Ethereal Ascendant

by Luke DeSalvo

  He strummed, the whole audience's attention, a spot beam found Codiac and Suzette, the head of honor. The two were rather bashful and when noticed by the crowd they simply each drank, grimacing shortly, but revived by the melodic tune of his guitar.

  You were my one star

  The light

  No one else but you

  His voice was captivating, a high tenor, practically kissing the notes.

  You glowed in the night

  I was chained tight

  I only looked to you

  So, the stories tell

  how we grow old

  painting the night

  I saw

  No one else but you

  Be with me darling

  Oh, Miss Moonlight

  You shine bright

  Magnificence in the sky

  No one else but you

  The guitar picked up as he began anew where he sang in elvish, where the crowd was in an uproar. The way his fingers moved methodically on the guitar were practically science blended with art at its finest. Voice complementing both Suzette's and Codiac's desire.

  At the end of the performance, Khur simply bowed and moved back to the stage without a word. Leaving Codiac and Suzette alone, hearts thudding in their chest.

  They both said nothing, and instead pounded their drinks and paid the tab and quickly walked out of the door, ignoring the many looks and cheers that went their way.

  “Well I promised you a movie?” Codiac grinned as they exited, extending his hand.

  “With pleasure,” She remark, face flushed and accepting his offer.

  The theater was close by, where private rooms were rented for the movie in a sphere television that allowed the audience to sit, in private rooms, around an entire globe made for theatrical splendor.

  Not hard to find and after Codiac paid the front man the two hastily took their seats in a private booth, shielded by a red curtain.

  It was a touch screen module and within moments of entry the sphere blinked on.

  “What genre should we pick out?” She asked excitedly. She had not been to the movies in ages, not since before her father took her into the military.

  “I don't know,” He said. “I'm feeling pretty sappy and corny at the moment though.”

  “Romantic Drama,” They said in unison with a laugh afterwards.

  They scrolled through selections and after many comments and suggestions they found a title named Widow and Song.

  It was about a high elf women who had fallen in love with the human kingdom of Thyne and immigrated there to lowly stature all for her ambitions.

  Within moments the movie blinked on, capturing Suzette's heart more than Codiac's but he too was enthused in his own way.

  The movie played out displaying the lead actress elf trying her part in actual acting, modeling and singing as a career and like many poets in the human world, she failed at this. The elf was then enlisted as a handmaiden to a rich royal, who would have nothing to do with her. Even barking rude grotesque commands at times. She would ignore this and simply sing as she cleaned until one day, it seduced the him.

  The head houseman saw her beauty and voice and offered her a contract deal to be a singer and she gratefully accepted. It did not take long until she was accepted by the humans with her song and she was married to the royal shortly after.

  However, the tragedy was fed, for elvish lifetimes last hundreds of more years than human and her husband died. All their great experiences together, traveling, preforming, dancing, singing into love all vanished in a blink of an eye.

  She ended her singing career with one last concert, after his death and vanished. No one knows where she was at to this day, but there were always flowers seen for many years hundreds of years, scattered at the noble’s grave. Forgotten in history.

  Suzette and Codiac left the theater teary eyed, and their hearts a mush.

  “All we need is chocolate now,” Codiac stated to the wind.

  When they were closer to the base of the grand tree Suzette then, turned on the knight, serious, grabbing him and forcing him against the building with the might of a nord. His breath was torn from his chest, but he quickly bounced back at her and found his lips meeting hers.

  They kissed, passionate burning flames in their hearts ensued, the fire lasted several moments, tongue finding themselves with grace, in a trance, until Codiac pulled back harshly, stopping Suzette’s sensations approach.

  “Shh,” Codiac called as his gaze narrowed into hatred.

  “What?” She asked sincerely, but surprised and still clinging to the young knight captain.

  Codiac quickly grabbed Suzette hand and led her further into the brush of the tree, branches thickening in invite.

  “It's him,” He stated flatly.

  “Who?” She said still in shock.

  Armed high elvish knights appeared passing where they had just trekked, led by one in command in red armor. They were on a death march and did not notice the two in hiding. Suzette held her breath while Codiac simply glowered.

  “Faelynx.” He whispered at last.

  Chapter 27

  “Damn that accursed guild! They have no right to walk on the face of Systralas! Too much have they taken away! Too much tyranny! This will be the end of them and all of their devilish attacks!”

  Codiac Dalin

  Knight Captain of Golden Hearts

  “I sense something... rather unpleasant,” Sleet said thoughtfully, sitting up in a right seated position on her couch. They were all sitting now, Xerrast beside Sleet and Ildarachi, Kaeltrys and Aurora sitting opposite of them. They had been talking for hours, they debated the circumstances of the dark kingdom the world police known as Amethyst Divine was trying to provide. They did this in heart throbs, destinies being reveal. No matter what Systralas was changing. The polar shift was happening, and they sat quietly for an hour pondering it, until now, when the scion’s words startled them out of their trance.

  Kaeltrys, Aurora and Ildarachi turned to searched Sleet’s face for answers, while Xerrast quickly stood.

  “It must be them!” He hissed, and unusual snarl on his handsome face.

  The elf ranger then searched his bag for his trusty pistol, a black gleaming and enchanted .45 came into being, Black Eye.

  The others shrieked in shock at such the desperate performance as the walls of Kasal herself began to tremble leaving dust and leaves in the air.

  “What's happening!?” Aurora cried.

  Kaeltrys' fright turned into determination as he locked gazes on Xerrast.

  “It's Amethyst!” the archmagician stated, looking for clues on Xerrast and found one as the elf broke gaze and stared to the ground.

  “They wouldn't dare interfere here!” Sleet exclaimed.

  “I'm afraid they would, sis,” Xerrast called uneasy. “You were always the easiest target.” He added loading a clip. Then pulling out another pistol and mimicking procedure.

  “And where do you stand, dearest brother?” Sleet asked calmly, rising for the occasion. Her brother paused for a moment, checking his weapon slowly.

  “You,” He simply whispered.

  It was then when Ildarachi collapsed and began chanting in an unknown tongue, frantically racing and sweating in a chattering mess. He began shaking and foaming from the lips.

  “He’s changing!” Aurora called desperate to reach the poor man.

  “Subdue him!” Xerrast cried, looking directly at a helpless Aurora, already at the Jason's side. Aurora obliged and hugged Jason with all her might.

  “Shh, it’s okay, Ill,” She cooed, embracing his neck skillfully to limit shaking of his body. “There, there,” She said stroking his head. It did much to calm him, even began to slow his speech into a more moaning sound.

  “They're here!” Kaeltrys exclaimed, his fist began to glow with red ember energy, until flames sprouted from the tips of his hands.

  “Agreed,” Xerrast stated. “Sister, please provide some cover for us
.”

  Sleet nodded and made her way to the summoning circle and began to pray. All, but Ildarachi’s moaning it was quiet as Xerrast and the archmagician stood awaiting the battle. Aurora listened to the beats of the great tree, that quaked, as she hung to her lover desperately. Sleet was deep in concentration seeking the guidance between the fifth dimension and within moments the skies began to darken even the starlight.

  Rain fell like steady bullets before them, pouring in unbelievable proportions where the branches groaned from its terror. The sound was deafening as the waterfalls grew in ten feet proportion in an instant.

  The tree stopped its tremors and Xerrast edged their way to the lookout of the room to the grand tree below where the sight was terrible. In the many branches awaited knights of Amethyst Divine, swords drawn. All led by an elf in red.

  Just then, the doors opened and when everyone thought they had reached their certain doom the priestess, Lolit entered the chamber that was drenched by a torrential downpour.

  “Scion!?” She cried, staring at the motionless Sleet in surprise.

  “Quick!” Kaeltrys cried, his spell dissipated, he ran towards Lolit, grabbed her hand and rushed to the meditating Scion.

  When they got there, he clasped both hands around Lolit’s and they were directly above the scion, who seemed not to notice them, or the thick rain drops hailing above.

  “You know barrier magic!” The archmagician exclaimed.

  “Only minor, but…” She cried as the knights below began to ascend the branches.

  “Create a large shield with me now!” Kaeltrys ordered.

  She obeyed and the two began to create a blue barrier shield stretching across the rune markings. Both in deep concentration.

  “Xerrast!” The elf in red called.

  The ranger said nothing but pulled one of his guns closer to action. His face was emotionless, he was just simply staring into the eyes of Faelynx, when the knight in red spoke up.

  “Bring Ildarachi and come with us.” He ordered.

  There was a long pause as Xerrast searched the unconscious man laying on the floor before him, then he glanced at Aurora, who looked desperate, water dripping from her face. He looked further to his protected sister then back to his former guildmates.

  “No,” Xerrast whispered.

  Suddenly, the hunter mentality surged through his veins and his pistols went off at the Amethyst Divine agents. They began ascending the tree with their bursting boots, flying in the air towards the party, but Xerrast’s onslaught was supreme.

  Four shots fired, four knights went down. Five then six, reload in the quickest pace, but there were too many of them, with a sound of jets, like motion of the enemy’s boots made their way to the platform and were on the entire party.

  Aurora managed to scoot into the protective orb circle with Ildarachi, dragging him several feet during the battle, leaving Xerrast alone until too many knights were upon him. He too was soon forced to retreat in the safety of the ward magic with the others. The barrier remained intact and the members of Amethyst Divine, found out harshly that they could not penetrate the force shield at all.

  Faelynx paced to the group, he alone approached the circle, to lock eyes of hatred upon the scion and then Xerrast.

  “Traitors!” He screamed, he seemed to calm suddenly, only to go back into a frenzy.

  “How dare you call yourself a brother of the Divine, Xerrast!”

  The bounty hunter said nothing, only just watched, pistol at ready.

  The knight in red seemed to relax again at the steady gaze.

  “No matter,” Faelynx whispering now. “You will die before you see the true new world order,” He said louder this time.

  “I just have to do is wait, it seems,” Faelynx said, pacing the barrier. “And I am very kind and patient, if you'd like to surrender now, that'd probably be best,” The knight in red said with a grin.

  This got the scion out of her concentration and the rain moved to a gently breeze.

  “All we want is the one known as Ildarachi,” Faelynx’s eyes drifted to the panicked man on the ground.

  “Him!”

  The door opened again, quickly, and without hesitance both Suzette and Codiac appeared before the massive force, swords drawn.

  With the ambush set, the two warriors began hacking the surprised elvish knights into pieces, blood splattering all over the white wood. Some of the Amethyst Divine members began to dart in a retreating fashion out the windows for better vantage points.

  Everyone was too surprised at their entrance, but Amethyst Divine was shifting back into position, but with the startling realization of chaotic battle anew. The magic of the barrier weakened as it was supported only by one magic user, Lolit.

  Kaeltrys rolled out of the comforting safety to begin immediately producing a wave of flames, that left three members of Amethyst incinerated.

  Lolit groaned at the archmagician’s absence. The spell was much harder on the half elf’s body without him. Still she tried, holding the bubble in perfect place, remembering her training in such an instant such as this.

  Xerrast too noticed the surprise attack from the two and rolled out of cover. He began shooting gracefully once again, killing without remorse.

  Codiac was best suited for these soldiers as he began air to air combat with multiple opponents at once. He reached Faelynx, where the knight in red gracefully escaped his blows. Suzette would come with an assist, leaping like a feline in the air and hacking elves in half.

  The commotion was too much to calm a frenzied Ildarachi who's chant began to turn into screams.

  “I'll kill them!” He shouted eyes turning red.

  Aurora did her best to calm him, but the man stood up, brushing her aside as if she was a daisy.

  “Il!” She cried.

  Jason began to laugh maniacally, before a dark flame consumed him, revealing nothing else but his demon form, Malifer. He was black, with inhuman muscles tightening with ooze. Horns displaying shock to everyone in the vicinity. Without another word the demon known as Ildarachi began fighting as well.

  Faelynx noticed that the enraged beast was on the kill and knew that the fight was hopeless from such a magnificent creature.

  This is why she wants him, He thought as he watched passively as his squads were being destroyed. Instead of continuing his pursuit the knight in red reached into his side satchel and hurriedly drank a blue glowing potion before vanishing in thin air.

  The terror of Ildarachi, roared in anguish as a few swords found him. Immediately, twisted out of the blows and his sharp claws began to tear the remaining members of Amethyst Divine into shreds.

  The kills were not enough, the demon, filled with hatred sprouted wings and began to fly, ensuing on the innocent bystanders outside the temple.

  “We have to stop him!” Codiac cried, and then charged with no time to waste.

  Aurora nodded, scared but determined and grabbed onto Codiac, who lifted her and himself into the air, speedily chasing down the demon.

  The monster had no heart though, and dozens were meeting their end as the beast was hacked, stabbed, and shot at, but to no avail. Jason would simply bite and wail on his opponents until they were nothing but bloodied flesh.

  It took Codiac to hold his own briefly, blocking an attack from the demon with his beam sword, but with the demon’s next swipe he went spiraling down crashing through a window, not before releasing Aurora several inches from the ground.

  Codiac landed with a crash and was out of sight, whereas Aurora found her feet and rushed to Ildarachi.

  The block was a mess, everyone in the vicinity massacred by this foul creature, who somehow still held her lover in there.

  The monster was feeding on corpses when the young enchantress made her way to stop him.

  “Il, this isn't you!” She whimpered, tears streaming down her face.

  The demon stopped, then turned to regard her, Ildarachi’s eyes shifting from red to a human glow brown.
Many arrows protruded his skin.

  She began sobbing at the harsh look of her lover's eyes upon her.

  “That right, Il,” She said approaching further, daring to raise her hand. “It's me,” She exclaimed.

  The beast turned to her and took her hand, it's blackened skin returning to normal.

  The transmutation was swift and Ildarachi went back in human form, and with a shudder, gazed at his lover's eyes and the bloodshed before him. He let out an agonizing cry, clawing at his head, then stopped abruptly, passing out shortly afterwards.

  Chapter 28

  “The divine law was necessary, but I’m still uncertain to what aims. The clouded past and future are only meant to be glimpsed at, compared to the eternal now that surrounds us all. I declared it. A war on Systralas. Simply by living in the present. I’m starting to wonder now if that was a good thing.”

  Clairvona Aya, Sleet

  Scion of Systralas

  It was nighttime when Ildarachi awoke to the dark recesses of his prison. A steel cage entangled in branches where he was sky high with only a drop below him hundreds of feet below. A mystical ward, rune writings, were marked on the bottom of this spell that blocked out any mana formation, leaving him empty and cold.

  He was shocked when awakened, laying still on the harsh metal. The tortured man breathed out a gust of air before crouching to find his bearings. His interior was soothing to him, almost as if he belonged in this cage.

  After the crimes he committed, it was due, he decided.

  Too many mass murders, exiles, killing friends and innocent alike in this vow broken had already claimed his soul that here he felt comfortable. Why not this?

  However, it would not last forever. There was no doubt that the high summoner would be executed in elvish fashion. Beheading. As he thought of this and wondered was this his time to die. Jason thought by his summoning abilities he would always be allies to the Zodiacs, but not this. The dark one, Malifer was far the most destructive of the seven. This new being was the stigmatism of his new duality of sophistication and rage.