Ayos: The Heir with the Crimson Eyes

by Justin Parks

  Chapter 16

  Pied Piper

  The next day the three apprentices set off toward the woods. “So what’s the plan?” Liz asked.

  “Okay, we need to draw out the kami and take them down,” Saga instructed.

  “How are we going to draw them out?” Jin asked.

  “Kami are naturally aggressive. They’ll most likely attack if we enter their territory, and according to the villagers, the rats are coming from this forest,” Saga explained, as the group continued into the forest. The group eventually came to a clearing within but had yet to see any kami.

  “I think I can help with this,” Liz said as a small black snake popped out of her shirt collar. “See my little friend here can make some scouts for us,” she explained as she reached up and petted it. “Isn’t that right, Ambrosia?” she said in an adoring tone. Liz then reached down, touching the ground with both hands. Several small black snakes crawled out of her sleeves, heading in different directions. “Now we just wait here till I get word from them,” she explained.

  The three stood in the clearing looking around, waiting to see if Liz’s scouts came up with anything. Liz’s snake, Ambrosia, slithered up and seemed to whisper in her ear. She immediately jumped up. “Get ready!”

  “What is it?” Saga asked.

  “All the scouts were taken out. There’s a large group of kami heading this way!” she said as her snake whip came out and attached to her core. Saga and Jin prepared as well. The three stood back to back in a circle. They began to hear a rustling in the trees as several large green rats came coming out of the woods. The group of rats began to move in toward the three.

  “Damn it! How are there so many?” Saga said surprised as he stretched out his shadow and impaled three in-coming rats. The rats turned into light and burst into magick particles that were absorbed by Saga’s core. Two rats jumped up at Jin. He grabbed them in midair. Energy sparked from his palms, destroying the two kami. Liz whipped down, slicing through one of the rats and then wrapped her whip around another kami lifting it up, before slamming it down on the ground.

  The group continued fighting through the hoards of rats. They seemed near countless in number, but the group was holding them off for the time being. The rats suddenly stopped attacking and began to retreat. “What’s going on? Why are they retreating?” Saga questioned.

  Jin began to hear something very familiar. “Wait, do you hear that?” he said as he once again began to hear the soft sound of music. The three stood quiet, listening.

  “Yeah, is that music?” Liz questioned, as she listened closer. “It is music.”

  Saga sat silent in thought before a shocked look came over his face. “No, it couldn’t be,” he said.

  “What is it Saga?” Jin asked.

  “I think it’s a Beckon,” Saga answered.

  “What’s a Beckon?” Liz questioned.

  “Beckons are a special type of kami. They have the ability to gather and control certain types of kami, usually by playing some kind of instrument. By themselves, they aren’t that strong, but they can control stronger kami. Because of this, they’re usually ranked three stars and above,” Saga explained. “Basically, we were misinformed and ill prepared for this mission. We need to get out of here and call for back up,” he said.

  “Let’s go now while we have the chance,” Jin added, as the three made their way out of the forest and back to the town.

  They regrouped at the inn and Saga got on the phone with the academy. Liz and Jin sat down and rested, waiting for him to finish. Saga walked over to the table and took a seat as well. He took a deep breath. “Well, I talked to the academy and let them know our situation. They’re going to send us some help, but due to the immediate threat, we’re to remain stationed in the town until they arrive,” Saga explained.

  “Protecting the town shouldn’t be that hard,” Jin said.

  “Don’t jinx it, Jin,” Liz said, jokingly trying to relieve the stress of the situation.

  “Anyway, rest up and get some food. I’ll take first watch,” Saga said as he went outside.

  Liz and Jin sat at the table eating. Jin looked up at her. “So, why did you mess with me at the academy?” he asked.

  “What!? Me? No, I don’t mess with people,” Liz said sarcastically as she continued eating.

  Jin glared at her. “You know what I’m talking about. Somebody told me it’s because I looked at your core. Care to explain it to me?”

  Liz rolled her eyes. “Do I really have to explain it?” she said.

  “It would help me make some sense of things,” Jin responded.

  Liz rolled up her sleeve revealing her core. “I just hate the color. It’s so . . . girly.”

  Jin laughed. “Well, you are a girl,” he pointed out.

  “Duh . . . that’s not what I mean. It’s just a weak color. It doesn’t put off the presence a strong ayos should. Nobody’s going to be intimidated by a bright pink core,” Liz explained.

  “Well, I think you’re plenty intimidating on your own,” Jin said with a smirk. “Maybe instead of trying to hide it, you should embrace it,” he suggested.

  Liz just rolled her eyes and continued eating. At that moment, the two heard a strange noise coming from outside. It was music, but this time it was louder then before. The two ran outside. The sun had just begun to set. “What is it?” Jin asked as the two ran to Saga.

  Saga just pointed toward the forest. The two others looked out to see a large group of rats heading toward them. The three moved to the edge of the village and prepared for battle. Saga stood on the right, Liz on the left, and Jin stood in the middle. Two large shadow tentacles rose up beside Saga as they began bashing through the front lines. Liz started whipping through the countless rats. Jin took care of any that got close to the two.

  The group was holding the line, but it had begun to take its toll and they had become exhausted from all the fighting. The music had begun to get even louder. At that moment, a giant red rat that towered over the others came walking out of the woods. On top of it sat a strange-looking creature. It appeared to be wearing a strange hat and a long black coat that went up high enough to cover its face. It had slender arms and legs. It was playing what appeared to be a flute. Upon its shoulder sat a small blue mouse, like the one the group had encountered in the inn. That must be it. That’s a beckon, Jin thought, looking up at the creature.

  The other rats parted, allowing the red one to pass through. The three backed close together in a tight huddle. The large red rat opened its mouth, blowing out fire at them. Jin grabbed the others and jumped out of the way, dodging it.

  “This is bad. I don’t know how much more we can take,” Saga said panting. The group had begun to get pushed back toward the town. The town would be in jeopardy if they gave up anymore land. The red rat continued closer. It reared back again and shot out fire once again.

  Out of nowhere, a person appeared between them, absorbing the flames. The group looked to see a young man with short spiked black hair wearing a white robe with a blue flame print on the bottom and at the end of the sleeves bearing the academy’s symbol on the back. He created a circle of blue flames around the rats trapping them. Then the flames closed in, engulfing all the remaining rats and the beckon destroying them.

  The three were finally able to take a breath. They were all so tired they sat down on the ground. “That can’t be who I think it is,” Saga said, surprised. “That’s the son of Odin and a member of the White Order, Baldr of the blue flame.”

  Baldr turned to the group. “Are you all right?” he asked.

  “Yes, sir,” Saga replied. “But if you don’t mind me asking, sir, why did they send such a high-ranking ayos like you to aid us?” he asked.

  “I was in the area so the academy asked if I wouldn’t mind helping,” Baldr explained. “Now if you are all fine, I’ll go clear out any remaining kami. You are all relieved. I’ll handle it from here,” he said as he made his way out of town toward t
he woods.

  The three regrouped and rested at the inn. Once they were back to normal, they made their way back to the academy.

  ToC

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