Ashkii Dighin- The Hunt for the Hypnotist

by Adam Lynch

  “I do not sleep,” the queen spoke aloud suddenly—as if reading his mind. From the balcony, she turned towards them, approaching slowly. She had a playful look on her face, a gaze of high intrigue.”I have never slept. Didn’t you know this?”

  Nobody answered her, Ashkii carefully watching her. She then faced Taa. “How about you, Yokota? Did you know this intriguing fact when you had first entered my kingdom to spy on me?”

  She lost her tongue a moment, staggered. “Your majesty?”

  “Don’t call me that in my chambers.” She swung her finger over all her guests. “That goes for all of you. My chamber is my safe haven from being queen. I’ve been doing this for over 890 years. I’m very tired.” Taa gaped, stammering to utter something. “Why the look of astonishment? Am I not Chiharu Fantasia, the oldest living and most powerful mage in all of Seasons? Did you really think I wouldn’t have seen past your disguises from the first moment I saw you?” Immediately, Ashkii faced Kel who had already been facing him, astounded. Their disguises—they’d vanished. Their identities were completely exposed.

  “It’s alright,” the queen assured, calming everyone. If I had wanted you dead, you would have been already. I promise you.”

  “I don’t understand...” said Taa.

  Chiharu smiled, seemingly intrigued. “I had sensed an open heart in you, Yokota. That you would listen and judge me and my kingdom fairly. I never wanted any part of this war and as a representative of another region I wanted you to see that.” She approached her slowly and almost seductively. Scanning her from head to toe, she placed her hands over her head, caressing her softly. “You are the eyes of your kingdom. If there was any chance to communicate peace with them, I knew that this would be it.” She paused a moment, holding this pose. Then, she abruptly removed herself, storming towards the balcony, huffing. “I don’t even know how this ludicrous war got started in the first place. At first I thought it was the Valentines, but then all the kingdoms started attacking each other, including mine. I had watched and studied the leaders of Seasons since each of them were born. I wanted to know what sort of rulers they’d become and how my kingdom would have to deal with them. The Valentine lineage had always apprehended me, but never would I have guessed that Autumnum and Summeria would engage in such madness. Then, later I learned that all regions, even Winteria, were just as puzzled about this war as I was. They were all reacting to dangers they’d claimed were first inflicted on their kingdoms. So then my question at that time was who had started this war and why if not any of the kingdoms? I’ve put much thought and investigation towards it. And while I’ve yet to attain proof, I’ve concluded that it must be the Hypnotist. The Hypnotist has attacked all our kingdoms. Its motive are still unclear, but I’m almost certain it’s it.”

  “If you saw through our disguises the moment you saw us, then how was I able to surprise you with the Spirit Bow?” asked Ashkii. “Or was that all an act too?”

  “There are no magical illusions—even if they are Mystic Gifts—that can escape my line of detection. Only those who are more powerful than me can hide themselves—and as far as I’m aware, that only person is the Hypnotist. I saw your bodies, but I did not see your weapons. This is because you did not use magic to hinder them as you did your bodies. You hid them with physical substance. I can do many things, but seeing through walls is not one of them.”

  “Well, you’re not the only one who can see through magical illusions,” said Kel, facing the chabudai in the center of the room. “You’re hiding something there, aren’t you?”

  Ashkii’s interest peaked, he faced it after her, then facing the queen who smiled with intrigue. “Well, go on,” she encouraged. “Unravel the mystery.”

  Facing the chabudai again, suddenly—after Kel had unveiled the illusion—Ashkii saw a black book with a white glowing symbol on its cover. Approaching it, he saw that it was the symbol, 6—the symbol of the Sky Pirates. He couldn’t believe it. This was it. Everything the Chalice of Prophecy had revealed to him.

  “Well?” asked the queen after giving them a minute to gawk at it. “Was this the book that you were looking for?”

  Picking it up, Ashkii tried to open it, but couldn’t. It was glued shut, nothing but white dust shooting off its cover at the attempt.

  “It won’t open,” the queen said, Ashkii facing her. “It’s been sealed shut by its owner through a foreign magic. Nothing can open it but the weapon that can pierce through all magic.”

  Ashkii looked at the Spirit Bow wrapped around his shoulder.

  “Yes,” she confirmed. “No magical barrier can keep the Spirit Gatherer out. Isn’t that right?” Hearing this, he faced her, her fixation now intense on him. “You pierced my barrier to get in here, didn’t you?”

  “I did,” he replied honestly, giving her full attention.

  Looking away, she inhaled deeply, her face growing pale—but only for a second. Then she shrugged, shaking her head. “I see,” she said. She reserved a moment to gaze outside of the balcony. “It’s fine. It doesn’t matter anymore. If the Spirit Gatherer was able to break in this easily, then what’s to stop them from inevitably breaking in as well?”

  “Them?” he asked, curious. “What do you mean?”

  She kept them in suspense, peering over the balcony with a look of intense apprehension—something was frightening her. Perhaps this was what she was hiding from her people. Then Taa joined her by her side, keeping her company. “Your majesty?” she asked, concerned.

  Chiharu was moved by her compassion. A smile came over her face when she looked at her, her hands brushing her hair. Taa seemed mesmerized by the queen’s serene touch. “Yokota Gen, my personal assistant. How I’ve loved having you with me.” Then she paused, pleasant thoughts as she smiled warmly at her. “Could you tell me your name? Your real name?”

  “Taa of Autumnum, your majesty,” she said.

  Then she faced Ashkii and Kel—to attain their answers.

  “Ashkii Dighin,” he said.

  “Kelanassa Kaliete,” she said.

  “I see,” said the queen, nodding, then closing her eyes to meditate. She reserved a few seconds before speaking again. Then she reopened her eyes, continuing. “Kelanassa, Taa of Autumnum, Ashkii Dighin… there is something of great importance that I must inform you. And it concerns the book which you hold in your hands.”

  Hearing this, Ashkii’s full attention was earned. “Very well,” he said. “Tell us.”

  She took a deep breath, then began. “I found the book before the civil war of Seasons and before the Hypnotist had announced its existence nationally. I traveled to the east of my land to meditate, but instead I found a long deceased soldier that had been severely burned—from a lightning strike it had appeared. Aside from the severe burns, the victim was black in color, bald, anorexic, dressed in ragged white apparel, carried two cutlasses, and had the same symbol marked on his right wrist and forehead that was on the cover of the book beside his body—the symbol, 6. This was the first time I’d seen one of these—these which we now name Sky Pirates. With the body burned and thoroughly decayed, there wasn’t much I could learn from the mystery at that time. The book was my only resource. I was never able to break it open, but after taking it home that night, I received two visions that correlated with this mystery. I knew not how to follow on these visions—whether they were premonitions or nightmares I have had during my meditation. One of them was about the Spirit Gatherer, and I told myself that if I ever saw the Spirit Gatherer, or found the Spirit Bow myself and proved its legend true, I’d know that my visions were also true. I’d know that like the legend of the Spirit Gatherer—they’d soon come to pass. And now, here you are. Even before I uncovered Season’s first Sky Pirate body, I’ve long sought after the Spirit Bow with no such fortune. Besides the words of the legend, nobody could uncover anything that had proved its existence. Countless seekers failed for decades. There came a time where many had given up—many today aren’t even aware of its le
gend. Then suddenly, it appeared before me in my own throne room—the weapon I had sought after many years. Its point aimed right for my eyes, screaming, Here I am! You wanted me, now here I am! Would that not have surprised you too, Ashkii Dighin?”

  For a moment there was silence, everyone processing the story thus far. Then Kelanssa spoke up. “What were these visions of yours?”

  “I will tell you the first one I’ve had… in my vision, I saw the Sky Pirates—who they really were. They are not who we thought they were. The dark people with the white ragged apparel and cutlasses—they are not the Sky Pirates. My vision has shown me that they are the inhabitants of other lands, captured, brainwashed, and transformed. The marks on their foreheads and wrists prove ownership of who they serve: the Sky Pirates. They are not slaves, but privileged servants given power, fortune, and all the things of this world—but only by surrendering themselves to the mark of the behemoth.”

  “The what?” asked Ashkii.

  “The mark of the behemoth. My vision has shown me that the behemoth is whom the servants, and the Sky Pirates themselves serve as their leader. My vision has shown me that the behemoth, and the Sky Pirates under him, have already conquered two-thirds of the world. They are coming to Seasons… they are already here...”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Privileged servants known as The Chosen scout unknown territories for the Sky Pirates, exploring new lands in their entirety. Once they’ve finished scouting, they claim the land by marking their symbol in blood on its soil. These symbols serve as landing grounds for The Chosen’s fleet ships, or even one of the six Sky Pirate captain ships.”

  “She’s right, Ashkii,” Kel said to him—Ashkii who had appeared skeptical. “This is happening now. We’ve seen both a fleet airship and its landing symbol.”

  “So then it’s true?” asked Taa, eyes fully expanded. “They’re really coming?”

  “Let’s not get carried away,” said Ashkii. “It’s true we encountered disturbing instances concerning the Sky Pirates, but to connect that with all the theories that follow—that’s stretching it. Especially for a wise ruler you’re renown as.”

  “This was why I did not want to share my visions with my people. Without knowing whether they were nightmares or premonitions, I would risk dividing my own people. Some would panic, others would remain stubbornly hardened. However, I didn’t want to leave my people vulnerable either. So I created an impenetrable barrier to protect them. And alone, I’ve been watching and waiting for any hard evidence I could find of the possibility of my visions coming to pass. I’ve seen and heard of The Chosen entering Seasons. And now I hear of the symbol being drawn and the arrival of the fleet airships—this informed to me by the Spirit Gatherer who now stands before me. It was as everything my vision had revealed. Do you still not believe it? The Sky Pirates have not yet arrived, but they’re coming… and when they come, they will know how to trap all the inhabitants of the land thanks to the scouts. Then they will burn villages, slaughter millions who futilely resist, capture all the land’s people, and torture a leader’s loved ones until he accepts the mark. Then, when all the leader’s are manipulated into surrendering their lives to the behemoth, the rest of the land’s captives will be given a choice: Become slaves who are unable to buy food, water, or anything that now belongs to the Sky Pirates, or accept the mark and be transformed into powerful servants of the world’s greatest and fastest growing empire. They are coming, and they will do everything that I had just described. This was my first vision.”

  Ashkii, not making eye contact, shook his head in disbelief, but Kel encouraged her on. “Tell us your second vision.”

  “My second vision—which came hours after the first—was about the Spirit Gatherer. My second vision was much less clear than the first, but I will tell you everything I saw. I saw a thick darkness shrouding him. From this, I saw two potential outcomes. One: the darkness swallowed him, thus attaining power and authority over all of Seasons. With his power, the darkness was able to keep the Sky Pirates from entering. It didn’t challenge them, but it did prevent their infiltration of the land. It came with it a cost, however—the cost of nearly every inhabitant’s life.”

  “And the second outcome?” persisted Kel.

  “Two: The Spirit Gatherer destroyed the darkness, united Seasons as a whole, and then fought to resist the Sky Pirates.”

  “And how did they fare?”

  “I don’t know. The outcome was not revealed…”

  “Your majesty, with all due respect...” began Taa. “If you believe that a devastating empire is on the way, then shouldn’t you be trying to unite Seasons so we can hope to stand against it?”

  “Seasons is at war, my dear assistant. With so much confusion, distrust, anger, hatred, and now thirst for power dividing the regions, there is little to nothing I can do aside from killing thousands and forcing them to surrender—which would cripple the purpose of uniting strong. This was another reason I created the barrier—to protect my region from pointless devastation and prepare them for the real war that’s coming. But all is not lost, my dear assistant. That was why I’ve kept you with me all this time. It was my plan to use you to observe my true nature and hear everything I’ve just shared with you. Your region will not listen to the words of another region’s ruler, but you, as the region’s representative, can make a difference. If they will listen to reason at all, it will you who convince them. Now, Taa of Autumnum, return now to your region. The Spirit Gatherer has already pierced my barrier—by now, it has no doubt dissolved entirely. Tell them everything you’ve learned about me, my kingdom, and everything you’ve heard here. For the sake of Season’s survival, I pray you will receive favor.”

  “Yes,” she said, nodding sincerely. “I will do as you say.”

  After she said this, they reserved a minute to gaze into each other’s eyes. Tears rolled down their cheeks, then they embraced lovingly. “Goodbye, my dear friend,” said Chiharu.

  “Goodbye… and thank you… your majesty.” Pulling away, she held her gaze one final time, and then left, changing into her disguise.

  The very next second, a five-tailed kitsune shogun swept in, his face pale with apprehension. “Your grace, forgive my intrusion but I bring urgent news,” he informed, bowing.

  The queen stood strong and authoritative. “Out with it,” she commanded, the shogun’s eyes alarmed to see two Spirit Hunters in the queen’s chambers.

  “The barrier shielding Springeria has disappeared.”

  “And? Has there already been an intrusion?”

  “Yes, to the north. A large army of Red-Bloods. Their forces are joined with Lord Rolf Valentine, the infamous Sisters of the Red Blood, and even their king, Salem Valentine himself.”

  “They’re storming the region the second they have learned of its collapsed fence.” She glared at Ashkii when she said this, facing the shogun again with strict resolve. “It’s me Salem wants. It’s me he’s going to get. Prepare a third of our army for battle. The rest are to defend Springeria and its people.”

  “Your majesty!” he exclaimed, bowing.

  “One other thing. Notify the people of Springeria that the Spirit Hunters with the glowing bow and red hair are not our enemies. They are to be pardoned and treated as our own. Understood?”

  “Yes, your grace. It will be as you’ve said.” Bowing once more, he hastened to his orders, the queen left alone with Ashkii and Kel, facing them.

  “Now, Ashkii Dighin, Kelanassa Kaliete, we will meet again and resume our discussion. Whether or not the Sky Pirate’s arrival will be as threatening as my visions have revealed, we cannot afford not to prepare against it. Seasons will require your help, Spirit Gatherer. This is not a battle you can isolate yourself from. This is your home too, and you need to help us defend it—even if it turns out that your help wasn’t essential.” She smirked. “Consider it a debt that you owe me for destroying my barrier and making vulnerable my kingdom and all my people.�
� Then she faced the chabudai—where the book was located. “When that time comes, you can get me up to speed with the book’s contents. But for now, farewell.”

  At this, she placed a broad leaf on her forehead, beginning a sudden and dramatic shapeshift.

  What was happening? Ashkii asked himself. Was she transforming into her fox form?

  Stretching her apparel without tearing it, she slammed her hands to the ground, her head jerking upwards towards Ashkii and Kel. Grunting with a fierce grimace, her teeth sharped, her eyes shining an earthly green. Her grunts became growls. Her hands and feet became paws with divine claws. Her jaw became her snout. Her hair became her fur, a bright orange, almost gold. Her eight tails grew larger—as did her body about twice its size.

  When her transformation had finished, she was big enough to eat them for dinner. But instead, she ceased her growls, staring silently at them. Her eyes were as penetrating as they were intimidating. Then, without any words, she turned from them, leapt out of the balcony, and flew north of the kingdom.

  The Secrets Unveiled

  Ashkii and Kelanassa were left alone in the queen’s chambers with the book of the Sky Pirate’s symbol. The queen soaring far into the sky, there remained nothing but a soft breeze of the night’s wind. Their glances aiming for the book, Ashkii approached it, pulling out an arrow from his quiver.

  “At last, the secrets we’ve been waiting for,” said Kel, Ashkii looking up at her, checking for sincerity. She appeared excited, almost impatient. Then, with the arrow in his hand, he jabbed the book’s cover, shattering the magical barrier that had locked it close. Poof. A dust explosion and the glow had vanished. It was as an ordinary book now.

  A final look at its cover to relish the suspense, he opened it, examining it from up to down, left to right. Kel joined him by his side. He was amazed at what he found. It wasn’t anything he had expected or imagined, but studying it now, it became clear why the Chalice of Prophecy had led him to it. It was a log of species, record-keeping from a privileged member as he observed new beings along his travels. The hand-writing was in Ashkii’s language and was very neat. There were even well-done drawings of each creature—truly their lucky day.