“Release it! Release it!” Zarviack shouted. “Use your mind to shut it down!”
Akielas’ body shook and as he floated in the cave he began to focus. Like when he would use the blue crystal to teleport and look through portals, he focused the cosmic energy flowing throughout his body with his mind. As he focused it began to settle. The shaking stopped and energy began to contract up to his head where the eighth gate was located. Maju could be control with the heart and mind but cosmic energy had to be tamed with your whole body. It was like learning how to swim. On land, your legs could take you everywhere but in water your entire body had to move to survive.
Finally, when the purple energy vanished and his eyes stopped glowing, he collapsed.
“Akielas! Akielas!” Zarviack called to him but he was too weak to respond.
Serena
Gazing at her town from the balcony of her castle she wondered why Akielas had not returned on the fifth day before the tri-eclipse. Auron stood beside her as well as Eckxio. The Elf told them about their adventure thus far. They told her about their odyssey with Akielas, of how the Specters invaded the Elven village in Verday and how Ember murdered their friend, Prince Ganicus. They told her about their friend Rey Ling in the United Pathways. Serena enjoyed hearing their stories and learning about other countries, but between every silent moment she could not help but think of the woman in the frozen ivy forest.
It had been two days since they had visited the Laguan city. Serena and her friends were becoming impatient. However, these Specters were a mystery to her since she had never seen them but had fought against their fiends.
“Do you think he found the frozen ivy forest?” Auron asked with arms crossed, leaning against the baluster.
“It is very hard to miss,” Serena answered. “It is an area where all trees, plants and even the animals are frozen. Very few people have survived. It is said that it is a cursed place.”
“Have you ever gone there?” Eckxio asked.
“Unfortunately, no,” she said. “My father never allowed me to go near that place, but being a water mage, I was always tempted. After hearing what the Laguan king said I am eager to go there.”
“Then I say we go now,” Auron suggested. “It is better than to sit here waiting.”
“Shouldn’t we wait for Akielas,” Eckxio said. “What if he gets here while we are on the way there? Better to stay in one place. Also, I hope I am not the only one who has thought of this but if we do not find the sapphire jewel, that will actually be a good thing.”
“What if the Specters find it before we do?” Auron implied. “We must find the jewel before the Specters do. The tri-eclipse is near, only two days away. For all we know they probably already have it. Otherwise they would not continue on with their plan.”
“I see,” Eckxio responded.
“Once the jewel is in my hands these Specters you speak of won’t take it from me so easily,” Serena swore.
“Don’t be so sure,” Auron said and stood in front of her. “You have no idea what kind of weapons these masked ghouls have. They possess remnants of the gods. We have fought them and have watched them grow stronger with every encounter. They even captured our friend who happens to be a demigod.”
“Demigod?” Serena questioned. “You mean a half god. There is no such thing as a demigod in Maer Weeyar.”
“You did not believe in fiends either until you saw them,” Auron argued. “Trust me, they are coming. You know where the sapphire jewel is. Let’s go and find it. Akielas is already there and I am sure we will stumble upon him on the way.”
Serena loved Auron’s decisiveness, despite his rudeness. For a woman like her with many mood swings it was good to have mentally strong men around her. Although she was a strong girl and independent, many times she was nervous and indecisive. Her façade was enough to hide the scared little girl inside and in desperate times like these, sure she wanted to take action and do what was right, but having a confident man around always balanced her and made her feel better. Sadly enough she could not show her love for Samird in front of people. Their love was hidden in the shadows of her everyday life.
“Kill two birds with one stone. Find my mother and the sapphire jewel at the same time,” she agreed.
“We shall fly there on my Eedahlan,” Auron stated and raised a fist. “We should get there within a few hours and save much time.”
“Princess Serena,” Samird called to her as he entered the balcony from the hallways of the second floor in the castle. “I must speak with you, this is important.”
“What is it?” she asked unpleasantly.
“May I speak with the princess one-on-one, please,” Samird requested.
“Excuse me a moment, gentlemen,” Serena said then followed Samird into the hallway. She knew it was not important but she was curious to hear what he would say.
They strode down the hall and turned left from the stairway to the first floor. It seemed that Samird was leading her to her chamber, that was when she decided to stop him. She clutched his wrist and pulled him.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked.
“Please, just follow me,” Samird insisted.
“No, tell me right now. I know it is not serious, so tell me right now,” she snarled at him. “Unless this is about my father it will have to wait.”
Samird hunched down then looked left and right, making sure there was no one around.
“I just overheard you talking to those foreigners. What are you thinking just leaving the city without anyone watching the throne?” he murmured.
“I am not the queen yet,” she answered. “My father still has breath, therefore he is still in charge. He can still speak and think with clarity of mind, despite his illness. You must listen to my father while I am gone.”
“What if those black monsters attack us again, who is going to lead us?” Samird reminded. “I would lead them myself but the Narb Thales are only loyal to those with the Sarbock surname. We need you here.”
“I know, I know,” Serena replied and kissed him. “We are getting close to finding the Sapphire Cosmo Jewel. I must make this sacrifice. I must leave home again for a while. Stay here and tell the Narb Thales that I gave you permission to be in command.”
Samird remained silent and turned his cheek. Serena gently grabbed his face, set his dreadlocks behind his ears and kissed him again.
“Fine then, I will lead them myself if anything happens,” Samird surrendered. “At least tell your father where you are going.”
“No,” she snarled. “He will send the entire castle army to find me. He must not know. Please, just hold on a little longer. I think I know where my mother is as well as the sapphire jewel.”
“As you wish,” Samird replied.
“Thank you,” she said and gave him one final kiss before she returned to the balcony.
She strode down the second floor hallway making her way to the balcony and saw Auron and Eckxio scampering down the stairway to the first floor.
“Let’s go, princess,” Eckxio shouted as he ran.
“Where are you going?” she asked as she followed them.
“We will fly on my Eedahlan,” Auron said. “Come outside, where I can summon him.”
They exited the castle and went to the port where the Narb Thale ships were. Once they were outside she saw Auron using summoning magic, a type of magic she had not seen before. A mandarak expanded on the ground of the port, extending pass the bridges and the lines of the circle shone over the water. She gasped and heard a shriek echoing from within the magic circle. She startled when a bird-like creature flew out of the mandarak. Gazing up at it, it had to be at least thirty feet in height or more. It hovered aloft, flapping its wings, staring down at them.
“Ah, yes, I remember this creature,” Serena recalled. “We are riding on this…bird.”
“Garuda is friendly. Don’t worry, you will get used to it,” Auron said.
Garuda descended and landed on th
e port, causing a gust of wind with its colossal wings. When it landed its talons tore the wooden docks. It knelt down, lowered its head and Auron petted it. Its beak was half the size of a man. It wings spread black and red. Yellow stripes ran from its chest down to its belly. It had two legs and arms, shaped like a human but it behaved like a bird.
“You have the power to summon creatures like this,” Serena said as she got closer to Garuda.
She gently placed her hand on its head and felt the smooth fur. She then touched its wide wings that could shelter dozens of people. Its feathers were thick and strong.
“Hello there,” she said gracefully.
Auron mounted the bird on a saddle that was attached to its back. He beckoned then grabbed her hand and she sat behind him on top of Garuda.
“Eckxio, how are you going to get there?” she asked.
“I can fly, remember,” the Elf said.
Eckxio clutched the winged pendant hanging from his neck and a burst of light blinded them. When the light dimmed the Elf was clad in a silver armor with white filigree and hemmed with gold. His pauldrons curved upwards with feather protrusions. His chest plate had the symbol of illumancy embossed on its center, an upward arrow. On his right hand he carried a shield forged of zeustoss and mythium. Swan-like wings spread wide on his back as white as snow. His sword was sheathed inside a pocket in his shield. Serena remembered, it was the same armor that he wore when the fiends attacked her city. It was beautiful and she drooled a little when he kicked off the ground and rose into the air.
“He is amazing,” she whispered. “We too shall rise. Let us fly to the frozen ivy forest.”
Garuda shrieked, kicked off the ground and rose into the sky. Serena had never flown before. She held on to Auron, grabbing his kidney belt. She glanced down and saw her city below. The moat of her castle, the lake, the houses and buildings, it all shrank as small as pebbles in her sight. When Garuda jetted south Serena screamed. She squinted at the horizon as the wind got in her eyes.
“Hold on tight and don’t be afraid,” Auron said. “It is going to be a windy ride.”
Serena looked back and saw how small her city looked from so high and so far. The farthest she had ever been from home. She was excited and willing to embrace danger and the unknown. Finally, the moment of truth, she thought. Today I will find out everything and reclaim the sapphire jewel.
Zarviack
She meditated by the rim of the cave. Eyes closed, slowly breathing, sitting in the lotus position. Akielas rested in the fur bed she had set up for him. Fire crackled by his side keeping him warm. The sun was at the highest point in the sky which meant it was the middle of the day. It was just a few hours ago that Akielas had fainted after entering the omnith state. She was stunned by how quickly he had opened all the gates. Akielas was the first one out of all the mages who had come to her in the past.
“He is definitely something special,” she whispered. “It took me weeks to open all eight gates even while using the sapphire jewel.” She looked over her shoulder and saw him snoring inside the cave. She guessed that he was about her age. Fifty winters old or more. She had chosen to live in solitude yet missed the touch of a man and then she thought, But his heart is with his wife. I wonder if there would be space for me.
She did not regret the day that she abandoned her family. The day the sapphire jewel chose her as her keeper. She could have stayed in the capital city, Sar Thale, but she knew that the war would not stop. She knew the lust of men and her blood-thirsty husband, King Severus Sarbock. The Laguans would stop at nothing to regain the jewel and her people of Maer Weeyar were willing to massacre the Laguans for the sapphire jewel. Zarviack hated violence and was too sensitive to deal with war and so much conflict. She isolated herself away from society in a frozen sanctuary where no one would enter. Living as a hermit she found peace, quiet, mastery of hydromancy and a deeper connection to the realm of light.
It must have been faith for Akielas to seek my aid, she thought. He knew of my daughter and also sought the sapphire jewel. Perhaps the gods have brought him here to tell me about my daughter. Tears left her eyes, joyful tears and she happily wiped them. My only regret was not being able to raise my daughter and be a true mother but I knew she would be happy without me. When I was chosen by the sapphire jewel I knew I had to leave. I wanted my daughter to live in an age without war and it seems that I have succeeded in that. Thirty years, no war. I am proud of that. Thank you, Akielas, for finding me in this wilderness of ice.
As she meditated she felt a familiar maju approaching. It was far but it was getting closer.
“Three of them,” she whispered. “One of them is very familiar and the other two are much stronger and masculine. It seems that they have an Eedahlan with them.”
If they were inside the frozen ivy forest she would be able to see their faces in her third eye but they were still too far. While she focused on the maju of the approaching strangers, Akielas began to rise from his fur bed. The man yawned and his bones cracked. She looked over her shoulder and saw Akielas walking towards her while he dug his knuckles in his eyes.
“Did I faint again?” he asked, voice weary.
“This is the second time, but you persevered,” she answered.
“How long was I out?”
“Just a few hours,” Zarviack said and giggled. “Last time you slept for a whole day and this time it only took you from morning to midday to rise. A big improvement.”
Akielas stood next to her by the rim of the cave. He gazed at the sky with wonder as if for the first time. He did not look tired but rather lively and his skin was vibrant, his maju was strong and she felt that he was now a different man. She looked up at him and felt a stronger presence. When Akielas first came to see her he was desperate, lost, nervous and hopeless. The man that stood next to her now was emanating with a different will.
“How do you feel?” she asked.
“Like new,” Akielas answered, passionately. “As if I woke up in a different body.”
He thrust his palm forward and release a jet of fire like the breath of Pyramus, the dragon god of flames. Akielas looked at his hand then balled it into a fist.
“This is different,” he said. “I feel much stronger. What happened to me?”
“You entered the omnith state,” Zarviack reminded and stood up. “You have reached a level that mages only dream of. Earlier today you experienced pure cosmic energy.”
They looked at each other and smiled. Zarviack blushed and looked away. Akielas gently placed a hand on her shoulder and brought her gaze over to him.
“Thank you,” he said and leaned in.
“No,” she whispered, placing a finger on his lips. “I am sorry, but, I am just not ready for that.”
Akielas laughed and pulled her in for a hug. A joyful laughter, one he longed for. Not a false laugh that hid his remorse. Zarviack enjoyed the embrace and tied her arms around his back. It was an amazing sensation to feel the warmth of another person, not just the fire from her cave.
“I am sorry, I guess we are both lonely hermits,” he said and ended his embrace.
“It is fine. You are a good man, Akielas,” she replied.
“Now, if will you excuse me,” Akielas said and jumped down to the canyon of ice.
“Where are you going?” she shouted at him.
“To sample my new power,” he shouted back.
Zarviack summoned a pillar of ice from below, jumped on it then descended to the canyon. There was something about watching Akielas in action that brought a smile to her face. She watched as he used pyromancy, shooting pillars of fire into the air.
“Careful with the ice. You don’t want to melt the canyon,” she warned.
She watched as he used aeromancy to rise up in the air. He created a waterspout using hydromancy and then turned the water into ice and slid around the canyon. He continued on to make pillars of ice puncturing out of the walls of the canyon like needles. Then she gasped when his fingers
sparked with chirping lightning and released it into the sky. When he finally came to a full stop she began to walk towards him.
“You are amazing,” she said. “Entering the omnith state has doubled your magic power.”
“Indeed,” Akielas replied staring at his hands.
“By the way. I sense people approaching,” she informed. “One female and two males. Do you have any idea of who it could be?”
“Did you sense any darkness in their maju?” he asked.
“No, they were clean of darkness,” she answered.
“Then it must be my friends,” Akielas concluded. “Auron, Eckxio and…”
“And…who else?”
“Princess Serena.”
Zarviack did not respond. She became nervous knowing that her daughter was approaching, or perhaps Akielas was just guessing.
“How can you be so sure? Shouldn’t she be in the city with her father?” Zarviack asked solemnly.
“I am not sure if I mentioned it yesterday but Princess Serena had decided to join me and my friends in our struggles to stop the Specters,” he explained. “Perhaps they became worried about me and decided to search.”
Every time Akielas tried to make eye contact with her, Zarviack would look away. She made it too obvious and was sure he already knew the truth.
“She is you daughter, isn’t she?” Akielas guessed.
Zarviack frowned and replied, “How did you find out?”
“You are the spirit image of her,” he described. “Since the first time I saw you, I thought you were Serena for sure. You look like an older version of her. You are the face and body she will have when she is your age. What will you tell her when you see her?”
Zarviack remained silent. She frowned and a tear left her eye. She opened her mouth but no words came out. What could she possibly tell the child she left behind? Whatever response Serena gave her she deserved. She did not expect Serena to call her mother or to even call her a friend and those thoughts alone made her sad.
“I don’t know,” she finally answered. “Come whatever may, I know that what I did was wrong but I have my reasons. Reasons that I don’t expect her or anyone to understand. Thirty years ago I left everything I loved behind because I knew there would be peace. It was a worthy sacrifice, even if it meant not seeing my daughter ever again. I shall take my punishment and Serena may hate me but I have fulfilled my duty.”
Blood of Mages (Rift of Chaos Book 3) Page 20
