to pull itself closer.

He was sure that vitos had damaged it, but only slightly. He was still too inexperienced with the element to use it effectively in battle. It also wasn’t suited for offensive. Vitos wasn’t about destruction—it was about harmony, growth, and healing. And that made it a poor choice for an element to use in an attack. It would take Alan countless more bolts and far too much time to wear the creature down enough to repel it.

The creature was still gaining on them, its grotesque mass rippling and bubbling as it propelled itself forward. Alan’s mind raced, trying to calculate their next move. They couldn’t keep running forever, and the longer this dragged out, the less energy they’d have to fight back. He glanced at Jafar, whose face was tight with worry but still determined.

Alan: “Just keep running until we can turn onto another street! I don’t think that monster can make sharp turns!”

Jafar looked at Alan with disbelief.

Alan would admit it wasn't a great plan, but it was all he had at the moment. To try and make enough sharp turns to get away from that creature.

Both students sprinted down the street at breakneck speed, their footsteps pounding against the pavement. A few pedestrians strolling along the sidewalk paused, taken aback, as Alan and Jafar raced past. Confusion flickered across their faces, but as the enormous, writhing slime creature whizzed by in pursuit, confusion turned swiftly to horror.

Shock rippled through the bystanders, some frozen in place, others grabbing onto one another for safety. Shouts erupted, and several of the onlookers stumbled backward, wide-eyed, before scrambling toward nearby houses. Doors slammed shut as residents retreated into their homes, some racing for phones to call the authorities. The quiet neighborhood was now alive with panic, the eerie screech of the creature filling the air as it continued to close in on its prey.

They kept racing down the center of the street, their lungs burning and adrenaline pushing them forward, but every second that passed made their situation more dire. The road stretched on endlessly before them, with no immediate turns or alleyways in sight. It was a long, unbroken stretch of pavement, offering them no chance to break the line of sight or outmaneuver the relentless creature on their heels.

Jafar cast a quick glance over his shoulder, desperate to gauge how close the creature had gotten. In that split second, he unconsciously drifted off his path, veering slightly toward the curb. As he sped past a parked car, his shoulder slammed into its side mirror with a jarring impact. The mirror shattered, flying off with a loud crack, and the force threw Jafar off balance. His momentum faltered, and before he could recover, he stumbled forward, hitting the pavement hard.

Seeing Jafar fall, Alan skidded to a stop and turned back. His friend lay sprawled on the ground, eyes wide and pleading, as the monstrous, rolling mass of slime closed in, only moments from engulfing him. Alan’s heart pounded; he knew Jafar didn’t have time to get up and keep running. With no time to think, he made a split-second decision.

Alan: “I won’t lose another friend!” he screamed.

He set down the injured man he’d been carrying and sprinted toward Jafar, running past him to place himself directly between his friend and the approaching creature. Steadying his stance, Alan raised his hands, focusing intently on the fusion magic he’d been practicing with Mitra. Energy surged through his body as he concentrated, his pulse quickening with the thrill of power. Arcs of brilliant blue electricity crackled to life, leaping from his fingertips and swirling around him in crackling tendrils, as he prepared to unleash the spell on the approaching threat.

The energy crackled wildly, unstable and volatile, and Alan could feel it slipping beyond his control, surging like a storm barely contained. He knew it was only a matter of seconds before it exploded outward with dangerous force. But that was fine—he didn’t need precision right now; he just needed power.

Gritting his teeth, Alan forced the chaotic energy forward, directing it away from himself with all the focus he could muster. As the slime creature barreled toward him, just a few feet away, Alan thrust his hands forward and unleashed a bolt of pure lightning. The aether-charged bolt tore through the air. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

The lightning bolt splintered unpredictably, arcing wildly in all directions. Sparks leaped from Alan's hands, streaking across parked cars, shattering nearby windows, and illuminating the street in a chaotic blaze of blue light. Despite its erratic path, the creature was close enough that the unleashed energy inevitably struck it.

The bolt tore into the slime with a violent sizzle, and the creature's gelatinous form quivered under the impact, sending flashes of blue light rippling through its mass. The electric energy coursed through it, causing it to thrash and writhe, emitting a piercing, guttural screech that echoed down the street.

The creature let out one last, shrill screech before its form shattered under the strain of Alan’s attack, unable to contain the overwhelming energy. In an instant, it burst apart, sending red slime flying in every direction. Globs of the viscous substance splattered across the street, covering everything within a thirty-foot radius, as if a massive bucket of red paint had been dumped from above.

Alan and Jafar, who were close to the creature, were drenched in the goo. Both tensed, hearts racing in panic, bracing for the burn of the acidic substance Alan had felt earlier. But as they waited, the expected searing pain never came. Instead, the slime clung to them harmlessly, gradually losing its vibrant hue. Slowly, the bright red faded, becoming more transparent by the second, until the slime on their skin and around them turned fully translucent.

To both of them, it finally felt as though the danger had passed. Their breaths steadied, and the tension in their muscles slowly ebbed as they surveyed the now eerily silent street. Just then, the distant wail of sirens began to echo through the night, growing louder with each passing second. It was clear that help was on the way, the police likely responding to reports of the strange chaos. Alan and Jafar exchanged a weary, relieved glance, bracing themselves for the explanations that would soon follow.

Jafar: “T-thank you,” he said while looking a little shell-shocked.

Alan: “It’s going to be okay. Help is on the way,” he said as he walked over to his friend.

Alan extended his hand to help Jafar up, offering a reassuring smile. Jafar reached up, grasping Alan’s hand and attempting to pull himself to his feet. But with both of their hands slick with remnants of the slime creature, Jafar’s grip slipped, and he tumbled back to the ground with a slight thud. They exchanged a brief look of surprise before breaking into tired, relieved laughter—the tension finally dissolving as they realized they were safe enough to laugh at something so simple.

Alan: “Ah! Sorry,” he apologized and helped his friend back onto his feet.

Jafar took a moment to collect himself, doing his best to brush off the remnants of the slime that clung stubbornly to his clothes. He shook his head with a wry smile, a mixture of relief and disbelief washing over him.

Jafar: “What in the world was that?”

Alan: “I don’t know. But, I think that explains what that slime was about with Larry.”

Jafar: “Yeah, it seems—” he said before being interrupted by moaning.

They turned their attention to the man Alan had rescued, who was now groaning softly in pain, his face twisted in discomfort. Concern etched on their faces, Alan and Jafar moved toward him, but their approach was abruptly halted by a chilling sound that pierced the air—an unsettling crack that resembled breaking bones.

Both boys froze, the noise sending a wave of dread through them. They exchanged worried glances.

Suddenly, the man’s chest began to bulge outward, an unsettling sight that resembled a massive welt forming beneath his shirt. As the swelling continued, it expanded to the size of a large basketball, drawing horrified gasps from both Alan and Jafar. Their eyes widened in disbelief as they took a step back, instinctively preparing for the worst.

Then, without warning, the mass erupted with a sickening pop, showering the ground in crimson. Blood sprayed outward. The sight was grotesque, and the two friends stood frozen for a moment, grappling with the surreal horror unfolding before them.

From the now gaping wound in the man's chest came the same high-pitched screech they had heard earlier, sending chills down Alan and Jafar's spines. To their horror, a smaller version of the red slime creature began to crawl out, its form glistening as it dripped with remnants of blood. It moved sluggishly on the ground for a brief moment, its gelatinous body quivering as it struggled to find its footing.

With a final, desperate screech, the creature's vibrant red hue faded, transforming into a pale, translucent mass. The grotesque, animated form that had once filled them with dread collapsed onto the pavement, now nothing more than a harmless pile of slime. Alan and Jafar exchanged bewildered glances, their minds racing as they processed what they had just witnessed.

Alan: “What…the…fuck.”

(Author's Note: It has come to my attention that someone is ripping my story off this site and reposting without my permission. Pretty sure this is a bot, so putting this in the main body of the story. Hey there! You're reading a story be me, Saberfang. This was likely taken from royal road or scribble hub. If you like my work please read it on those websites or on patreon at /user?u=83747391)