by Luke DeSalvo
It was Suzette who gazed at one of the screens on display and came to a dumb struck halt.
“Hey guys…” She called in attention. “You might want to take a look over here,” She said pointing, as the rest of the party gathered closer to her monitor.
All were too stunned to say a word.
A portal swirling with flames sprout out at the camera. The side pillars were etched with demons and markings from an unknown language. The archway had a ruby gemstone the size of a boulder, along with onyx jewels embracing the dark stone. In front of the magical essence, laid a green dragon, a grotesque horned back where the bone was stained brown from countless years of living. Its wings were nestled together on the beast’s side while the dragon’s eyes were closed portraying slumber.
“Xyl’thos,” Codiac mused.
Xerrast nodded once as if expecting as much.
“Its vital signs are lower than average,” Suzette addressed the crew. “Definitely keeping Xyl'thos quiet and happy.”
Sleet said nothing, but gave a questioning look to Suzette, Codiac and then her brother.
“The ritual is incomplete without his death,” She stated.
They stood still, uncertain of the last remark, but fear seduced them into panic, none able to find any words to relieve their anxiety. The only certainty was that they needed to find Avilya and fast.
Codiac departed the screen. “We must go,” He stated and led the crew through the vast corridors. “And probably towards the opposite direction of all these bodies.” He added with a chuckle trying to lighten the mood.
“Always ready for action, right?” Suzette called, coming up behind him, the elvish twins trailing shortly after.
“Soon all of this will be over,” Sleet exclaimed to her brother in a quick sprint.
Within moments of turning their way throughout the hallways of the citadel, the party reached a corridor with a stone door that seemed different from the rest, it too was engraved in rune wards, meant from keeping heavy spells at bay. They quickly opened the door and preceded into a lush courtyard filled with an arrangement of marble pillars, a single pathway and gardens at its side filled with cherry blossom trees and extreme lush vegetation. Creeks gleamed at the basis of the walls that left a moat filled with beta fish.
Entranced, the slowed their descent to a walk scanning the trees for any opponents until a shout startled them.
“I know you're out there!” A voice boomed in the distance.
The party could hear a door from the adjacent wall open to reveal the knight in red, Faelynx with a group of full plated and armed elves behind him. Suzette and Codiac drew their weapons, Alexandra, and Bane where immediately armed at the sheer sight of the force, who was walking calmly toward them.
“So, it would seem that our long-lost heroes of the seven is paying our humble headquarters a...” the knight in red trailed his sentence as he drew his purple flamed dark blade. “…visit.”
“Coward!” Xerrast dared utter, pulling out both of his pistols.
“Traitor!” Faelynx retorted.
Codiac greedily charged, not wanting to hear another word from his victim. Hate stained his eyes and he ran with Suzette close behind.
Before Suzette and Codiac could reach their target however, a mob of Amethyst Divine agents halted them in their tracks. Leaving them to fend off the horde as Faelynx ducked passed them.
“No!” Codiac screamed, killing an Amethyst Divine knight with his magical saber. Another pursuer took the dead’s place and met Codiac head on.
Suzette hacked a man in half and turned her attention to the slipping knight in red, in attempt to catch up to his charge that was leading straight towards the scion.
Guns blasted in action.
“You won't get away that easily!” Suzette cried but was forced to parry the blow from another intruder.
The fires from the pistols were missed and one blocked with the edge of the sword from the knight in red and before too long he was upon Xerrast, the only one man in the way to the treasured scion.
Faelynx sword went out and Xerrast easily parried with his gun, only to return fire that was dodged with grace.
“Why are you doing this!?” Xerrast cried.
A gun shot went off, missing the target as Faelynx backed several feet to the side.
“I serve Avilya alone!” Faelynx returned and rushed his goal. “Systralas be damned!”
Xerrast blocked off the vantage way and started shooting in rapid bursts, one bullet nestling deep within the knight in red's breastplate, stunning him temporarily with a quick wail of pain, but his swings came still, the sword etching closer to Xerrast face. It seemed it would be over with the next slash, but the elven ranger turned his head to the right, and the sword grazed his cheek. A thin line of blood appeared where the wound was met.
Xerrast turned and dodge to the side as he pulled out two grenades, took off the pins in one swell move, and tossed them in aid past Suzette and Codiac to the angry mob of Amethyst Divine warriors.
A blast met the remainder of guards, taking most of them out but three, which Suzette greedily met, while Codiac retreated towards the scion.
Codiac, We're at the treasure chamber. In trouble and desperate need of assistance.
Codiac caught an arrow from a bystander and through it on the ground, before continuing his sprint.
Roger, he clicked his headphones briefly before continuing his charge.
“Though I’m a little bit busy!” He said with a battle cry.
Codiac's sword grazed the shoulder of Faelynx and the dance was on. Codiac swinging ferociously at his opponent who returned the swordplay in healthy rebuttals. Gun shots firing in the background. Faelynx was still in the move of advancement, easily countering the blows of Codiac, until he saw that the guardian was upon him.
The four of them where all in the heat of battle and Faelynx found it hard to defend himself. He parried a blow from Suzette, dived into the air and his sword was able to find its way to Codiac, stabbing him in many locations. Wounded, the knight captain received a kick straight in the chest sending him into the ground.
I found her! Ildarachi's voiced sounded in the mic.
Codiac’s eyes vision blurred, but with a scream he regained conscious and was back up to his feet, yelling and charging again.
Help me...Aurora!
Xerrast, Suzette, Codiac and Faelynx tangled once again. The battle wage on in perfect unison, the deadly foe at his heels. When tides had turned it was then when Suzette leaped onto a towering pillar and slammed back down on Faelynx, crashing her opponent to the floor.
Ildarachi, I'm coming! This time Kaeltrys' voice.
With his opponent on the ground, Codiac hastily took advantage, his heart racing at the opportunity, and with a jump he sliced open the chest of the great champion, fatally wounding Faelynx.
The knight in red spat out blood and coughed at his demise.
“You’ll never defeat us. The dark age is coming and we Amethyst shall rule it,” Faelynx wheezed with a cough.
“Farewell,” Xerrast called and shot him square in the nose, exploding his face into a pile of bloody mess.
“Finally,” Codiac breathed heavily. “Finally, you're dead, you son of a bitch!” Codiac kicked the corpse angrily. He thought of looting the weapon, but knew it was soul bound, and with exhaustion, the young man fell to the ground and simply sat breathing.
“Are you hurt?” Suzette asked quietly to her comrade.
“Just a few scrapes,” Codiac managed with a grimace.
“That was more painful than it should have been,” Xerrast called, stepping closer with a following Sleet behind him.
“What's going on with the rest of the crew, I wonder?” Codiac sighed, stretching on his feet then pressing down onto his earphone.
What's happening out there? Codiac clicked in.
No response.
There was a stunning silence between all members as they waited for any status reports.
>
With anger Codiac lifted his finger to his ear once again.
Aurora? He cried.
No response.
“Damn it all!” Codiac shouted. “What in the hell is going on out there?”
“We better hurry to them,” Suzette exclaimed looking at the young man for an answer.
Codiac slugged down and hung onto the unexpecting guardian and breathed heavily.
“Oh my God, Codi!” She exclaimed. “You're bleeding everywhere!”
Sure enough, the elves had their tole on the lad, and Faelynx’s slash marks were intensified throughout his entire body.
“Keep holding him,” Sleet called and placed her hand on his chest.
“Ouch,” Codiac muttered.
“There, there, hold on for just a little while longer,” Sleet's eyes turned blue and she began muttering a spell.
It was hard to cast at first, with the rune ward into play, but nothing was impossible for the scion and within a matter of moments sharp words entered the Codiac's head as he began to glow, and the wounds slowly closed. It did not take long and soon after he was feeling better than average and ready to fight again.
“Thanks Sleet” Codiac smiled. “But that still doesn't explain what is going on.”
It was Suzette's turn to take charge and she put her hand to her ear.
Cringe, Jason, Kaeltrys, anyone? She waited before pressing the button again.
Please sign in.
Doubt began to creep in. The party wondered if the mission was a failure already, if Ildarachi had died then and there was no telling what would happen to Systralas. Then again, their hopes were up that the enemy still needed him. It was Aurora who was in immediate attention.
I'm fine, Aurora called in, as if answering a prayer.
Thank God, Sleet's voice.
We saw her ma'am, Ildarachi sounded.
“She must be headed to Xyl'thos!” Suzette exclaimed.
“The dragon?” Codiac asked.
“Yes, he will open the portal to space for us,” Sleet murmured.
As a progress report, we have finally established the bombs. It should take one full hour down here, Cringe called in.
Excellent, Xerrast replied.
“Finally, the prophecy comes true,” Sleet said with a prayer.
Cringe, the scion sounded.
We're headed to Loctis tower overlooking the portal. Please meet us there in twenty minutes.
Roger, the response was smooth and elegant.
Codiac shook his head and stared at the others, demanding their attention.
“First, my guild,” He said. “I've waited long enough playing hero, I have to evacuate them before I lose them again. Please understand, scion. They are my life.”
Sleet stared at him menacingly.
“I'll go too!” Suzette exclaimed. “We'll meet you at the tower in no time.”
Sleet and Xerrast inspected each other closely as if having a silent exchange. After done, she nodded and turned to Codiac.
“Do it,” She stated. “But, make it quick.”
“That's our destination,” Xerrast pointed at the main tower that shot up a mile high overlooking the morning's sky cold, gray sky. In the distance fires were spreading all along the citadel, making the tension mount in the knight captain’s stomach.
Codiac grabbed Suzette's hand and nodded.
“We'll be there,” He said quietly.
Chapter 35
“The Star Man builds rage in his heart. Broken and empty he will fall if not for our aid. But the Spider Queen is always watching. Her web holds Systralas by a single strand.”
Clairvona Aya, Sleet
Scion of Systralas
The party was disbanded into three groups now, one locked in the mysterious treasure vault, gathering their wounds, the other renegades on a rescue mission, leaving the scion to contemplate her own thoughts, all alone, save for the one who's life started moments after her very own.
Xerrast, stood beside her as usual, it was common throughout all their years together to do so and it made the scion wonder about their very own lives throughout the decades of trial and deceit. It was a creeping feeling for them both, as if accustomed to this fateful walk that was planned before them. They were exhausted from their recent battle with Faelynx and concerned over the tides of battle, whether they would be reunited with the chosen and whether Avilya would finally be found.
Former Amethyst Divine agent, Xerrast was first to begin his ascent up the crumbling ruined steps that led to the menacing tower of Loctis, his sister close behind their footsteps were soundless over the sharp metal below them. Heaviness followed each embrace of steel and the two quickened their pace where the scion found it difficult to keep her own brother's wild stride.
A memory of the sibling’s heritage clung to these walls, memories of strife, betrayal, lore and upkeep. Memories that stung deeply and that were not easily forgotten.
Danielle Avilya was all that were on their minds, with long history the two were now wondering if the mission was up to themselves, as it ought to be. As it started. Her ascension was caused by the scion's lust for power, and the guilt dragged Sleet's gaze to the endless steps before them.
If only she had not been so predictable with her lectures, then the foolish ambitions from her adolescent years. It seemed in her wild preaching it only brought darkness where she was uncertain if it would thrive after this day and prevail.
Yet, the stories were necessary and undoubtedly, they had excited Danielle to the point of corruption with promises of tyranny. Avilya had killed her mentor to get in spot of command, everyone knew it, but the guild did prosper with her demand.
Sleet also knew that Avilya was the spider from her etheric dreams long ago. The one who would set into motion the changing of Systralas, but the spider, after the web was cast, was destined to die in its folly of own self-gratification. It was the star being that would ultimately produce the light along with the aid of his six companions.
Now the prophecy was closer than ever, and Sleet rushed her pace in eager anticipation.
Just when determination kicked in, it came to a halt as soon as a loud roar crippled their hearing.
A dragon nearby.
The scream was terrible and it shook the whole innards of the castle, leaving Xerrast and Sleet stuck in their tracks.
“Xyl'thos!” Sleet cried, hugging onto her brother as tightly as she could.
The dragon fear swept in, leaving doubt and remorse as the growl continued harshly, piercing their elvish ears to the point of agony.
Wind picked up, stirring dust into their eyes and lips. They squinted at their destination and this time Sleet fought the fear, gulping at first, then left Xerrast’s warm, comfortable body and was running up the stairs with a twin not too far behind.
“We have to hurry!” She called.
Xerrast took the lead now, rushing beyond and ever quickening his pace.
“Damn it!” He cursed, as the deafening roars of Xyl’thos stopped bringing nothing but the sound of the chill wind.
As if on cue, Danielle Avilya arose in her black attire, katana in hand, waiting on the top of Loctis Tower.
“I've awakened the dragon from your betrayal, sweet sister,” Avilya taunted edging further down the steps to greet them.
“You've gone too far!” Sleet retorted. “What is it that you want from all this!?”
Danielle's shoulders stiffened at the remark and she began making her descent slowly down the stairs.
Did anyone else hear that terrible wail? Codiac's voice sounded from the speaker.
It's the dragon, stupid! Ildarachi's voice this time.
Danielle stopped cold in her tracks hearing the magical device implanted in their ears.
“Your schemes continue?” She spat. “Go ahead and tell them that you've found me.” She mused, playing with the tip of her sword before reaching a snarl. “Go on! Tell them!”
Xerrast and Sleet said nothing, quietly asses
sing the situation. Finally, when sure to get this opportunity Sleet gazed upon her brother.
“Do it,” She ordered him.
The bounty hunter shifted his weight and pressed down hard on the magical earbud.
Codiac, Ildarachi, others... Xerrast called in telepathy.
Avilya stands before us on Loctis tower. We could really use your help.
The two destined soldiers waited for a response, all too silent.
“There, you see!” Avilya roared. “Was that so difficult!?”
There was a long silence between the three, as if knowing that there was no turning back from this ordeal, still Avilya began making her descent.
“Do you think I’ll show mercy on you, lover?” She asked, venom in her tone. “You too will pay the price for abandoning us when we needed you most. What made you think you could come waltzing back to the Divine, gun in hand, marked as a murderer?”
Xerrast smiled and lifted his pistol from his belt.
“Scion’s orders,” He said, grin fading.
Hold on, we'll be right there, Suzette called through the telepathic device.
Chapter 36
“Xyl’thos, terror of the sky and blackness of all things. An ancient being of dark magic. His demise will save us.”
Codiac Dalin
Knight Captain of Golden Hearts
“Thanks for coming with me,” Codiac exclaimed, working his way with Suzette in a city nestled within the castle. There were brick taverns and residential housing, but all the streets were empty, nothing but the shouts and cries of battle waging from the distance, flames acted as the markers breached the sky with thick black smoke.
“I must admit,” Codiac continued. “It is great to have you here beside me during this glorious hour.”
An Amethyst Divine knight wounded staggered in their direction, without hesitation Codiac cut him down, plunging Alexandra in the intruder's belly, then diving deep.
“Bastard!” He screamed, plunging the magical blade further, until there was a gurgling sound and then only death.
“Besides,” Codiac said once he finished the ordeal. “Who wouldn't want to be beside me?” He asked with a laugh.
