it fell too far back . It had the featureless head and torso of a humanoid with many-jointed arms that ended in fine points like spears . From the waist down was the wide , flat , body of a short centipede with many insectoid legs and a whip-like tail .
“ The elder-blooded is a tricky one , but your light isn ’ t enough to protect . It will disappear and then you will die .”
“ I won ’ t need so long to carry out an exorcism .” One incantation was all he had but , having seen the monster , he knew what he was dealing with . A vengeful ghost of one sort or another . Even if it wasn ’ t , what mattered was the creature believed it was the animated spirit of the wizard who died in the fire . In the world of magic , what remained of it , perceptions like that mattered .
The incantation began with a hum . All the ones Jona knew that still worked did . To begin with something pure , a simple , incorruptible , and unmistakable sound was to clear the mind and impart those aspects onto the spell which came after .
As he added a slow trickle of purified magic to the sound , the creature rushed away into the darkness .
“ Wicked spirit , driven from flesh and deprived of humanity , be at peace or be cast out to the final rest .” His voice thrummed with the power . The rod ’ s light had begun to fade and wouldn ’ t last through the end of the incantation . However , Jona needed both hands to form the complex signs that would direct the spell and keep it focused on the creature . The creature hissed , trying to escape the empowered words , though it had nowhere to go .
“ In darkness or in light , by the strength of my spirit , be destroyed or go in peace .” The rod blinked on and off , casting Jona in intermittent blinding darkness .
Seizing the opening , the creature returned to the edge of the light and , in the moments it was gone , slashed
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