Believe: Champion of Light

by C. J. Krüger

  We ride, the hoofbeats of the Quel’ras thundering under us as we charge toward the enemy. Suddenly, there are dark figures in the sky. I look up in horror as I see black dragons circling the battlefield. I prepare myself for a fight, but then the dragons swoop down and begin to decimate the demons.

  They open a path for us to rejoin the rest of the legion. I may not trust the winged beasts, but I’m not foolish enough to fight my way through an army if I don’t have to.

  As we approach the rest of our allies, I see Athreine doing battle. She is carrying two short, curved blades and she is skillfully dispatching demon after demon. Other Dark Elves are with her, carrying similar weapons, and they seem to be having an easy time of destroying demons.

  “Welcome, Lady of Light,” Athreine says as we approach. “You’ve come just in time for victory.”

  “There was a mess that needed cleaning up,” I tell her as I dismount Coria. “Are the dragons yours?”

  She nods. “In a manner of speaking, yes,” she replies. Another demon appears and tries to strike her down, but she smoothly cuts off its head. “They are old friends.”

  I draw my blade and kill a demon that gets within my reach. “I’m glad for any help we can get,” I say mildly as I step forward into the thick of battle. “Where is Duncan?” I ask, killing a few more demons with the Starblade.

  “Checking on his father,” Athreine replies. “And dealing with destiny, I think.”

  “What?” I ask, furrowing my brows.

  “You’ll see,” she says calmly. “Behind you.”

  I look and see a hulking demon lifting its blade to strike me down. I jump out of the way and stab it in the heart, and watch it crumble to dust before it hits the earth.

  Grank appears next to me. The sniveling creature is armed with a thin dagger, but isn’t making much use of it. “Please do not leave me alone out here,” it pleads.

  “Sorry, Grank,” I apologize. “Azhrav is supposed to be watching you.”

  “He’s too busy killing,” he replies.

  “Of course,” I say, rolling my eyes. “All right, Grank. I’ll take you somewhere safe in the pass. Come along.”

  The legion of Elves, wielding the Light, has formed a thick line across the mouth of the pass. The demons can only throw themselves in a few at a time, where they are easily destroyed. The dragons above are also disrupting their movements and preventing retreat. If they weren’t demons, I would feel bad for them.

  Because of their efforts, Grank and I are able to make our way through the pass unmolested. We reach a camp and I search for a medical tent to leave him in. Perhaps one of the healers can put him to good use.

  A twisted aura fills the air. It chokes me and makes me feel sick. I hear and feel an explosion above and watch as the city of Bal-Mora abruptly disappears entirely.

  “Duncan!” I scream, feeling his presence suddenly vanish. I rush forward but Grank reaches out for my hand and grips it tightly. “Let go of me!”

  “Please do not go,” he says, on the verge of hysterics. “The Dark One has returned. We must flee!”

  “Kargon,” I snarl. I shake free from Grank’s grasp. “Stay in camp, Grank. Just stay here. I have to go.”

  “Not your fight!” he shouts. “The Dark One is not your enemy to defeat.”

  I narrow my eyes at Grank, but watching him suffer through his fear is enough to soften me. I reach out with my mind and I sense Duncan again. I breathe a sigh of relief.

  “All right, Grank,” I tell him gently. “Just… just stay calm.”

  He snivels and holds onto my hand tightly, almost like a child.

  * * *

  Duncan Lightheart

  (Year 3761)

  “By the Lights, you will pay for this,” I say, standing between the Abyssal and my father.

  The creature laughs as he descends to the ground. “The Lights? I will snuff Them out as easily as I swept away the city.”

  He removes his helm, revealing a twisted Elven face. His blood red eyes are wild and his ghostly white skin chills me to the bone.

  “Duncan,” my father warns. “This is not a creature to underestimate.”

  I nod. “Go, Father,” I tell him firmly. “In my heart, I know this is my battle.”

  He stiffens and shakes his head. “I will not,” he says. “You are my son.”

  “How touching,” the creature mocks. He lifts his hands and launches a red ball of light. It crackles with energy, like angry lightning.

  It crashes against a barrier of light around me and dissipates harmlessly. I lift my chin and narrow my eyes.

  “Your foul magic will not avail you, demon,” I tell him and summon the Highblade to my hand. “And I will strike you down.”

  The demon flinches at the sight of the blade but quickly regains his composure. “If the Old Man couldn’t stop me, boy, you can’t either. I am mightier than him.”

  “Father,” I beg. “You have to leave. I cannot fight him and protect you at the same time.”

  Jonathan Wolfe is a proud man and when I look into his eyes, I see the torture this situation is inflicting on him. No parent wants to admit they can’t protect their child.

  “Your mother will kill you if you die,” he says firmly. “And I will, too.”

  Ronae appears from the choking dust. Jump on my back, King of Wolves. This is your pup’s fight.

  “I’m glad you’re alive,” I say in relief. “I thought—”

  It will take more than a fallen elf to kill me, the Lord of the Quel’ras says defiantly. Make Diarmuid proud, Duncan.

  “I will,” I assure him as I help my father up onto his back.

  Once my father is on Ronae’s back, the Quel’ras seems to shimmer and then he disappears and reappears far in the distance.

  “You’ve been patient,” I say to the creature.

  He scoffs. “You were right,” the demon replies. “Fighting me would be impossible while you had distractions. But don’t worry, boy, once I defeat you, I will keep you alive to watch me torture your friends and family.”

  “Do you never get tired of saying that?” a familiar voice asks, followed by a cocky laugh.

  Diarmuid Silverblade appears before my eyes. He towers over me and looks down at me with a grin on his face. “Good work, Duncan,” he says. “You’ve grown a great deal while I’ve been away.”

  I gasp at the sight of him. “Are you really alive?” I ask in surprise.

  He chuckles. “What do you think?”

  Involuntarily, and forgetting for the moment about the demon, I throw my arms around my grandfather and hug him tightly. “By the Lights, I’m glad you’re back.”

  “This is impossible!” the demon shrieks after he recovers from his shock. “I killed you.”

  “You could hardly destroy a pumpkin, Evron,” Diarmuid replies, stepping out of the hug. “Even your flashy display to wipe out the city was a waste.”

  I blink. “What do you mean? It’s gone.”

  He shakes his head and holds up a bottle. Inside, I can clearly see the city of Bal-Mora and the people inside it pressing their panicked faces against the glass.

  “I saved it at the last moment,” he says, chuckling. “Once you kill Evron, I’ll restore the city.”

  “No, Old Man, my fight is with you,” the demon insists. “I’ll kill the boy later.”

  The Ancient King of the Elves shakes his head. “I told you, Evron, that someone else was going to strike you down. Here he is.”

  “That is not my name, Diarmuid,” the demon hisses. “I am Kargon.”

  “Your name doesn’t change the fact that you are going to answer for your crimes,” I tell the demon and lift the Highblade. Gathering the Light, I swing the blade in a wide arc and a crescent blade of Light charges at Kargon.

  The demon dodges the attack and snarls at me. “Stay out of this, boy,” he warns me. “You are out of your depth.”

  Diarmuid shrugs. “I’m going to leave the two of you to talk,” he say
s, feigning boredom. “The stench of those demons below offends my nose and I want to destroy them. Goodbye.”

  “Don’t you dare…” the demon begins to say as he launches an attack, but Diarmuid has already vanished from sight.

  While the demon sputters in rage, I exert my will and say, “Chains.” Long chains of Golden Light wrap themselves around Kargon and he screams out in pain.

  “I’ll destroy you,” he snarls and releases foul demonic energy and the chains I put around him crumble. “I will kill you first, and then that idiot.”

  How easily the demon destroyed the chains worries me but I gather myself and grip the Highblade tightly. Holy Lights, grant me strength. Golden wings form on my back and my eyes burn with the Light.

  The demon shrinks back and then puts his armored helmet back on. His red eyes glow through the sockets and he summons a wicked, broad blade. I can feel the Void coursing through him and that blade. Never have I felt such pure evil before now.

  Give me the strength to shine blinding Light and vanquish this shadow, I pray. The Golden Light intensifies around me like an aura of cleansing fire. Kargon grips the evil blade tightly and lets lose an intense battlecry.

  My body feels light as I charge at the demon. I move faster than I ever have before and cross the distance between us in a blink. Kargon barely reacts in time to block my sword with his. Sparks shower around us as we fight.

  The momentum of the fight is in my favor. All the teachings of Sivandar, Ayda, and the Lights pour out of me. The Highblade is an extension of me and I dance around the ancient demon. Yet he keeps up and either avoids my attacks or gracefully parries with his blade. Neither of us are capable of gaining any real advantage.

  The Abyssal takes to the sky and launches a series of magical attacks at me. I join him in the air, flapping my powerful wings as I dodge the deadly barrage. With a burst of speed, I appear behind Kargon and place my hand on his back.

  “Burst,” I say calmly, unleashing my will upon the demon.

  He shrieks in agony as my magic courses through him and threatens to tear him apart. He slams into the ground and creates a massive crater in the empty space that was Bal-Mora.

  Slowly, Kargon gets up, his armor shredded, and black blood pours out of him. “Damn cockroach!” he shouts and gathers its awful will. Black and red flames appear around him and his wild red eyes burn brightly. “I will rip out your spine, boy.”

  “Come, demon,” I taunt. “I will show you the power you abandoned. Even now, They cry out in pain because Their son betrayed them. For false power, you turned your back on them.”

  “They are nothing!” the demon screams. “Nothing but cowards who want to be worshipped. They know nothing of real power.”

  “I feel sorry for you, Evron,” I say softly. “How warped and twisted you have become.”

  “Silence!” he demands and leaps back up into the sky. With a blur of movement he appears next to me and slashes at me with his broadsword.

  I lift up Solraxion and I blaze with Golden Fire. The Highblade burns away his aura and I smash the demon in the face with an armored fist. Black blood sprays from a broken nose and Kargon once again slams into the ground.

  “You cannot win,” I tell the demon. “But maybe… maybe there is time to seek forgiveness. It’s never too late, Evron.”

  “By the power of the Void,” the demon prays, “I will tear down the Lights. I will destroy all They stand for and They will answer for what They have done to me. Darkness, give me the strength to break the Heavens.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Aydamaris Sunleaf

  (Year 3761)

  Grank has finally fallen asleep in my tent. I wait a moment, watching him sleep to make sure he’ll stay that way once I’m gone. The fighting on the bluffs keep shaking the earth, and I’m worried for Duncan. Sneaking out quietly, I go to find Coria. She’s standing nearby, being fed some apples by a Human stablehand.

  “Enjoying yourself?” I ask her.

  She snorts. These apples are sufficient, I suppose.

  “One can’t have everything,” I reply softly. “Will you carry me up the mountain?”

  She shakes her head. No, came her reply. Did you not hear Athreine? Even I can sense that if you go up there now, you will die. Duncan can handle this.

  I frown. “But I can’t just leave him…”

  “You’re not,” a familiar voice says. “If he really needs help, I can step in.”

  I whip around and see Diarmuid standing before me in the flesh. His long silver hair and beard are untouched by the battle that claimed his life and he looks like the picture of health.

  “You’re supposed to be dead!” I exclaim. “How—”

  He laughs. “Evron and Duncan had similar reactions,” he says, seemingly very satisfied with himself. “Aydamaris, you need to have faith.”

  “But—”

  “He is Their Champion,” he says firmly. “And this is the task They set out for him. You also have your tasks, which you have yet to discover.”

  I shake my head. “This is unbelievable,” I say in exasperation. “They expect me to stand here and do nothing?”

  He shrugs casually. “You could kill demons if it will make you feel better,” he suggests. “But I’m about to go do that myself and there won’t be many left in a few moments.”

  “How can you be so calm about this?” I ask, feeling my temper build. “He is your grandson. He’s my husband!”

  “Because this is Their will,” he says. “And I will not disobey Them. Not ever. And you shouldn’t, either.”

  I blink back angry tears that are forming in my eyes. “But what if—”

  “Where is your faith?” he asks, his tone gentle.

  A shudder courses through me. “I… you’re right,” I acquiesce.

  “Come, I’ll bring you to a place where you can wait for him,” Diarmuid suggests. “The best thing you can do right now for Duncan is to pray.”

  “Take me, then,” I tell him.

  He nods and takes hold of my hand. We seem to shimmer and there is a rushing sound in my ears. My stomach flips over and I feel very sick, dropping to my knees and dry heaving.

  “It happens to everyone the first time,” Diarmuid says softly, patting me on the back.

  Somehow, we are in a cave across from the mountains. I wasn’t even aware this was here before. I force myself to stand, though my legs are unsteady.

  “A little warning next time would be nice,” I tell him irritably.

  Our conversation is interrupted by another shockwave of energy from Duncan’s fight with the demon. I turn to look and I can clearly see Kargon and Duncan flying around the sky, doing everything they can to destroy one another.

  Darkness and Light clash in a battle of titans. Duncan seems to have the upper hand for the moment and I quietly pray for his safety.

  Please, give him strength. Give him guidance. Do not let him falter. Please, Mother Moon… Father Sun… please just bring him back to me.

  * * *

  Duncan Lightheart

  (Year 3761)

  Kargon’s form is now breaking apart as the Void possesses the demon completely. His arms and legs start to bulge and his armor completely shatters as his mass increases several times.

  The Lights cry out in pain. To see one they care for so much turn so completely against them causes them a great deal of anguish. I have to fight back tears and focus.

  I need your help, Mother Moon and Father Sun. Grant me the strength to do what must be done, I pray. I feel Their anger, Their pain and Their strength course through me. My body shines brightly with Golden Fire.

  Kargon’s eyes flinch away when he looks at me but his hatred burns hotter. The Abyssal attacks with his wicked blade, moving with supernatural speed that defies his bulk. I lift Solraxion to defend myself and the Highblade itself lets out a mournful ring as it is struck. The demon and I begin our deadly game again, but now I am on the defensive.

  His rage is ov
erwhelming and the speed at which he moves is impossible to keep up with. The Abyssal’s massive blade clashes against my armor, leaving a huge rent in it, and the blow sends me flying away. I strike the ground and roll against it. The breath is knocked from my lungs and each gasp sends waves of agony through me.

  When I try to stand, I feel my legs giving out from under me. The pain of breathing is too much. I gather what little strength I have left and send my armor away to the pocket world, leaving me standing there is nothing but my tunic.

  The demon laughs at this. “Have you accepted death, boy?” he asks mockingly. “Good. That look of defeat is what I live for.”

  “I have always accepted death, Kargon,” I tell the demon. “I do not flee from it like a child who is afraid of the dark.”

  Kargon’s lips pull up into a cruel sneer and the demon gathers the Void. I see the burning red in his eyes intensify and the aura around him grows.

  Lights, be with me now, I plead.

  The demon moves to strike me again. I stand there, unable to act. It’s as if I see him in slow motion. My mind is shrieking at me to do something but my body has no strength left. I watch as he swings his blade in a wide arc that threatens to chop off my head.

  Move, the voice of the Lights rings in my mind.

  The strength of my legs fail and I drop to my knees. Kargon’s deadly attack passes over me harmlessly and the intense whoosh of his sword cutting through nothing but air fills my ears.

  Now, Duncan! They exclaim.

  Gathering what strength I have left, I plunge the Highblade into the Abyssal’s heart. I release a battlecry and channel my Light through the blade. Solraxion shines brightly as the Holy Light burns the demon from the inside out. Kargon screams in pain and looks up to the sky.

  “Father!” he shrieks. “Mother… have mercy.” He falls limply on my blade and I drop the sword.

  The Abyssal crashes to the ground with Solraxion sticking out of his chest, his face twisted up in a mixture of anguish and bliss. The combination chills me to the bone and I look away, unable to bear the sight. The sky around me grows dark suddenly, and I look up to see the moon eclipsing the sun.