The Ancients

by Adam-Clay Webb

  “I somehow managed to keep it,” Oga answered.

  “Well, let us see what it can do.”

  Oga became concerned as he saw Kizer’s face change in an instant. “Kizer, what is it?” Oga asked quickly; the look on Kizer’s face was unfamiliar to him, and it made him nervous. Kizer’s eyes were wide, and his face was frozen.

  “Oga…” the man whispered. “Do you feel that?”

  “Feel what?” Oga asked impatiently.

  Kizer looked up. He was shaking now. “The moon, Oga. Get us there. Now,” Kizer said.

  “What? Is this your idea of a joke, Kizer?”

  “Oga, do not upset me,” Kizer said as calmly as he could. “The moon.”

  “Such a shift might be impossible, Kizer.” Oga’s words sounded reluctant. “But why on earth would you need to--”

  “Because your senses have dulled significantly, Oga,” Kizer said. “You didn’t sense that woman who appeared earlier, even though her strength is obviously substantial.”

  Oga hissed. “What does that--”

  “Even my senses have been blunted by the sleep,” Kizer admitted. “Still, I am sensing a dull, faraway power that is beyond this world, beyond the skies,” Kizer said. “Being here, my senses are obstructed by the sorcerers and elementalists on this planet. I need to get away from here where I can accurately perceive this strange energy.”

  “A power beyond the skies?” Oga asked, looking up at the moon, which was much farther than it appeared to be.

  “How far away is the moon from here?” Kizer asked. He knew Oga’s level of magic could have him make at least an approximation of the distance.

  Oga looked up at the moon for about a minute. “240,000 miles,” he finally said. “It seems to be about a quarter of the planet’s size. With that size and distance in mind, an accurate shift shouldn’t be difficult after all.”

  Kizer snickered a bit, showing Oga he was impressed.

  “Let’s go, then,” Oga said, and grabbed Kizer’s shoulder.

  ***

  Zakashi was constantly on the defensive, on the run. He could barely keep up as Kyle and Blade went at him with deadly combination attacks, showcasing remarkable speed and coordination. Kyle laughed, having never felt such a thrill. He was fighting alongside Blade, and he wasn’t just getting in the way. The battle came to a slight pause as Kyle and Blade stood a few yards out from Zakashi. All three were panting, exhausted.

  “He’s at his limit, Blade,” Kyle said. Blade gave a single nod, then sped off toward Zakashi with a sudden swing. Zakashi jumped back from the sudden assail, and blood jerked from him as the sword sliced his chest. Kyle pressed on, forcing Zakashi to make a quick defence. Blade was already behind him, striking at his neck.

  Kyle had to block Blade’s attack as Zakashi somehow managed an escape. Zakashi was a few yards away, fearing that might have been his final burst of speed. The dimension was only a white floor, so there was nowhere to take cover, nowhere to hide. It was all about endurance.

  “These two…” Zakashi grumbled. He readied himself as they came at him.

  ***

  This shift was a strange one. Because of the enormous distance being covered, the façade of instantaneity was not held up. In about three seconds, an exhilarating moment of unimaginable speed elapsed. Kizer and Oga witnessed, for that moment, colours that were usually invisible to the naked eyes, colours that were not formed by any combination of red, blue and yellow. They heard sounds that were too high and low-pitched for human ears to perceive. They felt temperatures above the boiling point and below the freezing point of water. As they made an abrupt landing on the unfamiliar surface, they stirred a small quake. They crouched, and invisible mana of the highest degree flooded their bodies, neutralizing the effects of the sudden change in environment.

  There was no atmosphere to shield them from the harsh temperatures that were on the moon. There was no air to be breathed. Had it not been for Oga’s powerful magic, they would have already been dead. The men finally stood. The place was eerie, even to them. They were surrounded by forbidding shades of grey. The sky was black, making a stunning contrast with the only thing that was of colour, earth. The men marvelled at the beauty of their world. Saving the black sky was a massive disk of rich colours. Angelic white clouds wrapped around dark-blue oceans and purplish brown masses of land.

  Kizer held is hand out toward earth and curved his fingers so that he made the illusion of grabbing it.

  “Imagine, Oga… that thing is the entire world… How many others do you think there are?”

  “How could I even guess?”

  “Oga, conceal your power completely,” Kizer said as if he had just remembered why he was there. In a moment, Oga’s mana was so hidden that not even Kizer could sense it. Kizer closed his eyes, and in the perfect silence, long moments passed.

  Oga felt a vague energy that was somewhat familiar. But no matter how hard he tried, it was like he could only get tiny glimpses of it. He could make no judgement of its level of power. Oga looked across at Kizer. His eyes had opened with such suddenness it was like Oga had felt it.

  “This power I feel,” Kizer said, “it is millions of miles from here.”

  “What?”

  “It is approaching earth with much speed, but very slowly in relation to the distance it has to cover. At this rate, it will be here in about 2500 years.”

  “Kizer, there is no possible way you could perceive a power from such a distance,” Oga said.

  “Oga, do you know how far the sun is from earth?”

  Oga pondered the meaning of the question.

  “No doubt, many millions of miles. But we have no hindrance in seeing it clearly. I’m sure you could guess why, Oga. As we can see the sun from so far away because of its size, so I can perceive a faraway power if it is strong enough.”

  “Do you realize what you’re saying, Kizer? If you are sensing an energy that is millions of miles from here--”

  “Yes. This force is unimaginably strong… No doubt, even far stronger than our powers combined.”

  Oga flinched as Kizer said this.

  “This power feels familiar too,” Kizer said. “It reminds me

  of--”

  “The Seven,” Oga said.

  “So you do feel it.”

  “Yes. Very faintly. Still, I am sure that what I perceive is darkness. Utter darkness.”

  The men’s hairs stood firmly on their backs. There was no wind on the moon. The place was blank. Kizer walked about, looking at the barrenness. He had little doubt that if he did not devise some new plan, the earth would be made to resemble the rock they were on.

  “What are you thinking, Kizer?” Oga asked. His voice sounded muffled; it was carried through the body of invisible mana that was wrapped about the two men, as there was no air to make sound’s movement otherwise possible.

  “Obviously we cannot ignore this threat. As I stand here, I feel the power drawing nearer. There is one way to save this feeble world from such an abysmal power.” He didn’t wait for Oga to guess. “Evolution.”

  He let the word sink into Oga’s thoughts before he continued. “We know well how these Zagans work, especially as it relates to humans. They can possess a man and use him to kill a thousand others. If we sit around and be kings in the world as it now is, we will have a battle to fight that we most certainly cannot win. There will be a mass possession far deadlier than the one two years ago. The human race will quickly evaporate, even us.”

  “Evolution,” Oga repeated.

  “Yes. Powerful sorcerers and elementalists can access their souls because of the powers that exist in them, and so they are capable of fighting the demons and possibly preventing possession. Those descended from us, because their blood is dilute, would have much trouble in dealing with strong Zagans, but our children and grandchildren would easily be strong enough to fight even The Seven in their own souls.”

  “You want us to create a race of purebloods.”

>   “We are faced with the ultimate paradox, Oga.”

  “The only way to save the human race is to destroy it,” Oga understood.

  “Yes. We must wipe all weakness from the face of the earth. And in preparation for the impending enemy, we must build a new race, a race of sorcerers and elementalists, a people that can stand and fight against even the strongest of powers.”

  “A people that can stand and fight against us,” Oga put to Kizer grimly.

  “That is a risk we must take,” Kizer said, having considered the dangers of creating such a powerful world. “In order to fight, the Zagans need to possess. If they come and find no hospitable host, then they will not be able to use their power. I know Juventus goes against this theory. He managed to fight in his original form, but he was far less powerful in that form than when he used the body of the old dragon we summoned for him.”

  “What if the Zagans do not intend to destroy earth?” Oga asked optimistically.

  “We cannot take that chance.”

  “If this power is as much as we fear, then nothing we do can change the world’s fate,” Oga said resignedly.

  Kizer looked over at Oga with disbelief.

  “I didn’t sleep for two thousand years to annihilate the human race and start afresh!” Oga finally said. “We can rule this world as kings, gods! We have billions of people to worship us, and you want

  to--”

  “Oga, are you nothing more than a fool who stumbled upon the ancient city of the Mananka by mere chance?” Kizer asked sternly.

  Oga’s eyes became fiery.

  “We cannot think as ordinary men, Oga. If we bask in our glory a mere few centuries and rule over the world as it is, we are simply surrendering our planet to the Zagans.”

  Oga hissed. “I rue the day you found that city! I should have destroyed it!” It ate at Oga that Kizer became the strongest man in the world because of his carelessness.

  “Oga, we cannot afford to be out of synch in a time like this,” Kizer said calmly. “2500 years is little time to create a world that can withstand the approaching power. It may be impossible, but it is our duty, as those who have transcended, to find a way to prolong the world against all odds. When I fought you and your children in the first war, I knew full well that millions would die. I knew even my own life was as risk, fighting one like you.”

  Oga looked at Kizer with a new expression. This was the closest Kizer had come to straightforwardly acknowledging Oga’s strength.

  “But I decided that the death of a few million was a logical sacrifice to create a new world, a world where you could no longer oppress humanity. ‘People will die whether or not I act’; that is what I told myself. It was my duty to act upon a difficult decision. There is no power without duty, Oga.”

  “What if I do not agree to--”

  “Your precious Ogal Council,” Kizer interrupted. “Your son Wizard, to be exact, executed my brother and both my parents,” Kizer said.

  Oga froze at this. He knew of no such thing.

  “Yet I spared you, his father, and built an alliance with you, not because it was an easy decision, Oga.” Kizer gripped Oga’s shoulder. “But because it was a necessary one. Wiping out these billions of people isn’t something I will do with a jolly laugh, Oga,” he said. “Lex Leo, my own grandson, is interesting to watch, but he will no doubt oppose us and see us as villains, so I must destroy even him. If I find that my sons do respond to the stone and come back to life, and oppose my plan, I will take responsibility of killing them myself, for the sake of the future. And if Wizard, the one who slew my family, is the only one who will align himself with my plan, then I will partner with him.”

  “Very well, Kizer,” Oga said after a tense moment. “Before we plan further, let us test the power of the Crystal Eye.”

  ***

  Everything suddenly went black. Lex, I cannot explain it, but something is coming… Something big, he heard Maximo.

  Chapter 15: Ice

  Lex slowed to a landing on a hill that looked over the splendid beauty of the Ice Palace. The sun arose behind him and streamed down toward the complex artistry that formed a cluster of magnificent, glossy buildings made of ice. Colours scattered as the golden light was flicked off thousands of radiant diamond-like surfaces that stood proud and erect from the snow. His wings stretched behind him as he, as even those within him, awed at this sight. He had never before imagined that his element could create such beauty.

  Even though this place was far more splendid than the royal tower of Magma Land, it had a much quieter tone, like it was just another country house. A few persons were walking about and trotting on horses. Well-dressed men and women were standing about in the yard in thick boots and mittens and woollen coats, most of them drinking a mug of something hot. Lex noticed that a few servants were moving around, ensuring that the nobles that dwelled within the palace gates weren’t looking down into empty mugs. The golden-blue sky that stretched parallel to the blanket of whiteness made the palace look like a surreal haven. Lex breathed easily, and even smiled a little.

  Instead of flying down there to make a scene, one that would have been a pungent reminder of the demons that had descended on the land two years before, he made the long walk on the thick snow down the valley, stopping at the entrance gates.

  ***

  “Lady Icilda!” a messenger called, waking the girl.

  “What is it?” the girl asked drowsily, sounding annoyed.

  “There is a young man who has come to see you bearing the name Lex Leo,” the messenger relayed. The messenger, from the other side of the door, could almost see Icilda’s expression as he heard her gasp. The girl sat up on the edge of her bed, her blue eyes scattering about, like they were searching through her mind. There was no doubt. This name was the name of the prophetic Icemaker her father had taught her about since she was a little girl, the same person who was supposed to protect her people from the demons, protect the world from the evil Trium. Was this to be some kind of cruel joke?

  “You best not be joking around out there!” Icilda blasted nervously.

  “I wouldn’t joke around with a name like this, my lady,” the voice answered sincerely. There was none in the palace who had not heard of this name.

  There was a pensive silence for a little while.

  “Get word to the other three,” Icilda said.

  As Lex was becoming impatient, he saw the same messenger that had spoken to him riding back, but this time with company. Fifteen soldiers dressed in full black, bearing the white crest of Iceland on their chests were accompanying the messenger.

  “Guards, let him in,” the messenger instructed as he and the soldiers approached. They opened the gates and Lex entered unto the men.

  “I doubt any of these men is Icilda,” Lex said, glancing about at the soldiers – each of whom carried a spear and a sword.

  “These men are from the Royal Guard. It’s just protocol. If anyone from the palace agrees to meet with an outsider, this is the procedure.”

  Lex jumped on a horse he realized had no rider. It must have been for him. “Where are we going?” the boy asked.

  “Mount Asuri,” the man answered. “Lady Icilda awaits you there.”

  Within minutes, the horses were climbing up a hill that was a few miles behind the palace. It was much colder up there than anywhere else, but this change in temperature would not be noticed by people like Lex. Lex saw four persons standing there, dressed finely in jewels. Each of them wore a similar blue pendant around their neck. They weren’t dressed as others in the palace were however – in warm boots and mittens and thick coats. It was obvious that the cold had no effect on them. More than that, a certain look in their eyes made Lex sure that they were Icemakers – probably it was the Zagans’ intuition that had made him so certain.

  A wind stirred the moment Lex dismounted his horse. Icilda stared intently at Lex, as the others did.

  “Thank you, Ido. Please, have the soldiers leave,�
� Icilda said.

  “But Lady--”

  “No arguments,” Icilda said.

  “Very well. Come,” Ido bade the soldiers. Ido knew well that in any case, if something were to ensue on the hill, these soldiers, even with their skill, would only be in the Icemakers’ way. With that, Ido and the soldiers left the five on the hill.

  The howling wind saved the place from silence for a little while. While three of the Icelandic Icemakers wore straight faces, the short one with the jagged hair that resembled Kyle’s wore an unsettling smirk. Maximo had confirmed in Lex’s mind that these must have been the Icemakers that had survived the Black War.

  “Greetings, Icemakers,” Lex finally said, his breath forming a white mist in the frigid air.

  “Who are you?” Icilda asked.

  “Lex Leo.”

  As he said his name, it seemed to hit the four of them there. They glanced at each other.

  “Lex Leo isn’t a very common name,” one of them said. He looked like the most serious of the four. He was tall, and carried a scabbard on his back. “Are you an Icemaker? Are you the one from the prophecy?”

  “Yes.”

  One of the guys was standing quite close to Icilda, as if to protect her. He kept his studying eyes on Lex’s hands. He was fidgeting, and it couldn’t have been the cold.

  “Why are you here?” the tall one asked.

  Lex’s focus went back to Icilda as she stepped toward him.

  “My father, my people, they waited for you to come, this grand hero. They perished against the demons. Where the hell were you?” Icilda asked, her voice shaky as she held back tears. Though it was Icilda who had spoken, all four of them needed an answer to this.

  “Where were you?! Answer me!” Icilda raged. Artaco grabbed on to her as she was about to rush up to Lex. Lex just stood there, with no visible change of expression. He watched as tears settled in Icilda’s eyes.