The Complete Seven Sorcerers Trilogy

by Julius St. Clair

  “Are there any other Sorcerers out there that would join us?” Remi asked.

  “I’m not sure,’ Samuel said. “I’ve been out of touch with them all for so long…I remember Casimir being pleasant.”

  “I killed him,” Ember said bluntly.

  Samuel looked at her in amazement. “You’re certain?”

  “Very.”

  “Then…then…the barriers are gone. That…oh, my.”

  “What are you talking about?” Ember demanded.

  “Don’t you remember? Casimir was in charge of the barriers that kept certain parts of the three worlds under our thumb. Without them, all is accessible, even our old stomping grounds.”

  “Even the Center?”

  “Yes,” Samuel nodded. “Though I would imagine that no one is thinking of going there. Still, it’s another place we may be able to transport people.”

  “Where is this place?” Remi asked. “What is it?”

  “It’s where we all used to live,” Samuel replied. “Back when we were all on good terms. That was centuries ago though. Still, I wonder if it’s still intact. It’s high up in the sky, just beyond Terra’s atmosphere. Even when manifesting was common, no one would fly up as high as the Center because the oxygen was so thin, but if they had, they would discover that the Center has plenty of it, and the atmosphere is perfectly regulated.”

  That’s where I have to go, Remi thought to herself.

  “Is there anything up there we can use to better our situation?”

  “Nothing that I can think of,” Samuel said. “But you never know. You see this?” he reached down under his shirt and produced a red gem that was the size of his hand. It hung from a massive chain that was wrapped around his neck. “This amulet grants you access to the Center. Every Sorcerer should have one.”

  “I lost mine years ago,” Ember huffed. “Besides, why would I visit a decrepit old place like that anyways? Killing Casimir doesn’t change anything.”

  “Do all of you have an ability that affects the worlds?” Remi inquired.

  “We do,” Samuel said. “But—”

  Samuel’s explanation was cut short as an arrow flew right through his chest. He cried out and fell to his knees as Ember disappeared to investigate. The Delilah spread out and Bosen unsheathed his sword as they listened for signs of their attacker.

  A maniacal laugh echoed through the forest.

  “It’s Brace,” Pedro shouted. “He’s come back.”

  “So soon?” Remi asked him, rushing over to his side.

  “For him, it was probably months of training. He could have gotten a whole lot stronger.”

  “We can’t have him doing that over and over. We have to stop him here.”

  “Don’t know how that’s possible,” Pedro winced. “I’m still exhausted from the last fight, and Ember isn’t at her peak either.”

  “We can’t lead him back to Delilah,” Ingrid said. “He’ll ruin everything!”

  “REMI!” Samuel shouted, and she ran over to his side.

  “What is it?” she asked him gently as another laugh echoed over their heads.

  “You can’t let Brace follow you, but here,” he reached down with trembling hands and grabbed the amulet. Carefully, he removed it from over his head and handed it to her. “Get to the Center. You’ll be safe there. He won’t think of going there. You have to survive…long enough to find them. They need all the help they can get.”

  “Who?”

  “The Ancient Knights. They…they have a machine that can turn back time. I’ve seen it and worked with them on occasion. I know because I was one of them. The Sorcerers can’t have it…they’ll use to escape and then they’ll just destroy another timeline or another world. You can’t let that happen.”

  “But why me? What makes me so special?”

  “My power…it deals with manipulating time. I was the one to create the pockets across the three worlds and the islands. I was going to slowly alter all three lands, but I saw the greed in the Sorcerers’ eyes. When I die, those pockets will disappear. They won’t hold back then. Seeing that time is short, they will give it their all in finding the Ancient Knights and taking the machine for themselves.”

  “I still don’t get why I have to run. Why can’t I help fight against Brace?”

  “Because you are my weapon,” he said, reaching up and caressing her face. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I didn’t want to complicate things. I wanted to reach out to you, but it would have drawn too much suspicion. I had to remain cold and distant and harsh, but I’ve admired your exploits. All the things you accomplished…I’m proud of you! And…you have to live because…a weapon always has properties of its master. Like a signature, it is forged in a way that only the creator can identify. Deep inside of you lies a small part of my power. The power to manipulate time.”

  Remi’s eyes went wide.

  “Yes,” he coughed. “I was going on this journey to become the time machine’s battery and guide. But now that it’s unlikely I will make it, it’s up to you. Survive, Remi. Survive the chaos and destruction that will soon befall these lands, and find the Ancient Knights. Make things right. I believe in you.”

  Samuel’s eyes closed and Remi grit her teeth.

  No. It wasn’t going to end like this.

  Chapter 54 – Commonality

  Remi placed her artificial hands on both sides of Samuel’s face and glared at him.

  Why?

  She had finally found a common spirit, and now he was being taken away from her. And from what? A simple arrow? Wasn’t he a Sorcerer?

  She touched the tip of the arrow that was protruding out of his chest, still warm with his blood.

  No. They were just human.

  They were all human.

  Being greater than anyone else was all an illusion. They could feel. They could fear. They experience pain and loneliness and wonder like the rest of them. The only difference was time. Little old time.

  Well, apparently she could manipulate that a bit.

  She may have only just learned about the power that lied inside of her, but she would discover the height of its potential. All she need was the opportunity—an opportunity that wouldn’t come if she was distracted, worrying about the people around her.

  She would not run. Not now.

  If she survived the end of the world all alone, what was she saving it for?

  “Pedro!” Remi shouted into the air. He sprinted over to her side. “What are you doing?”

  “Conserving as much energy as possible,” he huffed. “Before Ember gets tapped out and I have to intervene.”

  “Scratch that. I have a better idea. We’re not going to beat Brace by punching each other back and forth. We have to be smart about this.”

  “What’d you have in mind?”

  “Where’s Alicia? She has to hear this too.”

  “Umm,” he scanned the area. “She’s transforming and getting ready to transport the Delilah out of here.”

  “Good,” Remi nodded. “Come with me.”

  Remi ran toward Alicia just as a boom sounded off in the distance. She could only imagine what damage Ember and Brace were causing each other.

  “Hey ALICIA!” Remi shouted, gaining the attention of the Delilah and the half-transformed dragon. “I need to talk to you. Bend an ear.”

  Alicia bent her long neck down toward Remi who moved in close.

  “I have a place for us to hide out,” she whispered to Alicia. “But it’s going to be without Ember. I can’t have her following us.”

  Alicia snorted and Remi pulled her ear in closer.

  “I know that we’re leaving her behind, but trust me on this one. Take the Delilah up in the air, but be prepared to get me and Pedro on my command.”

  Alicia hummed from deep within her scaly throat and Remi patted her skin, letting her know that she was done talking.

  Remi turned back to Pedro and pointed at his sword. “Do you think that would be able to k
ill someone like Brace. I know he’s stronger than Casimir or Ember just by looking at him.”

  “Hypothetically, yes,” he said. “You need it or something?”

  “Kind of. How quick can you make those portals of yours?”

  “Fastest I’ve ever made one was a few seconds, but it’s usually unstable in that case.”

  “That’s fine. Let me have it.” Pedro reluctantly unsheathed his sword and handed it to her.

  “You going to tell me what’s up?”

  “We’re going to use gravity to kill him,” she said, looking behind her. “I want you to take me to the highest point on Terra. The highest mountain. I’m going to throw the sword down, and I want you to create another portal. The momentum should kill Brace instantly.”

  “If the angle isn’t off. That’s a lot of assumption.”

  “If he’s still alive, we’ll deal with him as is. But it’s the best I’ve got.”

  “Alright, but we’ll have to time it. Ember’s still fighting.”

  “We’ll go to her,” Remi said as she took off running.

  “Wait!” Pedro shouted, but she was had gotten a good head-start.

  Being in the middle of a battle between Sorcerers was terrifying. Trees were being severed at various spots and left to fall into the snow. Branches and clumps of snow fell from the sky. Miniature craters were created whenever someone gained the upper hand and forced their opponent into the ground.

  Remi couldn’t see them fighting, but their presence was felt. She knew that she may never be that fast, or that strong. However, slowly but surely, she continued on, walking carefully in a straight line as to not disturb them entirely. She had to have gained their attention, but they were each to engrossed in delivering the final blow that neither would engage her. Pedro remained close to Remi but not too close, waiting for her signal to fight or flee.

  “Can you see them?” Remi asked.

  “A little,” Pedro said. “They’re very quick. Moving this fast, they’re bound to tire out…a question about your little plan. How will this work exactly? I have to be there to create the portals.”

  “Make one now and we’ll head to the highest point. Then create a portal there and I’ll go through first. I’ll have you throw the sword.”

  “Wait, what? What changed?”

  “I want to be able to do this,” she said. “I want to show Brace that’s I’m not weak.”

  “Now’s not the time for that.”

  “Call it an investment in the future. I’ll explain it in more detail later, but the gist of it is that the Sorcerers won’t engage us so quickly if they have reason to fear us. They’ve been out of the game for a long time, and they don’t truly know what the weapons can do. That’s one of our greatest strengths.”

  “I hear you,” Pedro nodded. “But one more thing. How will I know when I should throw the sword?”

  “After I go through the portal, count for sixty seconds and then throw it in.”

  “You want to fight Brace for a whole minute?”

  “If we go now, I might not have to. Ember just has to hold on a little bit longer.”

  Pedro said nothing more. He began tracing a circle in the air with his index finger as Remi watched more trees fall. When he was finished, Remi leapt into the portal without hesitation, finding herself at the summit of Darkheart.

  The mountain was covered in snow and the air threatened frostbite with each passing second, but she willed herself to ignore the warnings. She hugged herself tight and waited for Pedro to jump through. A couple seconds passed, but he finally arrived.

  “What took you so long?” she snapped.

  His teeth chattered as he looked at her through squint eyes. “You got the energy to run your mouth?”

  “Just get on with it,” she grumbled.

  Pedro traced out the portal and it appeared in seconds, giving them a way back to the forest. Using his hands, he maneuvered it so that it was horizontal, not vertical like usual, and then he made a pushing motion with his fingers, slowly letting the portal drop down the mountain until it was almost out of sight.

  “I’ll try to keep him stationary. Remember, one minute!” Remi threw him his sword.

  “Yeah! Now hurry! I’m freezing my ass off!”

  “You can’t freeze what you don’t have!” she yelled at him before she took the leap. It wasn’t too far down, but it was enough to feel the wind beginning to pull back on the skin of her face. She nearly screamed as she fell out the other side into the snow. She spat it out and climbed to her feet as she could hear crying nearby.

  She rushed over to the source and found Ember leaning up against a tree, her head resting on her right shoulder.

  “Run,” Ember whispered to her, her eyes not even acknowledging that she was there. “Run now.”

  “But she won’t do that,” Brace replied, stepping out from behind a tree. Remi winced at the sight of him. He was almost within swinging distance, he was so close to her. “She has to prove herself, isn’t that right?”

  “I don’t have to do a thing,” Remi said as she began to run away.

  She heard Brace snicker behind her, and then she was lifted off the ground as if an invisible hand was picking her up by the back of her collar. Her legs dangled as Brace appeared in front of her with one hand outstretched in a pinching motion.

  “We have more than strength,” he declared. “That you will soon see.”

  “I can feel it,” Remi groaned. “But I’m not useless.”

  Remi activated her armor mode and immediately she crashed to the ground. Brace released his invisible grip and Remi rushed him head on, unsheathing her sword and infusing her eidolon on top of it. But this time, the eidolon kept changing shape, fluctuating constantly so that Brace couldn’t lock down the shape. Not that he was worried. Brace was confident that the blade wouldn’t be able to pierce his skin.

  But that’s exactly what Remi wanted him to think.

  Chapter 55 – Board Games

  Brace raised an arm and Remi lifted her eidolon hybrid high above her head, but as she brought it down, she summoned more eidolons to emerge from the hilt, all of them fusing together at the tip and crashing down on his skin. It didn’t cut it off, but it did cause a nick that gave him cause for alarm.

  Brace cocked back his arm and Remi raised her arm and activated her armor form. It wasn’t enough. His fist went clear through her steel and forced her to return back to normal. Her right arm was now gone, but she was fine with it. Ember’s training had taught her a few tricks.

  She side-stepped him and lunged at Brace again with her sword now in her left hand and as expected, Brace blocked her attack easily by slapping her arm away, but what he didn’t see was what came from her right—an arm that was formed out of nothing but pure energy.

  She plunged the arm through his chest as it was nothing but spirit, and his eyes went wide.

  Remi grit her teeth and willed the arm to form into an eidolon.

  Brace screamed and Remi removed her arm from his chest, leaving a gaping wound in her wake. Brace growled as the wound closed up almost instantly, but he didn’t have a chance to retaliate. Remi pushed him with all the force she could muster from one arm and he stumbled right in front of the portal.

  The blade came flying through right on cue, plunging into Brace’s abdomen and straight out, eventually being stopped by the bark of a tree. Brace fell to his knees, overwhelmed by the pain plaguing his mind.

  “This is why you’ll lose,” Remi huffed as she came to his side and kicked him in the face. He fell on his back, still screaming over the wound in his stomach. It was closing a lot slower. “You don’t know what it’s like to be human anymore. This pain you feel? I felt it every day of my life. I harnessed it and it made me stronger. Separating yourselves from the rest of humanity didn’t do you any favor. It doesn’t matter what you are or where you came from. If you had any brains, you would have tried to integrate yourself in and adapt.”

  “Shut up!”
he growled and she summoned her falchion eidolon.

  “Make me,” she said as she stabbed him in the chest. He didn’t scream, but his whimper was evident that it had hurt. She leaned in close. “I’m not going to kill you. Because I can see that you’re in a position of weakness. You can live, and you can tell them all that I’m coming. Next time I see you, I won’t be so nice.”

  “You have to kill him,” Pedro said, the portal closing behind him.

  “No, we’re better than that.”

  “Then what do we do with him?”

  “We take him with us. You have the binds?”

  “Yeah, yeah,” he said, fishing under his robe. “I’ve got some.” He handed her the metal wire, but she looked it over in her one hand.

  “Uh, I need some help,” she laughed. Pedro took the wire back and began tying up Brace as she took in a deep breath and looked over to where she had left Ember. The Sorceress was gone.

  “Let’s go,” Remi shouted and she heard Alicia flapping down from the skies.

  “Where to?” Pedro asked and Remi pointed up.

  “Up there,” she said. “As far as possible. Samuel told me about a safe haven. It’s where the Sorcerers used to be.”

  “You think he was telling the truth.”

  “Yeah,” she said with a smile. “I do.”

  Pedro threw Brace’s body on the back of Alicia’s and the Delilah stared at him in fear. Ingrid, Olivia and Bosen said nothing as Remi climbed on and glanced at her.

  “We’re going somewhere safe, but I would understand if you would want to stay down here with the rest of your people.”

  “No, I want to see this place,” Ingrid winked at her while tapping her ear. Remi smiled. How much had the old woman heard?

  “Up,” Remi said, and Alicia took flight, heading to the place beyond the clouds. As the air grew thinner, Brace groaned and Remi looked down at him. He was lying on his belly with his hands and feet tied behind him. His eyes were fading in and out between light and dark.

  “What are you going to do with me?” he asked.