"What makes you think that you can rid the world of magic, Ember," Auron argued. "You can't take away something that belongs to all living things. Men can conquer lands and declare war on each other but magic is something of the heart, it will never vanish."
"Auron, what took you so long?" Ganicus asked.
"Summoning takes time," Auron answered.
Ember cackled and drifted in the air, her cloak billowing. Ganicus smelled the smoke from the church Ember had attacked and heard the wind whistling. With all the confidence he had, something just felt off, as if Majithus was trying to tell him something. Golden God of the Desert, what is this feeling I have? I know I can win this battle. Something is just not right.
Ganicus hovered towards Garuda; his armor gleamed with the sunlight so much that Auron squinted.
"Don't you think it's odd that the other Specters are not with her?" Ganicus whispered.
"No. I wager that they are attacking another town or searching for more kaminyte," Auron answered.
"What's wrong? Have you lost the will to fight all of a sudden?" Ember taunted.
Ganicus clenched his teeth. He knew that she was just provoking him, yet still, with anger, he shot through the sky and attacked.
"Umbra phantos," he heard Ember hiss her spell and, like a ghost, she streamed through him. With all the power he had, he could not stop her shadomancy. Although the Golden Sun was enchanted with the attributes of fire and light, Ember's shadomancy opposed its magic. She went directly towards Auron, reaching with hands out like hawk talons.
Auron tried to strike her but his attack went right through. He felt her clutching the ruby piece from around his neck and she yanked it off. He looked over his shoulder and she had become solid again. "The fragment...No!" Auron yelled.
She had taken the ruby piece he had been carrying since their last battle five years ago. Ganicus was not sure how important that ruby piece was, he only knew that it was a part of the Crimson Cosmo Jewel. "Oh no," he realized. "She has completed the jewel."
"At last!" Ember shouted, her voice high pitched. From within the darkness of her cloak, she pulled the Crimson Cosmo Jewel. It was round at the bottom and its top had blunt spikes that imitated flames. The jewel filled Ember's hand. It was quite large, nearly bigger than her head. Like a puzzle, she placed the ruby piece on the jewel completing one of its spikes. The jewel began to shudder in her hands.
"You don't know how to use its power, Ember. It is useless," Auron stated. Garuda thudded its wings waiting for its master's command.
"You know nothing, Amaranth," Ember remarked.
"Garuda, kill her!" Auron commanded. The Eedahlan flapped its wings creating a sound like a titan clapping its hands and released winds so powerful they could cut through stones.
Ember raised a hand and released purple steam. The mighty winds ceased at the unknown force that Ember held. It was a power that Ganicus had seen before, a power that nearly destroyed his city.
"Cosmos phantom suz!" Ember yelled and released a beam of purple energy.
Ganicus' eyes widened seeing it again. His heartbeat raced and he rushed to protect Auron. The purple beam collided with his golden shield. The beam pushed him back through the air going down towards the city. He grunted and pressed his own maju against Ember's attack. Auron could only watch as Ganicus wrestled against Ember's cosmo powers. Akielas had told him that cosmo magic was rare and that Prodigus Kollos, the legendary sage, was the only one who had ever learned it. The prince did not care. He had the Golden Sun. Sure he had taken it without permission, but he knew that it was his destiny to be the one to master its power.
He heard a fracturing noise coming from his shield and felt it crack from top to bottom. The energy was too intense and it still pushed him back. Had Ember become more powerful? He was able to stop her attack before, So why can't I do it now? Ganicus refused to be weak and let out a roar. The golden shield shattered but the Golden Sun released a beam from his chest piece, clashing against Ember's purple beam of cosmo.
"I will not be defeated!" he screamed and pressed more maju into his beam. He pushed Ember's purple blast. Suddenly, he was winning. Her beam shortened, nearly fading. "Meet your end, Ember," Ganicus said with pride.
Ember lost control of her magic and was now showered by Ganicus's blast. Engulfed by the devastating power of the Golden Sun, and with a blinding flash, Ganicus could feel Ember's maju fading, her presence beginning to vanish. The prince laughed and punched the air in triumph.
He had done it.
He had defeated Ember. Odealeous' greatest threat, defeated by the prince of Zolan.
"I am Ganicus, the Slayer of Specters." He named himself and felt the glory of the title. He raised his chin and stared at his enemy. Her maju could not be sensed anymore, yet she still floated in the sky.
All the pride and glory suddenly melted instantly once Ganicus saw Ember glowing red.
"Ganicus! Be careful!" Auron yelled at him from atop Garuda.
The prince hovered towards Auron. Once they met in the air, they both stared at Ember. She was shining an angry red, purer than blood. It was as if she was coated in lava. Ganicus could not believe his eyes. What had he done? He thought that he had blasted her to oblivion.
"I think...I think...she has done it," Auron whispered, his voice trembling with fear.
"Done what?" Ganicus asked nervously. "She has done what Auron?"
"The Crimson Cosmo Jewel, she... has awakened its power," Auron said in awe and despair. Garuda drifted backwards in the air. Auron gaped at Ember. Ganicus was not sure how he should react. He did not know much about the jewels. But how powerful could she be with the jewel when I have the Golden Sun? He said to himself.
"I won't lose to her. I don't care what this crimson jewel is capable of!" Ganicus said.
"You fool!" Auron yelled. "I know because I have been wearing the ruby piece around my neck. I have already felt its maju. You have no idea what kind of immense power the cosmo jewel has."
"Well... then we are about to find out." Ganicus turned to Ember.
"Don't be so prideful and arrogant. We should leave right now. The jewel has given her too much power." Auron tried to grab Ganicus while on Garuda. The prince shoved him away and stared up at Ember.
"You are a coward just like Akielas. Right now we have the chance to defeat Ember and you are thinking of running away," Ganicus said. "You really are the son of Akielas. Ember is here, now. If we join forces, I am sure we can defeat her with whatever power she has. She is human just like us. She is not indestructible."
In his veins ran the blood of the Mahamuths, said to have descended from Bracka Mahamuth, the legendary summoner. They were always proud people of the desert. Even when the green queen from Verday came to conquer with her thorn army, the people of Zolan fought with pride. They were taught to never run from battle and grab the rhino by the horn. They fought even if their weapons broke, till their final breath.
"You can run, Auron, but I will stand here and defend my people," the prince said. "My city is right below me and I will not forgive myself if this masked bitch causes any more destruction in my capital."
Ganicus gazed up at Ember. She no longer shone. She floated in the air with flames dancing around her and the Crimson Cosmo Jewel hovering over her hand. Now she laughed, oh that awful laugh of hers irritated Ganicus. It was high pitched, cocky and arrogant.
"Behold, this is the power of Pyramus, the dragon god of fire, and it is now in the palm of my hands." Ember kept laughing.
"She had planned it from the beginning," Auron said. "So then...I was right. I knew it. The Crimson Cosmo Jewel only awakens to a compound of fire, light and cosmo, and the Golden Sun was the perfect catalyst."
"Auron, I have no idea what you are talking about," Ganicus responded.
"Your Golden Sun's power awakened the crimson jewel. This is why I followed you here after you decided to leave Akielas's sanctum, but you would not allow me to test it." Auron's Eedahlan drifte
d closer to Ganicus. The prince had been avoiding Auron and his speeches. The red haired man wanted to try some spells on the Golden Sun but Ganicus did not trust anyone with his family relic. The boy was very protective of it.
"Auron!" Ember called out to the Amaranth. "Tell me, are you jealous that I have awoken the power of the crimson jewel when your tribe could not do so for centuries?"
Auron could not find the words to verbally retaliate, he only clenched his teeth and scowl at Ember.
"Don't be disappointed. After all, the truth had been hidden for so long," Ember said. "And just because I enjoy making you feel hopeless, here is another wonderful item that you are probably familiar with." Ember hid her right arm inside her cloak, smoke billowed and from the darkness she pulled another remnant of the gods. The Emerald Cosmo Jewel. It was a green crystal, its shape was like many rectangles growing out of a sphere. It hovered over her hand, shining green. As Ganicus stared at the jewel in awe he wondered, Why didn't she use it against me?
"I remember last time I tried to blast this city to ashes, you surprised me with your Golden Sun," Ember explained. "Your Valiarmos's power is equal to the Emerald Cosmo Jewel, however, I discovered its weakness."
At that point Ganicus could not bear to listen to her anymore. With anger he flew towards Ember. Using the crimson jewel, Ember unleashed a beam thrice the size of her previous one. A red beam like a stream of lava. Ganicus launched his sun beam and, when both powers collided, they caused a blinding light stronger than the sun. Keeping his eyes squeezed shut, he pressed more energy into his attack. He thought that the Golden Sun was infinite power but the Crimson Cosmo Jewel's maju was so immeasurable he could not compare it to anything of Odealeous. He was pushing against a force so great, it felt as if the moon was falling on him. It was so vast that the Golden Sun struggled to fight against it.. My sun beam is not working, he thought. I can’t lose here. No, I refuse to lose.
He felt his chest plate fracturing as well as his pauldrons and vambraces. Spikes on his armor resembling sun rays, broke off the edges. The energy was too immense, too inhuman to endure. A power not of this world. Is this what the power of a god feels like? Can I really survive? He began to doubt himself. At that point he was sure that he would not win. Spirit of the Golden Sun, if you can hear me I have a request for you. I know that I won't be able to win. I was too prideful. Once I am gone I want you to help Auron. He is a great man. Son of Akielas. Serve him well until the Specters are defeated, then return to my father. This is my last request but, for now, give me one last burst of energy. I will not be taken down so easily. I want Ember to remember me and how hard she tried, even with the Crimson Cosmo Jewel...I guess...this is goodbye. He felt a sudden thrust in his chest as his maju rose. He felt the spirit of the Golden Sun touching him. He looked over his shoulder and saw a human figure painted in gold. He smiled at the spirit then returned his attention to Ember.
Ganicus's eyes now glowed white, radiating energy. He pressed more maju into his sun beam and managed to push Ember back.
"Although I possess the crimson jewel, you are still able to hinder me," Ember said passionately as she enjoyed clashing blasts with Ganicus. "I admire your courage but I must destroy all who stand in the way of my plans."
Ember combined the crimson and emerald jewels. The compound created a yellow beam fivefold bigger than the prince's sun beam. Ember's blast struck him and the Golden Sun armor shattered into dust. The incredible energy eradicated his body, blasting the flesh from his bones. As he vanished from existence his final thoughts were, I thank my new friends for the adventure. I thank my father for all his love. I thank Majithus for giving me such a great life in Odealeous. My soul lives on.
Auron
He could not believe his eyes. He had never seen such incredible powers colliding. It was like watching beings from another world cast unspeakable spells never before seen by human eyes. This is not human, Auron thought. They are like gods, one fighting for good and the other fighting to conquer the world. He watched as Ember's beam annihilated Ganicus from existence. His maju quickly disappeared as well as the Golden Sun. Ember's blast engulfed him, eradicating every physical wisp of the boy. Ember had combined the power of two cosmo jewels. The crimson jewel of the Amaranth tribe and the emerald jewel.
Auron had read the dragon bible in his visits to Ironside, the great metropolis. It spoke of battles between entities from Necrovania and from the realm of light. He read about how great powers crashed and massive energy spheres would grow in the sky and illuminate the land. He read chapters about Prodigus Kollos fighting against beings able to use twilight magic. He had stumbled upon scrolls that spoke of enchanted armors that gave warriors incredible powers. Auron never took what he read seriously but rather as historical literature and fairy tales written centuries or millennia ago. Seeing Ganicus and Ember fight with such god-like power had erased all his skepticism. He was now a believer. Something switched in his mind and raised his awareness. A realization of what he had been truly ignoring. He was afraid of such power. He was ignorant of such power. He had been denying its existence even five years ago when Ember fooled him into taking the Crimson Cosmo Jewel from his own tribe. Auron never truly believed in the dragon gods until now, after seeing Ember use a piece of the power of the gods.
After Ganicus was utterly gone from existence, his Golden Sun remained. It was shining in the air while it floated towards Auron. He grasped the medallion; it was the size of his hand. He stared at it and felt someone calling him. It was a feeling similar to when he received a signal through his teleport crystal. He felt the vast maju of the Golden Sun and the spirit that resided within it. "Ganicus," he whispered. "You are giving this to me."
"How sweet, the Golden Sun has chosen you as its new master," Ember said mockingly. "Last I remember, you were weak against fire. What makes you think that you can use it?"
Auron stared at Ember and clutched the medallion, feeling its spikes pinching his skin. Garuda flapped its wings and shrieked. It lowered its head and began to float backwards. Auron knew that it was afraid. He did not remember his Eedahlan being so afraid of an enemy, but he understood why. Ember was no ordinary opponent.
Atop his Eedahlan he stood in the saddle and stared at his nemesis. He pointed his fist at Ember as he held the medallion. The wind lashed at his body but he stood firmly on the back of Garuda. The sun blazed and forced tears out of his eyes. Auron had never felt so afraid but he mustered all the courage he had within to look Ember in the face, knowing well that he might die.
"Ember! You will pay for what you have done!" Auron yelled. "I will..."
"You will what!" Ember interrupted. Her cloak covered her body as its ends ruffled in the wind. She chuckled and raised the crimson jewel aloft. "You will do what, Auron? You are a hypocrite. When you were a mercenary you killed for gold with your band throughout Burnahdujf. You dare judge me now because I kill to bring about a new world, a better world. What makes you think that you are any better than I am when you have a history of killing your own kind for your own selfish reasons? Think about what you have done before you judge me and the other Specters."
There was silence and only the whistling wind was heard. Auron frowned and stared down at the ivory city of the desert. Everything that Ember said was right. Auron was no different as a sinner. But I won't give up, he thought. "You are just trying to put me in self doubt, Ember. I won't allow you to rid the world of magic. I have paid for my sins as well as Akielas. I have spilled the blood of others for my own selfish reasons. I won't argue with that. However, I will do the world a favor and, even if it costs me my life, I have one more sin to commit and that is to eliminate you from existence just like you did to Ganicus. I will bear this final sin and Odealeous shall be free. If not me then Akielas, and if not Akielas then more will rise to cease your malicious plans."
Ember only laughed at Auron. He knew that he could not win, but that awful laugh of hers... it angered him.
"There is really no po
int in explaining to a hypocrite like you," Ember replied. "You were raised by Akielas after all. The man who gave up on the goal that I now intend to reach. It does not matter. None of this will matter once my new world is created." Ember waved the crimson jewel in a mocking manner. "Take a good look at it Auron. Gaze in wonder at the Crimson Cosmo Jewel because I am going to use it to wipe out all magic users. I will let you live, for now. There will be other opportunities to destroy you. Farewell."
"Wait!" Auron shouted. "One last question."
"You dare make requests," Ember remarked.
"Tell me, how did you awaken the power of the Emerald Cosmo Jewel?" Auron asked. "I have only heard Willow speak of it. I know that you must have taken it from somewhere in her forest."
"Believe it or not I used Willow's soul to awaken the jewel," Ember answered, followed by a fiendish laugh. "Her pure soul was more than enough to trigger its power. That sweet little virgin from the forest. I pulled out her soul and trapped it inside the emerald jewel. It won't be long before her body becomes nothing but dust. Tell Eckxio that I send him my love." And with those last words, Ember tossed her cloak over herself, black smoke billowed and she disappeared.
Auron remained on the back of his Eedahlan, speechless. Not only had Ember killed his ally...no...his friend, but she had shamed him as well. It does make me wonder. Is what Ember doing so wrong? He dropped into his saddle and grabbed his head, wishing he could slam it against something. What am I thinking? I can't believe those thoughts went through my mind. I am rationalizing Ember's plans. By the dragon gods I am going mad.
Finally he burst into tears. Garuda shrieked feeling its master's sorrow. The avian began to descend to Oba Oasis. "Ganicus, I will not let your death be in vain. I will avenge you." Auron was more afraid of how the boy's father would react. King Oba Mahamuth, the king of Zolan, lost his heir to the throne. "Ganicus, you fought with courage. I will carry on and finish our mission."
Spirit of Mages (Rift of Chaos Book 2) Page 2
