by Paul Centeno
“Another?” the scientist said. “I conjecture there are hundreds of thousands. But where are they and where do they go? Each doorway can potentially take months to find and may lead somewhere else. My research concluded that this particular gateway can bring us to a primordial realm where ancient magic flourishes.”
“The kind of magic my sister needs,” Khal’jan said.
Xorvaj snorted. “So it seems we have no choice but to deal with entering the sun. Can’t the necromancer create a mana shield for us?”
“I am not a goddess,” Eladoris said, killing the dazzle in her comrades’ eyes.
“Is that so?” Shirakaya replied, assured that she was once stronger than the necromancer. “In that case,” she continued in a prideful tone, “I want our force field at maximum power. The polarized shield should also be active.”
“Aye, my lady,” Yarasuro said, feeling nostalgic.
When the vessel’s defenses were raised, Vokken tripled the velocity. Marauder zoomed past several planets and moons. Within minutes, Shadow Mercs crossed the star system and reached the third sun. Most of the crewmembers remained uneasy. Only the freelancer seemed optimistic, gazing at the star with newfound hope.
“This is it, Xeza,” Myris whispered to the sìsô, kissing her. “It’s all or nothing.”
When the vessel flew directly into the sun, Shirakaya briefly closed her eyes as if deep in prayer. The crew remained mesmerized and unnerved, gazing at the scorching sun. Most of them wondered if a miracle would occur—to survive. Scarcely a minute later, the Eye of Soth’yugon radiated so brightly that no one could look at it without their eyes hurting, including the mutant. A harmless shockwave erupted from the primeval relic, illuminating the bridge. The glow was so radiant that most of the crew squinted. Then there was a flash much like lightning.
Flames engulfed the hull of the ship as it zoomed through an eternal passage enveloped by the sweltering sun. Marauder was on the verge of crumbling into a billion particles, only to become one with the blazing star when time itself abruptly stopped. Its crew stood lifeless for a moment.
Like an unexpected quake stirring, the flames breathed again. For reasons unknown, the fire reversed and dissipated along with the sun. Time unexpectedly returned, allowing the crew to move freely once more. Their ship continued flying straight, roaming through a starless chasm until an explosion of light occurred before them, impacting their eyes.
After a few seconds, the crewmembers regained their vision and soon realized that they were no longer within the third sun of Oga Vay’tos. Instead, they found themselves amid an asteroid belt. Up ahead, one of the planetoids appeared to be vast. More immediately, something seemed to have been built on top of it.
“We’re alive?” Dojin asked, just as surprised as the others.
“By a miracle,” Shirakaya responded with a half-smile. “Yaro, status report.”
“Most of our senses are rebooting after that bizarre phenomenon. I should have some info on the structure ahead in a couple of minutes.”
“You don’t need him to tell you what we already know,” Vokken said.
“Excuse me?” Shirakaya said sharply. “What are you talking about?”
“The gateway we entered was a passage into the Spectral Pulse, which had been sealed by magic eons ago. Undone by the power within your primeval relic, we traversed to a realm so immeasurably far that it begs us to consider—”
“That we are in another dimension?” Jai’ryndar interjected.
“Evidence supports the premise,” Vokken said. “We are beyond faith and belief. We are upon the precipice of uncharted territory.”
“I’m not sure my mind can accept this,” Shirakaya said.
“It’s hard to fathom, but he might actually be right,” Yarasuro said as his systems started functioning again. “The readings on the map are unusual. Peculiar to say the least. It’s showing we are in space…yet it won’t pinpoint where.”
“Bloody hell,” Myris said.
Xeza produced a scared urp, hiding in the oracle’s pocket.
Dojin, meanwhile, threw his gun at a wall. “Fuck! What if this was a waste of time?”
“There is hope,” Del Vayso said, pointing at the structure atop the gargantuan asteroid that they had spotted a moment ago. “Regardless of where we are, that must be the Source.”
Shirakaya appeared glum but looked in the direction of his outstretched finger. “A pocket of space in Ensar locked away from its denizens, or the threshold of another dimension. Who knows? Whatever that is up ahead, we should at least investigate. Vokken, take us there.”
“Affirmative.”
The battleship accelerated toward the enormous asteroid. Upon approaching, they realized that the structure atop the asteroid was an ancient castle. Many of its turrets had apparently cracked and crumbled apart over a period of thousands of cycles—at least that was what Shirakaya thought.
“The legend reveals itself,” Del Vayso said.
The oracle gawked at the sight. “Whoa…”
“Truly incredible,” Khal’jan said.
“I’m picking up a large reading ahead,” Yarasuro said. “The castle is protected by some kind of force field.”
“I sense it,” Myris said. “It’s a mega mana shield that won’t let us enter.”
“Magic?” the freelancer said, intrigued.
Vokken brought the ship to an abrupt halt while a few pairs of eyes found their way to Eladoris.
“Don’t even ask,” she snapped. “I’m a necromancer, not your maker.”
“I’m afraid I can’t dispel it either,” Myris said.
Del Vayso scrubbed his wrinkled chin. “We might be able to bypass the arcane barrier if we can find a way in from below.”
“You mean finding a way from inside the asteroid?” Shirakaya said. At the scientist’s nod, she went on, “Our battleship is too big for that. But if we can find a cave of sorts, that may work if we go on foot.”
Dojin glanced at her and then turned his attention to the others with a dismal look. “So we found a castle in space. Whoop-ti-fucking-doo. And guess what, guys? We can’t even get inside the damn thing. Doesn’t anyone here think that we’re sort of going half-ass on this crazy shit?”
“Of course,” Xorvaj responded.
Rah’tera also agreed with a nod.
“What do you expect?” Khal’jan said. “We’re trying to restore Shira’s magic. That in itself has been deemed impossible. Everything we follow and do from this point on is from a myth. Almost nothing we do will make sense to the normal mind.”
“Yeah but we need some kind of plan,” the renegade replied. “We can’t just mindlessly go there with our dicks hanging out.”
“Pardon the intrusion, venerable Dojin,” the uganda started, “but I fear a ‘plan’ is no longer an option. We traversed through the Spectral Pulse, an arcane gateway that had been sealed for millennia. Thus, teleporting to the fringes of another dimension. At this point, myth is our only guide.”
“Well, that sucks balls.”
The sandstalker’s eyes were downcast. “Jai is right. Nevertheless, I agree with Dojin. Even if it seems difficult, we must remain vigilant.”
“Indeed,” Vokken responded. “Stability is mandatory.”
Zadoya crossed her arms. “This mission has always been about risk. And last I checked, the leadership hasn’t changed. We continue on Shira’s authority.”
“Agreed,” Yarasuro said.
As anxious as Shirakaya felt, she took a moment to reflect. “I understand where you’re coming from, Dojin. I get it. We could’ve died ten different ways beginning with just trying to approach the sun. Vaporized from the heat. Crushed by the corona’s gravity. Teleported into oblivion. Torn apart and dissected within the gateway. Dying so fast we wouldn’t have even been able to understand how we died. Now we are confronted by this castle and its mysterious shield.”
The mercenaries remained silent, taking in her words.
“Half-ass might be the perfect way of putting it,” Shirakaya continued, shrugging. “But if this is the only way I can get my power back…if this is the only way we can confront and defeat Ashkaratoth, I’d come back again and again. Whatever it takes. No more hesitation. Are you still with me?”
Dojin let out a deep sigh. “Yeah. Just glad you also realize we’re psychotic for going through all this weird shit.”
The oracle and a few others chuckled softly.
“You heard him, Vokken,” the freelancer said confidently. “We’re in this together. Bring us to the bottom of that asteroid.”
III
Legend of the Sorcerer
Examining the asteroid thoroughly, the mercenaries spotted a series of natural holes. Yarasuro performed a scan on the first one, determining it to be a small cave. Initiating a scan on the second hole, he discovered it to be the size of a grotto. Others were similar in size. When he scanned another that was farther away, however, it revealed an immense cavern.
“I found something on the wescarian quadrant,” the mutant said.
Del Vayso reviewed Yarasuro’s information on the screen. “This is exactly what I was hoping we’d find.”
“Sweetness,” Myris said, rubbing her hands together.
“Whatever,” the renegade blurted out.
“Excellent work as always, Yaro,” Shirakaya said. “Okay listen up, everyone. This will undoubtedly be treacherous. Equip your zitrogen tanks and strongest armor. We’ll need them for the journey ahead.”
“The dhi-cha is with us,” Jai’ryndar said, prepping for the expedition.
Vokken maneuvered the battleship to fly below the asteroid. Reaching the coordinates of the cavern that the mutant had located, he halted Marauder. The mercenaries gathered their equipment and used an X-Phaser, teleporting to the vessel’s entrance. After a short period of time for the pressure to stabilize, the ramp opened.
Shadow Mercs disembarked from the ship, stepping downward. The ramp lined up with the cavern, at which point they were able to enter the asteroid. Initially, the path revealed itself to be narrow. The crew barely fit, especially Xorvaj who had to hunch over. Several meters ahead, they turned at a corner that led to a dead end.
“Um, did we miss something?” Myris said.
Yarasuro shook his head. “Impossible. I scanned the asteroid. It showed a passage that could potentially lead us above.”
“I confirmed it as well,” Vokken said via KLD.
Rah’tera leaned on a wall, pensive. “Yaro, is it possible you forgot which cave we should be trekking through?”
“No,” he said with frustration. “I’ve done this kind of scanning for a long time…too long to make this kind of mistake.”
“This is some serious bullshit,” Dojin said.
Eladoris stepped forward, jostling through the group. Standing in front of the wall, she examined its many textures and shapes. Moments later, she snorted and walked right through it. Some of the crewmembers glanced at each other, mystified.
“It’s called an illusion,” the necromancer said.
“Obviously,” Dojin said, rolling his eyes.
The mercenaries advanced through the illusionary wall where they found an empty passage with little design other than nature’s mark—a rock-strewn, jagged path whose prickly walls curved all the way to the castle’s magical barrier. With little hesitation, Shirakaya strode over to the arcane shield but could not pass it.
“Most intriguing,” the scientist said, scanning the barrier.
“Eladoris, is there anything you can do?” Shirakaya asked.
“I’m ecstatic you think that I can solve all your problems but alas, I cannot dispel such ancient magic. Just hope that whoever conjured this barrier is a benevolent force rather than one of malevolence.”
“You mean someone like you?” Dojin said under his breath.
“What was that?” the necromancer snapped.
Dojin scoffed. “Nothing, your eminence.”
“Let’s find another way,” Shirakaya intervened, resilient.
With no other choice, Shadow Mercs walked around the force field and arrived at the base of the castle. Its aged stonework was nestled into the granite, as if it had purposely been crafted that way. Another kilometer farther ahead, they located the castle’s entrance. Khal’jan and Del Vayso examined it from a distance. Xorvaj, on the other hand, thought about ramming himself through the shield.
Myris gasped. “Don’t do that!”
“What?” the ghensoth said.
“I can sense your frustration. The shield will harm you. Actually, it’ll be fatal. There’s a way in…I’m sure.”
Zadoya used her cybernetic eyes to scan the area. “I don’t see anything that stands out.”
Jai’ryndar gestured at his companions. “Please gather around me.” The crew surrounded him, ready to listen. “I will attempt to use my implants, tapping into augmented reality to create an artificial portal through the shield.”
The freelancer found it difficult to believe but didn’t object to his proposal. Activating tube-shaped wires running throughout his body, he aimed his KLD at the castle’s entrance. After capturing the distance, he entered the coordinates via kinetic link. The data transferred directly to his implants, at which point the augments on his chest activated.
Just then, two portals formed. The crew stood slack-jawed, stunned that Jai’ryndar had summoned gateways without magic—that science, in this instance, had superseded the arcane. Though hesitant at first, the group entered the adjacent portal and teleported beyond the magical barrier, emerging through the second portal at the castle’s threshold.
“Brilliant!” Shirakaya exclaimed.
The crew agreed, most of them cheering on Jai’ryndar who didn’t know how to respond other than with a humble bow. As they heard stones crumble, they broke away from their excitement. Focusing their attention on the castle, the mercenaries moved forward. Passing through the entrance, they came across a collapsed statue whose shattered features could no longer be recognized.
“Unbelievable,” the archeologist said. “This could have been a depiction of Maz’hura or Yun’sara for all we know.”
“You think so, Khal?” Shirakaya responded, genuinely intrigued.
“It was most likely Xen’tarza,” Del Vayso intervened. “Either way, we’ll never find out for sure.”
“Time out,” the renegade blurted. “What exactly are we fucktarts looking for?”
The ghensoth shrugged with a discouraged grunt.
“Xen’tarza himself?” Myris assumed.
“According to Medeix Et Victum,” the scientist began, “there exists a realm of boundless magic. It is written in this book that only the Eye of Soth’yugon could lead us to such a kingdom. Furthermore, the realm is a sacred sanctuary where one may rejuvenate his or her lost gift of the arcane by means of something referred to as the Source.”
“Sacred sanctuary?” Dojin responded, trying not to laugh. “Take a real good look at this place. I don’t mean to be a dick, but whatever kingdom existed before is fucking gone.”
“Obliterated,” Xorvaj said.
Rah’tera nodded. “Unfortunately, the psycho brutes are right. We’re inside the remains of a dilapidated castle that stands atop an asteroid in outer space. This rock is probably the remnants of a planet destroyed eons ago.”
Shirakaya gritted her teeth.
“Calm down, guys,” Khal’jan said, acknowledging his sister losing hope. “We don’t have all the answers. Maybe the ‘Source’ is a metaphor for Xen’tarza or his blessing. And again, the ‘Source’ is something infinite. Think of it as an eternal wellspring for the soul. No catastrophe can cause it to become extinct. It’s just a matter of us finding it and allowing Shira to commune with it.”
“Sounds dope,” Dojin said. “I just like to keep my feet on the ground, that’s all.”
“That’s bogus,” the oracle blurted out, everyone turning to her. “Are you blind? By a miracle
, we managed to get through that massive mana shield. Magic is very much alive here. I sense it.”
Dojin revealed an incredible awe-filled expression, pretending to sense magic.
“Without a doubt,” the scientist said, ignoring the renegade’s idiocy. “Magic is certainly around us. However, we need to remain objective and neutral. The magic herein may not be the same that Shira requires.”
“Either way,” Shirakaya added in, “I didn’t come all this way for wishful thinking or to turn back because I see ruins of a lost civilization. Think of everything we’ve been through. We even discovered the Spectral Pulse and survived it. I have faith that the Source still exists. I have no doubt we will find it.”
“Agreed,” Yarasuro replied. “Let’s not waste more time speculating. Together we shall locate the Source. Right here and now.”
Though several of the crew members struggled to agree, they kept quiet out of respect for their leader. As a team, they followed Shirakaya through the castle. The mercenaries seemed to be inside what had used to be an atrium with areas of the ceiling completely collapsed. Several pillars lay on the cracked floor while halves of others managed to remain standing.
An arched entryway stood before them. Shirakaya brazenly approached and stepped through it, finding herself at the base of a spiral staircase. Though many treads had crumbled over the ages, the crew still scaled the steps. Reaching the second floor, Shirakaya decided to search the dilapidated hall ahead.
Despite there being several holes throughout the marble corridor, the mercenaries avoided them and advanced. At the end of the hall, they entered a destroyed ballroom. Not a single chandelier hung above. Instead, they lay shattered on the ground along with multiple statues and columns. Passing through, the group reached a tower where they located another staircase.
Shirakaya scaled the spiral steps until she reached the top where there had once been a door—now a mere pile of ash. Moving onward, the crew went outside and strode across a cracked rampart that revealed outer space. With the exception of Eladoris who couldn’t care less, the mana shield enveloping them was their only relief.
