Two years ago when he walked through the factory it was filled with people and all the hayunsuhs, trains, wooden toys and all other innovations were organized in lines and rows. Today he saw it in ruins. The train was marked with scratches from claws. The hayunsuhs were dented and wooden toys were smashed and burnt. Some workers lay dead with pools of blood on the floor. Some bodies had large gashes from fiends. He had to jump over smithing tools, ores and other debris. Rey Ling's men were carrying the dead covered in cognac sheets. It was a depressing sight, especially for Rey Ling. I know Rey must be angry, Akielas thought. Working so hard on something just to watch someone else stomp on it. I will make it up to him somehow.
As Auron walked around the factory he lifted tools for smithing and bending metal. He loved physical labor like blacksmithing. Akielas knew that Auron would love the factory. He looked at the Amaranth and saw how he examined the tools. Tongs for lifting hot metal, hammers to give shape to hot steel and knives in different shapes and sizes to carve wood. He gazed at the spinning wheels that moved items on tables and did some of the work that would take hours to do. There was some automation in the factory. Akielas could see that Rey Ling had taken some ideas from Ironside. He saw Auron examining a drill maneuvered by a spinning wheel that made holes in steel boards.
"Want to try it?" Akielas asked.
"I would love to," Auron answered. "If I knew how to use it."
"Never work in Golden Gear without gloves," Rey Ling advised, approaching from Akielas's left.
Rey walked over the debris. Nails and piles of wood and steel were scattered all over the floor. Akielas noticed that he had equipped himself with weaponry. A bulky sword was slung on his back, two guns sheathed on his waist, a black boomerang in his thigh pocket, and bigger goggles around his neck.
"You look more than prepared," Akielas commented.
"I won't be without a weapon next time those masked fiends attack," Rey replied, smirked and shook his vest.
"So what was the word you use for the magic of the machines?" Akielas asked.
"Science," Rey answered and crossed his arms. "Is there no such thing as science in other countries?"
"The rest of the world is still developing," Akielas said. "Don't get cocky."
"What does this thing do?" Auron asked from afar, pointing at a huge block of steel half his size.
"That is used to pound blocks of steel into shape," Rey explained. "Don't put your hand in the middle unless you want it to become part of the train."
Auron grimaced and slowly stepped away from the machine. "Dangerous, yet I am tempted," the Amaranth said.
Akielas gazed at the other side of the factory and saw Caim walking among the debris and dented hayunsuhs. He had noticed how the demigod changed his hair from white to black and his lavender eyes to brown. Caim did not want to disturb any of the workers and Akielas agreed that the demigod looked more human. When the workers weren't looking Caim would use his cosmo magic to lift heavy objects and it comically brought a smile to Akielas's face.
"Looking for anything in particular?" Akeilas shouted from across the factory.
"Just analyzing the damage that those fiends caused," Caim answered. "I wonder how the Specters managed to be in control of fiends from Necrovania. That is unheard of."
"I am not sure," Akielas said as he walked towards the demigod, kicking children's hayunsuh aside. "Some kind of contract with the dragon god of Necrovania, I think, and yet they say that they will save the world."
"By ridding the world of magic," Caim added. His face was still mirthless despite the fact that he looked more human. "I don't think that is going to happen."
Akielas placed one foot on a set of stairs that was next to an unfinished train. "What makes you say that?"
"Magic belongs to all living things," Caim replied, "not to one ruler or deity. To rid the world of magic is to make an attempt at destroying the world. The Specters are not aware of this but that is what they are trying to do. I don't believe that they are alone. Someone must be assisting them. Someone who is not human."
"A demigod like you perhaps," Akielas said while gazing at the train.
"Perhaps," Caim whispered. "We shall see."
Akielas inhaled trying to release stress, taking in the smell of raw steel, leather, hot oil, ashes and oak wood. He looked back at the entrance of the factory and saw Auron and Rey Ling chatting. Akielas thought of what to do next as he stared at the train. Rey Ling had joined him after they fought the queen. Eckxio was with the Effeelions at the moment so he did not have to worry about the Elf. I have to find out how the Specters are going to use the cosmo jewels, he pondered. We must stop their plans before it becomes a reality. Once they gather the four cosmo jewels they are going to use them on the day of the tri-eclipse. If I can find out the day of the eclipse then perhaps we can do something about their plans. But who would know? He looked at Caim and the demigod stared back at him. Who else would know more about cosmo than a demigod?
"Caim, do you know the day of the tri-eclipse?" Akielas asked.
Caim paused and pondered for a moment. He crossed his arms and gazed up with eyes closed as if the answer was so far even he could not reach it. "I don't know," he whispered.
"What!" Akielas snarled and sprinted over to the demigod. "By the gods, I thought you and the Effeelions knew of the day of the tri-eclipse but I didn't bother to ask till now."
"I know and strangely enough it just occurred to me that even the Effeelions don't know," Caim admitted. "The problem is that in Kazenolumos we don't think about time so much, almost as if it doesn't exist. I had asked Lord Nehushine when the eclipse would happen and he did not know of a specific day. He only knew that it would happen this year. However, if the Specters are in such a hurry to find the jewels then that means the day is not so far away. Even as a demigod I could not tell you when the eclipse would happen. My powers are limited you know. I am not a prophet."
"So when it comes to the stars, the moon and the sun, what can you predict?" Akielas asked, believing that Caim did know something.
"I know much about the zodiac but I cannot predict anything," Caim replied with a grimace. "I just said my powers are limited."
"Well then...how about...?"
"No more questions about my powers," Caim demanded.
"Fine then." Akielas gave up on the demigod. "But at least I know where to go next."
"And where might that be?" Rey Ling asked, startling Akielas.
Akielas spun around and placed both hands on Rey's shoulders. "We are going back to Ironside," he said.
"Are you serious?" Rey was surprised and became excited.
"I am going to browse the libraries of Ironside and finally find out the day of the tri-eclipse," Akielas swore.
"It's been two years since we last visited the great metropolis," Rey recalled. "Once again I get to see the city. This time I will be able to open a portal to the city whenever I need to visit."
"So are we going to stay here around this mess and chat or have you figured out our next move," Auron said as he paced towards them, pushing debris aside.
"Don't call my factory a mess," Rey Ling defended.
Auron shrugged and crossed his arms.
"To Ironside," Akielas said. "I believe that we will find an answer in the libraries of Ironside."
"We should have done that the day after Ember told us of their twisted plot," Auron grumbled.
"Let's return to Kazenolumos," Caim suggested. "I want us to be better prepared when the Specters strike again. Rey Ling, come with us to my city in the sky."
"City in the sky?" Rey Ling raised an eyebrow in confusion. "I thought it was just a myth."
"You believe in demigods now, so why not floating cities," Auron said. "You will benefit much from this as an inventor."
"But first, kindly ask your workers to leave," Caim requested.
Rey scanned the factory and realized that some of his workers were still wandering around. They were hauling piles of m
etal and collecting tools. Some of them were spilling boiling water on the shells of hayunsuhs to remove dents and fix other damages.
""Listen up everyone!" Rey Ling shouted in Xaianese. "You are all dismissed. There will be no work until further notice. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to this company." All the workers dropped what they were doing and, without hesitation, they took their belongings and walked out of the factory. "And do not worry about the ones we lost. My sister will speak to their families."
"Done?" Caim asked.
"Well then, oh great demigod, open your portal to this great city in the sky," Rey said sarcastically.
Caim only smiled back. He faced away from them and extended an arm with an open palm. His eyes glowed purple and his hair changed back to white as soon as he activated his powers. A round window began to expand in midair with a lavender outline. As the portal became wide enough for them to jump through, Akielas and his friends could see the first level of Kazenolumos. Wind came from the portal and billowed Akielas's cloak and hair. It was wind from above the clouds and Akielas smirked when he saw Rey's eyes widening in disbelief.
"Now you believe it," Auron said. He patted Rey on the back, ran and jumped into the portal.
"What in the world..." Rey said and gaped staring into the portal.
"I guess seeing is not believing," Caim remarked.
"Come on now, jump in or you will be left behind," Akielas encouraged the Xaianian. He saw that Rey was still hesitant and afraid. "Fine then, I will go first." Akielas jumped inside the portal and, without further thought, he found himself in the sky city.
Wind ruffled his cloak and the grey streaks in his hair whipped his face. Akielas stood outside of the first level of Kazenolumos, the largest section of the city. The Effeelions walked and flew within the inner city. Their homes were made of ivory stone, connected and overlapping like the stones of a pyramid. Wires ran from building to building which they used to deliver goods to their neighbors with hooked baskets. Their stone buildings were not very high, at only twenty to thirty feet in altitude. It was the same on the second level, but not the third which was occupied by the leaders. It was a city in the sky with fifty thousand Effeelions, with the females dominating the population. Protected by an enchanted bubble, the city was invisible to the eyes of anyone who looked from the outside. No one could see the city, not even its gold glinting from the sunlight, nor even its glossy walls made of zeustoss. Blessed were those who stepped on its tiled floors and the floating islands used for farming.
Akielas looked back at the portal and watched as Rey Ling fell through it, landing on his side. Rey stood up with weapons clattering, then scanned his surroundings in disbelief. Wind lashed at him and he staggered. He used his goggles to shield his eyes and commenced to walk to the edge.
"Careful now," Akielas warned.
Finally, Caim came through the portal and closed it behind him. Rey Ling crawled to the edge of the city and gazed below.
"Don't worry, he is a smart man, he will get used to it fast," Caim said.
"I trust him," Akielas agreed. "Rey Ling! Be careful. The wind can push you off the edge."
The Xaianian did not respond and continued to gaze below the clouds. Akielas joined him, standing by his side and gazing below. "Incredible, isn't it."
"Outstanding," Rey replied with his chin on the edge of the tiled floor. "Chozunzu nanmei."
"What does Chozunzu mean?" Akielas asked.
"It means world," Rey answered. "What a strange world this is. I need to travel outside of Tong Doran Cho more often."
"Oh, your eyes have seen nothing yet," Akielas exaggerated. "We will show you the city later. First, we will introduce you to the council of seven. Oh, and you have to meet our friend Eckxio, he is an Elf."
"Fantastic. All I have to do is use aeromancy to make sure I don't fall off," Rey joked and laughed.
"Are we done admiring the view?" Caim asked as he approached them.
"How does this place float in the sky?" Rey asked as he stood up and wiped his pants.
"You will learn soon enough," the demigod answered. "Let's go up to meet the council. Auron is already up there." Caim swirled his hand twice then snapped his fingers. In an instant, Akielas and Rey Ling were each inside a bubble and elevating off the ground.
"New trick I see," Akielas said.
"It's easier this way," Caim replied then ascended.
The two bubbles followed the demigod. "I seriously need to learn a flying spell," Akielas said. Last time he flew in Kazenolumos, he had to hold on to Caim. It was uncomfortable and awkward for him. The three men ascended to the third level where the council resided. As Akielas flew inside the bubble, Effeelions waved at him as they hovered using aeromancy. A school of children flew around him by the hundreds. While adult Effeelions were four feet tall, the children were two feet and the teenagers three feet tall. Although they were small, the Effeelions were high in spirit and were not easily pushed around. Their magic was great and, when united, they could summon tornadoes and wind as sharp as any fine blade. Even if the Specters do attack, Akielas thought, what chances do they have against the Effeelions?
They flew past the second level and up to the third level. Caim entered through the oculus and Akielas was surprised to see his bubble fit through as well. When Akielas and Rey entered the dome, Caim snapped his fingers and both bubbles vanished, setting them free. As soon as Rey Ling started eyeing the dome, Nehushine glided towards them, grimacing.
"Another?" Nehushine snarled.
"Yes, Lord Nehushine," Caim answered. "Allow me to introduce to you, Rey Ling, of the United Pathways." Caim gestured at Rey. "He is an inventor and has his own organization that create machines."
"Is that so," Nehushine said and his eyes widened blissfully. The old Effeelion approached Rey Ling, hovering one foot over the marble tiled floor. "Apologies for my reaction. Caim had not informed me that such an important individual was to visit us."
Nehushine and Rey Ling started chatting about machines, inventions and the Omungi Gallou, which was a religious belief in the United Pathways. Akielas had never seen Nehushine interested in anything. Looks like knowledge is what sparks their interest, he thought.
"I have never seen Nehushine so amused," Akielas whispered by Caim's side. "I was not surprised when I brought Eckxio here, but I didn't think they would be so excited about Rey Ling."
"The Effeelions know an intelligent person when they see one," Caim said. "And it just so happens that Nehushine has taken a recent interest in learning more about machinery. Trust me, he feels as though you brought him a gift."
"Well, that is good to hear," Akielas said and grinned. "You people of the sky aren't easy to please."
"Well, we do have high expectations you know," Caim remarked then stared at Akielas blankly.
"Is there something else you wanted to say?" Akielas asked uncomfortably.
"That was supposed to be a joke. Never mind." Caim walked away to the other council members by the bookshelves.
Akielas approached Nehushine and Rey Ling. Kazemee and Areira joined the discussion. They spoke of the Omungi Gallou and its mystical force. Rey told them about his factory and how the Specters had almost destroyed it. At some point in the conversation as Akielas listened, a memory tugged at his mind. When he looked at Rey Ling, he saw himself, and when he looked at the Effeelions he saw his four apprentices. His lips stretched into a smile and his eyes moistened. Those were the best years of his life, teaching his foster children the mystic arts. He missed the way they gathered around him. He missed the way they looked at him when he spoke. He missed the way they talked back to him, and most of all he missed squeezing all four of them with a hug. That is why it's difficult to end their lives, he thought. Akielas heard the word "Ironside" a few times as Rey and the council spoke, so he decided to chime into the conversation.
"What is this I hear about Ironside?" He asked coming in between them.
"Your friend here is edu
cating us about the machines in the United Pathways," Nehushine said.
"Akielas, thank you for bringing me here," Rey said and bowed. "My life would not be the same if you had not introduced me to Ironside and now this amazing race here in the sky."
"Please do not praise me," Akielas said. "It is my pleasure to bring the world together."
"Are we going to stay here for long?" Rey asked.
"Well, actually, I was going to ask Nehushine if we could stay the night then leave tomorrow," Akielas replied and turned to the old Effeelion.
"Well of course," Nehushine said gracefully. "I have many questions to ask. I hope Sir Rey Ling would tell us more. The Effeelions lack understanding about machinery and gadgets crafted by men. It would be a pleasure to keep you here a little longer.
"Then it is settled. We will stay here the night," Akielas confirmed.
"I will find Rey a nice warm bed," Areira said. The blonde Effeelion seemed to be very fond of Rey by the way she was looking at him and fluttering her eyelashes.
"I will stay in Caim's hut and meditate," Akielas concluded then looked at Rey. "Enjoy your stay here. Tomorrow we leave before noon."
****
No clouds covered the stars. The light of the two moons, white and blue, painted Kazenolumos. An ocean of stars glittered above. Here, above the clouds, there was not much to worry about, yet Akielas had trouble sleeping. He paced around Caim's island, stargazing. They would not allow him to sleep in peace. Memories of them forever haunted him. He could hear their young voices.
"Why don't the dragon gods live with the humans in Odealeous?" Young Ember would ask him. He could still see her pale face, those small narrow kitten eyes and her raven black hair. She was only sixteen when she asked that question.
Spirit of Mages (Rift of Chaos Book 2) Page 24
