“What did Ember do to her?” Eckxio asked.
“It’s not what Ember did to her, but rather what she did during battle,” Serena answered. “Some strange maju. Mother defended me when Ember cast a red beam. She was glowing purple and managed to stop Ember’s attack, but the second time she could not handle it and fainted.”
“Purple energy?” Akielas questioned. “Ah, I see. She released cosmic energy.”
All heads turned to Akielas.
“She can use cosmic energy the same way that the Specters can?” Eckxio asked.
“Well, I would say in the same way,” Akielas replied. “She went into a trance and became a vessel where cosmic energy can flow through her. I guess her body did not have enough for it. I know because she taught me through the art of deevinacy.”
“Deevinacy, what does that mean?” Serena asked.
“It is the art of diving deep into yourself to open all eight gates of maju that are aligned in your spine, where maju flows,” Akielas explained. “I managed to open all my gates and learned how to enter what is called the omnith state.”
“So you did it,” Eckxio said cheerfully. “So the fairy king was right.”
“Indeed, and I am now stronger than ever,” Akielas said.
“I am not sure of what you are talking about but I know I can trust you, Akielas,” Serena added. “Since the beginning I sensed goodness in you. Auron, on the other hand, he was… a difficult one.”
“I am sorry,” Akielas apologized and frowned. “I never expected this to happen. Not only have my apprentices betrayed me, but now Auron too. I will take full responsibility.”
“They took the Sapphire Cosmo Jewel,” Serena said. “I am not giving up. I am going to join you, we will find the Specters and I will reclaim the sapphire jewel. It is now my responsibility too. Perhaps none of this would have happened if I wasn’t so stubborn about finding my mother.”
“Then we would have never met,” Zarviack whispered, weak and weary in the arms of Serena.
Serena gasped hearing her mother speak and warm tears left her eyes.
“Mother, I…I…this is all my fault,” Serena confessed. “The Specters found the sapphire jewel because of me. I was so determined to find out where you were and I was fooled by the man who I thought was my lover.” She sobbed.
Zarviack smiled, eyes still closed. Her mother caressed her face and they held hands. She looked at her mother and saw herself. They looked so similar, as if they were twins, but her mother’s skin was a bit darker and had more lines showing her age, yet barely any wrinkles. It saddened Serena that the same day she found her mother she also lost the jewel. Despite everything that just happened she did not regret it. Serena was glad to have journeyed to the frozen ivy forest. Best of all she was surrounded by new friends, powerful allies.
Serena and Eckxio helped Zarviack to stand up.
“I am coming too,” Zarviack said. “The sapphire jewel was taken from me and I almost did not notice. Although I am not much of a fighter, my magic is strong enough to help against these masked villains. It is time to leave the life of a hermit.”
“Mother, you don’t have to,” Serena told her.
“No, Serena,” Akielas interrupted. “I think it is better if she fights on our side. She is the keeper of the sapphire jewel. Perhaps it can still listen to her. Maybe she can take control of the jewel.”
“But what I don’t understand is how could they just snatch the jewel so easily? I thought the cosmo jewels only listen to the one whom they chose,” Serena wondered.
“Auron has come in contact with the crimson jewel before. He knows how their energy works and how to handle the cosmo jewels. Also, the Specters use a special kind of metal that have the ability to control the maju of the jewels,” Akielas explained.
“Omnithium,” Zarviack stated while leaning against Eckxio as the Elf helped her. “It is the only metal that can control such energy. It is called the sacred metal of the dragon gods.”
“So, what? What do we do? How can we find them?” Serena asked.
“Leave that to me. I know where they are,” Akielas said, confidently. “But first we must return to Kazenolumos.”
“Kaze…what?” she was not familiar with the term.
“Kazenolumos,” Zarviack repeated. “The city in the sky. It is real?”
“Of course, my lady,” Akielas responded. “As real as the fairy king. Let me take you to the city of the Effeelions. We will meet up with friends there. We will rest and then I will take you to the domain of the Specters and we shall put an end to them, once and for all.”
“A city in the sky,” Serena whispered, just imagining how it must look. Her whole life was in Sar Thale and the shores of Maer Weeyar. A city in the sky excited her, like a fairy tale come true.”
“Do not worry, your majesty,” Eckxio said. “If you happen to fall off the city, I will swoop down and catch you.”
Serena hugged Eckxio and he embraced her with both arms and wings. Now that Samird was a traitor she felt safe to express herself around Eckxio. However, she knew that the Elf was saving his heart for someone else.
“Alright then, let’s go,” Akielas said. He then took a blue crystal from within his kidney belt. Using the crystal he illustrated a pentacle on the floor and it glowed to trigger the effect of a spell. “Come now. Stand with me on the pentacle.”
“What is that going to do?” Serena asked and stepped towards the pentacle in a shy manner.
“You will see,” he answered and beckoned.
When she saw Akielas standing confidently on the glowing pentacle she joined him. Then Eckxio and Zarviack came in. All four stood in the magic circle and then a light began to rise from above.
“Here we go,” Akielas said out loud.
Suddenly they all fell through a blue abyss. Serena screamed but behind it there was a strange joy that she had never felt before.
Akielas
A day after he returned to Kazenolumos with Serena and her mother, Akielas prepared for the final fight. There would be no more tears and no more holding back. He planned to go to the domain of the Specters and invade them right in their hideout. There will be nowhere else to run for them, he pondered, they will have to fight us head on if they wish to succeed with their plan. They will summon their fiends and wait for the tri-eclipse to commence, which could happen today or tomorrow. Akielas gazed up at the two moons and saw how one moon overlapped the other. When the two moons cross over the sun everything will become colorless and the moon will pierce Odealeous with new maju. And the Specters will try to absorb that energy and cast a spell on the entire world.
Although the odds seemed to be against him he was not afraid. The Specters had all four cosmo jewels and Auron had betrayed him. Despite everything that had happened, Akielas felt no fear. He no longer feared death and remained faithful. He still believed that there was still a solution and he knew that the dragon gods would not allow the Specters to have their way. The Specters believed that what they were doing was good, but Akielas knew that there was something else blinding them. This darkness was not their own. Deep down he still believed that his four apprentices were corrupted, and yet this time he would not try to save them.
“For the good of the world, I will end their lives,” he swore. “No more excuses. Everyone is depending on me.”
He paced around the first level of Kazenolumos gazing down at the clouds and the sea below. He thought of Caim and how he would save the demigod. He wondered what the Specters were doing to the him. Is he still alive? Akielas thought. No, demigods don’t die.
“Akielas!” Rey Ling called to him.
He turned around and saw Rey running towards him, hauling a leather bag with sword hilts peeking from it.
“When did you get here? I have been waiting for you,” Rey asked.
“Good morning, Rey. I arrived just yesterday with my new friends from Maer Weeyar,” he answered.
“Recruits?” Rey questioned, raising
an eyebrow.
“I guess you can call them that,” Akielas said.
“The more the merrier,” Rey added. “Isn’t today the day of the tri-eclipse?”
“I thought we had one more day but, looking up at the position of the sun and moons, well, I don’t think so,” Akielas explained. “That is why we must strike today. No more waiting.”
“Well, in that case, I brought you a gift,” Rey said and dropped his bag on the tiled floor. He lifted a doubled-edge, one handed sword and gave it to Akielas.
Akielas looked at the sword. It had an elegant scabbard and when he withdrew the blade, it had his name carved in, written with the Xaianian alphabet. Akielas gasped when he realized that the blade was forged of omnithium. He raised it up in the air and it gleamed with the morning sun. The blade was glossy and multiple colors could be seen in the steel. He swung the blade sparring with his shadow. It was much heavier and thicker than his sword and added two feet to his arm.
“This is incredible. You really did it. You forged a sword of omnithium,” Akielas said with excitement and gave Rey Ling a bear hug. “You are a genius. Do you know what this means?”
“You are hurting me,” Rey groaned.
“Sorry,” Akielas said and let go of Rey.
“You are going to kill me before we face the Specters,” Rey commented and stretched his arms. “With these types of swords we will be able to fight against the Specters and even break through many of their attacks. Even if they use the cosmo jewels we should be able to deflect or reduce the impact of their attacks by simply blocking. The only problem so far is that I haven’t had enough time to test them fully.”
“No, my friend, you have done enough work already,” Akielas stated. “We will figure out the rest.”
“I also made one for Auron and Eckxio,” Rey added.
Akielas grimaced when Auron was mentioned and looked down. “Auron will not be joining us.”
“Why not?” Rey asked.
“He betrayed us.”
“He what!” Rey snarled. “What? Why? What happened?”
“Auron joined the Specters. He has switched sides,” Akielas answered. “As to why he did it, he simply said that all hope seemed lost and that the Specters would spare his friends and family. Auron rationalized that the Specters’ idea of a peaceful world was the better choice than to defend the gift of magic.”
Rey Ling was speechless. The Xaianian gaped and his narrow eyes widened. Rey crossed his arms and mulled. He had not known Auron for very long, but it was still shocking to know that a man that fought to save the world one day would join the dark side the next.
“Auron deceived us,” Rey claimed.
“I guess he did. All I know now is that if he gets in my way he will taste my blade with no mercy,” Akielas stated. “Nothing can disturb me now. I have given up on understanding the reasons for their actions. This can only be solved with our swords and magic.”
“Akielas!” Eckxio called from above.
Akielas and Rey looked up and saw Eckxio approaching, flying from the third level of the city. Alongside the Elf was Nehushine on a cloud with Serena and Zarviack. Together they descended to the first level of the city and crowded around Akielas. Nehushine remained on his nimbus cloud. Serena and Rey Ling began to chat and Eckxio joined the conversation. Serena and Zarviack had stayed the night in a room in the first level of Kazenolumos. The princess and her mother spent much time with Nehushine and the other Effeelions and were treated with great hospitality. They learned about each other’s countries and languages. Serena showed everyone her tattoos and what they meant. Rey Ling showed them his guns and shot a few rounds, demonstrating how they worked. A warmth came to Akielas’ heart seeing how everyone got along despite their cultural differences. He leaned over towards Nehushine and whispered, “Do you think this is how the age of twilight will look?”
“People all over the world working together. It looks like a revelation to me,” Nehushine answered. “This is the beginning of unity in Odealeous. Ah, yes, that reminds me.”
Akielas and Nehushine stepped away from the group, strolled towards the edge and gazed at the two moons in the sky.
“I am sure you have noticed already,” Nehushine assumed.
“Yes, even in the morning, the two moons can be seen transparently in the sky as they drift towards the sun,” Akielas said. “We don’t have much time. We must go today.”
“Took the words right out of my mouth,” Nehushine replied. “My people will fight as well.”
“You can’t.”
“And why is that?” Nehushine asked.
“You already lost too many people. You cannot risk your species. The Effeelions must live on. After all, your race is one of the crystal bearers,” Akielas explained.
“Don’t pity us,” Nehushine said. “Just because we are a peaceful and spiritual race does not mean we are weak. We can fight too. These villains have imprisoned our demigod. For decades Caim has protected us and now it is time for us to save him. I shall bring our greatest mages and archers.”
Akielas looked at Nehushine and smiled. He knew that there was nothing he could do to stop the old Effeelion. He had already made up his mind and was determined to save Caim. The Effeelions were not vengeful but they knew that they had to fight to survive. They had to fight against the biggest threat in the world. Their demigod had been captured and their city was soon to fall. The mandarak above prevented the city from falling but it would not last very long.
“And we don’t have much longer until our city falls,” Nehushine said. “The mandarak cast by the Lumnos was only meant for temporary aid. It was meant to give us enough time to find a new home.”
Akielas looked up at the mandarak above the city. The magic circle in the sky was fading and Akielas intuition told him that it would last less than a week.
“It is decided. Get everyone ready. Today we go to battle,” Akielas concluded.
“Sir Akielas,” Serena called to him.
He turned around and saw all four of them staring at him. They all waited for his lead. They all helped him carry the weight of the world and the sins of his past. He felt blessed to have them on his side. Destiny brought them together and brought the age of twilight, the age of unity.
“We wait for your call,” Serena said. “We are all ready to fight the Specters. Just say the word and we are right behind you.”
“Take us to their domain. We will smite them asunder and vanquish their friends,” Eckxio said.
“By the way, I got a little something for you,” Rey remembered. He reached into his leather bag and pulled out another omnithium sword. Another double-edge sword custom made for Eckxio. He gave it to the Elf and Eckxio was in awe.
“You really did it,” Eckxio said. “Omnithium steel. I can’t believe it.”
“What did you think I was doing all this time, laying back with a cup of wine?” Rey said jokingly.
“Thank you, I shall never forget this,” the Elf replied with much gratitude.
“Alright everyone! Let’s reclaim all our cosmo jewels,” Akielas cheered.
After Zarviack had helped him enter the omnith state at will, he was more confident in his victory. However, even without entering the omnith state, his life was guaranteed so long as he wore the cursed pendant around his neck.
Auron
Dark clouds. Rolling thunder. Lashing wind. Heavy rain. A small isle with only a dark tower that stood like a needle from the underworld in the center of the ocean. This was the home of the Specters. As he gazed at the angry skies from the highest floor of the tower, he could not believe anyone would want live in such a cursed place. He wondered if it ever stopped. He wondered if the skies ever silenced and if the sun ever shone upon this somber place. It was like a prison of darkness. Away from the light. The perfect place for fiends to find solace.
Like his innate attribute, Auron enjoyed earthy and green places. He loved mountains, hills and riding his horse in the fields and meadows
of Burnahdujf. He enjoyed the rain back home and watched the land soak, but this storm was like punishment to him. Although he had much experience with hydromancy, water was not his specialty. Most perplexing of all was how the Specters had built a tower of kaminyte steel.
“Enjoying the view?” he heard Ember’s voice creeping up behind him. She stepped onto the balcony and stood next to him. “Beautiful, isn’t it.”
“Me staying here was not part of our deal,” he reminded.
“Oh, don’t worry. The eclipse should happen any moment now,” Ember said. “We already finished the absorption needle. Now we just have to gather the jewels together inside the needle and our dream will come true.”
“Just make sure you keep your promise and spare my people,” Auron said and walked into the atrium room.
In the center of the room, the other Specters chatted while leaning against handrails. Auron headed towards a staircase to return to the chamber that Ember had prepared for him. He tried to avoid them until…
“Amaranth, I would like to have a word with you,” Naunet said and beckoned.
“Sure, just as soon as I am done with my nap,” he replied arrogantly.
“Amaranth!” Naunet rasped.
Auron paused but he refused to face Naunet. He simply looked over his shoulder and said, “Now, now. Don’t think that just because I am on your side that you can tell me what to do. We are not friends. Keep that in mind, dreadlocks.”
“I don’t trust you,” Naunet said.
“I don’t care. You are not in charge here anyway,” Auron replied. “Ember seems to be the visionary here. The one who wears the pants. You are simply an errand boy.”
“Hear me out, redhead,” Naunet said in an angry tone, gritting his teeth. “I am going to keep an eye on you. I know you are up to something and I know you would not betray your friends and switch sides so quickly. The minute you backstab us like you did to your own friends, I will use all the cosmo in me to kill you. Don’t even think that you will have the right to rule as we will. You will simply be a privileged knight of the Specters and no more. Your people will be out of harm but they will relinquish their magic like the rest of the world.”
Blood of Mages (Rift of Chaos Book 3) Page 23
