The Dark Kingdom (Sage Trilogy, Book 2)

by St. Clair, Julius

  James growled and charged Dominic, tackling his midsection and slamming him into the waiting room exit, and out onto the tournament ring: A raised wooden ring with iron gates extending high into the sky. A crowd of Langoran spectators ceased their clapping and cheers once they saw the two Sages burst through. From their bleachers, spiraling all around the circular ring, they watched as the two Langoran fighters who were in the middle of their cage match, decide to leave altogether, giving the fans a new fight to watch.

  Dominic grunted as James stayed on top of him blocking his flailing hands.

  “This look familiar?” James shouted as he went for the head butt. Dominic narrowly dodged it and punched James in the cheek, sending him flying off to the side. James scrambled to his feet and brushed himself off. The crowd looked in on in wonder as Dominic stood up and put a fist to his shoulder.

  “No, but this will,” he said ominously as a voice came over the loudspeaker.

  “You two can’t be in the ring! It’s not your turn!”

  “Then send out all your fighters at once!” Dominic roared, catching even James by surprise. “This would have been the final round anyways! And let’s make it a little more exciting! We, two Sages, will combat one another until one loses, while fighting your entire lineup at the same time! How’s that for an event!”

  The crowd roared with approval as soon as the proposal stuck in their minds. It was too good to pass up, and nothing short of a riot would ensue if it was denied. James heard the announced chuckle to himself.

  “So be it! You heard him, warriors of Languor! It’s time to show those boys what you’re made of!”

  The waiting room doors exploded open and James clenched his fists as thirty Langoran warriors, of all shapes and sizes, crowded into the ring. Some climbed up on the iron enclosure, waiting for the right moment to strike. Others slinked into the background and waited with axes or swords. James smiled as he looked over at Dominic. Now this was a battle worthy of a Sage. If there was ever a time to prove his worth, it was now.

  “So how do we know when the fight’s started?” James called out. A Langoran rushed Dominic as he spoke but he refused to warn his rival. Dominic waited until the last second before he turned around in the blink of an eye and knocked out the Langoran with one well-placed punch to the face. Dominic turned around with blood on his knuckles. He held it up proudly.

  “Ding – Ding,” Dominic sneered.

  And then they released their eidolons.

  Chapter 7 – Unbecoming

  James barely got the full blade of his eidolon out when he had to swing behind him and take out a charging Langoran. With so many in the ring with them, his senses were about to explode. The sweat and body odor alone was making his mind foggy, and his brain was firing off orders in record speed, telling him who was about to attack and how, based on the change in the air or the creak of the ring beneath him. He heard the shuffling on the iron gate above him and felt his muscles tense whenever he heard a war cry, expecting one of the Langorans climbing atop had caught him by surprise. Thankfully, since both he and Dominic had each taken out a Langoran, they were being more cautious now, each taking a second to think.

  But as soon as the second was over, an unforeseen kick to his back sent him forward. Dominic screamed and swung his machete-like eidolon straight for James’ head who was able to duck and evade it, but not a shallow cut from a Langoran’s sword to his side. The cut was enough to make him lose his focus, and as a consequence, he took a kick to the face and a punch to the gut.

  Dominic swiftly killed two of his attackers and aimed for his stomach. James parried Dominic’s eidolon with his own and then immediately dropped it as it became as heavy as a boulder. James threw it down to the ring floor, creating an impressive imprint and then he stepped backward, punched a Langoran away and then rolled out the way of Dominic’s eidolon, only to be kicked in the face.

  This is ridiculous! James thought as he could already feel himself becoming short of breath. He rolled again out the way of Dominic’s blade as he met three other Langorans. As quick as he could, he dispatched them, blocking their blows with deadly precision, using the combat training Arimus had taught him instinctively. He managed to chop one in the neck with the side of his hand and he punched the other two in the throat as his Sage senses told him to duck, and very low.

  James fell on his belly to the ring floor as Dominic’s eidolon pierced through one of his assailants. Dominic ripped it out and through the other two as one of the cage climbers jumped onto Dominic’s back. The Sage grunted in frustration as he reached over, flipped the Langoran over his shoulder and then pinned him through the chest with his blade.

  James took this precious moment to gasp for air, but this breath was met with just another punch to the face and a butt on the back of his head by an axe. James fell down hard, right in front of his eidolon. And now sensing that the axe was coming blade side down toward his neck, he took the chance and grabbed his eidolon. Fortunately, it was now free of Dominic’s lock ability.

  He swung upwards with all his might, expanding his sword wide and completely obliterated his opponent, turning him into ashes. Three more came his way as his eidolon shrank back to normal. He could feel the weapon in his hand longing to do…something. But it could speak no words. It was just a feeling.

  Still, James came to a realization as he saw the three Langorans charge him in relative slow motion…

  He was thinking too much.

  A Sage, just didn’t think in a situation like this. A Sage moved, and nothing else. Sure, there were times to be tactical and devise strategy, but not now. There was just too much information to filter. And if he ever wanted the power to one day take on entire armies…he needed to trust his instincts. He needed to trust the eidolon in his hand. It was after all his soul, and therefore it could do more than he ever could. By letting it take the lead, by trusting the silent messages that flowed forth, perhaps…he could defeat his enemies.

  James let the three Langorans come, refusing to be on guard or even raise his sword. Until he received a message from the eidolon itself, he was going to let go. Either his eidolon would react for him, protecting them both, or they would both perish.

  He knew his soul wouldn’t like the idea of dying.

  As soon as the three Langorans’ swords were about to cut into his flesh, his eidolon told him to move his arm, and he did. The closest Langoran was cut down the middle and fell to the side as the other two backed up for a second. They looked at James as he stared down at his eidolon and nodded. It would take over from here on out.

  James cocked back his arm, and listened. The two Langorans charged, and James swung forward. Surprisingly, out of his eidolon came a wave of light, as white as his blade, spreading across the room like a ripple in a pond. Except this ripple was also encased in fire.

  The wave spread to the other side of the ring before it disintegrated against the iron gate, causing a crackling sound to come from the metal. Dominic had dodged the attack easily, but James didn’t mind. The wave had taken out not just the two Langorans pursuing him, but five others as well. Dominic smirked as he clutched his hilt tight.

  “Finally joining the fun?” he asked, but James wasn’t listening. He loosened his grip on the hilt and let his eidolon drop until he was clutching only the black rose keychain. Letting the eidolon hang down by his side, he began spinning it as fast as he could in a circle, walking forward with confidence.

  Dominic, unfazed, cracked his neck and then charged just as the other Langorans gained their resolve. James smiled, and then…moved.

  Both he and Dominic became a blur as their eidolons flashed around the ring, their swings more like strokes, their blades more like brushes, as they painted a light show for the audience that they would never forget. Still clutching the keychain only, James swung his eidolon around him like a nun chuck, taking down everything in his path with only one strike each. Dominic moved just as fast, slicing through each Langoran he came acr
oss like a lumberjack, leaving nothing in his path as they turned into dust upon each blow. The two swung their eidolons faster and faster, walking closer and closer to one another as each Langoran failed to overcome the power of a Sage, and as they came within each other’s space, they each gripped their hilts tightly and swung forward simultaneously, each going for the killing blow.

  Their eidolons clashed, and out exploded raw power, two waves of fire erupting from the center and engulfing them both. Neither Dominic not James refused to yield to the pain as they leaned forward, their blades scraping against one another, waves of fire busting from them faster and faster. The crowd exploded in applause despite their fallen warriors and watched, as the two Sages refused to give in to each other.

  James suddenly felt his sword get heavy and the eidolon slipped from his hand and onto the floor. Dominic swung down now that James was unarmed, but James didn’t miss a beat. Taking his hands, he slapped Dominic’s blade between the palms of his hands and twisted it to the side, causing him to lose balance and concentration. James dove down, picked up his eidolon and sliced upwards but Dominic spun around, dodging it easily. He swung his sword around him and then cut upwards, catching James’ hilt on the upswing and sending it skyward above his head.

  Dominic smirked and put his locking ability back upon it, sending James’ eidolon crashing down towards his head. But James activated his own support, and caused the blade to flatten and widen until it was level in width with the entire ring. The eidolon crashed down upon them both and then immediately went back to normal. With it being James’ eidolon, he felt no harm from it, but Dominic had taken the brunt. Grunting, he rubbed his shoulder as James readied his next attack. Though he could feel his lungs on fire, and his body aching for reprieve, he couldn’t rest. Not yet, for there was no denying it now. His senses were declaring it to him loud and clear.

  Dominic aimed to kill him…

  * * * * *

  “Do you know where you’re going?” Catherine asked as they continued walking down the shopping district. Already an hour had gone by, and Achan had made no move to purchase or barter for anything. Yet, he continued leading her forward.

  “I just want to see what’s at the end,” he said assuredly. “Then we’ll head back.”

  “You know we’re not Langorans. We sleep during the day. And as fun as this is, I’m getting pretty tired.”

  “We’ve got to be hitting the end. See how there’s not as many lights?”

  “The further we get away from the center, the more dangerous this walk becomes,” she said. “Let’s head back.”

  “Alright,” Achan sighed. “I guess I can check it out during the day.”

  “Are you looking for something in particular at the end. Something important?”

  “I just think that…” Achan’s voice trailed off as he stopped and pulled Catherine behind him.

  “What is it?” she asked. Achan scowled ahead.

  “I’m sensing danger,” he said casually.

  “What kind of danger?”

  “I’m not sure,” he said. “But I’ve been keeping my eidolon like this for a reason.”

  He showed her his left palm, with just the tip of his eidolon sticking out.

  “Clever,” she commented as she let go of his arm and put a hand to her standard sword. “My senses are dull right now. You’ll have to instruct me on what to do.”

  “Run back,” he said. “Quickly. Whatever it is has a murderous intent. Just go down a couple blocks so we’re not too separated. I’ll see what he wants.”

  “Okay, be safe,” she said as she ran back from where they came. Achan relaxed and waited for the man to approach. A Langoran, about seven feet tall. He wore a cloak similar to the ones Arimus had given the Sages, and one noticeable feature was the abundant amount of hair that covered his scalp. Achan shuddered as soon as he saw him come out of the shadows. He never got used to him.

  “Achan, you didn’t follow orders,” he said calmly, folding his hands together. His eyes were beady and never blinked.

  “I couldn’t go through with it.”

  “It was about to be over,” the man said. “If you had completed your mission, then you would be free. And then your mother would not be harmed.”

  “I don’t even know if she’s alive after all these years.”

  “Don’t be stupid. Of course she is.”

  “I need reassurance.”

  “No need. We’ve been following you since you’ve come to Languor. We’ve discovered something most unsettling…you’re in love with the target.”

  “I said that I was in love…but I didn’t mean it.”

  “You’re lying, Achan. I can always tell when you do…we heard your conversation at the café. It was all over your words.”

  “So what if I am? It doesn’t mean I won’t deliver.”

  “Your failure tonight was proof enough. Five more minutes. That’s all the further you had to go.”

  “So what happens now?”

  “Don’t worry. You still gave up many years of your life for our cause. We won’t punish you for this minor hiccup. After all, she is quite beautiful. It makes sense that you would fall for the target…but now, I’ll need the extractor to take over. He’ll come to snatch her when the time is right. All you have to do is not interfere. And as a bonus, we will free you and enable you to go back to your mother once the kidnapping is complete. That sounds fair.”

  “And what happens to me?” Achan said. “I’m a Sage now.”

  “We’ll figure out how to use your talents. Now, pretend to strike me with your eidolon. I will escape in the process.”

  Achan extended his eidolon far enough out of his palm to make it as long as his arm and then he swung at the man. The man sidestepped it quickly, turned, and then ran off into the shadows as Achan closed his eyes, sheathed his weapon and ran back to Catherine. She was waiting only a couple blocks down, watching the exchange curiously from a distance.

  “Catherine, are you okay?” Achan asked in worry as Catherine studied his face.

  “What happened?”

  “A Langoran smuggler. He wanted to offer me a hundred Langis for you. He didn’t know you were the Princess, but he noticed you were quite beautiful.”

  “Well, I hope you weren’t too tempted,” Catherine smirked as she grabbed his arm. “C’mon, let’s head back to the castle. Once daybreak hits, this place will become a ghost town.”

  “You’re not worried about the smuggler?”

  “When you’ve seen the Quietus rip your countryside apart, I hardly think one smuggler is cause for worry.”

  “If you say so, Princess,” Achan replied, keeping her close. He couldn’t give her up. Not after what he’s seen. And though his mother could still be in danger, he couldn’t deny that Allay felt a lot more like home than Languor ever did…

  The two of them kept each other close as they headed through the now familiar shopping district, watching as the night sky began to lose its darkness. The morning sun already casting hints of its imminent arrival. Achan remained deep in thought but Catherine was alert as ever, and when she heard a story being told on the side of the street, a crowd of about a hundred waiting in anticipation, she led him over, eager to hear what this Langoran storyteller had to say.

  “Princess, we have to go,” Achan said, coming out of his stupor but Catherine shushed him.

  “This is the story of Languor,” she whispered. “I’ve heard that they tell this story at the end of each night as a reminder to the people of their heritage.”

  “Fine, then we have to go,” he whispered back. The storyteller was sitting on a stool with one leg draped over the other. One half of her head was bald, the other showing off a lengthy train of fine, red hair. She was thin, but her neck was massive. No doubt she used her power to amplify her voice. The crowd waited anxiously, trembling and shivering, trying to maintain their own innate energy, but they kept quiet, and gave her the respect she deserved.

  “H
ello, listeners,” she said in a sweet voice, a voice that also echoed up and down the street for a mile. It wasn’t loud, but somehow her words rode the air.

  “Since there are only a couple short hours before the sun is well in the sky, I won’t leave you waiting any longer. Our story begins as it always does. The very beginning. We do not know the year or date, but we understand that approximately three hundred and twenty years ago, a cataclysmic event occurred, altering the world as it once was. Before the event, it was a world in which many had no powers, no abilities. Their weapons were fashioned by themselves and Kingdoms were practically non-existent. It was said that they could fly in great machines called planes and ride the oceans to other worlds called continents. Once the event happened, however, the world was forever changed. When the entire planet was connected through invisible wires and communication equipment, suddenly, everything went dark.”

  The crowd gasped as they thought of their precious lights going out at once.

  “With the population greatly reduced, the people scrambled and began the construction of the five Kingdoms we now know, though at the time it was simply walls of brick, mortar and stone. That was until the five stones were discovered…a boy found them actually. A boy not of any particular Kingdom. We like to think he was a Langoran, but no one knows for sure. Still, he and his lover at the time were searching for food in the woods, woods that had long taken over the ruined cities and ravaged countryside…”

  “…And what was funny was that the stones were just lying there in the grass, in a circle, as if waiting to be found. Five, ordinary looking stones, but glowing with an aura that scared the boy and his girlfriend. Still, hungry and tired, he saw no reason to deny curiosity. He reached over warily, and touched one. And upon his touch, all five activated at once, dousing him in the collective power of a world long gone, turning him into a god overnight…”