by Andrew Rowe
Keras blurred again, reappearing next to the wall. The aura around his hand flickered brighter.
The wall collapsed into a dozen perfectly-symmetrical pieces.
Derek had electricity dancing along his fingers when he appeared amidst the rubble. He punched Keras in the face with an electrically-charged fist.
Keras recoiled from the blow, but it didn’t slow him much. He raised his own hand, but Derek moved quicker this time, shoving both hands toward Keras’ chest. A blinding column of lightning sent Keras staggering back — and flowed continuously into him without abating.
Keras’ aura brightened, shining silver.
Then a section of lightning was just gone. It was just like what had happened with the stone — as soon as the lightning was getting within range of a spherical aura around Keras, it simply vanished into nothingness.
The floor beneath Keras disintegrated at the same time, and he dropped down an inch before his aura normalized.
Derek pressed the attack, but the moment to recover was all Keras needed. He raised a hand of his own, palm-outward, and shoved it into the oncoming lightning. The voltaic stream split apart, jutting out to Keras’ sides without touching him.
He waved his hand upward and a crescent blade of energy shot through the lightning stream toward Derek, cleaving through the electrical column with ease.
Derek side-stepped the cutting wave, but that forced him to abandon the lightning attack. Keras vanished, reappearing next to Derek and sweeping his hand downward in a cutting motion.
I saw Derek’s Emerald aura tear as Keras’ hand passed through it.
Keras fingers passed within inches of Derek’s neck.
A bloody line appeared on Derek’s skin in the hand’s wake.
I felt a surge of panic, standing up out of instinct, but when Derek raised his own hand and wiped the blood away it was clearly nothing more than a scratch.
That wasn’t because of Derek’s aura protecting him, though, or his own reaction. That perfect of a cut, leaving nothing but a reminder — that was deliberate. It was masterful.
Derek knew it, too. Many fighters would have responded with anger or fear, but Derek’s grin only widened.
That was a far more dangerous response.
“That’s...” Derek looked at the thin layer of blood on his hand. “You’re not even an attuned at all, are you?”
Keras took a step back and cracked his neck. “You’re not wrong.”
The rest of us were dead silent as we watched, still transfixed with the exchange.
Derek’s eyes brightened as he stepped back and assumed a defensive stance. “What are you, truly, then?”
Keras put his hands together and cracked his knuckles. “Wouldn’t it be more interesting if you figured it out on your own?”
Yes, but I’d really rather you tell us anyway, I mused.
Derek disagreed, apparently. “Oh, I’ve got some ideas. Both about what you are — and about your weaknesses.”
Keras put his hands behind his head, stretching again. “That’d be interesting. I wasn’t aware I had weaknesses.”
“Weaknesses are relative. And relative to me, everyone has weaknesses.” Derek snapped his fingers. “Tavare, awaken.”
I saw Derek’s true weapons lying against a nearby wall. A column of golden light enveloped one of the weapons as it began to float of its own accord.
With the sound of a chime, Tavare appeared. They were a perfectly-sculpted golden figure, human save for the metallic scales that covered every inch of exposed skin aside from their face. Even their face was metallic in color, but the scales reflected with greater luster.
Tavare rushed forward, a luminous blur, and took a defensive position in front of their master.
Something was amiss, however.
Tavare was trembling.
“Master, you must withdraw. Radiance will engage this foe while you escape.” The golden scales flashed brighter, as if with determination.
Derek blinked. “That won’t be necessary, Tavare. We’ll fight him together.”
Tavare’s eyes narrowed skeptically, but remained focused on Keras. “You must not fight this creature, Master. You must defend the others who are weaker than you. Radiance will defend for as long as it can. It has been an honor to serve you.”
Keras tilted his head to the side, looking intrigued. He raised a hand and a blade-like distortion appeared around it.
Tavare tensed as the weapon appeared, taking a step forward. “Go.”
Derek put a hand on Tavare’s shoulder. “That was a...humbling speech you gave, Tavare, but this is just a sparring match. There’s no need to be concerned.”
Tavare shuddered again. “You do not understand what you face, Master.” The golden-skinned creature stepped forward, raising their blade toward Keras. “Radiance will not allow you to harm these mortals, monster.”
Keras sighed. “Your master speaks truly, cousin. I do not mean these people harm.”
Tavare continued to advance on Keras, blade outstretched, until their golden blade was pressed directly up against his chest. “Then withdraw. Radiance will not—”
Tavare’s blade was no longer in their hand. It embedded itself into the stone nearby.
Derek surged forward, but he wasn’t fast enough.
Keras’ hand was at the elemental’s neck, the blade-like aura still glimmering in place.
Tavare fell to their knees. “Radiance begs forgiveness for daring to raise a blade against you, Great One. They offer their life for the offense, but implores you to spare these humans. The humans are young and have great potential.”
Keras shook his head sadly, lowering his blade-hand and putting his other hand on the top of Tavare’s head.
A red-bladed sword appeared in Derek’s hand. “If you mean to hurt Tavere, I will stop you.”
Keras sighed and rustled Tavare’s short metallic hair. “You’re a loyal one. I meant it when I said I don’t mean these people any harm. You have nothing to fear from me.”
Tavare raised their head just an inch. “Truly?”
The blade-like aura around Keras’ right hand faded. “I have no interest in harming anyone if I can avoid it.”
Tavare’s expression twisted into a frown. “But such is your essence, Great One. How can you...not harm?”
Keras pulled his other hand away, then knelt down and looked straight into Tavare’s eyes.
For a moment, even at a distance, I could see silver in his gaze.
“With great effort,” he said. “And a considerable degree of outside help.”
Tavare turned their head to the side, looking perplexed. “Radiance does not understand. But... Radiance is grateful.”
Keras offered a soft smile. “Maybe you will someday.”
Tavare lowered their head again. “Will you teach me, Great One?”
Keras offered Tavare a hand. “I can try.”
“Try.” Tavere nodded. “Yes. Radiance will also try.” The golden creature accepted Keras’ offered hand, and Keras pulled Tavare back to its feet.
Keras turned toward Derek. “I think we’re done for today.”
Derek lowered his sword. “Agreed. Thank you for the match.” He bowed formally at the waist. “Can I trust you will not harm my friend with whatever ‘lessons’ you have planned?”
Keras returned the bow and then raised both hands in a defensive gesture. “We’re just going to talk.”
Derek leaned his sword against his shoulder. “I’d be very interested in hearing about what you discuss.”
Keras shook his head. “I’m afraid any conversation that I’m having with Tavare is going to need to be private, at least for now. It will be simpler that way. I’m sure you understand.”
“Well, that can wait until I’ve had more time to think about all this, then. Tavere, return.”
The golden-skinned figure lowered their head. “Radiance obeys.” Tavere shifted into mist, the golden sword clattering to the ground.
> Keras folded his arms. “That wasn’t necessary.”
“I think it was. You’ve given me a great deal to think about today, and I appreciate it. But until I understand more about what you are, I’d rather avoid taking more risks.”
Keras raised a hand, and his own true weapon — a greatsword in a white scabbard with a spherical metal pommel — flew to it. “Fine. But you’re putting your suspicions over the potential for your friend to learn and grow.”
Derek shrugged. “I’m certain we can make some sort of arrangement eventually.”
Keras reattached his scabbard to his belt, which looked rather awkward, since the weapon was so large that it nearly dragged against the ground. Then he turned to walk toward the hatch to exit the roof. “Your friend can make their own choices.”
Derek let Keras leave without saying another word, then wiped his forehead with his free hand. “So...who wants to help me fix the roof?”
***
“That was so amazing.” Patrick was so excited that he was practically vibrating. “I’ve never seen a fight like that before!”
I was less interested in how impressive the fight was and more curious about what Tavare had been talking about.
It had called Keras “Great One”. What did that mean?
Derek had assessed that Keras wasn’t an attuned at all, and when I’d seen Keras fight my mother, she’d made a remark about his shroud not working properly.
What was he?
He could fight against a visage, at least for the short period of time I’d seen him dueling with Katashi. If he was a visage himself, that would explain how broad and unusual his abilities were.
He claimed to be from a faraway land, but was that a ruse? Or were the visages themselves foreigners, perhaps?
If he wasn’t a visage, a child of the Tyrant in Gold was another strong possibility. If Tavare had some way of sensing that, it certainly would have explained why it had been so fearful. Would it call a demigod like that “Great One”, though? That sounded like a title of respect.
What would a summoned monster respect? A visage?
A god beast, perhaps?
That was a worrying notion. Perhaps even more than the idea of a child of the Tyrant in Gold, a humanoid god beast...
That was similar to what Echion was being pushed toward, too, wasn’t it? Could Keras have been an earlier experiment, or something similar?
I had too many questions.
I felt some sympathy for Derek. I was pretty sure he was trying to find out the same things, and using that sparring session to draw out details.
I didn’t respond to Patrick in a timely fashion, I was too lost in thought. Fortunately, I didn’t need to. Someone else shared his enthusiasm.
“I couldn’t believe it! Remember when Keras was like...” Marissa made a swipe at the air with an open palm.
“And then Derek was like...” Patrick brought his own hand toward Marissa’s, catching it.
I smiled at the reenactment, but I had other things on my mind.
Like food, for example. I’d eaten the couple things they’d handed me on the rooftop, but I was still starving.
I made my way down the stairs to the kitchen, barely aware of the conversation happening around me.
Eventually, Patrick wandered off to go play a game of Valor with Sera. Marissa stayed to get herself more food, but she picked a spot at the other side of the table rather than sitting next to me. She looked introspective, so I didn’t bother her.
I made it into the middle of breakfast before Derek arrived downstairs and sat down at the table across from me. “How’s your recovery coming along?
I’d barely been thinking about that. I still had a throbbing pain in my back from where I’d nearly been crushed by a giant spider, but the ring of regeneration was working to repair that damage. Most of my other injuries had healed.
I still had some half-healed cuts on my hand from when I’d detonated Jin’s phoenix sigil, nearly killing him. I tried not to think too much about that.
My worst symptoms were a killer headache and a perpetual burning sensation in the new attunement on my right hand. I still hadn’t figured out what it was. “I’m intact. Better than I could be, considering what we just went through.”
Derek nodded in understanding. “I should mention that I appreciate your help in freeing me from that ring.” He shuddered. “I don’t like to think about what I’d be doing if you hadn’t.”
“You’re welcome. I know it wasn’t you that was attacking us back there. And thanks for letting us stay at your house.”
He waved a hand dismissively. “It’s just practical at this point. I usually house my climber team here before and after we head into the tower. Since we just went in the tower together, I consider you a part of my team.”
I took the compliment for what it was and smiled. “Appreciated. Hope we won’t have to go back in there any time soon, though.”
He shifted to a more serious expression. “Agreed. You should sit this out for a while, at least until you recover. I can take care of things from here.”
I set my food down. “That’s not quite what I meant. If you’re going back in there, I should be going with you. I’m too deep in this to back out now.”
“The only reason I agreed to bring a Quartz into the tower in the first place was because Katashi had specifically marked you, Corin. Even then, it was a terrible idea, and I shouldn’t have let Orden convince me. I know you still want to help, but you can do that without putting yourself in more danger.”
“I think we just established that you would still be under Orden’s control if not for my help.”
Derek sighed. “With the way things happened in there, yeah. But if I’d had my way, I would have brought a team of Citrines and Emeralds to escort Vera. Orden wouldn’t have been able to seize control of all of us at once, and some of them might have even been able to break me out faster if I’d been wearing the ring.”
He paused, putting his palm to his forehead. “I don’t like to admit this, but Orden played all of us. That group was composed of people that Orden thought she could handle. She obviously underestimated you and Sera. I don’t think anyone could have predicted Sera would demonstrate that kind of power as a first-year student. But Sera isn’t in fighting shape now and you’re still a Quartz.”
I raised my right hand, then flicked on my attunement for just an instant to confirm a suspicion. “Actually, I’m not.”
Derek blinked. He obviously couldn’t see the crimson aura that I’d just seen around my own body for the first time, but he put the implication together. “Your new attunement is stronger, I take it?”
“Carnelian. I still don’t know exactly what it does, but I’ve used my right hand for dueling so much that I must have already had enough mana for my second attunement to be Carnelian as soon as I got it.”
He folded his hands back together, giving me a thoughtful look. “That’s unusual. Your right hand was stronger than your actual attuned location? I’m not sure I’ve seen that before.”
He shook his head, as if to dismiss that line of thought. “Anyway, congratulations. It’s a significant milestone to reach Carnelian, especially as a first-year student. And having two attunements is admittedly useful. But you still shouldn’t be coming with me into the tower until you’re vastly stronger.”
I shrugged at that. From a logical standpoint, I didn’t really disagree with him. Even if I’d managed to help in the tower before, that didn’t mean he could rely on me to be similarly useful in the future, and he was right that a Citrine or Emerald ally would probably contribute more to his success in a climb.
Presuming there were a sufficient number of people he could trust, that is.
I changed the subject just a bit. “I’m not sure the next thing we need to look into is even in the tower. Assuming you’re still trying to track down Orden’s operation, our best lead is Elora Theas.”
Derek winced when I said the name. Derek and E
lora had been romantically involved, and they’d had a falling out after he discovered what she was up to.
So, I wasn’t surprised that Derek looked decidedly unhappy when he replied. “You’re not wrong. There were other members of the group that went with her and Vera, but I believe they’re either still in the tower or in hiding elsewhere. Perhaps working on the artificial attunements that Orden described.”
“Do you know why Elora isn’t with them?”
He glanced away from me. “Yeah. She came to me for help. She knew they’d gotten into danger after they kidnapped Tenjin and they needed more allies. She... expected me to agree to help her. I threw her out of my house.”
Awkward.
I’d done worse to Jin in a similar situation, though, so I could sympathize. “You did the right thing. Do you think she’s still trying to gather more support?”
Derek nodded. “Definitely. She’s charismatic, and House Theas has powerful friends everywhere — even outside of this continent, if rumors are to be believed. I suspect she’s been gathering people and sending them to wherever Orden had been holding the kidnapped visage.”
“And you don’t have any idea where that place is?”
He shook his head. “I’ve tried following her directly, but I don’t think she’s actually been going to that location. I think she’s just giving information to people, then they’re probably meeting with other intermediaries to learn the rendezvous point. In truth, you were one of the people I was watching. I suspected that even if you weren’t directly involved, you might know something.”
I sighed, taking a drink of water before replying. “You might have been close to the mark, in truth.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Are you saying you were involved?”
I shook my head. “Not directly or intentionally. But,” I tensed, then steeled myself to continue, “Katashi mentioned that my brother was involved.”
Derek didn’t look even slightly surprised. “Right. That’s why I was investigating you.”
I blinked. “You knew?”
Derek shrugged. “Sure. When Elora first tried to get me involved, she told me that Tristan was one of the people leading the operation. Tristan, Elora, and I were friends in school, before we’d earned our attunements. She thought that telling me he was involved would help convince me.”
