“Yes, it is.” Eckxio answered with pride. He thought of her as he walked through the forest. In fact, he thought of her all the time. Her hair was as yellow as a canary, like a newborn baby chick. Her eyes were a ring of ice. She was usually pale, but Eckxio also loved her tan. She was gorgeous when clad in green. A lovable woman with a slim figure. He also loved her wild side. When she fought with her sword, she was like a cheetah, and her magic was like none he had ever seen. He fantasized about her as he walked through Levita, and he could not wait to see her again. He had been away from her for seven days.
“The wedding is just three days away, I think,” he said. “It will take place in Mouah Cross, home of the Greamos. Don’t worry; you will get a chance to see it.”
“That is so beautiful. I can’t wait till I get married, someday,” Latwie fantasized. She then looked back at Nezz, and the boy was picking his nose and scratching himself between his legs.
“Lucky you, if you ever find a wife,” she said to the young Elf. “I think you were a monkey in your past life. Just look at you.”
“I don’t want to talk about this marriage stuff.” Nezz flicked a booger off his finger and ran up to Eckxio. “Sir Eckxio, tell me about your sword and shield. You never told us where you got it or why the steel is so white?
“The white steel from which my weapons are forged is call zeustoss.” Eckxio drew his sword. The white steel gleamed with the sunlight. It was a long sword, longer than an orthodox Elfin blade. Elves were not known for carrying heavy weapons. The usual Elfin sword would be one and a half feet long, while Eckxio’s sword was two feet in length. His sword was heavy, and he could swing it as if it were a dagger.
“This sword was forged by Dwarves in the northern country that we call Burnahdujf. My shield is made of the same steel. The Dwarves called it the Tharos sword and shield. It’s been more than a decade and my weapons have never failed me.”
“Zeustoss steel,” Nezz repeated. “I have never heard of such a thing. Elfin swords are made of titanium. Where in Odealeous could someone find this zeustoss steel?”
“Only the Dwarves that forged this sword know,” Eckxio answered, staring at the sword. He loved to look at the white blade. It was a masterpiece, and he carried it for so long, it was like a part of him.
“What about that disgusting gauntlet with the eye?” Nezz pointed at the gauntlet that Eckxio wore on his left hand.
“Oh this.” Eckxio brought it up to his chest. “I took the eye from a gorgon snake that I fought about a decade ago.” The eye twitched and stared at Eckxio. The gauntlet was made of leather and steel. The eye changed colors every time it blinked. “It gave me incredible powers, and with this gauntlet, I was able to learn extromancy.”
“I like it better when the eye is closed. That thing is so disturbing and creepy,” Nezz said and shuddered in his blue tunic. Then he looked at the carved Elfin codex on the shield. “Why does your shield say ‘faith?”
“So that I will never forget,” Eckxio answered.
“Forget what?” Latwie asked with a sudden interest. However, Eckxio didn’t answer. He never liked to talk about his past.
“Why don’t you answer me?” Latwie asked again, but her elder only responded with…
“It’s a long story. Maybe I will tell you another day. You young ones ask so many personal questions.”
“That is what you always say, but you never tell us,” Latwie complained.
Eckxio only smiled back and poked her head. She snapped her teeth as if to bite his finger then smiled back. Eckxio gazed at Latwie. Her blonde hair braided into loops and bangs cascading on her forehead. Her eyes were a hazel ring. Latwie had pale skin. She reminded Eckxio of Willow when she was younger. The day that he first met her, he fell in love. That was the beginning of the happiest days of his life.
“What’s wrong?” Latwie asked as she smiled.
“Nothing,” Eckxio said and brushed the thought away. He dry-coughed again, but this time, it was not as strong. After so many years, he learned how to manage his illness. However, if it continued, he could faint.
Eckxio felt his pet moving inside his armor. The little creature ran around his back and abdomen, tickling him. “Nana, what is the matter with you?” He asked his paploo fairy. Then, finally, the little creature flew out of his silver armor. It had four green leaf-like wings, small narrow eyes, and a cat like nose. It had no arms, only two feet that were hard to see over its chubby round body. The paploo fairy had four round belly buttons that lit up like fireflies. Eckxio poked one of its buttons, and it lit red. The paploo fairy was only three inches tall. It was a creature that Eckxio found here in Levita forest.
“It’s that annoying little fairy. I wonder what it wants,” Nezz said.
“I find it hilarious how Nana doesn’t like you.” Latwie giggled.
“I think there is something wrong,” Eckxio said, and the young Elves gave him all their attention.
“Nana, are you sensing something?” Eckxio asked his pet. The paploo fairy swirled around his face. It spoke with squeaky sounds and rapid movements like a bee. Its grey fur changed to black, and its leaf wings changed to bat wings. Eckxio knew it was not a good sign.
“Black…that can’t be good,” Nezz said with a shaky voice.
“I have never seen it change to that color. What does it mean, Sir Eckxio?” Latwie asked.
“It’s not good,” Eckxio murmured. He placed his left hand on the hilt of his sword. “Paploo fairies can absorb maju from their surroundings. They really have no limit as to what kind of maju their tiny bodies can absorb. Paploos can transform with the maju they absorb. I have seen Nana’s red, blue, white, and green transformations, but I have never seen her change to black. This means that someone or something nearby has dark maju. Everyone, weapons ready.”
Nezz nocked an arrow on his bow. Latwie pulled throwing knives from a small pack belted to her red leggings. Eckxio drew his Tharos sword and shield, white steel gleaming with sunlight. Nana swirled around them, releasing black powder from her body.
“I have never seen her do that,” Eckxio worried. Then they heard a growl, like that of a wolf, echoing in the forest. Nana hid inside Eckxio’s armor again. The three Elves assembled back to back. They surveyed the area but saw nothing of a threat; only a monstrous growl helped them foresee what was coming.
From between two blue trees, a black, canine beast pounced like a tiger to its prey. Nezz shrieked at the sight of the beast. Eckxio jumped in front of Nezz, and at the swing of his blade, a light flashed and slashed the beast with divine maju. Nezz and Latwie hopped out of the way, and the black creature landed dead on mossy ground. It turned to ashes and left soot behind.
Latwie grimaced and stared dumbfounded. Nezz trembled, clutching his bow. Eckxio scowled and jerked his head left and right, expecting more to appear.
“What in Odealeous was that thing?” Nezz asked with a high pitch voice.
“I don’t know, but Nana senses more of them approaching. Stay close to me, and we will face this together,” Eckxio said, and the three Elves gathered back to back. Suddenly, they heard steps. Someone was approaching from between the two blue trees. The three Elves clutched their weapons and waited for the threat to reveal, then finally, they saw who it was.
Between the two blue trees, a stranger clad in black, wearing a white mask with five horns rising on its crown, walked towards them. The masked person wore a cloak that dragged through the moss and tall grass. The mask had only one cracked opening for the left eye. Behind the stranger, five black creatures followed. Three canine beasts, their skin like ink and spikes on their backs like daggers. They had no eyes, only fangs, and they tore the ground with their sharp claws. The creatures were as tall as Nezz and Latwie. A larger terror trudged behind the masked stranger. Two trolls as black as night, wielding jagged clubs, stomped through the forest. The trolls were ten feet tall; they had no eyes, only a mouth full of sharp teeth and brawny bodies.
“Ah, so t
hat’s what it was. That is one beautiful sword you carry there,” the stranger complimented. The deep voice of a woman echoed in the mask of the stranger. She bowed and spread her cloak in salute.
“Thank you,” Eckxio replied, uncomfortably. His Tharos sword glowed, releasing divine maju. His sword could sense darkness when it was near. It’s been a long time since I have sensed someone with dark maju, Eckxio thought. These creatures…they are… fiends. Fiends from the underworld at her command. If the young ones fight, they won’t survive. I must make sure they run before these beasts attack.
“Who are you?” Eckxio asked, and the two young Elves hid behind him.
“Oh, I am just taking a walk around this lovely forest,” the stranger answered and chuckled. “My name is Ember, and my pets sensed something that contains a special kind of magic. I believe it is that lovely sword and shield you wield.”
Eckxio glanced at his sword then stared back at Ember. Her fiends can sense divine maju? He pondered.
“I am not giving away my sword if that is what you want,” Eckxio said. He refused to lower his guard.
“It is made out of zeustoss steel. Am I right?” Ember asked eagerly.
“That is correct,” Eckxio quickly replied. “If you don’t mean any harm, then my young Elves and I will keep moving.”
“Now, why would I harm anyone? We’ve only just met,” Ember said and chuckled vilely.
“My Tharos sword senses darkness in you,” Eckxio replied.
“You assume that, just because I am dark, I must be bad. Is that it?” Ember took a step forward and twigs cracked under her boot. “Is it my black garments? Oh, don’t worry. I am not that bad, once you get to know me.”
“In that case, it was nice meeting you.” Eckxio took slow steps away from the masked woman.
“Wait!” she snarled. “I am sorry, but I cannot let you walk away with that precious sword. You see, my pets have been sniffing it all around the forest, and they won’t leave until it’s theirs. They have been hunting for zeustoss and other rare minerals. If you don’t want to make them angry, then I suggest you surrender the sword.”
“Who do you think you are threatening an Elf? You better tame your fiends or see them die by my blade.” Eckxio stood in an open stance, sword in front and shield behind his right shoulder.
“Tame? My pets have a mind of their own,” Ember laughed.
“Nezz! Latwie! Run!” Eckxio yelled, and the two young Elves did as he commanded. He couldn’t allow anything to happen to the young ones. They were not trained for combat.
Eckxio saw a black canine beast running after the young ones. Eckxio’s sword glowed white; he swung it, released a line of white energy, and cleaved the beast’s body in two. Two more canines ran, and he thrust two beams of white energy and turned the fiends into ashes. His sword vanished anything unholy. It was divine magic. It was light and purity. He then spun and dashed towards Ember through plants that grew up to his knee.
Two trolls stomped in front to protect her. Eckxio stopped and hopped back. The trolls trudged towards him. They were ten feet tall terrors, with no eyes, only their sharp teeth intimidated and two twitching slits for nostrils. Leathery skin as black as night and rocks embedded throughout their arms and neck.
One troll swung its jagged club and Eckxio ran under it. He plunged his sword into the troll, and it fell to its knees. The Elf jumped, and with a spinning slash, he cleaved its head. He raced up the arm of the troll, onto its back, and jumped to the other troll as the monster raised its club to smash him. Eckxio swung his sword vertically, unleashing divine maju, and divided the troll’s body in two. He fell through the creature as its body turned to ashes. He landed on the balls of his feet, rolled over moss, and rose with an upper slash. Ember somersaulted backwards, dodging Eckxio’s sword, and as she landed on her feet, she pulled twin swords of black steel from within her cloak. As she spread her cloak, she revealed her curved body under her scaly black leather tights.
“This is going to be fun.” Ember laughed and collided her twin swords, making a metallic sound.
“Why do you want my sword?” Eckxio asked as they walked in a circle staring at each other.
“That is none of your business. I rather take it by force. It will be much more adventurous.” Ember lashed her twin swords. White steel collided against black steel. Both blades released their maju, sparks flew, and plants changed to a grey hue. They pulled away and glared at each other.
“So this is what happens when dark and divine maju collide. Interesting,” Ember said.
Eckxio had never seen such a thing. It happened in an instant. It was as if their battle affected the mood of the forest. Verdant plants and flowers changed to grey right before his eyes. He looked at his sword for a moment and back at Ember’s black swords.
“Those twin swords are made of kaminyte. How in the world did you come across such rare steel?” Eckxio asked.
“You Elves are very educated, but your knowledge won’t save you.” Ember swung her swords again.
Eckxio parried her blows and blocked with his shield. As they fought, moving around the forest, plants lost their hues. Every time their swords collided, more greens turned to grey, and even the blue trees had lost their hues. He was not sure why it was happening. It was like mixing black and white acrylics and stroking a brush over a canvas of a colorful painting. Finally, Eckxio managed to disarm one of her black swords, then bashed her head with the edge of his shield.
Ember staggered back but recovered her balance quickly. They stared each other once more. Eckxio could see that she was withstanding the pain in her head. Her mask had reduced the impact of his attack.
“Beautiful, isn’t it? When dark and divine magic collide, they blend and release twilight maju,” Ember said then laughed.
“Twilight…maju…what?” Eckxio was not sure if Ember was using the correct words. He thought he might have wacked her on the head so hard that she lost logic.
“You have never heard of twilight. I am not surprised, even with you Elves. It is a lost art, after all.” Ember hid her sword in her cloak. “Now you know why I want your sword. The fiends you destroyed had the ability to sense items with cosmo energy such as yours.”
“Cosmo?” The Elf became even more confused.
“Hmph…Why do I even bother? I am going to kill you, little Elf, and then take your sword and shield.”
“You can try!” Eckxio rasped then dashed.
Ember thrust a hand in Eckxio’s direction, and an unknown force pushed the Elf back and sent him flying. He crashed into a tree then fell, and indigo fruits showered him from above. Even the fruits had lost their color. It made no sense to Eckxio. He did not understand why he was still in color, while everything around him lost its hues. What magic is this? He asked the dragon gods.
Ember began to levitate off the ground. Eckxio gazed with awe. He had seen mages levitate using aeromancy, air magic. However, some unknown force was uplifting Ember.
“I don’t understand this. How can you levitate without using maju?” he asked the enigmatic woman. He could not feel her maju.
She did not answer.
“Pirara bombeig!” Ember yelled. A ball of fire swelled in her right hand. She threw it at Eckxio, and the Elf quickly sheathed his sword. The eye on his gauntlet turned red, and he extended his arm with an open palm. The fire ball touched his gauntlet. It exploded, and as its fire spread, Eckxio’s gauntlet absorbed the spell, and the explosion contracted. The eye caught on fire for having consumed too much maju. Eckxio thrust out all of Ember’s maju, releasing a blast of red energy. Ember tilted her body in the air, and the blast grazed her cloak, burning the ends.
“To Necros with your forest!” Ember bellowed. “Pirara azus!” She screamed another spell and shot blue flames from her hands. She burned the forest and all its beauty. Eckxio saw missiles of blue flames; he ducked and felt them flying over his head. The colorless tree behind him ignited. Blue flames on a colorless plant.
&
nbsp; Ember continued to shoot blue fire at him. His gauntlet absorbed some and threw them right back. She disappeared in the air with black smoke. Like spiders crawling on his back, he felt her presence behind him. He spun and saw a blast of blue flames coming towards him. He was able to block it with his shield, but the impact pushed him back. He rolled on the ground, stood up, and dashed. Ember thrust her arms as if to push him, and at that very moment, Eckxio felt a strange power. It was nothing like maju, nature’s energy that mages use to cast magic. As he felt that strange power, he rapidly took the opportunity to use it against Ember. He absorbed the energy with his gauntlet. It was not visible, like most spells, but he knew that the eye could consume it. The eye on his gauntlet turned purple. He had seen it turn red, green, blue, and white, but never purple.
“You absorbed my cosmo. But how?” Ember was surprised.
Eckxio used his ability, Extromancy, and reversed the energy against her with a thrust of his palm. Ember was pushed back. It was like being thrown from a catapult. She hit a tree with great impact, denting its bark. She fell on charred plants and would not get up.
Eckxio stared at the eye of his gauntlet. It was like nothing he had ever felt before.
“Cosmo?” he questioned. “I have never heard of it before.”
He wondered why the Elves never mentioned it. Although it was different, he was able to redirect the energy, like he did with maju. That is the ability of extromancy. To channel the energy of other people and objects at will and use it in any way. Many had told him that such magic is rare, but Eckxio argued that it was more of a skill long-learned than a spell. His gauntlet helped him absorb energy, and he manipulated it. Such ability had made him undefeated for many years, and it was also the very thing responsible for his illness.
“I will figure it out later. Now, I will get rid of this masked broad, but first, let’s see who is behind that mask.” Eckxio walked confidently towards Ember. She lay on the mossy ground and had not moved.
Sin of Mages: An Epic Fantasy Series (Rift of Chaos Book 1) Page 7
