Age of Souls

by Garrett Stevens

  Smells of burning flesh rose up from the flesh chunks as the light began to scald every surface it touched on the Skkooh pieces. The smoke it created was almost the same colour as its tar like blood and quickly turned to ash as it burnt away, floating up into the air.

  “Relinquish!” Gemini’s shadow called out again as it sprinted over to continue the battle with Yvane’s spirit and wrapped its arms around the others body.

  Taking the opportunity, Needle jumped to his feet and put some space between himself and the two spirits. Finding himself backed against Gemini’s table, he looked down at her and then back up to the shadows.

  “Who knew that a Dragoon Spirits would be so troublesome.” His sneering voice and mocking smile put Gemini on edge even more.

  “Get me out of these bounds, you have what you want.” The struggle in her voice was measurable of her own exhaustion.

  “There is nothing you can do child, best to just give in to the inevitable fate.” His words lingered in the air briefly before another air impact pushed against them.

  “I will go out on my own terms. Release me!” She summoned the strength to let out a roaring command.

  Needle’s eyes went wide again as he looked down at her in thought. Another air impact put him off balance slightly before he smirked to himself and lurched forward and disappeared into the black between the lighting. Sounds of his footsteps faded in the distance as he ran away.

  “Figures.” Gemini sighed to herself.

  The battle between the two Dragoon Spirits raged through the cavernous space and was difficult to follow with how fast they were moving through the poor lighting. Gemini tried to pull against the straps and chains holding her to the table, but their magic was strong. Her futile efforts against the leathers started to burn as she moved her head and limbs around.

  Air impacts flooded the space and she could feel the Skkooh that sat in the darkness watching her out of the corner of their eye, mainly focused on the main clash but eager for the next meal. Pitter-patter of the unseen Koad could be heard as they scampered by trying to hide from the pulses.

  Gemini’s Dragoon Spirit came whirling past her in defense of the wild swings being thrown by the other Spirit. Time seem to slow down with each swing of their crystalized weapons until everything just stopped. The air around her thickened like the weight of an invisible ocean filling the cave. In the darkness against the far wall, a small child sized figure spun around as a portal formed. Stepping through the spiral of darkness and energy, the odd form of a Satyr like child appeared against the black.

  Stepping onto the fringes of the light cones, the small Satyr figure had a small head of hair and small horns poking out of the tuff. An ornate tribal staff in one hand and the other resting on the flap of a small satchel with a scroll tucked in that was obviously too big for it.

  With a quick look around, the small Satyr newcomer sprang into a quick paced jog over to Gemini’s table. Gazing up at her, he waved his staff gently back and forth and all the straps holding her down fell open, releasing their weight against her body.

  “Quick child, we must rejoin you with the Mother.” The Satyr savior glanced over to the two crystalized shadows in combat. “We may need to include the Origins spirit as well.”

  “What do I need to do?” Gemini weakly pulled her legs off the side of the table as she sat up.

  “It will be quick, but there will be pain in the conflict inside. I will take care of everything. Regain your strength, Dire will need your help.” His voice put a hidden energy inside her.

  Before she could get another word out, the little character tapped her on the chest with his staff and was off toward the two combatants. There was no time between his actions as he circled around them both, tapping in strategic points from head to toe. With each tap of his staff, Gemini could subtly make out small chains that formed into reality and stretched out from each tap point back to where he had tapped her on the chest. Each chain was weightless and looked to be similar to the crystalized shadow that the two were made from.

  There was a pulling sensation against her chest that forced her to place her palms on the backside of the table and brace herself. A couple more passes around the spirits and his little hooved feet came to a skidding halt. Both Dragoon Spirits writhed in their binds, desperately trying to get at one another.

  “You must control them as soon as they merge, or you will lose yourself completely and I will need to destroy all three.” His words cut through the air with an urgent threat.

  Another wave and spin of his staff, the pulling against her grew and with both hands, the little Satyr crashed his staff against the faded chains. In an instant all three that were connected shot towards each other, colliding on the edge of the light cone surrounding Gemini’s table. With a final collapse and explosion of the air pulsing through the cave, anything that was not already on the ground was sent flying off and shattering across the stone floor.

  The environment around Gemini changed in a blink, another void filled around her like before and the same androgynous figure that gave her the armour stood before her. Beside them was a more female looking figure, both no longer shadows or crystalized but as if they were flesh and bone. The three naked women stood in their circle looking at each other.

  “We are to become one within you child.” The Mother spoke in her neutral voice.

  “I won’t be imprisoned by this weakling.” The other spirit voiced in a similar tone.

  “Dear Origin, accommodation is needed to endure.” The Mother responded without looking at her.

  Silence filled the void.

  “My strength will be given but further earned through time. Do not falter your resolve.” The Origin talked without emotion again.

  Both Mother and Origin reached out with one of their arms and placed their palms on Gemini’s chest. Closing her eyes with the warm comforting sensation that filled her, the air grew heavy around Gemini like before. A surge powered its way into her and made her eyes jolt open as the cave torture room flooded back in around her.

  Gemini looked across the light to her liberator who stood firm, with a serious look in its wide colourful eyes, he nodded at her. Looking down at her naked body to check on if things were back to normal, she found the small bands of steel moving around her again.

  The edge of her wings caught her eye and she stretched around to check on them. They were no longer white, but the feathering gave a reddish-purple outline texture that gave them an intimidating depth. The bands were also darker now, almost a midnight black with streaks of a blood red colouring veins weaving across them. Closing her eyes, the armour began to take shape around her.

  Covering her body with the same intensity as before but it changed to be a lot more menacing yet refined in a regal way. Each pinch point had spiked edges and the folder steel overlaps between joints kept every line clean. There was not a break in any of the seams or weakness that could be seen.

  Blood red accented all over with a touch of gold in focal points that weaved themselves around her waist and into a symbol on her stomach. A single dragon like demon form that spiraled into itself with a set of stars circling around it and the glorious wingspan of the Spiri in behind.

  Everything filled in all the way up around her neck and halfway up her face in a half mask, keeping the top half her head exposed. The mask formed a sinister demonic and draconic looking collection of runes and markings. Her long black hair flowed around her and almost got lost in the darkness of her wings and armour. She looked ready for war, ready to rule, ready to protect the world.

  “Quick child, we must get to Dire.”

  “Who are you?” Gemini sternly questioned from behind her mask.

  “I am Granol of the Narx, Porter for the Elders. I failed to contact Tyrolin’s child but made it in time to the Spiri. They need your help.” Granol tapped his staff against the stone floor.

  “What’s happened?” Gemini stood tall as she spoke.

  “No time to expla
in, with haste Mother.” Granol turned to where he entered the cave and a similar swirling portal opened again, this one large enough for Gemini to step through.

  Beckoning her as he went, Granol stepped through and disappeared into whirl of purple and black. With a sigh, Gemini looked over her shoulder into the darkness where she could feel the Skkooh eyes watching her. The glow from them burned into her memory, unmoving, always watching. She shook off the feeling and snapped the thought from her head.

  As she was just about to take a step into the portal, a thought came to her and she lifted a finger in the remembrance. Rushing over to where Yvane had placed the Dragon relic cup, it was still surprisingly sitting firm on the table. A glance over to where Needle had disappeared and back to the Skkooh watching her, she knew she had limited time before their control faded. Grabbing the relic, she quickly made her way back to the portal and paused to take a break before stepping through.

  Exiting onto a mountain ledge overlooking the small village of the Spiri. Fire billowed out from the huts and homes forming a massive cloud of smoke that filled the valley and billowed up into the fading light of the day. Sounds of battle, explosions of magic, and screams of death filled the plume as it rose higher and higher.

  “Hurry Mother.” Granol shouted at her as he ran off to the side down a path from the ledge. Gemini shook her head from the panorama of chaos and followed the Satyr down the path.

  Chapter 20

  Gemini ran down the loose stone pathway, sliding here and there against the slope while trying to keep up to the little Narx; for its size, it was quick. Trying to keep an eye on the flaming village and the small Satyr, she was finding it hard to keep traction and slipped to the ground, bouncing on her backside and back up on to her feet.

  Screams from Spiri in the village spiraled up into the fading daylight with the flurry of smoke and ash. Screams of battle rose through the canopy with friend and foe tormenting each other endlessly. Screams of death being overrun against the invisible foes and their ash veiled counterparts.

  The closer she got, the more she heard them. Before long, Gemini caught up to Granol who had stopped. He was looking at one of the dangling ropes coming from one of the platforms. With his big eyes draped in worry, he looked at her and then up at the smoldering wood above them.

  “Quickly, you must get up to help.” The little Satyr struck his staff into the ground, creating a small waft of dust around him.

  “I will be slaughtered as soon as I get up there. I need a weapon.” Gemini called out over the sounds of the chaos above them.

  From above them, the sounds of demise rushed toward them, stealing their attention. The corpse of a freshly killed Spiri spiraled down towards them, forcing Gemini to lurch backwards to avoid being hit. The sounds of breaking bones shattering on the landing and both Narx and Spiri rushed in towards body.

  Coughing up blood onto her chin, the Spiri’s armour began to quickly swirl its way back into the living rings in a strange way; she was too weak to hold her defense up and would soon die. Looking up at Gemini with bloody eyes, a smile came across her face as she lifted her hand up to reach for Gemini’s face, falling away before it could.

  “With haste, grab her blade. I will need to stay to deal with the soul.” Granol tapped Gemini on the shoulder with his staff to point her attention towards the nearby bloodied sword.

  Before she could pick the weapon up, the same air pulse from the cave knocked her forward. A howling wind pulsed out and a crystalized shade appeared over the Spiri’s corpse. Granol quickly weaved a burning symbol into the air with its staff, immobilizing the crystalized shadow. With a howl of contempt towards its captor, the Dragoon Spirit shook behind its magical restraint.

  Grabbing the hilt and flicking it to the ready, Gemini grabbed the dangling rope with her other hand and pulled her weight against it. The magic was still alive in the rope and with ease, she lifted herself with one arm up the rope like she weighed nothing at all.

  The platform was empty when she reached the top. Whatever had killed the Spiri had already left to find new prey. One rope bridge leading to the Elders hut was gone and a blazing fire left in its place; there was only one bridge still holding that led off towards the main hall. Squinting across to the large platform, she could see a small handful of Spiri still engaged in combat.

  Mara was closest, swinging her scythe around with a deadly grace. Her fighting style looked flawless as she defended against the small Koad attackers. Her armour had fully taken form from before and her clothes had mostly been ripped or burnt off. Close to her, Gemini could see Marthiel battling Ko-Rin. Both their large weapons being sent off wayward as they connected with each swing. Other Spiri she could not see through the haze of the heat and smoke were scattered about the larger platform battling each other or the invaders.

  A nod to herself, Gemini pushed off into a full sprint towards the bridge. The flaming environment around the platform and up in the trees made for a daring stretch of runway. Small flames lapped at the ropes holding things together and was only a matter of time before they took over. With precarious footing she slid her way across the boards, testing them as she went, as fast as she could.

  Fire could be seen tickling the underside of a few boards which cause her to slow down or miss them entirely. Reaching the other side of the bridge, a loud crack from above her sounded and she was knocked to the ground by a falling branch wreathed in ash and flame. Pushing herself onto her knees, Gemini popped back up on to her feet with sword at the ready. Someone was watching her.

  “Welcome home.” The voice was familiar to her and a little too upbeat for her liking.

  In a rage filled voice Gemini grunted as she turned to the man, “Needle.”

  Turning her head towards the tall robed man, the smile he had on his face was creepy and concerning. There was something different about him this time, a corona like aura circled around him in a protective bubble of magic. In one of his hands he held a glowing object that seem to connect to the shield around him.

  “You came just in time.” Needle’s voice was upbeat and excited.

  Gemini glared at him with no response.

  “The weave is almost complete, and we can finally be rid of this valley.” His eyes shifted slightly to the battles going on across the platform.

  Gemini seized the opportunity and sprang forward with wings curled in tight behind her. He wasn’t fully ready for the attack but enough to get out of the way, sending the blade into the protective plasma around him. A sizzling sound came from the steel as it entered the smoky air; the shield was more than just a defense. The steel of the weapon began to dissolve with little bubbles across its shaft like it was being worn away by a strong acid. Dropping the corrosive weapon to the ground before it could touch her hand, she snapped back up to Needle who was chuckling to himself.

  “Surprised that you made it out of the cave alive girl. Who would know that the Dragoon souls would be that disruptive?” Needle shrugged.

  “Why kill off the village?” Gemini roared back.

  “This was not all me, you can thank a group of your own for most of this. I just stepped in to help clean things up. Those nasty souls would have been more than I could handle on my own.” Needle chuckled to himself.

  “Why would any Spiri help the likes of you, especially killing their own?” Gemini kept her guard up, ready for anything.

  “Amazing when you thread your tale into the gullible; weave a discord so deep that any little thing would set them off. Quite easy in fact when both sides are after the same thing.”

  “The seals.” Gemini spoke under her breath.

  “Yes, the seals. The last one is in the village and I didn’t have the support to walk in directly, needed the distraction. My Skkooh and Koad are useful but not the best at an organized assault.” Needle shrugged nonchalantly.

  Gemini could sense that Needle posed no real threat to her directly and took the opportunity to check on the two fights across the platform.<
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  Mara was standing by herself, catching her breath, covered in blood and surrounded by corpses, both Koad and Spiri. Her weapon lowered to the ground, covered in the same oozing blood as her armour. She kept her attention to the battle between Marthiel and Ko-Rin. Both their large weapons creating holes in the ground around them or spraying sparks into the air from connecting with the embers of the burning village. The platform may not hold them long enough to finish the fight.

  Gemini checked on Needle’s attention one final time before confirming with herself that he really was no threat, pushed herself towards the fight and scanned for any other threats noticing her. Mara caught her from the corner of her eye and quickly cut her off. Pushing her scythe across her path, forcing her to stop.

  “Stay back Mother, she can’t afford the distraction.” Her face although covered in smeared gore was still beautiful and calming. “We can’t lose another.”

  “Where is everyone else?” Gemini asked in a huff.

  Mara paused, slowly blinked. “Gone.”

  Another short pause as Mara collected herself and put a serious look in her eyes.

  “The Neightur mage assaulted the village right after a sizable group of sisters turned on the rest. No one was prepared but we were able to get a better hold on the situation once they were dealt with. I knew Yvane was up to no good, but never to this extent.” Mara slammed her scythe hilt on the ground.

  “What happened to all the others then?” Gemini asked.

  “The Skkooh and the Koad cleaned up most of the unprepared and it took a little more time before we could get the Blink off to level off the field. Little too late and the three of us were marooned up here. Before we could take down the last Skkooh, Marthiel turned on Ko-Rin.”